To Capture the Heart of a Hero

by Mailrebel

Summary:

Hyrule has been saved from the threat of the Twilight. Now, as Zelda makes plans to aid in her Kingdom's recovery, she finds herself falling for the hero clad in green. However, it seems Link might already have his eyes set on someone else…Will Zelda be able to capture the heart of the hero? Or would she be better off abandoning her feelings altogether? (TP Zelink)

Chapter 1: Offer

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 1 – Offer

Two horses and their riders traversed silently across the Gerudo Desert at twilight. By this time, every inch of the sanded plains was now bathed in the orangish glow of the evening. With the day soon drawing to a close, the desert seemed rather tranquil, providing an eerily silent atmosphere.

The pair of horses were galloping at a steady pace to the East, the opposite direction of the sun which was already threatening to disappear below the horizon. As the riders glanced at their surroundings, they could already tell that the shadows were growing longer and darker by the second. It wouldn’t be long before night was upon them. Nevertheless, they continued on their journey across the sand.

The first rider was a man clad in green, with a sword and shield strapped to his back. He had a somewhat muscular build, as well as dirty blond hair and blue eyes. His name was Link, a swordsman, adventurer, and a hero for his recently troubled Kingdom. Naturally, he rode on Epona, his faithful chestnut-colored steed.

The second rider was a woman wearing an elegant white and purple dress. She was rather slim and beautiful, with sapphire eyes and long brunette hair that was tied into a braid at her back. Her name was Zelda, and she was the Princess of the Kingdom of Hyrule. She currently rode on a majestic white horse, which went by the name of Reina.

The two of them continued to travel in relative silence. Neither one of them particularly felt like talking, as they both had a lot on their minds. Directly behind them, across a field of sand, rested the Arbiter’s Grounds. It was an incredibly large structure made of stone that towered over the surrounding landscape.

Link and Zelda had just departed from that structure. Having reached the conclusion of the Twilight Invasion with the Kingdom of Hyrule being saved, the time had come for Midna, the Princess of Twilight and Link and Zelda’s dear friend, to depart from this world. The two Hylians had gathered at the Mirror of Twilight to see their friend off. After saying their goodbyes, Midna shattered the Mirror, in the hopes that their two worlds would never endanger one another again.

It was sad, but her decision was probably for the best. Hyrule would be safer if there was no longer any access to the Twilight Realm. That’s what Link told himself anyway…

To be honest, Link was feeling a little depressed after this sequence of events. He and Midna had been adventuring together for a long time now, and the two of them had grown to be good friends. It was incredibly sad to know that he would likely never see her or speak to her again.

“Link!” Zelda suddenly called from behind him.

Link glanced back in the Princess’s direction. “Yeah?”

“I think it would be best to stop for the night. The sun’s about to set, and it will be completely dark soon.”

Link nodded in agreement. He knew that they weren’t going to make it back to Castle Town until the next day anyway, even if they did ride all through the night. It would be better to stop and set up camp. “All right.”

Link soon rode Epona over to a large flat rock that rose out of the dunes and brought her to a halt. Zelda did the same with her own white mare. They then dismounted and inspected the site. It seemed like as good a place as any to spend the night in this relatively empty sand land. At the very least, Link assumed that this outcropping of rock could provide them some cover from the occasional harsh desert wind.

“Will this place do, Princess?” Link asked his companion. As he turned to glance in her direction, he was surprised to see Zelda frown at him for a second, looking a little disappointed. However, she soon hid the expression away.

“Yes, this will work for the night,” she answered, placing a gloved hand against the rock. “We should probably start a fire. I’ve heard that the desert can get rather cold at night.”

Link just nodded. It was true. He had spent a number of days in this desert while he was on his adventure, and he recalled that the nights could be incredibly chilly at times.

Zelda turned to Link. “Would you mind searching the area for some firewood? In the meantime, I can feed the horses so they settle for the night.”

Link shrugged. “Sure thing, Princess.”

Once again, Zelda flashed a disappointed frown at him. This time however, she let it stick. “Link, you don’t have to refer to me by my title, you know. Just ‘Zelda’ is fine. I think I’d prefer it, honestly.”

Link blinked a bit, taken aback by this. He hadn’t been expecting her to say something like that. “What? You’re sure?” he asked.

Zelda gave him a strong nod. “Yes. Hearing you call me ‘Princess’ just makes it sound like you’re a stranger. After everything we’ve been through recently, I should think we are closer than that.”

Link scratched the back of his head a bit. It was true that he hadn’t known Zelda for very long, but he had gotten to know her better throughout the last few months as they had worked together to fight off the Twilight Invasion. Not to mention, she, like himself, had also been a good friend to Midna. It was true that the two of them felt like more than just acquaintances at this point. But still…

Link just gave her a somewhat nervous look. “But wouldn’t it be…uh, you know…improper?”

Zelda just stared at him for a second before giving a small smile and shaking her head. “The only ones who care about things like that are some of the more stuck-up court nobles. Trust me, no one will fault you for calling me by name, especially since I am the one who has insisted on it.”

Link just looked away, still feeling a little unsure. “I don’t know…”

Zelda frowned again. “Would you like it if I only referred to you as ‘Hero’ or ‘Sir’ all the time?”

Link closed his eyes. She had a point there. Even though he had helped save the Kingdom from the threat of the Twilight as well as the evil tyrant Ganondorf, he still didn’t really feel like anyone special. And he knew that if he had to listen to people refer to him as a “Hero” or “Brave Knight of Hyrule” all the time, it would definitely feel out of place.

“Very well,” he agreed. “Zelda it is.”

Zelda softened her expression once more. “Thank you.”

Once that was done, Zelda went to look though her horse’s saddlebags, searching for the provisions she had prepared. Meanwhile, Link started circling the rock, searching for any random pieces of wood or other burnable materials. The sun would be descending completely below the horizon any minute now, so he made sure to work quickly.

Fortunately, he stumbled upon the remnant of some sort of wooden Bulblin-made structure. Link recalled that the green-skinned horned race had built a number of these structures out in the desert, and he had even destroyed a few of them himself when he first came here to explore. The ruined structure he was staring at now seemed to have been some sort of lookout tower. By the look of it, Link assumed that it had likely collapsed many years ago. Now all that remained was a random assortment of scrap wood, some of which was half buried in the sand. Wasting no time, he managed to pull away a number of logs before he was satisfied.

Link soon made his way back to the camp. There, he saw the two horses lying down in the sand, lazily feeding on something. Link wasn’t sure what they had been given to eat, but he guessed that it was probably just something to tide them over for the night. He knew that they wouldn’t be able to be fed properly until they could reach the stables back at the castle. Nevertheless, Epona and Reina seemed satisfied to take a rest.

Link also spotted Zelda by Reina, and she seemed to be searching through her saddlebags again. She glanced over at him when she noticed his approach. “Not a bad haul considering our location,” she said, sounding impressed.

“Thank the Bulblins,” Link said with a small smile. He soon set the wood down and began arranging it into a pile. Once he was done, he noticed that Zelda had walked over to join him. He looked up at her. “I don’t suppose you brought some flint?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Zelda replied. She then gestured for him to move. “Would you kindly stand aside?”

Link gave her a curious look but did as she asked. He took a few steps away from the woodpile before glancing at Zelda again. To his surprise, she appeared to be in some sort of prayer, with her head bowed, eyes closed, and hands clasped together. She stayed like this for a few seconds before opening her eyes and raising her head once again. She then crouched down near the wood pile and extended a gloved hand over it. There was a brief pause before a bright light flashed before them. A second later, an orange fire burst to life over the woodpile. Feeling the fresh heat from the newly born flames, Zelda stood up, satisfied with her work.

Link just stared at the fire in amazement. “Whoa, was that magic?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes.”

“That’s incredible.” No matter how many times Link witnessed magic being used before him (and sometimes against him), he was always impressed by what it was capable of.

“I am only able to do this because the Goddesses are kind enough to lend me their power from time to time,” Zelda replied humbly.

“It’s still impressive,” Link encouraged her.

Zelda gave him a somewhat shy smile before turning away. She soon grabbed two small packages that she had set on the ground after fishing them out of her bags. She handed one to Link. “I’m afraid it’s not much, but here’s your dinner. Enjoy.”

Link looked down and quickly realized what he was holding. It was a military ration, a small bundle of food that was often served to soldiers who were on the road and couldn’t afford to stop and prepare a hearty meal. The general purpose of the ration was usually just to make sure that the soldier was replenished enough to stay energized and on the move. It was typically seen as a subpar replacement for an actual meal.

However, Link gladly accepted the small bundle of food with a smile. His stomach had started growling, reminding him that he had barely eaten anything that day, so to him, this ration looked incredibly appetizing. He soon plopped down in the sand next to the warm fire and began eating.

Zelda also took a seat on the sand, although she did so more elegantly than Link had. She took her time eating her ration, trying to savor the sparse flavor of her meager meal.

Meanwhile, it only took Link but a few minutes to completely scarf his down. “Man, that hit the spot!” he said happily as he finished. He soon glanced over to Zelda, who sat off to the side. “I’m glad one of us planned ahead and decided to bring something to eat.”

Zelda gently wiped her mouth with a cloth that she had apparently brought with her, before turning to Link and raising her eyebrows. “Of course. It would be foolish to enter the desert without any sustenance.”

Link frowned sheepishly and quickly turned away. He had been to this desert a few times before and yet he had never thought to bring food with him…It had never really been a pressing issue. Every time he had visited this place before, Midna had been with him, and she had been able to warp Link out of there should the need ever arise.

Link paused for a second, before frowning once more. His gaze settled on the bright orange flames of the fire as his thoughts drifted to his Twili friend.

Midna…

As Link continued to stare into the flames, he couldn’t help but wonder what the girl was up to at this moment. Had she made it back to the Twilight Realm all right? Was she thinking of him at all? He had no way of knowing, but he was still curious.

By this point, the sun had set, and the sky had turned dark save for the sea of stars that hung overhead. The desert had also turned rather dark, with the only source of light for miles being Link and Zelda’s small campfire. A single spark on an otherwise black canvas.

Eventually, Zelda finished her ration as well, before she turned her attention to Link. She had been silently watching him whilst she consumed her meal, and she couldn’t help but notice that his expression had turned rather somber.

“Are you thinking about Midna?” she asked softly.

Link seemed a bit startled by the sudden question. He soon glanced at Zelda, but just as quickly looked away. “Yeah,” he mumbled.

“Do you miss her already?” Zelda asked.

Link felt embarrassed to admit it, but he nodded his head anyway. It was true after all.

Zelda watched his nod before turning her gaze away, and frowning a little. “I feel the same way.”

Link was surprised to hear that. He thought Zelda might have chastised him for being so openly saddened by Midna’s departure. He certainly knew that Midna would have made fun of him for it, if she were here. “Really?”

Zelda nodded. “Of course. She was a great ally to me during the Twilight Invasion, and I also considered her a good friend. It’s sad to know that she has departed our world, possibly for good.” Zelda paused for a second, before giving Link a soft smile. “I’m sure you feel even stronger about this than I do though. The two of you spent a lot of time together when you were out adventuring.”

Link nodded back. Zelda seemed to understand him completely. “It’s true. We grew pretty close after everything we’d been through. At this point, I’d almost say she feels like family to me.”

The Princess was surprised to hear this. “Oh?”

“Yeah, she’s like a little sister. An annoying one,” Link said with a laugh.

Zelda couldn’t help but give a small laugh as well. That description of Midna felt a little too accurate.

Link soon stared up at the stars with a small smile. “I hope she’s all right, wherever she is.”

Zelda smiled a bit too. “I’m sure she is. She’s likely back home with her own people now, and that’s what she wanted for so long. Hopefully, her days will be peaceful from now on.”

“I hope the same for us,” Link replied. “I get the feeling that things will be a lot quieter in Hyrule now that she’s gone.”

Zelda shook her head a bit as she spoke up in a strong voice. “On the contrary, I believe the days ahead of us might be busier than ever before. Now that Hyrule has been saved from the threat of the Twilight, the Kingdom needs to take some time to focus on recovery and rebuilding. A great number of the towns and civilizations are still in disarray after everything that has taken place, and I can even say the same for our own Castle Town. I’m afraid it’s going to take a lot of time and effort to get things back to the way they used to be. No, to make the Kingdom even stronger than it was before.”

Link just stared at Zelda in awe. Her voice was full of determination, and the fire was reflected in her eyes. Being a Princess, Link should have known that Zelda was more than capable of giving a strong speech, but he had hardly expected one to come out of nowhere like that. And yet, she made it seem so natural, as if she was just expressing how she truly felt. He admired her conviction.

“That’s quite the vision,” he said, sounding impressed.

Zelda smiled at his comment. “This is my hope. A stronger, better Hyrule.”

“Well, I wish you luck in your quest, Princess.” Link paused for a second. “Er, I mean, Zelda…”

Zelda didn’t seem to mind his small slip up. Instead, she just turned to him with a curious look. “Link, if you don’t mind me asking, what do you plan to do now?”

Link felt like he was caught off guard by that question. “Huh?”

“Hyrule has been saved, and Midna has been safely returned to her home. What do you plan to do now that your journey has reached its conclusion?”

Link looked away and scratched the back of his head a bit. He hadn’t really given it much thought. “I don’t know…I do still have some stuff I need to take care of. I’d like to make sure that the children from my village make it back home safely. They’ve been staying in Kakariko Village for a while now, and it’s about time that they returned home. I think it would be best if I escorted them personally, to make sure they don’t encounter any trouble along the way. Plus, it’ll be nice for me to stop back home and see everyone. It’s been a while since we’ve been there.”

Link took a second to glance at his chestnut horse resting behind him. “I’m sure Epona will be excited to see Ilia again too. Isn’t that right?”

Epona responded with a happy whinny. She clearly recognized the name.

Zelda smiled a bit at the horse’s sudden cheerfulness. “Who is Ilia?”

“She’s a friend of mine from Ordon. She does a good job of taking care of Epona for me. She always has.”

Zelda gave a small nod. “She must do good work. Epona is an excellent horse.”

Upon hearing her name, Epona whinnied again. She seemed to be enjoying the praise and attention.

“All right, settle down you,” Link said in a playful tone. He reached back to rub her neck a bit.

Zelda watched the two of them for a few seconds before speaking up once more. “So after you return home, how do you plan to spend your days? What lies ahead in your future?”

Once again, Link looked unprepared to answer that question. “Hmm…well, I’m not too sure. I guess I’ll stay in Ordon Village for a while, although it will be a bit weird to return to the ranch life after everything I’ve been through lately.”

Zelda smirked a bit as she listened. “I wondered if that was the case.”

“Hmm?” he mumbled.

“Link, can I make you an offer?” Zelda asked politely. “How would you like to aid in Hyrule’s reconstruction?”

Link just blinked in surprise. “Huh? You want my help?”

“Of course. We’d be more than happy to have you by our side as we try to rebuild our Kingdom. You have a very impressive skillset and I’m sure we could find a number of ways to put you to good use, should you wish to join us. From your strength and fighting ability, to the connections you’ve formed with all kinds of people across the entire Kingdom, I have the feeling you’ll be a very useful ally in the days ahead of us.”

Link soon found himself blushing a bit. He hadn’t expected to receive all this praise, and from the Princess no less. “You certainly seem to think highly of me…” he mumbled, sounding a little embarrassed.

“Should I not?” Zelda replied. “You’re the hero who defeated Zant and Ganondorf and saved Hyrule. Never forget that.”

Link sheepishly scratched at one of his pointed ears while he stared down at the sand. She was right. He had done some amazing things in order to save everyone. But Link wasn’t the type of person to bask in his own achievements, so he tended to forget just how extraordinary they were from time to time.

“This could be a good opportunity for you to continue your heroic activities,” Zelda added. “If you don’t wish to return to the simple life of a ranch hand, that is.”

These words seemed to strike a chord with Link. It was true, he wasn’t exactly planning to fully return to his simple life on the ranch. How could he, after everything he had been through? He had crossed great distances, slayed numerous monsters, explored ancient dungeons, and even saved the Kingdom. It had been an incredible journey, and after experiencing such a thing, could he truly just return to his old life as if nothing had ever happened? Just hang up his sword and shield and call it a day?

No, of course not Link told himself. If this journey has proven anything, it’s that I have the power to help people. I have the power to make things better. I can do so much more than just ranch work. Shouldn’t I do what Zelda says, and put my skills to good use? Continue my journey by aiding Hyrule even further?

Link soon found himself smiling as he thought it over. Before long, he felt like he had arrived at an answer. “Very well, I’ll help you out with the recovery effort.”

Zelda smiled at his decision. “Wonderful. I’m very happy to hear that.”

Link clenched his fingers into a determined fist. “Just tell me what I can do to help and I’ll do my best to make it happen. Epona too of course.”

Hearing her name once more, the chestnut horse whinnied again.

Zelda gave a small giggle, but quickly suppressed it. “I appreciate the enthusiasm that you both show. However, I’m afraid that nothing has been set into motion quite yet. We’re still in the planning stages, and I’ll need to discuss many things with the Hyrule Council as well as my father. So, it may be some time before we truly have need of your talents and expertise.”

Link quickly felt his enthusiasm deflating. He slowly lowered his fist as he frowned. “Oh…I see…”

“But be patient,” Zelda said encouragingly. “I’m sure it won’t be long before we are calling upon you once again.”

Link allowed himself another smile. “And I’ll be happy to answer that call.”

Notes:

Hello everyone. This is a story that I have recently been releasing on Fanfiction, but in light of that site’s numerous issues within the last two months and no apparent resolutions in sight, I have decided to try out AO3. This is all very new to me but I’m excited to figure it out and potentially leave an impression.

As for this story, it’s a Link x Zelda fic set after the events of Twilight Princess, although things might not exactly play out in the way you expect them to (see the story summary for a hint). I imagine this story will end up being pretty long in its entirety. I’m currently 20 chapters in on FF but I’m hoping to release a few chapters on AO3 every week until it’s caught up. After that, I’ll aim for simultaneous releases on both sites.

Comments are appreciated. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 2: Capable

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 2 – Capable

Link and Zelda retired for the night shortly after their conversation. Truthfully, they were both rather tired, and with the desert night being as dark as it was, they had no reason not to go to sleep. They wouldn’t be able to travel without daylight, and sunrise was still many hours away, after all. The two of them had chosen to cuddle up next to their respective horses, leaning against the soft, warm sides of the animals as a sort of “makeshift bed”. Truth be told, it was actually quite comfortable, and the horses didn’t seem to mind the company. It didn’t take long for the four of them to drift off into the land of dreams.

However, a few hours later, Zelda awoke in the early morning, when the sky was still yet dark. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her eyes of sleep, before she glanced around her. She was certain that she had just heard something, and it had caused her to awaken from her peaceful slumber.

She took a second to scan the campsite. The flames of their bonfire had since died down to nothing more than bright embers, but they still emitted enough of a glow for Zelda to see her surroundings. Her white horse Reina was still behind her, resting peacefully. Link was but a few feet away from the Princess, quietly lying against Epona’s side. The two of them were also sound asleep.

Aside from that, the campsite was empty. Nevertheless, Zelda closed her eyes and attempted to listen for anything out of the ordinary. Anything that might suggest an encroaching danger.

Sure enough, after listening for a moment, Zelda picked up on a distant sound. It was quiet, but constant. Zelda tried to focus in on what it could possibly be. It almost sounded like scratching, as if a creature was clawing at something over and over. Perhaps something was digging down into the sand?

A few seconds later, Zelda picked up the same sound from a different direction. Once again, it sounded like the constant shuffling of earth. The sound soon appeared in a third direction, as well as a fourth and fifth. As Zelda continued to listen, she also noticed that the soft scratching noises were slowly and steadily growing louder. By this point, she was certain of one thing: something was approaching them.

Zelda frowned as she sat up. She soon leaned over towards Link and gave a gentle tug on the sleeve of his green tunic. “Link,” she whispered. “Link, wake up.”

Feeling her pull, Link lazily opened his eyes and blinked a few times. “Hmm? What’s up?” he mumbled.

“I hear something approaching us. I get the feeling that it’s dangerous.”

Link lazily stared at her for a second, but he soon blinked again and started to sit up. He used a single hand to rub his face and eyes a bit. Once he was finished, he seemed much more alert. “Monsters?”

Zelda gave a single nod. “Most likely.”

Much like Zelda had done, Link closed his eyes and listened to the scratching sound steadily growing louder as it approached them. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and frowned. “Leevers,” he said, shaking his head.

Leevers. Zelda had heard of this desert-dwelling creature before, although she had never actually encountered one. Still, she knew enough to recognize that they were indeed dangerous. They were rounded, almost cone-shaped creatures that dug their way through the sand to catch their prey unaware. They were known to hunt just about anything that came their way, including humans that were caught traveling across the desert.

Link grabbed the Master Sword from his saddle and unsheathed it. He soon rose to his feet and turned to the Princess. “Zelda, stay with the horses. I’ll drive them off.”

Zelda frowned for a second before shaking her head. “Wait, I’ll back you up.” She soon reached into one of Reina’s saddlebags, and ended up retrieving a thin, ornate-looking bow, as well as a quiver of arrows. She slung the quiver over her shoulders before also rising to her feet, bow in hand.

Link just stared at her with a confused look. “You’re going to fight?” he whispered.

Zelda just gave a quick nod. “Of course. Don’t underestimate me just because I was imprisoned in the castle for so long.”

Link still felt surprised, but he quickly reminded himself that the Princess had been able to shoot a number of arrows at Ganondorf during their final battle, all while riding on horseback too. Perhaps he was underestimating her a bit. She could surely handle herself against a few Leevers.

With a single nod of agreement, Link turned away to face Epona. He quickly retrieved his shield before giving his horse a small pat. “Stay here and keep calm, okay Epona?”

The horse glanced at him and blinked a single time, showing she understood.

Zelda also placed a single hand on her own horse, who had since raised her head at the encroaching noise. “You stay calm as well, Reina. This will be over quickly.”

By this point, the scratching noise was louder than ever, signaling that the battle was imminent. Link and Zelda quickly took their positions. Link circled around the remains of the campfire so he would be front and center. Meanwhile, Zelda hoisted herself up onto the outcropping of rock, where she soon nocked an arrow and surveyed the area.

A few seconds passed, the noise continuing to escalate in volume until it finally reached its peak. Just as it did, the creatures suddenly burst out from underneath the sand, revealing themselves. As expected, there were numerous Leevers, all coming from different directions. Link tried to get a quick count, but he stopped after reaching six. He didn’t have time as they were already making their move.

The first Leever let out a shrill cry before rushing towards him, opening its maw and baring its sharp fangs. Naturally, Link took a defensive position, raising his shield to block the oncoming assault. The creature rammed into the shield, scratching its teeth against the metal, but Link held it steady. Before long, he used his strength to shove the creature away. As it fell backwards, Link gave a single quick slash with the Master Sword, successfully wounding the creature’s side. It gave a painful and agitated shriek as it backed away some more.

Link soon heard one of the creatures shriek from behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted one Leever with an arrow sunk deep into its side. Even as he watched, he heard another arrow being loosed from the bow only to hit the creature dead on. It wailed some more.

Link was soon pulled back into his own battle as a fresh Leever charged him, as well as the one he had just wounded. Link retreated back a bit, making sure to keep his shield raised as his enemies tried to lunge at him. Fortunately, they just ended up colliding with the shield, unable to get to him. Nevertheless, Link knew that he would have to start making some decisive moves if he wanted to escape unharmed.

Link waited patiently for the wounded Leever to lunge once more, and it soon did. As it jumped at him, Link thrust the Master Sword forward, perfectly impaling the rounded creature through its middle. It immediately released a piercing cry as its blood gushed forth from the open wound. However, the cries only continued for a moment before they quickly petered out, and the creature became limp as it sagged to the ground. It was dead.

Hearing the cries of its comrade, as well as seeing a new opening, the other Leever tried to jump at Link from his now unprotected side. Its tiny eyes flashed in anger as it gnashed its teeth and lunged for the hero.

Fortunately, Link was ready for this. Quickly withdrawing his blade from the dead Leever, he spun around to meet his current adversary. With the Leever nearly upon him, Link did the only thing he could do. He used his momentum to swing his sword arm forward and slice the creature in one quick motion.

Shing!

It was a decisive blow. Link had horizontally cut the creature in two, and the large remains fell to the sand without a sound. Another one down.

Another shriek from behind informed him of yet another Leever’s demise. He managed to catch a quick glimpse of the corpse, shot to death by a total of four arrows. He couldn’t help but wonder if the creature had finally bled to death or if Zelda had managed to strike it in some vital area. He didn’t have time to find out as another Leever was soon upon him, its fangs open wide. It gave a menacing snarl as it crouched down, trying to get around his shield and bite at his legs. It wasn’t comfortable, but Link didn’t have much choice; he too crouched down to properly fend the Leever off. The cone-shaped creature continued to tackle against the shield, trying to get the edge on him.

As Link waited for his chance to strike back, he noticed another Leever approaching from the side. He cursed a bit. He was not looking forward to dealing with two at once again.

However, to his surprise, the Leever soon changed course. Link watched as it slowly shuffled past him, choosing instead to move deeper into the campsite. His mind paused for a second, trying to figure out why the creature had just ignored him like that, when he suddenly realized the Leever’s true target.

The horses!

“Oh no you don’t,” Link muttered. He was still pinned down by the first Leever, but he tried to adjust his position as best he could. He would have to quickly strike at the second Leever before it was out of his reach. Wasting no time, he raised his sword and swiped it towards the creature, only to clench his teeth in frustration a moment later.

Whoosh…

He missed! The blasted Leever had shuffled to the side at the last second, dodging the slash and saving its own skin. With nothing holding it back, the Leever rushed ahead into the campsite.

Link looked past the Leever, worrying for the horses’ safety. By this point, the pair of mares had risen to their hooves, and seemed to be standing in place, looking nervous. They could definitely tell that there was danger around them, but at the insistence of their riders, they had stayed firmly in position. However, with a fresh Leever on the way, Link knew it was only a matter of time before they began to panic.

Sure enough, Reina spotted the danger first, and gave a startled cry. Epona soon noticed it too, but simply remained silent. Still, she looked rather tense and on edge. Link knew that it wouldn’t be long before she started crying out as well.

Link clenched his teeth some more as he turned back to face the Leever that was still clawing at his shield. He would need to finish this one off before he could run to the horses’ aid, and the sooner he could do that, the better. He raised his sword, ready to plunge it down towards his enemy, only for the Leever to nearly jump over his shield and bite at his stomach. Link leaned backwards and raised his shield to protect himself once again. Damn, this thing was ferocious!

Reina soon cried out again. The mare’s tone was high-pitched and full of fear. It seemed as if Link’s fears had come true. The horses had started to lose their nerve and were on the verge of panicking.

Thunk!

Link paused. He had clearly heard the sound of an arrow slice through the air and bury itself in something. He dared to take a glance behind him and confirm his suspicions. Sure enough, the Leever (which was now quite close to the horses) had been struck by an arrow. Looking past the scene, Link spotted Zelda up on the rock. Her eyes were completely focused on the Leever as her hands instinctively nocked another arrow. A second later, it hit its mark.

This time, the Leever was the one crying out. It shrieked a bit as it paused, realizing the danger to itself. It soon veered away from the horses, coming back the way it had originally entered.

“Link!” Zelda’s voice rang out clearly through the night air. “It’s coming your way!”

Sure enough, Link glanced back to see the retreating Leever making a beeline straight for him. Perhaps it was attempting to hunt down a more vulnerable target? If that was the case, then the Leever was sorely mistaken, as Link was far from finished.

Grinning a bit, Link came up with the perfect plan. He used his shield to shove the first Leever away, putting some much-needed distance between them. No longer needing to crouch, Link then rose up to his full height, and brought his sword up before him. He paused for a second.

The Leever he had bashed with his shield quickly recovered, and leapt towards him once more. At the same time, the arrow-stricken Leever lunged at his backside, ready to nip at his heels. Link patiently waited for one more second to pass before swiftly bringing his sword around him in a circular motion.

“Hyah!”

It was a flawlessly executed spin attack. With that single 360-degree slice, Link had struck both Leevers a fatal blow. One of them died instantly, a huge chunk of its body having been cleaved open. The other just fell over in the sand and began gasping for air as its wound slowly paralyzed it. It would soon perish as well.

Finally free of enemies, Link stared back towards the camp. Epona seemed to have relaxed a bit after the Leever had retreated, but Reina was still crying out and shuffling around uncomfortably. She was far from calm.

Zelda, sensing the distressed state of the white mare, jumped down from her position atop the rock and landed next to her steed. She soon reached out and placed a gentle, soothing hand on the horse’s mane. She calmly stroked it a few times, all the while making quiet shushing sounds.

“Be brave, Reina…” she whispered quietly into the horse’s ear. “For me.”

The touch and words seemed to have an effect on Reina, as she quickly started to relax. She ceased her cries as well as her fidgeting, and chose instead to remain perfectly still as Zelda continued to comfort her.

“Good girl,” Zelda mused.

Seeing that the horses were once again safe and under control, Link allowed himself to look away and examine the campsite. All around them were the remains of the now dead Leevers. As he glanced over them, he spotted quite a few that had been shot to death with arrows. Zelda had apparently done a great job of keeping them at bay with her bow. It also seemed that the only Leever that had managed to invade the camp was the one that had slipped by Link, so she had clearly kept a watchful eye out.

Link soon allowed himself to relax a bit. It appeared that all the Leevers had been dealt with, and their campsite was safe once more. However, he soon paused and frowned a little. If that was the case, then why did he still hear a slight scratching sound?

Link glanced around one more time, only to spot the creature at the last second. It had already burrowed its way deep into the camp and was now only mere feet away from Zelda and the horses. With wide eyes, he watched as it burst forth from the sand, directing its fangs towards the Princess.

“Zelda, watch out!” he cried.

Zelda turned to face the creature, her bow in hand. She quickly reached back to her quiver to grab an arrow, but there was no time. The Leever was already upon her and ready to strike. She had no chance of shooting it before it took a bite out of her.

However, what happened next left Link feeling stunned. He watched as a single brown boot flashed from beneath Zelda’s dress, and in an instant, there was now a great distance between the Princess and the Leever. It took Link a second to put together what exactly had happened. She had just kicked the creature away!

Now with plenty of time available to her, Zelda nocked an arrow. She carefully aimed it at the creature and directly fired the shot into its mouth. The Leever just gasped a bit as the air immediately expelled from its body, before it soon fell to its side on the sand. It was dead.

Zelda just stared at it for a moment before she reached up and wiped a bit of sweat from her brow. “Phew, I’m glad I was finally able to discover their vital area. And not a moment too soon.”

Link just stared at the Princess in awe. He knew that she was capable of fighting, but he had not expected her to be quite so skilled in combat. Her accuracy with the bow and her ability to react so quickly to danger was incredibly impressive, to say the least.

Zelda soon looked over and noticed Link staring at her. “Is something wrong, Link? They didn’t get you, did they?”

“No, no, I’m all right” he assured her, forcing himself out of his daze. “I was just amazed is all. That was one hell of a shot.” He soon pointed at the freshly dead Leever with an arrow sticking out of its maw.

Zelda followed his finger and also stared at the creature’s remains for a second. “Oh? Did that surprise you?”

Link nodded. “Honestly…yeah.”

Zelda soon turned back to face him, although this time she had a somewhat smug look on her face. “Were you still underestimating me, Hero?”

Link was surprised at the question, but he quickly tried to defend himself. “What? No, I…I was just…” Link soon paused as he realized that he didn’t really have much of an excuse. He looked away as he hung his shoulders. “Well…maybe I was…”

Zelda gave him a small smile. “They say that underestimating an ally can be just as foolish as underestimating an opponent. Hopefully, you now have an idea of just what exactly I am capable of.”

Link felt a bit embarrassed by all of this. He knew that she was a skilled combatant. He had heard plenty of stories, including a recent tale of how she had assisted her guards in driving out the remainder of the enemy forces from Hyrule Castle, although he had not seen any of it in person. Not that it mattered much, as he had already witnessed her skill firsthand before today, during their final battle against Ganondorf. So of course, deep down, Link knew that Zelda was strong.

And yet, every time danger arose, this simple fact seemed to slip his mind. Why did he get so worried for her safety, only to be surprised when she proved herself time and time again? Was he just being a little overprotective of the Princess? Since he had saved her life once, did he now feel the need to do it over and over again? Link wasn’t sure, and he didn’t even know how he would go about finding answers to these questions, or if he even could for that matter.

However, there was one thing that he now believed with absolute certainty: Zelda was one of the most capable women he had ever met.

Seeing the Princess still giving him a warm smile, Link felt himself return it. “I’ll…keep that in mind,” he told her. He then turned away and began approaching some of the Leevers. “Here, I’ll help you collect your arrows.”

“Much appreciated,” Zelda replied.

The two of them spent a few minutes removing the arrows from the remains of the Leevers. Most of the arrows were covered in blood and some other sort of mucus, but Zelda insisted that she could have them cleaned once she got back to the castle. She soon stashed them away in one of her saddlebags. Meanwhile, Link took a few minutes to remove the creatures’ remains from their campsite. He didn’t want to just leave them there, especially since they would be sleeping only a few feet away. Besides, their corpses might just end up attracting more predators, so it was better to be safe than sorry.

Once he was done, he returned to Zelda, who seemed to have relaxed both Reina and Epona enough to get them to lie back down again. In fact, Reina had already returned to her slumber, but Epona remained awake and stared at her rider as he walked over. She seemed to have been waiting for him.

Link looked up at the sky as he rubbed Epona’s neck a bit. “We should get back to sleep. It’ll still be a few more hours before dawn.”

Zelda gave a single nod. “I agree, although I think it would be best if we took it in shifts. One of us should be keeping watch while the other rests. That way, we can make sure to avoid another ‘surprise attack’ should any more monsters come our way.”

Link nodded back. “Makes sense. Why don’t you go ahead and sleep, and I’ll take the first watch?”

Zelda seemed a little surprised at this. “Oh, are you sure?”

“Yeah, you can rest. I’ll keep an eye out.”

Zelda just stared at him for a second, looking somewhat curious. After a moment, her expression started to seem a bit more skeptical. She held this gaze for a few seconds, and as Link stared back, he started to feel a bit uncomfortable.

“Wh-What?” he stuttered.

Zelda continued to stare at him, but she soon crossed her arms as her features took on more of a playful look. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to stay awake, Link?”

Link felt taken aback. Where had that question come from? “What? Of course I will.”

Zelda smirked a bit. “Really? Because Midna mentioned that you like to doze off at the most inopportune times. She told me that you could fall asleep just about whenever and wherever. Oh, and I believe the specific term she used to refer to you was ‘sleepyhead’.”

Link immediately blushed from embarrassment. Sure, it was true that he liked to take a nap every now and then, and he did enjoy sleeping in too, but why the hell had Midna mentioned any of that to the Princess!? However, upon asking himself this, Link just rolled his eyes as he unconsciously conjured a mental image of the tiny imp, grinning and making fun of him in front of Zelda. What was he thinking? Of course Midna had told Zelda all about his sleeping habits. She had probably thought it was funny. No, not just funny, but absolutely hilarious.  Link soon found himself cursing his Twili friend. She really could be a pain at times.

Zelda noticed the glum look on his face and just gave a small laugh. “Relax, Link. I’m only teasing. I’m certain you’ll be able to stay alert while I rest.”

“Really?” Link asked, still frowning. “You seemed to treasure Midna’s opinion of me just a moment ago.”

Zelda just giggled a bit more. “Well, you’ll just have to prove her wrong then.”

Link was surprised at what Zelda did next. She reached out and gave him a small affectionate pat on the shoulder. Link had not been expecting such sudden reassurance from the Princess, but before he could even react, she had already turned away and started walking back towards Reina.

Link just let out a soft sigh as he sat down next to Epona. He could at least cuddle up next to her while he kept watch. However, just as he was about to get comfortable, he heard Zelda speak up once more.

“Oh, and Link?”

He glanced over at her. “Yes?”

“About earlier…” Zelda paused, as if she was trying to think of what to say. Eventually, she just gave him one last warm smile. “Just know that I admire and respect your strength as well.”

Once again, Link wasn’t quite sure what to say, but it seemed Zelda didn’t even give him the chance. With her final smile, the Princess turned away, knelt down next to Reina, and soon closed her eyes. She had gone to sleep for the night, leaving Link alone to ponder her words in silence.

Notes:

I tend to struggle when writing action scenes, so I hope I did okay here. I was originally only going to have three Leevers attacking the camp, but then I realized that these creatures were easily sliced like butter lol.

Chapter 3: Departure

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 3 – Departure

The next morning, Link and Zelda continued their journey across the Gerudo Desert. Fortunately, the rest of their night had gone by uneventfully, with no other creatures threatening to approach their campsite. As promised, Link had stayed awake for a few hours to keep watch (successfully proving Midna’s comments to be false, Link pointed out) before waking Zelda and switching shifts. Because of this, the two riders were a bit short on sleep, but they insisted on continuing the journey back to Castle Town anyway. The sooner they got back, the sooner they could properly rest.

The two of them proceeded to spend the better part of the day riding towards their destination. Eventually, the sand beneath their horses’ hooves turned to the green plains of Hyrule Field. By this point, they could finally see Hyrule Castle off in the distance. It was now just a straight shot to Castle Town. They continued to ride forward as the hours slowly ticked away.

They finally made it to the castle gates just as sunset was approaching. To their surprise, they found a small cluster of guards standing there and waiting to greet them. Link and Zelda soon pulled their horses’ reins, slowing them to a halt. Link wasn’t sure, but he wondered if this group of guards was supposed to be some sort of welcoming party for them.

Before long, a lone man stepped out from behind the guards and walked to the front. He was very short in stature and appeared to be rather old as well. His head was mostly bald, but he did have a few tufts of gray hair clinging to his sides. His attire consisted of fancy (albeit, somewhat outdated) robes, with Hyrule’s royal crest stitched into the front. He also wore a tiny pair of spectacles, which were small enough for his gentle eyes to peer over should he choose to.

The man soon smiled as he brought his hands out from behind his back and extended them openly. “Ah, how wonderful it is to see your safe return, Princess Zelda.” He finished by giving a small bow in her direction.

Zelda quickly greeted him with a smile. Naturally, she recognized this man as an old friend. “Greetings, Minister Fost. It is good to be back.”

The man known as Fost nodded at her comment and soon turned towards Link. He also gave the hero a proper bow. “And of course, it is good to see you as well, Master Link, our young hero.”

“Er, thanks…” Link replied awkwardly. He had to admit, he didn’t feel very comfortable hearing the title of “Master” precede his name.

Once the introductions were complete, Fost took a moment to look them up and down. “So how was your journey? Safe and free of peril, I hope?”

Zelda soon lowered herself from her horse, and Link did the same. They were now able to communicate with Fost on an equal level. Or at least, that’s what they would be able to say, if Link and Zelda didn’t stand head and shoulders above the small elderly man.

“Safe enough,” Zelda replied, not bothering to mention their encounter in the desert.

“I see that Princess Midna is no longer with you. Is it safe to assume that she has successfully departed back to her world?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, Midna has returned home, safe and sound. We made sure to escort her to the Mirror and say our farewells.”

Fost soon clasped his hands together. “Wonderful! I’m glad to hear that she is now back where she belongs. I’ll happily pass this news along to the rest of the Council as well.” Fost then paused for a moment. “I will admit that I had my reservations about sending the three of you off into the desert on your own, but it seems that they were unnecessary. I’m certain you did an excellent job of escorting her, Princess. And you as well, Master Link.”

Link couldn’t help but wince again when he heard his name addressed with a title. He really wasn’t sure he could ever get used to something like this. It just felt too out of place for him. At the same time, Link also couldn’t help but notice that Zelda had not reacted to the use of her title at all. Even though Fost had referred to her as “Princess”, she hadn’t shown any of the distaste that she had when Link had used that title. If anything, she seemed perfectly fine with it. What was up with that?

“Thank you, Fost,” was all Zelda said in response, not even bothering to use the elder man’s title. This just caused Link to give her an even more surprised look. Why did he feel like all he knew of proper etiquette was suddenly being turned on its head?

Fost himself didn’t bat an eye at the lack of title, and just smiled in return. He soon gestured towards the castle gate, and the guards that were assembled behind him began to divide, stepping away to clear a path. “Now, let’s get the two of you inside. We have been eagerly awaiting your return, and I have made sure that a hearty meal was prepared in advance. We’ll also get your horses to the stables and make sure that they get a proper rest.” He soon began walking inside, beckoning for Link and Zelda to follow.

“You’re as welcoming as ever, Minister,” Zelda told him with a small smile.

“Of course. I wouldn’t dare do anything less for you, Princess. Especially on the cusp of such good news.”

“That’s very sweet of you,” Zelda told him, stifling a hint of a giggle.

Link followed behind Zelda and led Epona while he walked. As he did so, he couldn’t help but stare at Fost with a curious look. He had met the Minister a few times before (after his final battle with Ganondorf), and his general impressions of him was that he was a kindhearted, gentle old man. Someone who was always polite and friendly to those around him. But even so, Link had never expected to see him quite like this. He didn’t know how to put it, but when Fost was around Zelda, he almost seemed like a doting parent. Or perhaps a butler was more accurate? Either way, it was clear that Fost had every intention of providing Zelda with the best service possible. And once again, Zelda just seemed to accept his attitude as if it was normal. Had Fost always been this way and he’d just failed to notice it in their previous encounters?

Much to Link’s surprise, he soon found that this generosity seemed to extend to himself as Fost spoke up once more. “I’ve also had a room prepared for you, Master Link, so you can safely rest here in the castle for the night. Let me know if you need anything during your stay, and I’ll make sure that one of the servants assists you immediately.”

Link just gave him a blank stare. In addition to having a title, it felt just as weird to be treated like royalty. “Um…thank you, Minister.”

“Ah, that reminds me,” Zelda said suddenly. She soon halted Reina’s advance so she could remove one of the bags from her saddle. She then handed the bag to Fost. “Would you be able to have someone clean these arrows for me? We encountered a small skirmish, and they became rather…” Zelda paused as she thought of an appropriate word. “…messy.”

Fost graciously accepted the bag with a bow. “Why of course, Princess. I’ll have it taken care of right–OH MY HEAVENS!” The short man’s eyes nearly popped out of his sockets as he opened the bag and peered inside. He then gingerly reached a hand inside to retrieve the clean part of an arrow, only to pull it out and reveal the rest of it was covered in dried blood. “Wh-What exactly happened here, Princess!? It looks as if a massacre took place!”

“That’s not entirely inaccurate,” Zelda replied, keeping a calm expression. “While we were in the desert, our campsite was attacked by a small group of Leevers. Link and I fought them off until they were destroyed.”

In spite of the Princess’s nonchalant description of events, Fost looked like he had just been hit by a horse and carriage. His eyes were wide, his jaw was hanging open, and his brows were far too high on his forehead. “Leevers!?” he repeated. “You mean to tell me that those grotesque things were trying to harm our innocent Princess? Leevers!?” Fost soon closed his eyes and began shaking his head in disapproval. “Oh, curse my incompetence! I should have known that it was too dangerous to send the Princess off into the desert without any guards! I should’ve never let her go in the first place. Leevers!”

Link just watched this frantic display with an uncomfortable frown. It seemed to Link that Fost also had a habit of blowing things out of proportion, and based on Zelda’s current expression, she seemed to agree with him.

“Fost, it really wasn’t as dangerous as you say,” Zelda said with a sigh. “Link and I escaped from them without a scratch, as well as our horses. I can assure you, our short trip to the desert was not the death of me.”

Fost just shook his head some more. “Ah, but what if it had been? What if you had been injured by one of those hideous creatures during your journey? You would have been stranded out there, with no one around to come to your aid! And then where would I be? Here, filled with regret and remorse and cursing myself for my lack of responsibility. Oh, and then what would your father say after learning that I had allowed his only daughter to go on such a perilous journey?”

“He’d say that you’re too much of a worrywart, I should hope,” Zelda said flatly. Link couldn’t help but smile at this comment.

Fost frowned, and soon raised the bloodied arrow before her, shaking it a bit. “Oh, you may jest, but this incident is not as mild as you think! Mark my words, Princess, for the sake of your own safety, I will personally see to it that you do not have any further escapades outside of this castle anytime soon!” he finished with a huff. He then stored the arrow back inside the bag and continued walking towards the castle.

“We’ll see,” Zelda whispered to Link with a smirk.

Link just scratched the back of his head, not quite sure what to say. He certainly had a lot of thoughts on his mind, but he didn’t even know where to start.

Once they were inside the castle’s courtyard, the gate was shut behind them. The guards that had been accompanying them soon dispersed, likely returning to whatever positions they had held before Fost had assembled them. Meanwhile, the short Minister turned around the face the duo once more.

“It would probably be best if I took my leave. I’ll go have these arrows taken care of,” he said, raising the bag a bit. “Your dinner should also be ready shortly.”

Zelda just gave him a nod. “We’ll take our horses to the stable and then I’ll show Link where the dining hall is.”

“Very good, Princess,” Fost said with a bow. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” The short man soon walked off, making his way towards the front doors of the castle. Link and Zelda were now left alone with their horses. Without a word, they slowly began leading their animals in the direction of the stables.

As they walked in silence, Link finally felt like he was free to voice some of his thoughts. “Minister Fost is…um, an interesting guy, huh?”

Zelda allowed herself a small smile. “That’s one way to put it.”

“I’ve met him a few times before, but I’ve never seen him act so…” Link paused, trying to find the right word.

“Extreme?” Zelda offered.

Link nervously frowned. “Well, I’m not sure that’s the word I would use, although I suppose it fits.”

Zelda continued to smile. “I’m sure when you met him before, he acted more reserved and polite, but trust me, the display you saw but a short while ago is a more accurate depiction of his true self.”

“You didn’t seem that surprised by it,” Link noted.

“Of course not. I’ve known Minister Fost for a long time, and I’ve seen him act like that on hundreds of occasions. Sometimes over the smallest of things.”

Link took a moment to ponder her words before arriving at another thought. “He seemed rather protective of you. Is there a reason for that?”

“You mean aside from me being the Royal Princess?” Zelda asked with a smirk. “I suppose there is. Ever since I was little, Fost has taken it upon himself to look after me and even help raise me. He likes to think of himself as my caretaker, and while that means he is always generously looking out for my wellbeing, it also means that he feels the need to constantly worry over my safety, no matter how small the ‘danger’ may be. I truly believe that he worries too much for his own good.”

Zelda then paused, before frowning a bit and taking on a more serious tone. “Not that his concern is entirely unfounded though. I wasn’t able to be in contact with him during the Twilight Invasion, but I could only imagine that he was worried sick over me the entire time.”

Link just gave a short nod, recalling how the Princess had been isolated in a tower throughout the whole thing. “Yeah, I can imagine that too…”

The two of them continued to walk in silence for a moment, the dark memories of their recent crisis still fresh in their minds. However, they soon pushed them away, as neither one of them cared to dwell on such thoughts for long.

“I suppose I can’t be too upset with him,” Zelda continued, allowing herself another small smile. “He only wants what’s best for me, after all. And in spite of his constant exclamations, he really is a kind soul.”

Link nodded in understanding, before moving on to the next topic that had caught his curiosity.

“Would you say that the two of you are rather close?”

Zelda nodded. “I would. I still find him to be something of a nuisance on occasion, but I think of him fondly all the same.”

“Can I ask you something then?”

“Of course.”

Link turned to face Zelda head-on. “Why don’t you mind if Fost refers to you as ‘Princess’?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows a bit. “Oh, you noticed that?”

Link just frowned. “It’s hard not to, when you made such a fuss about me doing it.”

Zelda looked away as she pondered the question. “It’s true, I don’t mind when Fost addresses me by my title. If I had to say why, it’s probably because that’s just how he’s always referred to me, ever since I was a girl. I suppose it would feel strange if he suddenly changed it after all these years. Not to mention, he’s had this etiquette ingrained into him since the day he was born. He would never dare refer to a member of the royal family by name alone, even if I insisted on it. In fact, I imagine if you asked him, he’d assure you that he’d rather die than refer to me in such an ‘improper’ way.”

Upon hearing this, Link just gave a scowl. With all this talk of etiquette, he couldn’t help but feel like he was in a terribly bad position. “And yet you insist on me referring to you by name?”

“Of course,” Zelda replied without hesitation.

Link frowned and scratched the back of his head a bit. “But…won’t that make me stand out? Especially when I’m here at the castle?”

Zelda glanced over. “What’s the matter? Are you still worried you’ll offend someone?”

Link wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Well…maybe…”

Zelda watched him for a second, but soon gave him a small smile. “You should consider yourself lucky to call me by name. It’s not a favor that I extend to just anyone, you know.”

“Lucky, huh?” Link said with a sigh. He then paused. “Hey wait, how many others are there?”

Zelda closed her eyes as she faced forward once more. “That’s a secret.”

Link just groaned as he faced forward too. Was it just him, or did the Princess take great pleasure in teasing him? Not unlike a certain imp that he had been traveling with up until recently…

The two of them soon reached the stables, where a lone guard saluted them. “Good evening, Your Highness,” he said with the utmost respect.

For Link, this just served as yet another painful reminder of his situation. He soon sighed and let it go though. Being a ranch hand from Ordon, it’s not like he had ever cared much about etiquette anyway. He just wished that he wasn’t the only one calling Zelda by name. In fact, he wished that Midna were here with him. Link knew that she would never refer to Zelda as “Princess”, unless it was in a condescending or playful way. Midna may have been a bit too mischievous for her own good, but Link had never minded her lack of manners.

“So when do you plan to depart?”

“Huh?” Link asked, suddenly being pulled from his thoughts. He turned to find Zelda staring at him again. They were currently inside the stable, leading their horses into the nearest empty stalls.

“You said that you intended to return to Ordon Village. When do you plan to depart?”

“Oh, uh…tomorrow morning, probably,” Link said with a shrug. “Epona and I will rest here for the night, and then we can leave at dawn.”

Zelda nodded. “Understood. I’ll be there to see you off.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Link said with a small wave of his hand.

“I insist.”

Link just stared at the Princess for a second before shrugging. He didn’t care to argue against her anymore. Besides, he figured it might actually be nice to get a proper farewell before departing the castle. He wasn’t sure when he would see her again, after all.

 

---

 

The next morning, Link went to the stable to retrieve Epona, before leading her towards the castle gate. As promised, Zelda was standing there, ready to see him off.

“Good morning,” the Princess greeted him with a smile. “It seems that the Goddesses have blessed your departure with good weather today. Nothing but clear skies overhead.”

Link looked up and smiled. It was true. It did look like it was going to be a good day for travel. He then patted Epona on the neck before turning to Zelda. “We’re off to Kakariko Village first. That’s where the children from Ordon are still staying. Rusl sent me a message saying he would meet me there with a carriage ready to go, and then we can all finally return back home.”

Zelda nodded at his words. “It sounds as if you have been looking forward to this for a while now.”

“Of course,” Link replied with a grin. “I may have went on an amazing adventure and saved Hyrule, but Ordon Village is still my home, after all. It’ll be nice to return and take it easy for a while.”

Zelda gave him a charmed look. “A hero who returns to his roots. I like it.”

Link rubbed the back of his neck a bit. He hadn’t been expecting such admiration for simply speaking his mind. He then reached over and grabbed the hilt of the sword resting on his back. He raised it up a bit. “Speaking of returning, I plan to return this to its home as well.”

Zelda gasped as she gazed upon the legendary blade. “The Master Sword? You’re going to return it?”

Link nodded. “Yes, now that my adventure has come to an end, I no longer have an urgent need for it. I think it would be a good idea to return it to its pedestal in the Sacred Grove.”

Zelda just stared at him, still looking quite surprised. “Are you sure about this, Link? You may not need it now, but you never know when you might have to face another dangerous threat. Wouldn’t it be best to keep it at your side?”

Link shook his head. He had already made up his mind about this. “No, I think it’s better to leave it in the Sacred Grove, for future generations to find should they ever need it. My time with it is done. The land is at peace now. Besides, should I ever need it again, I can always go back and take it up once more.”

Zelda continued to stare at him, but eventually gave him an impressed look. “That’s actually rather wise.”

Link rubbed his neck a bit. “Give me some credit here. I did think about it a lot, you know.”

“Being a hero of the Kingdom though, you’ll still need a weapon. Have you given any thought to that?”

Link nodded. “I can have a new one forged in Ordon. An ordinary sword, for solving ordinary troubles.”

“As humble as ever,” Zelda said with a smile.

The two of them stood in silence after that. Eventually, Link gave a satisfied sigh as he patted Epona’s neck once again. “I guess we should be off then.”

Zelda nodded in agreement. “Yes, I don’t want to keep you here when you have other duties to attend to. However, before you go, please allow me to say one thing.”

Link looked over and watched as Zelda clasped her hands together. She then stared him right in the eye.

“Link, hero chosen by the Goddesses, thank you for everything you have done for me and our Kingdom. I am eternally grateful for your actions which have led to our ultimate victory. You have risked your own life to save the countless lives of others. If it were not for you, I daresay we would not be standing here under such peaceful skies…” Zelda paused for a bit, and then bowed her head. “I doubt that words can ever express just how much you have done for us, and I doubt that they can truly express the extent of my gratitude, but allow me to say this all the same: Thank you, Link. May the Goddesses continue to smile upon you.”

Zelda soon raised her head to find Link standing there looking surprised. He awkwardly scratched the side of his head with a single finger. “You’re welcome, Zelda. It was my pleasure.”

Zelda just smiled at his modesty. It really was one of his most charming qualities. “Link, if you should ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. Hyrule would be happy to return any of the countless favors that you have done for us.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Link promised.

Zelda continued to stare at him for a moment before turning her attention to Epona. She approached the chestnut horse and softly stroked her muzzle a few times. “Epona, take good care of Link, all right? Every hero needs a faithful steed, and I’m counting on you to keep him safe.”

Epona gave a satisfied whinny, clearly pleased with the sudden attention she was receiving. Zelda giggled a bit before retreating.

“Sounds like someone is excited to hit the road,” Link said with a smile of his own. He soon hoisted himself up into the saddle.

“Link, one last thing before you go,” Zelda said, calling his attention back to the ground. “Please return to the castle once you have some time. I’m still counting on you to assist with Hyrule’s recovery effort, and we will have a great many things to discuss.”

Link gave a confident nod. “I promise, I’ll come back as soon as I am able.”

“Thank you. Farewell and safe journeys.”

“Farewell, Zelda. See you again soon.”

With an excited look in his eye, Link snapped Epona’s reins. The horse, eager to take off, quickly began galloping towards the castle gate. Zelda watched as they made their departure, smiling the entire time.

She looked forward to the day they would meet again.

Notes:

Here I have introduced the first of what will likely end up being many OC’s: Minister Fost. I’ve tried to make him a kindhearted, yet overprotective, older gentleman. I felt like his attitude might mesh well with Zelda, leading to some fun, humorous situations.

Part of the reason I chose to write him this way (as well as a lot of other characters I will introduce at some point) is because of some of the other Zelda fanfiction stories I’ve read. I’ve noticed that a lot of these stories tend to have people close to Zelda working against her and making her life difficult…which is honestly kind of depressing lol. I do know that it leads to good conflict though, which is all well and good, but my story will be focusing on a different conflict altogether (to be revealed later, of course hehe…), so I wanted to at least surround Zelda with some happier, friendlier faces. Besides, she deserves a break after everything she’s been through, right?

By the way, something I have come to quickly learn while writing this story, is that when you have the story take place in a castle setting, and the original game doesn’t provide any named characters that live in said castle, you kind of have to fill in all of the blanks yourself lol. Which can be a lot of work, but I’m trying to have fun with it. Look forward to meeting all of the other random OC’s I’ve come up with in due time.

Chapter 4: Father and Daughter

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 4 – Father and Daughter

A few weeks had passed since Link’s departure from the castle. As expected, Zelda’s days had become quite busy during this time. She was currently trying to organize numerous plans to aid in Hyrule’s reconstruction effort. Naturally, this required a lot of brainstorming as well as discussions with the Hyrule Council, which consumed the majority of her time. Unfortunately, they had yet to put any concrete actions or solutions into place, but Zelda was at least satisfied to know that progress was being made.

In addition to meeting with the Council, Zelda had also made sure to set aside time to meet with her father, the man known formally as King Caius Vesperi Hyrule. Due to unfortunate circumstances, the King was unable to join in on the Hyrule Council meetings, so Zelda took it upon herself to keep him informed. He was currently resting in a bed in the castle infirmary. This was just another reason why Zelda made time to visit him, so she could check up on his well-being. Otherwise, she would often find herself fraught with worry. It was a very serious condition after all…

The King had been stricken with poison. The shocking deed had taken place the very night before the Twilight Invasion occurred. It seemed that someone had snuck a venom into Caius’s dinner, and upon its consumption, the King was immediately rendered comatose. From that point on, the situation quickly deteriorated into a fight for his life. Fortunately, the castle doctor was called upon and was able to administer treatment as quickly as possible. It was a hard-fought battle, but with the doctor’s attempts to counteract the poison’s effects, it seemed that the King’s life had at least been spared. 

Zelda only later discovered that Zant was responsible for the poisoning. He had ordered one of his servants to sneak the toxins into the King’s meal in the hopes that it would remove him as an obstacle, and provide Zant with an easy, uninhibited invasion of the castle. And it seemed his plan had been successful, for Caius remained unconscious for the entirety of the initial attack.

It was for this reason that Zelda had to face Zant’s invasive forces alone. With her father out of commission, she was the sole remaining leader that her people could call upon. So she gathered up what men were available and made her stand against Zant, only to inevitably surrender her Kingdom over to him.

Caius had been imprisoned in the infirmary after that. Zelda herself had been imprisoned in one of the castle’s towers, so she had no way of contacting him or even knowing if he was still alive. Fortunately, the doctor had also been imprisoned in the infirmary alongside the King, and he was able to continue his treatment against the poison throughout the entirety of the Twilight Invasion.

From what Zelda heard afterward, fighting the poison had been no easy task. The doctor had been forced to work with limited materials, and even then, he was dealing with something that he had never witnessed before. The venom itself was a completely unknown substance, something the likes of which Hyrule had never seen or documented. The doctor could only describe its scent as something that radiated a dark and sinister aura. Zelda assumed that it must have been something that was native to the Twilight Realm, which Zant had brought with him.

During the Twilight Invasion, the King did manage to regain consciousness from time to time, but these moments were only filled with pain and misery. In addition to the forced slumber, Caius also faced a high fever, constant chills, a cough that sounded like death itself, and even hallucinations at times. For the doctor, it became increasingly difficult to determine if his treatment was actually aiding or hindering the battle against the venom. Either way, the King could do nothing other than lie there in agony as the Twilight Invasion ravaged his Kingdom.

Fortunately, once the threat of the Twilight came to an end, things did start to improve. Finally released from his imprisonment, the doctor was able to acquire some much-need medical supplies from Castle Town. This, along with his constantly growing experience of dealing with the poison, allowed him to finally move things in a better direction. Before long, the King was able to open his eyes without groaning in pain, and the first thing he gazed upon was Zelda, sitting by his bedside. Needless to say, after everything they had been through, the two of them ended up enjoying an incredibly happy reunion.

Fast forward to the present, and the King’s condition was no longer the worst-case scenario, although it was still far from ideal. The doctor had confined him to bed, believing that taking things easy and continuing to get plenty of rest would be best for improving his condition. His symptoms still consisted of having a nasty cough as well as a great amount of fatigue. He tended to tire easily and only stayed awake for a fraction of the day. Still, his current state was like night and day when compared to how he was initially after the poisoning. Zelda had to constantly remind herself that this was something to be thankful for.

On this particular day, Zelda made her way to the infirmary, a pleasant smile on her lips. She didn’t have time to visit her father every day, so she always made sure to treasure the days that she did.

Zelda entered the medical room, where a number of empty beds lined the walls. She soon walked past them and over towards a doorway at the end of the room. This led to a small room that was connected to the infirmary, yet secluded from it as well, to allow the patient some privacy. This small room is where the King currently resided.

Upon arriving at the doorway, Zelda peeked inside. The room consisted of nothing more than a small but comfortable looking bed and a few cabinets lining the walls. As expected, the bed was currently occupied by her father, a middle-aged man with a kind yet stern disposition. His hair was dark in color, with a few strands of gray here and there. His eyes were the same sapphire blue as Zelda’s, a perfect match between parent and child. On his chin, the only facial hair to be found was a well-kept goatee. As Zelda gazed upon him, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride. In spite of his illness, her father still held a majestic air about him. It seemed that even a deadly poison could only do so much to diminish the stature of a King.

Caius was currently up in a sitting position, which Zelda assumed meant that he must be taking a break from his all but constant slumber. As she watched him, she noticed that he was staring out the nearby window, looking at the sunny skies overhead. Her smile widened a bit as she chose to announce her presence. “Good morning, father.”

The King soon turned in the direction of her voice. Upon seeing his daughter, his face quickly broke into a smile of his own. “Good morning, Zelda. How lovely it is to see you visit again.” His voice was strong and somewhat deep, but it had a steadiness to it that Zelda had always found calming.

“It is good to see you as well. How are you faring today?”

Caius soon flashed her a confident grin, and even flexed one of his arms. “I feel as strong as an ox!”

Zelda just raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Really? That good?”

He firmly nodded. “Of course. You can’t expect this poison to keep me down forever, can you?”

Zelda gave him a somewhat skeptical look as she took a seat in a chair next to his bed. “Well, that is certainly good news to hear…” she said hesitantly.

Naturally, the King caught her tone. “Oh? And yet you don’t sound very pleased.”

“It’s hard to be pleased when I suspect my father is lying to me,” Zelda shot back, still holding a skeptical stare. She then sighed a bit. “I should hope that you are not pushing yourself too hard to make a recovery. The doctor said that it will take some time before you are back to good health.”

Her father waved a hand at her in dismissal. “I’ve already spent a lot of time recovering. Who’s to say that the Goddesses haven’t finally decided to bless my health and send it in a better direction?”

Zelda smiled a bit. “Well, I appreciate your optimism, although I still feel some concern.”

“And I appreciate your concern, but I assure you, it is entirely un-” Caius paused as his words caught in his throat. He soon brought a handkerchief up to cover his mouth just as he violently began to cough. His body rocked back and forth a bit as the air was painfully forced out of him.

Zelda just winced as she listened to him. It sounded like he was hacking up a lung and a half. It really was a dreadful sound, and she hated hearing it.

Eventually, the violent hacking started to subside, although the King did still suffer through a few more coughs before it truly finished. Once it was over, he timidly lowered his handkerchief, and took one long, tired breath. He then glanced over at Zelda, and gave her a sheepish smile.

“Well…maybe I’m not completely fine, but I am doing much better...”

Zelda just stared at him for a second before sighing and shaking her head. “This is what I’m worried about, father. You are most certainly not ‘fine’, not even close. Even ‘better’ seems to be a bit of a stretch.”

Caius scratched the side of his head a bit. “All right, the cough is still pretty bad, I admit.”

Suddenly, a new voice came from outside the room. “Aye, you can say that again.” Zelda and Caius turned to see the castle’s doctor walk through the doorway, his hands resting behind his back.

Zelda greeted him with a small smile. “Good morning, Doctor Roswald.”

The man known as Roswald gave a slight bow before returning her smile. “Good morning, Princess Zelda. It is a pleasure to see you as always.”

“The pleasure is my own,” Zelda said with a nod. “Thank you for always allowing me entry.”

“Of course, you’re welcome here any time.” The doctor glanced over at his patient for a second before facing the Princess once more. “I take it you’ve come to inspect the health of His Majesty again?”

“Yes, although I find it a bit difficult to gauge such a thing.” Zelda paused, giving her father a sharp look out of the corner of her eye. “Tell me Doctor, is he really improving? Or is my father’s word not to be trusted?”

The King just gave her a look of exaggerated betrayal. “Oh my sweet, only daughter, Zelda…Why would you doubt your dear father’s words?”

Zelda just closed her eyes and crossed her arms, shutting him out completely. “Because he tends to overestimate himself instead of worrying about his health and well-being.”

The doctor chuckled at the banter between father and daughter. He then gave Zelda a reassuring smile. “Yes, he is improving, although it is an incredibly slow and delicate process. It seems that the poison is still running its course through him, and when dealing with such a foreign substance, it is impossible to determine when it will completely subside. There’s even a chance that he may get worse before he’s allowed to get better.”

“That’s awful,” Zelda said with a frown. She turned to her father with a sympathetic look. “To think that you’ve suffered for so long already, and there isn’t even a definitive end in sight.”

Caius stared at her troubled expression for a moment before sighing. “I believe this poison should have taken my life on the very night they gave it to me. The only reason I’ve survived for this long is because of the doctor’s good work. I’d like to think that I’m rather fortunate to still be here at all. Don’t forget that, Zelda.”

Zelda gave a nod as she mindlessly stared down at the bedsheets. “I know…I just hope that your suffering doesn’t go on for too much longer.”

“It’s hardly suffering at this point,” Caius assured her. “It’s more of a minor inconvenience, if anything.”

“Still, I would appreciate it if you started showing your health a bit of concern,” Zelda pointed out.

“You should listen to the Princess, Your Majesty,” Roswald suddenly interjected, giving the King a stern look. “She speaks with great wisdom.”

Caius heavily frowned and gave the doctor a wave of his hand. “Oh phooey. What do you know?”

The doctor just sighed as he shook his head. “Stubborn as always.” He soon departed the room, returning to the main section of the infirmary.

Now that the father and daughter were alone once more, Zelda gave him a tired look. She soon spoke up softly. “Father, please tell me, what could possibly be a greater concern for you right now other than your own wellbeing?”

The King gazed at his daughter with a frown. They sat in silence for a few seconds before he eventually sighed again. “I’m not worried about such things. I’m more worried about you right now.”

Zelda blinked. “What? Me?”

Caius slowly nodded. “Yes, I’m more stressed out by the thought of how much of a burden has been placed upon you with me in this state. Leading our Kingdom, making plans with the Council, keeping things organized and running smoothly. You wouldn’t have to endure such things if I was capable of performing my duties as King.”

Zelda detected a heavy hint of guilt in his tone. She quickly tried to dissuade him. “Father, please, it is not as big a burden as you make it sound. These tasks are easily manageable, and the Council has offered me much support. Besides, as the heir to the royal throne, it is my responsibility to be capable of carrying out such tasks. How could I ever expect to lead this Kingdom if I were unable to perform these duties?”

Caius bowed his head a bit. “Yes, but that is not all. You also had to endure the Twilight Invasion, stepping forth to lead when I was unable to.”

Zelda frowned. She was starting to understand just how much remorse he felt. “Father, you are not to blame. Even if you hadn’t been poisoned, what would you have done?”

“I would have been there by your side, making sure you were safe and free from harm,” the King said solemnly. “I still shudder at the thought of everything you had to go through alone.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda provided her father with a small smile. “I wasn’t completely alone. I did have two companions that I could rely on.”

Caius glanced over, allowing himself a small smile as well. “Ah, Princess Midna and the Hero Link?”

Zelda gave a proud nod. “Of course. With them by my side, things were not nearly as dark as you would believe. They provided me with hope and kept me safe through the worst of it.”

“I’ll admit that knowing that does put my heart at ease…if only a little bit,” Caius replied with a bigger smile. “I was able to speak briefly with Midna before her departure, but I have yet to meet our Kingdom’s young hero. After hearing of his escapades and accomplishments, I should think that I need to thank him in person.”

Zelda nodded once more. “He promised to return to the castle when he has some time. I can arrange for you to have an audience with him then.”

“That would be wonderful.”

The two of them continued to discuss things for a while, such as recent Council topics and other reconstruction plans. Zelda made sure to inform him of all the current proceedings, and Caius chimed in with his own opinion from time to time. He also instructed Zelda to bring up his comments at the next Council meeting, hoping that they would aid in the discussion. Naturally, she committed said comments to memory and promised to mention them to the other Council members.

Unfortunately, their discussion was cut short when the King experienced another violet coughing fit. Zelda could do nothing more than wince and wait for it to pass just as she had before. By the time the sudden storm of hacking had finished, Caius looked incredibly worn out.

Fearing for his health, Zelda soon rose to her feet. “Perhaps I have overstayed my welcome. You need your rest.”

The King looked as if he wanted to argue, but one stern glare from Zelda was all it took for him to back down. Besides, he couldn’t help but admit that he was starting to feel rather tired. “Very well. Getting some rest will probably do me some good.”

Zelda smiled at his sudden change in attitude. She soon leaned over and gave him a small kiss on the side of his temple. She then took a moment to adjust his pillows and provide him with a comfortable place to lay his head. He soon lowered himself back, allowing himself to relax.

“Thank you,” he told her.

Zelda just gave him a sympathetic smile as he lay in his sickbed. “I wish I could do more for you.”

Caius smiled back. “Just knowing that you are safe and well does good things for my health. I can’t imagine how distraught I would be if you were the one that had been poisoned instead of myself.”

“I’m glad to know that my presence sets you at ease. I promise I’ll be back to visit soon.”

“I look forward to it.”

As Zelda turned to leave, she took a moment to scan the room. Her eyes fell upon the window, the only source of light in this otherwise dismal environment. She recalled how her father had been staring at the sunny weather when she had first entered the room.

Zelda turned to her father once more. “This room is rather dreary, isn’t it? Perhaps I’ll have to bring a vase and some flowers the next time I come to visit, to help liven things up.”

Upon hearing this, Caius’s face brightened a bit. “That would be greatly appreciated.”

Zelda gave him one last smile. “Take care of yourself, father.”

“I will,” he promised.

With that, Zelda turned around and took her leave. On the way out, she made sure to say farewell to the doctor and thank him for his hard work. She then departed from the infirmary, moving on to other parts of the castle.

Before long, the Princess stepped outside the castle’s walls and into the warm sunny weather that her father seemed to have been yearning for. She closed her eyes and brought her face up towards the sun, allowing herself to soak in its warm rays for a moment. This, in combination with the soft breeze blowing her way, put Zelda in a tranquil state of mind.

Perhaps spending some time out here will do me some good as well, she mused with a smile.

Pursuing this thought, Zelda opened her eyes and glanced at a path leading off to the side. She did have some free time in her schedule, so she figured she might as well use that time to relax and enjoy herself a bit. Days like this didn’t come often, after all.

Reaching a decision, Zelda began making her way towards her new destination: the luxurious castle garden.

Notes:

Here we have another new character, the King of Hyrule himself, Caius Vesperi Hyrule. I tried to give him a name that sounded befitting of royalty. I chose “Caius” because I thought it sounded kind of regal, and I gave him the middle name of “Vesperi” because I was told that this means “Twilight” in Latin. Kind of fitting for the King that rules during the age of Twilight, no?

As expected of his stature, I tried to make Caius a mature and respected individual, but I’ve also given him some fun qualities as well. The same qualities you might expect to see from a young Princess Zelda in just about any of the Legend of Zelda games. I like to think he can be fun, high-spirited, and even playful from time to time. I feel this definitely makes him a more interesting character than if he was just serious all the time, and it also allows him and Zelda to have a more natural as well as loving relationship. I’ve quickly found that I enjoy writing scenes where these two are together.

One thing that I always wondered about when playing Twilight Princess was what had happened to the King and Queen (I mean, I wonder this same thing in just about every Zelda game, but whatever lol). Zelda is still a Princess, suggesting that she hasn’t fully inherited the role of Queen from her parent(s), and yet she is the one that stands up to Zant when the Kingdom is under attack. I’ve seen some people say that her parents are dead and she just hadn’t been officially crowned as Queen yet, but I preferred to take things in another direction. That’s why I decided to come up with the story that the King had been poisoned during the Twilight Invasion. This way his absence during the game’s events is perfectly explained, and yet he can still be involved in the story that takes place afterward. Win-win!

Chapter 5: The Garden Incident

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 5 – The Garden Incident

As Zelda approached the garden, located within the castle’s main courtyard, she was met with an unexpected sight. She spotted the head gardener, a man known as Ernest who was responsible for maintaining all of the castle’s flowerbeds, hedges, and lawn; a job that he himself described as “retaining the castle’s outer beauty”. He found great pleasure in his work, and he tended to take pride in how well-kept and organized everything was, especially the castle garden.

Today, however, things seemed different. Zelda watched as Ernest was currently pushing a wheelbarrow full of dirt, all the while muttering under his breath with an angry glare stuck to his face. He seemed to be in a rather foul mood, even in spite of the wonderful weather; something that ordinarily would have made the gardener quite ecstatic. As if to emphasize his agitated temperament, the man continued to grumble as he parked the wheelbarrow and began to roughly shovel some dirt around the edges of a nearby flowerbed.

Zelda was honestly surprised to see him like this. It was a look that was rather uncharacteristic for the typically jolly man. She quickly started to grow curious, wondering if something was amiss.

She didn’t have much time to ponder the situation for long though, as Ernest soon noticed her presence and instantly dropped his bothered expression. Adopting a more pleasant attitude, he set his shovel aside and quickly walked over to her. “Ah, good day, Your Highness,” he said, greeting her with a happy smile.

Zelda set aside her curiosity for a moment and returned his greeting. “Good day, Ernest. How are you doing?”

“Wonderful, just wonderful,” the man replied, still flashing a cheerful smile. However, in spite of his words, Zelda couldn’t help but notice that he was rubbing his hands together over and over, almost as if he was nervous. She raised her eyebrows a bit at this, but continued the conversation anyway.

“The weather is lovely today, isn’t it?”

Ernest gave her a fervent nod. “Yes indeed, this weather is so lovely that it could only have been crafted by the Goddesses themselves.”

Zelda nodded back. “Agreed.”

A gentle breeze blew overhead, and their conversation fell into silence for a moment. As Zelda stared at Ernest, she noticed some small cracks starting to form in his joyful smile. Even now, she could tell that his nerves were still threatening to overtake him, although she wasn’t sure what could possibly have him feeling so troubled.

“May I ask what brings you here today, Your Highness?” Ernest suddenly asked her. His voice kept a positive tone, although Zelda did detect a bit of instability hidden within it.

“I was planning to enjoy a walk through the garden on this beautiful day.”

Zelda watched as the color quickly drained from the man’s face. His smile faltered, and after a second, his mouth seemed to be fumbling for words. “Oh…Oh dear. I’m terribly sorry, Your Highness, but I must advise against it. A stroll through the garden today might prove to be a rather…unpleasant experience.”

The Princess just stared at the man. “Oh? And why is that?”

The man avoided her stare, looking off in any other direction he could find. His nerves were now on full display. “My Lady, I don’t wish to burden you with such undesirable knowledge…”

Zelda raised her eyebrows some more, and gave him a stern frown. “Nonsense. I insist that you fill me in at once.”

Ernest frowned again, clearly unwilling to continue this conversation. Nevertheless, he soon released a sigh and spoke up. “Yes, Princess…You see, I was merely taking advantage of this wonderful weather, fulfilling my duties and working hard in the garden, when a disturbance arose, suddenly distracting me.”

“A disturbance?” Zelda repeated.

“Yes,” Ernest said, almost hissing a bit as the word came out. By this point, he seemed to be allowing the foul mood that Zelda had noticed earlier to surface once more. “Apparently, some oaf wandered into the castle gardens, and it seems that in his infinite ignorance, he lost his footing near the main garden path. He then promptly plummeted straight into one of the flowerbeds, effectively destroying it with his body, so much so that it is now beyond unrecognizable. The flowers were crushed, dirt was flung everywhere, and what was once beautiful has now been stained and torn apart. I daresay that it almost looks as if a battle has taken place there, with the flowerbed being trampled under foot.”

As he finished, Ernest hung his head, almost as if he was mourning what was lost. Meanwhile, Zelda just eyed him with an almost bemused look. “Oh, that’s all?”

Ernest quickly raised his head, if only so he could gawk at the Princess. “That’s all?” he repeated incredulously.

Zelda just crossed her arms. “You made it sound as if the garden had been destroyed beyond repair. But you’re telling me it was only one of the numerous flowerbeds that was ruined? This hardly seems to be something worth fretting over.”

Ernest continued to stare at the Princess in bewilderment. Based on his expression, you would’ve thought that she had just uttered some sort of extreme blasphemy. “But my Lady, you must understand. A single ruined flowerbed only serves to damage the image of the entire garden. How could I, as the head gardener for this castle, not worry over such a thing?”

Zelda nearly sighed, but what came out was more of a tired breath. “Yes, I agree that it should be fixed up, but is such a thing really worthy of having me avoid the garden altogether, especially on this beautiful day?”

Ernest shrunk back a bit, but he continued his argument. “I would much prefer if Your Highness were to enjoy the garden in all its glory, not a mere fraction of it.”

“Be that as it may, I would still very much like to take a stroll through the garden,” Zelda said assertively.

“But…But I still must advise against it…”

“Your concern is unnecessary.”

“But I-”

“Ernest…” Zelda uttered in a low tone full of warning. A warning that her patience was wearing thin.

Ernest looked like he still wanted to argue, but he soon relented. He sighed and hung his shoulders a bit. “Very well, Your Highness. If you wish to enjoy the garden today, then who am I to stop you?”

Zelda finally uncrossed her arms and gave him a smile. “Thank you.”

Just as she was about to turn away, Ernest spoke up once more. “Apologies again, my Lady, if the garden is not befitting of your stature on this day.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda had to physically stop herself from rolling her eyes. Why did her retainers feel the need to constantly warn her if even the slightest thing was out of place? This was one of the problems that Zelda associated with being royalty. Everyone always seemed to think that every little thing within the castle walls had to be absolutely perfect, even though Zelda herself had never asked for such a thing. Oh, and then there were the constant apologies. Goddesses help her, she was so sick of the constant apologies…

Zelda turned back around to face the gardener with an exasperated look that could only belong to someone who was reaching their breaking point. “Ernest, I’m going to be frank with you. Compared to the state that our Kingdom was in just a short while ago, I hardly think that a few flowers being out of place is something to fret over. Don’t you agree?”

Ernest seemed taken aback by this. He stared at her with a stunned expression, and took a second to fumble for his words. “Er…Well, yes, I suppose that is true. I…I don’t mean to belittle the Kingdom’s recent woes nor do I mean to exaggerate the grievances of the garden…” He then paused for a second before furrowing his brows. “However, please understand, my Lady, that as the head gardener for this castle, it is my responsibility—Nay! My duty to ensure that this wonderful garden is kept in tip-top shape, and I take immense pride in my work.”

Now Zelda felt a bit taken aback. She hadn’t meant to insult the man, or force him to produce such a passionate response for that matter. “Forgive me, Ernest. I do understand, and your work here is very much appreciated,” she assured him. “I just don’t think that this matter is worthy of such tremendous concern, especially knowing that much worse fates could have befallen us.”

Ernest sighed again, but he did nod in understanding. “Aye, I see your point.”

Feeling that their argument was finally reaching a conclusion, Zelda gifted him with a warm smile. “Please don’t be dismayed, head gardener. A flowerbed may have been destroyed, but it can be fixed, and there is still much for you to be proud of.”

The man returned a small smile. “Your words are greatly appreciated, Your Highness. Thank you.”

“Now, do I have your permission to enter the garden, or do you still wish to dissuade me?”

Ernest simply shook his head before giving her a bow. “Go with my blessing, Princess. You are free to do as you please.”

Zelda thanked the gardener one last time before she resumed walking towards the garden. She moved expeditiously, a little too eager to leave that conversation behind her. Once she was far enough away, she soon sighed, thinking about how much time she had just wasted arguing about something so trivial. So much for a relaxing trip to the garden…

Nevertheless, there was no longer anything holding the Princess back from her desired location. Following the cobblestone path, she entered the castle garden, a grove full of colorful flowers, well-trimmed hedges, and even a few trees. Zelda took a deep breath as she walked inside, inhaling the fresh, fragrant air. She could still feel the warm rays of the sun filtering through the branches of the trees, as well as a soft breeze that gently wafted through her hair. In the background, she could hear a number of birds happily chirping, filling the air with their joyous song.

As far as Zelda was concerned, this garden was one of the most peaceful locations in the entire Kingdom. A small slice of Heaven that had somehow appeared on Earth. She couldn’t help but wonder if Ernest even fully understood the weight of his words when he said that the garden was in disarray. This place was magnificent, and his concern was completely unfounded.

Zelda leaned over to a hanging basket of beautiful pink flowers, taking a moment to appreciate their sweet aroma. When she finished, she released a small sigh of satisfaction. Yes, she was truly at peace here.

As Zelda continued her leisurely stroll amongst the pots and plants, she suddenly heard a soft noise from ahead of her. It almost sounded similar to that of the Leevers: the noise of someone shuffling dirt around, although it sounded far less harsh than when the aforementioned creatures had done it. Glancing ahead, Zelda also noticed that a fair amount of dirt had spilled onto the path, just past the next corner. After staring at it for a moment, she started to realize what had happened. This must have been the ruined flowerbed that Ernest was so disgruntled about, and honestly, she could start to see why. The dark soil covering the path looked like an incredible mess in an otherwise picture-perfect setting.

Feeling curious about the extent of the damage, the Princess decided to walk forward and peek around the corner. However, what she saw there left her feeling stunned.

“L-Link!?” she exclaimed.

“Huh?” A man, covered in dirt and currently kneeling in one of the flowerbeds, turned around to face the Princess. Upon seeing her, he looked just as startled as she did. “Princess! Er, I mean, Zelda, wh-what are you…” His voice soon trailed off, not sure what to say.

Zelda felt equally as speechless. She just continued to stare at him, not fully trusting her eyes. This man’s entire front was covered in the same black dirt that he was currently crawling around in. Even his face seemed to be smeared with said filth. However, upon scanning him up and down a few times, she could confirm that this was in fact the hero of Hyrule, Link.

It took a few seconds, but as her initial shock started to wear off, Zelda managed to find some words. “Um…Well, this is…surprising…What are you doing here, Link?”

The young hero, however, still seemed to be stunned and at a loss for words. Upon experiencing the full realization of Zelda staring at his current image, his face quickly turned red behind the layer of dirt that covered it. He struggled to produce a response. “I, well…This is, um…I can explain.”

Zelda blinked a few times, hoping it might help clear up her vision. Needless to say, it didn’t help at all. “I…did not expect to see you here, and toiling around in the dirt no less…”

“Er…Yeah, sorry about this…” Link nervously reached up and rubbed his neck a bit with his dirt-covered fingers, not that it mattered much as he was already covered in filth from head to toe.

As he did this, Zelda suddenly spotted a trowel in the hero’s other hand. She just stared at it with a quizzical look. Why was he holding that? And was she mistaken, or did it almost look as if he were in the middle of planting a flower?

“Wait a second…Are you…working in the garden…?”

Link sighed. “Um…Yeah, kind of…”

Zelda just continued to stare at him in disbelief. Never in her wildest dreams would she have expected to come across a sight like this today. And yet here it was before her, all the same. Eventually, she just sighed and shook her head. “I think I would like an explanation. What exactly is going on here?”

Link still looked rather nervous, as if he didn’t want to say. However, upon meeting the Princess’s expectant gaze, he knew that he would have to answer her. “Well, I returned to the castle so I could offer my assistance, just as you asked me to.”

Zelda raised her eyebrows a bit. “Yes, but when I asked you to aid in Hyrule’s recovery effort, I didn’t intend for you to literally start from the ground up.”

Link just frowned at this and soon rolled his eyes. “Very funny, but believe it or not, I wasn’t actually planning on covering myself in dirt.”

“Then please enlighten me. How exactly did you come to be crawling around in one of our esteemed flowerbeds?”

“Well…it was sort of an accident…” The hero clad in green (or in this case, clad in mud) glanced down at the flowerbed around him with a look of guilt. As he did so, Zelda suddenly recalled that Ernest had been complaining about “some oaf” wandering into the garden and destroying a flowerbed. She was soon able to put two and two together.

“Wait a second, you’re the oaf!?”

Link just looked confused. “Excuse me?”

Zelda quickly placed a gloved hand before her mouth, only just now realizing what she had said. “Oh, forgive me, Link,” she apologized. “I didn’t mean to sound so harsh or accusatory. Or derogatory, for that matter. I was just…surprised, is all.”

Link raised his dirt-covered eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

Now it was Zelda’s turn to look a bit guilty. “I was talking to Ernest a short while ago–Oh, he’s the head gardener for the castle, by the way–and he was telling me about how…ahem, in his words, some ‘oaf’ lost his footing in his ‘infinite ignorance’ and tragically destroyed a flowerbed.” Zelda paused for a second, before looking even more ashamed. “You’ll have to forgive his harsh words, Link, and I’m afraid you’ll have to forgive me as well. Ordinarily, I would have never tolerated such words being used against our hero, but I also never would have imagined that he was actually talking about you…”

Link just stared at her for a second, but he soon gave a short chuckle. “No, that description is…actually pretty accurate.”

“You’re not offended?” Zelda asked timidly.

Link just shook his head. “No. If anything, I deserve it after what I did.”

Zelda watched him carefully, still waiting to see if there was a potential trace of anger, but she was surprised to find none whatsoever. It was honestly peculiar. Zelda personally knew quite a few nobles that would be furious to know that someone had bad-mouthed them in such a way, but Link didn’t follow their example at all. If anything, he just seemed apologetic and ashamed. Zelda couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy as she stared at him. Why did he look so down on himself?

Zelda tried to give him a comforting smile as she spoke up again. “What exactly did you do then? I still have yet to hear the full story.”

“Right, sorry,” Link said, frowning and scratching his head some more. “Let’s see…I arrived at the castle about an hour ago. One of the guards recognized me and allowed me entry, so I walked inside on my own. I took Epona over to the stables, and then after that, I was going to go looking for you, or for someone who could let you know that I was here. However, before I could do such a thing, I wandered into the garden and…” Link paused, looking embarrassed. “And that’s where things went horribly wrong.”

Zelda just nodded, showing that she was focused on listening to his every word. “Go on.”

“Well…I’m not super familiar with the layout of the castle, you know. So I kind of ended up here by accident. But once I walked inside, I was really impressed at what I saw. All the flowers and trees…This castle’s garden is really beautiful.” Link suddenly paused, realizing what he had just said. His face started to turn red again as he looked away.

“I agree,” Zelda replied with a smile. “It is very beautiful.”

Link just glanced up at her with a shy look. He initially seemed embarrassed, but upon seeing her welcoming smile, he relaxed a bit. He then continued. “So, anyway, I got kind of distracted by the sights, and wasn’t really watching where I was going…And then, just as I was about to turn the corner, I realized that someone was standing right there. I tried to quickly turn so I wouldn’t bump into the guy, but my feet kind of ended up getting tangled together, and I actually tripped…straight towards him. I bumped into him just as he was turning around with his watering can, and well, I must have given him quite the surprise because the next thing I knew the watering can had been tossed into the air…As for myself, I completely lost my balance and plummeted, face first, into this flowerbed. And then a second later, the watering can came down to join me, turning this patch of dirt into a patch of mud. I also jumped a bit when the water splashed me, so I ended up kicking the dirt all over the place, as well as crushing more than a few of the flowers…” Link paused, glancing down at the flowerbed with another look of remorse.

Meanwhile, Zelda just stared at him with yet another expression of disbelief. “You…You’re serious?”

Link just gave a single nod. “That’s how it happened.”

Zelda blinked in surprise. The only thing she could say in response was, “Oh my…”

Link glanced up at her with a small smile. “What? Too ridiculous to believe?”

Zelda shook her head. “No, it’s not that, it’s just…I never expected the hero of our Kingdom to be quite so…clumsy.”

Once again, Link laughed a bit. He then flashed a smile from behind his dirt-covered face. “Nice to meet you, I’m Link. The guy who can explore a perilous magma cave and walk a tightrope over a city in the sky, but can’t seem to walk straight on solid ground.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda couldn’t help herself. She instantly snorted and then began laughing at the dirt-smeared hero’s joke. Her voice rang out, a bit louder than she had intended. She quickly brought a hand to her lips, trying to stifle the laughter and bring it under control, but even then, a few giggles managed to slip out. Zelda had to admit, Link had a comedic side to him, and she found it quite amusing.

Link just smiled up at the Princess’s reaction. He didn’t seem to mind the self-depreciating humor as long as he got a laugh out of it. “Honestly, I’m surprised Midna never warned you of how much of a klutz I can be at times.”

Zelda finally managed to get her giggling under control, although she still held a wide smile on her lips. “Ah, it’s possible she mentioned it at one point in time, but I doubt I placed much weight in those words. Midna did have a tendency to overexaggerate, especially when complaining about you.”

“Really?” Link asked. He glanced down at the destroyed flowerbed again. “Cause I’m starting to think that she may have had a point.”

Zelda’s amused expression started to change to one of sympathy again. “Oh Link, don’t be so hard on yourself. It sounds like it truly was an accident, after all. An outrageous accident, but an accident nonetheless.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” he agreed with a small shrug.

“So tell me, what happened next after your unfortunate plummet into the muck?”

Link sighed as he continued where he had left off. “Well, after that, the man I bumped into–Ernest, I believe?–came up and immediately started yelling at me. He was really upset that I had made such a huge mess of his garden, and he insisted that I start fixing it up. The next thing I knew, I had a trowel in my hand, and I was being told to dig up the dead flowers and plant new ones in their place.”

Zelda seemed a bit surprised, as well as concerned, at this. “Ernest put you to work?”

Link just frowned. “Er…Well, yeah…”

Zelda soon crossed her arms, seeming perplexed. “But he shouldn’t have done something like that, unless…Did he not recognize you?”

“Um, I doubt it. He was kind of busy yelling at me.”

This time, Zelda frowned, and she directed it right at Link. “Why didn’t you tell him who you were?”

Link just furrowed his brow, looking thoroughly confused. “What do you mean?”

“Link, have you forgotten so soon? You are the hero of Hyrule, the brave swordsman who fought ferocious monsters and saved this Kingdom from the Twilight Invasion. Why did you not mention any of this to Ernest? If you had, I’m certain he would have taken it easy on you, and I get the feeling that you would not be toiling around in the dirt as you are now.”

Link stared at the Princess for a few seconds, before sheepishly looking away. He had to admit, it felt nice to hear her describe his accomplishments with such admiration, but he didn’t really see them that way. “I don’t know,” Link replied honestly. “I don’t really think about that stuff. And I don’t like to just throw around my achievements like that. It just…doesn’t sit right with me. Besides, I did destroy this flowerbed after all, so it’s only right that I help fix it up.”

For the umpteenth time that day, Zelda stared at the hero in disbelief. How could he be so humble and modest? Who had ever heard of a swordsman that didn’t take at least some pride in his success? That didn’t flaunt his accomplishments around at least a little bit? And he had done far more than any average knight! He had saved the entire Kingdom for crying out loud! And yet here he was, covered in filth and milling about in a patch of dirt, all because he felt guilty about an accidental misstep.

“You’re unbelievable,” Zelda whispered to him.

Link just frowned and glumly looked away. It sounded like the Princess was disappointed in him for not standing up for himself. Well, he certainly would have done it if it was an evil monster he was fighting against. Finding the courage to do that would have been easy. But to defend himself against an honest man who was rightfully upset with him for ruining a part of his esteemed garden? That was something that Link just couldn’t do. It wouldn’t have been fair, especially since he himself was the one at fault.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered.

However, it seemed that the hero might have misunderstood the intention behind the Princess’s words, for she soon stepped closer to him, and gifted him not with a look of disapproval, but one of admiration. “Don’t apologize,” she said softly. “Link, you act in a way that very few others do. You have done some truly amazing things, and yet you take very little pride in your accomplishments, so little in fact that I’ve never heard you boast of them, not even once. You are someone who does not concern himself with status or prestige, but instead prefers to treat everyone you meet as an equal. You put the thoughts and feelings of others above yourself, and you hold a very kind heart.” Zelda paused for a second, letting her voice drop down to a whisper. “I daresay that I’ve never met anyone quite like you. You are an extraordinary individual.”

Once again, Link’s face turned red in the midst of receiving all of these compliments. He was starting to be thankful for the layer of dirt that he was able to hide behind. “That’s…really nice of you to say, Zelda, but surely you’re exaggerating a bit?”

Zelda stared him right in the eye with a strong look of conviction. “Am I?”

Upon meeting her gaze, Link quickly grew uncomfortable, and felt forced to look away. “Come on, I’m not that special.”

Zelda continued to stare at him, but seeing that he refused to return her gaze, she soon closed her eyes and sighed. When she reopened them, she produced a small smile. “Honestly, Link, does your humility know no bounds? I appreciate your modesty, but I’m starting to wonder if it actually does you more harm than good.”

“I doubt a little humility ever hurt anyone,” he mumbled back.

No one except for you, Zelda retorted, but she refrained from speaking the words out loud. At this point, there was no sense in berating him for his kindness. It wasn’t like he was doing anything wrong, after all.

“Nevertheless, I see no reason for you to continue working in the garden, even in spite of your accident.”

Link seemed hesitant. “Um…But shouldn’t I finish fixing what I’ve destroyed?”

“Nonsense. I’ll talk to Ernest about this and makes sure he understands. A hero shouldn’t need to be punished for a careless mistake.”

“You’re sure?”

“Of course I am. Are you doubting your Princess?”

It took a second, but Link soon shook his head. “Er, no…”

Zelda smiled. “Then there’s no need to hesitate. Come on, Link. Let’s get you out of that dirt.” She then did something rather unexpected. She leaned over and extended a hand towards Link, offering to help him to his feet.

Link just eyed the hand, which was covered in an elegant white glove: pristine, proper, and free of filth. He couldn’t possibly bring himself to take it, especially in his current state. “Um, that’s okay. I can stand on my own.”

Zelda looked a tad surprised at his refusal, but she at least didn’t seem offended. “Very well,” she said, retracting her hand to her side.

Link placed his trowel back in the dirt and rose to his feet. He then took a moment to look himself over from head to toe. Man, he was a complete mess. He could even feel dirt on the inside of his boots. At this point, he wondered if cleaning himself up would be a bigger chore than fixing the flowerbed.

Link soon noticed that Zelda was looking him over as well. “Um…So much for making myself look presentable in front of royalty,” he said with a small laugh.

Zelda just smiled. “No need to worry, Link. I am not easily offended.”

“You’re pretty carefree for a Princess,” Link noted.

“When it comes to your appearance, yes, but not everything.” Zelda then frowned a bit. “I have to admit, one thing that does still concern me is how you ended up in this position in the first place. I’m genuinely surprised that Ernest didn’t recognize you before yelling and putting you to work. You’ve been to the castle at least a few times now.”

“Well, I was covered in dirt when he first noticed me,” Link replied with a shrug. “And besides, I’m not exactly as famous as you seem to think, Zelda. I guarantee that there’s a lot of people in the castle that don’t know who I am.”

“Hmm, that’s probably true,” Zelda agreed. She then looked away, as if she was lost in thought for a moment. Before long, a slightly amused smile appeared on her lips. “Perhaps we’ll have to do something about that…”

Notes:

I originally came up with the idea for this chapter when I had to do some weeding at my grandmother’s house. It’s funny how inspiration can just strike out of the blue like that, huh?

Chapter 6: Recognition

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 6 – Recognition

Zelda walked towards the exit of the garden, leading a dirt-smeared Link behind her. The hero still didn’t know his way around the castle very well, so the Princess took it upon herself to lead him in the right direction. She figured it was better to do it herself rather than risking Link going off on his own and getting lost. Or, heaven forbid, tripping and falling into another flowerbed.

This unfortunately meant that Zelda’s original plan of taking a relaxing walk through the garden had been cut short, and she now had no hope of finishing it. As it turned out, Link had proven himself to be far too big of a distraction. But Zelda honestly didn’t mind very much. Even now, as she walked alongside Link, she held a small smile on her lips. It was odd, but it seemed that she found spending time with the hero clad in green to be just as relaxing as a trip to the esteemed castle garden. She couldn’t help but wonder why. However, she didn’t ponder this thought for long, as they were quickly approaching the garden’s exit.

Zelda glanced back at the hero. “First things first, we’ll need to get you cleaned up. Do you have a spare set of clothes?”

Link nodded. “Yes, in one of Epona’s saddlebags.”

“Good, then we’ll give your current attire to the maids to have it properly washed, and in the meantime, you can bathe in the guards’ bathhouse.”

“That sounds nice. It’s probably best to clean this stuff off before it becomes permanent,” Link said with a laugh. He then stopped when he noticed Zelda was staring at him with an amused expression. He stared back for a few seconds in silence, feeling a little uncomfortable. “Er…What?”

Zelda just shook her head a bit. “It’s nothing. I just don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a person who was covered in as much filth as you are now.”

Link smirked back at her. “Yes, I imagine that you don’t see people wearing this particular ensemble—” Link paused, pulling on his dirt-smeared tunic with both hands ”—at the castle very often.”

Zelda giggled. “No, we don’t. In fact, I daresay you wouldn’t even be allowed inside of the castle halls in your current state.”

Link blinked a bit, seeming surprised. “What? You’d deny me entry?”

Zelda just nodded. “I’d have to. Otherwise, I’d no doubt receive an earful from Fost about the endless tracks of mud in the halls.”

“Ah, I take it the good Minister likes things to be kept clean and tidy?”

“You have no idea. Oh, and by the way, Link, you shouldn’t let Fost see you like this. His opinion of you might change drastically, and not for the better.”

Link noted the light-heartedness in Zelda’s tone, as well as her amused smile, but he still took the warning to heart. “In that case, I should get cleaned up as soon as possible.”

“Agreed,” Zelda replied.

Just then, as the two of them were about to reach the garden’s exit, they spotted the head gardener himself stepping inside. He seemed to be returning from another part of the courtyard, and he was currently carrying a potted plant in his hands.

It didn’t take long for Ernest to notice Zelda. He set his plant aside and gave a quick bow. “Ah, greetings again, Your Highness. Taking your leave, I presume?”

“Ah, Ernest,” Zelda said in a pleasantly surprised tone. “I was just on my way out, but I was hoping to speak to you first.”

The gardener raised his head. “Of course, Your Highness. Whatever do you-“ Ernest suddenly paused, his eyes focusing on the dirt-smeared hero standing behind her. His expression soon soured into a glare. “Ah, you again! And following the Princess on her way out, no less? I should hope that you have finished fixing what you destroyed before you tried to sneak away, scoundrel!”

“Sneak away?” Link repeated. What was he talking about? All Link had been doing was walking alongside the Princess. It wasn’t like he was trying to hide or anything.

Speaking of the Princess, she soon cleared her throat in an obvious attempt to grab the gardener’s attention. “Ahem.”

Ernest jumped a bit before turning to face her. “Ah, apologies, my Lady. I was distracted for a moment by the sight of your company. I see you’ve also had the misfortune of coming across his presence today. This garden-destroying, flower-crushing miscreant.” As he said these words, he threw another glare in Link’s direction. “But I’ll deal with him in just a moment. What is it that Your Highness wished to discuss with me?”

Zelda frowned as she stared at the man with her suddenly strict sapphire eyes. When she spoke, her tone was completely serious, and it sounded rather displeased as well. “Actually, Ernest, this ‘miscreant’ is the very thing that I wished to speak with you about.”

Ernest quickly bowed his head once more. “Apologies, my Lady. Did he offend you?”

“No,” she replied, her voice still sounding stern and unamused.

“Was it the ruined flowerbed? Because I did try to warn you-“

“No,” Zelda repeated, abruptly cutting him off. Once the gardener was silent, she gestured to Link. “Ernest, please tell me, do you have any idea who this man is?”

“Of course I do,” Ernest said with a small nod. He then glared at Link again. “This is the oaf who foolishly ruined a corner of the castle’s garden!”

Link winced a bit at the constant criticism coming from the gardener, but Zelda remained resolute in her serious demeanor without batting an eye. “While that may be true, that simple fact does not compose his entire identity.” She soon gestured to the dirt-covered man behind her. “Ernest, please allow me to properly introduce you. This is Link, the hero who recently saved our Kingdom from the threat of the Twilight Invasion.”

Upon hearing this, Ernest raised a single eyebrow in curiosity before glancing over to Link. A second later, he immediately burst out laughing with surprising enthusiasm. He soon doubled over as his eyes were forced shut from the humor of it all. “Bwa ha ha ha! Th-This bumbling fool is the hero who saved Hyrule? Ha ha ha! That’s…That’s very amusing, Your Highness, very amusing indeed, ha ha!”

Link just uncomfortably stared at the man who was howling with laughter. What was so funny about what Zelda had said? Was it because he was still covered in dirt and didn’t look much like a proper hero? Link soon opened his mouth, feeling he should say something. “Um…”

However, Zelda quickly forced a hand out in front of him, as if she was issuing him to remain silent. She was still staring at the gardener with a stern frown, even as he continued to laugh. She didn’t make any attempt to silence him though. She seemed insistent on waiting for him to compose himself.

The moment came just as the man’s laughter was petering out. He finally opened his eyes and realized the Princess’s expression was still unchanged, looking as severe as ever. Upon noticing this, Ernest quickly shut his trap, with a look of both horror and realization on his face. He soon stood up straight. “Oh, you’re serious…”

“Oh yes, I am being incredibly serious,” Zelda replied in a tone that was still free of joviality. “Why would I ever jest about something like this?”

“I, um…” Ernest suddenly seemed at a loss for words. He began nervously rubbing his hands together. He then took another glance at Link, as if hoping to see him in a new light. “Th-This man truly defeated the evil tyrant Ganondorf?”

Zelda gave a curt nod. “Yes, I witnessed it with my own eyes. He is the brave hero of our Kingdom, a man of great renown. Someone who should be treated with the utmost respect.”

“I…I see…”

“So I’m certain you can imagine my surprise, when I stumbled upon him in the garden, and discovered that the head gardener of the castle had assigned him to work there,” Zelda said in a tone that sounded both disappointed as well as upset. “Tell me, Ernest. Does the hero who saved our Kingdom deserve to be toiling around in the dirt and mud, simply because of a careless mistake?”

Ernest looked like he had shoved a foot in his mouth. Well, multiple feet, to be exact. He seemed to have realized that his fate was sealed. “Er, no, Your Highness…I’m afraid this was a misunderstanding on my part.”

Zelda nodded, seeming to approve of his words. “I see. Then I assume that this is something that can be undone?”

“Of course, Your Highness. I’ll take care of the flowerbed myself.”

Zelda finally allowed her frown to loosen, her lips just gently curving into the smallest of smiles. “Very good. Now I believe an apology is in order.”

Ernest bowed. “My sincerest apologies, Your Highness.”

“Oh no, not for me, Ernest,” Zelda was quick to correct him. “I believe the one to whom you owe an apology is our young hero here.”

Ernest quickly rose from his bow, looking completely embarrassed. “O-Of course, Your Highness!” He then turned to Link with the utmost awkwardness, even taking a second to clear his throat. It was clear that he was caught off guard by this sudden change in direction. “A-Ahem, Sir Link, was it? F-Forgive me for not recognizing you earlier, and for addressing you in such an unfriendly manner. Please disregard what I said to you. You can, uh, leave the garden be for today and resume your normal activities…And er, thank you for your service.”

Link couldn’t help but shrink back a bit, even though he was the one being apologized to. Just seeing how uncomfortable this man was made him feel a bit uncomfortable too. He nervously rubbed his neck a bit. “Um, don’t worry about it…”

Zelda allowed her smile to widen, feeling satisfied. “Very good. Now it seems that this matter has been settled.”

“I-Indeed,” Ernest agreed. “Will you be requiring anything else, Your Highness?”

“No, that will be all. Thank you, Ernest.”

“Of course, my Lady. Now if you’ll excuse me, I do believe I have some work to attend to.” The gardener then walked away as soon as he was able. Link couldn’t help but notice that he still looked a bit embarrassed as he did so. No doubt the man was probably feeling ashamed after receiving a scolding from the Princess. Link couldn’t help but feel a little sympathetic for him.

He soon turned to Zelda. “You didn’t have to be so hard on him.”

“I said what I felt was necessary,” she replied in an unflinching tone.

Link looked towards the ground as he rubbed his neck a bit. “But I feel kind of…bad. I mean, it’s like he got in trouble because I didn’t say anything in the first place.”

Zelda smirked a bit. “Goodness, Link. Do you feel guilty for every little bad thing that happens around you?”

“Er…Well, no…”

Zelda soon giggled at his expression. “Don’t worry. I should think that Ernest will survive a scolding, especially one as meager as this. I’m hoping it will at least teach him to be a bit more patient and forgiving of others, and to not worry so much over trivial matters.”

Link just stared at Zelda, studying her for a moment. “You never seem afraid to speak your mind,” he noted.

Zelda soon returned his gaze with a thoughtful expression. “Of course not. Especially when I’m defending someone who is important to me.”

Once again, Link’s cheeks began to turn red behind the mask of dirt on his face. It felt strange to hear the Princess talk about him in such a manner. To know that someone of her status considered someone like him to be of importance…Well, it was a little overwhelming, to say the least. And to think that he had once been just a boy who did nothing other than herd goats around a small ranch. He had come a long way, and he was still getting used to it.

“Come on,” Zelda called, suddenly pulling Link out of his thoughts. “I’ll show you to the bathhouse. We can talk more after you’re cleaned up.”

Link just gave a quick nod and followed behind her as she walked off. “Right.”

 

---

 

Zelda waited on one of the castle’s terraces, staring down into the courtyard, as well as out towards the town that lay beyond it. The sun had started to dip towards the horizon as evening was approaching, providing a calm, quiet atmosphere. Zelda took a moment to breathe deeply and relax. Being royalty, moments of quiet were not often available to her, so she made sure to treasure them every chance she got. Especially after the various events that had taken place that day, between both the infirmary and the garden.

Zelda just smirked a bit as this thought crossed her mind. Why did it seem that men were always such troublemakers?

Shaking her head, she walked over to a small round table, surrounded by two opposing chairs. The Princess took a seat here, and then continued waiting for her company in silence. Fortunately, it did not take long, for a maid soon arrived, leading the expected guest in tow.

“Princess, I’ve brought him here, just as you asked.”

Zelda gave her a smile and a nod. “Thank you, Rita. I appreciate it.”

The maid known as Rita gave a small curtsy before taking her leave. As she did, she revealed Link standing in her place, now free of dirt and wearing a fresh green tunic. He walked out onto the terrace slowly, almost as if he was a bit hesitant. However, after scanning the scene and seeing that the Princess was his only company, he seemed to relax a bit. “It’s just us?” he asked.

Zelda raised an eyebrow as she watched his behavior. “Yes. Is that a problem?”

Link smiled and waved his hands. “No, no, quite the opposite, actually. When I found out that a maid was escorting me, I became worried that you might be introducing me to a bunch of Ministers or something.”

“Oh? And what would be wrong with that?”

Link scratched his head a bit. “Nothing. It’s just…I think I’d get nervous if I had to stand in front of a bunch of important officials. Like I’d be worried about embarrassing myself or something.”

Zelda smirked a bit. “Really? Our brave hero who faced the likes of Zant and Ganondorf is frightened by the thought of meeting mere council members?”

Link crossed his arms. “I can fight just fine,” he stated confidently. “It’s when I have to think about what I should say and how I should act in front of high-ranking figures that I start to get nervous.”

Zelda gave him a curious look. “Does that include myself?”

Link looked startled, and suddenly started backtracking with his words. “Er, well, no…Not really. I know you well enough by now that I can relax when I’m around you.”

“You don’t seem very relaxed,” Zelda noted with a smug expression.

Link just stared at the floor. “It…It comes and goes,” he mumbled.

The conversation fell silent for a moment, but then, to Link’s surprise, Zelda gave a small giggle. “Yes, well I suppose after that display you gave in the garden earlier, your fears have proven themselves to be worthy of concern. After witnessing that, I have no doubt that the risk of you potentially embarrassing yourself at any given moment is quite high.”

Link started blushing as he continued to stare at the floor. This is not the message that he had been trying to convey to the Princess, but she seemed all too willing to accept it. Even now, she was still playfully smiling at him. For the second time in recent memory, Link felt like he was spending time with Midna instead of the Princess.

However, Zelda soon subdued her smirk and spoke up once more. “But alas, I encourage you to relax and forget your fears for now, for your only noteworthy company tonight shall be myself, and I promise that I shall not judge you or your actions. Well, not too harshly, anyway.” She then gestured to the chair opposite her. “Now Link, come and have a seat. You and I have much to discuss.”

Link still felt rather embarrassed after the Princess’s teasing, but he did as she requested and took a seat opposite her. He sat there in silence for a moment, waiting for Zelda to speak up again, but it seemed that she was being closemouthed as well. Eventually, Link gave in and glanced up at her, only to be surprised to see a small frown on her face. For some reason, she seemed kind of…disappointed. Was it something he had done?

Zelda soon sighed. “Link, I was hoping we could put this incident behind us, but as I sit here and look upon you…Well, I still feel a bit regretful, and I believe that an apology is in order. This time, from myself.”

Link just gave her a confused look. “Um…What are you talking about?”

“The incident in the garden earlier,” Zelda clarified. “I’m truly sorry that we were not able to give you a proper welcome to the castle. Especially after you’ve been away for so long.” Zelda bowed her head as she apologized.

Link squirmed in his seat a bit, feeling uncomfortable as he received these words. “What? You don’t have to apologize, Zelda. If anything, it was my fault, remember?”

Zelda raised her head, and smiled a bit, but her expression still showed a trace of remorse. “That is very kind of you to say, Link, but I insist on apologizing. As a member of the Royal Family that rules this castle as well as the Kingdom of Hyrule, it is a stain upon my honor to know that our young hero was treated so rashly and improperly.”

Link just shook his head, trying to get his feelings across. “No really, it’s fine. I didn’t need a ‘proper hero’s welcome’ or anything like that.” He then paused before smiling a little. “Besides, I can hardly say that this is my worst trip to the castle. I’d much rather take what happened today instead of having to storm the castle and face Ganondorf again.”

Zelda seemed surprised at this response, but she soon released a small giggle. “I see. That is a fair point.”

“Compared to that, being covered in dirt hardly seems like something to complain about.”

Zelda smirked at this, suddenly recognizing the very words that she had directed towards the head gardener earlier that day. However, this time it seemed that they were being used against her. Leave it to the hero to help put things in perspective. “Your benevolence is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Link.”

“It’s no problem,” Link replied with a shrug.

Zelda took a moment to study the hero. It honestly felt refreshing to see him again after all the time he had been away. “I must say, you look much better without that layer of filth covering you.”

Link laughed a bit before replying in a sarcastic tone. “What? You’re telling me you didn’t like it?”

“I’ll admit it had an amusing charm to it.”

Link spotted it again. That playful smile of hers. A smile that Link was honestly starting to appreciate, for it always let him know that he didn’t have to be nervous around the Princess. It was a smile that told him that he could simply relax and treat her as nothing more than a like-minded companion. And of course, he knew that she would be completely satisfied with that.

Zelda soon spoke up again. “So tell me, how was your return to Ordon Village? Did it go well?”

Link nodded. “Yeah, Rusl and I managed to get the kids back home without any trouble. All the parents were finally reunited with their children. They had been gone for quite a while, so it was pretty emotional, to say the least.”

“Of course,” Zelda agreed. “I can only imagine how relieved everyone was.”

Link nodded again. “But things seem to have settled down since then. Everyone’s returned to their daily activities. You know, farming, ranching, fishing…Meanwhile, the kids have happily returned to playing and goofing off, which is good. The way they behave, you’d never guess that they had all been kidnapped just a short while ago. It’s been nice to see things return to normal after everything that happened.”

Zelda gave him a curious look. “And what about you, Link? How have you been spending your time since you returned home?”

“Oh, me?” Link asked with a frown. For some reason, he felt like it was a bit awkward to give the Princess a full report on his daily life. Would she really care about such mundane activities? He soon gave an honest answer anyway. “Well, I did take a trip to the Sacred Grove so I could return the Master Sword to its pedestal, but aside from that, I’ve been taking it easy for the most part. I still help out around the village where it's needed, whether it be herding goats or harvesting pumpkins. I play with the kids sometimes too. They always enjoy watching my swordplay, so I still manage to stay in practice. Epona is also happy to be home again. She especially enjoys visiting her favorite spring on warm sunny days, where the light trickles through the leaves of the trees and bathes everything in a bright shade of green.”

Zelda just smiled as she listened to him. “The way you describe the village, it sounds very peaceful.”

Link nodded and found himself smiling as well. “It really is.”

Zelda’s smile then curved a bit, giving her a somewhat curious expression. “And yet in spite of that peaceful life, you have returned here.”

Link seemed a bit surprised at this sudden accusation. “Well, yeah. I promised that I would.”

“Yes, and I appreciate that you have kept your promise,” Zelda replied with a smirk. “As I stated before, I believe that your talents and connections will be very useful in assisting the Hyrule reconstruction effort, so I’m glad to have you here.”

“Of course,” Link replied. “I want to help in any way I can.”

Zelda gave him an appreciative nod. “How long are you planning on staying?”

Once again, Link seemed surprised. “Here at the castle?” Zelda nodded again. “I haven’t really thought about it…However long you need me, I guess?”

The Princess soon posed another question towards the hero. “I see. And what if I said that your talents were required here indefinitely?”

Naturally, Link froze again. He looked both surprised and dismayed, and he hesitated to give an answer. “Oh, well…I do want to be helpful to you and to Hyrule. But…I would also like to be able to return to Ordon at some point. It is my home, after all, and I don’t care to be away from it for long periods of time unless I have to.”

Zelda seemed to catch the hidden meaning in his words. “Ah, do you still feel protective of your village?”

Link looked away with a sheepish smile. “Well…yeah.”

To his surprise, Zelda just nodded in approval. “As you should be. Even though the Twilight Invasion has come to an end, we are still in tumultuous times. You never know when a new threat might choose to rear its ugly head, plunging us all into chaos and danger once again. And should such a thing come to pass, I’d hate for your loved ones to be in the path of its destruction without you there to protect them.”

Upon hearing this, Link felt a bit confused. Was she telling him to return to Ordon Village? But if he did that, then…  “Er, does that mean I won’t be able to help out with the recovery effort?”

Zelda just smiled at his confused expression. She soon shook her head. “Forgive me, Link, and allow me to clarify. That question I posed was merely meant to test your resolve, as well as identify your priorities. I never had any intention of confining you to the castle indefinitely. There will certainly be times where your presence is needed, but they will not be terribly frequent, and you will still have plenty of free time to do as you please. Naturally, that includes returning to your home in Ordon Village.”

Upon hearing this, Link breathed a small sigh of relief. “Oh, well why didn’t you just say so? I was starting to get worried that I would have to choose between staying at Ordon and helping out the rest of Hyrule.”

Zelda’s sapphire eyes turned curious once more as she stared down the hero. “I see. And what would you have chosen, were that the case?”

Link flinched a bit. Once again, he felt caught off guard by the Princess’s questions. He nervously scratched the back of his head. “Um…I don’t know. I would’ve had to think about it.”

Zelda continued to stare at the hero, as if pressing him for an answer, but she soon shrugged and let it go. “A wise enough response, I suppose…Or at the very least, not a careless one.”

The conversation went silent for a moment after that. Link ended up glancing over to find that the Princess was still staring at him with a somewhat inquisitive gaze. It was as if she was studying the hero, potentially trying to figure him out. Link just shrunk back some more, feeling a little uncomfortable. He awkwardly tried to speak up again.

“Er…So now that I’m here, what will I be helping out with, exactly?”

Zelda suddenly blinked, as if snapping herself out of her own trance before giving a small nod. “Yes, I suppose I should finally get around to properly explaining things, shouldn’t I?” She paused, taking a moment to adjust her position. She sat up straight in her seat and clasped her hands together. She now appeared more formal and ready for a serious discussion. “Allow me to take a moment to catch you up to speed. Ever since the Twilight Invasion ended, the Hyrule Council has been very busy coming up with numerous plans and strategies for the sake of achieving two main goals. The first is the reconstruction of Hyrule: trying to repair the damage left behind in the wake of the Twilight Invasion and restoring things to their usual order. The second goal is to strengthen Hyrule to something beyond what it was before: a more unified and capable Kingdom.”

Link nodded as he listened. “I recall you saying something like that before.”

“Yes, the Hyrule Council, as well as myself, feel that the second goal is necessary for the sake of preventing a situation like the Twilight Invasion from ever taking place again. The main idea being that we will strengthen the Kingdom enough that it would not collapse should one uppity Twili man decide to encroach upon these lands.”

Link quickly raised his eyebrows at this. He had not expected to hear the Princess simply refer to Zant as some “uppity Twili man”, and yet she had done so without batting an eye. Talk about making light of a dire situation! Although, having met Zant personally, he couldn’t necessarily deny the claim either…

Zelda soon continued. “Truth be told, in order to achieve our first goal, we will likely have little need for your talents. The general reconstruction of the Kingdom will mostly just require time and resources; something that the Hyrule Council will have to organize. The only thing that might require your abilities would be in the case of a spontaneous monster outbreak. There are still a good number of them roaming around after the Twilight Invasion, and there is always a chance that they might attack an unsuspecting village. Should that happen, we could use you as a defensive measure, sending you straight to the battlefield to fight and quell the danger.”

“Sure, I could do that,” Link agreed. After everything he had been through on his journey, he felt pretty confident in his fighting abilities, and he was sure that he could handle just about any monster that came his way. Not to mention, he was a kindhearted hero that liked to protect the innocent. If someone was in danger, he would gladly be willing to step forward and do everything in his power to save them. “You can rely on me,” Link assured her.

Zelda gave a small nod. “It is nice to see that our hero has not lost his bravery. However, your combat abilities would only be required as the need arises, and I sincerely hope and pray that we should never have the need for such a thing. I expect that our days of danger are behind us, but you can never be too careful.” Zelda let words hang in the air for a moment before choosing to continue once more. “Nevertheless, my point is that you will not be heavily needed for our plans to restore Hyrule. Instead, we believe your aid can best be used for our second goal: the strengthening of Hyrule.”

Link gave her a curious glance. “How so?”

“The Hyrule Council has agreed that of your many qualities, there were two that stood out as particularly valuable. The first being your connections. While on your journey, you met a number of significant individuals and forged relationships with them. From Kakariko Village, to the Gorons at Death Mountain, to the Zoras in their Domain, to even here in Castle Town. Not to mention Ordon Village, as well as the Twilight Realm. I daresay you are perhaps one of the most well-connected individuals in the entire Kingdom.”

Link’s eyes widened in surprise. It felt shocking to hear that from a Princess of all people! But he had to admit that she did have a point. He had met a lot of people throughout different parts of the Kingdom, and after everything he had been through, he even considered some of them to be good friends of his. In fact, he probably wouldn’t even be standing here today if it weren’t for them.

“That’s true, I guess I do know a lot of people,” Link admitted with a small smile.

Zelda simply nodded and continued once more. “The second quality being the experience of your adventure. You’ve traveled across the lands, seen many things, and fought many adversaries; all of which are things that most people could not claim to have done themselves. After going on such a journey, it is undeniable that your basic understanding of the Kingdom as a whole is quite impressive.”

Link found himself slowly nodding at this. “Well, I don’t know much about history…” he admitted with a somewhat embarrassed expression, “but it is true that I was able to see a lot of the Kingdom as I traveled.”

Zelda giggled a bit at this. “Fortunately for you, it seems that the Hyrule Council were not basing their assessment on your lack of historical knowledge. They claimed that the two qualities I have mentioned made you more than capable of accepting the role we have in mind for you.” She paused for a second before smirking. “Of course, it also helped to know that you were the hero who defeated Ganondorf and saved the Kingdom. That certainly seemed to seal the deal.”

Link continued to nod absentmindedly for a few seconds before he suddenly froze as he realized something. He quickly sat up straight with a quizzical expression. “Wait a second. Did you say that the Hyrule Council was making this decision?”

Zelda returned his surprised expression with one of her own. “I did.”

“So they were the ones who were judging my capabilities?”

“Yes,” Zelda answered with a slight nod. “Is there a problem with that?”

Link frowned. “Well, it’s just…It feels weird to know that they were judging me, when I haven’t even met most of the people on the Council. I mean, hell, I don’t even know who is on the Council to begin with! And yet they decided to just accept me for a position?”

Zelda blankly stared at him for a moment before a naturally amused expression took to her lips. “Ah, are you growing nervous again?”

“A little!” he admitted with a huff. “I mean, how could they know what I was capable of if they’ve never even met me?”

In response to his sudden panic, Zelda addressed him in a calm and relaxed manner. “Truth be told, it didn’t matter much. The tales of your exploits, as well as a firsthand account from myself, seemed to convince them that you were suitable for the position.”

Link blinked at this. “Wait, you spoke up for me?”

“Of course. Why are you so surprised? I am a member of the Hyrule Council as well, which means that I was also heavily involved in this decision. And I was not alone either. Minister Fost, having made your acquaintance before the meeting, was also more than willing to speak in favor of your capabilities.”

“Oh, I see…” Link said quietly. He then sat still for a moment, processing her words. “Well, hearing that does make me feel better, but I still feel a bit uneasy about the whole thing…”

Zelda just raised her eyebrows. “Goodness, Link, what is the matter? Do you think I gave a poor description of your exploits and achievements?”

Link quickly shook his head at this. “What? No…”

“Would you have rather stood before the Council yourself to give a full account of your journey?”

Link shook his head vehemently, as well as waving his hands back and forth. “N-No!”

“Then what has you feeling so uneasy?” Zelda pressed him. “From my perspective, the Council made a most wise and well-reasoned decision. I daresay that the only person who has a problem with it is yourself.”

Link shrunk back a bit, suddenly looking a little apologetic. “Er, I’m sorry. I just…I wanted to make sure that the Council wasn’t overestimating me just because of the stories they might have heard. If they met me in person, they might…well, they might be disappointed to know I’m just a ranch hand from Ordon…”

Upon hearing this, Zelda just stared at him, dumbfounded. She held this blank gaze for a few seconds before eventually sighing and closing her eyes. She even brought a few fingers up and rested them on the bridge of her nose. “Goddesses help me. Only you, Link, would be so stubborn, so modest, so nervous, and quite frankly, so low on self-esteem that you would consider yourself, the hero who saved this very Kingdom, to have potentially been overestimated by the Council.”

“It’s…It’s not that I think I am incapable!” Link shot back, trying to defend himself. “I just wanted to make sure that they weren’t expecting something…you know, more.”

Zelda just sighed again. “Goodness, Link, what am I to do with you? All this conversation has proven to me is that your excessive humility really does do you more harm than good.”

Upon seeing her exasperated expression, Link felt apologetic again. Maybe he was being a bit overdramatic, but this was a genuine concern of his. “I’m sorry, Zelda. I know I’ve gone on an amazing journey and even saved the Kingdom, but I…I still don’t feel like I’m used to it yet.” He hung his head in shame as he finished.

Zelda eyed him for a second before giving him a soft smile. “I appreciate the sentiment, although I feel it is unnecessary to apologize for simply being yourself. I can’t exactly fault you for that, can I?”

Link continued to let his head hang as he shook it again. “I don’t know anymore…It feels like I’ve caused you more trouble than it’s worth.”

Zelda released the smallest hint of a giggle. “Oh, cheer up, Link. It’s not that serious. Trust me, I’ve overcome much greater troubles than something as trivial as this.”

Upon hearing this, Link slowly raised his head and glanced towards the Princess. She was still smiling at him with a look of encouragement. He had to admit, seeing this did make him feel a little better. He almost felt like apologizing again, but he soon thought better of it, and instead just replied with, “Thank you, Zelda.”

Zelda nodded towards him before turning away, glancing out over the balcony and down into the castle’s courtyard below. “Still though, I feel that we’ll need to have something done about those nerves of yours. I also would like for you to come to terms with your current position as a hero who saved the Kingdom. Seeing you act like this, as well as witnessing the garden incident earlier today, has made me realize that you are sorely in need of some proper recognition.” She paused before turning back to Link once more. “Fortunately, a solution has already come to mind.”

Link raised his eyebrows at this. Recognition? Something that would help him accept his position as a hero? What was she talking about? Even as he stared at the Princess, he noticed the faint trace of a mischievous smirk appear on her lips. Uh-oh, that meant she was planning something…

“Wh-What are you going to do?” Link asked, almost fearing the answer.

Zelda just stared at him, with an expression of confidence and even subtle amusement. But whether she was amused with herself or with the hero, Link couldn’t tell. “Oh, it’s nothing much. I’m just going to do something in order to make sure that everyone knows just how capable you truly are.”

Link just frowned, still feeling hesitant. “And that is…?”

Zelda soon flashed him a grin, her mischievous features suddenly becoming more prominent. She then spoke, in a plain, matter of fact, tone.

“I’m going to bestow you with a proper title.”

Notes:

I hope I didn’t make Link seem too nervous here. I know he’s a brave hero who recently saved his entire Kingdom, but this is kind of how I feel he would naturally react when he is suddenly thrust into a “higher level” of society. He is a man of humble origins, after all.

Chapter 7: A Hero's Title

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 7 – A Hero’s Title

“I’m going to bestow you with a proper title.”

As the word’s left the Princess’s lips, Link immediately felt his anxiety rising up within him again. His eyes became wide, his expression stunned, and he was pretty sure his mouth was hanging open. There was no doubt in the hero’s mind, that of all the crazy events that had taken place that day, he found this one to be the most shocking.

“Y-You’re going to what?” he eventually stuttered.

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Zelda asked patiently.

Link just shook his head, partially in response to her, and partially in disbelief. “A title? You mean I would become something like…something like a knight or…or even a minister?”

Zelda slowly nodded. “It would be something like that, yes.”

Link’s mouth opened and closed a few times as he struggled to find his words. Did the Princess realize what she was talking about? Some of the highest rankings in the Kingdom, usually reserved for only the most important and capable individuals, to prove their status, strength, and intelligence, among other things. And yet she wanted to provide him with an official title? Link, the once goatherder now turned rogue swordsman and occasional gardener? Was she serious!?

“But…But those titles are so important!” he eventually blurted out, hoping in vain that he could get his point across.

Naturally, he failed spectacularly, for Zelda just gave a single nod in agreement. “Yes, they are.”

Link went on to sputter some more, hoping to clarify. “B-But I-“

“Don’t deserve it?” Zelda finished with a grin. “Honestly Link, it is starting to get tiresome hearing that all the time.”

Link hesitated as he met the Princess’s gaze. On second thought, it seemed that she did understand his feelings, at least enough to finish his line of thought. Still, he felt the need to make his case. “But Zelda, it’s true. Just because I saved the Kingdom doesn’t mean I deserve such prestige!”

“Is that so?” Zelda asked in surprise. “Then please, enlighten me, Link. What does it take to earn a proper title in this Kingdom?”

“I, well…” Link paused, biting his lip. To be honest, he really didn’t know much about this sort of thing at all. Still, he decided to take a stab at it. “You have to have accomplished some great feat.”

“Oh, do tell,” Zelda replied in a sarcastic tone.

Link just ignored her and tried to continue. “You have to have done something that benefitted the whole Kingdom. And um, you have to be capable of doing something like this over and over again, to prove your reliability…Oh, and above all else, you need to be of noble birth.”

Link breathed a small sigh of relief as he finished. He had struggled a bit in the middle there, but he still felt like he had managed to list enough criteria to show that he wasn’t as qualified as Zelda might think.

However, Zelda naturally felt the need to prove him wrong. “Noble birth?” she repeated with a smirk. “Is that what has you feeling so uneasy? I’m afraid that is a common misconception. Nobody is born a hero, Link. Or a brave knight. Or an intelligent scholar. In this Kingdom, you earn your position. Even I have had to prove that I am capable of one day leading this Kingdom as its rightful Queen.”

Link scratched his head a bit. Was that really true? “Wait, so anybody can earn a title?”

Zelda nodded. “Of course, as long as they fulfill certain criteria similar to the others you mentioned, as well as being acknowledged by the current high-ranking officials to be worthy of such a title.”

Link frowned. “Okay, but surely that isn’t a common occurrence.”

“No, but neither is saving the Kingdom,” she retorted.

“Er, well…”

“Link, even by your own standards, surely you could agree that you have done enough to consider yourself worthy of such a thing? You have accomplished a great feat, one that has surely benefitted the entire Kingdom, and you have certainly shown how capable you are by doing so.”

Link raised a hand up in front of him. “Yeah, but that was only one instance! Just one adventure I embarked on where I accomplished one great feat. Who’s to say I could do something like that again?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows at this. “Just a short while ago, weren’t you the one that confidently stated he would be willing to fight an outbreak of monsters should the need arise?”

“Er…” Link quickly shut his mouth. Okay, she had a point there…

Zelda smirked as she noticed his guilty expression. He looked like a thief that had been caught red-handed. She decided to continue pressing him further. “Link, please do not try to convince me that your reliability is insufficient. I know firsthand just how much you have done for this Kingdom. You embarked on a perilous quest to save us all from the threat of the Twilight. A quest that you easily could have abandoned at any time, yet you did not. You kept moving forward, fighting hard to save these lands. How many other men could say they would have done the same? And your responsibility? Why, I have witnessed the extent of such a thing earlier this very day when you were working in the garden. Fixing a flowerbed that you destroyed in an accident, of all things! I repeat my question, who else would have done the same? Surely only the most responsible of individuals could claim such a feat.”

As Zelda finished, Link quietly cursed to himself. Damn, she really had a point there! For the first time, he felt like maybe his humility had done him more harm than good, if only because the Princess was weaponizing it against him.

He eventually sighed. “All right, Zelda, you’ve made your point. Maybe I have done enough to earn a proper title…” Link paused for a second before casting his eyes downward. “But…I don’t know if I can accept such a thing.”

Once again, Zelda’s lips pursed into a frown. She stared at the hero with frustration in her eyes. “I swear, Link, I’ve met wild, untamed horses that were less stubborn than you.”

“I’m sorry,” Link mumbled. Once again, he felt like he was causing more unnecessary trouble for the Princess. He didn’t mean to be so hardheaded, but that’s just how he was.

Upon seeing his apologetic stance, Zelda allowed her glare to loosen. She soon gave a sigh before addressing him in a softer tone. “Wouldn’t you at least like to hear what your title is before you choose whether to accept or deny it?”

Link hesitated, as if he was still unsure, but he soon gave a nod. “Very well. What is it?”

Zelda took a second to readjust herself into a more formal position, and soon cleared her throat. She wanted to do this properly. “By the official decree of the Hyrule Council, in accordance with the will of my father, King Caius Vesperi Hyrule himself, we have decided to bestow you with the honorary title of ‘Hero’.”

As the final word rang out in Zelda’s majestic voice, silence soon fell between them. Link waited a second for her to continue, but upon realizing she had finished, he just blinked a bit. “Wait, that’s it?”

Zelda quickly broke from her formal posture in order to give the man a look of disbelief. “‘That’s it’? What do you mean, ‘that’s it’?”

“Well, the title is just…just Hero?” Link was genuinely surprised at this. Honestly, the title felt a little anticlimactic. He had already heard numerous people refer to him as “hero” after he had saved the Kingdom, and to be honest, he had kind of gotten used to it. It was just a generic term used to refer to him and his role during the Twilight Invasion. At the very least, Link felt that the term “hero” definitely didn’t seem like any sort of high-ranking position in the government.

Meanwhile, Zelda just released another tired sigh. She gazed at the man with exasperated eyes. “First you seem opposed to the idea of receiving a title at all, and yet now you seem dissatisfied with what we have offered. Do you tend to have trouble making up your mind?”

“N-No,” he replied quickly.

“Are you certain?” Zelda asked, a little impatiently. “Honestly, I always thought Midna was exaggerating when she complained about you. Now I’m starting to think that she was wise beyond all her years.”

Link just scowled at the mention of the mischievous Twili imp. “No, Midna did tend to exaggerate, especially when complaining about me. I can personally testify to that. And it’s not that I am dissatisfied with the title of Hero. It’s just that…Well, I’ve never heard of such a title before.”

Zelda’s eyes gleamed with a bit of amusement. “Of course. That is because the title of Hero has only rarely been used throughout the history of Hyrule. It is a title of the highest honor, gifted only to specific individuals that have helped save our Kingdom in times of great crisis. They were renowned figures of legendary status, and I daresay, without their contributions to this Kingdom, none of us would be standing here today.”

Link just felt his confidence start to deflate as he listened to the Princess’s speech. Highest honor? Renowned figures? Legendary status? “And you think I deserve such a title?”

By this point, Zelda was quick to shut him down. “Link, please do not direct our conversation down that road again. Even my patience has its limits.”

“But I-”

“Link.”

Upon hearing the Princess’s strict tone, he decided to drop it. “Fine,” he mumbled. “Tell me more about these ‘Heroes’ then. How many people have been granted this title before now?”

Zelda’s expression softened again, and surprisingly enough, she seemed all too excited to start diving into history. “There have actually been a fair number of men throughout Hyrule’s history that have received the honorary title of ‘Hero’. It is a title that is usually only assigned to one individual, and it lasts throughout their lifetime. Because of this, you only hear of the title being used roughly every 100 years or so, and sometimes even less frequently than that. The most notable Hero in recent times was someone who was referred to as the “Hero of Time,” who, strangely enough, seemed to receive surprisingly little recognition for his accomplishments. Even in the castle’s official history tomes, he is only mentioned briefly here and there. I am not entirely certain what he did to earn such a title, but it was bestowed upon him all the same.”

Link perked up a bit when he heard this. A Hero who received little recognition for his accomplishments? That didn’t sound so bad to him. It’s not like he had gone on his adventure just so he could end up in a history book, after all. He had just been trying to save lives.

Zelda smiled as she continued. “Naturally, every Hero title comes with a moniker attached to it. Similar to how the last Hero was known as the ‘Hero of Time’, we have also chosen a moniker for you that accurately suits your achievements.”

Link couldn’t deny that he was curious. “And what is it?”

Zelda paused, her sapphire eyes beginning to twinkle again as she adopted a formal posture. “We have decided to title you as ‘The Hero of Twilight’.”

The Hero of Twilight. Okay, Link had to admit, this title sounded much more impressive than what he previously thought. It was rather unique, describing a Hylian that could be no one other than himself. The title itself was vague enough that it didn’t give away any specifics, but it did reveal that the Hero in question had a hand in battling against the Twilight Invasion. And not only that, but the title could also be viewed in another way. You could interpret it as Link being the Hero of the Twilight. A man who was turned into a beast using the power of the Twilight, and yet continued to move forward. A man who had not only saved Hyrule, but the people of the Twilight Realm as well. Yes, he was also the Hero of the Twili, and that even included Midna, the Twilight Princess herself. Oh, and speaking of that Twili imp…

“You know, Midna and I actually discussed this before she departed for the Twilight Realm,” Zelda added in a soft voice. “She approved of you bearing the name of ‘Hero’ for her people.”

Link leaned forward a bit. “Really? Midna said that?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, although…” The Princess paused, smirking a little. “She was a tad worried that such a title might go to your head. ‘That fool might start thinking he did all the work!’, I believe were her exact words. It was a genuine concern, I suppose. Although, in hindsight, I now think that she had more reason to fear the opposite: our young hero being too timid to accept such a thing.” Zelda laughed a bit as she said this.

Link just ignored her verbal prodding, as well as the past words of a certain Twili troublemaker. He was currently too busy trying to treasure the memories of Midna to let her own past self ruin the moment. Truth be told, it was nice to know that she had been willing to name Link as the savior of her people; to know that she had appreciated his help that much. By approving of this, it basically felt like she was giving Link her full support. And she had apparently encouraged the idea of Link getting some recognition too, all while knowing that she probably wouldn’t receive the same acknowledgement here in the Light World. As far as the general populace was concerned, she was just an ally to the true hero who managed to banish the Twilight. In other words, a person of no great significance. Link couldn’t help but wonder if things were the other way around in the Twilight Realm. Had Midna taken all the credit for saving everybody there, leaving Link completely out of the picture? He wouldn’t have put it past the little trickster…

“What are you smiling about?”

Link looked up as Zelda called him out of his thoughts. “Nothing. It’s just…even though Midna is gone, it still feels like she has a hand in everything.”

“Are you surprised?”

Link smiled some more as he shook his head. “No, not at all.”

Zelda returned his smile before resuming the discussion at hand. “So, now that you’ve heard the title we have in mind for you, has it swayed your feelings at all? Are you willing to become the ‘Hero of Twilight’?”

Link took some time to think it over. To be honest, he actually had been swayed in favor of accepting the role, if only because of the mention of his Twili friend. When Midna had departed from this world, she hadn't left Link with much, so he felt the need to treasure what little she did. A smile, a tearful goodbye, and now, surprisingly, a title. Yes, Link felt sure of it. This title wasn’t just a gift from Zelda or the Hyrule Council; it was also a gift from Midna, one of his closest friends.

But that wasn’t the only motivating factor either. Thinking back on everything he had accomplished, Link knew deep down that this was a role that he was meant to fulfill. Was he willing to become the Hero of Twilight? No, because he already was. Ever since the day he first met Midna and turned into a wolf, he had done nothing but protect others and fight to save the Kingdom. And had anything honestly changed since then? No, Link was still planning to aid his Kingdom, without a doubt! And while he still had some reservations about accepting such a prestigious title, if this was the way in which he could truly help people from now on, then he had no choice but to embrace it.

When Link finally turned back to face Zelda, he did so with a relaxed grin. “Very well, I’ll accept the title…Although it may take some getting used to.”

Zelda stared at the man for a second, as if waiting for him to retract his words. However, no such moment came, and she soon revealed a pleased expression. “Excellent, I’m very happy to hear that, Link. Finally, Hyrule will recognize a new Hero within its lands. I’m sure this news will make the good citizens of this Kingdom very excited.”

Well, Link wasn’t so sure about that. He assumed most people would be indifferent at best, but he didn’t care to spoil the Princess’s good mood, so he refrained from mentioning his thoughts out loud. Besides, she was right. He had been hard enough on himself today. He really should start acting more confident. More befitting of the image of a Hero.

“So when does this title go into effect?” Link asked, trying to show some newfound enthusiasm in his tone.

Zelda seemed to notice the difference, for she raised her eyebrows a bit, but she soon answered him anyway. “You’ll receive the title after it has officially been granted to you. There’s a proper ceremony that we’ll arrange sometime, in which you’ll have the title granted to you by a member of the Royal Family–either myself or my father–in front of the Hyrule Council.”

Link felt his confidence waning at the mention of all these important figures, but he tried to hold strong. “I see.”

“Naturally, the title will also come with some benefits. You’ll receive ample payment for any services you perform, especially when it comes to aiding in the Hyrule recovery effort. You’ll be free to come and go from the castle as you please, and you will also be provided with a guest room whenever you should come to visit. Should you decide to take up a permanent residence here, you will gladly be assigned a personal room to call your own. Additionally, whenever you stay at the castle, you’ll be granted three meals a day in the dining hall, so you should never have to worry about food.”

“Wow,” Link said, sounding impressed. He had to admit, the perks of this job certainly sounded nice! It was almost enough to make it worth the high-ranking position he neither wanted nor felt he truly deserved. Oh, and speaking of positions, there was still a question on Link’s mind…

“So, what exactly will my role be in the recovery effort?”

“Ah, have I still not gotten to that yet?” Zelda asked, blinking in surprise.

“No.” At least, Link didn’t think so.

“Forgive me,” Zelda said before she suddenly began scowling towards the hero. “Perhaps I would have if a certain someone wasn’t constantly stalling the conversation by telling me how nervous and unwilling he is to accept his own accomplishments.”

Oof, she had him there. “Sorry about that,” he mumbled.

Zelda’s scowl quickly evaporated into a warm smile. “It’s fine. If anything, I enjoyed the challenge. You certainly put my diplomacy skills to the test.”

Link just gave her a confused look. “You were happy about that?”

Zelda gave half a shrug, as well as a nod. “In a way. As this Kingdom’s future matriarch, I need to be capable of carrying discussions with even the most stubborn and hardheaded of individuals, using nothing but my words and my wits as my weapons. Needless to say, our conversation has led me to believe that I am quite capable indeed; a result I am rather pleased with.”

“You didn’t seem pleased at the time,” Link pointed out.

“That is because I never expected such behavior from you,” Zelda replied, threatening to throw another scowl in his direction. She relented though, choosing instead to release a soft sigh of relief. “Still, I am trying to view things in a positive light.”

Link smiled. “In that case, I’m glad I could be of assistance.”

“Yes, but in the future, I must advise against testing my patience as excessively as you have. I won’t be so forgiving the next time,” Zelda teased him.

Upon noticing her playful smile, Link wasn’t worried. He replied to her “threat” with a carefree shrug. “We’ll see.”

Zelda just smirked at the hero, whose earlier nerves seemed to have drained away entirely. Now this was the brave, friendly Link that she was used to. “Let’s continue the conversation then, shall we? I believe the last thing that I mentioned was that you would be aiding in the second recovery goal: the strengthening of Hyrule.”

Link nodded. “That’s right.”

“Then allow me to elaborate further. For the sake of carrying out this goal, the Hyrule Council has elected to assemble a new gathering of influential individuals. We’d like to establish regularly scheduled meetings between these persons.”

"A gathering?" Link repeated. "Wait, so it'd be like a second council?"

“Similar, but not quite,” Zelda corrected him. “While the Hyrule Council is composed entirely of Hylians, most of whom have their origins here in Castle Town, this new congregation would be much more diverse, pulling individuals from across the entirety of Hyrule to come and have a discussion at the same table. The idea behind this is that we could use these meetings as an opportunity to bring the various races and civilizations of Hyrule closer together. Understand each other better. Forge stronger bonds. Aid others in places where they need it.”

“Oh, a stronger, more unified Hyrule,” Link said, suddenly recalling the Princess’s words from Gerudo Desert.

“Indeed. With so many representatives sitting at the same table, we’re hoping we can focus our efforts on making Hyrule stronger as one unified Kingdom. If someone has an idea for the betterment of this Kingdom, they will bring it to the table for discussion. If they have an issue that their people are facing, they will come to us for aid. Together, we will make Hyrule shine brighter than ever before.”

Link got chills as he listened to the Princess’s impassioned speech. Once again, he felt impressed by her vision. “Wow, that sounds pretty incredible.”

“Thank you,” Zelda said with a nod. “It was actually an idea that I came up with myself. Once I presented it to the Council, they gladly approved it.”

“I can tell that you care a lot about this plan,” Link said with a nod. “You show so much determination when talking about it. It’s clear that you truly value the wellbeing of this Kingdom.”

To Link’s surprise, Zelda actually started blushing a little as she looked away. “Of course. These lands are my home,” she said quietly. “I would do whatever it takes to aid and improve them.”

“As you should,” he encouraged her.

Upon hearing this, Zelda seemed to recover from her bashfulness just as quickly as it had arisen. She turned to face the hero once more. “As I stated earlier, part of the goal is to prevent something similar to the Twilight Invasion from ever happening again. After our Kingdom was surrendered to Zant’s control, I couldn’t help but wonder if things would have gone differently, if the Gorons or Zoras or even Kakariko Village had come to our aid. It was then that I began considering how we could potentially go about bringing everyone together to create a more unified nation.”

Link perked up a bit at this. “So who exactly is going to be on this new council?”

“Ah, yes, you must be curious,” Zelda said with a smile. “First off, there is myself as the Royal Princess of this Kingdom. Under normal circumstances, my father would likely be there as well, but due to his current condition, he is unable to join at this time. After that, there will be two Ministers from the Hyrule Council that will join the new assembly as well. First is Minister Fost, who will primarily serve as a representative for the castle, and then there is Minister Enzo, whom I don’t believe you have had the pleasure of meeting. He will primarily serve as a representative for Castle Town. Following them are the leaders of Hyrule’s various civilizations. Renado of Kakariko Village. Chief Darbus of the Goron Tribe. Prince Ralis of Zora’s Domain. Mayor Bo of Ordon Village…”

Link was surprised at how recognizable the list of names was, but it was the last one that truly grabbed his attention. “Wait, Mayor Bo is a part of this?”

“Of course. We intend to represent all of the dwellings in Hyrule, and that naturally includes Ordon Village.”

“Huh…Why didn’t he tell me anything about this?”

“Perhaps he thought you would discover it on your own,” Zelda suggested. “He knew you would be returning to the castle, didn’t he?”

Link crossed his arms. “Yeah, that’s true.” 

Zelda smirked. “Besides, I haven’t finished going over the full list of members, which happens to include a newly proclaimed Hero of Twilight.”

It took Link a second for this news to fully sink in. He then shot up straight. “Wait, what? I’m going to be a member of this council too!?”

By this point, Zelda didn’t seem surprised at his reaction. It was almost a given that he would give some sort of startled outburst. “Of course. Surely you had an idea that this is what our conversation was moving towards?”

Link just sat there in silence. To be honest, he hadn’t thought such a thing at all. “Me? On a council? I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. I can fight with a sword and I can ride a horse better than anyone, but when it comes to politics…I’m not exactly well-versed in such things.”

Zelda giggled a bit as his bashfulness. “And trust me, you don’t have to be. Remember those qualifications of yours that we discussed earlier? It’s your connections and the understanding of the Kingdom as a whole that make you a valuable asset to this assembly. With those qualities under your belt, I am certain that you will have no trouble contributing to our discussions. Plus, I expect you to be a unifying presence among those seated at the table. I understand that you have met many of them on your journey, as well as forged bonds of friendship with them. I am certain that they will be reassured by simply sharing your company at the table.”

Link just stared at the Princess in awe. Wow, was he really that important to the cause? He had a feeling that she was potentially exaggerating the usefulness of his presence, but he couldn’t deny that her words struck a chord with him as well. It was true that the two qualifications she mentioned were probably important for the discussions they had in mind. And Link also had to admit that he was happy to know that his fellow council members would all be familiar faces. He knew he would be much more at ease spending time with them instead of a group of rich nobles he had never even met before. And if him simply being at the meetings helped bring everybody together, well then, who was he to say no?

“All right, it doesn’t sound like a bad deal,” Link admitted with a small smile.

“Ah, even the most stubborn of horses manages to see reason,” Zelda said, her own playful smile popping up once again.

Link just grinned. “I may be stubborn but I’m not stupid.”

“No, I suppose not,” Zelda agreed. “Having a hero who doesn’t easily waver isn’t necessarily a bad thing. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.”

“Hey…”

The two of them ended up laughing after this. Link’s laugh was louder and unrestrained while Zelda settled for more of a mirthful giggle. It was a solid sign of their friendship. Even in the midst of their serious discussion of the future, they still managed to have fun with each other.

As their laughter died down, Link went to continue where they had left off. “So is there going to be anyone else on the council then? Or do I round it off?”

“No, there are a few more,” Zelda replied. “Last but not least, we decided to invite the members of the Resistance to join this assembly as well.”

Link blinked at this. The Resistance? He assumed that she was referring to the four individuals that had met in Telma’s Bar and secretly made plans to fight against the Twilight Invasion. Link knew all of them well, but he was still surprised to hear that they would be asked to aid in this task. “Really? They’re going to be included too?”

“Yes. While none of them did anything particularly as grand as yourself, they all still played a role in helping bring the Twilight Invasion to a close, and they should be properly acknowledged for their actions. Likewise, the Hyrule Council views them as individuals very identical to yourself: capable, intelligent persons that understand this Kingdom better than most. Similar to the qualifications you bring to the table, we believe that they have something to offer as well.”

“I see,” Link said, nodding. He certainly couldn’t argue with that. In fact, the Resistance probably knew Hyrule better than he did.

“Unfortunately, only two of them have accepted the offer,” Zelda continued with a frown. “Master Auru, a wise teacher who is well-versed in history as well as politics, has agreed to join us. Additionally, Ashei, one of the castle’s highest ranking Knights, has accepted our invitation as well. She believes she can offer a perspective from the military side of things, should it be needed. Regrettably, that leaves one Shad and one Rusl, who have declined our offer.”

“Rusl?” Link repeated. He had been invited too? Well, duh, he was a member of the Resistance, but it was still surprising to hear. Not nearly as surprising as the answer to his invitation though… “Why did he turn it down?”

Zelda gave a soft smile. “He felt that his presence wasn’t needed here. He claimed that as long as you and Mayor Bo were planning on attending, then he had nothing to worry about. He believed the assembly would be in capable hands.”

Link couldn’t help but feel a bit touched at the trust that had been placed in him. There were times where the hero still felt like he was a child, but it seemed that Rusl had insisted on treating him as a man. Link just smiled at the thought. “And Shad?”

“Shad claimed that he would prefer to focus on his historical research as a scholar. He said that there were still many mysteries he wished to uncover, and he didn’t want to divert time away from his studies. However, he did offer to lend us his aid should we ever have need of it.”

Link rolled his eyes a bit. “Yeah, that sounds like Shad.”

“It is a pity, but I trust their judgment and respect their decision. I cannot force them to join if they do not wish to.”

Link raised his eyebrows at this. “Does that mean that I’m free to back out too?”

Zelda scoffed at him, her eyes going wide. “Link, don’t tell me that you’re changing your mind now!”

Link just laughed. “Relax, Zelda, I’m only kidding. Besides, it sounds like Rusl is counting on me, and I don’t want to let him down. And now that I think about it, I don’t want to let the rest of Hyrule down either.”

Zelda stared at him, as if skeptical for a moment, but she soon relaxed as requested. “Very sly, Link, very sly.”

Link just shrugged. “I learned from the best.”

“You mean Midna?”

“Yes, but I was referring to you as well.”

Zelda gave a short laugh at this. “Ha, you find me mischievous, do you?”

Link just shot her a confident look. “You certainly have your moments. Don’t deny it.”

Zelda’s eyes widened in surprise at the sheer audacity of his tone. She soon smirked. “My, the daring Hero shows his face again. Where was this man a short while ago when I was trying to get him to accept his accomplishments?”

This gave Link some pause. He rubbed his neck a bit. “Well, I’m starting to wrap my mind around it…It helped that we talked it through, and I now have a better idea of what to expect.” He paused for a second, just barely glancing towards the Princess. “Um…Thanks for that.”

Once again, Zelda was surprised. Now he was suddenly offering her gratitude? Still, in spite of their playful banter, she chose to accept it with grace. “You’re welcome, Link. I’m glad to know that I helped set your mind at ease. Even though I was the one that caused it so much distress in the first place…” Okay, maybe she couldn't resist teasing him a little at the end there.

Link didn’t let it bother him. He still had questions on his mind. “So when will this new council come together?”

“We’re hoping to schedule the first meeting in the next couple of weeks,” Zelda explained. “We’re still trying to come up with plans for transportation, but once we set a date and time, I’ll let you know. I’ll also arrange to have a meeting in the next few days so we can properly bestow you with your title as well.”

Link nodded. “Is there anything else I could be doing in the meantime?”

“Of course. I can assure you that there is no shortage of work around here, if you are willing to volunteer.”

“Sure, I’m happy to help. Although I would prefer to work somewhere other than the garden,” he said with a small laugh.

Zelda giggled a bit. “Yes, that would probably be best. If you’re planning to stay here for a few days, would you be interested in picking up a few guard shifts? It will help you get acquainted with the layout of the castle, and I’m sure the men would be inspired to have the Hero working alongside them.”

“Sounds simple enough,” Link agreed with a smile.

“I’ll introduce you to the Captain of the guard then. Aside from that, a lot of the men like to have practice duels with wooden weapons. They do this to stay in shape and make sure their skills haven’t gone rusty. You should consider joining them sometime. I’ve heard that they’ve been quite motivated and diligent in their practice since the Twilight Invasion ended. I’m sure they would all be excited to witness the very sword skills that took down the evil tyrant Ganondorf.”

“I’ll think about it,” Link replied shyly. He wasn’t exactly keen to flaunt his fighting ability in front of others. He really only fought when he had to, and most certainly not for show. But he did agree that it would be good for him to stay in practice, at least.

“Oh my.” Link looked up to find the Princess staring off towards the horizon. “The sun is setting already? My apologies, Link. I had not intended to keep you here for so long.”

“Oh, it’s no problem,” Link said with a shrug. He didn’t mind spending time with the Princess, and besides, wasn’t she the one who had said that he was to blame for their conversation dragging out? Because of all of his “stalling”?

Nevertheless, Zelda still held a slight look of guilt. “I imagine you must be starving at this point. Not to mention you are probably weary from travel, as well as the rest of today’s events. I’ll have one of the maids escort you to the dining hall, and then prepare you a guest room for the night.”

This struck Link as a little odd. “You’re not coming along? Aren’t you hungry too?”

Zelda just shook her head. “I’m afraid I still have some other matters to attend to before the day is out. I also didn’t intend to keep myself here for this long, or even plan on meeting you today, for that matter.”

Now it was Link’s turn to feel guilty. “I’m sorry Zelda. I didn’t mean to throw your plans into disarray.” As well as your flowerbed, his mind added automatically.

“No, it was my pleasure,” Zelda said with a reassuring smile. “It is always a joy when our paths cross.”

Link simply returned her smile. “Something that’ll be happening a lot more often from now on.”

“Indeed. Now come, I’ll make sure you are taken care of for the night.”

Zelda soon rose from her seat, and Link did the same. With a pleasant smile still on her lips, she led the hero over to the doorway, where they then entered the castle together. Before long, Zelda managed to track down a maid, and instructed her to make sure that Link was accommodated for the night. Once she was satisfied, she dismissed herself and began walking off into another part of the castle. She quickly disappeared from sight, but not before turning back and giving the hero one last wave.

“See you soon.”

Notes:

I always liked the idea of “Hero” being a real title within the world of Hyrule. Sure, it’s just a term used to refer to legendary figures of the past, but who’s to say it can’t carry some weight in the government too?

Since Twilight Princess takes place in the “Child Timeline”, I did have to note that the Hero of Time probably wasn’t fully recognized for his accomplishments. I’m sure he received some recognition, since he did warn the King of the time about Ganondorf’s imminent betrayal. I think he also recounted the tale of what happened in the ruined future and what he did to save everyone. I’m not sure how much of that story would have made it into the official history books though, so I feel like the “Hero of Time” became something of a mystery to the general populace. This is just my take on things, at least.

Chapter 8: Guard Duty

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 8 – Guard Duty

A week had passed since Link returned to the castle. To be honest, it hadn’t really felt like that much time for the young hero, but that was only because he was so busy. Just as Zelda had told him, there didn’t seem to be any shortage of work around here.

As promised, Zelda had scheduled the meeting with the Hyrule Council so Link could properly have his title bestowed upon him. The Princess herself had conducted the ceremony, instructing Link to bow before taking her thin rapier and gently pressing it to each of his shoulders. Needless to say, Link had felt incredibly nervous about the whole thing. Having to act so proper and formal in front of all these nobles? It quickly set him on-edge, but he just tried to relax and follow Zelda’s instructions. In the end, he managed to complete the ceremony without incident.

After that, the Council finished the proper documentation, and lo and behold, a new Hero was born. Word of this was quickly spread throughout the castle as well as the Kingdom beyond. Link had not expected the news to make much of an impact, but he was actually surprised to find out that it had caused a bit of a buzz. Within the castle walls, Link seemed to have become something of a celebrity. Whenever he walked throughout the stone hallways, he constantly noticed that people were staring at him with looks of admiration, as well as whispering to their neighbors. He often caught snippets of phrases like “Hero of Twilight” or “Link, the man who slayed Ganondorf”.

One day, Link even happened to overhear a conversation between Ernest and some other men. Surprisingly enough, the head gardener seemed to be bragging about their first encounter; his voice oozing with pride.

“I’ve actually met the Hero, you know. He even came to visit my garden.”

“Oh yeah, I heard something about that. Didn’t you yell at him and put him to work?”

“Th-That was a misunderstanding!”

Link just shook his head and moved on.

To be honest, he didn’t care for all the praise and attention. Sure, he had saved the Kingdom and all, but at the end of the day, he still felt like a normal guy that had just happened to pick up a sword…Well, just happened to pick up a sword, turn into a wolf, and be named as the Goddesses’ chosen hero…but that was all beside the point.

Still, Link put up with the attention the best he could. He tried to ignore the comments and stares, which was simple enough, for all he had to do was keep moving until the onlookers were far behind him. However, it became much more difficult to ignore the attention when some people insisted on coming right up and talking to him.

The first time had been a surprise. Just some random man that Link didn’t know that wanted to thank the Hero for his service to the Kingdom. He kept it brief before giving a bow and walking away. Link felt rather dumbfounded at this first exchange, but over the next few days, it seemed to become a frequently occurring event. His company would consist of just about anyone, from nobles that wanted to get to know him better, to guards that were impressed with the tales of his adventure. Nearly everyone had questions for the Hero, and they all insisted on shaking his hand. At times like this, Link would just awkwardly oblige, trying to accept their praise and thanks without getting too embarrassed. He knew they meant well, after all.

However, another surprise came in the form of how many women seemed to have started flocking to Link’s side. From maids to nurses to cooks, they all approached him with an adoring smile. Link felt like they tended to behave excessively in front of him, oftentimes paying him way too many compliments, as well as being a bit too giggly. And was Link imagining things, or were they acting a little too familiar with him? And standing a little too close as well? At times like this, Link would have to excuse himself, claiming he was needed elsewhere in the castle before making a quick getaway. He could live with the general attention that came from his title, but the last thing he needed was all these women fawning over him.

Fortunately, not all of his encounters were awkward or unpleasant. One day, he had the pleasure of meeting Minister Enzo, a well-known member of the Hyrule Council as well as Link’s fellow future member on the reconstruction council that was still under formation. The man was middle-aged, with dark hair and a black curly mustache beneath his nose. Link had recognized him from when he stood in front of the Council, but they didn’t actually have a chance to meet and talk one-on-one.

Upon his introduction, Enzo greeted Link with a warm smile and a firm handshake. “It is truly an honor, Sir Link, truly an honor. I doubt that words can express how grateful I am to hear what you have done for our Kingdom. I am incredibly pleased to know that you will be standing alongside us as we tackle our future endeavors. Surely, a man of your talents will be a tremendous asset to us.”

Much like Minister Fost, Link felt a bit surprised at how differently Enzo acted from what he had expected of a nobleman. Even though he seemed to be showering Link with compliments, his demeanor exuded such a natural warmth and friendliness that Link didn’t actually feel all that nervous around him. If anything, it was almost like conversing with an old friend. He seemed to be just a genuinely nice guy.

Needless to say, the two of them got off to a good start, and they were both looking forward to working alongside each other. After that, they parted ways, for it seemed that Link wasn’t the only one who was keeping busy. The Minister walked off, claiming to have numerous other affairs to attend to.

After that, Link spent some time picking up guard shifts, just as Zelda had requested of him. The work itself was fairly boring, usually just involving standing in place all day while nothing happened. However, the changing positions did allow him to see different parts of the castle, and before long, Link was able to start finding his way around the halls of this massive structure without getting lost. At least not too often, anyway.

Today, Link had the surprising honor of working alongside Ashei, a female Knight and member of the Resistance, as well as someone Link considered a friend. Like usual, she wore a mishmash of armor: large metallic greaves and gauntlets as well as a single piece covering her midsection. She had brown eyes and two locks of dark hair that fell to her shoulders. At her waist, she carried a sword.

The two of them were currently standing at the castle gate, having been stationed there to stand guard all day. Ahead of them, Link could glimpse the main square of Castle Town, as well as hear the distant chatter of its citizens. He had to admit this was better than keeping watch in some dusty hallway, although not by much. Fortunately, it helped to have Ashei by his side, who was more than willing to converse with him as the hours ticked away.

“Excuse me if I’m wrong, but I thought you were a highly-ranked Knight around here,” Link said to her. “How’d you get stuck doing guard duty?”

Ashei glanced over at him. “It’s not just any old guard duty, Link. The castle gate is a rather important position. The first line of defense against someone trying to break in, yeah?”

There it was, that familiar “yeah?”, the usual way that Ashei ended her sentences. She claimed that her father (who had also been a Knight) had never taught her any manners, so it seemed she had gotten used to talking in a casual sort of way. Which, truth be told, Link didn’t mind. He was a commoner too after all. He could understand her way of speaking perfectly.

“I suppose,” Link answered with a shrug. “I just thought you might be doing something more important.”

Ashei just scowled. “Oh? I believe I could ask you the same thing. Eh, ‘Hero of Twilight’?”

Link frowned back at her. She was trying to use his title to unnerve him, and he hated to admit it, but it did prove somewhat effective. “Er…I’m only out here because Zelda said it would be a good idea.”

“Oh, standing guard at the castle gate under the direct command of the Royal Princess? My, what a diligent soldier you are,” Ashei responded, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Link just shook his head. He knew that she was joking, but her words still made him feel a little uncomfortable. “Please, it’s nothing that serious. You’re blowing things way out of proportion.”

“But surely a great Hero would settle for nothing less, yeah? After all, it is just ‘plain old guard duty’.” Link was about to interject and deny her claims, but she suddenly stood up straight and continued. “I, on the other hand, am more than happy to step in where needed. I don’t mind taking up guard duty, because I tend to feel more relaxed when a Knight as competent as myself has the position under control. Wish I could say the same for the rest of the soldiers in the barracks though. Have you seen them lately? They might have started training harder, but I still struggle to believe that they’d be able to defend this castle from anything, even something as harmless as a Bokoblin.”

Link just closed his eyes and gave a tired nod. This was another one of Ashei’s tendencies: ridiculing the current state of Hyrule’s army. He had already heard a speech similar to this one on a number of different occasions. Still, he felt inclined to listen as the Knight continued.

“But that will all change soon enough,” Ashei said with a grin. “As part of the reconstruction effort, I plan to start forging these sad excuses for men into actual soldiers. I’m talking about strict training regiments, and actually getting these louts outside the castle walls for a change. Right now, they’re too narrow-minded, and they feel too safe here as well. We need to get them outside of their comfort zone; get them out in the field and see what they can really achieve. And then hopefully, by the time we’re done, we’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Mark my words, Hyrule will not crumble so easily the next time an invasion shows up on our doorstep.”

While Link felt that Ashei was a bit too harsh towards the current soldiers of Hyrule, he did admit that he felt a bit of admiration for her goal. When she spoke of such things, she often spoke with the same conviction as the Princess while speaking of Hyrule’s recovery. The matters of the military clearly meant a lot to Ashei, and Link respected that.

Still, he couldn’t resist prodding her back with a small dose of reality. “I see. That’s very impressive. And how does Captain Zander feel about all of this?”

Ashei quickly frowned at the mention of this name. Captain Zander was the current leader of the castle guard, and subsequently, someone that held much more control over the Kingdom’s soldiers than Ashei did. Ultimately, he had the final say in how the men should be trained.

“He doesn’t see nearly as many issues with the soldiers as I do,” she said with a voice full of disdain. “Believes that the men are fine the way they are, and that improvement should be done at a slower and steadier pace.” She paused, before mimicking the Captain’s deep voice. “‘Practice makes perfect, no need to throw them into the belly of the beast, Ashei.’ Bah! What a fool. Doesn’t he realize nothing will improve like that?”

Link just grinned at his friend’s exasperation. That was something he appreciated about Ashei: she was never afraid to speak her mind. “Well, maybe things won’t change overnight, but there’s nothing wrong with some steady improvement.”

“Tch, I’m sure they said the exact same thing before the Twilight Invasion, and look what happened there. All the soldiers, running around and getting lost in the Twilight. Meanwhile, the Resistance had to actually get stuff done from behind the scenes.”

“They did keep Castle Town safe,” Link pointed out.

“Yeah, at the expense of the castle,” Ashei said, rolling her eyes.

“Well…”

“I’m telling you, Link, all Captain Zander needs to do is let me train a small group of them. Just put them through a few weeks of my training regiment, and he’ll see the results. It’ll be like night and day, with men turned into actual reliable soldiers. I think I can manage it. I really do.”

Link gave a small laugh. “I might not mind seeing your results…if any of the men actually come back alive, that is.”

Ashei just ignored his comment and turned to him with a curious gaze. “How about you, Link? Any interest in helping out? I’m sure you’re tough enough to teach them a thing or two, yeah?”

Link jumped a bit in surprise. Now she was roping him into this? He tried to think of a quick excuse. “Um…I don’t know, Ashei. I think I’ve got a lot of other things keeping me busy.”

The Knight just stared at him, trying to pressure him further. “Come on, Link. Don’t be so stubborn. I will gladly let you in on the training too.”

Link shook his head. “I, uh…I think I’d rather just let you handle it.”

Ashei soon scowled at him, displeased with this answer. Naturally, she returned to teasing him. “Hmph, of course. I forgot that you only help out when the Princess orders you to.”

Link sighed. How had they circled back to this again? “That’s not true, Ashei. Believe it or not, I actually feel the same way as you do about these things. I don’t mind doing menial tasks if they are required of me.”

Ashei blinked in surprise, but soon smiled. “I see. Much like your recent visit to the castle garden, yeah?”

Link nearly groaned at this. An unexpected response, but one that nevertheless hit him right in the heart of his embarrassment. “You heard about that?”

Ashei smirked. “Who hasn’t heard about it? It’s practically been the talk of the castle: the famous, newly named Hero, toiling about in the flowerbeds of all places. I must say, it’s one of the more interesting rumors I’ve heard about you.”

Link sighed. “Seriously? The talk of the castle…” He then paused before shooting up straight. “Wait, what other rumors are there?”

“You mean you haven’t heard?” Ashei asked with an amused expression. “Feels like most of the guards have been spreading them like wildfire.”

Link just gulped, preparing for the worst. “Tell me…What have they been saying?”

“Well, let’s see. First there’s the generic stuff, which is mostly true. Talk about how you defeated Ganondorf and saved the Princess and whatnot. Then there’s the more exaggerated tales. Rumors of you being able to lift a Goron clear over your head, or taking on a hundred Bulblins all at once. I must say, I had no idea you were quite so capable…”

Link’s face just slowly turned to a shade of red. How did people even come up with this stuff? Sure, he had accomplished feats similar to these, but the way the general populace expressed them seemed so much more exaggerative. Would the constant praise for him ever cease?

Watching his embarrassed expression, Ashei just gave a laugh. “Not what you expected, yeah? You’ll soon learn that word travels quickly around this castle. Especially if it’s gossip.”

Link just sighed as he took a second to compose himself. “Anything else?”

“I suppose there’s been some more mundane rumors as well. Stuff like ‘he hails from Ordon Village’ or ‘he fights left-handed’…”

“Well, at least those rumors are true.”

To Link’s surprise, Ashei soon whipped her head towards him. “Hmm? Which one?”

The Hero raised his eyebrows at this. “Both.”

Ashei stared at him for a second, her gaze suddenly becoming more skeptical. “Who are you kidding? I know you’re from Ordon, but the other one certainly isn't true.”

Link just stared back, dumbfounded. Was she serious? “Ashei, I do fight left-handed.”

“Come on.”

“I’m serious.” To prove it, Link drew his sword (from his left side, by the way) and threw out a few casual swipes through the air. Naturally, he carried the form of someone who was clearly accustomed to fighting with his left hand.

Ashei just gawked at him. “Wait, seriously? But I would’ve sworn you wielded your sword in your right hand!”

Link shook his head. “No, why would you even think that?”

“Am I really mistaken? I’m almost certain I saw you use your right hand in a battle before…Did you switch it at some point?”

“No,” Link asserted again. “Believe it or not, I don’t just casually ‘flip’ my dominant hand back and forth…” 

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Well…why don’t you just do a quick demonstration with your right hand. You know, just to see if it looks familiar, yeah?”

“Ashei…” Link said with a sigh.

Just then, a third voice joined the conversation. “Having fun, you two?”

The arrival of this third voice was so sudden, that it caught the two swordsmen completely off guard. Link nearly dropped his sword as he jumped in surprise. Meanwhile, Ashei just shot up straight and stared ahead, appearing as if she was giving her guard duty the full attention it deserved. Before long, a quiet giggle sounded in response to their reactions.

“Goodness, what exactly have I stumbled upon today?”

Link and Ashei turned to find Zelda standing there, greeting them both with an amused smile. She seemed more than happy to witness their shocked expressions.

Link just froze for a second. What was the Princess doing here? “We were just…um…” He paused, suddenly noticing that his sword was still drawn. Wasting no time, he went to sheath it. “Uh...keeping watch,” he finished.

“Yes,” Ashei quickly agreed. “Fortunately, there is nothing to report today.”

Zelda walked a bit closer to the Hero and the Knight, taking a second to eye each of them closely. “Oh, is that so? Then can you enlighten me on why you had your sword drawn, Link? Was there danger about?”

“N-No,” Link stuttered. He watched as Zelda continued to approach him, her notoriously playful smile appearing on her lips. Link knew that she was going to enjoy teasing him about this. He quickly tried to think of an excuse for why his sword was drawn, but his mind came up blank, so he eventually just blurted out the truth. “I was just…um, giving a demonstration.”

“Oh, a demonstration of your skill with the sword?” Zelda asked innocently, although her expression itself seemed anything but innocent. “Might I ask, who were you demonstrating for?”

“Ashei…”

As soon as he said this, Ashei shot Link a fiery glare of death. She clearly had not appreciated being sold out like that. Link felt bad about it, but he knew that lying at this point would be the same as digging himself into a hole that he honestly didn’t care to be in.

Zelda soon turned her attention to the female Knight. “Ashei, surely you weren’t goofing off on the job? I would have expected better from you, considering how often you like to give passionate speeches about how the guards here are so lackluster.”

Ashei just frowned the biggest, grumpiest frown she could muster. “What are you doing here, Zelda?” was all she said in response.

The Princess just giggled some more, as if pleased that she had managed to strike a nerve. She then dropped her mischievous smile for a gentler one. “Forgive my intrusion. I actually need to borrow Link for something, so I came by to collect him.”

“Wait, you need me?” Link asked in surprise.

“Yes. Someone has requested an audience with you, so I’m afraid your shift here will have to be cut short. I hope you don’t mind.”

Link’s mind quickly started racing, trying to think of who would have requested a meeting with him out of the blue like this. Nevertheless, he found himself absentmindedly giving a nod. “S-Sure, that’s fine.”

“Great, we can set off in just a moment,” Zelda said with a smile. She then turned to Ashei once more. “I talked to the Captain, and he’s planning to send another guard here to replace Link, so you won’t be shorthanded.”

Ashei just scoffed. “Tch, I can handle this position just fine on my own.”

Zelda's smile quickly turned back into an expression of amusement. “Yes, perhaps you can, now that I’m removing your playmate from the picture. There will no longer be anything to distract you, yes?”

Ashei growled at this. “We were doing just fine here, Zelda. I take this job very seriously. Never forget that.”

“Yes, yes, I understand,” Zelda said with a few nods. “I leave this gate in your capable hands.”

As they conversed, Link just watched the two of them with a surprised look. It felt good to know that he wasn’t the only one that the Princess liked to tease. Ashei seemed to be a valuable target for her playfulness as well.

Zelda soon turned back to the Hero. “Ready to go, Link?”

He gave a nod. “Yes.”

“Then come along. I’ll see you later, Ashei.”

Zelda gave a small wave to the Knight as they walked away, and Link did the same. Ashei just returned the gesture with a halfhearted obligatory wave to the Princess, and another scowl complete with clenched teeth for the Hero. Link winced a bit when he saw that. He had a feeling she was going to chew him out later for throwing her under the carriage like that.

Still, Link pushed these thoughts from his mind. He currently had other questions that concerned him as he and the Princess walked through the castle’s main courtyard. “Um, so who am I having an audience with?”

Zelda glanced back at him. “You will be meeting with my father, the King of Hyrule himself.”

Link blinked. “Your father?” A second passed. “The King!?”

Zelda just giggled as she watched his face contort in surprise. “I had a feeling you would react like that.”

Notes:

I was pretty amused with myself for coming up with that left hand vs right hand bit. To this day, I’m still dumbfounded that the developers decided to mirror the entire game just so Link’s sword hand would match the Wii remote. You’d think they would just flip Link’s character, but no, they had to flip the entire landscape itself. I can kind of understand why, since all of the enemies and environments would’ve had to adhere to Link’s flipped playstyle, but it still just boggles my mind.

I originally played Twilight Princess on the Wii, so the “wrong” version of the map will always look correct to me. Needless to say, when I eventually played the HD remake on the Wii U, I felt like I was directionally challenged lol.

Chapter 9: Royal Introductions

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 9 – Royal Introductions

Link’s mind felt like it was racing. He couldn’t believe the news that Zelda had just delivered to him. As the Hero started to tense up, Zelda just stared at him, seeming rather amused at his surprised reaction. Link didn’t pay her any mind though. He was too busy trying to frantically come to terms with what she had just announced to be bothered by anything else.

The King had requested an audience with him?

During Link’s many visits to the castle, he had met a number of important figures, but he had never had an encounter with the King himself. And honestly, why would he? The King was arguably the most influential figure in the entire Kingdom, after all. Why would he ever set aside time to talk to someone like Link?

And yet, according to Zelda’s words, he had done exactly that. “Er…why does he…um, I mean, why does His Majesty want to meet with me?”

“’His Majesty’?” Zelda repeated, nearly snorting as she did so. “You don’t have to address him so formally, Link. He may be an important figure, but my father is still just a man, the same as any.”

Easy for you to say, Link thought with a frown. The last thing he needed to do was start referring to the King on a first name basis. If Zelda even suggested such a thing, he would vehemently refuse. He was already nervous enough as it was. “Why does he want to meet with me?” Link repeated, this time sounding more tired.

Zelda smiled at him. “For the same reasons as everyone else. He just wants to get acquainted with our Kingdom’s new Hero.”

Link wanted to ask, “What for?”, but he refrained. Now that he had a title, it was harder to deny that he was a figure of great renown, especially since even Kings were apparently requesting audiences with him. Link silently prayed that he wasn’t getting in over his head with all of this.

Zelda soon led the Hero into the castle halls. “It’s this way. He’s resting in the castle infirmary.”

Link gave a small nod. He had heard about the King’s unfortunate condition. “Is His Ma—I, mean, is your father still sick?”

Zelda nodded back. “Yes, I’m afraid he’s still recovering. The doctor says he is improving, but it is a slow process.”

Link gave her a sympathetic frown. “I’m sorry to hear that. I hope he recovers soon.”

“As do I,” Zelda said with a sigh. “Perhaps if he took his health more seriously, he could actually make some meaningful strides towards a recovery. But alas, he tends to just brush my concerns for him aside.” The Princess then paused before giving Link a thoughtful look. “Hmm, maybe you could mention something to him.”

Link just blinked. “What?”

“Yes, when you’re meeting with my father, would you mind telling him to take things easy and focus on his recovery? After all, who knows? If he hears the same message from enough people, he might actually start to consider it.”

Link gawked at her before slowly shaking his head. “You can’t be serious…”

Zelda glanced at him. “Hmm? You don’t want to?”

“O-Of course not!” Link shouted. It was a little louder than he intended, but he was far too startled to control himself properly. His nerves were firing on all cylinders already, and now Zelda was trying to throw this on him too? “Wh-Who am I to tell a King what to do!? And in our first meeting no less!”

Zelda just shrugged, as if she was unconcerned with his sudden outburst. “You never know. He might treasure the opinion of an outsider more.”

“More than his own daughter!?”

“Perhaps. My father is a rather interesting man, as well as a stubborn one. I almost have reason to believe that he doesn’t fully listen to the instructions of the castle doctor.”

Okay, now Link knew for sure that he was getting in way over his head. “But why me? Surely someone else could talk to him about this?”

“Believe it or not, Link, my father does have a great interest in meeting you. You are the Hero of Twilight that saved our Kingdom, after all. Your words may hold more weight than you think they do.”

Link’s shoulders slumped as he let out an exasperated sigh. “But…But for someone like me to give the King a direct instruction…”

“Think of it more as just giving him a suggestion.”

“Still…”

Zelda just gave him a pleading smile. “Won’t you at least consider it?”

“Zelda, I don’t know…”

The Princess then stepped closer, staring at him with her gentle sapphire eyes. “Please? For me?”

Link soon felt forced to look away. He couldn’t withstand the pressure of that soft, innocent gaze that the Princess had seemingly conjured out of nowhere. He soon sighed again. “F-Fine, I’ll think about it…But I won’t promise anything.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda gave him a bright smile, and to Link’s surprise, she even added a quick wink. “I appreciate it.”

As she turned away, Link just shook his head. What had he gotten himself into? Suddenly, guard duty didn’t sound so boring anymore. He’d give anything to be back in one of those dusty hallways, waiting for nothing to happen. Yes, nothing would certainly have been better than enduring this anxiety, as well as whatever came next…

“We’re here,” Zelda soon announced.

Link looked up to see that they were walking into something that could only be described as a medical room. Link had passed by this place a few times while exploring the castle, so he was already somewhat familiar with it. Still, walking into the room lined with empty beds just filled him with an uneasiness. They had reached their destination far quicker than he would have liked. So much for having time to prepare his thoughts.

“I’ve returned, Roswald,” Zelda said, greeting a man that Link could only assume was the doctor.

Roswald in turn greeted her with a smile. “Welcome back, Princess.”

Zelda soon gestured to Link, who was awkwardly standing beside her. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet. This is Link, a man who I’m sure you’ve heard plenty about.”

“Ah, yes,” the doctor said with a look of sudden recognition. He soon walked over and extended a hand towards Link. “So this is Hyrule’s newest Hero. It is an honor to meet you, Sir Link. I’m Roswald, the castle doctor.”

Link accepted his handshake and gave a bashful nod. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” Roswald insisted respectfully. “Should you ever need medical attention, please stop by. Although to be honest, I hope that I never see you in here.”

Link just reeled back a bit at this. The doctor didn’t want him in the infirmary? Why, had he done something wrong?

Noting his confused expression, the doctor just smiled. “It’s just a joke, Sir Link. I’m saying that I wish you good health so that you never have need of my medical practice.”

Link eyes slowly lit up with realization. “Oh…right.” The Hero then laughed. Awkwardly, of course. He then shook his head as he inwardly cursed himself. What a fine mess this was. His nerves were already sabotaging his ability to think before he had even met the King! He was definitely not looking forward to what was soon to follow…

Meanwhile, the doctor just turned back to Zelda. “I assume you’ve come to visit His Majesty?”

“Yes. Father has requested an audience with Link.”

“I see. Go on through then. I’ll be up here in the front if you need anything.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

Zelda gestured for Link to follow her, and she then led the Hero to a separate room at the back of the infirmary. As they walked, Link just took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. At this point, his anxiety was just holding him back. He told himself to forget about such things and just focus on trying to make a good impression. That was all anyone could ask for, right?

The two of them pushed past a curtain, walking into the back room, where King Caius sat upright in his bed. There, Link was able to lay eyes upon him for the first time. Truth be told, what he saw there surprised him. The man definitely carried the air of a King; even at a glance, Link could tell that he was majestic, handsome, and proud. However, Link also took in the other side of him: the sickly, poisoned man that was currently confined to his bed. A man who was no more than a sick patient on the slow road to recovery. As Link gazed upon him, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy, as well as guilt. Here was a King that had been reduced to a lowly state. Link could only imagine that a man of his stature was not pleased with being viewed in such a way, and yet here Link was, walking into his room to witness him in all his frail glory. Link was starting to feel like this meeting was a terrible mistake.

However, it was too late to back out now. Upon hearing the two of them enter the room, Caius turned to face in their direction.

“I’ve brought him here as you’ve requested, father,” Zelda said with a smile. “This is Link, the newly-named Hero of Twilight and savior of our Kingdom.”

The King’s gaze immediately fell on Link, who despite his attempts at composure, just froze in place. The King seemed to be studying him with sapphire eyes that matched Zelda’s own, but his face eventually cracked into a welcoming smile.

“Greetings, Link,” Caius said in his deep, majestic voice. “It is an honor to finally meet you at last.”

Link just stood there for a second, waiting for him to continue. He then realized that the King was actually waiting for him to respond. He quickly managed to throw some words together. “Um…It is an honor to meet you as well…sir.” Link then paused, before fumbling into a bow of sorts. Damn, his nerves were already through the roof!

To his surprise, he heard the King chuckle a bit. “Well, don’t just stand there, boy. Come closer so we can greet each other with a proper handshake.”

Link’s eyes went wide. He only just now realized that he was still standing in the doorway, having not even fully entered the partitioned room yet! He was so stunned from this fact alone, that he didn’t even have time to process the fact that the King wanted to shake his hand. Instead, his body just numbly walked over and extended a hand without even thinking.

The King grasped the Hero’s hand and gave it a firm shake, only to follow it up with something surprising. He soon reached over with his other hand and placed it on top of Link’s. He was now grasping Link’s hand with both of his own. Link just watched in stunned silence as the King then did something completely unexpected. He bowed his head in prayer.

“I give thanks to the Goddesses above, for sending us this Hero in our hour of need.” Caius then raised his head, staring at Link with grateful eyes. “And I give thanks to you, Link, for everything you have done for this Kingdom. Words cannot express the depths of my gratitude. You have done a great service to me, as well as the good people of Hyrule, and you have earned my utmost respect. Thank you, Hero.”

Link just gave the man a blank stare. He honestly had no idea what to say to this. In the end, he just blurted out, “Er…no problem.”

With a warm smile, the King soon released his hand, and gestured to a chair by his bedside. “Please, have a seat. I’ve been eagerly awaiting our chance to meet, and I believe we have much to discuss.”

Link glanced over to Zelda, wondering what she thought about all of this, but she just gave him a reassuring smile. Somehow, he found the courage to sit down and face the King once more.

“My daughter has told me many stories about you,” Caius said with a proud grin. “It sounds like you and Princess Midna went on quite the adventure together.”

Link smiled awkwardly. “Yes…”

“And your efforts led to the defeat of the Usurper King Zant as well as the evil tyrant Ganondorf. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Those are very impressive feats, I must say.”

“Th-Thank you, sir.”

The King then paused, before staring at the Hero with a quizzical expression. He seemed to be studying him again, but this time with an intense gaze. Link just cowered back a bit in his tiny chair.

Eventually, the King posed a question. “Link, is something the matter? You seem very unnerved for some reason.”

Link just froze. Once again, he didn’t know what to say. He tried to fumble around for an excuse. “Um…Forgive me, Your Highness. I just, uh…feel a little nervous, I guess…”

“Oh?” the King said in surprise. He then blinked before turning to Zelda with a surprising look of guilt. “Goodness, was it something that I did?”

Zelda just laughed at this. “No, father. I’ve learned that this is just how Link is. He gets a little shy when he’s in front of nobility.”

“Seriously?” the King asked incredulously. He turned back to Link with his mouth hanging open in pure astonishment.

Link could feel himself start blushing at this point. So much for not making a fool of himself in front of royalty. “I’m very sorry, sir,” he mumbled.

There was silence for a moment, before the King suddenly burst out laughing with a loud, hearty chuckle. Link just looked up with an incredibly confused expression as the man continued to cackle. At one point, a coughing fit almost threatened to overtake him, but his laughter persisted and seemed to win out in the end. Still, it didn’t save him from receiving a small scolding from Zelda.

“Father, please compose yourself. Laughing that hard can’t be good for your health.”

“I’m all right, Zelda,” he insisted, releasing a few final laughs. “I was just so startled is all. Here we have a Hero that fears no battlefield, but cowers in front of nobles and royalty? What an interesting man indeed!”

Interesting? That’s certainly not how Link would have described it. Pathetic and disappointing sounded like much more accurate words to him.

“He’s only nervous at first,” Zelda clarified with a sympathetic smile. “He has no issues dealing with me or Midna.”

Link blushed some more as the Princess defended him. He was honestly surprised that she hadn’t just abandoned him to his fate. Hadn’t he screwed up enough already? Still, he appreciated her assistance in this matter, even if he felt like his current situation was far from salvageable.

The King ended up laughing a bit more before suddenly reaching over and giving Link a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You can relax, dear boy. I’m not here to judge you, and it is not my intent to make you uneasy. I wish for you to be able to speak freely and openly in front of me.”

“Right…I’ll do my best,” Link promised, although his conviction sounded weak.

The King frowned for a moment. He then looked away as he mindlessly began stroking his beard. “Hmm…It is not uncommon for those who live outside the castle to get a bit nervous upon their first meeting with royalty. It’s actually a relatively common occurrence. Still, I fear that our conversation won’t progress very smoothly if you aren’t able to relax around me.”

Link hung his head a bit. “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t mean any offense.”

“No need to apologize, Link,” the King said with a smile. “I was just wondering if we could possibly do something to help ease your anxiety.”

Link raised his eyebrows at this. “Er…that’s kind of you to offer, but what exactly do you have in mind?”

The King smirked, stroking his beard some more. “Perhaps you’d feel a bit calmer if there was less company around, hmm?” He then turned towards his daughter. “Zelda, would you mind stepping out of the room? I’d like to speak to Link alone.”

This time, Zelda was the one caught by surprise. She stood up straight with wide eyes. “Wait, what?”

“You heard me,” Caius replied, a hint of commandment in his tone. “I’d like to speak with Link in private.”

Zelda’s eyes stayed wide as they glanced back and forth between Link and her father. “But…whatever for?”

“I believe that Link might be able to relax if it’s just the two us having a discussion, free of any distractions.”

Link just frowned as he listened to this. He actually felt like this idea would have the opposite effect on him, only making him more nervous as he faced the King in a one-on-one discussion. Having Zelda in the room with them actually made things feel a bit more comforting, if anything. It was just nice to have a familiar presence around. However, Link had no intention of speaking out against the King’s suggestion, so he simply remained silent.

Zelda, on the other hand, was quick to protest. “A distraction? Myself? What nonsense is this!?”

Caius just addressed her in a calm manner. “Zelda, please. I’m only doing this to help out our young Hero here. And besides, do I not have the right to meet with one of my subjects privately?”

Zelda soon scowled, giving the King an expression of pure skepticism. It appeared as if she was trying to figure something out; trying to potentially discern some ulterior motive from her father. Eventually, her gaze flickered to Link for a second, before returning to Caius once more.

“Zelda, I am asking kindly,” the man said with a hint of impatience.

Zelda’s eyes narrowed some more, but she soon turned away. “Fine,” she said with a sigh. “If that is what you wish, then I will oblige.” Zelda then started walking towards the partition, still scowling the entire way. Once she reached the curtain, she glanced back for a second and addressed them in a purely formal tone, free of affection. “Let me know when you have finished, and I’ll come back to collect Link.”

And with that, she was gone. Link watched her go with a frown. His only lifeline in this nerve-wracking situation, having just walked through the curtain. Well, there was nothing to be done about it now. He would just have to summon his courage and forge onwards, even if he was alone. Taking a deep breath, he turned to face the King once more.

To Link’s surprise, he found Caius shaking his head with a small smile. “That daughter of mine…I hope she doesn’t cause too much trouble for you, Link.”

Link blinked at this. “What? No, of course not.”

The King gave a small nod. “That is good to hear. She has been very helpful to you, I take it?”

Link just blinked again. Was he being serious? “Of course. Zelda was a big help to me and Midna when we were on our journey. She even aided in the final battle against Ganondorf. I doubt I could have defeated him without her assistance.”

“Yes, I have heard, and I am incredibly proud of her for that.” The King then paused, taking a moment to glance at a vase of flowers resting beside his bed. “I know better than anyone that she is capable of some truly amazing things.”

“Yeah, she is,” Link agreed with a small smile.

The King then turned back to Link, brightly smiling himself. “One of those amazing things being able to get you to open up. I can’t help but notice, as soon as we started talking about her, your nerves seemed to have disappeared.”

Link blinked yet again. Wait, was that really true? Maybe it was, for Link had just managed to string together more than a few sentences without stuttering or making a fool of himself. “I guess so,” he agreed sheepishly. “Only because I felt the need to speak in defense of her.”

“Yes, I do appreciate that the two of you look out for each other,” Caius said with a thankful smile. “I imagine our Kingdom will have a bright future with the two of you working together.”

“I…I’ll try my best,” Link replied, trying to sound more confident. Maybe this one-on-one conversation with the King wouldn’t be so bad after all. The Hero felt like he was finally finding his footing in this discussion.

However, the conversation took a sudden and surprising turn as Caius stared at Link with a curious expression. He smirked a bit as he gently stroked his dark beard. “I’m truly glad to have made your acquaintance, Link. Now that we finally meet face to face, I’m certain you can see where my beautiful daughter got her good looks from.”

Okay, this threw Link for a loop. He just eyed the King with a look of confusion. Was he being serious? In the short time that Link had known the man, he had not imagined him to be quite so vain. Still, the statement had been made, and now the King seemed to be expecting a response. What was Link supposed to do? He wasn’t certain, but he definitely wasn’t about to disagree with the man, that was for sure.

“Ah…yes,” Link replied awkwardly. “You, uh…look quite handsome…Your Highness.”

Caius just stared at the Hero for a moment, before frowning and shaking his head. “Oh no, not myself, Link. I was actually referring to her mother.”

Link instantly froze. Wait…what?

“Yes, it seems that my daughter inherited her beauty and charm from my late wife. Meanwhile, my features are certainly nothing special…” Caius then paused, before flashing an amused smirk towards Link. “However, I’m glad to know that you find my appearance so appealing.”

Link just sat there with his mouth hanging open. What was happening? Did he really just make such an embarrassing mistake?

Suddenly, the curtain to the room snapped open, and Zelda quickly stormed in. The scowl from earlier was still glued to her face, and she seemed to be directing it towards her father. Link just watched in stunned silence as she marched right up to his bedside, her hands on her hips. She seemed rather upset and disappointed. And was she also…pouting?

“Father!” Zelda said in a strict tone. “What exactly is going on in here?”

The King just looked at his daughter with mild surprise. “Zelda, were you just eavesdropping on us?”

“Of course I was,” Zelda replied bravely. “I heard every word, from just outside the curtain.”

Caius frowned at this. “You said that you were going to allow us to speak alone.”

Zelda soon crossed her arms. “And leave Link at the mercy of your silly jokes? I could never be so cruel.”

“Silly?” the King repeated, as if offended. “I’d like to think it was fairly clever.”

“Father,” Zelda growled, her disappointment still evident in her tone.

As parent and child continued to bicker, Link just sat in his seat, still stunned and trying to process what exactly had just happened. Why did it seem like the King had been trying to trick him? It was like he was trying to make Link slip up and assume that he was referring to himself. And when the trick inevitably worked, why did the King seem so pleased with himself? As if that had been his goal?

Unless…

Link’s eyes went wide as he slowly connected the dots.

No…Was it possible? Did the King also have a mischievous streak, one that rivaled Zelda’s own? And Midna’s too for that matter? Did he have a playful nature that insisted on teasing Link for his own amusement? Was he really that much of a trickster?

Link just inwardly groaned as he forced his eyes shut. He felt like he already knew the answer…

This father and daughter were going to be the death of him!

Notes:

Is there anything worse than misinterpreting someone’s words in such an embarrassing manner? Sorry, Link, for putting you through that lol.

Chapter 10: Apologies

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 10 – Apologies

Okay.

That was how Link felt his first meeting with the King had went. Just okay. He felt it probably could’ve been worse, but it certainly could have been a hell of a lot better too. It was also difficult to decide how to assign blame for such a thing. Was it his own fault, for being so nervous? Was it the King’s fault, for being too mischievous? Or was it Zelda’s fault, for storming into the room and interrupting the entire thing?

It was hard to say…

After Zelda had returned to the room, she had started reprimanding Caius for making such a foolish joke with Link, while the King merely tried to wave the entire thing off as harmless. He even tried to get the Hero involved, by adding, “It was pretty funny, right Link?”. Zelda quickly cut him off, however, insisting that her father leave Link out of this. The Hero wouldn’t be able to save him this time…

Zelda then proceeded to give the King a stern scolding, where she made sure to point out that the Hero of Hyrule was not his plaything, Link’s valuable time should not be wasted like this, and Caius should be very, very ashamed of himself for treating an important guest in such a manner. As she did so, the King ceased any attempts of trying to defend himself, and just shamefully hung his head while occasionally nodding. At this point, it was almost hard to tell which one was the parent and which one was the child in this situation.

Much like the King, Link just sat there in uncomfortable silence. It felt rather awkward to hear Zelda reprimand her father like that. He wished he could simply excuse himself from the room, but no such opportunity presented itself, so he had to endure the scolding just as the King did. Link couldn’t help but feel some sympathy for the man. He knew that the joke had been relatively harmless, and he didn’t feel like Zelda’s judgment was entirely necessary. Nevertheless, it seemed like the Princess had no intention of letting him off easy.

As things dragged on, Link felt reminded of all the times he had seen Mayor Bo get scolded by Ilia. He soon made a mental note that daughters could be terrifying little things. Or maybe that was just all women in general. He wasn’t sure.

Eventually, Zelda insisted that Caius apologize to Link for his idiotic and deceitful comments. By this point, the King didn’t even bother arguing and just did as he was told, formally apologizing to the Hero. Link in turn just awkwardly accepted it, hoping that they could finally move past this.

Which before long, they did, although the conversation didn’t have quite the same energy as it did before. From this point on, the King behaved more formally and respectfully, as you would expect of a man of his position. He no longer laughed or joked, at least not while under the watchful gaze of Zelda, who refused to leave the room a second time for fear of her father delving into his doltish humor once again.

Fortunately, the tension in the room began to ease over time. The King had requested that Link recount the tale of his journey, as he wanted to hear the events from the Hero firsthand. Link didn’t mind doing this, since it was just recollecting his memories, and he also was able to spend a lot of time talking about Midna, which lifted his spirits a bit. Caius responded positively to the tale, often encouraging Link to continue, or pausing to thank the Hero for any particularly impressive achievements. Zelda also chipped in from time to time, adding details that Link might have forgotten or glossed over. As the tale went on, her frustration with her father slowly seemed to evaporate, and eventually she was softly smiling along with them. It was a rather happy end to what would otherwise be considered a total disaster. Which, considering the Hero’s track record for disasters, was something to be thankful for.

Things were eventually cut short when Doctor Roswald entered the room, and announced that it would be best for the King to get some rest. Caius tried to argue against it, and even Zelda asked if they could be allowed just a bit more time, but Roswald wouldn’t have any of it. The sick man had already been entertaining his guest for far longer than he should have been, and he now needed to get some proper rest.

“But Link was just getting to the part where he encountered a Yeti!” Caius complained in a somewhat whiney tone that didn’t match his deep majestic voice at all.

The doctor simply smirked. “Yes, I understand…However, while I hate to interrupt such a thrilling tale, I’m afraid I can’t guarantee your recovery if you refuse to follow my instructions.”

Zelda just gave a nod of approval. “I understand, Roswald. We’ll end things here for today.” She then glanced towards the Hero sitting in the chair. “I’m sure Link understands as well, don’t you?”

At that moment, Link just vaguely recalled what Zelda had requested of him before coming here. “Oh, um, yes. Your health is very important, Your Majesty.”

The King just sighed, releasing a pent-up breath along with a few coughs to accompany it. Even at a glance, it was clear that the doctor’s words were no exaggeration. The King was definitely growing weary. “Very well,” he agreed. “Link, you’ll have to come visit me another time and finish this tale of yours.”

“Of course, I’d be happy to,” Link replied with a smile and a nod.

Caius then leaned in close and spoke to Link in a whisper. “Perhaps at a time when my daughter isn't around, hm?”

Zelda just scowled at the two of them. “Father, I heard that.”

“Oh?” asked the King, suddenly playing innocent. “Heard what, my dear?”

“You’re impossible,” Zelda said, shaking her head. She then sighed before walking over to his bedside and giving him a soft kiss on his temple. “Get some rest, okay? I’ll see you again soon.”

“I will,” Caius promised.

Zelda smiled and enveloped one of his hands in her own for a moment. She then gave him an affectionate pat before releasing his hand and walking back towards the partition.

The King then turned to the Hero once more, and extended a hand to him. “Link, it has been an incredible honor to meet you.”

Link rose from his seat and accepted the King’s handshake. “Likewise, Your Majesty.”

“Feel free to visit again soon. I eagerly await the continuation of that story.”

“Of course.”

The King grinned. “Very good. Farewell then, Hero of Twilight.”

Link then took his leave, walking through the partition and returning to the front of the infirmary. There, he found Zelda conversing with the doctor.

She gave the man a small bow of the head. “Thank you for everything, doctor. I know it can’t always be easy.”

Roswald just gave her a knowing smile in return. “It is not as bad as you think, Princess. I tend to have a high tolerance for dealing with difficult patients.”

“A quality I am grateful for,” Zelda said with a smile. “Do you know how much longer he’ll have to stay in the infirmary?”

“It’s hard to say…With the way things are progressing, it could still be a while.”

Zelda frowned a bit. “That is unfortunate. I was hoping he might be able to return to his own bed and his own room at some point.”

Roswald nodded a bit, as if considering this. “I see…We should be able to make that transition eventually, but not right now I’m afraid. I think it’d be best for him to remain by my side for the time being, so I can quickly administer treatment should things take a sudden turn for the worst.”

Zelda just nodded. “Of course, Roswald. I trust that your judgment is best. I leave him in your capable hands.”

“Your words are too kind, Princess,” Roswald said with a bow. “I will continue to do the best that I can.”

“Thank you,” Zelda replied. She then glanced back at Link. “Sorry for the hold up. Are you ready to go?”

“Oh, yeah, no worries,” Link said, waving his hands a bit.

Zelda smiled as she led him towards the infirmary’s exit. “See you later, Roswald.”

The doctor gave a small nod of his head. “Farewell, Princess. And you as well, Hero.”

Link gave a short nod in return and then dismissed himself. Before long, the two of them were out in the castle halls, free of the infirmary at last. For the first time since entering that place, Link allowed himself to relax.

Zelda glanced over at him. “Are you okay?”

“Huh?” Link quickly turned to her. “Oh, yeah, I’m all right.”

Zelda just gave him a sympathetic smile. “Apologies, Link. I know this sort of thing stresses you out.”

Link shook his head. “No, it’s fine. It’s just something that I need to get used to.”

Zelda nodded a bit. “Of course. With enough time, I’m sure you’ll grow comfortable with doing this sort of thing.”

“I can only hope so,” Link said with a small laugh.

There was silence for a moment. Zelda then glanced down the hallway towards an opening in the stone walls. She soon gestured towards it. “Do you have time to talk?”

Link nodded back. “Of course.”

The Princess soon led the Hero over to the opening, which looked out into one of the castle’s courtyards. From here, they could see some of the well-trimmed hedges, as well as a small fountain in the distance. They stood there in silence for a while, Zelda glancing at the scene with a content smile, while Link leaned against the wall, doing the same.

Eventually, Zelda turned to face the Hero with curious eyes. “So, tell me Link, now that you have officially met my father, the great and mighty King of Hyrule, what do you think of him?”

Link nervously scratched the back of his head. “Well, I’m honestly not sure…He’s definitely not what I expected…”

Zelda just giggled a bit. “Ah, he took you by surprise, I assume?”

“Well, yeah…” Link admitted sheepishly. “I didn’t expect him to be so friendly and down to earth and…and…” He paused, trying to think of a suitable word.

“And so much trouble?” Zelda supplied.

Link scratched his head some more. “Um…I don’t know if I would say that...”

Zelda just shook her head in mild amusement. “Oh, Link, my naive Hero…Surely you have witnessed enough to understand my plight? I’m afraid my father can be quite the troublemaker when he wants to be.”

Like you’re any different, Link thought to himself with a frown. He knew that the Princess could be just as mischievous when she put her mind to it, but he wasn’t about to call her out on it, and he didn’t necessarily want to badmouth the King either. “I guess I could see it,” he agreed halfheartedly.

Zelda noticed his suddenly reserved expression and frowned a bit. She turned away, gazing out at the courtyard once more. “My apologies again, Link. I hope you can forgive me.”

Link whipped his head around in surprise. “Huh? For what?”

“For my father’s foolish idea of humor. And that ridiculous trick he played on you.”

“Oh, you mean that joke?” Link asked innocently. “You don’t have to apologize for that.”

Zelda shook her head some more. “No, I feel partially responsible for it. I should never have agreed to leave the two of you alone.” She then paused before baring her teeth in frustration. “I should’ve known he might try to pull something like that. ‘I was referring to her mother’, oh the gall of that man!”

Link just watched as Zelda began to seethe a little bit. “Um, does he do this sort of thing often?”

“Far more often than what is considered appropriate,” Zelda said, taking a second to compose herself. “Unfortunately, he’s been stuck in that room for some time now. I believe this is what he’s resorted to in order to entertain himself.”

Link frowned at this, feeling a little guilty. “It’s okay. I don’t mind if he likes to tell a few jokes…It’s better to have a sense of humor than none at all, right?”

Zelda turned to Link. “Yes, but that does not mean he should resort to trickery in order to get his laughs. Especially not with the brave Hero who saved our Kingdom.”

“I feel like it was pretty innocent though,” Link said shyly. “I don’t think he meant any offense, and I really didn’t mind it.”

Zelda’s curious gaze began to settle into something more akin to a scowl. “Link, why are you defending him?”

“I’m not,” Link replied quickly. “I just wanted you to know that I wasn’t offended by his joke, and that you didn’t need to scold him so badly for it…”

Zelda raised her eyebrows a bit. “You are displeased that I defended you?”

“What? No,” said Link, shaking his head. “I just don’t think you need to be so hard on him.”

“Now you are offering him pity?”

“Um, no, I…” Link’s voice just trailed off. He wasn’t sure what he was trying to say.

Meanwhile, Zelda just shook her head. “Trust me, Link. I know my father better than anyone else, and I know that he truly deserved the tongue-lashing I gave him earlier. Over the constant years of dealing with him, I’ve learned that you must be strict about these sorts of things. Otherwise, he’ll simply never learn.”

Link just raised his eyebrows. “He’s been doing this for years?”

Zelda simply nodded. “He can be incredibly stubborn when he wants to be. I’m sure he could even give you a run for your rupees.”

“Ha ha, very funny,” Link replied sarcastically. “Now who’s the one cracking jokes?”

Zelda smirked a bit. “I hope you are not accusing me of such a thing. I am being incredibly serious.”

Link just shook his head. Her smile told him otherwise. “Still, I don’t want you to get angry at your father over something like this. Honestly, it feels like you always defend me far more than what is necessary.”

The smile quickly faded from Zelda’s face. She seemed rather surprised at this accusation. “I do not.”

“Yes, you do,” Link shot back. “Whether it be today with your father, or at the garden with Ernest, or even against myself when you were trying to bestow me with a title. It feels like you’re always defending me…”

Zelda just gawked a bit. “Well of course, Link. You are someone who is very important to me, a trusted ally and friend. I will always be happy to stand up for you.”

“But does it have to be so excessive?” Link asked with a frown. “You nearly chewed your father out for five minutes straight.”

“I…” Zelda paused. She didn’t know what to say to this. Her first instinct was to simply say that it was necessary, but she knew that this response wouldn’t satisfy the sudden curiosity that was growing within her.

Why did she go to such great lengths to defend Link? Why had her father’s trickery made her so upset? As well as Ernest’s treatment of him, and even Link’s own self-doubt? Zelda tried to think of a concrete answer, but she had a hard time pinpointing her thoughts. Was it because he was an important figure who had saved her Kingdom from certain doom? Was it because he had been a good friend to Midna, as well as herself? Was it because he was just a genuinely nice guy who was worthy of her protection?

In the end, Zelda honestly had no idea. Even she felt stumped by this conundrum.

Nevertheless, the Princess realized that Link was still staring at her, so she soon frowned and hung her head in shame. Upon recognizing the full weight of the Hero’s words, she felt like she may have stepped out of line. “I…I’m very sorry, Link. It was never my intention to embarrass you or make you feel uncomfortable.”

Link just blinked a few times. “Wait, what?”

Zelda released a solemn sigh. “Clearly, you wish that I had never stood up for you in the way that I did. I went overboard in my attempts to defend you, and for that I sincerely apologize.”

However, the Princess soon glanced over to find the Hero waving his hands at her. “No, Zelda, it’s okay. You don't have to apologize. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Honest.”

Seeing his excessive dismissal, Zelda felt her spirits lift a bit. “Do you really mean that?”

Link smiled. “Of course. I’m fine with you sticking up for me. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to go so far just for my sake.”

Zelda allowed herself to return his smile. “But if I don’t, then who will?”

This gave the Hero some pause. “Um…”

“Surely not yourself?” Zelda asked with a hint of teasing in her voice. “I’ve already witnessed your miserable attempts at such things.”

Link frowned. “Hey, I can stand up for myself! I just…only do it when it is necessary.”

Zelda gave him a warm smile. “Fair enough. But in that case, I too will go as far as I feel is necessary. It is my right, as this Kingdom’s Princess, and as a friend.”

Link just stared at her in confusion. Just a moment ago, Zelda had seemed rather dejected, but now she appeared to be somewhat motivated. He wasn’t sure what he had said or done to help her recover so quickly, but it seemed like the argument had been wrestled out of his grasp. He soon sighed in defeat. “If that is what you wish.”

“It is,” Zelda replied, smiling at him. “And Link, if it makes you feel any better, just know that I would have done the same for Midna if she were here. Although, something tells me she would have had no problem standing up for herself,” she mused with a giggle.

Link laughed at this too. “Yeah, probably not.”

Zelda smiled at the Hero. It felt nice to just casually talk with him like this. Throughout the past week, the two of them had stayed so busy that they hadn’t often come across each other, even though they were staying in the same castle.

“So tell me,” Zelda said, changing the subject, “how have you been adjusting to life here at the castle? Are things going well?”

“Well enough,” Link replied with a shrug. “It’s definitely different from what I’m used to in Ordon, but it’s growing on me.”

“I’ve heard from various sources that you’ve been a big help around here. I appreciate your willingness to assist.”

Link smiled, beaming with a bit of pride. “Of course. I’m always happy to help.”

Zelda nodded at his confidence. “How has everyone been treating you? With kindness and respect, I hope?”

“Yeah,” Link replied as he lowered his eyes. “More kindness and respect than I care to accept, honestly.”

Zelda paused. “Hmm? What do you mean?”

Link gulped, realizing he may have been a little too outspoken. He hadn’t meant to let that detail slip out. “Er…it’s nothing.”

Zelda just stared at him, her growing concern evident in her expression. “If something is bothering you, then tell me.”

Link just tried to shrug it off. “No really, it’s nothing.”

“Link,” Zelda pleaded, staring at him with her soft sapphire eyes.

The Hero just cursed. He already knew he couldn’t resist that look. “Fine…It’s just been a little hard having to get used to all the attention.”

“The attention?” Zelda inquired.

“Yeah. Ever since I was named as the Hero of Twilight, I’ve noticed that everyone around here has started admiring me, complimenting me, and treating me like I’m some sort of celebrity.”

Zelda just gave a single nod. “Ah, I suppose that sort of thing is to be expected. I’m afraid the inhabitants of this castle are naturally curious, especially when they hear that someone of your caliber is currently roaming the halls. It’s no surprise that they’ve taken such a keen interest in our newly-named Hero.” She then paused, glancing over at him with a frown. “What kind of attention have they been giving you, exactly?”

“It’s nothing too crazy,” Link said with a shrug. “There’s just been a lot of handshakes and ‘thank you’s and compliments; all from faces I’ve never even met before. It can all be a little overwhelming sometimes.”

Zelda tried to give him an encouraging smile. “I’m sure they just want you to know how much they appreciate everything you’ve done. Most of us might not be standing here today if it weren’t for you.”

Link sighed. “I know…but I never did any of this so I could earn everyone’s praise. I just saved the Kingdom because…well, because it needed to be saved. I never wanted any special treatment or anything like that. It just doesn’t feel right to me.”

Zelda just sadly smiled at him some more. Here he was, being a little too modest again. “But Link, surely you feel you deserve at least a little attention? I would say that your actions far exceed the capacity for what is considered ‘praiseworthy’.”

“Yes, I suppose,” he agreed, although his voice didn’t sound very confident.

“Just bear with it for now. People are only clamoring about you because of the recency of your heroic deeds and title. Give it some time, and eventually their constant fascination with you will begin to fade. At that point, the crowds will start to leave you alone.”

Link just nodded a bit. “I know…If anything, I probably just need to learn to accept things for what they are.” 

Zelda smiled. “And you will, at your own pace.”

“Yeah,” he agreed. He then paused for a moment. “The rumors, however, I can live without.”

“Rumors?” Zelda repeated as the smile quickly faded from her face. “What rumors?”

Link blinked in surprise. He assumed she might have caught wind of some of the talk being passed around the castle halls. He tried to shake his head and give the Princess a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing. Just people making some assumptions about me, most of them exaggerations.”

“Like what?”

“Just stupid stuff,” Link said, suddenly feeling embarrassed. It was bad enough hearing this from Ashei, but now he had to pass it along to Zelda as well? He soon sighed. “Stuff like I’m strong enough to fight a hundred Bulblins or which hand I use to wield my sword…”

Zelda just stared at him for a moment. “And this bothers you…”

She hadn’t really phrased it as a question, but her eyes seemed to be imploring Link for an answer. “Well, yeah. It makes me nervous to know that so many strangers are discussing me behind my back. Not to mention, a lot of these rumors feel so ridiculous, it almost feels like they’re creating a false image of me. I would honestly feel better if I knew that they weren’t talking about me at all.”

To Link’s surprise, Zelda’s eyes soon flashed with a small bit of horror, before she heavily frowned and bowed her head. “My sincerest apologies, Link. I never intended for this to happen.”

Link just stared at the Princess, feeling stunned and confused. Another apology!? “What do you mean?”

“Once again, I feel partially responsible for your trouble,” Zelda replied in a solemn tone. “I’m the one who recounted the tale of your adventure to the Hyrule Council, so naturally all of these rumors stem back to myself.”

Link raised his eyebrows. “You started all of these rumors?”

Zelda shook her head. “Not directly, no. I believe I gave an accurate summary of your journey, but that does not prevent people from misremembering and misconstruing the tale once it reaches their ears. I fear that these rumors only started because I was willing to share your story in the first place.”

Link shook his head back at her. “But that’s not your fault. The Council had to know the truth of how the Twilight Invasion was resolved. You had a duty to tell them what happened.”

“But that is not all,” Zelda said, still hanging her head in shame. “I am also the one who insisted on granting you a proper title, which is where all of this attention stems from. I honestly believed that I was helping you, but now I’m wondering if I’ve just done nothing but cause you trouble.”

Link just stared at the Princess with his mouth hanging open. “Seriously, Zelda? Do you really believe that?”

“What else am I to believe?” Zelda asked, still looking at the floor. “All I hear is nothing but the burdens I have placed on you.”

To her surprise, she just heard Link give a small laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. Sure, this title and everything that came with it has been a lot to deal with, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate it. And it definitely doesn’t mean that you have never done anything for me.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda dared to glance up from the floor, only to see the Hero’s comforting face smiling at her.

“You’ve helped me more than you realize,” he told her. “Remember what I said just a little bit ago? I said I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for me, and I meant it. The Goddesses only know where I might be without you.”

Zelda suddenly found herself blushing upon hearing the Hero’s praise. She hadn’t expected his words to sound so heartfelt and appreciative. Still, she couldn’t deny that his warm and comforting attitude had managed to lift her spirits once again. “Um…Thank you, Link. That truly means a lot.”

“You’re welcome,” the Hero replied happily. He then laughed a bit as he continued to stare at the Princess. Zelda just gave him a weird look.

“What?”

Link shook his head, laughing some more. “It’s funny. You accused me of feeling sorry over every bad thing that happens around me, but you’re no different.”

Zelda blushed a bit more, realizing the truth in his words, but she soon tried to suppress it. “I…I am only trying to take responsibility for…for the results of my actions and the behavior of those who dwell in my castle.”

“You can’t apologize for everything though,” Link said with a grin.

“But…” Zelda’s voice trailed off. She knew he had a point there.

Link just gave her a look of confidence. “You can relax. I don’t mind if things get difficult around here, and I certainly don’t blame you for any of my troubles. That’s just the way things are sometimes. No point in dwelling on them.”

Zelda just stared at him in awe, admiring his nonchalant attitude and carefree grin. This Hero may get nervous on occasion, and he may have trouble accepting his importance to the Kingdom, but in spite of all that, he never seemed to let anything truly bother him. He never seemed to take offense or get angry. He was just willing to let things go, in a mature and respectful manner. To Zelda, he had always seemed like a free spirit, and she truly admired him for it.

She soon smiled. “You’re nothing if not sincere, Link, and I really appreciate that about you.”

“That’s just who I am,” Link replied, trying to hold back a sheepish expression. It still felt a little weird for him to receive praise from the Princess, but he accepted it all the same.

“I’ll try to keep my apologies in check from now on,” Zelda told him. “Although…I won’t promise anything.”

Link smirked at this. “Well then, while we’re at it, is there anything else you need to apologize for? Might as well get it out now.”

Zelda laughed at his challenge, and then took a moment to consider it. “Hmm, perhaps I should apologize for you being stuck on guard duty with Ashei? I know that she can be troublesome at times.”

Link laughed back. “Ashei? No, she and I get along surprisingly well actually…” He then paused. “For the most part, anyway.”

“Is there anyone you don’t get along with?” Zelda asked with a smirk of her own.

“Zant comes to mind…”

Zelda just laughed again. In addition to his other qualities, she also felt that Link had a charming sense of humor. At the very least, he seemed to have a way of making her giggle with amusement. She soon placed a gloved hand over her mouth, hoping to compose herself. “It is always a pleasure to speak with you, Link.”

“Yeah, I enjoy our talks as well,” he said, smiling back.

Zelda soon turned and glanced out at the courtyard. “I should probably be on my way…” She then paused, her eyes widening. Why did it look like the courtyard was bathed in the orange glow of the evening? How much time had passed since she originally went to fetch Link?

She whipped her head towards the Hero. “Wait, what time is it?”

Link leaned back a bit, surprised at her suddenness. “Er, I don’t know…Close to dinner time, I think?”

“Oh shoot,” Zelda lightly cursed. “Why do I always lose track of the time?” She soon shot up, gathered the folds of her dress in her hands, and promptly began running down the hall. Link just stood there for a second, dumbfounded, before deciding to take off after her.

“What is it? What’s the matter?” he tried to ask, but she just ignored him and hurried forward.

Before long, the Princess turned a corner, stopping just short of a small staircase that descended down to another hallway. Link quickly caught up to her as she glanced at the nearby wall, where a wooden clock rested.

“Six o’clock?” she murmured with a frown. “Damn…” She then jumped a bit, placing a hand over her mouth. “Oh, forgive my language.”

Link just shook his head. “No worries. What has you so alarmed?”

Zelda removed her hand as she released a sigh. “I promised Fost that I would meet with him at this time to discuss a potential transportation arrangement for our upcoming meeting. I’m supposed to meet him clear on the other side of the castle, and now I’m going to be late.”

Link just gave her a comforting look. “Oh, is that all? Fost seems like a kind and understanding guy. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

“Yes, but being late to pre-established meetings reflects poorly on myself, and Fost will be all too keen to remind me of that!” Zelda said with a huff. She then turned away, still feeling frantic. “Forgive me for cutting things short, Link. I’m afraid I must be on my way.”

Link paused, before stretching a hand out towards her. “Hey, Zelda, wait-”

Zelda just gave a quick shake of her head, as she forced her feet to keep moving. “It’s been nice talking with you. I’ll see you again s-”

“Zelda, look out!”

Zelda’s eyes went wide with fear as her foot suddenly tripped on the staircase that she had forgotten was there. Her whole body instantly lurched forward, and Zelda just gasped before squealing at the top of her lungs.

“Aiiiiieeee!”

Suddenly, a hand shot out, grabbing Zelda’s own and halting her descent. She quickly planted her feet on the stairs beneath her, steadying herself. She stood there for a second, still terrified of what had almost transpired. She took a few quick breaths as she glanced behind her.

There stood Link, firmly clutching the Princess’s hand with his own. He was just staring down at her with an expression full of concern. “Are you okay?” he asked softly.

Was she okay? Zelda felt too stunned to give an answer. In fact, she was actually having a hard time even processing the question. Her body felt breathless, and her heart was racing. Zelda’s entire self was still too focused on the horrifying thought of plummeting to her doom.

Nevertheless, the cogs in her mind eventually began to turn. She gave Link the smallest of nods, and spoke up in a shaky voice. “U-Um…Mm-hmm…” she mumbled.

Link just released a small bit of pent-up air from his lungs. “Here,” he said. He then gave a gentle tug on her hand, pulling her back up to the top step next to him.

Once she was back on solid ground, Zelda placed a hand over her heart, trying to calm herself. Naturally, the tiny organ was still beating at a furious pace. She slowly turned to face the Hero. “Th-Thank you, Link. You really saved me there.”

Link just eyed her before breathing a sigh of relief. “I’m just glad you’re all right. You really should be more careful.”

Zelda nodded. She knew he was absolutely right. Inwardly, she was already berating herself for being such a fool. How could she have been so reckless? If Link hadn’t been here, she might have gotten seriously injured! She soon blushed, feeling embarrassed about the whole thing.

“Y-You’re right. Forgive me for that. It was…very un-Princess like.”

“Don’t worry about it…” Link said with a small smile. He then awkwardly glanced down before speaking up again. “Um…can I have my hand back now?”

“Oh!” Zelda nearly jumped as she looked down and realized that she was still clutching the Hero’s hand, and quite firmly at that. She quickly released it, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red. “Y-Yes, of course.”

Link just slowly retracted his hand back to his side. He cautiously eyed the Princess up and down. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, just a little startled is all.” She took a deep breath, trying to calm down and still her ever-beating heart. She also smoothed out the folds of her dress, hoping to make herself look more composed and presentable.

Once she finally felt at ease, she dared to look back towards the Hero. She just gave him a shy smile and a nervous laugh. “Um…I guess we’re both a little clumsy, huh?”

Link blinked in surprise, but he soon smirked. “At least I had a flowerbed to break my fall,” he said with a laugh.

“Fortunately, I had a Hero to break mine,” Zelda replied sincerely. “Thank you, Link.”

“Yeah, you’re welcome,” he replied, as if it was no big deal.

The Princess then stood there for a moment, silently admiring her Hero. She truly appreciated his warmth and kindness, and the fact that he always seemed to be looking out for her. It felt good to know that he could be counted on a trusted ally. No, he had already proven himself to be far more than that. He was a trusted friend.

However, as Zelda continued to stand there in silence, she couldn’t help but feel a bit…strange. Despite her attempts to collect herself, she still felt like her cheeks were burning with a tint of red, and her heart continued to beat hard in her chest. What was going on? The near-death experience on the stairs had already come and gone, so why did she still feel so…so flustered? Ordinarily, she would never feel so shaken like this, especially over such a small accident. And yet, as she continued to admire the Hero before her, she felt an odd sense of nervousness. Why did it suddenly feel so unnerving to meet his gaze?

Meanwhile, in the back of her mind, she heard Link’s voice call out to her, as if from a far-off place.

“Um…Zelda?”

“Huh?” she replied mindlessly.

“Weren’t you just in a hurry to leave?”

Zelda blinked, suddenly snapping out of her daze. “Oh! Yes, yes I was.” Quickly taking in her surroundings, Zelda recalled what she had just been doing. She needed to get to her meeting with Fost! With a few nods of the head, Zelda turned, walking down the staircase at a much more careful pace than before. She then glanced back at the Hero one last time. “Thanks again, Link. I promise I’ll see you soon!”

Link just returned her farewell with a smile and a nod. “See you later, Zelda.”

Zelda then faced forward again and rushed off down the halls. She was careful not to move in a reckless manner, but she still kept an urgent stride. All the while, Zelda’s heart kept beating strongly and rhythmically, as if determined to create a steady tempo within her chest.

Zelda just frowned, feeling a bit anxious. Why did she still feel so unsettled? Sure, she was going to be late for her meeting with Fost, but Zelda doubted that this was the source of her uneasiness. No, instead, her thoughts kept returning to the Hero clad in green, warmly smiling at her, gently taking her hand, and doing her the small favor of saving her life.

Zelda soon felt her face begin to steam a bit, so she quickly shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Her behavior was extremely irrational, and she could only assume that there was something seriously wrong with herself…

Notes:

I would like to take a moment and say thank you to everyone who has left comments, kudos, bookmarks, and whatnot on this story. Receiving any type of feedback always serves as a great form of motivation when it comes to writing, so it’s been very appreciated. Please feel free to continue sharing your thoughts as the story progresses. And of course, thank you all very much!

Chapter 11: Roundtable

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 11 – Roundtable

Another week came and went, with Zelda finding herself busier than ever before. The time had finally come for the assembly of Hyrule’s newly instated council. As expected, important figures from all across the Kingdom were now traveling to Castle Town, where they would meet at the same table and hold a discussion about the ways in which they and their people could aid in the recovery effort.

It was an exciting time, with many people both inside and outside the castle chatting about how interesting it would be to have so many outsiders visiting at once. For Zelda, however, the organization of such an event was tedious. It required a lot of planning in order to get so many people together in the same place at the same time. Zelda had talked to the various council members-to-be over and over, discussing the rearranging of schedules as well as the methods of transportation for those outside the castle. For most of Hyrule’s civilizations, Castle Town wasn’t exactly just a short trip down the road, after all.

Fortunately, Zelda didn’t have to bear the burden alone. Ministers Fost and Enzo were more than happy to step in and help with the organization of the event. They continued communications with the various civilizations, and made sure that everyone was ready for the set date and time. They also offered to send carriages to the leaders’ homes in order to escort them to Castle Town, but surprisingly enough, only half of them accepted. Darbus of the Goron Tribe claimed that he could simply “roll” his way to the castle, and Prince Ralis of Zoras insisted that he and his guards could swim the rivers all the way to the castle’s moat. Zelda just shrugged when she heard this. It sounded a bit out of place, but she quickly realized that getting a carriage into Zora’s Domain probably wouldn’t be easy or practical, and there probably wasn’t a carriage in existence capable of carrying someone of Darbus’s weight and size. Yes, in this instance, it was better to let them do as they pleased.

Which left the other two outsiders, Renado the Shaman and Mayor Bo, to accept the offer of transportation. As promised, a carriage was dispatched to Kakariko as well as Ordon. This is where Link decided to get involved as well, offering to escort Mayor Bo back to Castle Town on the promised day. In the meantime, he returned to Ordon ahead of schedule, and spent a few days relaxing there. Having spent so much of his recent time in the castle, it felt good for the Hero to return home for a while.

But alas, the day had finally come. Zelda now stood at the castle gates, ready to welcome her guests into her magnificent home. Today would mark the official formation of what would formally be known as the Hyrule United Roundtable, a meeting where leaders and Kings would come together to discuss the state of their Kingdom. Zelda had personally decided to refer to it as the “Roundtable” for short. Link had suggested that they could call it the “hurr” (or rather, HUR), but upon Zelda telling him that it sounded ridiculous, he quickly dropped it.

As she stood by the front gates, Zelda smiled a bit as she thought of the Hero clad in green. For some reason, this alone was enough to make her lips curve upwards and her heart feel lighter. Even though Link had only been away from the castle for a few days now, the Princess looked forward to seeing him again. The time they spent together was always pleasant, after all.

Before long, the guests began to arrive. Surprisingly, Darbus was the first, lazily shuffling in though the castle gates on his short, skinny legs. The rest of him, however, was huge. He stood nearly twice as high as the tallest of guards, and his large muscular arms stretched low, almost close enough to touch the ground. With each step he took, the earth around him seemed to quake a bit. One of the guards ended up whimpering and raising a spear in defense, but another guard quickly snatched it and forced it back down with a shake of the head. This Goron may have been the size of a hulking beast, but he was actually an ally.

Small bluish eyes soon fell on Zelda, and a wide grin spread across his large mouth. “Princess Zelda,” he said in a brutish, rough voice. “How nice it is to see you! You’ve grown rather big since last we met.”

Zelda smirked a bit, noting the irony in someone of his stature referring to her as “big”. Darbus was actually an old friend of her father, so Zelda had met him a few times back when she was a child. “Greetings, Chief Darbus. It is good to see you as well. Thank you for making the trip all the way out here to join our Roundtable discussion.”

“Of course!” the Goron replied happily. “My tribe is more than willing to step in and help.”

“I am happy to hear that.”

Darbus soon took on a more serious expression. “I have heard news of what happened to your father. Tell me, is Caius well?”

Zelda gave a short nod. “He is still recovering from the poison, but he is doing well for the most part.”

“Ah, that is good to hear,” Darbus said with a grin. “Perhaps I’ll have to pay him a visit while I’m here, eh?”

Zelda stifled the urge to giggle as she imagined this giant Goron trying to squeeze into her father’s tiny room in the infirmary. Instead, she just gave an appreciative smile. “Thank you, Darbus. I have a feeling that would brighten his day.”

Before long, Minister Fost joined them, and offered to show the Goron to the meeting room inside the castle while they waited for the other guests to arrive. Upon seeing the short man, Darbus just released a resounding fit of laughter.

“Ga ha ha! Little Fost, is that you? How many years has it been, friend?”

Fost just frowned and furrowed his eyebrows. Clearly, he didn’t like hearing the term “little” applied to him in such a way. “Oh, and here I was hoping you had forgotten that ridiculous nickname…”

Darbus shook his head. “Of course not. All it took was one look at you and the memory came rolling back to me!”

Fost sighed as he led the thundering Goron into the castle halls, all the while scowling at the abnormal amount of dirt that covered him. Zelda just smirked a bit as she watched them go. She had a feeling that this Roundtable was going to be quite the lively event.

Shortly after that, Renado’s carriage arrived. Zelda had met him once before, during a trip to Kakariko Village when she was younger. She gladly greeted him and welcomed him inside. Not far behind him was Prince Ralis and two Zoras that accompanied him as guards. Zelda had met him a couple of times before, as he and his mother had occasionally visited the castle. Zelda was surprised at how young he looked though. He was still young enough to be considered a boy, and Zelda knew that he wouldn’t be crowned as King of the Zoras until he had grown a bit more. Still, Ralis promised to do his best to aid both Hyrule and his people, and Zelda was happy to have his support.

Last but not least was the Ordon party. Mayor Bo’s carriage pulled through the castle gates, with Link riding Epona not far behind them. Zelda smiled as she laid eyes on the Hero once more, but she made sure to properly greet Bo first. She had actually never met this man before, but her father had, and her first impressions of the man were friendly enough. Much like the other guests, she welcomed him into the castle with a smile.

The Princess then turned to find Link approaching her. He gave her a bashful smile. “I hope we’re not too late.”

Zelda shook her head. “No, you’re right on time. It is good to see you again.”

“It’s good to be here,” Link replied in a surprisingly confident tone. “I’m actually kind of looking forward to this.”

Zelda couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows a bit. She hadn’t expected this sort of response from the Hero. “You are? I would’ve thought that you’d be nervous.”

Link shook his head. “Nah. While I was in Ordon, I talked some stuff over with the Mayor and Rusl, and they helped me get excited about this whole Roundtable thing. They really put things in perspective, making sure I understood all the good I’ll be able to do now that I’m a part of this. It’s kind of exciting…” Link paused, his face suddenly beaming a little. “Plus, it’ll be nice to see everyone again. I’m expecting a lot of familiar faces.”

Zelda just stared at him, feeling rather stunned. Was this really the same Hero she had known just a week ago? It felt like he had gone through an incredible transformation. Still, Zelda’s lips eventually curved into a smile. “That’s wonderful to hear, Link. I’m really proud of you.”

Link’s confidence wavered a bit upon hearing the Princess praise him, but he tried to keep his head held high. “Thanks Zelda. Hopefully I’ll be of some use here.”

“Of course you will,” Zelda assured him. “Now come along. I believe everyone else is awaiting us.”

Link gave a small nod of understanding, and Zelda smiled at him. She then made sure to turn away quickly, before their eyes had a chance to meet. For some reason, ever since the two of them had experienced that incident on the stairs, Zelda still found it difficult to meet his gaze. She was happy to see him of course, but the thought of facing his sight head-on filled her with anxiety. She wasn’t quite sure why that was the case though.

Fost had already started leading Bo into the castle, so Zelda and Link followed behind them. They navigated the castle halls before arriving at a spacious meeting room, where a large, rounded table sat in the center. Seats were placed at consistent intervals around the table, some of which were already occupied. In addition to the guests that had arrived earlier, the room also held Auru, Ashei, and Minister Enzo. As he entered, Link smiled at each of them in turn, but his view was soon blocked by Darbus, who seemed all too excited to greet the Hero.

“Ah, Link!” he exclaimed, loudly walking over. “How are ya, brother?”

Link just smiled up at him. “Hey Darbus. I’m doing well.”

“Good to hear! It’s been too long, eh?” Without warning, the Goron then playfully slapped Link on the back, nearly knocking him off his feet in the process.

“Er, right,” Link agreed weakly.

“You must come back to Death Mountain to visit sometime. Ever since you were named as the Hero of Twilight, my brothers have not stopped talking about you. They’d love to see you again.”

Link scratched the back of his head a bit. “Um, sure. I could probably make some time to stop by.”

Ralis soon ran up to join Link’s side as well. “You must also come and visit Zora’s Domain again, Link. My people would be more than happy to prepare a feast in your honor after everything you’ve done for us. I can promise you’ll have the best reekfish that you’ve ever tasted in your life!”

Link smiled a bit. “Of course, I’d be happy to stop by sometime-”

“Hey.” Link suddenly turned to find Ashei giving him a skeptical look. “For someone who doesn’t like to receive a lot of attention, you sure seem to enjoy bathing in your popularity.”

Link frowned. “What? No I don’t.”

Ashei just smirked and crossed her arms. “Are you sure? You’re already scheduling feasts and excursions into the mountains. You really shouldn’t let your status go to your head like that, yeah?”

Link just gave the Knight a deadpan look. “That’s not what’s happening at all. I’m just trying to be polite…”

Ashei just smirked some more. “Heh. Relax, Link. I’m only teasing you.”

Link just sighed as he stared at her. Why did she have to make things so difficult?

“Still though, if you’re going to have a reekfish feast, invite me along too, yeah?”

“Ashei…”

“Ahem,” Zelda suddenly interjected, clearing her voice loud enough to draw the attention of everyone in the room. Within seconds, all eyes were on her. “I’m afraid you will all have to discuss your friendly visits at another time. Now that everyone is here, I believe we should get this meeting underway.”

There was silence for a moment before everyone eventually began to nod and voice their approval.

“Very good. Now let’s all take our seats and then we can begin the first meeting of the Hyrule United Roundtable.”

With more nods of approval, everyone quickly found their place at the table. Zelda took her place at the head of the table, with Fost sitting to her left, and Enzo to her right. Ordinarily, her father would have taken this position, but given that he was unable to attend these meetings due to his current condition, this place was rightfully hers. Link ended up a bit off to the side of the table, sitting between Bo and Ashei.

Once everyone was properly seated (including Darbus, who was sitting on a durable stool made of stone that had been prepared in advance), Zelda took a second to stand up and gaze around the table, marveling at the sight before her. Her eyes paused on Link for a brief second before continuing.

“What a glorious sight this is,” she said in a loud, majestic voice. “To see so many of our people, from different races and locations, coming together to sit at the same table like this. I thank the Goddesses above for allowing each of you to join me here on this day.”

“Hear, hear,” Fost said with a bright smile.

“Under normal circumstances, my father, King Caius Vesperi Hyrule would be standing at the head of this table, leading this discussion as the rightful ruler of this Kingdom. However, given his current condition, I have volunteered to lead in his place, as the Royal Princess of Hyrule. I promise to do my best in order to lead our Kingdom in a beneficial direction.”

Zelda paused, taking a second to glance at the table’s reaction. Seeing nothing but their approval, she continued. “Now, I would like to officially welcome you all to the Hyrule United Roundtable. As I’m sure you all understand, the purpose of these meetings is to gather the representatives of the various civilizations scattered across the Kingdom, and unite them at one table. We aim to increase communications between our people, improve relations, and offer aid and assistance where it is needed. Together, we will make Hyrule a stronger, more unified Kingdom.”

To Zelda’s surprise, her speech was met with a little applause, namely coming from Ralis, Renado, and Bo. Zelda just gave an appreciative nod before clearing her throat and continuing once again. “For the sake of this Roundtable being used to its full potential, I would like to ask that we hold this meeting at least once a month. This will allow all of us to stay up to date on how the Kingdom is faring as a whole, and it will allow us to quickly determine what actions must be taken in order to ensure that things continue to improve. I know that the Twilight Invasion has left scars on each of your homes, and I’m afraid it will take some time to remedy all that has been damaged. However, as long as we stand together, I believe that we can achieve this and much, much more.”

“I wholeheartedly agree,” Bo said, suddenly speaking up. He then paused as he realized that every face at the table had turned to him. “Er, sorry…”

Zelda shook her head, encouraging him to continue. “No, please Mayor Bo, the table is yours.”

The man seemed hesitant for a second, but he soon began voicing what was on his mind. “I was just thinking that so many of us live in secluded locations within the Kingdom. It can be hard to hear news of what is happening in other places around the land. I mean, we didn’t even know about the Twilight Invasion until it was right on our doorstep!” There were a few nods of agreement from the rest of the table. “I would be happy to keep up to date on what is happening in each of your homes, and I will gladly share such news with my people in Ordon. This way, we can all understand each other better. And if we have to meet once a month in order to make that happen, then I am more than willing to do so.”

“I feel the same,” said Renado, nodding at the words of his old friend.

“As do l,” said Auru. “I’m sure it isn’t easy to organize these assemblies, but the benefits of meeting monthly will surely be worth the effort. History has shown that when the various races of Hyrule stand united, nothing can stop them.”

“Well said,” Zelda replied with a nod to the wise teacher. “We hope to start scheduling these meetings at regular monthly intervals, so everyone will know the exact date and time they are expected to be here. We’ll also ensure a recurring method of transportation for those that require it, so we can all make it here in a timely manner. This should all become quite routine once everything is set in place.”

Enzo soon spoke up. “Naturally, Minister Fost and I will personally see to it that the organization of these meetings go smoothly. As long as we keep up to date with our communications, we should be able to avoid any hiccups.”

The rest of the table soon nodded in agreement. They all seemed to be on board with the idea of meeting monthly. With a satisfied smile, Zelda soon took her seat once more.

“Now, I would like to open up the table for discussion,” she announced, glancing around at the faces that surrounded her. “Feel free to share anything that is on your mind. Any burdens or troubles you are currently facing, or any ideas that you would like to implement. In return, I promise to offer any support that I can.”

And with that, the meeting commenced. Each of the leaders took turns describing the current state of their villages, as well as the actions that had been taken to aid in their reconstruction. Most of the civilizations were doing well. Ordon Village and Zora’s Domain were relatively safe and unharmed. Castle Town had recently seen an increase in trade and commerce, with more people visiting the market now that the Twilight Invasion had ceased. Darbus mentioned that the Gorons were still trying to clear some monsters out of their mines, but they were fine otherwise.

The only struggle that was worthy of note came from Renado, who claimed that Kakariko was still trying to recuperate after the Twilight had taken its toll. Apparently, many of the villagers had fled back when the Twilight Invasion first started, fearing the dark monsters that lurked in the shadows. Since then, a few of the families had returned, but it seemed that most of them had moved on to other places. This left Kakariko as nothing more than a shell of its former self.

“We have plenty of business opportunities,” Renado explained with a serious look. “The Gorons have made sure of that, having opened numerous shops in town. The issue then, is the lack of people. Kakariko requires more citizens if it wants to become a sustainable village. With our current population, I fear that we will only dwindle over time, until eventually no one remains.”

“I see,” said Zelda, nodding. “So you would like to ask us to send some new faces to live in Kakariko, is that correct?”

“Yes,” the Shaman replied. “As I said, we already have a number of Gorons living among us, but we would be happy to accept all races in Kakariko as well. We have plenty of housing available, and it is currently selling for a low price. Would you all be so kind as to spread the word in your own dwellings, and see if anyone would be interested in relocating to our homestead?”

“I will gladly mention it to my people,” Ralis said with a smile. “Kakariko has always been a sacred place for the Zoras. A number of our dead are buried in your graveyard, including my own father, King Zora. I would hate to see such a treasured place dwindle away to nothing.”

Enzo nodded. “I will put out a notice in Castle Town, letting the citizens know that there is opportunity to be found in Kakariko should anyone have interest in moving there. I’m certain there will be some. You’d be surprised at how many people long for adventure and find the thought of moving to a far-off village enticing.”

“I will make the same announcement in Ordon,” Bo agreed, before smiling a little. “Although our own population is rather small, so I don’t know if I can offer much.”

Renado smiled at those around the table, and then bowed his head. “You have my utmost thanks.”

Zelda smiled as she too glanced around the table. This entire Roundtable meeting had originally been her idea, so it felt good to see everything finally come together like this, and actually fulfill its intended purpose. Kakariko Village would likely be better off now, as a direct result of these individuals coming together and holding a friendly discussion. To Zelda, it was clear that this Roundtable was a success.

The conversation soon moved on to various other concerns, most of which were rather minor. Ralis mentioned that his people had spotted a group of monsters gathering near the rivers in Hyrule’s northern field. In response, Ashei assured him that she would gather a small band of soldiers and go there to investigate. Enzo then mentioned that there had been a missing person reported in Castle Town. He was a young man, by the name of Dolen, who had last been seen heading south. Apparently, he had told his family he was going to look for some “golden bugs” in order to make some quick money from a bug enthusiast in Castle Town. Unfortunately, a week had already passed since his departure, and there had been no word from him.

“I was going to inquire if any of you have seen this man, or heard word of his whereabouts,” Enzo explained. “His family is quite worried for his safety.”

Bo scratched his chin a bit. “If he was traveling south, he would’ve eventually ended up in Ordon. But I haven’t heard of any young man wandering into our village recently.”

A new voice suddenly spoke up. “It’s possible he got lost in Faron Woods.”

Everyone at the table suddenly turned to face the owner of the voice, which was none other than Link, the Hero of Twilight. However, as the eyes of all who were present fell on the Hero, he just froze. So much for being confident…

His gaze soon fell on Zelda though, who seemed to notice his sudden case of anxiety. She just gave him a warm smile and an encouraging nod. Upon seeing that, Link just paused and took a deep breath. There was no need to be nervous. He was among friends here.

“Um, it’s really easy to get lost in Faron Woods if you don’t know the area,” Link said, trying to sound confident again.

“It’s true,” Bo agreed. “We constantly warn our children to stay out of the forest. It’s too easy to get turned around in there, and the place is also full of devious creatures.”

“If that’s the case, then it sounds like we know exactly where our missing person has wandered off to,” Auru noted with a solemn nod. “He likely entered Faron Woods at some point, and hasn’t been able to find his way back.”

“In that case, I’ll go looking for him as soon as I can,” Link said with a determined expression. “I know my way around the forest better than anyone. If he truly wandered in there, I might be able to find his footprints and track him down.”

To Link’s surprise, his statement was met with numerous looks of equal surprise.

“Are you sure you’re up to the task, Master Link?” Fost asked with a frown. “I would hate to learn that you ended up lost in the forest yourself while looking for this young man.”

“Nonsense!” Bo said, suddenly grinning wide and patting Link on the back. “Link is right. Nobody knows the forest like he does. If anyone can find this Dolen fellow, it’s him.”

Zelda nodded. “Fost, let’s not soon forget that Link is the Hero who saved our Kingdom from the Twilight Invasion. Not to mention, he has spent his whole life growing up in Faron Woods. I’m certain that he is perfectly capable of navigating the forest without fear of getting lost.”

“Agreed,” Darbus said, folding his arms. “Little Fost, you worry too much.”

Fost just sighed, looking slightly aggravated at his nickname being used again. “Very well. We will leave this matter in Master Link’s hands.”

“I promise I won’t let you down,” Link said with a strong nod.

“And don’t worry,” Ashei added, suddenly flashing a grin. “Even if Link does get lost, I can always go in there and look for him, yeah?”

The table was silent for a moment, but Bo soon spoke up. “But you don’t know your way around the forest, do you? Won’t that just produce another missing person?”

The table was silent for another second, before Ashei scowled and crossed her arms, muttering something about how she was more capable than they gave her credit for.

Link gave a nervous laugh. “Um, I’ll just be careful.”

The discussion continued on for a little while after that. Once they had touched upon every topic that they needed to, the meeting was adjourned. Zelda stood up and thanked everyone for coming, and reminded them that they would all meet again in one month’s time. Everyone at the table was then dismissed.

All of the members rose from their seats, and some light discussion began to break out between them. It was around this point that Darbus loudly proclaimed that he was going to the infirmary to visit the King, before he swiftly barreled out of the room. This display just caused Fost to jump in surprise before running after him on his short legs. All the while, he was yelling something about how His Majesty was sick and tired and the last thing he needed was for a Goron to barge into his sickroom unannounced. Zelda just shook her head as she watched them go. She would let them sort it out on their own.

The Princess then decided to approach Link, and give him a proud smile. “You did pretty good today, Hero.”

Link just stared at her for a second before bashfully looking away. “Oh, you really think so?”

Zelda nodded. “Of course. After volunteering to help like that, I think you’ve already proven how useful you are to everyone here.”

“I just got lucky that it involves Faron Woods,” Link replied, scratching the back of his head a bit.

Zelda just raised her eyebrows at this. “Oh? And if someone had gotten lost on Death Mountain, you wouldn’t have been able to find them? Or what if it had been Lake Hylia? Or Gerudo Desert?”

Link sighed. “Okay, fair enough. I guess I do know my way around a lot of places, now that you mention it.”

“Yes, you do,” Zelda agreed. “And I’m glad you were willing to bring your services to the table. Also, I was impressed by your confidence. You really didn’t seem as nervous as I thought you would be.”

Link laughed a little. “Well, I can’t take all the credit there. I was only able to relax because I remembered I was sitting at a table full of my friends. And, well…it also helped to see the encouraging smile you gave me.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda just froze. She hadn’t been expecting him to mention that. “Oh, I helped?” she said, her voice sounding a little quiet and surprised. She wasn’t sure why she suddenly seemed so startled. And for some reason, it seemed like her heart had started beating a little faster too.

“Yeah. I’ll admit I almost lost my nerve for a second there, but seeing your friendly face gave me the encouragement I needed to keep going.” Link then looked up, staring directly at Zelda with a warm smile. “Thanks for that.”

There it was. The gaze that Zelda’s eyes refused to meet. She quickly turned away, unnerved at the thought of facing his stare head-on. Her face began to redden a little, and the room suddenly felt a bit warmer as well. Was there something wrong with her?

She soon managed to stutter some words out. “O-Of course, Link. You’re welcome.”

Clearly, this behavior must have been a little too abnormal, for Link quickly picked up on it. “Um…are you all right?”

“Y-Yes, I am fine,” Zelda insisted, although even she herself felt like she clearly wasn’t. Still, her mind was telling her to retreat for now. For some reason, she felt like she would have an easier time of composing herself if she wasn’t around Link. “I, um, just remembered something that I need to take care of. I’ll talk to you again soon.”

“Oh…All right,” Link said, giving her a weird look before eventually shrugging. He just assumed that the Princess was as busy as always.

Finally free of his gaze, Zelda dismissed herself to the other side of the room, back where she had originally been seated at the table. Here, she took a few deep breaths, and managed to calm herself. The heat in her cheeks slowly began to fade, and her heartbeat slowed as well. Still, Zelda felt rather concerned. What was it about the Hero clad in green that seemed to send her general wellbeing into such emotional turmoil? He had just been smiling and thanking her, so why had she felt so nervous?

Zelda tried to think of a concrete answer, but she eventually just shook her head. In spite of all her wisdom, she was clueless.

Notes:

Fun fact, I actually came up with a seating arrangement for all of the Roundtable members. I’m not sure if I’ll ever fully bring it up in the story so I’ll just reveal it here:

Going clockwise, it is Zelda, followed by Fost, Ralis, Darbus, Renado, Bo, Link, Ashei, Auru, and Enzo. I tried to have all of the members who were friends sit closer to each other. And I don’t know why, but I had fun coming up with this lol.

Chapter 12: Accusations

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 12 – Accusations

The members of the Roundtable continued to slowly filter out of the room after the meeting was adjourned. Bo and Renado had left to go catch up with each other. Ashei and Auru had stuck around, seeming to be engaged in their own conversation. Link was standing by the door, talking with Ralis.

Meanwhile, Zelda had just finished making her way around the room, taking a few seconds to personally thank everyone for coming. She wanted to make sure that they knew that their presence here was appreciated. Without their support, nothing would have been accomplished today.

Minister Enzo soon walked up to the Princess with a proud smile. “I’d say this meeting was a rousing success, Your Highness.”

Zelda smiled back. “I agree. I think it went quite well.”

“It was truly wonderful to see everyone come together like this. I suppose we’ll have to get started right away on planning the next meeting. I know it is still a month away, but the sooner we can get things ironed out, the better.”

“Of course,” Zelda agreed. “Let me know if you need anything. I will gladly lend my assistance.”

“You have my thanks, Princess,” Enzo replied with a bow. “Now, I must be off. I need to track down Minister Fost so we can get these preparations underway.”

“Try the infirmary. Or, just follow the sound of him shouting,” Zelda said with a laugh.

Enzo laughed too. “Yes, of course. I shall do just that. Good day, Princess.”

“Good day,” she replied with a final smile. She had always liked Enzo. He reminded her of what a friendly uncle might be like.

Zelda soon watched him make his way to the exit, following Link and Ralis as they also took their leave. Zelda then sighed a bit, before glancing down. This meeting had been productive, but she couldn’t deny it had taken a lot out of her. She silently prayed that these meetings would become easier to organize over time.

As she glanced down, Zelda suddenly spotted a stack of papers that had been left on the table next to her. She curiously stared at them before she began flipping through, wondering what they were. She soon recognized Fost’s handwriting, and realized that he had been taking notes during the meeting. It appeared that the short Minister was as diligent as ever.

However, it seemed that he had completely forgotten about his notes, having ran out of the room in a hurry to chase Darbus down. Zelda just shook her head. His constant worrying tended to cause more trouble than it was worth.

With a sigh, Zelda slowly gathered up the papers into her arms, and properly placed the quill and ink away on a nearby desk. She would just deliver these notes to Fost later in the day. The Princess then smirked a bit. Maybe she could even use this as an opportunity to lecture Fost for once. Reprimand him for being so forgetful and hasty. It might be nice to give him a taste of his own medicine.

Zelda bid farewell to Ashei and Auru before stepping out into the hall. She took a few steps towards the nearest corner when a nearby conversation suddenly caught her attention. Zelda slowed down a bit as her ears perked up. She quickly picked up the voice of Enzo.

“That sounds lovely, Prince Ralis. I’ll have to look into that sometime.”

The voice of the younger Zora soon spoke up. “Thank you, Minister.”

“And how about you, Sir Link? How have you been faring recently?”

“Just ‘Link’ is fine,” came the unsteady voice of the Hero. “And I’ve been doing well.”

“That is good to hear. It’s nice to have you back at the castle for a bit. I’ve heard many of the citizens speaking eagerly of your return.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“You must be quite popular around here, Link,” Ralis replied cheerfully.

Zelda hesitated for a bit, but she then clutched Fost’s notes close to her chest as she took a few more steps and peered around the corner. There, she spotted Link nervously rubbing his neck as he conversed with the other two. She wasn’t about to intrude on their conversation, but she was curious to hear what they were going to say.

“I don’t care for all the popularity,” Link admitted. “I kind of like it when things are quiet, actually.”

Enzo just laughed. “I understand, Link, but surely a little attention isn’t a bad thing?” He then leaned in a bit closer to the Hero. “You know, being a Hero means that you are free to court whomever you please, and there are many lovely women here at the castle.”

Link just leaned away a bit. “Er…Yeah, I’ve actually met quite a few of them.”

“Oh? And did anyone catch your fancy?”

Link hesitated. “Um…not really.”

Enzo just laughed some more, and then placed a friendly arm around his shoulder, as if they were close buddies. “You know, I would be more than happy to introduce you to my own daughter. She is around your age, and she could really use a handsome knight like yourself to keep her company.”

Link just gave a nervous laugh. “Um, that’s awfully generous, Enzo, but I’ll have to think about it…”

Ralis smiled. “No need to be shy, Link. I’m sure any woman would consider herself lucky to be with you.”

Link gave some sort of uncertain response, but Zelda didn’t hear it. She was far too distracted by her own heartbeat which was currently drumming away inside of her chest. And not only that, but it seems that her cheeks had started to redden as well. She held the papers closer to her chest, hoping to quell the sudden chaos that had awoken within her.

Zelda couldn’t help but wonder what had suddenly brought all of this on. This had already happened for the second time today, and for no clear reason. All she had been doing was listening in on a conversation. Why had such a thing caused her to suddenly feel so anxious? She tried to think back to what had been said. She distinctly recalled flinching a bit when Enzo had mentioned that the Hero was free to court the ladies of the castle. From there, the Princess’s composure had slowly dissolved until she reached her current state. It seemed that the question from earlier still remained: what exactly was going on with her?

“What in the world are you blushin’ for?”

Zelda nearly gasped as she jumped in place, quickly turning to find Ashei beside her. “A-Ashei!” she exclaimed. “Wh-What are you–” her voice trailed off. She then paused, trying to calm down. She lowered the papers so she could place a hand directly over her heart. She then took a deep breath. “Goodness, don’t sneak up on me like that.”

Ashei just gave her a weird look. “Sneak up on you? I’m not sneaking at all. You’re the one who’s peeking around corners, yeah?”

“I…I was just…” Zelda tried to think of an excuse. She didn’t want Ashei to know what she had actually been doing. “I was looking for Fost. He left his notes behind.”

“Didn't he run off to the infirmary with Darbus?” the female Knight asked skeptically. “He shouldn’t be around here.”

“W-Well…”

Ashei just shook her head and soon pushed past Zelda. “What were you looking at, anyway?”

Zelda shot up in alarm. “Um, it’s n-nothing!” She tried to keep Ashei from glancing around the corner, but it was too late. The Knight managed to get a full view of the three men conversing with each other, now having walked further down the hall.

Ashei just spent a few seconds staring at them, all the while looking confused. “I don’t get it. You were spying on them?”

“A-Absolutely not,” Zelda stated, although her voice sounded far from confident.

Ashei just rolled her eyes. “Don’t lie, Zelda. It’s painfully obvious you were watching them…And what’s wrong with you? You look so flustered.”

The Knight just scanned her up and down, which caused the Princess to feel even more defensive, as well as nervous. “I am not.”

“Yes, you are,” Ashei said with a smirk. “Why, your cheeks are as red as my leggings.”

Despite her best efforts to combat this, Zelda felt her cheeks grow hotter. She had never expected that anyone might catch her while she was listening in on the men’s conversation, or that she would have to explain herself while feeling so distressed. Still, she tried to feign ignorance. “I…I do not know what you are talking about.”

“Oh please, it’s almost as if you…as if you…” Ashei paused, her voice trailing off. Her eyes soon darted back towards the men down the hall before they widened in surprise. “Oh…Oh my…” was all she said.

Fortunately, this reaction gave Zelda a second to compose herself. She took a deep breath, trying to cool her face and get her heart to relax for a bit. It helped that the Knight’s current expression left her feeling more confused rather than nervous.

“What is it?” Zelda eventually asked, looking at Ashei with curious eyes.

“I just…I never would have thought…” Ashei said, her face still full of surprise.

“What?” Zelda demanded.

“You…” Ashei said slowly, before turning back to face the Princess. Her lips soon curved into a smile. “You have your eye on someone, don’t you?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows at this. “What are you talking about?”

“The men,” Ashei said, gesturing down the hallway. “You have your eye on one of them, yeah? And that’s what’s caused you, the typically calm and composed Princess, to suddenly become so unsettled.”

Zelda just blinked. Once again, she wondered what Ashei was talking about. Surely she was jumping to some reckless conclusions? “Um…”

“And I can only guess as to who,” Ashei continued, her smirk growing into a grin. “Ralis is a bit too young for you, yeah? Not to mention he’s a Zora. And Enzo is certainly too old, in addition to already being married. So that leaves one young Hero clad in green to have stolen your heart.”

Zelda just gawked at this. Stolen her heart!?

As smug as ever, Ashei soon leaned in, and whispered into the Princess’s ear. “You fancy him, don’t you?”

“A-Ashei!” Zelda exclaimed, startled at her sudden accusation. “D-Don’t be ridiculous! You clearly don’t know what you are talking about, a-and you have started jumping to some absurd conclusions!”

Ashei just stared at the Princess with a nonchalant expression. “Oh, the blush is back.”

She was right. Zelda could feel the heat rising in her cheeks once again, but she ignored it. It was clearly a result of having such a startling accusation placed upon her, and nothing more. “You…you think that I…have feelings for Link?”

“Don't you?” Ashei replied, raising her eyebrows a bit.

“Of course not!” Zelda insisted. She then frowned a little. “Well, I mean, he is a trusted friend of mine, and I do appreciate him and everything he has done for both me and my Kingdom, but I…I would never think of him in such a…such a…” Zelda paused, struggling to come up with an accurate word. “...inappropriate way!”

“Inappropriate?” Ashei repeated with a laugh. “Who said anything about being inappropriate? I was just saying that you might have a romantic interest in the guy. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there? Unless I missed the part where being a Princess means you’ve sworn off romance forever.”

Okay, now the Knight was just teasing Zelda. “N-No, that’s not it. I’m just saying that I don’t view Link in such a way.”

“Are you sure?”

“I think I know the feelings of my own heart, Ashei.”

This statement just caused the Knight to burst out laughing. “Oh please, Zelda. From the look you had earlier, it almost seemed like your heart was threatening to beat out of your chest!”

Zelda just froze. How did she know about that? Was it just a lucky guess, or was Ashei actually on to something here…?

Zelda quickly shook her head. No, she was not going to be manipulated like this. She soon spoke up in a stern voice. “Please cease your laughter, Ashei. This is hardly a comedic matter.”

“It’s only funny because you are being so stubborn,” Ashei said with a snort. “Do you really insist on denying the truth?”

“The only thing I am denying is the baseless conclusions you have drawn about me.”

“Baseless?” Ashei scoffed. “Oh please…You’re acting like a young schoolgirl who’s just experienced her first crush.”

Zelda felt her determination waver for a second, but she tried to stay strong. “Oh? And how would you know that? Are you speaking from experience, Ashei?”

This comment got her good. Ashei promptly shut her mouth with a large frown, and her eyes narrowed into a glare. “Very funny, Zelda,” she said in a tone that suggested just about anything other than amusement at humor. “But I am not some maiden who is easily swept up by the charm of a man.”

“And neither am I,” Zelda stated confidently. Although, in spite of her words, she did feel like her heart was still beating a bit faster than it usually did. She just ignored it though. Surely her mind knew better than her heart did.

Ashei just let her frustration boil for a few seconds before eventually releasing a sigh. “You really are stubborn, you know that?”

“I have been nothing but honest,” Zelda reasserted.

Ashei watched the Princess with curious eyes. It was as if she was still trying to discern the truth from her. “In that case, can I ask you a question?”

Zelda sighed. “What?”

Ashei’s lips slowly curved into a smirk once more. “Do you know about the other women?”

Zelda just blinked. “What other women?”

“You mean you haven’t heard?” Ashei asked, feigning a bit of surprise.

“Heard what?” Zelda demanded.

“I’m talking about Link garnering the attention of all the young ladies in this castle.”

Zelda flinched a bit when she heard this. “...What are you talking about?”

Ashei just grinned a bit more. “It’s true, I’ve seen it numerous times. The women here constantly flock to his side, like moths drawn to a flame. Each one of them hoping to gain the favor of the Kingdom’s handsome and brave Hero.”

Zelda’s eyes widened a bit as her body remained frozen. Link had mentioned that he had been receiving a lot of attention lately, but he hadn’t exactly given her a lot of details. He certainly hadn’t mentioned that the women of the castle seemed to be throwing themselves at him.

Zelda would be lying if she denied that this fact didn’t worry her, at least a little bit. Not for her own sake of course, but for Link’s. She knew how much he tended to dislike the praise and attention that so often came his way, so she hoped he wasn’t too uncomfortable with all of this. Perhaps she would have to issue him another apology for all the trouble she had caused?

Zelda then paused, suddenly feeling her stomach churn. Unless…was it possible that Link didn’t mind the attention from the women? If he had, he certainly would have told her about it, right? But Link hadn’t mentioned a single thing about this…Was he just hiding it? Or did he actually enjoy being in the company of so many women, as horrible a thought as that was!?

“Well?” Ashei asked, suddenly pulling Zelda out of her thoughts.

The Princess just stared at the Knight. “Well what?”

“How does it feel to know that Link is being pursued by so many women?”

Zelda was silent for a moment, nervously biting her lip. However, she quickly composed herself, trying to push all of her negative thoughts and worries aside. “It…It doesn’t concern me. How I feel about it is irrelevant.”

“That’s not an answer,” Ashei replied with a frown. “Doesn’t it bother you?”

Zelda shook her head. “Of course not. Link is…” She paused, suddenly finding it a bit painful for the next words to leave her mouth. She wasn’t sure why she felt so distraught, but she still tried to utter them with confidence. “Link is free to pursue a relationship with whomever he wishes.” 

Ashei raised her eyebrows at this. “Oh, so that’s how you really feel, yeah?”

“Yes.”

Ashei smirked. “In that case, do you mind if I pursue him?”

Zelda’s eyes widened at this. She hadn’t expected that response. She quickly turned to the Knight. “Ashei, you are interested in him as well?”

Ashei just shook her head and snickered. “No, but that reaction tells me all that I need to know.”

Zelda paused, suddenly realizing that her mouth was agape. She quickly forced it shut and averted her eyes, trying to stifle yet another blush. “I…I was just surprised, is all.”

Ashei laughed a bit more. “Oh Zelda, don’t let your own stubbornness ruin this for you. If you really are interested in Link, you should make a move. The Goddesses only know that a guy like that probably won’t stay single for long.”

Zelda just released a long, exhausted sigh. Between the constant and ridiculous accusations to the fact that she didn’t quite feel well (her heart was being way too jumpy today for some reason), Zelda was beginning to tire of this conversation. “Is that about all you have to say?” she eventually asked the Knight.

“No. I also wanted to tell you that I’d be more than happy to put in a good word for you with Link.”

“Absolutely not,” Zelda replied quickly. “That’s the last thing I need.”

Ashei just snickered some more. “Relax, Zelda. I’m only trying to help.”

“I think you’ve done more than enough,” the Princess said with a stern frown. “I think I’d much prefer it if you didn’t speak to anyone about this matter. Your reckless conclusions would doubtlessly sew chaos if let loose from your lips, and I would really rather avoid having such flimsy rumors spread around my castle!”

“Geez,” Ashei said, taking a second to poke around in one of her ears. “You don’t have to shout. If you want me to keep quiet, then I’ll keep quiet, yeah?”

Zelda just stared at the girl. “Give me your word.”

Ashei looked surprised at this. “What?”

“I would like you to give me your word that you will not mention to anyone else what has been discussed here today.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am very serious.”

“Zelda, come on-”

“Ashei…”

The Knight just frowned. “Fine. I give my word that I will not speak of this matter to anyone. Happy now?”

Zelda continued to hold her gaze, staring intensely at the girl, but she soon blinked and backed away. “Very well. I am satisfied.”

Ashei soon crossed her arms, mumbling something about how the Princess was way too touchy and sensitive these days. Zelda just ignored it.

“If that is all, then I shall be on my way,” Zelda said, holding her head high. “I have spent far too much time chatting with you, and I have other things to attend to. The first of which being to make sure that Fost gets his notes back.”

Zelda soon began to walk off, but Ashei just quickly ran up behind her. “Zelda, wait.”

Zelda stopped and turned around, although reluctantly. “Yes, what is it now?”

Ashei frowned before pointing a thumb behind her. “Shouldn’t you be going the other way? The front gates are in this direction.”

“The front gates?” Zelda repeated, feeling confused. “Why would I need to go there?”

“Well, don’t you want to see Link off?” Ashei asked, trying to produce an innocent-looking smile. 

Zelda didn’t buy it for a second though. “Ashei…”

She just shook her head. “No, hear me out, would ya? Link is planning to depart right away, so he can go look for the missing man in the forest. Since you don’t know when you might see him again, shouldn’t you go and give him a proper farewell?”

Zelda stared at the girl in silence, skeptically eyeing her up and down. She felt like Ashei was still trying to pressure Zelda into admitting something that clearly wasn’t true. However, the Princess couldn’t deny that the thought of seeing Link off did sound enticing. She truly didn’t know when she would see him again, and she didn’t want to just let him leave without some sort of farewell…

Ashei suddenly extended her hand out to the Princess. “Give me those notes. I’ll make sure they get to Fost. You just go on ahead.”

Zelda wavered for a second, still eyeing Ashei with great skepticism. Even now, she could still detect the smallest hint of a smirk hiding behind the Knight’s smile.

“You’re infuriating,” Zelda said, forcefully shoving the notes towards the Knight’s chest piece.

“You’re welcome,” Ashei replied, flashing a tiny yet smug grin.

Zelda just shook her head before grabbing the folds of her dress and running off. She didn’t have time to argue about this any longer. She wanted to make sure she caught Link before he departed for good.

It didn’t take long for the Princess to exit the castle and reach the courtyard that stood before the front gates. Once there, she took a moment to scan the area, keeping an eye out for the Hero. Sure enough, she managed to spot him, leading Epona away from the stables. With a small smile, she continued running towards him.

“Link, wait!” she called.

The Hero soon paused and looked back. He too began to smile as the Princess approached. “Oh, hey Zelda. Did you need something?”

Zelda soon slowed to a stop, and then took a second to gasp for air. She hadn't realized just how fast she had been running until this moment. “Sorry…I just…heard that you were planning to leave.”

Link nodded. “Yeah, I need to get back to the forest as soon as possible so I can look for Dolen. Every day he spends in Faron Woods is another day he is in danger.”

Zelda nodded back, finally catching her breath and standing up straight. “I understand, and I won’t keep you for long.”

Link just smiled. “What can I do for you then?”

“It’s nothing serious,” Zelda said. “I just wanted to say goodbye before you departed. I had no idea you were planning to sneak off like this,” she added, flashing a hint of a playful smile.

Link scratched his head a bit. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to sneak off. I just wanted to get going as soon as possible, and well…I thought you said you were busy?”

Zelda suddenly dropped her smile, feeling a little guilty. She had said that, hadn’t she? “Oh, I…uh, managed to make some time.”

Link gave her a bit of an inquisitive look, but he soon shrugged and dropped it.

“Anyway,” Zelda continued, “I just wanted to say thanks again for coming today and joining the Roundtable discussion. I truly appreciate it.”

“Of course,” Link said with a nod. “I’m already looking forward to the next one.”

Zelda smiled. “I’ll plan to see you then…Unless you think you might return sooner?” She hadn’t intended it, but she did notice that a bit of hopefulness lingered in her tone.

Link just crossed his arms, and looked up at the sky. “I’m not sure…but I have a feeling I’ll probably be back before long…” Link then laughed a little. “It’s funny. When I was away from the castle for a few days, I kind of started to get the itch to come back. It’s kind of similar to how I feel about Ordon when I’m gone for long periods of time. It almost makes me wonder if I’ve started to think of the castle as a second home…”

Zelda blinked a bit, surprised at this claim, but she soon smiled. “Well, you’ll always be welcome here.”

“I appreciate it,” Link said with a smile in return.

Zelda soon gestured to Epona. “I guess you should get going then. We don’t want to keep Dolen waiting any longer than he has to.”

“Right,” Link agreed.

“I’ll see you when next you return,” Zelda promised him. She then slowly extended a hand towards him, before suddenly pausing. What was she doing? In her mind, she felt that she wanted to give Link some sort of “physical” goodbye, but she wasn’t sure what to do. She wasn’t about to give him a hug…That would be far too forward of her. She wasn’t about to give him a handshake either. That would be too formal. In the end, she settled on reaching up and gently patting him on the shoulder. It was just a small gesture, but it served as a humble sign of affection between friends.

However, the gesture unfortunately came out much more awkwardly than Zelda had intended it to. She moved her hand up and down in an almost robotic fashion, as if she was hesitating to commit to the act. When her gloved hand eventually came to rest on his shoulder, the thought of making such close contact with him became a bit unnerving, and she ended up quickly retracting her arm to her side. She then looked away, trying to avoid a chance for their eyes to meet.

“Um, safe travels,” she wished him quietly.

Link didn’t seem to pay any mind to the awkwardness of the motion. “Thanks, Zelda,” he replied casually. “I’ll see you again soon.”

With that, the Hero soon saddled himself on his horse, and with a final nod to the Princess, took off. Zelda just watched him go, feeling a bit breathless as Epona trotted towards the front gates. Even now, as she stood in the wake of their short conversation, Zelda could feel her heart beginning to thump loudly and rhythmically.

She soon shook her head, trying to calm down and still the troublesome organ. She really was starting to think that there was something seriously wrong with her. Maybe she would have to stop by the infirmary sometime and have Doctor Roswald examine her. Perhaps he could diagnose why her heart seemed to be so out-of-sorts lately.

Unless of course, Ashei had been correct in her assumptions…

Zelda quickly shook her head again. What was she thinking? Of course Ashei wasn’t correct! She was someone who clearly knew nothing of romance, so how would she know if Zelda had succumbed to such a thing? The answer was obvious: she wouldn’t. Her assumptions were surely misplaced and her conclusions were baseless. It was as simple as that.

Zelda then turned, planning to make her way back to the castle, but she soon stopped when something caught her eye. Standing just a short distance away was the female Knight herself, Ashei. The girl just smugly smiled before crossing her arms and casually leaning against a low-rising wall in the courtyard.

Zelda just stared back at the Knight with terrified eyes. How long had Ashei been standing there? Had she followed Zelda out of the castle? Zelda gulped. Had she…watched her encounter with Link?

As Zelda continued to stare, Ashei’s smug smile told her everything she needed to know. She had caught everything, from the Princess’s rush to reach him in time to the awkward pat on the shoulder. Nothing had been spared from Ashei’s curious gaze. The cocky look she held also gave away its owner’s every intention. Not only would she question Zelda about all of this, picking apart every little detail of the interaction, but she would also tease the Princess extensively. How could she not, after that awkward performance she had just displayed?

Still, Zelda refused to give her the satisfaction. With a slight blush of embarrassment, Zelda just started walking forward, moving right past the Knight without daring to make eye contact.

“Not a word,” she told her.

Notes:

In case you haven’t noticed, I tend to have a lot of fun writing Ashei’s character in this story lol.

Chapter 13: Recollection

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 13 – Recollection

Zelda awoke with a start as thunder roared overhead. She took a deep, tense breath as she sat up and glanced around the dark corners of her room. She had been in the middle of a restful slumber, and she hadn’t expected to be awoken so suddenly.

It was currently the dead of night, and Zelda was lying in her bedchamber. She wore nothing but her nightgown, and her long brunette hair fell loosely down her back, free from the neat braid that she usually kept it in. As Zelda glanced out the windows, she noticed that there was a thunderstorm happening outside, as evidenced by the rain constantly pattering against the glass, in addition to the crackling of thunder that had forced her awake.

Zelda sat up and stretched a bit before rubbing her eyes. Now that she was awake, she felt rather alert, and she had a feeling that she would have a hard time drifting off to sleep again so soon. Moving her blankets aside, Zelda chose to swing her legs out and rise from her bed. She then walked towards the nearest window, before settling down in a cushioned chair. She stared out at the night sky, content to watch the rain in silence. She hoped that sitting her for a while might help her relax enough to fall asleep once again.

As she sat there, random thoughts drifted through her groggy mind, most of them only barely capturing her attention. They were important topics that she dwelled on often, like Hyrule’s reconstruction, the Roundtable, and her father’s condition…She took a moment to ponder each of these thoughts loosely, wondering what the future might hold and how quickly things would improve. Hyrule still had a lot of healing to do.

But this wasn’t all. Zelda’s current atmosphere consisting of darkness, rain, and eerie silence reminded her of other things as well. Things like the Twilight Realm, Midna, Link…

Her mind lingered on this final name, unwilling to drift on.

Link…The Hero of Twilight.

With a slight frown, Zelda released a quiet sigh. Here she was, thinking of the Hero clad in green once again. It seemed that lately, in spite of his lack of presence around the castle, he was a force that still threatened to plague her every thought.

A month had nearly passed since the first official Roundtable meeting. During that time, Link had returned to the castle only a handful of times, and he never seemed to stay for long, always hurrying off back to Ordon Village at his earliest convenience. His first return had only seen him travel to Castle Town, having found the missing man, Dolen, and returning him to his worried family. Zelda had hoped to thank him for solving this matter, but she heard that Link departed quickly after that, not even bothering to stop by the castle and say hello. After that, Link took infrequent trips to the castle, coming and going only when his assistance was needed with something. Zelda only saw him once during this time, and the conversation they had was brief before they both had to move on to other things. Zelda wished to converse with him further after that, but by the time she had freed up her schedule, he had already departed for Ordon once again.

This saddened Zelda, as it meant that they didn’t get to see each other very often. She was honestly starting to miss their interactions together. Something as simple as seeing each other, smiling, saying hello and catching up. She always enjoyed their talks, even if their recent encounters somehow managed to bring about a consistently awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere for the Princess.

Yes, it was true, Zelda still experienced issues whenever she was around Link. Even in their single brief encounter during the last month, Zelda had felt nervous, her heart became jumpy, and her words stuttered out of her mouth a few too many times for her liking. And of course, she was still far too wary of meeting the Hero’s gaze, choosing instead to glance at whatever nearby scenery her eyes could latch onto. The Princess couldn’t deny that this encounter had been a struggle, but even then, she thought of it fondly all the same. That was just how much she enjoyed sharing Link’s company.

However, this wasn’t the only time that the Princess experienced these issues. Zelda had started to notice that she felt strange even when Link wasn’t around. In the weeks he had been away, Zelda often found herself daydreaming about the Hero, wondering where he was, what he was up to, and of course, when she would see him again.

For Zelda, these thoughts sprung up without warning and usually far more frequently than she would have liked. Fortunately, the daydreams didn’t have quite the same effect as the one-on-one encounters with the Hero, although they were still enough to make Zelda feel out-of-sorts. She felt far too distracted most of the time, and thinking of the Hero made her heart ache a bit, although not in a painful way. The feeling was strange, and almost filled her with a sense of hope, like she was truly looking forward to the day that they could see each other again. Which was true of course, but it felt weird to think of such a thing so constantly, almost as if she was longing for the Hero…

But that certainly wasn’t true, was it? There was no way that the Princess would be pining after someone out of the blue like this, right? And surely not in such an awkward and pathetic manner as this?

Zelda shook her head. No, surely her issues were the result of something else entirely…Something else…Anything else…

You fancy him, don’t you?

Zelda forced her eyes shut and shuddered as the question repeated softly in her mind. In addition to her frequent thoughts of the Hero, the words of a certain Knight had also haunted the Princess throughout the last month…

Zelda couldn’t help it. She constantly found herself recalling the accusations that Ashei had made against her. The conclusions that she had drawn about Zelda’s behavior around Link. The possibility that the Princess had fallen for the Hero. These things repeatedly echoed around in Zelda’s mind, threatening to force the girl into a sudden blush of embarrassment at any given moment.

And of course, Zelda’s mind wasn’t the only thing tormenting her either. No, there was still Ashei, the devious little Knight herself. After their conversation in the hallway, Ashei had taken it upon herself to taunt the Princess wherever they met. She often greeted Zelda with smirks, smug looks, and playful snickers. As promised, she never breathed a word of their previous conversation out loud, but Zelda was still able to determine what all of this was about. Ashei had dirt on the Princess, and she knew it. And not only that, but she was all too willing to tease the Princess about it at every opportunity she had.

Gestures like this only made Zelda feel embarrassed. She tried her best to simply ignore Ashei, but she had to admit, it was hard to do so when the Knight’s words held such a tight grasp on her mind. While her accusations were irritating, annoying, and (probably) untrue, Zelda couldn’t deny that they offered an answer to the issues she currently faced. A conclusive reason behind her recent irrational behavior.

Maybe the Princess did fancy the Hero…

Zelda leaned back in her chair and sighed. She brought some of her long hair to her side, loosely running her fingers through it while she continued to watch the rain fall against her window. She wanted to shake her head. To vehemently deny this thought, as she had done so many times already, but she knew that it wouldn’t help. She had already spent the past month trying to deny these claims, and what good had it done her? She was still nervous around Link, her heart was still a jumpy mess, and her mind was still a haze of daydreams centered around the Hero. Hell, even now, Zelda could feel a spark of heat rising into her cheeks.

Zelda took a deep breath as she continued combing her fingers through her hair. No, she shouldn’t just outright refute such claims just because they embarrassed her. To respond in such a way would be childish, needlessly dismissive, and completely unwise. On the off chance that there was any truth in these accusations, shouldn’t Zelda seek it out? Shouldn’t she try to get a definitive answer, and find out how she really felt?

Zelda paused, going still as the low sound of thunder rumbled overhead…

In order to get her answer…In order to address these accusations that had been made against her, Zelda would have to sort some things out. She would have to sift through her thoughts, acknowledge her feelings, and find an answer to a difficult question. A question that had slowly been burning away in the back of her mind throughout the past month…

What was Link to Zelda?

Zelda sighed again. Yes, this was a very difficult and complicated question, but she had a feeling that solving this conundrum might allow her to resolve all of her other issues. She didn’t necessarily want to do this, but she knew that she would have to for her own good. Reluctantly, she attempted to think of a suitable response to the question that had been posed.

Was he the Hero?

During the Twilight Invasion, Link had done more for Zelda than he could have ever known. He had saved her Kingdom. Her home. Her people. Her family and friends and everything else that she held dear. Without him, all of it would be in ruins, crushed beneath Ganondorf’s ruthless reign, with the people she loved being forced to suffer in pain and misery. Yes, Link had saved them all from a terrible fate, and Zelda would forever be thankful for that. He had earned her respect, her admiration, and above all else, her gratitude.

But at the same time, Link was so much more than just a Hero. He wasn’t some far-off figure of legendary status that swept into Hyrule to save the day only to then disappear just as suddenly as he had arrived. No, Zelda’s relationship with Link was much more personal than that…

Was he a friend?

Zelda couldn’t say that she had known Link for a lengthy amount of time, but in the time that the two of them had known each other, she felt that they had become somewhat close. As a person, Link was very friendly and personable. It was just as easy to get close to him as it was to get along with him. To Zelda, he was someone that made her laugh and smile and even feel encouraged just by being around him. Yes, she would certainly consider Link a friend of hers.

And yet, once again, Zelda still felt like he was more than that. He wasn’t just a friend; he was a trusted ally. A companion. Someone that she always felt she could rely upon. He was humble and caring and brave and…

Zelda paused, her gaze returning to the rain falling against her window. She felt like she had more to say, but she wasn’t quite sure how to express it. Things were already difficult enough for her as they were, as she was trying to summarize everything that she felt towards an extraordinary person using mere words. But even so, Zelda still felt like there was something more to it. Something that she hadn’t fully recognized yet.

Zelda took a deep breath, trying to sort through her thoughts once again. She was determined to recall what she seemed to have forgotten. She soon began reminiscing, thinking back on all of her experiences, especially those involving the Hero, and how she had felt throughout each of them. It was honestly difficult to do such a thing, especially when it felt like she had known Link for so long…

Zelda soon smiled, suddenly recalling the first time that she had ever met Link. Back then, she hadn’t even learned his name, or met his face for that matter.

 

---

 

It was back when Zelda had been imprisoned in that old tower room, forced to do nothing but gaze out and look upon her Twilight-paled Kingdom. Those were the darkest days that she had ever known. She had been separated from her allies, as well as her poisoned father, who for all she knew was currently lying on his deathbed. Zelda was so lonely, and so guilt-ridden too. After all, she had been the one to decide that Hyrule would surrender to Zant and be subsequently plunged into Twilight. She had been trying to save lives, but in the end, all she had really done was subject her Kingdom to its inevitable doom. At that time, Zelda was helpless. All she could do was wear dark robes, and mourn the passing of what had once been.

That is, until a small spark of hope had presented itself before her. The yet unknown hero had wandered into the room that she was being held in, in the form of a large black and white wolf, with Midna riding on his back to boot. Upon seeing him, Zelda had instantly been filled with sorrow and regret. She immediately realized that a terrible fate had befallen him. This was no ordinary wolf, but rather a human turned wolf against his will. And it seemed that he had been imprisoned in the castle before Midna had found him as well. He was just another soul who was suffering because of her decision.

Zelda felt that she owed the man-turned-beast an explanation, as she knew that he must be quite confused about the sudden collapse of the world around them. Zelda was filled with shame as she had to tell him about the moment of Zant’s invasion, and her decision to surrender. She basically had to admit that she was responsible for his current predicament. Just another sin for Zelda to feel remorse over.

But as Zelda told her tale, she stared into the deep blue eyes of the wolf. Eyes that did not belong to a ferocious animal, but rather a kinder, gentler spirit. And even as Zelda explained her involvement in everything, those eyes never betrayed her. They never looked at her accusingly, or showed any contempt or hostility. If anything, they almost looked…a little sad, just like her own. She wondered, was it possible that he pitied her? Empathized with her decision?

Zelda wasn’t sure, and she didn’t have time to find out. She knew that the guard would soon be making his round to check up on her, and she needed to keep this wolf and Midna out of the enemy’s clutches. She soon sent them on their way. This only filled her with sorrow, as she didn’t even get the chance to discuss half of what she would’ve liked to, but it had to be done. Zelda watched from her window as Midna and the wolf safely departed from the castle.

As she watched them go, Zelda allowed herself to smile for the first time in ages. She had finally found what she had been looking for: a spark of hope. She knew not where Midna would take the nameless hero or what plans she had in store for him, but Zelda had faith that Midna would properly use him to aid in the battle against Zant and his army.

From that day on, Zelda stopped mourning her Kingdom. Instead, she began praying to the three Goddesses morning, noon, and night. She constantly sent her wishes out to the Kingdom’s divine protectors, praying for Midna and the wolf’s success. Zelda had a feeling that if anyone could save them now, it would be those two.

Her time of imprisonment in the tower became easier after that. She still felt worried and found herself constantly wondering what Midna and the wolf were up to as the days passed by, but her mindset wasn’t completely negative. She now had something to believe in, and she was feeling much more optimistic about the future of her Kingdom. All she had to do now was wait for good news to come in, as well as her own opportunity to strike. Zelda knew not when the chance would arrive, but if one were ever to present itself, she would be more than willing to join the fray. She wanted to help fight the Twilight in any way that she could.

Unfortunately, the trickle of news was incredibly quiet. Being a prisoner in the castle, Zelda wasn’t told anything of what was happening in the outside world. She had no way of knowing if Midna and the wolf were making any progress or not, and she would soon start to feel herself growing anxious. At times like this, Zelda would kneel and pray once again, hoping that their journey would be blessed with good results.

Eventually, a night came where Zelda received a vision while she was sleeping. It originated from a monkey-like spirit that went by the name of Faron, and it gladly informed the Princess that the entire region of Faron had been freed from the clutches of the Twilight. It had now been restored to its former state, and the denizens of the forest were safe once more, all thanks to the Twili imp and the hero clad in green.

When Zelda awoke from that dream, she had the biggest smile on her face. She had been right to believe in the two of them. They had actually been making progress towards saving the Kingdom after all! And then, just a few weeks later, Zelda received another dream, this time from the owl-like spirit known as Eldin. He announced that her allies had since freed the Eldin Province from the clutches of the Twilight. After that, Zelda awoke and immediately thanked the Goddesses for aiding her heroes in all their endeavors.

Some time after that, Zelda received her final dream from Lanayru, the serpent-like spirit, who revealed that yet another province had been restored to normalcy. Upon waking up, Zelda quickly looked out her window to see that the veil of Twilight had been removed from the castle as well as the town below. Zelda was nearly brought to tears when she saw that. They had done it; the two of them had completely repelled the Twilight from their Kingdom. She once again bowed her head in prayer to offer the Goddesses her overwhelming feelings of gratitude.

After that, Zelda tried to stay patient as she awaited Midna and the wolf’s return. She wanted to discuss with them and possibly formulate a plan of action for defeating Zant once and for all. She hoped that they would return to her side as quickly as possible.

However, the next time Zelda saw the two of them, she almost wished that she hadn’t. She remembered that dark and stormy night very clearly, when the wolf wandered into her chambers once more, drenched from the rain and covered in wounds. The look in his eyes was sad and desperate. Zelda was surprised to see him like this, but she truly gasped once she spotted the weak form of Midna resting on his backside. Something was terribly wrong with the imp. Her whole body had been dyed a pale shade of white, a color that Zelda found to be most disturbing as she gazed upon her. The wolf soon set the imp down on the floor, where she softly moaned and gasped for breath.

Zelda had knelt down next to the imp and tried to comfort her, but Midna insisted that she try to help free Link from his wolf form instead. Link…That was the first time that Zelda had heard the name of her hero. To her surprise, it sounded somewhat familiar, but Zelda didn’t bother to ponder it. The imp’s critical condition and sudden request occupied her thoughts before anything else.

Unfortunately, Zelda’s magic was unable to aid Link in any way. Zant’s shadow crystal was too powerful for her to simply dispel it. The only thing she could really do for the hero was tell him to go to the Sacred Grove and seek out the Master Sword, a holy blade capable of banishing evil. Zelda knew that only a true hero sent by the Goddesses would be able to wield such a blade, but by this point, she had the utmost faith in this wolf named Link. Just as she had been granted power by the Goddesses, she knew that Link was also capable of achieving great things.

But Zelda…wished that she could do so much more. Link and Midna had been busy traversing the Kingdom, slowly saving each province from the threat of the Twilight. Meanwhile, all Zelda had done was remain imprisoned in her tower and pray for their success. It was incredibly frustrating, not being able to help them in any substantial way. And in the end, look at how her two allies had ended up. One was imprisoned in his shadow form again, and the other was lying on the floor, incredibly injured and on the verge of dying. And yet all Zelda could do was point them in the right direction?

No, Zelda was determined to do more for them. She was certain she could. Midna didn’t deserve to die; not after all she had done to help Zelda and her Kingdom. In this moment, Zelda suddenly insisted on reviving Midna, no matter the cost.

Zelda ended up calling on the Goddesses’ power, and began performing a powerful spell. A spell that would completely heal Midna and fill her body with life energy once again. And in exchange, Zelda’s own life would be sacrificed.

It was a big decision, one that she did not intend to make lightly, but in this moment, she was determined to see it through. She promised herself that she would save Midna here, no matter what she had to give up. If anything, her life would be a small price to pay for the safety of her allies and her Kingdom. She had done nothing but squander her time away in this tower anyway. At least now, she would finally prove herself useful in the fight against Zant by providing her precious allies with the ultimate gift. The gift of life.

At some point, Midna began screaming for Link to stop her, but Zelda refused to relent. She held no regrets; only the desire to save her friend. Midna’s body was soon enveloped in light, and before long Zelda felt her own consciousness begin to fade. As her vision eventually went to black, Zelda prayed to the Goddesses one last time, wishing that her final sacrificial act had been successful.

Zelda’s memory became foggy after that. She wasn’t exactly sure what had happened to her.

It almost felt like she had descended into a long, peaceful slumber. At times, she would awaken, but she was only ever semiconscious, as if she was still dreaming. Whenever her mind started to become active, all she was aware of was the fact that she was surrounded by darkness. She was never sure where she was or how much time had passed since she had entered this place. Was she dead, and this was the afterlife? Or was it something different? A state of being in-between life and death, perhaps? Zelda wasn’t sure, and she often found herself losing consciousness again before she could ever truly take the time to assess her situation.

However, her semiconscious state didn’t consist of silence, at least not all the time. Occasionally, Zelda would hear voices, sounding distant yet familiar. Yes, she was certain that she could hear Midna’s voice from time to time. And a man’s voice as well. Someone who was conversing with Midna. Could it be Link?

Zelda tried to listen to their conversations, but it was hard to make out their words. Their voices were so distant, usually coming across as nothing more than whispers. And Zelda was so tired too, always on the verge of falling back into her never-ending cycle of sleep. She could never focus long enough to actually hear what they were saying.

But over time, the voices became louder, and clearer too. And not only that, but Zelda would occasionally catch a glimpse of her allies, wherever they were in the world. They were brief visions, sometimes appearing for no more than a single second, but it was still enough for Zelda to spot the duo and see what they were up to. Riding across the plains, exploring the desert, climbing a snowy mountain…

It was around this time that Zelda became aware of a warmth radiating from beside her. A warmth that seemed to be coming from her right hand, if she even still had hands. Truth be told, she actually felt formless during her time spent in this dark void. Just a mind without a body. But now, that was beginning to change. Suddenly, she felt like she could feel her hand, as well as her fingers. She was able to close her fist and open it as well. She was starting to regain some of her bodily control. And all the while, she continued to feel the warmth coming from said hand.

For the first time, Zelda felt conscious enough to formulate a theory on what was happening. Could this warmth be originating from the sacred mark of the Goddesses that was inscribed on the back of her hand? Was this the reason why she still seemed to be tethered to the world of the living?

In addition to the warmth, a small golden light began to shine amongst the darkness as well. For the first time, Zelda felt like she and her surroundings were illuminated, although she still couldn’t see anything substantial. Her body appeared to be reforming and coming back under her control, but she couldn’t see it at all. And the part of the void that had been illuminated by the light was nothing more than empty space. Still, this bright golden light was enough to set her heart at ease. Anything was better than drifting amongst the darkness.

With each passing day, the light grew stronger and brighter. In addition to this, the visions of Link and Midna began to appear more frequently as well, allowing Zelda to get a more detailed glimpse into their adventure. It was around this point that the Princess was able to see a clear image of Link in his human form for the first time. Oddly enough, he was younger than she expected, and a bit handsome too. He appeared to be around her own age, with a strong but slim build. He had blond hair and the same kind, blue eyes that she had noticed in his wolf form. He wore a green tunic, the classic garb worn by Heroes of the past. And in his hands, he wielded the Master Sword, the legendary blade said to banish evil.

Zelda just gazed upon him with admiration. This was her hero. This was the man who would surely save Hyrule. She had the utmost faith in him. She knew that the Goddesses had entrusted him to save the Kingdom, and she would gladly do the same.

Zelda continued to watch, day by day, as the duo adventured across the Kingdom. As the visions became longer and more visible, Zelda was slowly able to piece together what her allies were up to. It seemed that they were collecting the pieces of the shattered Mirror of Twilight, so that they could travel to the Twilight Realm and confront Zant. Upon realizing this, Zelda began praying to the Goddesses for their success, just as she always did. She wasn’t even sure if her thoughts could reach the Goddesses from her current semiconscious position in limbo, but she figured that it was better to try than to do nothing at all. If there was even the smallest chance that Zelda could aid the heroes in their quest, then she wanted to do it.

Fortunately, the Goddesses must have heard her plea, for Link and Midna were soon successful in collecting the Mirror shards. Once they were all in place, they traveled to the Twilight Realm, where their final battle with Zant awaited them. By this point, the visions were extremely vivid, and Zelda was watching every moment with baited breath. Whenever they encountered an obstacle or an enemy, Zelda would pray once again, requesting that the Goddesses offer their aid to the duo. Without them, Hyrule would succumb to darkness. Without them, all hope was lost.

Eventually, Link and Midna came face to face with Zant, and their battle against him began. Zelda wished to watch and root for her chosen heroes, but it seemed that it was not meant to be. The vision of her allies soon faded away to nothingness. Their voices, as well as the sounds of battle, also fell eerily silent. Zelda immediately knew that something was wrong. Suddenly, the sphere of golden light that surrounded her and had been growing day by day, now began to shrink. The Princess attempted to raise her hand that was marked by the Goddesses, hoping to feed the golden light with her power, but it was no use. The golden light continued to dim, and Zelda was suddenly being encompassed by darkness once again.

But this darkness…it was different than what she had experienced before. Zelda shivered when she felt it approach her. This darkness had a presence to it. A presence that was unknown and yet somehow familiar. A dark presence that contained anger, hatred, and greed as well as a twisted sense of satisfaction. A presence that Zelda recognized as having plagued her family for generations. Before long, a single voice, terrible and wicked, rang out as the darkness swallowed her whole.

“Ha ha ha, I have you now, Princess Zelda!”

That was the last thing Zelda heard before the presence subjugated her will completely, and forced her back into her original semiconscious state. Although this time, her dreams were no longer tranquil. Zelda was now subjected to multiple nightmares; terrible dreams in which she was slaughtered and Hyrule was burned to ashes. Whenever she awoke, she was only greeted by the cold darkness that surrounded her. Once again, her mind became a haze. She was often tired and restless, as well as (she hated to admit it) afraid. Zelda didn’t care what happened to herself, but what about her people? What about her father? What about Link and Midna? Would anyone be safe from this terrible evil? Those were the only thoughts that Zelda was able to produce before she inevitably succumbed to her horrible nightmares once again.

Fortunately, the nightmares eventually ceased. Zelda was forced to awaken, and for the first time since succumbing to this dark presence, she felt like she was aware of her surroundings. She was in the throne room at the castle, suspended in the air by the giant statue of the Triforce and three Goddesses. And yet while Zelda’s spirit seemed to have awakened, her body was still very much asleep, unable to move or respond to her commands.

Nevertheless, just being aware of her surroundings had made Zelda feel much more alert. This, in addition to having been freed of her constant nightmares, left the Princess feeling refreshed and even somewhat hopeful. She no longer felt alone, but why was that?

A second later, Zelda’s heart leapt a bit for she could sense that Link and Midna were close by. No, not only could she sense them, but she could hear them as well! They were here, in the castle, having come to rescue her! They had come to oppose the great evil that had tortured her. An evil that went by a name that Zelda now knew all too well, having heard it whispered to her amidst her horrible dreams.

The Dark Lord, Ganondorf…

The darkness soon descended upon her once more, subjugating her and wresting away what little control she had. She was confused as to what was happening. Was she possibly being possessed? Somewhere in the background, she heard Midna shouting, trying to defend her. Zelda tried to fight the foreign presence, but it was no use. In her current state, her power was far too weak to defend herself against the tyrant.

Zelda’s eyes were then forced open, and she could now see the scene clearly. Midna being forced away from her body; Link running to help her. Zelda’s body soon began to move, but the movements were not her own. She was being controlled by the foreign presence, acting in accordance with his will. Zelda was now nothing more than Ganondorf’s puppet. And it seemed that the Dark Lord was insistent on using her body to fight against her allies.

It was torture for Zelda, having to see and feel everything that her body was experiencing, which included attacking her own allies. All the while, she had no control over any of it. She was simply forced to watch as Ganondorf used her body to hover around the room and fire off numerous spheres of magical energy at Link. 

Zelda cursed herself. Was this her fate? To be nothing more than a hindrance to her allies? To stand in their way and prevent them from saving Hyrule? Meanwhile, Link was hesitant to even fight back, too concerned for Zelda’s safety and hoping for some chance to rescue her.

Tears flowed from Zelda’s eyes as she inwardly cried out, screamed, and did anything she could to try and speak to the hero. She wanted to tell him to stop holding back. To destroy Ganondorf even if that meant destroying herself. Didn’t he understand that her life would be a small price to pay in exchange for the safety of the Kingdom? She had cast it away once already and she would gladly do so again!

Fortunately, Link did end up fighting back, by reflecting Ganondorf’s own magic back towards him. Zelda’s body twisted with pain as the tyrant cried out. Zelda also felt that intense pain, but she didn’t care. She was already resolved to give up her own life if it meant that everyone else could be spared. She would endure whatever pain was necessary to make sure that this tyrant was defeated for good.

However, Zelda soon found herself thinking that she should have given her allies some more credit, for it seemed that her demise was not the only solution available to them. Before long, Ganondorf’s hold on Zelda began to loosen, and it was at this point that Midna joined the fray. Using magic, she managed to force the dark presence out of Zelda’s body, freeing her of the evil completely. Finally, Zelda felt like she was at peace once more.

Zelda remained semiconscious for a few minutes after that, and she wondered if she was going to drift off into the land of dreams once again. Fortunately, a feeling of warmth soon enveloped her as she felt a familiar energy pour into her. It was the same life energy that she had originally lent to Midna, now finally being returned to her. With a small smile, the Princess managed to open her eyes, having the chance to gaze upon her two heroes at last. This is the sight that she had been longing for. The hope that she had clung to throughout the Twilight Invasion. She was finally able to stand side by side with her allies, and face the great evil that threatened to destroy them all. Zelda silently thanked the Goddesses for guiding them all to this moment in time.

The rest of the battle felt like a blur. Midna had teleported them out of the castle, but Ganondorf did the same, chasing them on horseback. From here, everything happened so quickly, with Zelda choosing to act as her instincts directed her. She remembered calling on the Light Spirits, firing numerous arrows at Ganondorf while riding on horseback, and praying for Link’s safety while he dueled with the tyrant one-on-one. And in the end, she remembered the relief she felt, when Link finally plunged the Master Sword into Ganondorf’s chest, finishing him off for good.

However, the rapidity of the events certainly didn’t diminish their impact, at least not for Zelda. She clearly recalled Link extending his hand to her, showing the trust he had placed in her. She also remembered trusting him in return, as he steered Epona close enough to Ganondorf for Zelda to get a good shot. In that moment, the two of them had shared the utmost faith in each other…

 

---

 

Back in the present, Zelda paused, suddenly ceasing her reminiscing as the realization came to her. Only after reliving all of her experiences during the Twilight Invasion, as well as recalling the feelings of standing alongside Link and placing all of her hope in him, did she realize what the Hero truly meant to her. He was something more than just a Hero. Something more than just a friend.

Link was an inspiration to her.

No matter what they had experienced and no matter how much darkness they had endured, Link had always stood strong as a pillar of hope. He was bright, strong, and courageous. Zelda knew that she could always rely on him to come to her rescue and save the day. And it wasn’t because he was the Hero chosen by the Goddesses or because he was the Princess’s friend.

It was because he was Link. Just Link.

Zelda smiled a bit as she closed her eyes and conjured an image of the Hero in her mind. She had always admired him for all of his positive qualities, but she also aspired to find those qualities in herself. She wanted to be strong and brave, but also gentle and kind. She wanted to be someone that others could rely on. Someone who filled others with hope, no matter how dark the situation may be. And Link had provided her with the perfect example of all of these things, simply by being himself.

But Zelda digressed. She had decided that her feelings towards Link were complex enough that trying to describe them with words was pointless. Besides, she would be up half the night if she insisted on continuing. And not to mention, she felt like she had already found the answer that she had been searching for…

Zelda continued to smile as thoughts of the Hero plagued her mind once again. However, this time she chose not to push them away, but rather embrace them. She blushed a bit when she remembered his friendly smile. Her heart beat a little faster when she recalled his deep blue eyes. Her smile grew wider as she replayed his cheerful laugh. She couldn’t help but feel happy when she thought back on the numerous encounters that she had shared with this man.

Link. Her Hero, her friend, and her spark of hope when all things seemed lost.

Perhaps she did fancy him, if only a little bit…

Notes:

I wanted to give a bit of a retrospective here showing Zelda’s take on the events of Twilight Princess, specifically her time spent with Link as well as her developing thoughts about him. I hope that I did the story of this beloved game justice.

Chapter 14: Trickery

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 14 – Trickery

A few days later, the date of the next Roundtable meeting had arrived. By noon, everyone was expected to arrive at the castle and congregate in the meeting room. This meant that Zelda’s morning was completely free, so with a bright smile, she decided to go and visit her father in the infirmary.

Upon entering the room lined with beds, Zelda was a bit surprised to hear a conversation taking place in the back. Feeling curious, she quietly walked towards the curtain that partitioned her father’s room from the rest of the infirmary and began listening in. Once she was close enough, she realized that the two voices seemed to be arguing with each other.

“Come now, you can allow me to leave for just an hour, can’t you?” the King asked in his majestic tone.

The other voice, belonging to Doctor Roswald, came back sounding strict and stern. “No, I absolutely cannot allow that.”

“But I feel perfectly fine,” Caius insisted.

“I don’t care how you feel,” the doctor replied bluntly. “You’re my patient and you’re still in bad condition, so I refuse to permit you any temporary leave from my care.”

“You said that my condition was improving.”

“Yes, but you are still far from recovery. Remember the other day? When you passed out while we were in the middle of a conversation?”

The King scoffed. “That? That was nothing. I was just tired.”

“Tired!?” the doctor exclaimed. “Nobody just passes out because they’re ‘tired’. Only those suffering from extreme exhaustion experience such a thing! Why, I nearly had a heart attack thinking that something serious had happened to you.”

“A heart attack?” Caius responded, sounding amused. “It sounds like you’re the one who needs to be checked into the infirmary, Doctor.”

Zelda soon heard the doctor mutter some sort of curse under his breath. With a slight shake of her head, she decided to push the curtain aside and announce her presence. “Goodness, this place certainly sounds lively today.”

The two men halted their argument, turning to face the Princess. Caius’s face quickly brightened in surprise. “Ah, good morning, Zelda.”

Roswald gave a slight bow. “Good morning, Princess.”

“Good morning,” she greeted them back. She then smirked a bit before placing her hands on her hips. “So, what’s been going on in here? It sounded like you two were having quite the argument.”

“It was nothing,” said Caius, dismissively waving his hand. “Roswald here was just being a bit stubborn.”

“Me!?” Roswald exclaimed, turning to the King with an exasperated look. “How could you possibly–!?”

The doctor paused, and then heavily sighed, releasing his pent-up breath. He soon turned back towards Zelda, looking exhausted. “Forgive me, Lady Zelda. I fear that I may be at my wit’s end here. Would you be so kind as to speak some sense into your father? The Goddesses know I’ve tried.”

Zelda giggled a bit, but then gave him a reassuring smile as well as a curtsy. “It would be my pleasure.”

The doctor gave her an appreciative nod before exiting the room, releasing another tired sigh as he went.

Once he was gone, Zelda turned to her father with eyes that were less than friendly. “Are you still being stubborn, father? I hope you realize that you’re not doing any favors for me, the doctor, and most certainly not yourself.”

Caius just smiled, looking rather coy. “What? Can’t a King have his way?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Zelda snapped back. She then sighed before taking a seat in the chair next to his bed. “Tell me, father, what is on your mind today? Why were you asking Roswald for permission to leave the infirmary?”

Caius just sighed in return. “The Roundtable meeting is today, is it not?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes.”

“Well, I was hoping that I might be able to attend, if only for a little bit.”

Zelda blinked, a little surprised. “But father, your condition-”

“Is fine!” the King insisted with a smile. “I feel rather good today.”

Zelda just eyed the man skeptically. She knew that he was more than capable of exaggerating the truth in order to get his way.

“But your cough…” she said slowly.

“Is hardly a hindrance.”

“And your fatigue…”

“I feel wide awake at the moment.”

Zelda just sighed. He certainly was being stubborn today. “Yes, well, be that as it may, the doctor thinks that you’re still not in great shape, and if he says that you should stay here and rest, then I agree with him.”

Caius frowned at this. “Oh please. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that Roswald just wants to keep me in here so he can torture me.”

Zelda smirked, recalling the doctor’s exasperated expression from just a moment ago. “I severely doubt that. Trust me, he wants you out of here just as much as you do.”

The King surprisingly laughed at this, and gave a small nod. “Aye, that’s probably true.”

Zelda giggled a bit as well, happy that she actually got him to agree with something for once. She then gazed back at him, still feeling curious. “Tell me, why are you so interested in joining today’s Roundtable meeting?”

Caius’s smile soon faded away as it was replaced with a look of guilt. “Because…”

“Because what?” Zelda asked, edging him on.

“Because I am Hyrule’s King!” Caius stated adamantly, his majestic features suddenly flaring to life as he flashed a look of determination. “It is my duty as the leader of this Kingdom to stand by my people and assist them when needed. I should be attending these meetings and leading the discussions.”

Zelda nodded, showing that she understood his feelings. However, she still wanted to dissuade him. “I know, father, but you don’t have to worry about that right now. The Ministers and I have it under control.”

Caius shook his head. “But it should not be your duty, it should be mine. It is expected of me.”

“The only thing that anyone expects from you is to get some proper rest,” Zelda corrected him. “If you don’t, you’ll never make a full recovery.”

“But I can’t just sit around all the time!” Caius complained. “How can I-”

The King paused, before suddenly covering his mouth as he suffered a strong hacking fit. He coughed and wheezed, struggling to expel the air from his lungs. Zelda just winced a bit, waiting for the horrid noise to cease. Fortunately, it only lasted for about half a minute before the King managed to recover.

“Father, you are not well,” Zelda stated sadly. “We both know this. Everyone in the castle knows this. No one expects you to perform your duties as King until you are fit to do so.”

Caius coughed a few more times, before lowering his hand from his mouth. He released a tired sigh. “You certainly have a way of putting things in perspective, don’t you?”

“I like to think that I am wise and sound of mind,” Zelda replied with a smirk.

The King gave a nostalgic smile. “You are certainly your mother’s daughter, as well as my own.”

Zelda sadly smiled back. She always felt proud to be compared to her deceased mother, a woman who was well-known for being wise as well as caring.

“Very well,” Caius finally agreed. “I’ll honor the doctor’s wishes and remain here for today.”

Zelda bowed her head in gratitude. “Thank you. And will you also promise to take your recovery more seriously from now on?”

Caius seemed a bit taken aback by this. “What do you mean?”

Zelda gave him a stern look. “I want you to promise me that you will truly focus on recovering. I want you to listen to Roswald’s instructions without any complaints, and stop trying to convince others that you’re fine when you’re clearly not.”

Upon hearing this last accusation, Caius tried his best to appear innocent. “I would never do any such thing.”

Zelda raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh? So you weren’t planning to spend the next month convincing Roswald that you’re well enough to attend the next meeting?”

Caius flashed a look of surprise, then one of guilt. He soon gave a light chuckle. “Goodness, you know me too well.”

“Indeed,” Zelda agreed. “Which is why I require a promise to ensure that you’ll take this seriously. No tricks.”

The King eyed her for a moment, but soon sighed. “I promise to try my best.”

Zelda just stared back at him, feeling unsatisfied. She would need more assurance than that. This time, she decided to switch tactics. Up until this point, she had tried to be rational with him, but now she felt it was time to be beseeching.

Zelda soon leaned forward a bit, and stared straight into her father’s eyes. She then clasped her hands together as if in prayer, and spoke up in a soft voice. “Father, would you please promise, for me?”

Caius just gave her a blank stare before laughing a bit. “Seriously? Come now, Zelda, you’re much too old for this trick to work on me.”

Zelda just ignored him, choosing instead to tilt her head a bit as she continued to dig into him with her pleading gaze. She insisted on holding this expression.

Before long, the King’s amused expression began to crack. He soon turned away with a frown. “Come on, Zelda…”

Zelda persisted, only breaking her stare so she could blink innocently.

“Just stop this. You already have your answer…”

Zelda spoke up again, her voice even softer this time. “Please, father…”

Caius dared a glance back at her, looking incredibly uncomfortable. He soon forced his eyes shut before he inevitably caved. “Fine! I promise I’ll take my recovery seriously, okay?”

“You will?” Zelda asked gently, her tone still rich with innocence.

“Yes, I’ll listen to Roswald and do everything he tells me to,” the King said with a defeated sigh.

“You promise…?”

“I promise.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda released her hands only to clap them back together, all while she was smiling with glee. “Very good. I plan to hold you to that.”

The King smiled a bit in return, but he also shook his head. “You may think yourself clever, but don’t expect that trick to work the next time, my sweet little Princess.”

Zelda smirked. “We’ll see.”

Caius just shook his head some more, before releasing a big yawn. He soon tried to stifle it. “Ah, forgive me. It seems that this morning is a bit livelier than what I’m used to.”

“It proves that you need your rest,” Zelda pointed out. “Should I go?”

Caius shook his head again. “No, please stay. I’m okay for now, and I enjoy the company.”

Zelda eyed him for a second, making sure that he wasn’t lying to her, but she found that he did seem rather alert. With a small nod, the Princess remained in her seat. “Very well.”

“Now, was there anything else you wished to discuss while you were here?” Caius asked with a smile. “Or did you simply come here to berate me?”

Zelda smirked again. “Yes, well as much as I enjoy giving you a good scolding, there actually is something else on my mind.”

“Oh? Then let’s hear it.”

Zelda soon looked away, suddenly feeling a little nervous. She hesitated to state her thoughts, choosing instead to focus on drumming her fingers together a few times. She had been prepared to bring up this topic when she had first entered the room, but now she wasn’t feeling so confident. Nevertheless, her words eventually managed to trickle out.

“I just wanted to ask you…Um, what do you think of Link?”

“Link?” Caius repeated in surprise. “You want to know my opinion of the young man?”

Zelda hesitated, but timidly nodded while she stared at the floor. “Yes.”

Caius just gave her a weird look. “Whatever for? Are you taking a census to determine how favorable our brave Hero is among the populace?”

Zelda shook her head. “No, of course not. I just…want to know what you think of him.”

The King still seemed surprised, as well as a tad confused, but he chose to answer his daughter anyway. “Well, I think that Link is a fine young man. He seems very strong and courageous, as well as friendly and kind. I feel very fortunate to have met someone like him, and we are all fortunate that he chose to stand up and save our Kingdom from the threats that we faced.”

Zelda nodded, looking a little absentminded as she stared out the nearby window. “Yes, we are,” she agreed quietly.

Caius continued to eye his daughter with both curiosity and skepticism. He could tell that something was off with her. “Does that satisfy your question?” he asked patiently.

Zelda soon turned back to him, seeming to quickly snap out of her daze. “Er…Yes, it does.”

“Good. Now perhaps you can answer a question of my own,” Caius said, folding his arms. “Whatever brought this on?”

Zelda suddenly blushed a bit, not having expected her father to pry into her reasoning. “Oh…It’s nothing.”

Caius just shook his head. His daughter could be wise as well as clever, but she could also be incredibly naive. “As if I would believe that. Something is going on here. Now please, tell me why you are inquiring about Link.”

Zelda looked away again. She should have known that her father wouldn’t just let this go. “I…I don’t want to say,” she said timidly. “It’s a tad embarrassing…”

“Embarrassing?” Caius replied, raising his eyebrows a bit. “Did Link do something to humiliate you?”

Zelda blinked. “What? No.”

“Did he do something  to humiliate himself?” Caius asked, this time with an amused smile.

“No, father.”

“Then what is it? Surely something has happened to cause you to look so troubled.”

“I’m not troubled,” Zelda replied, slowly shaking her head. “It’s just…complicated.”

The King gave his daughter a look of sympathy, and soon leaned over to place a reassuring hand on top of her own. “Surely it’s something that you could tell your own father about?”

Zelda hesitated again, but upon seeing her father’s expression, she felt compelled to answer him. If she didn’t, she feared that she might give him the wrong idea and only cause him to needlessly worry. Taking a deep breath, she slowly released her words.

“It…really is nothing. It’s just that…I may…have an interest in him…”

The King blinked before flashing a quizzical expression. “An interest? In Link?”

“Y-Yes,” Zelda stammered, her gaze immediately dropping to the floor as her face turned red.

Caius blinked again, but this time realization crossed his face. “Oh…” He then paused before he smiled and laughed a bit. “Ha ha, well, that’s wonderful, isn’t it? You and Link, huh?”

Zelda blushed some more. Admitting this was embarrassing enough without him laughing about it. “Father, please…” she said quietly.

Caius just laughed some more, all while growing louder. “Ah, it seems what they say is true. No Princess can resist a knight in shining armor! Or in this case, a Hero clad in green, hmm?”

Zelda shook her head, turning to the man with a look of horror. “Father, would you please quiet down? I don’t want the whole castle to know of this!”

The King nodded, suddenly coughing a bit as his laugh seemed to have dragged on for too long. After a few wheezes, he managed to compose himself. “Right…Forgive me, Zelda.”

“It’s fine,” Zelda replied, although her red face and closed eyes said the opposite.

“So what brought this about?” Caius asked with a warm smile. “How long have you held an interest in our young Hero?”

“I…really don’t know,” Zelda replied honestly. “We’ve just been spending more time together since the end of the Twilight Invasion, and he’s been nice and helpful and we get along really well…” She blushed a bit more as her voice trailed off. “I don’t know. I just…really enjoy his company.”

The King nodded a few times. “Well, that’s good to hear. I’m happy to know that he makes you feel that way, Zelda.”

“And you approve…?” Zelda asked bashfully.

“Approve?” Caius replied. He then smiled once he understood. “Ah, so that’s why you wanted to hear my opinion of him.”

Zelda smiled sheepishly. “I just wanted to know if you found him…acceptable.”

The King laughed. “Acceptable? Why, of course! How could I not? Link is the Hero who saved our Kingdom, after all!”

Zelda slowly nodded. “That is true, but he is more than that, you know.”

“Of course,” Caius replied, giving his daughter another warm smile. “I think that Link is a wonderful young man, and I’d be more than happy to let you pursue a relationship with him.”

Zelda allowed herself another small smile. “You mean it?”

“Yes, Zelda. Go with my blessing.”

Zelda bowed her head, grateful for his kind words. “Thank you, father. Your blessing is appreciated.” She then paused for a second. “Although…I don’t intend to do anything with it just yet. For now, I’m simply content to spend time in Link’s company.”

Caius nodded and shrugged a bit. “Very well. You are an adult, Zelda, and I trust that you’ll be able to handle these matters on your own. If you ever need any help or advice though, you are always welcome to come to me.”

Zelda nodded back, appreciative of her father’s support. “I will if the need arises,” she promised.

The King then flashed a grin that was surprisingly full of confidence. “Also, just know that if Link ever mistreats you in any way, I’ll make sure that he is severely punished.”

Zelda gawked a bit at this, but soon smiled and shook her head. Surely he was jesting. “Oh father…”

“I mean it, Zelda,” Caius insisted. “You are my only daughter, and you mean the world to me. Should any man ever bring harm to you, I can guarantee that he’d suffer my wrath, even if it is our young friend Link.”

“Wrath?” Zelda scoffed. “Please, I think that you and I both know that you are too kindhearted to ever torture someone.”

“Not when it comes to matters concerning you. Why, I wouldn’t even give the order to have him punished. I would insist on doing it myself! I’d lock him up in the castle’s dungeon and then I’d…I’d…” The King paused, trying to think of something intimidating.

Meanwhile, Zelda just smirked as she challenged him. “You’d what? Cough on him?”

Caius seemed surprised, but he soon laughed. “That actually wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Zelda giggled in return. “Oh father, that’s enough. I think we can safely say that Link would never do such a thing. He seems like an honest gentleman.”

“Aye,” Caius agreed, “but my warning still stands. Don’t think that I won’t do whatever it takes to protect you.”

Zelda just shook her head again. “The only thing I’m thinking right now is that you’ve had too much excitement for one morning.” She then rose to her feet, smoothing out her dress a bit as she did so. “I should probably be on my way. The members of the Roundtable will be congregating soon, and I don’t want to keep you from your rest.”

“Nonsense,” Caius said with a smile. “You can stay as long as you like.”

“But father, remember your promise?” Zelda reminded him in a disapproving tone.

Caius sighed. “I know, I know. I’ll take this seriously and get some rest.”

“Good,” Zelda replied, now sounding satisfied. She then gazed at her father with a serious expression. “And speaking of promises, you’d best promise to not speak a word of this conversation to anyone. If you do, I can assure you that this poisoning will most certainly not be your cause of death.”

The King chuckled before giving a nod of understanding. “Ah, ‘stabbed to death by embarrassed daughter’, an end that every father fears at one point or another.”

Zelda just continued to stare at him, unamused. “I’m serious, father.”

Caius gave her a dismissive wave. “Worry not, Zelda. Your secret is safe with me.”

Zelda stared at him a bit more, but soon released a sigh of acceptance. “I should hope so.”

“It is,” he assured her. He then reached out and clasped one of her hands in his own. “Now don’t dwell on this any longer. It will just cause unnecessary stress. Focus on your Roundtable meeting instead, and make sure to do a good job for the both of us.”

Zelda smiled, appreciating the trust he had placed in her. Her father may have been an endless source of trouble for her, but at least his intentions were always well-meaning.

“I will,” she promised him. She then gave a gentle pat to the back of his hand. “I’ll see you again soon, okay?”

Caius nodded. “Yes. See you soon, Zelda.”

Notes:

I want to thank everyone again for interacting with this story. I always enjoy viewing the profiles of my readers, and specifically, I like to use said profiles as a place to find other stories worth reading. Preferably those that are similar to my own! However, it seems that AO3 isn’t the best site for this sort of strategy (at least when compared to FF), as the only thing I can really find is their written works (if any) and their bookmarks. And it seems that readers tend to rarely bookmark anything, so stories on this site simply don’t get circulated around as much. Which is honestly a bit of a shame.

Nevertheless, I’m always interested in finding new works, so if you guys ever have any good Zelink stories that you want to recommend to me, feel free to do so!

Chapter 15: Shatter

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 15 – Shatter

Zelda departed the infirmary and began making her way towards the Roundtable meeting room. She admittedly felt a bit tired after her “lively” meeting with her father, but she didn’t let it bother her. She was still looking forward to seeing all of the Roundtable members come together and try to make progress towards improving their Kingdom. The last meeting had been a success, and Zelda was hoping for similar results this time around. Plus, it would be nice to see everyone again.

Including a certain Hero of Twilight…

Zelda allowed herself a smile. She wasn’t going to deny it. The thought of seeing Link again filled her with joy. Between the long amount of time that they had spent apart and the fact that Zelda had started to accept her true feelings for the Hero, she was rather eager to see him again. She wanted nothing more than for them to simply come together, smile, and catch up. Perhaps they would even share a few laughs as they often did.

As Zelda’s smile grew wider, she continued making her way through the castle halls, occasionally glancing out into the nearby courtyard and appreciating what a nice day it was. For some reason, things certainly seemed brighter than usual today. However, Zelda’s thoughts were soon interrupted as a certain female Knight entered her vision from a hallway off to the side, traveling in the same direction as herself. It didn’t take long before she took notice of the Princess.

“Ah, good morning, Zelda,” Ashei said, her trademark smirk suddenly appearing on her lips. It was clear that she was still trying to tease the Princess about their previous encounter a month ago.

Zelda just ignored her though. She was currently in a good mood, so she chose to greet the Knight with a bright smile. “Good morning, Ashei.”

Ashei fell in line next to Zelda, and raised her eyebrows in a suggestive manner. “In a hurry to get to the meeting, yeah? I can’t help but wonder why…”

Once again, Zelda ignored the girl’s attempts to taunt her. “I am, actually. I imagine today’s meeting will be very productive.”

This response seemed to give Ashei some pause. This wasn’t the way that the Princess usually responded to her teasing. The Knight quickly dropped her charade, looking perplexed. “What’s up with you?”

“What do you mean?” Zelda asked, still pleasantly smiling.

“You certainly seem cheerful today,” Ashei replied with a frown.

Zelda simply shrugged. “I suppose I am.”

“What’s the occasion?”

Zelda paused, suddenly recalling the other night where she had properly sat down and sorted out her feelings for the Hero of Twilight. She smiled a bit more. “If I had to say, it’s that everything just feels much more clear to me now.”

Ashei raised her eyebrows. “And what does that mean?”

Zelda giggled a bit, surprising even herself with how mirthful she felt. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it, Ashei.”

Ashei just pouted at this answer. It almost felt like the Princess was teasing her by withholding the truth. Shaking her head, Ashei decided to respond with some more teasing of her own. “Perhaps you’re in such a good mood because you’ll soon be reunited with Link,” she said with a smirk.

“Perhaps,” Zelda agreed, still smiling. “I am certainly looking forward to seeing him again today.”

Once again, Ashei dropped her playful expression, replacing it with an unamused scowl. She hadn’t expected the Princess to embrace her taunts as willingly as she had. What had happened to the reactions that she was used to seeing? The blushing and averted gaze?

“You’re no fun,” she eventually said with a sigh.

Zelda just shook her head. “You should have known that your tricks wouldn’t work forever, Ashei. I’m far too wise for that.”

“Hmph,” the Knight grunted in response.

Before long, the two of them arrived at the meeting room. Several of the Roundtable members had already arrived, so Zelda took some time to go around and greet each of them properly. Fost and Enzo had already assembled, as had Auru. Zelda welcomed each of them with a bright smile and wished them a good morning.

Darbus had also arrived early to the scene, no doubt due to him having access to the fastest method of travel. He was more than happy to give the Princess a friendly welcome, just as he had last time.

“Good morning, Princess,” he said with a wide grin.

“Good morning, Darbus,” Zelda replied. “Thank you for making the journey here to participate in the Roundtable again. I truly appreciate it.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” he said with a hearty laugh. He then took one of his giant palms and gave the Princess a “gentle” pat on the back, the force of which nearly knocked her from her feet.

Fost was quick to speak up about this. “Chief Darbus, do be careful! With your strength, you could easily knock the Princess to the floor.”

Darbus quickly frowned. “Er…sorry, Little Fost.”

Zelda soon straightened herself out and regained her composure. “I’m fine,” she insisted. “I like to think that I can handle a friendly pat from a Goron.”

Darbus grinned at this. “Ah, tough as bedrock, just like her father!”

Zelda simply smiled back, appreciating his compliment.

As the meeting time approached, the rest of the Roundtable members slowly trickled in. Renado arrived, followed by Prince Ralis, and finally Mayor Bo and Link. As soon as the Hero entered the room, Zelda set her sights on him. He didn’t seem to notice her, as he was currently busy greeting Renado and Darbus, but Zelda didn’t mind. She was more than happy to take matters into her own hands, choosing to approach him and strike up a conversation at his earliest convenience.

As Link finished saying hello to the Goron and Shaman, Zelda gave him a light tap on the shoulder, drawing his attention. “Welcome back, Hero,” she said with a smile.

Link quickly returned her smile as he spotted her. “Oh, hi Zelda. Long time no see, huh?”

Zelda nodded. “Indeed. It feels like I’ve barely caught sight of you within the last month.”

Link flashed a hint of a guilty look, while also rubbing his neck. “Sorry, I’ve been kind of busy in Ordon lately. I haven’t had a lot of time to stop by.”

Zelda shook her head. “No worries. I know that you have plenty of business to attend to there. I don’t expect you to be at the castle at all times.”

“Thanks for understanding,” Link said with a nod. “I really do appreciate being able to come and go as I please.”

“Of course, Link.” She then smirked a bit, deciding to play with the Hero. “It’s perfectly fine, as long as I know that you weren’t trying to avoid me.”

“Avoid you?” Link said in surprise. He quickly frowned and waved his hands a bit. “N-No, I would never!” He then paused in order to gulp and look guilty again. “Is that really what you thought I was doing?”

Zelda placed a hand over her mouth, giggling at his reaction. “Of course not, Link. I’m only teasing you.”

Link stared at her for a moment, but soon allowed his shoulders to relax. “Geez, you scared me there for a second. I thought you might have really been upset with me.”

Zelda shook her head with a smile. “Come now, you should know that I would never be angry with you over something like this.”

“That’s true,” Link agreed sheepishly. He then tried to give her a sincere smile in return. “And you should know that I would never try to ignore you, Zelda. I always think it’s nice to see you.”

And there it was: the soft, sincere gaze that slayed any chance that Zelda had of keeping her composure. As per usual, the Princess felt forced to look away as her cheeks began to redden. Receiving such a compliment from the Hero sent her heart aflutter. It seemed that even though she was in a good mood and was excited to be talking to Link, it didn’t mean that she had learned to conquer her nerves.

“I-It’s always nice to see you too,” she stammered quietly, her eyes on the floor.

“It’s good to be here,” Link said with a nod before glancing around the room. He seemed to be taking note of all the Roundtable members that were currently assembled.

Meanwhile, Zelda just silently berated herself. Why was she still acting so awkward and embarrassed? All Link had done was pay her a tiny compliment. She really needed to learn to get her act together in front of him. Even if she might have an interest in him, it was still no excuse for such a display of ridiculous behavior!

Taking a deep breath, Zelda felt some of the heat leave her face. She then tried to still her heart as she forced her eyes back to the Hero. She could do this. She insisted on keeping her composure.

“So Link,” she said quietly, drawing his attention back to her. Zelda paused a bit the moment his eyes landed on her, but she forced herself to stay strong and continue. “How have things been in Ordon? Going well, I hope?”

Link smiled some more, appearing happy to talk about his home. “Things have been going really well, actually. In fact, there was even something…exciting that happened recently.” The Hero then paused before glancing down at the floor, suddenly looking a little bashful. “You see, I-”

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

Zelda quickly frowned as a random voice interrupted their conversation. She glanced down to find the owner of the voice to be none other than the short man himself, Fost. She couldn’t help but scowl a bit as she looked down upon him. Of course, leave it to the elderly Minister to interrupt the Princess when she was in the middle of her stride.

“Yes, Fost?” she asked, showing more irritation in her tone than she intended to.

Fost gave a small bow. “Forgive me for interrupting your discussion, but could we perhaps begin the meeting? Everyone has arrived and it is the agreed-upon time. Also…” Fost took a second to glance in the direction of the Goron that occupied the room. He soon dropped his voice to a whisper. “If we wait any longer, I fear that Chief Darbus will try to make a quick trip to the infirmary to visit His Majesty. He’s already talked of doing such a thing if we don’t start soon, and I’d hate for His Majesty’s rest to be needlessly disturbed by this hulking oaf–Er, I mean, the esteemed Chief of the Gorons.”

Zelda just stared down at Fost before releasing a tired sigh. She felt like the Minister was exaggerating the direness of the situation, but she supposed that she didn’t want her father’s rest to be disturbed either. “Very well,” she agreed. “We’ll begin at once.”

“Excellent,” Fost said with a smile. He then turned around to spot the Goron in question walking towards the doorway. The older man immediately jumped in surprise. “Bah! Chief Darbus, where do you think you’re going? We’re about to begin!”

Zelda just shook her head before turning to Link with an apologetic expression. “I’m afraid we’ll have to catch up later.”

“No problem,” he replied with a shrug.

 

---

 

The Roundtable meeting proceeded smoothly and successfully once again. As expected, all of the members were able to bring their concerns to the discussion, while also offering their aid where needed. Link was properly thanked for his assistance in rescuing the missing Dolen, who had in fact wandered into Faron Woods without any hope of finding his way back out. Kakariko Village also seemed to be doing better, as a few Zoras had already moved there to set up a store. Enzo also assured Renado that a handful of Castle Town’s citizens expressed interest in moving there in the next few weeks. He even provided a list of names as well as the general timeframe in which the Shaman could expect their arrival.

Eventually, a moment came where Zelda rose from her seat, and chose to make an announcement. Immediately, all eyes fell on the Princess, and the table was hers.

“Myself, Minster Enzo, and Minister Fost have all been having discussions with the rest of the Hyrule Council. We are constantly trying to brainstorm ideas which will strengthen the bonds between our various civilizations and therefore assist in the unification of Hyrule. Recently, the Council has come to a decision that we believe will aid in this endeavor, and thus I have a proposition to make.”

Zelda paused, before glancing around at the faces that surrounded her. She then spoke up in a loud, clear voice. “At some point in the near future, I plan to embark on a Kingdom-wide tour.”

Zelda took a moment to allow this information to sink in. She watched as many curious eyes fell on her, wanting to hear more.

“I intend to visit each of your homes, as a show of support during the reconstruction effort. I want all of Hyrule to know that the Royal Family stands with them.”

Fost nodded. “We hope that the Princess’s presence might provide some encouragement to those that have struggled after the Twilight Invasion ravaged their homes.”

“It will also show the populace that their Kingdom is thinking about them,” Enzo added. “This will surely lead to improved relations across all of Hyrule.”

“I also plan to use this expedition as a learning opportunity,” Zelda continued. “If I am able to experience your cultures firsthand, I believe that I would be better able to offer my assistance during these Roundtable discussions. I would have a better understanding of how each of your civilizations function, and what steps should be taken in order to aid in their recovery.”

“This sounds like a wonderful idea,” Ralis said with a smile. “I believe it’s been a number of years since anyone from the Royal Family has stepped foot in Zora’s Domain.”

“Aye, it’s the same for Death Mountain,” Darbus agreed.

“And I’m not sure if Ordon has ever had a Royal Family visit,” Bo said with a small laugh.

Zelda smiled. “Which is precisely why we feel this is necessary. I want Hyrule to know that their monarch has not abandoned them. My father’s condition may prevent his attendance at the moment, but I will gladly stand in his place. I want to provide the people with hope. To remind them that while yes, the Twilight Invasion has left scars on our Kingdom, we still plan to come out of this stronger than ever, by standing together and supporting each other.”

Zelda's impassioned speech was met with numerous nods of approval, and even some minor applause. As per usual, the clapping came from Ralis, Renado, and Bo. However, to Zelda’s surprise, Link also joined in the applause, bringing his hands together while giving her a warm and encouraging smile. In response to this, Zelda quickly looked away, hoping to keep her composure by avoiding eye contact with the Hero.

Fost then spoke up, saving the Princess from having to speak in a flustered stutter. “As expected, the Princess plans to visit the four established civilizations within Hyrule's borders. Kakariko Village, Death Mountain, Zora’s Domain, and Ordon Village. Do you all approve of this arrangement?”

The four leaders of the mentioned locations all gave their approval for the plan. They all seemed to be more than happy to welcome Zelda into their homes, and believed that this would be a beneficial experience for their people, as well as the Kingdom as a whole.

“You have my utmost thanks,” Zelda said, bowing her head a bit. “Fost, Enzo, and I will work on getting all of the details of the tour ironed out before the next Roundtable meeting. We hope to share a completed schedule with you by then. After that, we’ll make sure that all of the necessary preparations have been made, and then the tour will commence.”

“Fost and I will also be in contact with the four of you as well,” Enzo added, looking at the leaders. “We’ll gladly assist in any preparations that you need to undertake in order to prepare for the Princess’s arrival.”

Fost nodded. “We’ll also try to provide you with a reliable timetable for this event, so you have plenty of notice before the tour initiates.”

Once again, the leaders nodded their approval. Everyone seemed completely on board with the idea of the Kingdom-wide tour. Zelda just looked upon each of them with a thankful smile before eventually taking her seat.

 

---

 

Not long after that, the Roundtable meeting was adjourned. Similar to the previous dismissal, many of the members seemed content to hang around the meeting room afterwards and chat. As Zelda rose from her seat, she once again felt eager to resume her conversation with Link. She had only ended their previous conversation begrudgingly, and she was still hoping to catch up with him and hear some more about his time in Ordon.

However, Zelda seemed to have a number of obstacles to overcome before she was allowed to reach the Hero across the room. First off, Fost asked her if she would like to begin discussing plans for the tour immediately, but Zelda quickly declined, not wanting to miss her chance to talk to Link. This backfired a bit though, as Fost then inquired as to what time she would like to discuss the tour, which led to Zelda having to recall her busy schedule and what openings she had available. Eventually, she managed to give the short man a satisfying response, and he released her from the conversation.

Zelda then ran into Ralis, who wanted to question her about her father’s condition. He wanted to know if the King was showing any signs of improvement, or if there was anything that his people could do to help the situation. Zelda didn’t want to just blow him off, especially when he seemed genuinely concerned for her father’s wellbeing, so she reluctantly began filling the Prince in. As she explained the details to Ralis, Zelda’s eyes fell on Link, who stood across the room and seemed to be talking to Renado. She truly hoped to catch him before he decided to leave.

Unfortunately, another distraction arose when Darbus caught wind of their conversation, and suddenly recalled that he had wanted to visit the King in the infirmary. He naturally barreled out of the room, excited to see his old friend once again. And of course, Fost soon chased after him, shouting about how Darbus should refrain from visiting His Majesty who needed absolute rest. It was at this point that Zelda glanced down at the table and noticed that Fost had forgotten something on the table yet again. The previous time it had been his notes, but on this occasion, the Minister had left his tiny pair of spectacles behind. Zelda knew that the elderly man couldn’t see so well without them, so with a weary sigh, she scooped up the frames and quickly chased after the duo, hoping to catch them before they got too far.

When Zelda eventually caught up with them, she was disappointed to find that an argument had broken out. Fost was still insisting that Darbus should leave the King alone and let him get some rest. Meanwhile, Darbus was shouting that Caius was a good friend of his, and that the King had encouraged the Goron to visit whenever he pleased. Fost then turned to the Princess, hoping she would back up his side of the argument.

However, by this point, Zelda felt too exhausted to argue. She had been thoroughly worn down by her run through the halls as well as their absurd antics. With a tired sigh, she handed Fost his spectacles and then told Darbus that he was free to visit her father as long as he didn’t stay for long and didn’t get the man too excited. Darbus seemed pleased with the answer, but Fost just looked aghast. The short Minister seemed like he still wanted to argue his position, but Zelda wasn’t willing to entertain him. All she wanted to do was head back to the meeting room and find Link again. With another sigh, the Princess dismissed herself, and hurried back down the halls, leaving the two of them to sort out any further issues on their own.

By the time Zelda made it back to the meeting room, she was short of breath and felt like a disorderly mess. She tried to brush some of her disheveled hair back into place, in addition to smoothing out her dress. Once she felt a bit more collected, she moved for the doorway…

“So, have you given any more thought to what we discussed last time? My offer to introduce you to my daughter still stands.”

Zelda froze just short of the entrance. She immediately recognized that the voice belonged to Enzo, and he seemed to be conversing with…

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it a lot, actually,” Link replied.

“Ha ha, you sound surprised with yourself,” the voice of Ralis noted gleefully.

“Well, yeah…I hate to admit it, but our discussion last time did kind of get my gears to start turning…”

Zelda remained frozen and breathless as she listened to this. She could feel a nauseating feeling of dread descend upon her. She soon retreated a step and pressed her back to the stone wall as she released a nervous breath. She had quickly realized what she was listening in on.

The three men had continued their conversation from last time!

Zelda tried to remain still as she felt her heart begin to drum hard against her chest. Once again, her nerves were growing restless. She couldn’t help it. The thought of Link discussing his interest in other women filled her with anxiety. What was he about to say?

Feeling brave, Zelda took a step towards the door, peering ever so slightly into the meeting room. There she spotted Link, looking a bit nervous himself as he conversed with Enzo and Ralis. She stared at him for a second, waiting for him to speak up again. She honestly hated to eavesdrop like this, but how could she not? In this moment, she was rather desperate to know where the Hero’s interests lay!

“Unfortunately, Minister, I’m going to have to decline your offer to meet with your daughter,” Link said with an apologetic frown.

Enzo seemed a bit surprised at this. “Ah, don’t tell me. Has one of the other ladies in this castle caught your interest? I’ve noticed that they tend to enjoy your company.”

Zelda’s heart beat faster upon hearing this. She felt a strong mix of emotions. Worry. Fear. Jealousy. Sadness.

Link allowed himself a nervous smile. “Er…no, none of them.”

Zelda’s heart continued to beat quickly, but this time with a different range of emotions. Happiness. Relief. Joy. Encouragement!

“But you have an interest in someone, correct?” Ralis asked the Hero.

Zelda gulped, her short-lived elation draining away as she stared at the Hero with wide eyes. Was this really true? She feared the thought of what he might say next, and yet she clung to his every word.

“Yeah, I do,” Link admitted sheepishly.

Thump…Thump…Thump…Zelda’s anxiety was skyrocketing, and she felt like her heart might burst from her chest. Did she just hear him correctly? The Hero claimed that he had an interest in someone?

“Well, that’s wonderful,” Enzo said with a bright smile. “I wish you all the best in your pursuit of love.”

Link nodded, but soon looked to the floor. “Thanks, but the pursuing part is kind of already done.”

Zelda inched forward, trying to listen closely. She needed answers. She needed clarification. She soon closed her eyes, straining to hear Link over the sound of her thunderous heartbeat in her ears.

However, what the Hero said next shocked the Princess to her core.

“I’ve actually started seeing somebody recently…”

Thump.

Thump…

Thump…?

It was honestly amazing how quickly silence could descend upon an individual. And not only that, but also how quickly someone’s nervousness and worry could turn into a cold, icy dread.

As the Hero’s words echoed around in Zelda’s mind, she felt her body go completely numb. Even her agitated heart had ceased its constant beating. Time seemed to slow, and Zelda started to feel lost and confused, as if she was having trouble processing the Hero’s words. A single thought whimpered in her mind.

What…?

However, despite the Princess’s distress, the world seemed to carry on without missing a beat. Time continued to flow, and the voices in the room resumed their conversation.

“You’re seeing someone?” Ralis asked with a smile.

“Why, congratulations, Link,” Enzo said, also smiling towards the Hero. “Pray tell, who’s the lucky lady?”

Link smiled back, and sheepishly looked towards the floor again. He seemed a bit shy about accepting their regards. Still, he chose to answer them in a confident tone.

“It’s a girl from my village. Her name is Ilia.”

Zelda sharply inhaled, drawing some much-needed life back into her body. She instantly retreated from the doorway, placing her back against the wall once more. Her heart felt like it had been shattered, but her mind felt like it was racing. Her eyes began darting around the floor and her face flashed a troubled expression.

Ilia?

Ilia…?

Who’s Ilia?

Notes:

Me while writing this: “Huh, I wonder how many people are going to be pissed off by this chapter…Well, only one way to find out!” lol

On a serious note, I want to assure everyone that this will still be a Link x Zelda story. We’re just going to have to take a long and difficult road to get there. And hey, I told you guys that things would probably play out differently than how you expected, didn’t I? And I seriously doubt that anyone expected that this would happen, he he he…

To be honest, I thought that we would reach this point in the story much sooner than we actually did. This is kind of where the premise of the story actually starts, after all. And yet, all I’ve done is spend all this time setting things up, only so I could knock everything down in one fell swoop. I guess I’m pretty ambitious…and evil lol.

But enough of my ramblings, I want to know what you guys think. Please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts, and I’ll see you all next chapter.

This is where the story truly begins, he he he…

Chapter 16: What Happened?

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 16 – What Happened?

Zelda remained frozen in place, her mind a chaotic mess of frantic thoughts. She was still trying to process everything that she had just overheard.

Link was seeing someone…

A girl named Ilia…

Didn’t he have any interest in Zelda?

Zelda shook her head, trying to force away that last obtrusive thought. Link’s feelings towards her didn’t matter right now! What did matter was how Link felt about this other woman, the mystery girl known as Ilia…

Zelda paused. Ilia…Ilia…That name sounded familiar. Where had Zelda heard it before?

“What’s the matter with you? You seem distraught.”

Zelda jumped with a gasp as she turned to find a certain female Knight staring at her with curious eyes. “A-Ashei!” she exclaimed quietly.

Ashei just smirked at the Princess’s surprise. “As jumpy as ever I see. And man, we have got to stop meeting like this, yeah?”

Zelda released a pent-up breath as she placed a shaky hand over her heart, hoping to control her nerves. “The only thing I need is for you to stop sneaking up on me like this,” Zelda replied, still speaking in a low voice.

“I’m not sneaking. You’re the one who’s not paying attention,” Ashei pointed out with a smug look. “What are you doing here, anyway? Spying on the Hero again?”

“What?” Zelda whimpered. “N-No, I…”

Shaking her head, Ashei pushed past the Princess and peered through the doorway and into the meeting room. Her eyes soon fell on the Hero clad in green, and Ashei’s smirk grew wider.

“Geez, Zelda, you’re really starting to make a bad habit out of this.”

Zelda sensed her cheeks start to turn red, and she suddenly felt rather embarrassed. She knew that Ashei was just teasing her, but she did have a point. What was Zelda doing here, standing around and listening in on Link’s private conversations? How pathetic was that? And it was certainly not becoming of a Princess, either.

“Y-You’re right,” Zelda replied in a shaky voice. She soon started to drift away from the wall. “I…I should go…”

Ashei frowned and raised her eyebrows a bit. “Huh? You’re leaving?”

Zelda slowly began walking away, giving a tiny nod. “Yes, I shouldn’t be here…”

Ashei just flashed a look of confusion before quickly chasing after her. “Hey, relax, would ya? I was only joking around. What are you so upset about?”

Zelda shook her head, refusing to turn around and face her. “It’s nothing.”

Ashei sighed. “Look, I’m sorry, yeah? I was only going to suggest that you go talk to him instead of spying on him from the shadows.”

Zelda stopped, balling her hands into frustrated fists as she felt her lip quiver a bit. “I…I can’t.”

Ashei also slowed to a halt behind her. “Can’t what? Talk to Link?”

Zelda dropped her gaze down to the floor. “It's…It’s not going to work out,” she said solemnly.

“Not going to work out?” Ashei repeated. Her expression then softened, as she realized that something was truly wrong here. She soon stared at the Princess with genuine concern in her eyes. “Zelda, did something happen?”

Zelda released a heavy sigh. She didn’t really care to talk about this, especially not while her mind was still trying to process the situation. Still, she knew that Ashei wouldn’t be satisfied without some sort of answer as to why she appeared so dismayed. Even now, the Knight seemed rather worried about her wellbeing.

“I…” Zelda began to speak, but immediately paused when she spotted two maids walking down the hall towards them. She nervously bit her lip. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss this here, where someone might overhear them.

Making a quick decision, Zelda turned around and snatched up Ashei’s hand. She then began pulling the Knight down the hallway. “Let’s go somewhere private,” she mumbled.

Ashei gave the Princess a scowl, as she certainly didn’t like being forced around like this. However, upon seeing Zelda’s nervous expression once again, she decided to sigh and let it go.

“Fine.”

 

---

 

A short while later, the two women arrived at one of the castle’s balconies that overlooked a courtyard below. Here, the two of them were finally alone. They could now talk freely without worrying about someone eavesdropping or interrupting. 

Upon their arrival, Zelda quickly made her way to the balustrade, hoping that the warm rays of sunlight and gentle breeze might help calm her down. She still felt terribly out of sorts, and her distance from Link as well as that dreadful meeting room hadn’t seemed to ease her nerves in the slightest. Meanwhile, Ashei just slowly walked up behind her, crossing her arms and casting an expectant look in her direction. She stood like this for a few seconds before eventually releasing a sigh.

“All right, do you want to explain yourself? You seem really upset today, and not for the usual reasons.”

Zelda took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure as she went to respond. “And the usual reasons being…?”

“Your feelings towards Link,” Ashei said bluntly. “You usually seem like a nervous mess when you’re around him, but this is different.”

Zelda sighed, casting her gaze down into the courtyard below. “It’s complicated.”

Ashei was silent for a moment, but she soon walked over and joined Zelda by the balustrade. She too stared down into the courtyard, and gently clasped her hands together.

“Tell me, did something happen?”

Zelda bowed her head. She didn’t want to answer that question, but there was no point in hiding the truth.

“Yes.”

Ashei scowled. “What did Link do?”

This question gave Zelda some pause, and caused her to blink a bit. “N-Nothing.”

“Did he hurt you?”

Zelda soon stood up straight, looking alarmed. “What? No!”

“Really?” Ashei asked. “Because I’d be more than happy to punish him for toying with a maiden’s heart.”

Zelda found herself staring incredulously at the Knight, but soon chose to cast a defensive glare in her direction. “Stop it, Ashei. Link didn’t do anything wrong.”

Ashei smirked a bit at this. “Just making sure…”

Zelda stared at the Knight for a few more seconds, until she eventually looked away with a sigh. Somehow, Ashei always seemed to have a special way of antagonizing her, enough to even make her forget her troubles at times.

“So tell me, what did happen then?” Ashei pressed her. “Give me the details.”

“Fine,” Zelda said quietly. She frowned a bit as she cast her gaze downward again. “I…I was listening in on their conversation. Link, Enzo, and Ralis, that is. And they were talking about, um…Link’s potential interest in women again…”

Ashei gave a few nods. She didn’t seem terribly interested in this topic, but she urged the Princess to go on. “Uh-huh…”

“And…well…Link then told them that…that…” Zelda paused, feeling it hard to utter the words out loud. She didn’t want to hear these words again. She didn’t want to accept them. However, she knew that she would have to come to terms with the truth eventually. Steeling herself, she forced the words out.

“Link told them…that he’s already started seeing a woman.”

It took Ashei a few seconds to process this revelation. She raised her eyebrows a bit. “Wait, what? You mean, he’s…?”

Zelda gave a solemn nod. “He’s started a relationship with another girl.”

“Oh,” Ashei said, blinking a bit. She then paused as she started to piece things together and the full realization hit her. “Ohhhhh…” Now she understood why the Princess truly seemed so upset.

Zelda just hung her head, feeling sad and ashamed. There it was. The truth was out. And it honestly hurt.

“You sure you didn’t just mishear him?” Ashei asked softly.

Zelda shook her head. “No, he said it loud and clear.”

“Huh…” Ashei mumbled, slowly looking away and staring off into the distance. “I never thought that guy had the backbone to actually go out and get a girl.”

For the briefest of moments, Zelda felt a vein appear on her forehead. “Is that what you’re worried about?” she asked in a frustrated tone.

Ashei flashed a guilty smile. “Er, sorry Zelda. I’m just surprised, is all.”

Zelda sighed and let her anger dissolve. “Yeah, me too.”

An awkward silence soon fell between the two of them. Ashei wasn’t quite sure what to say, and Zelda was reluctant to speak. The Princess’s mind still felt like a confused and jumbled mess, and she was having trouble thinking clearly. She kept trying to fully process the information, but all it did was leave her with an empty feeling of sadness.

Eventually, Ashei spoke up, trying to use a gentle voice. “So…do you know who the lucky lady is? The one who managed to catch the eye of the Hero?”

Zelda nodded glumly. “Yes, Link said that it’s someone from Ordon. A girl named Ilia.”

Ashei nodded a bit in return. “Hmm…Ilia, huh?”

Upon hearing this, Zelda stood up straight and glanced over at the Knight beside her. She could suddenly feel a strong curiosity welling up within her. “What do you know about her?”

“Huh?” Ashei exclaimed, looking surprised at this question. “Why would I know anything about this girl?”

“You’ve spent a lot of time working together with Link, haven’t you?” Zelda pointed out.

Ashei frowned a bit. “Well…yes.”

“Has he ever mentioned her before?”

“Not that I can recall, no…”

“Do you know who this ‘Ilia’ girl is?”

Ashei hesitated. “Not really, no.”

Zelda scowled a bit. The Knight was clearly withholding information. “Come on, Ashei. You know something. Spill it.”

Ashei just shook her head. “Why do you want to know so badly?”

“Because!” Zelda retorted quickly, only to pause for a second. Why did she care so much? “I’m…I’m just curious to learn more about the girl that…that Link is interested in…”

Ashei sighed. “Look, I don’t know much, yeah? But admittedly, I have heard mention of a girl named Ilia before. Telma told me that she worked at her bar for a bit during the Twilight Invasion. However, I’ve never actually met the girl, and I don’t really know anything about her.”

Zelda nodded a bit, but she still wished to know more. “Do you know how old she is?”

“Probably around our age?” Ashei guessed.

“Do you know what she looks like?”

“No clue.”

Zelda released a sigh. Ashei was right. She really didn’t know much in the way of useful information. Nothing that would help clue the Princess in as to why Link seemed to have taken such a sudden fancy to this girl, at least.

Ashei just shook her head as she watched the Princess’s troubled expression. “Look, if you want to know more, you’ll just have to ask Link yourself.”

Zelda shook her head back. “I can’t do that.”

“And why not?”

“It would be too embarrassing,” Zelda said with a frown. She then looked away, feeling dismayed. “And besides, it’s all rather pointless now...”

“What do you mean?” Ashei asked, also frowning.

“Well, Link’s made his choice. He’s with another woman now.”

Ashei nodded a bit. “Right…So, I guess that means…”

“I don’t have a chance with him,” Zelda admitted sadly. It hurt to say these painful words, but they were true.

Zelda then forced her eyes shut and shook her head. Who was she kidding? It was incredibly presumptuous of her to think that she ever did have a chance with the Hero. So what if she had a small crush on him? That didn’t mean that he felt the same way about her. And so what if she was a Princess that lived in a luxurious castle? Link had never cared about stuff like that anyway. In fact, when you stripped all of it away, Zelda couldn’t help but wonder what was left. Did she even have anything to offer the Hero? Anything of value or worth that would attract his attention?

My friendship, she thought weakly.

Once again, Zelda shook her head. Like that was anything special. She knew that Link had friends all throughout the Kingdom. The time he spent with her clearly hadn’t been any more important than the time he spent with everyone else. So what if they got along when they were together? It’s not like it actually meant anything.

Zelda sighed. In this moment, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat…undesirable.

Ashei continued to frown as she gazed at the Princess’s excessively glum expression. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the girl. She soon reached out and placed a reassuring hand on the Princess’s shoulder.

“Um…I’m sorry, Zelda. This really is a shame. If it were up to me, I would’ve been more than happy to see the two of you get together.”

“Yes, well, clearly it wasn’t meant to be,” Zelda replied glumly.

“Don’t feel too torn up about it,” Ashei said, trying to give her an encouraging smile. “This sort of thing does happen, even to Princesses.”

Zelda slowly nodded. “I know. It’s just…It’s so frustrating…Especially when I still feel the way that I do towards him.”

“Give it time. The Goddesses only know that there will be other men interested in pursuing you.”

“Yes, but none of them will be quite the same as Link.”

Ashei tried to give her an encouraging smirk. “Oh, come on. It’s only Link we’re talking about here. Is he really worth getting hung up over? The guy is kind of a klutz, you know.”

Zelda frowned. “I like that he’s a klutz. I find it amusing.”

Ashei just raised her eyebrows at this. “Seriously? You need to broaden your horizons a bit. Find some better taste in men.”

“Tch,” Zelda scoffed. She didn’t exactly appreciate the Knight’s prodding, so she decided to poke her right back. “Any men you’d like to recommend, Ashei? You seem quite knowledgeable on such things.”

Ashei quickly frowned, as she hated being teased about this subject even more than Zelda did. “We’re not talking about my love life here,” she muttered, frustration evident in her tone.

“And why not?” Zelda shot back. “Is there something you’re trying to hide?”

“Of course not,” Ashei seethed. “What are you suggesting?”

“Nothing,” Zelda replied innocently. “It just seems like you know a lot about romance. I can’t help but wonder why. Perhaps you have recently gotten yourself involved with a man?”

“Cut it out, Zelda,” Ashei growled through clenched teeth. It was clear that her patience for this subject was wearing thin.

Upon seeing this expression, Zelda allowed herself a small smile. It was nice to know that some things would always be able to cheer the Princess up. Specifically, poking fun at her female Knight friend. It was a pastime that never seemed to grow old.

“Relax,” she soon told the girl. “I was only teasing.”

“It wasn’t funny,” Ashei replied bluntly.

Zelda just smirked. “Consider it payback for all the taunting you’ve done in the last month. Surely you know that you deserved a little in return.”

Ashei just scowled, but soon muttered something under her breath and crossed her arms. Zelda just released a small giggle, knowing that this was her way of showing “reluctant agreement”.

Silence fell between them, and Zelda took a moment to glance out into the courtyard. A soft breeze blew past her, causing her braided hair to flutter a bit. Still smiling, Zelda released a slow sigh.

“I suppose we’re both fools, aren’t we?”

“Speak for yourself,” Ashei replied, refusing to relent.

“Fine, just me then,” Zelda accepted with a shrug. “What was I thinking? Falling for a man who was interested in someone else.”

Ashei sighed back. “You had no way of knowing, yeah? It doesn't mean you’re foolish.”

“You’re right. I’m just clueless.”

“Stop being so hard on yourself.”

“It won’t stop it from being true though.”

Ashei quickly frowned. “I’m serious, Zelda. I’m not afraid to smack some sense into you if you keep insisting on moping like this.”

Once again, Zelda smirked. “Oh my. You’d be willing to beat me up for my own sake?”

“I’d be all too happy to help,” Ashei replied with a devious grin.

“I hope you realize that you’d be imprisoned for such an offense against royalty.”

“It’s fine. I’d convince you to issue me a pardon.”

“Well that’s rather presumptuous,” Zelda replied with a smile. “To think that I’d so easily forgive my would-be attacker.”

“In that case, stop your moping,” Ashei said simply. “That way, I won’t have to worry about cheering you up, and I can also avoid being imprisoned.”

“You’d like me to do this for your sake?” Zelda asked with an amused expression.

“If ‘Your Highness’ would be so kind,” Ashei replied, using the Princess’s title with the utmost sarcasm.

Zelda giggled some more. “Very well then. I promise not to dwell on these thoughts…Not too much, anyway.”

Ashei released a satisfied breath. “Good.”

Zelda allowed herself another small smile. “Thanks, Ashei. This talk has helped.”

The Knight gave a single nod, as well as a gentle smile back. “Yeah, no problem.” She then took a moment to stretch her arms above her head and shoulders. “It’s kind of what I do around here, yeah? Solve everyone’s problems for them.”

“Okay, don’t get too full of yourself,” Zelda chided with a shake of her head.

Ashei just glanced back at the Princess and snickered. She clearly seemed pleased with herself. As Zelda stared at her amused expression, she almost considered laughing alongside her. However, her chance to do so was cut short, as a third voice suddenly arose, speaking up from behind the two girls.

“Oh, there you two are.”

Zelda’s eyes went wide as the voice reached her ears. She immediately recognized who it belonged to. Her breath went quiet, and her heart went still, although it was still ready to start drumming away at a moment’s notice. Her face revealed a timid frown, and the Princess slowly glanced backwards, staring at the man that had started to approach them.

And there, to Zelda’s horror, stood Link.

Notes:

Hello everyone. I hope you’re all ready to brace yourselves for depression lol.

Chapter 17: Confrontation

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 17 – Confrontation

“Oh, there you two are.”

As Link stepped out onto the balcony, he greeted the two women with a small smile. They both turned back to look at him, each flashing expressions of surprise. Clearly, they hadn’t expected him to show up out of the blue like this.

Ashei was the first to greet him back. She gave a small smile in return. “Hey Link.”

Meanwhile, Zelda just froze, watching in silent horror as the Hero approached them. After eavesdropping on his conversation, the last thing she wanted to do was run into him. She hadn’t even been able to properly sort out her thoughts yet. How was she supposed to confront him when she still felt so confused and conflicted?

Nevertheless, she forced herself to utter a greeting, trying her best not to sound too dejected as she did so. “H-Hello Link.”

The Hero just gave her a somewhat curious glance, clearly catching her tone. “Sorry, I just heard the two of you talking out here. Am I interrupting?”

“Yes, you are,” Ashei replied bluntly.

Zelda immediately turned to the girl and gawked. How could she say that so blatantly!? “Ashei, don’t be so harsh.”

“What? It’s true, yeah?” 

Upon hearing this, Link suddenly seemed like the dejected one. “Er, sorry about that. A maid told me that I could find the two of you out here. I didn’t mean to be so rude…”

Zelda just glanced at him with a look of sympathy. Even when her heart and mind felt like they were a complete and utter wreck, she couldn’t help but feel bad for him in this situation. “No, it’s fine, Link. We weren’t discussing anything serious.”

Ashei gave the Princess a curious look, but Zelda just scowled in return. It was a clear warning that the Knight should keep her mouth shut.

Link just rubbed his neck a bit, looking uncomfortable. “I can always come back later.”

Zelda shook her head without a second thought. “No, don’t be ridiculous. Please stay.”

“You’re sure?”

“I insist.”

Upon hearing this, Link breathed a small sigh of relief, and allowed himself a smile. With Zelda’s permission, he no longer felt like he was out of place. “All right then.”

Meanwhile, as Zelda’s words left her mouth, she couldn’t help but inwardly scold herself. What was she thinking? She had just been dreading the thought of confronting him, and now here she was insisting on it? Why couldn’t she have just let him walk away? Surely, she would have been able to talk to him again later? At a time when she wasn’t feeling so out of sorts?

Zelda soon closed her eyes and breathed a silent sigh. She went to all of this trouble just so the Hero wouldn’t feel bad about interrupting them. Clearly, the Princess had issues.

As Zelda berated herself, Ashei decided to approach Link. She crossed her arms as she gave the man a skeptical gaze. “So what brings you here anyway, Hero?”

Link leaned back a bit. “Nothing, really. I was just hoping to talk to Zelda.”

Ashei shook her head, looking displeased. “Ah, so you have no interest in talking to someone like me, yeah? I see how it is, Link.”

Link just frowned, and physically stopped himself from rolling his eyes. “That’s not what I’m saying, Ashei…”

Ashei soon smirked, before playfully punching Link in the shoulder. “Aw, I’m only messing with ya. I know that my company isn’t as valuable as some people’s.”

Link slowly rubbed his shoulder, noticing that Ashei seemed to have punched him harder than she intended to. It figured that she didn’t know her own strength. “I’m not saying that either.”

Ashei shrugged. “It’s fine. Besides, I was just leaving. I’ll let the two of you talk alone.”

These words seemed to snap Zelda out of her trance, only to throw her into another state of alarm. If Ashei was leaving, then that meant that Zelda would have to face the Hero alone! She couldn’t do that! Certainly not in her current state!

Zelda suddenly took a few steps forward, staring directly at the girl. “Oh, that’s all right. You really don’t need to go, Ashei…” Zelda nearly hissed the Knight’s name as it left her lips. It was clear that she was trying to convey some hidden meaning in her tone.

Naturally, Ashei just chose to ignore it. “Nah, I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”

“You couldn’t possibly,” Zelda said, almost pleading.

Ashei just stared at the Princess for a second before shaking her head and flashing a smirk. She then walked over and whispered into Zelda’s ear. “Talk to him,” she said sternly. “It’s the only way that you’re going to be able to get your feelings sorted out.”

Zelda just stared off into the distance, looking dumbfounded. Eventually, she gave a timid nod. “I…I know.”

Ashei soon pulled back, and gave the Princess a quick wink. She then turned around, making her way towards the balcony’s exit. “I’m sure you two have a lot of catching up to do. I’ll talk to you later, Zelda. See you around, Link.”

“See you later, Ashei,” Link said, bidding the Knight farewell.

Zelda just gave the girl a mindless wave, still too preoccupied with her own problems. Was she really going to face the Hero alone? But how could she, especially considering what she had just learned that very day? Zelda nervously bit her lip. She knew that the following conversation was likely going to be awkward, sad, and incredibly painful. She had never dealt with anything like this before. How was she supposed to do it now, in this moment?

Zelda could only sigh. Suddenly, another encounter with Zant or Ganondorf didn’t sound so bad. At least not when compared to this…

“What’s up with Ashei?” Link asked abruptly.

“Huh?” Zelda replied, suddenly being pulled out of her thoughts once again.

“She seemed like she was in a hurry to leave,” Link noted with a shrug.

“Oh, yeah…” Zelda said, struggling to piece together an excuse. “I think she was just…you know, being eccentric.”

Link raised his eyebrows at this, but soon gave a small laugh. “You mean like how she always is?”

Zelda couldn’t help herself. In spite of her nerves, a small smile graced her lips. When she stared back at Link’s warm expression, she could hardly resist feeling a bit…pleased. “Yes, I suppose so,” she agreed.

Link smiled back as he shook his head. “I’ve known her for a while now, but it’s still hard to know what she’s thinking sometimes.”

Zelda surprised herself by releasing a playful giggle, as well as a humorous quip. “Give it time, Link. Believe it or not, Ashei is not a terribly complex individual.”

Link just laughed. “Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me.”

Zelda laughed alongside him, feeling some of the pressure start to melt away. As she did, she took a moment to focus her thoughts inward. She intended to berate herself once again, but this time for different reasons. What was she acting so nervous and upset for? In spite of everything that she had learned that day, she still enjoyed spending time with Link, didn’t she? Zelda told herself that she needed to stop worrying about her situation. She should just live in the present, and try to enjoy these small moments of happiness.

Feeling somewhat resolved, Zelda flashed Link a meager smile. “Um, would you care to join me out here?” She then placed a hand on the railing next to her.

“Of course,” Link replied with a nod. He soon walked over to the balustrade and joined her side.

There, the two of them stood in silence for a moment. Link gazed down into the courtyard below, admiring the green scenery. Zelda tried to do the same, but she couldn’t help but admit that she felt a bit distracted now that the Hero was standing so close to her. Still, she tried to stay positive.

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” Link asked, pointing his face up towards the warm rays of the sun.

“Yes, it is,” Zelda agreed. “How was your journey to the castle? Well, I hope?”

Link nodded. “Yeah, the trip was fine. Although, strangely enough, I think that Epona might have been moving faster than normal. I’m honestly starting to think that she enjoys our frequent trips to the castle. At the very least, she seemed eager to return.”

Zelda smiled at this. She always appreciated whenever Link talked about his mare with such fondness. “Well, please let Epona know that she will always be welcome here. After all, I suppose that she is also a hero who helped save our Kingdom.”

Link laughed. “That’s true. I definitely couldn’t have done it without her. She’s always been an incredibly reliable companion. She looks out for me and listens to my every command. And of course, I completely trust Epona, and she trusts me too.” The Hero then paused before staring off into the distance. A sincere smile soon appeared on his lips. “I’m truly thankful for her. The Goddesses only know where I would be without her.”

Zelda allowed her smile to widen too, as she nodded in agreement. “Of course. Epona is a magnificent steed.”

Link then looked down, almost as if lost in thought. He soon spoke up again, but in a softer voice. “She’s incredibly clever too. Sometimes I wonder if she knows more than she lets on.”

Zelda glanced at Link with curious eyes. “What do you mean?”

“It’s…kind of hard to explain,” Link said, still speaking in a soft tone. “It’s just…the bond between me and Epona feels so strong; it’s like we truly understand each other. Sometimes I even wonder if she understands me better than I understand myself.”

“That’s rather impressive,” Zelda noted, feeling a bit surprised. She felt like she had a strong bond with her own horse, Reina, but it didn’t feel nearly as powerful as what Link was describing.

Link nodded at her words, but then produced a sheepish smile. “And, truth be told, I think Epona sensed that she wasn’t the only one who was eager to return here today.”

Zelda just blinked at this, wondering what he was trying to say. “Oh?”

Link slowly glanced over towards the Princess, still looking a bit bashful. “Yeah, I was personally looking forward to visiting the castle again too.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda felt her heart give a strong thump in her chest, but she instantly quelled it. Now wasn’t the time for such shenanigans! Instead, she strictly focused her attention back on the Hero. “You were?”

Link gave a nod. “Yeah, since I haven’t been around often, and you and I haven’t really seen each other much lately.”

Zelda felt her cheeks threaten to turn red, but she managed to control herself once again. Still, she struggled to come up with a response, eventually settling for a simple, “I see.”

“That’s actually why I was interested in talking to you again,” Link continued. “I know that our earlier conversation was interrupted, but I figured that we’d get a chance to talk after the meeting. However, when I went to look for you, it seemed like you had disappeared.”

Zelda soon flashed a guilty frown. He had went out of his way to look for her? Well, duh, he must have. He had managed to track down her current location on the balcony, after all. Still, she felt bad about disappearing like that, especially when she had promised him that they would talk once the meeting was over.

“I’m terribly sorry, Link,” Zelda told him as she bowed her head. “I got caught up in a few things after the meeting adjourned, and then, um…Ashei wanted to speak with me, so she pulled me away from the room.”

As the words left her mouth, Zelda couldn’t help but wince a bit. She hated having to lie to the Hero by coming up with such a quick excuse, but she honestly didn’t feel like she had much choice. The last thing she wanted to do was let Link know the actual reason for why she had been avoiding him. Zelda could only imagine how embarrassing and depressing that would be. At least she was able to take solace in the fact that she wasn’t being entirely dishonest. She had left to go talk with Ashei, after all.

Fortunately, Link just gave a shrug, not thinking anything of it. “Oh, that’s okay. I know that being a Princess means that you’re always busy.”

Zelda nodded, refusing to meet his gaze. “Thank you for understanding.”

Link then gave her an encouraging smile before glancing back out into the courtyard. “So what were the two of you talking about anyway?”

Zelda instantly frowned, feeling all of her accumulated confidence and joy drain away as that single question reached her ears. So much for trying to abandon her nerves. It seemed that they were all too willing to reappear at a moment’s notice. But could the Princess honestly be blamed? Link had immediately started inquiring about her and Ashei’s conversation! How could she possibly tell him about that!?

“Oh, i-it was nothing,” Zelda stuttered, forcing her gaze even further away from the Hero.

“Really?” Link asked as a playful smirk appeared on his lips. “I figured that it must be something exciting, because Ashei seemed pretty high-spirited when I first walked out here.”

Zelda frowned some more. She forgot that Link had arrived at the tail end of their conversation and had probably overheard some of it. What was she supposed to do now? Keep frantically coming up with excuses? Would she even be able to think of something believable?

Zelda nervously bit her lip. She wasn’t sure what to do anymore, but upon glancing at the Hero’s expectant gaze, she knew that she had to say something.

“Oh, you noticed that?” she eventually responded, trying her best to make it sound like it was no big deal.

“Of course,” Link said with a small laugh. “It’s not every day that she looks so proud of herself. And smug, for that matter.”

Zelda closed her eyes and released a silent sigh. Well, that certainly sounded true. She needed to remind herself to give the Knight a lesson in humility later. Maybe then Zelda wouldn’t often find herself in situations like this, where she had to desperately come up with so many excuses. Speaking of which, it seemed like Link was still awaiting an answer.

“Um, Ashei was just…kind of surprised by something,” she replied, hoping in vain that the pauses in-between her answers weren’t actually as long as they felt.

Fortunately, Link didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he just grinned at this piece of news. “What happened? Did Captain Zander finally allow her to take some of the soldiers on an expedition?”

Zelda glanced over at the Hero, a little surprised. That certainly would have been a good excuse. Well, if it was true, anyway. “No, I’m afraid not.”

“Did Ralis finally invite her to a reekfish feast?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows again. Where had that come from? “No…”

Link just laughed some more, clearly enjoying being able to make fun of the Knight for a change. “Well, when it comes to Ashei getting excited, the only other thing I can think of is when she teases other people. Specifically myself. But I don’t suppose that was it either, was it?”

Zelda froze for a second, before gawking at the Hero. How had he managed to arrive at that conclusion so easily? Sure, it wasn’t true, but it was certainly close. Too close for comfort, actually.

As the seconds continued to tick away, Zelda managed to shut her jaw. Still, she had no idea what she should say in response. “I, um…”

Due to her lack of words, Link just stared at the Princess, looking a bit confused and curious. It almost seemed like he wanted to ask what was wrong with her. However, his face soon settled into an expression of understanding instead. “Ah, I see. So she was poking fun at me. I should’ve known.”

“N-No, that’s not it,” Zelda said, before quickly placing a hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to blurt that out so easily. Every question she denied only brought Link closer to the truth, after all. Still, Zelda didn’t want to give him the wrong impression. And she especially didn’t want him to think that she had joined in on it!

Link just shook his head. “It’s fine, Zelda. I know that’s how she is.”

“No, really Link,” Zelda insisted. “This is just a misunderstanding.”

Link stared at Zelda, looking confused again. “What do you mean?”

Zelda tried to stare back, but she soon looked away with a sigh. She couldn’t keep doing this. She couldn’t keep hiding the truth from him. She had a feeling that it would just lead to more misunderstandings, and Zelda didn’t want that. She wondered if it was time to just come clean; to just be honest with Link. It wasn’t ideal, but what other choice did she have?

Zelda took a deep breath, gathering her resolve. This wasn’t going to be easy, but it had to be done. “Ashei wasn’t making fun of you, Link,” she slowly confessed, before flashing a small expression of guilt. “However, we were…discussing you.”

“Discussing me?” Link repeated, still looking confused. “You mean…you guys were talking about me?”

“Yes,” Zelda admitted with a frown. “Forgive us, Link, but we were simply discussing something that we had…um, just learned about you.” She glanced down at the railing in front of her, and gently clutched it for support. She could feel her anxiety rising up again. “You see, Ashei and I accidentally overheard the conversation that you were having with Enzo and Ralis in the meeting room.”

To Zelda’s surprise, Link ended up blushing a bit. She watched out of the corner of her eye as he too looked away, refusing to face the Princess head-on. “Oh, th-the two of you heard all of that?” he asked, sounding completely embarrassed.

“Parts of it,” Zelda clarified. As she did, she managed to raise her eyes up far enough to get a better look at the Hero. She was suddenly much more interested in watching his behavior rather than managing her own. “We happened to overhear that Enzo was offering to set you up with his daughter. But then you denied him, because…”

Zelda paused. She always hated having to reiterate this part. Still, she forced herself to get the words out, and did her best to speak in a steady voice.

“Because you had already entered into a relationship with someone else…”

Zelda watched as Link’s expression changed a bit. He slowly started to smile as he continued to blush. However, he no longer seemed to be embarrassed. Instead, his expression almost looked like something akin to “mild giddiness”.

Eventually, he reached up and scratched the back of his head. “Man, I guess the rumors really do get around fast in this castle, don’t they?”

The Princess continued to stare at him for a few seconds. She didn’t care to agree or disagree with that statement. Instead, she wished for something different. She wanted to hear the truth spoken directly to her, leaving no room for doubt or discussion.

“Is what we heard true?” Zelda asked in a quiet voice. “Or did we possibly misunderstand?”

Link just smiled some more, before giving the smallest of nods. “Yeah, it’s true.”

Zelda frowned a bit as she cast her gaze downward again. She thought that this was what she wanted to hear. That the truth would make things easier. But that wasn’t the case at all. If anything, the Hero’s words stung, and they left her heart with nothing but the feeling of a dull, aching pain.

So it is true, Zelda told herself. He’s not interested in you. He loves someone else…

Zelda soon spoke up again, but when she did, her voice felt somewhat hollow and empty. It almost felt like the words came out on their own, without any actual input from Zelda.

“So…who is she? Tell me about her…”

Once again, Link seemed too caught up in his own thoughts to notice her unusual behavior. He folded his arms and leaned on the railing in front of him, staring out into the distance. “Her name is Ilia,” he said, sounding a little proud as well as cheerful. “She’s a girl from my village. We’ve known each other ever since we were kids, and we’ve always been good friends.”

Zelda gave a few nods as she listened. Once again, that name started bouncing around in her thoughts. Ilia…Ilia…Where had she heard that name before?

Suddenly, she gasped as the memory returned to her. “Oh! You mentioned her before, didn’t you?” Zelda said, quickly turning to Link, who looked equally surprised. “When we were in Gerudo Desert. You mentioned that she takes care of Epona for you.”

Link just blinked, not having expected this response. Nevertheless, he soon smiled. “Wow, I’m surprised that you remembered that.”

“It…just suddenly came to me,” Zelda replied with a sheepish smile.

“But you are correct,” Link continued. “Ilia has always had a fascination with horses. She especially enjoys looking after Epona, whether it’s bathing her or brushing her mane. Those are tasks that I’ve admittedly failed to stay on top of over the years, so I’ve always appreciated her help.”

Zelda slowly nodded. “She sounds like a reliable girl.”

“Yeah, she is,” Link agreed as his voice swelled with pride once again. “She’s always been thoughtful and kind and friendly. And she doesn’t just look after Epona either. She takes it upon herself to look after me as well. She’s always concerned over my wellbeing, and making sure that I’m taken care of.”

Zelda nodded some more, committing everything that she had just heard to memory. So this is the girl he fancies…The kind, sweet girl that takes care of his horse for him.

Zelda couldn’t help but frown a bit as several negative thoughts drifted to the front of her mind. Thoughts of how this Ilia girl must truly be someone special. Someone that Zelda would never be able to compare to. How could she? Link spoke of this girl with such fondness, in the same way that he spoke of things like Epona and Ordon Village itself. Ilia was likely just another piece of Link’s beloved home. Another memento that reminded the Hero of his humble roots. Another joy that he always loved returning to.

And what was Zelda compared to that? Someone that Link had just met recently, living in a large and unfamiliar castle? With a glum expression, Zelda was forced to realize her place in Link’s heart. She would never be able to compare to Ilia. She would never be able to overcome the history that the two of them shared.

“Are you okay?” Link asked, staring at her with a concerned expression.

Zelda quickly hid her emotions away. Being a Princess, she knew how to conceal such feelings with ease. She could certainly act like she was fine, even if she really wasn’t. “Sorry, I was just lost in thought for a moment there.”

Link just smiled. “No worries. I know that this probably isn’t the most exciting topic of discussion.”

Zelda nearly gasped at this sudden accusation. She hadn’t expected him to say something like that. “Nonsense, Link. I always enjoy hearing about your life outside of being a Hero.”

Link produced a bashful expression. “That’s very kind of you.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Zelda insisted with a smile. She then decided to press on, wondering what else she could glean from the Hero. “So tell me more. You said that you and Ilia grew up together, correct?”

Link nodded. “I’ve known her for as long as I can remember.”
“And the two of you have always been friends?”

“That’s right.”

Zelda paused, wondering if she should even dare to ask her next question. She felt like it might be pushing the conversation too far. That she might be inquiring about matters that were none of her business. However, she struggled to find the willpower necessary to resist the temptation. She was desperate to know the answer.

“So…why have you taken such a sudden interest in her?”

As expected, Link looked a bit surprised to hear this question, but he also didn’t seem to be offended. If anything, he seemed somewhat embarrassed again. He soon stared down into the courtyard, and spoke up in a quiet voice.

“When the Bulblins came to Ordon and kidnapped the children, Ilia was also taken away. I embarked on my journey after that, and I always tried to keep an eye out for her, hoping that I could find her and make sure that she was safe. A lot of stuff happened, and we were eventually reunited. I was so happy to finally be with her again. Her absence had only made me realize how much I truly missed her…”

Link blinked, ending his longing stare. He soon replaced it with a small smile. “She really needed help when I ended up coming to her rescue. After that, I think her feelings for me started to change too. We’ve always been friends, but Ilia and I got a lot closer after I saved her.”

Zelda gave a single, silent nod as a sad, painful feeling arose within her. What Link had just described…That was exactly how Zelda had felt…

She supposed that this was the problem with heroes. They naturally saved everyone that they came across, and they never thought twice about it. So what if Link had saved Zelda from a horrible fate too? That didn’t mean that she was anyone special. He likely would have done the same for anyone.

As Zelda looked away, another odd feeling welled up within her. She wasn’t quite sure how to describe it. Was it jealousy towards Ilia? Sorrow at her missed opportunity to be with the Hero? Frustration with herself for being so foolish?

She felt so conflicted at the moment, it was honestly hard to say.

“This is part of the reason why I haven’t been around the castle as much,” Link continued. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with Ilia back in Ordon. It’s been very nice and relaxing.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda had to forcefully stop herself from conjuring images of Link’s time in Ordon. The last thing she wanted to do was imagine Link and this other girl doing things like smiling, laughing, holding hands, or, Goddesses forbid, kissing. Wasn’t the news that Link was in a relationship already depressing enough as it was?

Instead, Zelda put her skills as a Princess into practice once again, and subdued her negative emotions. She adopted the facade of a soft smile, and for the sake of the Hero standing next to her, allowed some empty lies to trickle out of her lips.

“That’s wonderful, Link. I’m happy for you.”

Link just nodded in appreciation. “Thanks Zelda. It’s still kind of hard to believe that it’s real…” He then paused before giving a small laugh. “I guess that’s why Ashei was so surprised, huh?”

“Oh,” Zelda replied, suddenly recalling their earlier conversation. “Er, yes, she was. She, um…mentioned that she didn’t think you had it in you.”

Link frowned before shaking his head. “She really never stops making fun of me, does she?”

“Um, I think she was just being humorous,” Zelda said, trying to make it sound lighthearted and innocent. “In her defense, I was rather surprised too. Although, not for the same reason, of course.”

Link laughed. “No worries. If anything, I surprised myself by going through with it.”

Zelda smiled at his positive attitude. “You didn’t think that you could?”

“Well, I was very nervous,” he admitted.

Zelda smirked, thinking of how sweet the Hero must have looked when he bashfully asked the girl out. Oh, how she wished that she could have been in that situation instead…

Zelda quickly shook her head. No, she needed to stop thinking such things! It no longer mattered how she felt. Link had made his choice and Zelda had missed her chance. Link was in a relationship with someone else, and the only thing that mattered now was…

Zelda paused, before glancing over at the Hero and softly speaking up. “So, this Ilia girl…Are you happy with her, at least?”

“Of course,” Link said with a bright smile. “We’ve had a lot of fun times, and I’m truly grateful that we’re together.”

Zelda nervously swallowed. Those weren’t exactly the words that she wanted to hear, but she knew that she was being selfish for wishing otherwise. Link had just said that he was happy. Wasn’t that a good thing?

Adopting her facade once more, Zelda tried to give him a sincere smile. She truly did want to wish him the best, even if she currently felt terrible on the inside. “Well, I’m happy to hear that, Link. This Ilia sounds like a wonderful girl, and I…I hope that I get the chance to meet her someday.”

Link gave another appreciative nod as he continued to smile. “Thanks Zelda. And you very well might get the chance to meet her, since you know her father and all.”

This information caused Zelda to pause and blink a bit, as she snapped out of her depressing state-of-mind. “What?”

“Oh, didn’t I mention this?” Link replied, noticing her confused expression. “Ilia is actually Mayor Bo’s daughter.”

“She is?” Zelda said with a small gasp. “I…I had no idea!”

“Yeah, I guess that’s why me and Bo have always gotten along so well. Because Ilia and I were always really good friends.”

Zelda took a moment to process this information. Up until now, she had unconsciously pictured this mystery girl as some majestic beauty. A woman who was full of charm and grace, and stunningly beautiful to boot. After all, who else could have managed to capture the heart of the Hero? Surely only the most attractive of women could have caught Link’s interest?

However, Zelda now started to conjure a different image of Ilia. She tried to picture what a daughter of someone like Bo might look like. Needless to say, the results were less than appealing. How could they not be? Zelda honestly struggled to imagine how someone of Bo’s figure could take on a more feminine appearance. Still, Zelda assumed that Ilia must have looked at least somewhat attractive. There was simply no other explanation for why Link would have taken an interest in her. Unless of course he didn’t care about the appearances of others. Link had never seemed like the vain type, after all…

Nevertheless, there was something else about this information that caught Zelda’s interest. Mayor Bo was the leader of Ordon Village, and if Ilia was his daughter, then that meant that she was…

The Princess of Ordon, in a sense…

Zelda nervously bit her lip. She knew that she was exaggerating. She knew that she was thinking foolish thoughts. And yet, she couldn’t help it. How could she, when she had just discovered that Ilia was in a position similar to her own? Sure, the scale between Kingdom and village was vastly different, but didn’t they still have some things in common? Their fathers were men in positions of power; both well respected and responsible for watching over their people. One day, Zelda would take up her father’s role. She wondered, would Ilia do the same? Would she be asked to lead Ordon Village? Did the people of Ordon already go to her for help and advice, just as they would to Bo? Zelda wasn’t sure, but if that was the case, then she and Ilia were much more alike than she initially thought!

“Hello? Are you okay, Zelda?”

Zelda quickly shook her head. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

Link just gave her a look that was mixed with doubt and concern. “It seems like you keep spacing out.”

Zelda produced an apologetic frown. “Forgive me, Link. I was just…trying to recall if Bo had ever mentioned his daughter before.”

Link continued to stare at her for a second, but his lips soon cracked into a smile. “Hmm…I doubt it. He probably assumed that the Royal Princess wouldn’t take much of an interest in his personal life.”

“Th-That’s not true at all!” Zelda scoffed. “Just because I’m royalty doesn’t mean that I disregard everyone beneath me!”

Link laughed. “I know that, Zelda. I’m just saying that this is how people that don’t know you as well might see it.”

“Well, it’s utter nonsense, of course,” Zelda said, turning away with a frown. “I already told you that I enjoy hearing about your life outside of the castle. You’ll just have to forgive me if my mind tends to wander away from the conversation at times. I’ve felt very…distracted today.”

“No worries,” Link said, shaking his head. “I’ll bet that things have just been busy here around the castle.”

“Yes, that is true,” she admitted with a sigh. Although, she knew that such things were hardly the reason for her scattered thoughts, but that was beside the point. “There’s been so many plans and agendas to keep track of. Not to mention, so many individuals have been coming and going from the castle lately. Sometimes I wonder if I’m driving myself mad trying to stay on top of it all.”

Link flashed a guilty look. “I’m sorry to hear that. I can always go if you have other things to attend to.”

Zelda blinked in surprise before shaking her head. “Oh, don’t worry about that, Link. I enjoy the company. It helps me relax and take my mind off of things.”

“Very well. I’m always happy to serve as a distraction,” he said with both a laugh and a grin.

Oh, you’ve done far more than that, Zelda retorted in her mind. Even now, she couldn't help but feel her thoughts drifting back to the Hero’s newfound relationship, and the woman he shared it with. She knew that this information would easily distract her for days, potentially even weeks to come. And that definitely wasn’t a good thing.

“Ah, this reminds me,” Link suddenly spoke up. He turned to face the Princess once more. “Enzo told me that you had something to share with me.”

Zelda quickly pulled herself out of her scattered mind, only to give the Hero a quizzical look. “Hmm? What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure. Before I set off to find you, Enzo just said that you would have something to tell me. Something about a recent decision that the Hyrule Council has made?”

Zelda continued to stare at him for a second, before the realization suddenly hit her. “Oh! That’s right!”

It was true. The Princess did have something that she needed to tell the Hero. She had actually completely forgotten about it due to all of the events that had taken place that day. More specifically, it was due to the shocking piece of news that she had overheard earlier. This was just another sign that she was far more distracted than she would have liked to be.

However, as Zelda recalled this information, she suddenly found herself experiencing a strong sense of reluctance. She knew that it was her duty to pass this news along to the Hero, but she was hesitant to do so. How was she supposed to tell him this now, after everything that she had learned today?

With a heavy sigh, Zelda forced herself to accept her fate. She reminded herself that this was her duty as a Princess and as a member of the Hyrule Council, and that she should not allow any personal feelings to get in the way of that.

“Thank you for reminding me, Link,” Zelda replied, trying her best not to sound dejected. “I had nearly forgotten. The Hyrule Council wanted me to provide you with a proposition.”

Naturally, Link looked surprised. “Oh? And what’s that?”

“Do you recall what I brought up in the Roundtable meeting? About how I plan to visit all the civilizations within the Kingdom?”

Link nodded. “Of course.”

Zelda suddenly stopped herself from releasing another sigh. Now wasn’t the time to be sad. She just needed to fulfill her duty and get the words out. “Well, the Council wanted to know if you would be willing to attend the tour alongside me.”

Link’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “Wait…seriously?”

Zelda just gave a nod, refusing to look at him. “Yes. As the Hero of Twilight, we believe that your presence in Hyrule will have a similar effect to my own. Since you have already visited all of these locations, the people there will recognize you, and feel inspired and encouraged to know that you have come to visit them. We believe that it will increase their faith and trust in the Royal Family. The Council also felt that you could serve as a measure of defense for myself. We don’t exactly expect that our caravan will come across any danger during our travels, but if we do, the Council would feel better knowing that I have you by my side, to ensure my safety.”

“Wow,” Link said, taking a second to let his mouth hang open in amazement. “So, I’d get to visit all of those places again? Kakariko Village and Zora’s Domain and everything?”

“Yes, as long as you are willing to accompany us. Naturally, you’ll have to be away from home for a few weeks, but you will be generously paid for your services, as always.”

Link nodded a bit, still looking impressed. “Huh. I’m not going to lie, this actually sounds kind of fun.”

Seeing his enthusiasm, Zelda couldn’t help but allow herself a small smile. “You think so?”

“Of course. It’ll be really exciting to see everyone again. And to see the sights as well. A lot of these places are really amazing to visit.”

Zelda nodded. “Truth be told, that was actually how I came up with the idea for this tour. Back at our first Roundtable meeting, I noticed that Darbus and Ralis seemed excited to invite you back to their homes. It made me think that I myself should go visit some of these places, to show my support and help build friendships.”

“Is that so?” Link replied with a smile. “Well, I think it sounds like a great idea.”

“Should I inform the Council that you have agreed to accompany me, then?”

“Absolutely!”

Zelda soon smiled back. “Very well. I’ll let the Council know of your decision. I’ll also let Enzo and Fost know to alert the leaders to expect your arrival in addition to my own. I’m sure that they’ll all be happy to hear the news.”

Link nodded, before suddenly looking a bit reserved. “The only thing is…I’ll need to inform Ilia of this first, to make sure that she’s okay with it. But I think it should be fine.”

Zelda paused as she realized what he was talking about. Now that Link was in a relationship, it seemed like he intended to ask his significant other for permission to attend, as a sign of respect.

Significant other…After the events of today, she honestly hated that term.

“Of course, Link,” Zelda replied, trying to force her negative thoughts away. “I wouldn’t want her to be upset with you.”

“Neither would I,” Link said with a laugh. “But I’m really looking forward to this trip. I’ll bet it will be a great time.”

Zelda just gave a weak nod as she looked away. She wished that she could agree with him, but unfortunately, this entire scenario had left her feeling rather conflicted…

This wasn’t the way that Zelda had expected things to go at all. When she had first heard the Council’s approval to invite Link on the tour as well, she had felt rather excited. The Princess and the Hero that she was interested in would actually get to go on a journey together. Zelda originally imagined that the two of them would get to spend a lot of time in each other’s company, and also get the chance to know each other better. It was supposed to be a wonderful time. A trip filled with smiles, laughs, and lots of happy memories.

But now…now it felt completely different. Now Zelda would be spending time with a man who already belonged to another woman. A man who she really had no right to learn more about. Their relationship on the tour would be purely platonic; their friendship having been relegated to nothing more than business.

Zelda sighed. If she had her way, she probably would have changed her mind and spoken against having Link join her on the tour. There would be no point in having his presence around if he was just going to torture the Princess the entire time.

Still, Zelda knew better than this. She knew that the tour was more than just about her. It was about aiding her Kingdom, and she knew that having the Hero join her on this journey would inevitably lead to better results. The people would be happier. Relations would improve. There was arguably no reason not to bring him along.

So, for the sake of her duty, as well as her Kingdom, Zelda decided to once again discard her negative emotions. She forcefully suppressed them, so that she would no longer be able to feel any of the hurt or the pain. So that she wouldn’t be able to feel anything at all…

“I’m looking forward to it as well,” Zelda said, producing a weak smile.

“Have you ever visited any of these places before?” Link suddenly asked.

She nodded. “Some of them, yes. I’ve visited Kakariko Village and Death Mountain once when I was a child. I’ve actually been to Zora’s Domain a number of times, since our family has always had a close relationship with Queen Rutela.” She then paused before looking a little guilty. “I’ve admittedly never been to Ordon Village though.”

Link’s face brightened a bit at this. “Ah, so this will be your first ever visit to the Faron Woods?”

“That’s correct.”

“How exciting. I’d be happy to show you around once we’re there. I know my way around the village and the forest better than just about anyone.”

Zelda couldn’t help but replace her fake smile with a genuine one. She had to admit, she was rather interested in seeing the place where Link had been born and raised. “That sounds lovely, Link. I think I’ll hold you to that.”

“It would be my pleasure,” he said with a grin. He then paused for a second. “Oh, and hey, I just realized something. Now that you’re planning to come to Ordon, I guess you and Ilia will actually get the chance to meet each other.”

Zelda blinked. She hadn’t considered this, but she assumed that Link would be correct. “I suppose we will.”

“I’ll let her know that you’re coming then. I’m sure that she’ll be happy to meet you as well.”

Zelda just murmured her agreement before nodding and looking away absentmindedly. Once again, distracting thoughts threatened to overtake her. This time, the Princess couldn’t help but wonder, was she actually looking forward to meeting with this Ilia? Naturally, she was still curious to learn more about the girl that Link had taken an interest in. She wanted to see her and talk with her, and try to discover what Link had managed to see in her as well. She wanted to truly learn how Ilia had been able to capture the heart of the Hero.

However, Zelda also needed to ask herself if she was truly prepared to face everything that would come with such an encounter. Would she be able to meet with this girl, all while knowing that she was the one that had unknowingly pulled Link out of the Princess’s reach? Would Zelda be able to withstand that sadness? That pain and sorrow?

She wasn’t sure. And she had a feeling that she wouldn’t know the answer until the day that the two of them ultimately met face to face.

Notes:

Oof, here it is, my longest chapter ever written across all of my stories. Over 7,500 words in total. Back when I was writing some of my older works, I tended to aim for consistent chapter lengths. Basically, I expected all of my chapters to be of a similar word count. I liked the consistency of it, and it meant that my readers could always expect a specific amount of content without being disappointed.

However, I found that it tended to cause unnecessary stress for myself. I would start thinking things like “This chapter is too short, I need to pad it out,” or “This chapter is getting too long, I need to wrap it up”. I don’t think it ever affected the quality of my work, but it certainly forced me to write in a way that wasn’t completely natural.

For this story, I decided to completely do away with that way of thinking. As long as the chapters cover a meaningful amount of content, and end on a good note, then I don’t care how consistent they are when it comes to length. Some will be short and some will be long.

And I’m sure that nobody will mind.

Chapter 18: Privacy

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 18 – Privacy

A few days.

That’s how long Zelda managed to hold herself together. To bury herself in her work and act like nothing was wrong.

After Zelda and Link had finished discussing their plans to travel across Hyrule, their conversation on the balcony had ended unceremoniously, with Zelda excusing herself to go and attend to other matters. Which she did, vigorously. As pressing as the news of Link’s relationship had initially been, Zelda now wanted to dwell on it as little as possible. She knew that thinking about such things would only bring her pain and sorrow, so she tried to distract herself by fully devoting all of her time towards her duties as Princess.

Fortunately, there was plenty of work to be done. There were discussions to be had with the Hyrule Council, plans to schedule, papers to sign, and dignitaries to meet. Zelda was honestly grateful to have so much work to focus on. At least it would allow her to forget about her troubles and do something productive instead of mope around in her heartbroken anguish.

However, in spite of her best efforts, thoughts about the Hero and his newfound relationship still plagued Zelda’s mind on occasion. She couldn’t help but imagine him spending time in Ordon Village with his new lover, as horrible a thought as that was. At times like this, the Princess would just clear her head and move on to the next task that was set before her, throwing her entire self wholeheartedly at it. She usually worked at a furious pace, hoping to leave little to no room for these intrusive thoughts.

Still, Zelda could constantly feel her negative emotions threatening to bubble up within her. Her feelings of sorrow and jealousy and frustration. Whenever this happened, Zelda just dealt with them in the only way that she knew how. She would suppress them. She would shut them away and ignore them completely, forcing them down so far inside of her heart that she could no longer feel a thing. After all, it was better to feel empty all the time instead of depressed and hurt. At least, that’s what Zelda kept telling herself.

The only time when Zelda did allow herself to think about Link and his relationship was during one of her trips to the infirmary to visit her father. She wanted to inform him of what had ultimately happened with the situation, and how she was no longer interested in pursuing Link. To be honest, she felt quite ashamed to share this unfortunate news with her father. She had to basically admit that the man that she was interested in had slipped away from her, without her being able to do a single thing about it. She was supposed to be the Royal Princess of an entire Kingdom, and yet she had ultimately failed to make any sort of impression with the Hero. How could she be so powerless? So pathetic?

Naturally, Caius had tried to console her. He told her that it was all right, and that these sorts of things, while unfortunate, did happen. He insisted that she shouldn’t blame herself for this development. Zelda just numbingly nodded at his attempts to comfort her, but in the end, she dismissed herself from the conversation, preferring to return to work instead of dwelling on these thoughts with him. Caius tried to convince her to stay, but she just refused. She had only come to share the news with him, after all. Not discuss it.

And so, Zelda continued to devote all of her time and energy towards her work. Day by day, she worked from dawn until dusk, only allowing herself some time to sleep when she felt too exhausted to think anymore. During this time, the Princess did manage to complete a number of assignments, but doing so many strenuous and time-consuming tasks had certainly started to take its toll on her. As the days dragged on, she slowly began to grow more and more weary. At one point, Fost even spoke up, worrying that the Princess might be pushing herself too hard. Zelda just ignored him though. He didn’t understand her situation. She needed to do this. It was the only way that she would be able to keep functioning.

Unfortunately, Zelda could only focus on her work and suppress her emotions for so long before she eventually reached a breaking point. And that time came far sooner than she would have liked…

It happened one day, just out of the blue. A maid had delivered a stack of documents for Zelda to look over and sign her approval. She immediately set to work, but as she made her way through sheet after sheet, the work began to feel rather mindless. It didn’t help that the Princess was already feeling rather numb, after having worked on so many other bothersome tasks that day.

Eventually, Zelda looked up from her papers to take a deep breath, attempting to focus once again. However, it was at this moment that Zelda happened to glance out the nearby window, and spot a single yellow flower that had been planted in a pot just outside. The plant itself must have just been placed there recently, for Zelda did not recall noticing it before, and its clay pot was filled with fresh, black dirt from the garden.

Suddenly, Zelda’s eyes became glued to the flower as certain memories started to surface within her. She immediately tried to suppress them; to push them out of her mind, but it was too late. She was already recalling that one day in the garden. That day when she had stumbled upon the Hero, toiling around in that same black dirt. The look of guilt on his face. The way he laughed when he explained what had happened.

“Mmm…” Zelda suddenly whimpered.

The maid that was in the room with her immediately glanced over, wondering what she had just heard. “Are you all right, Princess?”

Zelda tore her eyes away from the plant, and glanced down at her hands. The one that held her quill over the documents was trembling ever so slightly. She tried to find her voice. “Um, I…I…”

More memories suddenly resurfaced. Link’s smile. His look of appreciation. That time he had saved her from falling down the stairs…

Zelda nearly whimpered again. It was too much. She wasn’t sure that she could keep her feelings bottled up any longer. She suddenly felt the need to retreat to her bedchamber, where she could be alone.

“I…don’t feel very well,” Zelda finally answered. “I think I might be a little tired.”

The maid just gave the Princess a look of sympathy. “Of course, Your Highness. You’ve been working yourself silly the last few days.”

“I wish to go and rest in my chambers for a bit,” Zelda continued as she slowly rose to her feet. “Um…Would you be so kind as to let the other servants know not to disturb me?”

“Of course, Princess,” the maid said with a curtsy. “It would be my pleasure.”

“Thank you,” Zelda said, before she quickly slipped out of the room. She couldn’t stand to be in there any longer. She needed some privacy, and she needed it desperately.

After a short dash through the halls, Zelda made it to her bedchamber, and closed the door behind her. She then took a deep breath as she glanced around her room. She was completely alone.

Zelda tried to relax as she moved away from the door. She figured that this is what she needed. Some time to relax. Some time to decompress after working so hard the last few days.

Some time to be…vulnerable…

Zelda took a seat on one of her furnished chairs. She then frowned as she forced her eyes shut. She could feel her memories surfacing again, and with them, her emotions. Her heartache. Her frustration. She wished to suppress them just as she always did, but this time, she couldn’t. The feelings welling up within her were far too powerful. They needed to be released, and there wasn’t a single thing that Zelda could do to stop them.

With a small whimper, Zelda leaned forward and placed her head in her hands. A few tears managed to slip out of her eyes and run down her cheeks. A soft sob echoed in the back of her throat…

She was crying.

As she wept, Zelda immediately started berating herself. She had told herself that she wasn’t going to cry. Not over something like this. Why should she? It wasn’t like anything had been lost. In order to lose something, you needed to have ownership of it in the first place, and she certainly didn’t possess any part of Link.

Stop it, Zelda told herself as a few more tears spilled out. This behavior is utterly foolish. Stop it at once!

But the flow of tears didn’t cease. Her eyes forced them out on their own, her grief now on full display. She continued to frown as her lip quivered a bit. Her breaths escaped as shaky gasps. Her nose began to run as well, and she soon started sniffling.

What a horrible, wretched sight I must be…Sitting here and crying into my hands…And all for what? Because someone I was interested in chose to be with someone else?

Zelda released another light sob, but then clenched her teeth. As her sadness started to fade away, she could feel a new series of emotions rising up within her. Emotions that were more closely tied to her feelings of frustration. Anger. Annoyance. Disappointment. All of which were directed towards herself.

Zelda shook her head. How could she be so foolish? So selfish? Why did she feel sad over something as insignificant as this? Sure, it was disappointing, but wasn’t there still a lot that she should be thankful for? Her Kingdom had been spared from the Twilight Invasion and her father was currently alive and on the road to recovery! She was able to lead a life of peace with her loved ones by her side! Would she have been able to say the same thing a few months ago?

And that wasn’t all! Zelda also asked herself why she should be so sad when Link had managed to find happiness with someone else. Who cared if he hadn’t found it with the Princess? At least the Hero was happy! Wasn’t that all that really mattered?

You’re so selfish, Zelda told herself as she clenched her teeth harder. You’re a fool and a dolt and a coward. You have no right to suffer! Just get over it already!

But in spite of her harsh comments, coming to terms with this matter was easier said than done. Even now, Zelda still felt a twinge of sorrow within her. A desire for things to be different.

A desire…for her to be with Link…

Zelda sniffed, before grabbing a handkerchief and dabbing at her eyes and cheeks. It appeared as if her tears had stopped flowing, but her face was still damp. Even her breath continued to escape as short gasps while she tried to recollect herself.

A minute passed, and Zelda’s gasps soon turned to deep breaths as she managed to calm down. She leaned back in her chair as she continued to wipe her face clean, before finally blowing her nose. After that, Zelda felt a bit more refreshed, although she was still rather sad. It had been nice to let all of her emotions loose for a change though.

Maybe I should do this more often, she thought to herself. I still feel depressed, but at least it’s not painful. Instead, everything just feels…numb.

Zelda released a sigh. It wasn’t like anyone had ever said that getting over a broken heart was going to be easy. She wondered how long this anguish would last. Would she still feel like this in a few weeks’ time? In a few months even? And what was she supposed to do until then? Just keep crying and enduring her grief?

Zelda paused before shaking her head a bit. No, that wasn’t how she did things. She was far too proactive to simply allow her sorrow to run its course. She preferred to take matters into her own hands, and that’s exactly what she was going to do.

Feeling determined, Zelda soon rose to her feet and walked over to her vanity. There, she took a seat on the stool in front of her mirror and inspected her reflection. Even at a glance, it was clear that the Princess had been crying. The skin around her eyes was red and her cheeks were still a bit wet from the tears. She took a second to remove the white gloves from her hands. She then ran her fingers over her eyes and face, hoping to return them to normalcy. Once she was done, she looked back at the mirror, fiercely gazing into the reflection of her sapphire eyes.

Come on, Zelda, just move on already. You need to stop pining after someone that you can’t have. It isn’t going to work out, no matter how much you wish it to. And the sooner you can accept that, the better.

As she inwardly spoke these words, Zelda continued to stare at her reflection. She could still sense a bit of sadness lingering behind her eyes, but she refused to let her determination waver. She was going to be strong, and she wouldovercome this.

And your first step should be to stop displaying such ridiculous behavior whenever you’re around him!

Zelda allowed herself a faint smile. Yes, this would be her goal. This had honestly been long overdue, but now Zelda fully intended to put this matter to rest. She would no longer act nervous or flustered around the Hero. No more blushing or stuttering or eye-averting. Such behaviors were pathetic, and there was truly no need for them! Not anymore, at least.

And she would not act depressed when she was around him either. No more sighing or pouting or spacing out. She didn’t plan to completely suppress her emotions, but she felt like she could at least hide them away whenever she was around the Hero. The last thing she wanted to do was make Link worry or think that there was something wrong with her. She simply wanted to maintain the relationship that they had already forged before this point: just two friends who enjoyed each other’s company. It was what Link deserved and it was the only thing that Zelda had left.

However, Zelda soon frowned and closed her eyes as she contemplated this new goal. How exactly was she to go about accomplishing this? She had already tried to compose herself a number of times when she was feeling nervous around the Hero, but each situation had ended with less than successful results. Usually, she just ended up running away or making excuses rather than confront the turmoil within her.

But this will change, Zelda told herself. I’ll stop running away. I’ll confront the Hero directly, and my feelings too if I have to. I’ll constantly remind myself to stay strong and brave. If I can do that, then I know that I can overcome this. I will move on and put all of this behind me!

Zelda reopened her eyes, and stared back at her reflection once again. Her gaze was now sharp and determined. She was certain that she could do this!

 

---

 

Zelda took the rest of the day to relax and recuperate. Her weeping had left her feeling quite drained, not to mention she already felt rather exhausted after working nonstop for the last few days. She chose to remain in her bedchamber, enjoying the solitude and freedom from her obligations. She spent the remainder of her afternoon comfortably lounging on her furniture and reading a book. Once the evening rolled around, she finally chose to depart from her chambers, but only to secure a meal. She ate her dinner quickly and then returned to her room, where she decided to retire early for the night. After everything that she had experienced the last few days, sleep honestly felt like a blessing.

The next day, Zelda decided to continue taking her much-needed break from the work that she had recently buried herself in. She planned to return to her duties in the afternoon, but for now, she preferred to spend her morning in solitude. This time, however, she decided to depart from her bedchambers, and spend some time out in the sun. She grabbed both her bow and her rapier before making her way out into one of the courtyards.

Once she arrived, Zelda found a sequestered grove hidden between some of the tall hedges. A large tree had been planted inside of this gap, and it cast a cool shadow over the lawn below. The grove itself was not completely secluded, as it was open on one side that the hedges didn’t cover, but Zelda felt like this spot would adequately offer the privacy that she desired.

Zelda carefully rested her bow against the tree, and then drew her rapier from its scabbard. Today, she intended to practice her martial skills. As a Princess, one of Zelda’s duties was to always be ready for battle. From a young age, she had been taught how to fight, both for the sake of defending herself as well as aiding her Kingdom should war ever break out. Fortunately, her skill with both the blade and the bow had only ever been required on a handful of occasions, but Zelda still insisted on taking her practice very seriously. She never wanted to be in a battle where she was completely helpless, so she always tried to make sure that her skills weren’t growing dull.

Zelda took a few steps away from the tree, where she then took up a battle position. She grasped her rapier with both hands and raised it up to her eyeline, pointing it at an imaginary foe. She held this stance for a moment before quickly slicing the blade through the air.

Woosh!

Zelda continued to move in a flurry of motion, swinging and thrusting the blade at her imaginary enemies. A rapier wasn’t handled like your typical sword. It was a weapon that focused more on finesse and fast, precise movements; all of which were skills that Zelda felt she excelled at.

Today, she still donned her standard white and purple dress, the folds of which were gracefully twirling around her legs as she moved. She could have changed into something more battle-appropriate if she had wanted to, but it honestly wasn’t necessary. She had been raised to wear this sort of thing all her life, and she was actually more than accustomed to fighting in a dress. And that wasn’t the only thing, either. Running, horse-back riding; she could do it all.

Feeling confident, Zelda released another flurry of attacks, spinning a bit as she did so. She imagined herself slicing numerous enemies across the chest while she dodged beneath their own weapons. As she finished, she smirked a bit. She always enjoyed doing these types of exercises. They helped her stay in shape as well as build confidence. Not to mention, she felt that keeping track of these precise movements helped her mind stay sharp.

This was exactly the sort of thing that she needed today. Time away from the castle and her duties, and more importantly, time away from her dark and depressing thoughts. Now that she was outside, she could feel the warm rays of the sun and breathe the fresh air. There were no distractions out here. No annoying Ministers or intrusive thoughts. It was just her and her sword, whirling through the air. Zelda simply smiled. In this moment, she felt as free as a bird.

As she finished her next slice, something suddenly caught Zelda’s eye from above. She glanced up to spot a single green leaf dancing in the breeze. It seemed to have just freshly fallen from the tree, and was now making its way towards the ground. Zelda just watched the leaf continue to dance innocently for a moment before an idea came to mind.

Feeling a bit daring, she drew her weapon back, all while watching the leaf’s movements carefully. It continued to float on the breeze, casually swaying back and forth. Zelda patiently waited for just the right moment before she thrust her sword forward.

Fwip! She successfully pierced the leaf right through its center, halting its descent.

With a satisfied smile, Zelda brought the blade of her rapier back to her side. She then carefully removed the leaf, sliding it along the metal until it was free. As far as she was concerned, her skills were still top-notch.

Zelda continued to practice for the next ten minutes, dancing around the grove just as the leaf had been. She tried to focus on maintaining her swiftness, as well as her poise. The last thing that she would ever want to do in a battle was lose her balance.

However, the time for Zelda to slip up came far sooner than she could have possibly imagined. As she twirled around to release another thrust into the air, something caught her eye once again. Something that wasn’t there before. A shadowy figure appeared to be sitting in the corner of the grove, and it was facing towards her.

As Zelda went to land, she turned her head, trying to get a better glimpse of the mysterious shadow. It only took a second before a shocking jolt ran through her body. She immediately recognized this person, and she hadn’t expected him to be there at all!

“Link!?” she exclaimed, feeling stunned.

Suddenly, Zelda hit the ground as she finished her thrust. Unfortunately, she was far too distracted by this sudden reveal, and quickly lost her footing. She stumbled forward, nearly tripping into the hedge next to her. Thankfully, she was able to catch herself just short of the bush.

“Oh no,” Link’s voice came from behind her. “Zelda, are you okay?”

Zelda just stared at the hedge with wide eyes as she took a deep breath. She was glad to have avoided this collision, but she was still stunned by the discovery of the Hero’s presence. As he ran up to her, she immediately turned to face him.

“Link, what are you doing here?” she gasped, placing a hand over her agitated heart. “You nearly scared me half to death!”

Link soon reached her, looking both concerned and guilty. “Sorry Zelda. I didn’t mean to surprise you like that. I just happened to be passing by when I saw you practicing here.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” Zelda pressed him. “I had no idea that you were here.”

“I didn’t want to disturb you,” Link admitted. “You seemed to be really into your practice.”

“How long have you been sitting there?”

“Just a few minutes. Your form looked quite good, and I wanted to stop and observe.” Link then paused before looking a little sheepish. “Um…I hope that’s okay…”

Zelda just stared at him for a moment before releasing a heavy sigh. “Yes, it’s fine, Link. I just wish that you had announced your presence before I had the joy of discovering it so haphazardly.”

Link hung his head in shame. “Sorry, Zelda.”

“Forget it,” she said, shaking her head. “Fortunately, I’m pretty light on my feet, so there’s no harm done.” She then paused before eyeing the Hero up and down. “What are you doing here at the castle, anyway? I thought that you had returned to Ordon Village.”

Link nodded. “I did, but only for a few days. Rusl ended up crafting a shield and he asked me to deliver it here.” He then laughed a bit. “I swear, I make the trip between here and Ordon so much that sometimes I feel like I’m nothing more than a glorified messenger.”

Zelda smirked a little, amused at his sense of humor. “Well, it’s nice to know that we can always rely on you. I’m sure that Rusl appreciates it.”

“Right,” Link agreed. “And honestly, I don’t mind the trip here so much. Like I said before, this castle kind of feels like a second home to me now.”

“I’m happy to hear that,” Zelda said with a nod. She then fell silent for a moment. She felt like she wanted to say more, but she hesitated. Before long, her smile faltered as well.

In the back of her mind, Zelda slowly recalled that she was supposed to be in turmoil because of the man that stood before her. Memories of the day before began to resurface; images of the Princess crying in her bedchamber now fresh in her mind. Even now, she felt rather torn up about the whole thing. Was it really okay for the two of them to be speaking so casually like this?

Meanwhile, as Zelda was lost in thought, an awkward silence seemed to have settled over them. Link just stared at Zelda, waiting for her to continue, but no such moment came. Eventually, he frowned and took a step back. “Um, anyway, I should probably get going then. I don’t want to keep you from your practice.”

Zelda suddenly blinked, snapping out of her trance. She silently cursed herself for getting distracted so easily. “Oh, you don’t have to go, Link. You’re more than welcome to stay and keep me company.”

“Are you sure?” Link asked.

Zelda nodded. “Of course. To be honest, I’ve probably gotten enough practice with the rapier for today, anyway.” She then paused for a second. It was only at this moment that Zelda became aware of just how sweaty she had become after her exercises. She immediately looked away from the Hero and began brushing some of her disorderly hair back into place. “Goodness, I must look like a mess right now.”

Link just stared at her for a second before laughing and shaking his head. “Of course not. I think you look fine,” he assured her with a smile.

Zelda just turned away some more as her face adopted a deep shade of red. Why was he complimenting her like this? Didn’t he realize that it was torture for her?

“Um…You’re too kind,” Zelda whispered back. She then turned away completely before he had a chance to say anything else. She walked over to the nearby tree where she promptly sheathed her sword back in its scabbard. With her back turned to Link, she took a second to try and compose herself.

Come on, Zelda. You told yourself that you were going to stop acting like this in front of him, didn’t you? It’s time for you to keep your word. Stop behaving like such a nervous fool!

Taking a deep breath, Zelda managed to get her blush under control, and also steady her nerves. She planned to suppress her emotions again, but she promised to not do it as excessively as she had the last few days. She would only do it enough to keep a level head.

Zelda soon turned back around. “So, how long are you planning to stay this time?”

“Not for too long,” Link replied. “I’ll probably hang around until lunch is served, and then I’ll head back to Ordon this afternoon.”

“I see,” Zelda said with a slow nod. To be honest, she felt a little relieved to know that he would be leaving so soon. She still enjoyed his company and his friendship of course, but for the sake of her own mental health, Zelda didn’t really want him hanging around the castle for any longer than what was necessary.

“Unless,” Link suddenly continued, “you or the Hyrule Council have anything that you need me to do while I’m here?”

Zelda thought about this, but soon shook her head. “No,” she said, sounding a little blunt.

Link stared at Zelda for a second, looking somewhat curious, but he soon shrugged. “Well in that case, my schedule is clear. What about you? Do you have a lot of work to get to?”

“Not until this afternoon,” Zelda replied. She crouched down and retrieved her bow before holding it up. “I was planning to practice my archery until then.”

“Is that so?” Link asked, suddenly looking interested. “In that case, do you mind if I join you?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows. “You would like to watch?”

“No, I’d actually like to participate, if that’s all right.”

Zelda blinked. Participate? He wanted to practice archery as well? This surprised her a bit, but she still maintained her composure. “Very well,” she replied with a shrug. “I’ll gladly show you to our shooting range.”

“Great,” Link said with a smile. He then began walking away. “Let me just stop by the stable so I can get my bow from Epona’s saddlebags.”

“Go ahead,” Zelda dismissed him. “I’ll be waiting here.”

As the Hero disappeared from sight, Zelda frowned and felt her shoulders slump a bit. So much for her morning of solitude. She had just signed away the rest of her free time to Link, the man who was responsible for her current heartbreak and state of mind. The Princess knew that she wanted to confront the Hero and overcome her grief, but why did it have to be so soon? Would she really be able to survive an entire morning alone with him? All without acting too nervous or too dejected? Even she wasn’t so sure how this was going to turn out…

With a small sigh, Zelda decided to bow her head and release a silent prayer.

Goddesses give me strength…

Notes:

I’ve been listening to the song “Cupid” by Fifty Fifty a lot recently. I feel that it describes Zelda’s situation (and this story in general) pretty accurately. At the very least, it gets me in the right headspace when it comes time to write.

In other news, I recently started releasing a short Narnia story. If any of you have an interest in the Chronicles of Narnia, please feel free to give it a read. You can find it on my profile!

Chapter 19: Bad Mood

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 19 – Bad Mood

Having retrieved his bow, Link rejoined Zelda, and she led him to a courtyard towards the back of the castle. There, an archery range had been set up, where the soldiers of the castle could shoot at a number of targets hanging around the stone walls and shrubs. Even as the two of them approached, they could spot a handful of men lined up and ready to practice their aim.

Link stopped to watch for a second, but Zelda’s voice soon called out to him. “This way,” she instructed. She then led him to a small wooden structure that was used to store the shooting range’s equipment. As Link glanced inside, he could spot a number of bows properly suspended on the walls, as well as numerous quivers filled with fresh arrows.

However, it seemed that this structure was not their first destination, for Zelda sidestepped the entrance so that she could speak with the man standing next to it. “Good morning, Captain,” she said to him.

This man had been monitoring the soldiers while they practiced their archery, but he soon turned towards the duo, immediately recognizing them both. “Ah, Your Highness. And the good Hero, Sir Link,” he said, greeting each of them with a bow and a smile.

Naturally, Link recognized this man as well. This was Captain Zander, the current head of the castle guard. He apparently used to be a high-ranking Knight when he was younger, but now he focused his efforts on training soldiers and maintaining the castle’s defenses. He was an older, middle-aged man, with graying hair and soft eyes. He had a muscular build, and his arms were covered in scars, in addition to one on his cheek. He considered the scars to be trophies, all of them having been accumulated from the countless battles that he had survived over the years. He was a hardened veteran, but he could be rather friendly once you got to know him.

“How do the two of you fare this morning?” Zander asked, still smiling.

“I’m doing well, thanks,” Link replied.

“I’m fine,” Zelda said, unintentionally sounding a little blunt. Link glanced at her with a somewhat curious look, but she just ignored him. “We came to practice our archery.”

Zander nodded. “Fine by me. Set up wherever you like.”

“Do you mind if we take the private corner at the far end?” Zelda asked. “I don’t exactly care much for company today. Or watchful eyes, for that matter.”

“Of course, Princess,” Zander replied. “That corner should be unoccupied. Help yourself.”

“Thank you,” Zelda said with a small nod. She then moved into the storage shed and grabbed a quiver of arrows. She slung it over her shoulder before grabbing a second one. She then offered it to Link. “Here.”

Link just stared at it for a second before shaking his head. “That’s okay. I brought my own quiver when I fetched my bow from Epona.” He pointed to his back, where the full case of arrows rested.

Zelda just stared back before releasing a sigh. “It’s better if you use these,” she said, holding the quiver up some more. “The soldiers periodically collect the arrows from the shooting range and return them here. It’ll be harder to keep your arrows separate and make sure that they get returned to you.”

Link frowned in surprise. “Oh. I suppose that makes sense.”

“Then take them,” Zelda said, practically shoving the quiver into his hands.

Link quickly caught the equipment, but he was still surprised at Zelda’s suddenness. Even as he glanced back up, he just spotted her walking away, already moving towards the far end of the range. He couldn’t help but give her another curious look. He thought that he might have noticed something similar when he was talking to Zelda back in the grove, but now he felt like his suspicions were truly being confirmed. There was something…off about the Princess today.

Realizing that he was falling behind, Link quickly chased after the Princess, and followed her into the “private corner” of the shooting range. This location still had access to most of the targets that had been placed around the courtyard, but a few wooden walls had been set up here, to allow the archer some privacy. Onlookers would be able to see the shots being made, but not the person wielding the bow.

“So this is the secluded shooting range, huh?” Link asked as he stepped inside.

“More or less,” Zelda said with a shrug.

“Any reason why you wanted to do this in private?”

Zelda just frowned. “I figured that having the Princess and Hero come here to practice their archery might inevitably draw a crowd. People naturally tend to take an interest in this sort of thing, after all. However, I honestly didn’t care to have an audience watching me today, and I assumed that you wouldn’t want the attention either.”

“I suppose not,” he said with a shrug.

“There you go then,” Zelda said, shrugging back. She soon turned away, setting her rapier  and quiver down before grasping her bow with both hands. She then began inspecting it, making sure that its string was taut and the elegant wood was still strong.

Meanwhile, Link just stared at the Princess. Once again, he felt like something was off with her. She wasn’t behaving like her usual self. She typically seemed much more positive when she was around the Hero. She would be willing to smile, laugh, and even crack an occasional joke with him. But today she seemed…less than amused.

Is she in a bad mood? Link wondered with a frown. He stared at her some more. Even now, he could tell that the expression on her face seemed a little glum. He wondered if something was wrong. She certainly hadn’t seemed this way when he had first talked to her this morning…

Wait a second…

Link suddenly froze as a horrible realization came to him. Was this his fault? Was the Princess upset because he had asked to come along when she had really wanted to be alone? He soon started thinking that he probably shouldn’t have done that…

“Um,” he suddenly spoke up, feeling guilty. “If you’d like, I can go practice elsewhere.”

Zelda immediately turned to the Hero with confused eyes. “Hmm? What do you mean?”

“I don’t have to practice with you, if you would prefer to be alone,” Link explained as he rubbed his neck a bit.

Zelda just stared at him in silence for a moment. She wasn’t exactly sure where this was coming from, but she soon shook her head. “No, it would be nice to have someone to practice with,” she insisted. “It’s only the crowds that I don’t care for.”

Link seemed hesitant. “Are you sure?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, please stay.”

“All right then,” Link replied, although he wasn’t sure himself. The Princess’s expression and voice seemed sincere enough, but Link could still sense something off about her. Even as he watched, she returned to inspecting her bow with a small frown. Link just stared at her with a look of sympathy. Clearly there was something bothering her, but Link had no idea what it could be. All he had discovered was that it likely didn’t have anything to do with himself.

Suddenly, a new idea came to Link, this time causing him to smile a little. If the Princess was in a bad mood, then maybe he could find a way to cheer her up? She had helped him feel better during a lot of social situations here at the castle, so maybe it was time for him to return the favor.

Feeling a little confident, Link soon began inspecting his own bow. He then spoke up, trying to start some light conversation. “So…you must be a pretty good shot.”

Zelda glanced over at him for a second, but then shrugged. “I like to think so.”

Link nodded. “It was really impressive when you were able to shoot Ganondorf during the final battle of the Twilight Invasion. All while we were riding on horseback no less.”

A small hint of a smile appeared on Zelda’s lips. “Fortunately, I had a reliable rider in front of me taking the reins.”

“Still, you showed an incredible level of skill to be able to pull that off,” Link insisted.

Zelda nodded a bit before blushing. Hearing praise from the Hero always made her feel a little embarrassed, but also happy. “Um, that’s very kind of you to say. Thank you, Link.”

Zelda then paused as she realized that her heart had started beating a bit faster. She inwardly cursed as she reminded herself that she was supposed to cease this sort of behavior in front of the Hero. Suddenly resolving herself, Zelda returned to doing what she did best nowadays: suppressing her emotions. She let her smile fade into a blank frown as she turned her attention back to her bow. Now wasn’t the time to blush. It wasn’t the time to be smitten. She needed to stay strong.

“You know,” Link continued with a confident smile, “I like to think that I’m a pretty good shot myself.”

Zelda slowly nodded, refusing to look at him. “Is that so?” she asked, her voice now sounding a bit hollow.

Link blinked before glancing over at her again. He suddenly felt confused. It seemed like his compliments had been making a positive impact on the Princess, but now she seemed rather dejected again. What was going on? Why didn’t his words leave a lasting effect?

There was a slight pause, but Link tried to continue. “Er, yeah. And I was just thinking, maybe it would be fun if the two of us had a contest.”

“A contest?” Zelda repeated. Her voice sounded slightly interested, but she still refused to look at him.

“Yeah,” Link said, trying to stay positive. “We can compete to find out which of us is the better archer. It could be a lot of fun.”

Zelda was silent for a moment. She seemed to be considering his proposal. Eventually, she just gave a sigh and a halfhearted shrug. “Very well,” she said flatly.

Link’s encouraging smile immediately dissolved into a frown. This wasn’t the reaction that he had expected from her at all. He thought that she might at least show a little interest. Surely, her usual self would have gladly jumped at the chance to prove her skill to him. But instead, his words had seemed to have no effect on her mood at all. If anything, she suddenly seemed even more somber and standoffish. Clearly, there was something seriously wrong, and Zelda was simply unable to move past it. And if that was the case, then Link felt like he couldn’t just ignore it either.

With a small sigh, Link turned to face Zelda once more. He felt like it was time to truly get to the bottom of this. “Um…Zelda, is something wrong?” he asked softly.

Zelda immediately froze, aware of the Hero’s concerned gaze falling on her. She frowned a bit, trying harder to focus on the elegant wood of her bow. “What do you mean?” she replied, attempting to sound innocent and unaware.

Link shook his head. “You seem…really out of sorts today. Like you’re upset about something, or you’re not feeling well.”

“I do?” Zelda responded quietly, although she already knew the answer.

“Yeah. Every time you give a response, it sounds rather blunt and dismissive. It feels like you’re trying to keep your distance. Even during our last conversation back on the balcony, there were numerous times where it felt like you were distracted by something else.”

Zelda nodded a bit before eventually hanging her head in shame. She had been trying to suppress her emotions so that she wouldn’t act nervous around the Hero, but it seemed like her efforts had resulted in the opposite effect. Now she appeared to be too upset and dejected, and Link had started to notice.

The Princess soon closed her eyes and began scolding herself. Zelda, you absolute fool! Your behavior is far too noticeable! You need to just pull yourself together and stop acting so sad all the time!

“I…I’m very sorry, Link,” Zelda whispered, trying but ultimately failing to hide her grief.

Link just stared over at her, suddenly feeling more concerned than ever. “Oh, no, you don’t have to apologize! I wasn’t trying to accuse you of anything. I just wanted to know if…if everything is okay.”

Zelda took a deep breath which ended in a sigh. Man, she had really done it now. This is exactly what she had been trying to avoid. She didn’t want Link to get concerned over her wellbeing. It only made her feel guilty and conflicted. It wasn’t like she blamed him for any of this. If anything, it was her own fault for allowing herself to get so torn up over a stupid crush. This was her problem to deal with, and she wasn’t asking for anyone’s pity or sympathy. Especially Link’s.

Zelda soon raised her head and opened her eyes. She reminded herself that it was time to be strong. “Yes, everything is fine, Link. Admittedly, I’ve just been going through some personal affairs lately, and I’m afraid that it’s affected my mood. My apologies if it’s caused you any concern.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Link said, shaking his head. “I just want to know that you’re okay.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile a bit. Link really was a kind and sweet man. “I appreciate that, Link, and I can assure you that I am okay. I’ve just…been a little sad lately, is all.”

Link was silent for a moment, but he soon took a step closer to her. “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?” he asked softly.

Despite her best efforts, Zelda ended up blushing a little. Why did the Hero always have to be so nice to her!? “I…I don’t know…” she stuttered.

“Is it your father?” Link asked.

“What?” Zelda replied, glancing at the Hero with a confused expression.

“Is your father still doing all right?”

“Oh,” she mumbled, suddenly realizing what he was getting at. “Yes, he’s doing fine. That’s not what’s been bothering me.”

“Is it your duties as Princess?” Link continued. “I know that you’re always busy. I imagine it’s hard to stay on top of everything all the time.”

“N-No,” Zelda said, shaking her head. “It’s nothing like that…”

“Then what is it?” Link asked, still speaking in a soft voice. “If it’s something that I can help with, I would be happy to do so.”

Zelda just sighed. How could she possibly tell him the truth? If Link knew the real reason for why the Princess was acting like this, he would undoubtedly blame himself. Zelda could only frown as she imagined his reaction. Link already seemed so worried about her; she couldn’t stand the thought of throwing some guilt on top of him too. At that point, she would probably be overwhelmed by her own guilt. Surely, it was better to just continue keeping it to herself.

“It’s hard to explain,” Zelda eventually replied, trying to be vague. “It’s just…not something that you would understand.”

Link just stared at her in silence. Then, a moment later, a spark of realization lit up in his eyes. “Oh!” he exclaimed.

Zelda soon stared back, feeling a bit surprised at this sudden outburst. “What?”

“Is it your, um…your…” Link abruptly paused, before turning away and staring off into the courtyard beyond them. Suddenly, he looked like he wished that he hadn’t said anything at all. He even forced his mouth shut.

Meanwhile, Zelda just glanced at him with curious eyes. Why was he behaving so strangely all of a sudden? “My what?” she asked.

Link refused to look at her as his face suddenly turned a bit red. “Y-Your, um…you know…” he stuttered quietly.

Zelda just continued to stare at him, feeling completely lost and confused. However, she soon noticed that Link had glanced just ever so slightly at her body. A few seconds later, Zelda’s face also started to turn a shade of red as she managed to put together what he was trying to say.

“My time of the month?” Zelda asked, feeling completely embarrassed as well as a little offended.

Link just gave the smallest, shortest, tiniest of nods in response to her. His face soon turned even more red as he focused his gaze dead ahead. He couldn’t possibly bring himself to look at her.

Zelda also looked away, her face steaming from the overwhelming heat of her embarrassment. How could Link have possibly asked her that!? Well, he hadn’t really asked, but to even suggest such a thing! It was almost the pinnacle of insulting!

“No, it’s not,” Zelda eventually replied, sounding both blunt and harsh.

Once again, Link just gave an incredibly tiny nod. “Um…R-Right…I don’t really know what I’m talking about, so, uh…s-sorry about that…”

Zelda closed her eyes, desperately trying to keep herself calm and cool. “How about we just drop this subject and move on?”

“Y-Yeah,” Link agreed weakly. “That would probably be best…”

An uncomfortable silence soon settled over them. Zelda remained still and kept her eyes forced shut. Meanwhile, Link had fully turned his attention to his bow, still trying a little too hard to avoid looking at the Princess.

Zelda soon shook her head. Link was honestly lucky that Zelda knew his true character. If any other man had dared to ask her that question, she would have likely slapped him across the face. But fortunately for Link, Zelda knew him well enough to know that his suggestion had just been a stupid mistake born out of his concern for her. It was an incredibly insulting mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. She didn’t plan to hold it against him, but she had to admit, it was hard to simply forget such a thing. Still, she was going to do everything in her power to try.

“So, tell me more about this archery contest,” she said, hoping to move on and save them both from this embarrassing situation. “How exactly will we be competing? What are the rules?”

Link dared to glance over at her. “You still want to practice with me after all of that?” he asked quietly.

“Would you rather we just continue to stand here in silence?” Zelda shot back.

“No…” he admitted. 

“Then please explain the terms of the contest.”

Link just stared at her for a second. He then sighed and tried to stand up straight again. He knew that she was right. The damage had already been inflicted, and there was nothing that could be done about it now. He figured that it was better to just leave the past in the past and move on, even if it might be difficult to do so. 

Before long, he managed to find his voice. “Well…I was just thinking of a simple game that the kids like to play back in Ordon with their slingshot. Basically, you choose a target, and then we both shoot for it. Whoever gets closer to the center gets a point. If you hit a bullseye, you get three points. We’ll go until we run out of arrows, and whoever has the highest total at the end wins.”

“Sounds simple enough,” Zelda said with a nod.

“But…we really don’t have to do it if you don’t want to,” Link insisted, still looking a little guilty. “I feel like all I’ve done today is just make your morning go from bad to worse.”

Zelda pursed her lips together and stared at the Hero for a moment. For the first time since coming to the archery range, the Princess allowed the control that she held over her emotions to loosen a bit. As she did, she could start to feel a pang of sympathy welling up within her chest. She wasn’t sure why, but just seeing Link look so ashamed and downtrodden had actually managed to make her feel a bit better in return. It wasn’t because she enjoyed seeing him like this though. If anything, it was the exact opposite. Seeing Link look so hopeless and depressed actually made her want to pull herself together and try to cheer him up in return. At the very least, she definitely didn’t want the Hero to feel as badly as she always did.

Shaking her head, Zelda soon produced a small smile. “No, let’s do it,” she insisted. “I’m sure it will be fun.”

Link gave her a doubtful look. “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” she told him, still trying to smile. “If my morning is already as bad as you claim, then I’m sure that it can't get much worse. I might as well try to salvage what I can. Besides, it should all be uphill from here, right?”

Link just stared at the Princess, feeling a bit surprised at her sudden optimism. She certainly didn’t seem like she was in a bad mood anymore. Or if she was, she was at least trying her best to move past it. For the sake of not dragging her back down, Link decided to smile back. “Um, right,” he agreed.

Zelda soon fetched her quiver and slung it over her shoulder. She then drew an arrow from within. Once she had them both in hand, Zelda allowed her emotions to loosen a bit more. “Now, let’s find out which of us is the better archer. I must admit, I’m quite curious to see the results.”

“You’re on,” Link said, reaching for his own quiver. “I must warn you though, I meant what I said earlier. I really do think of myself as an impressive shot.”

Zelda raised her eyebrows a bit, looking amused. “Well then, I suppose I’ll have to put those skills to the test. I’d hate to find out that our Kingdom’s Hero is as terrible a shot as he is a conversationalist.”

“Ouch, low blow,” Link replied as he smiled and shook his head. It was nice to see the Princess suddenly becoming playful with him again. Maybe her mood really was starting to brighten.

Zelda smiled back before gesturing out towards the shooting range. “So, what’s our first target?”

“How about ladies’ choice?” Link offered.

“You sure?” Zelda teased. “You might come to regret that.”

“I’m sure I can manage,” he assured her.

Zelda shrugged before pointing out into the field. “That second target near the shrub, back and to the right.”

Link nodded. “Go ahead.”

Zelda soon raised her bow, and properly knocked her arrow. She focused her aim on the target ahead of her as she slowly drew the arrow back. She then paused for a moment and smiled. For the first time since encountering Link that morning, Zelda actually felt like she was calm and at peace. All of her earlier turmoil: her sadness, her nerves, and her frustration, seemed to have slowly evaporated away as she grasped the bow and arrow in her hands. And for the first time in days, it felt good to just be in Link’s presence again.

Feeling confident, Zelda released the arrow, and it zipped through the air for half a second before reaching its target.

Thunk! The arrow had struck dead center.

“Wow,” Link whispered, his eyes going wide.

“Your turn, Hero,” Zelda coaxed him, all while flashing a small yet smug grin. She just couldn’t help herself. She was truly looking forward to this.

Notes:

I wondered if I went too far by including that “time of the month” comment, but I felt like it was funny and helps add to the lighthearted vibe of this story. Plus, for some reason, it seems like I just tend to enjoy putting Link in situations where he embarrasses himself lol.

Anyway, I’d like to take a moment to talk about how I originally came up with the idea for this story. A while back, I was in the middle of replaying Skyward Sword (of all games lol) when I started thinking about which characters the Zelda fanbase generally tends to ship together. Stuff like how popular Link and Zelda are, how popular Link and Malon are, etc, etc…

When it comes to Twilight Princess, I’ve personally always loved the thought of Link and Zelda ending up together (I honestly support the idea of these two ending up together in pretty much every Zelda game lol). However, it seems that many people believe that Ilia is a better match for him, considering that they are childhood friends and all. I’m not sure if this is the general consensus across the entire Zelda community, but at the very least, I see that Link and Ilia tend to get a lot more support than Link and Zelda.

Because of this, I started wondering what a story that touches upon this situation would be like. What would happen if Zelda developed feelings for Link, but he ended up with Ilia instead? How would Zelda react, knowing that Link was with someone else? How would she feel about it all? Would she be able to move on, or would she still long to be with the Hero?

The next thing I knew, the ideas for this story just started flooding into my head. Tons of scenarios and moments that just naturally played out because of this simple premise. To me, that’s generally a sign that a story needs to be written. When you have so many ideas, that you feel like you need to start writing them down and organizing them.

And now, here we are, 19 chapters into this wonderful little idea of mine. We’ve still got a long road ahead of us, but I hope that I can continue to craft a story that you find both interesting and enjoyable.

As always, thank you for your support, and I’ll see you all next time.

Chapter 20: The Fountain Incident

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 20 – The Fountain Incident

The archery contest proceeded smoothly and successfully. The Hero and Princess had taken turns choosing different targets before taking aim and releasing their arrows. The two of them ended up having some fun with each other, all while practicing their skill with the bow.

Needless to say, Link had lost the contest, stupendously. Link had always known that Zelda was proficient with the bow and arrow, but her skill here had honestly left him stunned. Zelda’s final score had ended up being an impressive 59, with 18 of her shots having been successful bullseyes. Meanwhile, Link had only managed to accumulate a meager 13 points, with only 3 of those being bullseyes. Unfortunately, Zelda had always managed to hit the target far closer to the center than Link was able to, and this prevented him from accumulating any points. Link had also missed the targets on occasion; a mistake that Zelda managed to avoid making altogether. In the end, it was clear who the victor was.

Link didn’t mind that he had lost the competition though. He was honestly just glad that Zelda had seemed to enjoy herself. Throughout the contest, the Hero couldn’t help but notice that Zelda was smiling a lot more, and she seemed much more at ease than she had been earlier. At one point, she even ended up giggling a little when one of Link’s shots missed the intended target and accidentally struck another target much further back. Link had just smiled as he rubbed his neck a bit. He hoped that their contest had managed to take her mind off of things for a while, and as far as he could tell, it seemed to have worked.

Once their competition had concluded, Link and Zelda returned their empty quivers to the storage unit. They knew that the soldiers would take the time to collect the arrows from the field later. They also made sure to thank Captain Zander for allowing them to share the archery range with him and his men. He simply laughed and said that it was no trouble at all. Link and Zelda then took their leave, walking back across the courtyard towards the front of the castle.

Once they were finally alone, Link gave Zelda a small smile. “My compliments to the victor. That was some rather impressive archery back there.”

Zelda smiled as well, appreciative of his praise. “You weren’t so bad yourself, Hero.”

“You sure?” Link asked with a laugh. “I imagine that my skill looked like that of a child’s when compared to yours.”

“You’re too kind,” Zelda said, looking a little embarrassed. “And a bit too hard on yourself. Your skill was perfectly acceptable. I imagine that you’re at least a much better shot than most of the soldiers around here.”

Link laughed some more. “If Ashei were here, she would say that that doesn’t mean much.”

Zelda giggled a little as well. “Yes, she probably would.”

“Still, I had fun though,” Link insisted. “I usually only get to practice my aim when the kids in Ordon ask me to play with their slingshot. Getting to challenge someone of your skill level is a nice change of pace.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” she replied sincerely. “I had fun as well.”

Zelda then paused, before glancing downward. She took a second to brush some of her loose hair back behind her pointed ear. “Um, Link?” she asked timidly.

The Hero just glanced at her. “Yeah?”

“Thanks for…suggesting that we compete in that contest,” she said quietly. “I…think I really needed that.”

Link blinked before giving her a warm smile. “Of course. I’m just happy to see that it cheered you up a bit.”

“It truly did,” Zelda said with a nod. “I don’t always have a lot of free time, so it was nice to just relax and have fun like that for a change. And…it really did help take my mind off of things.”

“That’s good. It’s nice to know that I didn’t completely ruin your morning, at least” he said with a small laugh.

Zelda just shook her head. “Oh, Link, stop being so hard on yourself. You did no such thing. Admittedly, I may not have been in the mood for company this morning, but I really am glad that I ran into you. I enjoyed the time that we spent together.”

Link nodded a bit, but he soon stared down at the ground while looking a little guilty. “I’m truly glad to hear that. But still…I want you to know that I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Zelda repeated. “For what?”

Link’s face reddened a bit. “For…you know…that comment I almost made earlier…”

Zelda also blushed as she realized what he was talking about. In all the excitement of the archery contest, she had actually forgotten about that little exchange earlier. “Oh, that…”

Link nodded a bit, looking guiltier than ever. “I want you to know that I’m truly sorry about even…um, suggesting such a thing. I really should’ve just kept my mouth shut.”

Zelda just sighed. Even as she listened, she could hear the genuine remorse in his tone. “It’s fine, Link. I know that your heart was in the right place, so I’m willing to forgive you.”

“You are?” Link asked quietly.

Zelda nodded. “Yes, but you must promise to never ask such a thing again. It shows a severe lack of tact when a man questions a lady about such private affairs.”

“I know, and I promise it will never happen again,” Link said with a disappointed sigh. “Honestly, I feel like such an idiot. I can’t even imagine what Ilia would say if she knew that I had almost asked the Princess such an inappropriate question.”

Zelda quickly frowned at the mention of this name. She had been mostly enjoying her time with Link, but all of sudden, she had been abruptly pulled back into the reality of her situation. Link was still very much involved with Ilia, and she needed to remember that…

Zelda sighed and attempted to hide her annoyance behind the conversation. “Um…can we move on, then? I’d really rather not dwell on this topic any longer than I have to. And if I did, I would certainly not wish to do so with you.”

“Oh, r-right,” Link stuttered, looking embarrassed again. “I’ll shut up about it.”

“Thank you,” Zelda mumbled, trying once again to get her reddened face under control. Fortunately, it didn’t prove to be all that difficult. Zelda wondered if she had slowly gotten better at composing herself considering how often she had to do so.

Once she had returned to normalcy, the Princess turned towards the Hero once again. “Anyway, it should be around lunchtime by now. If I recall correctly, you planned to eat before you departed for Ordon Village again, yes?”

“That’s right,” Link said with a nod.

Zelda smiled. “In that case, do you mind if I join you?”

Link blinked. The Princess had never asked to share a meal with him before. She had usually been too busy to make the time. “You want to eat lunch with me?” he asked.

“If you’ll have me,” Zelda replied timidly.

Link just looked dumbfounded. “Why, of course! I’d be happy to dine with you. If anything, I should be the one asking for permission to dine with the Royal Princess.”

Zelda giggled a little and shook her head. “It’s not as ceremonious as you might think. I typically eat in the dining hall, the same as everyone else. My family does have a private dining room, of course, but we really only use that for formal occasions.”

Link nodded a bit. “Then why don’t I ever see you in the dining hall?”

Zelda shrugged. “It's mostly due to my busy schedule. I usually only allow myself a short amount of time to eat before I have to move on to other things. Even today, I probably won’t be able to stick around for long. I still have a hefty amount of work to get to this afternoon.”

“Oh, I see,” Link said, frowning a little.

“But we should at least have enough time to chat before you depart for Ordon,” Zelda said with a smile.

Link soon smiled back. “Sure, that sounds nice.”

“Wonderful.” Zelda then raised her bow and rapier, which she grasped together in one hand. “I’ll just need to return these to my chambers first. Then we can go to the dining hall together.”

Link just stared at the weapons for a moment. He couldn’t help but find it a bit strange that the Princess was carrying them in her hands. Usually, they were worn on the user’s person, using either a belt or a shoulder strap to properly hang them. In fact, Link’s own bow was currently resting on his backside. Meanwhile, the Princess didn’t have any such equipment to assist her. He wondered if she had left her room in a hurry this morning.

“Um…would you like me to carry those for you?” Link asked, pointing down at the weapons.

Zelda just gave him a curious look. “What? These?”

Link nodded. “I can carry them to your room, if you’d like.”

“Whatever for?”

“I just figured I would offer my help. It doesn’t exactly look comfortable carrying them around like that.”

Zelda just blinked a bit before realizing what he was getting at. “Ah, I see. You’re trying to be a gentleman, is that it?”

Link looked a little taken aback by this. “No. Well, I mean…I was just trying to be nice.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smirk at his behavior. It was nice to see someone other than herself being nervous for a change. “Well, that is very kind of you to offer, Link, but I think that I can handle this myself. After all, what kind of warrior can’t carry their own equipment?”

Upon hearing this, Link just looked away, suddenly recalling how Midna had used a small portal to store some of his heavier and clunkier equipment for him. Naturally, this included two full sets of armor as well as a heavy ball and chain, not to mention his iron boots. Because of this, he felt a little guilty about agreeing with the Princess here, since he truly hadn’t managed all of his equipment by himself. But still, could he honestly be blamed for his past actions? He had been forced to keep track of numerous items and weapons after all! How was he supposed to carry all of that without a little help?

“Fair point,” he eventually replied with a nervous shrug.

Zelda simply turned to him, looking curious as well as somewhat amused. “What’s that look for?”

“Wh-What look?” Link stuttered, still trying to look away.

“You look a little guilty,” Zelda noted. “And this isn’t your typical guilty expression either. This almost looks like…” She paused, staring at the Hero a little closer. “...like you’re trying to hide something.”

“N-No, I’m not hiding anything,” he said, shaking his head. Damn, why did he have to stutter like that!? He soon closed his eyes, trying to keep a calm mind. “I was just agreeing with you, is all.”

Zelda just laughed. It was painfully obvious that Link was a terrible liar. “Really? Are you sure that there isn’t something you want to confess?”

Link shook his head as he kept his eyes shut. He already knew that she was teasing him. The last thing he wanted to do now was glance over and see that playful smirk on hers. “I have nothing to hide nor confess,” he asserted.

Zelda giggled a bit more, amused at his stubbornness. However, she soon cut her laugh short as she abruptly stopped in place. She gave the Hero a concerned look. “Um…Link?”

Link just shook his head as he kept walking. “I’m serious, Zelda.”

“Link!” she called again, her voice much louder as well a little frantic. “Watch where you're going!”

Link suddenly snapped his eyes open, only just now realizing that he may have walked a bit farther than he had intended. As he did so, he immediately felt his legs collide with something solid, and he stumbled forward, falling face first into what appeared to be a shallow body of water.

Splash! A small spray of water shot up into the air.

Meanwhile, Zelda’s jaw dropped open as she watched in stunned silence. She honestly couldn’t believe her eyes. Link had just walked straight into the fountain in the middle of the courtyard. No, not only had he walked straight into it; he had also plunged straight into it…

Within seconds, the Hero floundered around onto his back and managed to stick his head up above the water. The pool itself was fairly shallow, but it was still enough to drench the Hero from head to toe. He just gasped a bit as he looked around, equally stunned at his own situation.

He couldn’t believe this. How had he managed to fall into a fountain!?

His eyes soon fell on Zelda, who still looked completely shocked and dumbfounded. A gloved hand hovered near her mouth, ready to cover it in horror after having witnessed this situation. However, a moment later, her fingers trembled, and her mouth clenched shut into a suppressed smile. It was then that the Princess loudly snorted before releasing a hearty, unrestrained laugh. She managed to place her hand over her mouth as her body buckled a bit from the laughter. Even her eyes were forced shut as tears threatened to spill out of them.

“L-Link!” she gasped. “You…You just…ah ha ha ha!” She continued to laugh uncontrollably.

Link just stared at her, still stuck in his own stunned silence. He still couldn’t believe that he had done something so stupid and embarrassing yet again! Would he ever stop making a fool of himself? Would he ever stop being so clumsy?

However, as he continued to watch the Princess giggle, he couldn’t help but smile a bit himself. This may have been an embarrassing mistake, but it was nice to see Zelda loosen up and truly enjoy herself for the second time today. Her sadness from earlier seemed to have completely dissolved, leaving nothing but a friendly, positive attitude in its wake. And Link also had to admit, in spite of his drenched situation, this was a little funny.

Link’s smile soon cracked into a grin. “I…can’t believe I just did that,” he said with a small laugh.

By this point, Zelda tried to get her giggling under control while she also wiped away her tears. “My…My goodness, Link,” she said, still gasping for air. “Does your clumsiness know no bounds?”

“Apparently not,” Link said with a shrug. He took a second to raise one of his hands out of the water, only to splash it back down again. “First a flowerbed, now a fountain. What will be next?”

Zelda just giggled a bit more. Despite her best attempts to compose herself, she was still struggling. She honestly couldn’t remember the last time that she had laughed this hard. Fortunately, she soon managed to take a deep breath which ended in a satisfied sigh. “Oh, Goddesses help me. What am I to do with you?”

“Put a fence around this thing?” Link suggested with a smirk.

Zelda giggled once again. This situation might have almost been too comedic to believe if she hadn’t managed to witness it with her own eyes. She then watched as Link started to sit up a bit. Shaking her head, she moved closer to the fountain.

“Here,” she said, extending her hand towards him.

Similar to when Link had fallen into the garden’s flowerbed, he now eyed the Princess’s hand before him. Once again, he gazed at the pristine white glove, and felt reluctant to accept it in his current condition.

He soon looked away. “Um, that’s okay. I can get up on my own.”

Zelda’s expression softened as she looked down at him. She knew that he was just trying to look out for her, but she wasn’t about to accept that excuse this time around. Shaking her head a bit more, she leaned in and grabbed his hand with her own. Link’s eyes immediately went wide as he stared up at her with a surprised expression. Zelda just smiled back before giving his hand a strong tug.

Zelda managed to pull Link to his feet, and the water soaking his clothes began to run off of his person. Link just blushed a bit as he tried to keep his distance. The last thing that he wanted to do was accidentally drip some of the water onto the Princess’s own clothes.

“Y-You didn’t have to do that,” he mumbled while staring down into the water.

Zelda kept a firm grasp on his hand, making sure that he wouldn’t pull away. “I wanted to,” she insisted. She then tugged on his hand again. “Come on, let’s get the rest of you out too.”

Link stared at her for a second, but he soon gave a sheepish nod. He walked to the fountain’s edge and carefully stepped back onto dry land. He then stood there as the water started to pool by his feet.

It was only at this point that Zelda was finally willing to let go of the Hero’s hand. “Are you okay?” she asked.

Link just nodded. “My pride is shattered, and my clothes are soaked through…but yes, I’m okay.”

Zelda released another small giggle. She knew that he was just being exaggerative. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Link glanced down at the Princess’s soaked hand with a guilty expression for a second. “Your glove…”

“Can be cleaned,” she assured him. “Don’t worry about it. I just want to make sure that you’re all right, Link.”

Link sighed a bit. “You’re always looking out for me, aren’t you?” He then stared straight into the Princess’s eyes, and gave her a sincere smile. “Thank you, Zelda.”

Upon hearing this, the Princess immediately froze. It felt like lightning had struck her body. She had been doing so well, but within seconds, everything she had been trying to control suddenly came rushing back to consume her. Her cheeks turned red, her heart started beating faster, and she felt the strong need to avert her gaze. Despite her best efforts, she had been reduced to a flustered mess once again, and all because the Hero was showing her a little gratitude.

She quickly shifted her eyes to the ground. “Y-You’re welcome,” she mumbled.

Fortunately, Link didn’t seem to notice her strange behavior. He was too busy glancing down at himself. “Man, what a mess. I guess it’s a good thing I always remember to bring a change of clothes when I come here.”

Zelda tried to compose herself, but this instance proved harder than any other. For some reason, her heart would just not settle down. The image of Link’s gentle blue eyes staring back at her had apparently been ingrained into her memory, and thinking about it only made her heart beat even faster. With a nervous frown, she tried to stay strong and face the Hero. It wasn’t for her own sake, but because she assumed that he could use some more help.

“Um, I can go fetch one of the maids and have them bring you a towel,” Zelda offered. She then looked over his soaked form again. “Well, maybe a few towels.”

“That would be great, thanks.” Link said with a smile. He then reached over and wrung out one of the sleeves of his green tunic. A small trickle of water fell onto the grass below. As he watched it, he just sighed. “It’s going to take me a while to get cleaned up. We might have to save our lunch together for another time.”

“Oh,” Zelda replied, feeling surprised. Due to the recent commotion, she had almost forgotten about that arrangement. A part of her felt a little disappointed, but another part of her felt incredibly relieved. There was no way that she could handle dining with the Hero in her current state. She felt like her emotions were completely out of her control, and she had no idea how long it would take to rein them back in. It was better to just avoid the situation altogether for now.

“That’s probably for the best,” she eventually agreed with a small smile. “Um, wait here. I’ll go fetch that maid.”

Zelda then ran off before Link had a chance to respond. She admittedly wished to be free of his presence before he said or did something that would set off her nerves again. She already felt like she was barely holding herself together as it was.

Within minutes, Zelda entered the castle’s halls and managed to find a maid by the name of Sandra who was currently working on laundry. Upon hearing the Princess’s request, Sandra quickly grabbed what was needed and the two of them hurried back outside. They soon reached the Hero’s location, and he was finally able to start drying off a bit. He managed to get his head and arms dry, but his clothes were a lost cause. He ended up removing his boots, only to watch a small stream of water pour out of each of them. He just sighed again.

“Well, these are going to take some time to dry off,” he noted.

“Would you like me to run to the stables and fetch your fresh clothes for you?” Zelda offered.

Link shook his head. “No, I can get them myself. And besides, I don’t want to keep you here any longer than necessary. You still have a lot of work that you need to get to soon, right?”

Zelda frowned and nodded a bit. He did have a point there. She soon turned to the maid. “Sandra, do you happen to have the time?”

“It should be just past 12:30, Princess.”

Zelda bit her lip and inwardly cursed. It was already later than she thought. She knew that she really needed to get going. “Are you going to be all right if I go?”

Link just looked surprised, but soon laughed. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. The worst thing that could happen would be if I fell into another fountain, and at this point, would that really be so bad?”

Zelda smirked, amused at his joke. “No, I suppose not,” she agreed.

Sandra then chose to speak up. “Worry not, Princess. I’ll make sure that Sir Link is properly cleaned up and taken care of.”

Zelda gave her an appreciative nod. She knew that he would be in good hands. She then turned her attention back towards the Hero. “In that case, I suppose that this is the last we’ll see of each other before you head back home.”

Link nodded, looking a little sad. “I guess so.”

Zelda’s eyes soon fell to the ground, trying to make sure that she would avoid any chance of eye contact with him. “Um…I just wanted to say thank you again, for spending the morning with me.”

Link just smiled. “Of course. I had a lot of fun too.”

Zelda could feel his eyes on her, and she suddenly started growing uncomfortable. The frequency of her heartbeat was steadily rising once again. She really needed to get out of there before she involuntarily did something foolish.

“Well, I wish you a safe trip home,” she mumbled towards the ground. “And I’ll see you when next you return.”

“Thanks Zelda,” Link said sincerely. “I’ll see you again soon.”

Zelda felt the heat in her cheeks start to rise a bit. She quickly turned away before anyone had a chance to notice. “Farewell.”

Once the goodbyes were finished, Zelda made her way back inside the castle. She was now alone, but it didn’t really do anything to help her condition. Even now, she could tell that her face was dyed a strong shade of red.

Suddenly, Zelda felt the desire for absolute privacy. The last thing that she wanted was for someone to see her like this. As she continued to walk the halls, she could feel her pace start to quicken. Her feet gradually picked up speed as they rapidly moved beneath her. By the time she reached the hallway where her bedchamber resided, she was nearly in a full-on sprint. It was only once she was safely in the sanctuary of her room that she slowed to a halt.

Zelda promptly shut the door behind her, giving her the privacy that she desperately craved. She then glanced down at her hand to see that she still carried her bow and rapier with her. She had honestly forgotten about them in all the commotion. She quickly set them aside so that she could focus on more important matters. Specifically, herself.

Zelda placed a hand on her heart as she collapsed onto her furniture. For some reason, the tiny organ was pounding away, like an obnoxious drum within her chest. Despite her best efforts to relax, Zelda was having a hard time getting the organ to quiet down. It just seemed insistent on beating without pause.

Unfortunately, Zelda’s thoughts were no better. Images of the Hero drifted across her mind. The sound of his voice echoed in her ears. Even though the Princess was trying to clear her mind of such things, they just kept plaguing her without relent. At this point, Zelda could do nothing but sit there and continue to blush as her emotions ran rampant.

Eventually, a small voice of reason managed to call out from the sea of turmoil that was the Princess’s thoughts. She recognized it as her own conscience, and it appeared to be trying to remind her of her goals and the promise that she had made to herself.

Why are you acting like this, Zelda? Didn’t you say that you were going to be strong and put an end to this foolish behavior? Didn’t you promise yourself that you would get over him?

Zelda just shook her head, feeling completely lost and hopeless.

I’m not sure that I can! 

Notes:

This story is now the second longest fic I’ve ever written, and it didn’t even take me that long to get here either. Which I feel is impressive but also a little surprising. It’s like “Whoa, how did I get here so fast?”

What’s even more concerning is that I could potentially see this story becoming my longest fanfic ever once it is complete. That means that it will have to surpass my Gintama story, Silver Moon, which is a 350,000 word behemoth.

That thought is honestly kind of terrifying lol. But I promise to do my best to continue writing an interesting and satisfying story for everyone.

Chapter 21: The Tour Begins

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 21 – The Tour Begins

A month passed, and another Roundtable meeting came and went. At this particular gathering, the majority of the discussion had been focused on the Princess’s upcoming tour across the Kingdom. By this point, most of the preparations for the tour had been made, and the scheduling had been finalized. All they needed to do now was make sure that the leaders of the civilizations would be prepared for the Princess’s arrival.

The tour was expected to last for a couple of weeks. According to the schedule, the Princess would first travel to Kakariko Village, followed by Death Mountain and Zora’s Domain, before finally concluding at Ordon Village. Zelda would spend at least a day in each of these locations, greeting the public and seeing the sights. This wouldn’t exactly be a vacation, but Zelda did still plan to enjoy her time abroad.

It was soon announced that the Hero of Twilight would be accompanying the Princess on this tour as well. This information caught the interest of many people, especially the general populace. There were still a lot of citizens who didn’t even know anything about this mysterious new Hero, so they were excited to finally meet him and learn more.

As for Zelda, she couldn’t deny that she still felt a bit conflicted about having the Hero join her on this trip. On the one hand, she knew that his presence would serve as an inspiration for their recovering Kingdom, and she would be glad to have a trusted friend by her side at all times. On the other hand, Zelda was still feeling a bit sad about her current circumstances in relation to Link, and she feared that her ridiculously impromptu behavior around him might ruin the trip.

Fortunately, Zelda had at least managed to gain a better control on such things throughout the last month. She had an easier time reining in her emotions as well as her awkwardness around him. As it turned out, all it had taken was a little time and practice, and Zelda soon felt like their relationship had managed to return to something resembling normalcy. Of course, she still wasn’t infallible though. Despite her best efforts, the Princess did still blush and stutter around the Hero on occasion, and when she was alone, she did feel a heavy depression weighing on her heart. Nevertheless, Zelda tried to take solace in the fact that she was improving. With each passing day, things became notably easier, and Zelda felt like she had made substantial progress throughout her extended period of grief. She just hoped that things would continue to improve as the day of the tour approached.

In addition to Link, there were also a handful of others that had expressed interest in joining the Princess on the tour. The first of which was Ashei, who had unashamedly implored the Princess to bring her along. Naturally, this surprised Zelda a bit.

“Why exactly do you want to go?” she asked the Knight.

“Because,” Ashei stated boldly, “I don’t want you and Link to have all the fun. I want to get out of the castle and see the sights too!”

Zelda just sighed. “Ashei, this isn’t going to be a trip for leisure, you know. We can’t just bring someone along because they want to ‘have fun’.”

Ashei frowned and crossed her arms. “Let me serve as a guard then. I’ll make sure that the caravan stays safe, yeah?”

Zelda shook her head. “I’m afraid that Captain Zander has already assigned a number of soldiers to accompany us. We won’t require anyone else.”

Ashei scoffed. “You mean the castle soldiers? You can’t rely on them!”

“Link will be accompanying us as well, and I myself am also perfectly capable of defending our company if the need arises.”

Ashei frowned a bit before she surprisingly started to pout. “But it’s not fair! I should be allowed to go to the reekfish feast too!”

Zelda could only release an exasperated sigh as she listened to her. “Ashei…”

 

---

 

Aside from the Knight, Minister Fost had also asked to join the tour. Zelda found this request to be a bit peculiar, as she assumed that the short Minister's time would be better spent at the castle as opposed to a trip across the Kingdom. Zelda had already planned to handle most of the diplomatic affairs by herself. She didn’t feel that she would need anyone else to assist with that.

However, Zelda soon discovered the Minister's true motive when her father randomly asked her to visit him in the infirmary one day. She ended up walking in to find Caius and Fost conversing together, but their attention turned towards the Princess as soon as they spotted her.

“Ah, Your Highness, excellent timing,” Fost said as he clasped his hands together. “His Majesty and I were just discussing the details of the tour, and we both agreed that it would be in your best interest if I accompanied you.”

Zelda just took a moment to stare at the two of them. “This again? I told you before, Fost, I will not have need of your talents on this trip. I should be able to handle everything myself.”

Fost nodded. “Of course, Princess, and believe me when I say that no one has more faith in your abilities than myself. However…” He paused before glancing at the King. “We believe that it would be best if I accompanied you anyway, just in case you should have need of my services.”

Zelda gave the man a curious look. “Services? What services?”

Fost gave another small nod. “Allow me to clarify. I would be serving you directly as your caretaker throughout this journey.”

“My caretaker!?” Zelda repeated, hardly believing her ears. “You would like to take care of me throughout this trip?”

“That is correct.”

Zelda just looked appalled. “You cannot be serious.”

“I am very serious,” the tiny man said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Additionally, His Majesty has already agreed to it.”

Zelda gawked before turning to the man in bed, who had been silent up to this point. “Father, is this true?”

Caius flashed a bit of a guilty expression, but he soon nodded. “Yes, I actually agree with Fost on this matter. I think it would be best if he joined you on the tour.”

Zelda quickly frowned and gave her father a mild glare. “I am a grown woman. I won’t require a caretaker.”

“I understand,” the King said with a nod. “However, seeing as how I cannot accompany you on this journey, I know that I would feel better if we had someone close to us looking after you. Fost is very responsible and trustworthy, and I know that he’ll make sure that you are kept safe and free from harm.”

“But this is entirely unnecessary!” Zelda retorted. “It’s not like I’ll be on my own. I’ll be accompanied by a number of guards as well as a chef and Link. I can assure you that I will be well cared for!”

Caius sighed. “Be that as it may, you’ve never been away from home for this long before, at least not without me by your side. I know that you’re a mature young woman now, but as your father, I still can’t help but feel a little worried about you. It’s just in my nature.”

Zelda frowned some more, growing frustrated. “This is unbelievable. So just because you’re worried, I have to be treated like a child?”

At this point, Fost decided to interject. “Oh, don’t be so exaggerative, Your Highness. I’m simply going to be keeping an eye on you and making sure that nothing falls out of place during the tour. It’s not like I’m going to fawn over you every second of the day.”

Yeah right, Zelda’s mind snapped back. She had known Fost ever since she was little, and she knew his nature even better. If he had his way, he would most certainly dote on her throughout the entire trip. And not only that, but the Princess expected that he might nag her quite a bit too. If she didn’t perform her duties to perfection, she had a feeling that she would probably hear about it later.

“I don’t like this,” she eventually replied, folding her arms and flashing a dissatisfied frown.

Caius soon sighed again. Much like himself, he knew that his daughter could be incredibly stubborn at times. “How about this then? If you agree to take Fost with you on the tour, then I will promise to behave myself here while you are gone. That way, neither one of us should have to worry about the other.”

Zelda just shot her father a sharp glare. “Father, you already made that promise! A month ago, you said that you would rest and listen to the doctor’s instructions. Have you forgotten that commitment so soon? Do your oaths mean nothing?”

Caius produced a guilty smile. “I…have still been following that promise, of course. I was just…offering to continue the deal even while you are away.”

Zelda frowned some more. She could see right through her father. “It’s more like you are threatening to break your vow if I do not agree to this.”

“I’d say that’s a more…pessimistic way of looking at it,” he replied, trying to smile innocently.

“You mean realistic?” Zelda shot back. “How about this then? I’ll refuse to let Fost accompany me, and then he can stay here and make sure that you behave yourself in my absence. Wouldn’t that be a better solution for everyone involved?”

Caius’s face paled a bit. Much like Zelda, he had known Fost since he was very young, and he too knew just how excessive his care could be. “I don’t think that will be necessary,” he said, sounding doubtful.

“I agree,” Fost chimed in. “His Majesty is in very capable hands here. If anything, my time will be best spent serving you, Princess.”

“I am hardly convinced,” Zelda said, taking a second to eye each of the men in turn. “I know for a fact that I will be perfectly fine on my own. You two are simply worrying too much.”

Caius just sighed. “Come now, Zelda. Surely you realize that this isn't just for your sake, but mine as well?” He soon paused before coughing a bit. He then turned to his daughter with tired, soft eyes. “Oh, my lovely daughter, won’t you do me this simple kindness? Won’t you ease the heart of your dear, sick father?”

Zelda just stared him, looking perplexed. Had he just faked that cough? And why did he suddenly look so sad and distraught? It only took a second for her to determine the answer. He was trying to perform the same trick that she had pulled on him a month ago! Fortunately, she was wise enough to see past his deception.

“Nice try, father, but that performance of yours won’t work on me.”

The King coughed a few more times. “What performance?” he managed to choke out.

Zelda just glanced at him again. The cough hadn’t sounded as fake that time…Had his phony attempts to cough actually coerced him into a real cough? If so, it served him right for trying to play tricks. However, Zelda did still feel a pang of sympathy for the man.

“Father, just try to relax,” she said softly. She then placed an encouraging hand on her hacking father’s shoulder.

Nevertheless, Caius tried to speak as the air was violently forced from his lungs. “H-How can I relax? Especially when my only daughter will be so far away from my side? Oh, I’m not sure I can handle what this stress will do to my health…”

Zelda closed her eyes as she felt another pang of sympathy strike at her heart. She knew that her father was purposefully laying it on thick, but she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to set him at ease. “Fine, I’ll allow it,” she whispered.

Caius quickly stifled his next cough. “Hmm? Allow what?”

“I’ll allow Fost to accompany me on the tour,” she stated clearly.

Caius eyed his daughter for a second. He then coughed a few more times before the hacking fit finally petered out. As soon as it did, he flashed a bright smile while his hopeless demeanor from mere seconds ago faded away. “Excellent. Hearing this really makes me feel better. Thank you, Zelda.”

Zelda just scowled at her father and his suddenly chipper expression. She soon released a sigh. “Why do I allow myself to be so easily manipulated like this?”

The King smirked. “Because you care about me, and I greatly appreciate that.”

Zelda closed her eyes again. She couldn’t deny that what he said was true, but she still felt like a complete fool. Now she would have to come to terms with what she had just agreed to. She soon reopened her eyes and turned to the short Minister.

“Fost, if you insist on coming along on the tour, then you must promise to uphold the claim that you made earlier. I really don’t want to have you doting on me every second of the day.”

Fost simply smiled at her acceptance, and gave a quick bow. “Of course, Princess. You have my word.”

Zelda just looked away as she rolled her eyes. Like that means anything…

 

---

 

Over the next week, the final preparations for the tour were made. Men were assembled and briefed, provisions were packed, and a few wagons were readied for travel. The castle constantly felt like it was bustling with activity. Fortunately, Zelda, Fost, and Enzo took it upon themselves to oversee all of the preparations, and everything proceeded smoothly and quickly because of it. By the time the day of their departure rolled around, everything was perfectly accounted for. The only thing left to do now was complete a quick double-check to make sure that everything was assembled properly, and then the procession would finally be able to hit the road.

On this morning, Zelda smiled a bit as she led her white horse, Reina, out of the stables. They stepped out into the sun, and Zelda had to hold a hand over her eyes as she stared up at the cloudless sky. It was a beautiful day, which was usually recognized as a good omen during times of travel. It was believed that good weather indicated that your journey had been blessed by the Goddesses themselves.

Zelda soon turned to her mare, and rubbed her neck a bit as they walked. “I’ll bet you’re looking forward to getting outside and running around, hmm? It’s been a while since we’ve left the castle.”

The horse snorted in response, showing that she was glad to be free of the stable for a change.

Zelda just laughed a little. “Forgive me, my love. I can promise that you won’t have to return to the stables for a while, at least.”

The Princess led her horse over to where the procession was gathered. The entourage consisted of a dozen guards who would all be riding their own horses, followed by two wagons full of provisions that would be driven by servants, and finally a carriage for those that wished to travel in a more comfortable manner. Truth be told, Zelda had a feeling that the carriage had been specifically reserved for herself, but she honestly had no intention of riding in such luxury, and that was exactly what she told Fost when he brought it up.

“What do you mean you’re not going to be riding in the carriage?” the short man exclaimed with a huff.

“You heard me,” Zelda insisted, trying to sound stern. “I plan to travel on horseback throughout the entire journey.”

Fost just seemed like he was at a loss for words. “B-But Princess, surely you can understand the nonnecessity of such a thing? That is to say, the carriage should provide a much more comfortable ride than simply riding on horseback.”

Zelda scowled a bit at this. “If you think that I’m going to drag Reina along on this journey and choose not to ride her, then you must be mad.”

Fost frowned a bit in return, the Princess’s stubbornness already wearing on him. “Yes, but surely you understand that riding a horse all day can be tiring. And we are going to experience numerous days of travel…”

Zelda merely shrugged. “All the better for building up my stamina. I’m sure that I can handle it.”

Fost sighed. “Your Highness, the only reason that I had this carriage prepared was for your sake.”

“I never asked you to do that,” she replied bluntly. “And besides, was my comfort really the only reason that you went to all this trouble? Are you sure that you weren’t trying to accommodate someone other than myself?”

Fost leaned back a bit, looking like he was caught off guard. “Er, well, yes, I suppose I was intending to ride in the carriage as well, along with our chef and Master Link. But I only made it a priority because I assumed that you would be joining us!”

Zelda smirked a bit at his frustration. “Well, you assumed incorrectly. I plan to travel alongside Reina, and that’s final.”

Fost just scowled as he balled his tiny hands into fists. He clearly wasn’t pleased with this result. “Very well then! By all means, do as you please! However, don’t be surprised when this journey exhausts you and you must retreat to the luxury of the carriage. When that time comes, I will be more than happy to provide you with a well-deserved ‘I told you so’!”

“If the time comes,” Zelda corrected him, “then I will gladly issue an apology and beg for your forgiveness.”

Fost just stared up at her before grumbling a bit. “Oh, you’ll see…”

Zelda smiled at him. She soon turned to leave, but not before adding one final note for the Minister. “Oh, and by the way, Fost, something tells me that Link won’t be so keen to join you in the carriage either. I believe his mindset will be quite similar to my own.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Zelda watched as the short man’s brow furrowed and his mouth fell open. She quickly stifled a giggle as she walked away. She didn’t intend to antagonize him so much, but she couldn’t help herself. The Minister's way of thinking was always so stiff, so it was just nice to hit him with a dose of reality every once in a while.

Zelda brought Reina around the back of the procession, so they were now on the other side of the wagons. There, she managed to spot Link, who seemed to be in the middle of feeding Epona. With a small smile, she decided to approach him. The Hero had arrived at the castle earlier that morning, so the two of them had already greeted each other, but the Princess was still more than happy to share his company again.

“Are you about ready to go?” she asked as she walked up behind him.

Link soon turned to her and smiled. “Sure am. And Epona’s ready to hit the road too.”

Upon hearing her name, the chestnut horse gave an excited whinny, causing both Link and Zelda to laugh.

“I think Reina’s looking forward to this as well. It’ll be nice to get out and ride for a change.”

“Agreed,” Link said with a nod. “I’m sure the journey will be just as much fun as the destination.”

Zelda smiled at him. “By the way, I should probably give you a fair warning. Fost might try to convince you to ride in the carriage with him.”

Link frowned a bit at this. “In the carriage? But I was planning on riding Epona the whole way there.”

“And I told him as much,” Zelda said with a nod. “But I’ve never known the Minister to be so easily dissuaded, so don’t be surprised if he still tries to convince you to join him.”

Link glanced at the Princess, looking a little curious. “Wait, aren’t you going to ride in the carriage?”

Zelda shook her head. “I’m afraid not. I plan to travel in the same manner as you: with just myself and Reina.”

Upon hearing this, Link smiled. “In that case, I definitely don’t plan on riding in the carriage.”

Zelda raised her eyebrows. “You mean to say that you were considering it?”

“I would have,” Link said with a shrug. “If I had known that you were planning on riding in there, at least.”

Zelda couldn’t help but blush a bit at this comment. Over the last month, she had learned to control herself pretty well when it came to situations like this, but a nervous trait would still pop up every once in a while. It was a little embarrassing, but Zelda was honestly just glad that she at least managed to keep her heart and her eyes under control.

“You would have been willing to ride alongside me?” she asked quietly.

“Sure,” Link said with a smile. “I mean, I probably wouldn’t have preferred to ride in the carriage at all, but having your presence there would have at least made things bearable.”

Zelda smiled back, feeling pleased at this comment. “And I take it that you would rather not ride in the company of Fost?”

“Not particularly,” he admitted, looking a little guilty.

“A wise choice,” Zelda said with a small giggle. “I hope that he doesn’t prove himself to be too annoying on this journey. Otherwise, I’ll have to consider minimizing the amount of time I spend in his company as well.”

“He’s not that bad,” Link said, still looking guilty. “I mean, it’s not like I’m not trying to avoid him or anything.”

Zelda simply smirked. “Give it some time, Link. Once we’ve been on this journey for long enough, he’ll start to wear on you. And when that time comes, we’ll see if you’ve changed your tune.”

Link seemed a bit surprised at this, but he soon accepted her challenge with a confident grin. “We’ll see. I like to think that I can be pretty patient at times.”

More like stubborn, Zelda thought as she shook her head. She then paused as she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. She soon glanced over to the castle’s entryway, only to watch someone slowly walk outside the halls and into the courtyard. And it wasn’t just anybody either…

“Oh my goodness,” Zelda breathed as she stood up straight. “I…I can’t believe this!”

Upon catching her tone, Link immediately looked concerned. “What is it?”

“It’s my father!” she exclaimed. “He’s leaving the castle!”

Link glanced over and immediately spotted the man as well. Sure enough, it was King Caius, and he seemed to be slowly making his way towards the procession.

“He’s supposed to be resting in the infirmary!” Zelda said incredulously. “What does that fool think he’s doing?”

Link just frowned a bit. “Do you think that something’s wrong?”

Zelda shook her head. “I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” She then turned to Link. “Would you watch Reina for me?”

“Of course,” Link replied, nodding and taking the white mare’s reins.

Zelda gave him an appreciative nod back and then started running across the courtyard. It only took a few seconds before she managed to reach the sick man. As she did, she extended her arms out towards him, ready to catch him at a moment’s notice should he stumble.

“Father!” she exclaimed, her tone filled with worry. “What are you doing out here? You should be resting in bed!”

To her surprise, Caius just smiled before laughing and waving her off. “Relax, Zelda. I’m only a little sick, remember? It’s not like I’m dying.”

“Not yet!” she snapped back. “And I believe that a poisoning should be considered worse than just being ‘a little sick’.”

Caius laughed some more. “Trust me, I’m fine. I’ll admit that the walk here has made me a little tired, but it’s nothing to fret over.”

Zelda just sighed as she looked at him. She honestly couldn’t believe how nonchalant he was. “Does Roswald know that you’re out here?”

“Of course not,” Caius said with another wave of his hand. “He would’ve never allowed it.”

Zelda scowled at him. “Then why are you out here?”

The King sighed a bit before reaching up and placing a hand on her shoulder. “I just wanted to see my daughter off before she departs on this long journey away from home.”

Zelda just stared at him for a second before allowing her demeanor to soften. She could see the affection in his eyes, as well as hear the sincerity in his voice. “You abandoned the infirmary just for that?” she asked with another sigh.

“Well, I had hoped that you would visit me on your own this morning, but I was disappointed to see that you never showed up.”

Zelda released a guilty frown. “I intended to before we departed, but I haven’t been able to find the time. This morning has been rather busy…”

Caius laughed a bit. “I know, Zelda. You don’t have to explain yourself.” He then paused before smirking. “However, if you believed that you were going to leave without giving me a proper farewell, then you’re sadly mistaken.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile at this. “Yes, you’re right. Forgive me, father.”

She soon leaned in and hugged the man. He gladly hugged her back, and even ran his fingers through her hair a bit.

“Promise me that you’ll stay safe,” he whispered.

“I will.”

“And promise that if you need anything, you’ll go to Fost for help.”

Zelda sighed a bit, but nodded. “I will.”

Caius patted her on the back before pulling away a bit. “And last but not least, promise me that you’ll have fun,” he said with a grin. “I want you to come back with some exciting stories to share! The Goddesses know that I could use them.”

Zelda laughed a bit. “Of course. I promise to tell you everything once I return.”

“That’s my girl,” he said softly, before rubbing her shoulder a bit. “And Zelda, just know that I am very proud of you. And if your mother were still with us…then I’m sure that she would feel the same.”

Zelda looked towards the ground with a sad smile. His words truly meant a lot to her. “Thank you, daddy,” she whispered, accidentally referring to him by the name that she used back when she was a child.

Fortunately, Caius didn’t seem to mind. If anything, he seemed rather pleased to hear her say it again after all this time. “I love you,” he said, embracing her once more.

She hugged him back. “I love you too,” she assured him. They continued to hold each other for a few seconds, before Zelda decided to playfully push him away with a smile. “There, I’ve made my promises. Now, I believe it is your turn. Will you promise to behave yourself while I’m gone? The last thing I want to hear when I get back is that you abandoned the infirmary so you could go on escapades around the castle.”

Caius just laughed. “This was a special occasion, but I see your point. I promise to stay in bed and follow the doctor’s every word.”

“With no complaints?” Zelda asked, eyeing him.

“I’ll keep it to a minimum,” he said with a grin.

Zelda just smiled before shaking her head. “I suppose that’s all I can ask for. Now let’s get you back into bed before Roswald decides to kill you.”

The King just laughed before coughing a bit. He then sighed. “Aye, that would probably be best.”

Zelda ended up tracking down a nearby guard and requested that he escort her father back to the infirmary. Caius had assured her that he could get back on his own just fine, but she wasn’t going to risk it. She could already see how fatigued he was just by walking all the way out here. It was better to have someone keep an eye on him until he was safely back in bed.

Once that was settled, Zelda returned to Link’s side, and gladly took Reina off his hands. “Thanks for that.”

“No problem,” he replied. “Was everything okay?”

“Yes. My father just wanted to say farewell,” she said while sheepishly smiling towards the ground. “I wish that he hadn’t foolishly decided to leave his bed for such a thing though.”

Link smiled as well. “That just shows how much he cares about you.”

“Indeed,” Zelda agreed, closing her eyes. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was secretly glad that her father had made the journey outside just for her. It really had been sweet of him to do so.

As the morning’s preparations were finalized, the only other person who came to wish them farewell was Ashei, who was rather blunt and to the point.

“Will you guys at least bring me back some reekfish from Zora’s Domain?”

Link just gave her a weird look. “No, it’ll have started to spoil by the time we return.”

“That’s when reekfish tastes best!” Ashei exclaimed, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “That’s why they call it reekfish!”

Zelda just sighed. This was just about the last thing that she wanted to deal with before their departure. “Ashei, if it will make you feel better, I can ask Ralis if any of the Zora would be interested in selling their aquatic fare in the Castle Town market. Then you’ll have access to all the reekfish you could ever want.”

The Knight just smirked. “That would be lovely. Thank you, Zelda.”

Meanwhile, Link just turned his curious expression towards the Princess, and gave her a long, hard stare.

“What?” she said with a shrug. “There could be a demand here for such things. You never know.”

Link just smiled and shook his head. He then noticed that the Knight was walking away. “Hey, wait a second, Ashei. Is that all you had to say to us?”

The Knight just paused before glancing backwards. “Oh, and uh, have a good trip, yeah?”

Link just felt his shoulders sag while the Princess smirked a bit. “Take care of the castle while we’re gone, Ashei,” she told the Knight. “We’re counting on you to keep it safe.”

Ashei just waved a hand back as she continued to walk away. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Link could only frown as he watched her go. He turned to the Princess once more. “She’s a bit scatterbrained, isn’t she?”

Zelda smiled back at him. “Let’s just be thankful that we won’t have to see her for a few weeks.”

Before long, the final preparations were finished, and everyone was instructed to mount their steeds. Those who planned to ride in the wagons and carriage climbed inside their respective vehicles as the servants took the reins. Zelda pulled herself onto Reina’s saddle and Link did the same with Epona. They soon trotted over to their place in the procession where they stood side by side.

Once everyone was properly lined up and situated, a guard at the front of the line blew a small horn, the sound of which erupted out in a single roaring note. He then lowered his horn, before calling out in a loud voice.

“Let the Princess’s tour across the Kingdom of Hyrule commence!”

Notes:

I’m sure that many of you have picked up on this by now, but I’ve chosen to mostly write this story from Zelda’s point-of-view. We still get glimpses of Link’s POV from time to time, but I really only try to do that when it feels necessary. I’ve done this intentionally so that all of you readers are mostly left in the dark about what the Hero is thinking or feeling as the story progresses. I feel that it makes the story more interesting that way, especially since Zelda is being kept in the dark along with you.

I had always intended to mostly write this story from Zelda’s POV, but I actually surprised myself in the earlier chapters by deferring to Link a lot of the time. It just felt so natural to let him take the lead at certain parts of the story, and even now, there are still scenes where I feel like delving into his thoughts. But as I said, I only try to do it when it feels necessary. Or fun. I don’t mind switching to the Hero’s perspective if it’ll make the scene more fun lol.

Chapter 22: Travel

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 22 – Travel

The tour began with a small parade through Castle Town. The town itself was not an intended destination on the tour, as the Princess basically lived there already. However, Zelda didn’t often get the chance to visit the town, so the citizens there only saw her on rare occasions. Because of this, the Hyrule Council believed that it would be a good idea to lead the procession through Castle Town at the start of the tour. This way, the citizens would get the chance to gaze upon their Princess, as well as the newly named Hero of Twilight.

Naturally, many crowds gathered to watch the procession. They clapped and cheered as the parade of horses, riders, and wagons passed before them. Zelda just smiled and gave small, friendly waves back to the crowd. She also made sure to carry herself majestically, by keeping her posture straight and riding at a delicate pace. This was how the Royal Princess was expected to present herself, and she intended to fulfill those expectations exceptionally.

Zelda always enjoyed seeing her subjects, as it filled her with a sense of hope and purpose. It was just nice seeing all of their smiling faces, and knowing that they supported both her and her father. She knew that they trusted the Royal Family to lead the Kingdom in a prosperous direction, and she did not intend to let them down.

Additionally, Zelda knew that her subjects enjoyed seeing her as well. It was always a special occasion to witness a member of the Royal Family, and the citizens responded with an appropriate amount of enthusiasm to match that sentiment. As Zelda continued to smile at the faces that cheered her on, she was glad that she had chosen not to ride in the carriage with Fost. If she had, then she would have had to greet her citizens through nothing more than a tiny window, which, needless to say, would have likely resulted in a disappointing experience for everyone involved.

Zelda soon glanced over to see how Link was holding up. He rode in step with the Princess, but his demeanor was a bit different. He carried a sheepish smile on his face, and his small waves seemed to be a bit shy as well. She supposed that he couldn’t be blamed for this, as many onlookers in the crowd were specifically applauding for the Hero of Twilight. She had to imagine that it was a lot to take in for someone who wasn’t used to such popularity.

Fortunately, the Princess managed to catch Link’s eye, and she flashed an encouraging smile his way. This seemed to surprise him for a bit, but he soon relaxed and focused his attention back on the crowds. From that point on, his nervousness faded away, and his behavior seemed much more confident and genuine. It turned out that all he needed was a little support from the Princess to help set him at ease.

Before long, the procession reached the southern gate of Castle Town, and the travelers took their first steps out into the wide-open expanse that was Hyrule Field. Here, the tour would officially commence as they left their home behind them. The crowds continued to cheer and applaud from inside the walls of Castle Town, but the enthusiastic sounds soon faded away. They were eventually replaced by the softer, more soothing noises of the field. The sound of a gentle breeze blowing over them. Birds chirping in the trees. The subtle babbling of a creek.

Zelda took a second to breathe deeply, absorbing the fresh air into her lungs. It had been far too long since her last journey outside of Castle Town’s walls, and it felt wonderful. Reina gave a loud whinny, also pleased with her newfound freedom.

“You seem happy,” Link noted as he and Epona trotted alongside them.

“Of course,” Zelda replied. She soon reached down and rubbed Reina’s neck a bit. “It’s not every day that we get to venture outside of our home, so we’ve been really looking forward to this.”

Link gave her a curious look. “Really? How long has it been since your last trip?”

“A few months at least,” Zelda replied. “The last time was when you and I escorted Midna to the Mirror of Twilight.”

Link gawked in surprise. “Seriously? That long ago?”

“Yes, I’m afraid that my duties as Princess prevent me from adventuring outside the castle whenever the mood strikes me. And even when I do get to leave, it’s usually only for diplomatic reasons.”

Link conjured up a sympathetic frown. “Oh. That’s…kind of a shame.”

Zelda just smiled back. “I don’t mind, though. If anything, my lifestyle just makes me treasure moments like these all the more. I probably wouldn’t appreciate this journey nearly as much if I could just go whenever I wanted.”

“That’s true,” Link agreed, soon smiling as well. “At least you have a positive way of looking at it.”

Zelda nodded before glancing down at the field of grass slowly passing beneath Reina’s hooves. She truly missed seeing sights like this. “You know, Link, there are admittedly times where I find myself envying you a bit. You always get to travel so much.”

Link just blinked, once again looking surprised. “What? You mean when I travel between the castle and Ordon?” He then smiled and shook his head. “That trip is more of a chore, if anything.”

“Surely it is more exciting than just sitting around in a castle though.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Castle life can be exciting too, but in a different way.”

“I suppose,” she agreed. She could see how a world of politics and discussions could be overwhelming for the Hero who was newly introduced to them, although the Princess herself found the tasks to be a bit mundane after all of these years.

“Honestly, travel can be a bit boring at times,” Link continued. “Once you’ve done it enough, it can really get old having to see the same sights over and over again. Not to mention it always takes forever to get where you need to go.” He then paused before releasing a sigh. “Truth be told, I kind of miss our old method of travel.”

“Old method?” Zelda repeated.

“Yeah, the way that Midna and I used to get around,” Link explained. “Things were easier back during the Twilight Invasion. Midna could just use portals to teleport us from province to province, and it saved a lot of time.”

“Ah, I can see how that would be nice,” Zelda said with a nod. She then smirked a bit. “But personally, I think that I prefer the peace and safety of the Kingdom, completely free from the influence of the Twilight.”

Link just gave the Princess a blank stare. He soon frowned as he started to apologize. “Er, sorry, I didn’t mean to say that…”

Unable to keep a straight face, Zelda soon laughed at him. It was always amusing to see how easy it was to make him feel guilty. “Relax, Link. I was merely joking. I know that you would never wish for the Twilight to make a return.”

Link just blinked again before scowling. “I swear, you really do scare me far more than I would like.”

“What?” Zelda asked innocently. “Is a Princess not allowed to make jokes?”

Link allowed his expression to soften into a smile. “I’d prefer that they weren’t at my expense.”

Zelda ended up producing her own playful smile. “Forgive me, Link, but there are times where I feel it necessary to test the wisdom of our Kingdom’s brave Hero. Unfortunately, you seem to fall for my trickery far too easily.”

“Just wait, I’ll wisen up eventually,” Link said confidently. “And when that time comes, I’ll know to just ignore every word you say.”

Zelda smirked again. “Goodness, has my reputation sunk so low? I never intended to make you distrust me.”

“I still trust you,” Link said, before subtly grinning. “But you’re on thin ice.”

Zelda couldn’t help but giggle at this. It was nice, casually trotting across the field and enjoying some playful banter with the Hero. It was almost enough to make the Princess forget her true feelings for the man and simply enjoy herself. But alas, the situation wasn’t that simple. Even now, Zelda couldn’t help but glance at him with a small stare of affection. She appreciated that the two of them were friends, but her heart truly wished that they could be more.

Zelda soon shook her head, pushing such thoughts away. She wasn’t going to allow her negative emotions to ruin this moment. Instead, she preferred to keep things light. She soon decided to continue toying with the Hero using her words.

“Let’s move back to the subject of the Twilight for a moment,” she said with another playful smirk. “I know that you would prefer to use the powers of the Twilight to traverse Hyrule, but tell me something, would you also prefer to be covered in fur and running around on all fours?”

Link just rolled his eyes as he caught her meaning. “Ha ha, very funny, but being a wolf wasn’t nearly as bad as you might think.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda decided to drop her playful act for a moment and replace it with a genuine expression of curiosity. “Is that so? You didn’t mind being stuck in that form?”

“Not really,” Link said with a shrug. “It definitely had its uses. My senses were stronger than ever before, and I could move more quickly too. Not to mention, having a big fur coat was nice. It actually managed to keep me warm throughout our entire trip to the Snowpeak Province.”

“That does sound rather impressive,” Zelda admitted as she recalled how frigid that region could get.

Link gave a small laugh. “Although, I will admit that having to travel in the desert with that fur coat was nothing short of torture.”

“I can imagine,” Zelda said, allowing her playful smile to return. “And did you mind the fleas, as well?”

“I never had fleas,” Link stated adamantly. “I may have been a mutt, but that doesn’t mean that I was a mangy one.”

Zelda took a second to recall an image of the Hero’s animal form and fondly smiled. “Yes, I suppose your coat was rather well-kept, now that I think about it. Was Midna the one who was responsible for that?”

“Pfft,” Link scoffed. “As if. Whenever I became a wolf, she would usually just start barking orders and riding on my back. There were times where I honestly wondered if she thought that I was nothing more than a dumb, clueless animal.”

Zelda just giggled, easily imagining such scenarios. “Yes, that sounds just like her.”

Link nodded. “She brought a lot of chaos into my life, but…it was fun too.” He then softly sighed before producing a sad smile. “I know it’s been a while since she left, but I still miss her.”

Zelda gave him a sympathetic nod. “Of course. I feel the same way.”

Link soon looked down at the ground. “There are still times where I wish that I could see her again, but I know that I’ll never get the chance.”

Zelda stared at him for a second before smirking. “Perhaps, but I wouldn’t be completely sure about that.”

Link glanced over at the Princess. “What do you mean?”

“There’s always a chance that you might encounter Midna again. I definitely wouldn’t say that it’s impossible.”

Link just gave her a blank stare. “What? But...how? Midna destroyed the Mirror of Twilight, didn’t she?”

Zelda patiently nodded before she explained herself. “That is true, but who’s to say that the Mirror was the only means by which one could access the Twilight Realm? Can you say with certainty that there aren’t other methods of traversing the realms? And even if you couldn’t cross over into the Twilight Realm, there might still be something that would allow you to communicate with someone there. The world is a vast place, Link, and it might have more solutions to offer you than you realize.”

Link just gawked at the Princess, feeling awed at what she was telling him. “Wait, so does that mean that you have an idea of how I can talk to Midna again?”

Zelda smiled as she shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. There are no viable solutions that I am aware of. I’m just claiming that it might not be impossible to discover one.”

Link just looked down again. “Oh, I see…”

“I know it’s not much to go on, but I hope that the idea provides you with some inspiration, at least. As long as you keep an open heart and an open mind, you may eventually find a satisfying solution.”

“Of course,” Link said with a nod. “Trust me, Zelda, you’ve definitely given me some hope. Just knowing that our farewell to Midna might not be our last…well, it certainly makes me feel better.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Zelda told him sincerely. “And by the way, if you want a helpful place to start, I would suggest visiting the castle’s library. There are numerous tomes there, some of them as ancient as the castle itself. They might be able to provide some clues and point you in the right direction.”

Link simply frowned a bit at this. “You mean I’d have to do a lot of reading? It would take forever to scour through all of those books for clues.”

Zelda smirked at him. “What’s the matter? Is Midna not worth the effort?”

Link sighed. “Well, I’d like to see her again, but I don’t want to lose my mind in the process.”

Zelda laughed. “Oh please, it is not as bad as you think. The books are all categorized, so it is easy to sort through them and find the topics that you are looking for. Besides, it can be rather exciting to start reading and discover an interesting part of history.”

“If you say so,” Link said with a glum smile. “This definitely seems more like your area of expertise. To me, it just sounds like a lot of work.”

“And it will be,” Zelda assured him. “But no one ever said that contacting the Twilight Realm would be easy.”

“I suppose not,” Link agreed. He then gave the Princess a pleading stare. “Still…will you at least consider helping me so that I don’t have to shoulder this burden on my own? I know that you’ll have an easier time with this than I will.”

Zelda blushed a bit, surprised that he was asking for her assistance. Nevertheless, she didn’t intend to turn him down. “Very well. If my schedule permits it, then I will lend you a hand. After all, I would enjoy seeing Midna again as well.”

“Thanks Zelda,” Link replied, his voice full of sincerity. “You may not realize it, but you truly are a lifesaver.”

Zelda just laughed as she shook her head. “You know, reading never killed anyone, Link.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” he insisted.

 

---

 

Before long, the procession of horses and wagons picked up their pace as they journeyed further across Hyrule Field. They had planned to travel casually at the start of their tour, but now they needed to speed things up in order to maintain their schedule. Link and Zelda didn’t mind, simply spurring their horses into a light run as they continued to traverse the fields.

The group followed a dirt path leading south before it slowly started to curve to the east, heading towards a distant mountain range. That was where their first two destinations resided: Kakariko Village and Death Mountain. They expected that it would take at least an entire day’s worth of travel just to reach the village, so they tried to keep a steady pace.

At midday, the party stopped for lunch by a small pond. The chef that accompanied them started a fire and prepared a meal using some of the provisions from the wagon. He worked at an impressive pace, cooking enough food for the entire company in a surprisingly efficient amount of time. And in spite of the rush, the meal was no less appetizing for it. Everyone in the procession gladly gifted the chef their thanks, and looked forward to experiencing his cooking again.

The group also used the break as a time to relax and recover. The horses were given ample time to graze and drink the pond’s cool and refreshing water. While this was happening, the guards on staff kept a close eye on their surroundings, making sure that there would be no surprise encounters during this brief respite. Even now, there were still occasional sightings of monsters or Bulblins in the general area, so they could never be too careful.

It was around this time that Fost decided to approach the Princess and check up on her. “So, how are you enduring the journey so far, Your Highness?”

Zelda just swallowed her food before wiping her mouth with a cloth. Admittedly, riding around on Reina all day had been a little tiring, but this stop by the pond had allowed her to recover without it bothering her. “I’m doing well, thank you.”

“Is that so?” Fost asked skeptically. “And has all of this horseback riding started to take its toll on you?”

“Not particularly,” she answered, being honest yet vague.

Fost scolwed a bit. Clearly, this wasn’t the answer that he had been hoping for. “I see…Well, in any case, would you be interested in joining me in the carriage for the remainder of the journey?”

“No,” she replied bluntly.

Fost just frowned some more. “And why ever not?”

Zelda closed her eyes and smiled. “Forgive me, Fost, but I am simply enjoying my time riding across the fields with Reina. Your offer is doubtlessly appreciated, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.”

Fost just stared at the Princess, looking both dumbfounded and frustrated. He soon composed himself before turning to Link, who sat beside her. “Very well then. And how about you, Master Link? Would you care to join me in the carriage? I’m sure that one of the guards would be happy to lead your horse for you.”

Link just shook his head. “Sorry, Minister, but I’d rather not. I’m afraid that Epona and I enjoy each other’s company too much.”

Fost just stared at the Hero, looking like he was at a loss for words. “But…But this simply won’t do!” the Minister insisted. “One of you must join me in the carriage! Won’t you please reconsider?”

Zelda just stared at the short man, amused at his sudden agitation. Clearly, there was something bothering him. “What is the matter, Fost? Why do you need one of us to join you in there?”

Fost frowned, and soon dropped his voice to a whisper so that no one else in the travel party could hear him. “I could really use some better company. I’m not sure that I can endure my current companion alone.”

Link just raised his eyebrows. “You mean the chef?”

“Exactly!” Fost exclaimed quietly. “I hold nothing against the man, but he’s been silent for almost the entire trip! Every time I try to start a conversation with him, it falls flat after he gives some blunt response, and then the two of us just end up sitting there in uncomfortable silence. It’s been unbearably awkward!”

“He must not be one for conversations,” Zelda said with a shrug. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Yeah, he’s only here to cook, isn’t he?” Link asked as he took another bite from his lunch. “And I’d say he’s doing an excellent job of it.”

Fost sighed. “Yes, but it still doesn’t help my situation. I can’t stand riding alone with him in that carriage for any longer.”

Zelda just smiled as she shook her head once more. “This situation hardly seems as dreadful as you make it sound. The brave people of our Kingdom have survived far worse horrors than something as meager as ‘awkward silence’, so I’m certain that you will survive as well.”

Fost just sighed. He knew that she had a point, but he couldn’t resist begging for her help one last time. “Won’t you at least reconsider? For my sake?”

As she stared at the tiny old man, Zelda admitted that she did feel a small pang of sympathy for him and his plight, but she remained resolute in her decision. “My apologies, Fost, but I believe that you were the one who put yourself in this situation, so I see no reason to interfere and save you from it. You’ll just have to endure it on your own.”

Fost frowned and lowered his eyes in disappointment. “Very well. Just remember that while the two of you are out gallivanting around on your horses, my poor, lonely little self will be sitting in this miserable carriage alongside miserable company.”

Zelda just laughed at this. She knew that he was trying to make her feel guilty, but she wouldn’t allow such behavior to phase her. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. And besides, I thought that you were supposed to be the one looking after me on this trip. Not the other way around.”

Fost could only stare at the Princess in disbelief before frowning and turning away. “Enough. It is clear that you will not lend me your aid, so I will not bother to continue enduring this unnecessary criticism of my character. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must be off.” The tiny Minister then walked away, making sure to carry himself proudly.

Zelda just giggled as she watched him go. “Trying to save face, as always.”

Link turned to her with a frown. “Is he going to be okay?”

“He’ll be fine,” Zelda assured him. “He knew that he was in the wrong after I called him out for it. He’s just refusing to admit it for the sake of his pride.”

“He won’t hold a grudge over this, will he?”

“Don’t worry. He may be upset now, but he is a man of reason, and he surely understands our decision to refuse him. He just needs to come to terms with it.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” Link said with a nod. “I have to say, you’re pretty good at dealing with him.”

“Dealing with others in a fair and diplomatic fashion is part of a Princess’s duties,” Zelda said with a shrug. “Plus, it helps that I’ve known Fost my entire life. Because of this, it’s easy for me to understand his way of thinking and how best to approach the argument.”

“Wow,” Link said with a smile. “That’s really impressive. I wish that I could talk to people as well as you do.”

Zelda blushed a bit at his compliment, but simply nodded and continued talking. “I’m afraid that it’s not a skill that can be easily forged overnight. It takes years of practice to truly master the art of conversation, but once you do, you’ll find that it is a skill well-worth having, as it can get you out of situations such as this.”

“No kidding,” Link said with a small laugh. “I think I’m lucky that you were here. I probably would’ve just cracked if Fost had kept pressuring me.”

Zelda turned to Link with a surprised look, but then produced a smirk. “Oh, so you wouldn’t have had the courage to say no? And here I thought that the Hero of our Kingdom was brave.”

Link just frowned at this. “Courage is different from sympathy. I would have only accepted his offer for the sake of helping him. Not because I would be too afraid to say no.”

Zelda just nodded. “Right, of course, Link,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She soon returned to eating her meal.

Naturally, Link started getting defensive. “What? You don’t believe me?”

“No, of course I believe you,” Zelda said, her voice still containing a hint of sarcasm.

Link just frowned some more. “You think that I’m a pushover, don’t you?”

“I never said that,” Zelda replied before casually taking a bite of her food.

“But you think it.”

“Am I not free to think as I please?”

Link just sighed. “Zelda…”

Zelda covered her mouth before swallowing and giving a tiny giggle. “It’s all right, Link. I always enjoy seeing your displays of kindness towards others. I know that it’s just your nature, and I find it very charming.”

Link just stared back at her for a moment, before he surprisingly started to blush. It seemed like he still wasn’t used to receiving such heartfelt compliments from the Princess. He soon sighed before looking away. “If that’s how you really feel, then why do you have to tease me about it so much?”

“Because,” Zelda said simply, “being a little mischievous is my nature.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Link replied with a big frown.

Zelda just giggled some more. Admittedly, she had initially had her reservations about this tour. She assumed that it might be a bit depressing, having to accompany Link like this all while trying to come to terms with her own feelings. But now, she was honestly surprised at just how much fun she was having, and with the Hero no less. She had laughed numerous times that day, and her mood had been nothing but positive and cheerful.

As her laughter ceased, she turned to Link and gave him a sincere smile. Maybe this tour wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Notes:

The more I write Fanfiction, the more I think that it’s difficult, and that I’d be better off just being a reader of others’ stories. However, the more Fanfiction I read, the more inspired I am to sit down and write my own story.

It’s the duality of being a Fanfiction writer, I suppose.

Chapter 23: Kakariko Village

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 23 – Kakariko Village

After the break ended, the procession mounted their horses and wagons and continued the trek eastward. They galloped across Hyrule Field throughout the afternoon, making sure to keep a steady pace. By the time evening rolled around, the group managed to spot the first rocky cliffs that served as a gateway to the rest of the mountain range.

Since the sun was setting, the party decided to stop and camp for the night. They could have continued on if they had wanted, but it was usually dangerous to travel in the dark, and they still wouldn’t arrive at Kakariko until the early hours of the morning anyway. They soon set up a few tents and unraveled their bed rolls. The chef managed to prepare another satisfying meal, while the horses grazed in the field. After dinner was finished, the sun set, and everyone chose to retire for the night. They planned to resume their journey at dawn’s first light, so there was no point in staying up later than they had to.

Naturally, the guards decided to take shifts keeping watch throughout the night. This would guarantee that each of the soldiers could get a fair amount of sleep while also ensuring that the camp remained safe from any possible threats. Surprisingly, Link and Zelda also volunteered to take shifts and join in the watch, hoping to assist with what should rightfully be their share of the work. The soldiers claimed that such a thing wasn’t necessary, but the two of them insisted upon it, and the men eventually allowed it.

Fost, however, was far from willing to accept this outcome. He didn’t particularly care if Link wanted to keep watch, but he wasn’t about to let the Princess lose sleep while doing something so borderline dangerous. Naturally, Zelda ended up arguing back and forth with him about this, but the old geezer refused to give in. Zelda just eventually sighed and told him that she would refrain from joining the watch if that would make him happy. However, she secretly told the soldiers to include her in the watch anyway, and she simply snuck out of her tent to join them when the time came. It was the middle of the night by this point, and Fost was fast asleep, unable to do anything about her willingness to participate.

Zelda just smirked as she let her eyes settle over the dark plains before her. Fost was honestly a fool to have believed her surrender as easily as he had. She didn’t mind tricking him like this, for she knew that he was truly worrying over nothing. Zelda was more than capable of functioning without a full night’s rest. She had done it before, and she could do it again. Besides, she kind of enjoyed the task. She felt like it helped her stay alert and keep her mind sharp.

The guards were all sworn to secrecy about the Princess’s participation, so when the next morning rolled around, Fost was none the wiser. They packed up their camp and reloaded the wagons before continuing their journey once again. Before long, they managed to enter the canyon that lay ahead of them. From here, it only took a few more hours before they finally reached their destination.

The party looked around as they rode into the civilization known as Kakariko Village. The air here was dry, and also a bit dusty. The temperature was a bit on the warmer side as well, no doubt due to the town’s proximity to Death Mountain as well as its natural exposure to the sun. All of the village’s buildings lined its single street, starting at the base of the cliff with additional structures working their way up the cliffside. They mostly appeared to be made of stone or wood, or sometimes a mixture of the two. It definitely seemed like the villagers had used whatever materials they had available to construct their homes. At one end of the street was a large watchtower resting on wooden supports which could safely observe the entire canyon below. At the other end of the village was a beautiful spring full of fresh, clear water. This specific pool was said to be home to Eldin, one of the four Light Spirits.

As the procession slowly made its way into town, they were soon met by a small group of individuals who applauded their approach. Zelda just smiled and gave them a friendly wave. The crowd was far smaller than what they had experienced at Castle Town, but that was to be expected. After all, Kakariko was a village that was still growing and recovering after the Twilight Invasion had taken its toll. Nevertheless, Zelda was pleased to see a decent mixture of races among the town’s residents. Most of them were humans of course, but there were a fair number of Gorons, and even a handful of Zoras. Surely, this was a sign that the village was recovering smoothly.

The procession soon came to a halt in front of a large building that most of the residents had gathered around. Zelda then dismounted from her horse, and Link did the same. The first thing the Princess intended to do was address the people and give them a proper greeting. Naturally, they had planned their formation ahead of time, with Link standing on Zelda’s left side and Fost on her right.

Once everyone was in position, Zelda raised a hand, signaling the crowd to fall silent. She then spoke up in a clear, majestic voice.

“Greetings, citizens of Kakariko Village. My name is Princess Zelda of Hyrule. It is an incredible honor to join you here today, and I thank you for graciously welcoming me into your home.”

The crowd applauded a bit more, and a few of them cheered. It was obvious that they were excited to have a member of the Royal Family visiting them after all of this time.

Zelda soon gestured to her right. “Accompanying me on this journey is Minister Fost of the Hyrule Council…”

The tiny Minister beamed a bit as he received a polite applause.

“And,” Zelda continued, gesturing to her left, “Link, the Hero of Twilight.”

This announcement garnered much more applause than before. Once again, the people cheered, and some of them waved at Link. Others gawked a bit, surprised to finally see what the Hero of the Kingdom looked like after hearing so much about him.

Link just accepted all of this with a small smile and a sheepish wave back. As expected, he didn’t care for the attention, but he at least wanted to make sure that he returned their kindness.

As the noise started to die down, Renado walked out from the crowd and approached the Princess before giving her a bow. “Greetings, Princess. It is an honor to have you visit our village, and we gladly welcome you into our home. We hope that your stay with us is a pleasant one.”

Zelda smiled at him. She could tell that he was only being formal for the sake of the crowds, but she intended to play along. As fellow individuals of high positions, it was their duty to behave this way.

Renado soon invited the entire procession into the large building behind them. It was apparently an inn that had been recently restored. Renado claimed that a meal had been prepared for them, and the entire village would be dining together. As the group entered, they found that the base of the building mostly consisted of a dining room that held a warm, tavern-like atmosphere. It seemed that for this particular occasion, three long dining tables had been set up in the center of the room. Renado led them to the table in the middle and invited Zelda to sit at its head. Fost and Link took the nearest seats to her right while the Shaman took the seat to her left. The villagers then filled up the rest of the tables, with the Gorons choosing to discard their seats so they could sit directly on the floor.

“This place is marvelous,” Zelda said as she eyed the spacious and well-lit room. “You said that this building was only recently restored?”

“Yes, we finally got ahold of a carpenter to fix the place up,” Renado said with a nod. “It used to be in shambles back during the Twilight Invasion.”

Link nodded too. “Yeah, it honestly used to look like it was abandoned.”

“Amazing,” Fost said as he also looked around. “You’d never think such a thing with the way it is now.”

“Your compliments are appreciated,” Renado replied with a smile. “I hope it pleases you to know that this inn is also where you will be staying for the night. There are a number of rooms available upstairs, which you should find more than comfortable.”

Zelda smiled back. “That sounds wonderful, Renado. Thank you.”

“It is my pleasure.”

It was at this moment that Zelda glanced to Renado’s side and noticed a young girl had been seated next to him. She had dark hair that stopped just above her shoulders, and she appeared to be no older than twelve. Zelda just gave the girl a curious glance.

“Renado, would you mind introducing me to your companion?”

The Shaman smiled. “Of course. This is my daughter, Luda.”

The girl had been silent up to this point, but she soon smiled and gave a small bow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”

Zelda quickly smiled back. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Luda. Thank you for welcoming me into your home.”

The girl just gave a shy smile. Zelda wondered if she might be nervous about this encounter with royalty. However, she then watched as the girl turned towards the Hero that sat across from her, and spoke up again. “It’s nice to see you again, Link.”

Link smiled down at her. “It’s nice to see you too, Luda.”

“Can I ask how Colin is doing back in Ordon?”

Link seemed a bit surprised, but he gave a positive nod. “Oh, Colin is doing well. He and all the other kids are back home, safe and sound again.”

Luda gave a small nod back. “Does Colin ever talk about coming back here to visit?”

Link just raised his eyebrows at this. Why would she ask something like that? And didn’t she care to hear about the other children? “Um…I don’t know. I don’t think he’s mentioned it.”

Luda stared down at the table. “Oh, I see.”

As Link gave the girl a weird look, Renado chose to continue his conversation with Zelda. “Anyways, as I was saying, Kakariko Village has been slowly but steadily recovering from the Twilight Invasion. In addition to this building, we’ve managed to repair a number of homes, and as I stated in our Roundtable discussions, business has been consistently growing. We’ve been thankful to receive so much assistance from Castle Town as well as the Zoras.”

“I’m very happy to hear that,” Zelda said with a smile. “I spoke briefly with Enzo before we departed from the castle, and he mentioned that there are a few more individuals that have an interest in potentially relocating here.”

Renado smiled. “Is that so?”

“Yes. I believe Enzo stated that you can expect a young smith by the name of Arden, as well as a young woman named Beretta who excels at cooking.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Renado said with a grateful nod. “It will certainly give this village some more variety.”

“Oh,” said Zelda, suddenly remembering another name. “Enzo also mentioned that Telma showed some interest in moving here.”

Renado paused as the smile faded from his lips. “Telma?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, she runs a tavern in Castle Town. I haven’t heard if she’s made a final decision or not, but if she does move here, I imagine that she’ll pursue a similar line of work.”

Zelda waited for Renado to respond, but to her surprise, he simply remained silent. She soon glanced over to him only to feel even more bewildered by his expression. The Shaman’s eyes were wide, and he seemed a little unnerved. Zelda just continued to stare at him, wondering what was going on.

“Is something the matter?” she eventually asked.

Renado soon blinked and sighed before shaking his head. “No, everything is fine.”

Zelda raised her eyebrows a bit. “Do you know Telma?”

“I’ve met her once before, yes.” The Shaman then closed his eyes and retained his silence once again.

Zelda just stared at the Shaman some more. Clearly something had bothered the man, and it likely had something to do with Telma. The Princess couldn’t help but wonder if something had happened between the two of them in the past. She knew that Telma could be a bit outspoken at times, and that quality could potentially leave a bad impression on others.

A part of her wanted to inquire about this topic further, but she decided to drop it since their lunch had started to be served. Renado assured his guests that it was an old Kakariko specialty, made using only crops that had been grown here in the village.

“You guys grow stuff here?” Link asked as he helped himself to the meal. Being from Ordon, he was naturally interested in farming. “I’ve never seen any fields though.”

Renado chuckled. “Yes, we do it in a different fashion than what you are used to, Link. Here, we grow the food in small gardens that we keep around our homes. Some are even grown directly on our rooftops.”

“And the plants…actually grow in this environment?” Link asked skeptically.

Renado laughed some more. “While it is true that we lack the nutritious soil that can be found in Ordon, there are a surprising number of plants that do not require it. Everything we grow here is indigenous to the area, and we water it all using the spring at the edge of the village.”

“Wow,” said Link, sounding impressed. “I had no idea.”

“Living here hasn’t always been easy,” Renado admitted with a smile. “But it has taught us to be resourceful, and we’ve always managed to get by.”

“Which is a quality that you and your people should be very proud of,” Zelda complimented him. “The people of Kakariko have always been known to be hardy as well as trustworthy. I consider it a great honor to count this small village as a part of our Kingdom.”

“Your words are too kind, Princess,” Renado said with a bow of the head.

“And yet I say them with the utmost sincerity,” Zelda assured him with a smile. “That being said, I would still like to learn a great deal more about Kakariko. After our meal, would you be willing to show me around the village? As part of the tour, I would like to explore this area, and see how the residents live.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Renado said with a nod.

 

---

 

After they finished their meal, Renado proceeded to show the visitors around the village. A handful of guards traveled with them for the sake of ensuring the Princess’s safety, but the rest were dismissed to roam about the town at their leisure. The procession didn’t plan to depart until the following morning, so they had plenty of time to explore.

Renado started at the base of the village, showing the group his home where he practiced his medicine. They then moved on to the stores and street stalls, some of which were run by Gorons. They visited a general store, a potion shop, and even a business that specialized in crafting bombs. As they moved along, Zelda wanted to make sure to support the town’s business, so she kept an eye out for anything that she might be interested in purchasing.

Her answer eventually came in the form of a large tapestry hanging on one of the shops’ walls. It carried the insignia of the Eldin Province: a large owl with its wings spread out in an arc overtop of it. Surrounding the owl was a canyon which contained numerous rustic buildings. Its colors consisted of various shades of brown and mahogany, and Zelda thought it looked rather charming.

She soon pointed it out to the Minister who accompanied her. “What do you think of this tapestry, Fost? Don’t you think it would look nice hanging on one of the castle walls?”

Fost just stared at it, looking less than impressed. “What, this? But it’s just a dusty piece of j-”

Zelda decided to give the short man a rough jab with her elbow. He immediately yelped before glaring at her. He then paused once he realized that the shop’s owner was within earshot.

“Oh, I mean, yes, I’m sure that it would look wonderful,” Fost said with a less than believable smile.

Zelda just shook her head before turning to the shopkeeper. “Would you mind if we purchased it?”

“Of course not,” the man said with a bow. “It would be a great honor to know that our family’s meager work will be displayed in the magnificent halls of the castle.”

“Wonderful,” Zelda said with a smile. “Fost, would you mind?”

The short Minister just sighed before pulling out his rupee pouch. He made sure to pay the shopkeeper more than a fair sum, and the tapestry was soon rolled up and handed over to them. One of the guards offered to carry it back to the wagons, where it would be safely stored until their eventual trip back to the castle.

From there, Renado led his guests to the graveyard, which lay in a smaller canyon outside of the town. Here, numerous gravestones littered the dry earth, some of them looking ancient in age. It was clear that there was a lot of history contained in this place. Renado also offered to show the group to the grave of King Zora which lay at the far back of the graveyard, but he mentioned that it wasn’t easily accessible, so Zelda refrained.

The Princess did, however, insist on stopping and uttering a short prayer. She wanted to pay her respects to King Zora, a great leader whom she had met once when she was a young child, as well as his wife, Queen Rutela, who was also buried here. Zelda silently spoke to the Goddesses, asking them to watch over their departed souls, and provide relief to the living that grieved them.

Zelda also took a moment to offer a similar prayer for those that had lost their lives during the Twilight Invasion. She knew that most of the residents of Kakariko had fled from the encroaching danger, but a handful of them had still met their end at the beasts that dwelled in the Twilight, and the guilt of that loss weighed on her. She hoped that these poor souls were now in a better place.

Once she had finished, Renado then offered to escort the group to the upper levels of Kakariko. This is where most of the villager’s residences had been built, and interestingly enough, there were a few natural hot springs to be found as well. However, the truly amazing sight was still yet to come. Renado led the group up to the highest point in Kakariko, where the watchtower stood. It took them a while to get there, since Fost kept tiring out after climbing on his short legs for so long, but they eventually reached the top.

“Oh my,” Zelda gasped when she was finally able to gaze out at the sight before her. The view was incredible. From this high point, she could easily see the entire canyon spread out before her. All of the buildings, the people, even the spring at the far end. It was amazing how distant everything felt. At this height, even the Gorons looked small. Additionally, she could also see the wide expanse that was the sky, uninhibited by the cliffs that usually restricted the view. Today, it was a magnificent shade of blue, painted with numerous white clouds to accompany it. Between both this and the canyon, it was a truly glorious sight.

“It’s…breathtaking,” was all Zelda could whisper in response.

Link soon walked up next to her, smiling. “See? I told you that you’d see some incredible sights.”

The wind suddenly blew, pushing some of the Princess’s hair into her face, but she just casually brushed it back into place. “Yes, and you certainly weren’t kidding.”

“Oh my heavens,” Fost said, as he too gazed out at the view. His legs soon began shaking, and he retreated back towards the building to steady himself. “G-Good Sir Renado, you never mentioned that we would be th-this high up.”

Renado just raised his eyebrows at the small man. “Come now, Minister, I would’ve thought that you’d be used to this sort of thing. Surely the castle has balconies that are higher than this.”

Fost just squeezed his eyes shut. “Yes, but that is a well-constructed castle made out of sturdy stonework, while this is nothing more than some old pieces of wood haphazardly nailed together.”

Renado stared at him some more before laughing. “Worry not, Minister. I can assure you that this structure is just as well-crafted and sturdy.”

“So you say,” Fost replied skeptically. “Oh, Princess Zelda, do be careful up here!”

“I will, Fost,” Zelda assured him with a laugh. She was honestly surprised at how nervous he was. There was no doubt in her mind that he was just needlessly worrying as he always did.

Zelda then paused a bit as she felt someone give a slight tug on her dress. She soon glanced down to see Luda standing by her side.

The girl gave a shy smile before speaking up in a soft voice. “Would you like to see something interesting, Princess?”

Zelda just stared at her for a second before producing her own smile. She found the girl’s shy behavior to be a little cute. “Of course, Luda. What is it?”

Luda then pointed up, past the Princess, to the top of the building behind them. Zelda followed her finger, eventually spotting a long wooden pole stretching out from the rooftop. “Do you see that arrow?”

Zelda squinted, and sure enough, noticed a single arrow sticking out near the top of the pole. “Yes.”

“Link did that,” Luda said with a wide smile. “He fired it from the other side of the village. They say that it was the most impressive shot in Kakariko’s history.”

Zelda gawked at the girl, before glancing up at the arrow once more, only to then stare back down into the canyon. After a few more seconds of stunned silence, she finally turned to Link. “You shot that? From all the way down there!?”

Link gave a bashful smile. “Yeah, although I did use a tool to enhance my vision.”

“Still,” Zelda replied, marveling once again at the distance. “That’s an incredibly impressive feat. That little archery contest we held never would have led me to believe that you were capable of this.”

Link just laughed. “Well, I told you that I was a good shot, didn’t I?”

Zelda just smiled. “Yes, and I suppose I should have listened.” She then paused before glancing down into the canyon again. She was still in awe of what had been explained to her, but she had to admit, she was a little curious about something as well. “I do have one question though. Why were you standing in the middle of the street and shooting arrows up here?”

Link seemed a bit taken aback by this. “Well, I was trying to hit the pole.”

Zelda nodded. “Right, but wasn’t that dangerous?”

Link soon frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Link, you were just standing in the middle of town, trying to shoot arrows up at this building,” Zelda replied, sounding incredulous. “What if one of your arrows had gone astray? You could have hit someone, and with such a far-off target, you might not have even known that you’d done such a thing.”

Link just stared at Zelda, feeling stunned. Why did it feel like she was scolding him? “Zelda, I can assure you that it was perfectly safe. It was back during the Twilight Invasion, so the town was mostly empty back then.”

Zelda tilted her head a bit. “Mostly empty?”

Link just gulped. “Well, yeah, there was nobody out on the streets, and the only people watching were standing by my side, so it really was safe.”

“Were you entirely sure that there was no one about?” Zelda pressed him. “Did you do a check of the village and surrounding area? Did you alert the villagers that you were going to be attempting this?”

Link felt like he was caught off guard by this. “I…well, no…”

Zelda just sighed as she shook her head. “I knew that you could be reckless at times, but this just borders on foolishness. I’m all for challenging your skill with the bow, but an archery range is the appropriate place for that sort of thing. Not the middle of a village.”

Link could only frown. Just a second ago, she had been impressed with his feat! Now he was suddenly being reprimanded for it! “You’re blowing things out of proportion. It really wasn’t a big deal,” he insisted.

“I think you’re just lucky that nobody got hurt,” Zelda replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “What compelled you to make such a shot in the first place?”

“It was Talo’s idea,” Luda suddenly chimed in.

Zelda immediately turned to face her. “Talo?”

“He’s one of the kids from Ordon Village. He encouraged Link to do it, and then he climbed up here and stood right next to the pole.”

Zelda’s eyes went wide. “He what?” She soon whipped her head back towards the Hero. “Link!”

Link clenched his teeth a bit, looking apprehensive. “Wh-What?” he stuttered, trying to sound innocent.

Zelda just gawked at him. “You were shooting at a target that was mere inches away from a child!? You told me that no one was around!”

Link could only gulp again. He had to admit, he had kind of forgotten that Talo was there, and he knew that this fact really did make the situation sound worse overall. “He…He wasn’t that close,” he argued back weakly.

“He was close enough!” Zelda insisted. “With such a distant target, your arrow could have easily gone astray and struck him by accident! Why, it’s so windy up here, even a slight breeze could have forced your arrow off course. Did the two of you not consider any of this?”

Link frowned. Truth be told, he hadn’t thought about it at all. “Well, Talo just thought that it would be fun, so I kind of went along with it…” he admitted guiltily.

“And that’s another thing,” Zelda continued. “I understand that you wanted to have some fun, but you should know better than to indulge a child in such a dangerous request.”

Link could only sigh at this. He wanted to defend himself, but he couldn’t deny that the Princess had some good points. Still, it wasn’t like he had been trying to hurt anyone. It had all been done in innocence as far as he was concerned. “What do you want me to say? It happened months ago, you know.”

Zelda just stared at him before speaking up in a stern voice. “I want you to not partake in something so dangerous without thinking about the consequences. I mean, my goodness, can you even imagine what the people of Hyrule would say if they knew that their Hero had been firing arrows at a target that was mere inches away from a child? They’d paint you out to be some sort of monster. Or perhaps an utter fool. Either way, I really do wish that you would use that head of yours in order to prevent situations like this before they happen.”

Link could feel both his confidence and shoulders dropping as the Princess scolded him. He never imagined that he might be on the receiving end of one of Zelda’s tongue lashings, but now that he was, he had to admit that it was not fun. He initially felt like he hadn’t done anything wrong, but now he just felt ashamed.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I guess we probably should’ve tried it under safer circumstances.”

Zelda just continued to eye the Hero, feeling a little disappointed in him. She knew that he hadn’t meant any harm by what he had done, but it was still the height of carelessness in her eyes. However, she soon broke her gaze when she felt another gentle tug on her dress. She turned to find Luda frowning up at her.

“Um…Princess, you really should go easy on Link. You see, Talo’s kind of an idiot, and his stupidity can spread to other people sometimes. Link wasn’t really trying to be reckless. He was just trying to have fun with the kids.”

Zelda just blinked as she stared at the girl, surprised that she had chosen to speak up and defend the man. She soon glanced back towards Link to find that he held the exact same expression.

“A few of us watched, but none of us spoke up against it either,” Luda admitted quietly. “That means that we are also at fault. So please don’t be too hard on Link.”

Zelda just continued to stare at the girl in surprise. From what Zelda had seen today, Luda typically seemed to be rather reserved and soft-spoken, and yet here she was, speaking up in defense of Link. The Princess knew that it couldn’t have been easy for her, and she truly admired her courage. Additionally, Zelda had to admit that she found the girl’s demeanor to be rather sweet and innocent. She honestly wasn’t sure that she had the heart to disagree with such a pure child.

Zelda sighed a bit, but soon smiled. “Very well. In the end, nobody was hurt, so I suppose I can drop this matter.”

Luda’s face lit up a bit. “Does this mean that you’re not going to punish Link?”

Zelda just giggled at this question. Was that what she had been worried about? “No, I think I’ll just let him off with a warning this time.” She then smirked a bit, before turning back towards the Hero. “That is, if Link here feels like he has learned his lesson.”

Link just stared at them, surprised at Luda’s words as well as Zelda’s sudden mercy. “Er, yes, I promise that it won’t happen again,” he agreed hastily.

“Then all is forgiven,” Zelda said happily. Although, she made sure to give Link a look to let him know that he was incredibly lucky to have been spared.

Link just nodded a bit before releasing a sigh. He knew all too well.

Notes:

You ever stop and think about some of the dumb things you did while playing Twilight Princess? Specifically, the things that were so dumb that you would feel embarrassed and ashamed if you had to explain them to rational people? Because that is exactly how Link feels right now lol.

Chapter 24: Prayer

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 24 – Prayer

Later that evening, the entirety of Kakariko Village gathered together once again to share a meal. This time, they planned to dine outside the inn with tables and chairs set up right in the middle of the street. The dinner consisted of wild boar, and it was prepared over a roaring bonfire. This created a more casual and friendly atmosphere, which Zelda wasn’t usually accustomed to, but she appreciated it all the same.

After the dinner, “spirited drinks” were offered to the guests. Zelda politely declined, as she wasn’t exactly keen to lose her wits at this time. Fost, on the other hand, was more than happy to accept a bottle and become merry with the villagers. Before long, music and dance broke out among the crowd. The Gorons played drums and bongos while the Hylians had woodwind and stringed instruments. The resulting sound was a cacophony of beautiful, fast-paced melodies, which only served to liven up the crowd as they danced the night away.

Zelda joined in a bit of the dancing for the sake of being polite, but much like the outdoor dining experience, this sort of dance was something that she wasn’t accustomed to. She was more familiar with the slow dances that you might expect at a formal ball as opposed to this frantic swinging of arms and legs. She managed to join the crowd for at least a few songs, but she made sure to slip away at her earliest opportunity.

By this point, night had fallen over the village, and the only sources of light were the lanterns hanging around the street, as well as the large bonfire which burned ever bright. She took a moment to gaze at the crowd, watching them continue their happy dance as the music rose and fell. She soon spotted Fost, who was red-faced and grinning while he chatted with a nearby Goron. All the while, he continued guzzling away at whatever drink the villagers had served him.

Zelda just smiled a bit as she watched him. She knew that the Minister could be a pain at times, but she was truly glad that he was enjoying himself on this trip. And not only that, but she was also glad that he was distracted for a moment…

Zelda glanced around to make sure that no one was watching her, and then she silently slipped away from the crowd, heading further down the street. As she walked, she heard the sounds of both the music and the crowd slowly fade away behind her. She then breathed a sigh of relief. It had been fun to spend time with such a rowdy audience, but Zelda was honestly grateful for some peace and quiet. Not to mention, she would require silence for what she had planned.

Zelda continued walking until she eventually reached the spring at the edge of town. She had intended to visit this spot earlier in the day, but she had been too caught up in the tour’s events to find the time. Fortunately, she was here now, and that was all that mattered.

Zelda walked right up to the water’s edge before stopping. She then gazed out over the calm, quiet pool that sat before her. Towards the back of the spring, she could spot a small waterfall, gently pouring into the basin below.

Zelda smiled a bit as she stared at the peaceful sight. While it was a location that was rich in beauty, the Princess also knew that it was more than that. This spring was a sacred place, as it was home to the Light Spirit known as Eldin, who presided over the entire Eldin Province. With a small nod, Zelda soon clasped her hands together and went to bow her head.

However, a voice suddenly called out, interrupting her. “What are you doing?”

Zelda opened her eyes and glanced behind her, only to find Link slowly approaching her position at the edge of the spring. Like the Princess, he seemed to have abandoned the crowd at the other end of the street.

“I was hoping for a moment of peace and quiet,” Zelda explained with a small smile.

Link just frowned, looking a little guilty. “Oh…And once again, I’m here to interrupt it…”

Zelda shook her head at him. “Nonsense. You’re more than welcome to join me out here. After all, I assume that you wanted a break from the crowds as well?”

“A little bit,” Link admitted with a smile. “Also, I spotted you walking away, and I was a little curious to see where you were running off to.”

Zelda smirked. “Ah, and here I thought that I had made a clean getaway. Leave it to the Hero to always keep a watchful eye on me.”

“Someone has to,” Link said with a shrug. “I don’t think Fost would be happy to know that you snuck away without any guards to accompany you.”

Zelda just laughed a bit. “I don’t think Fost can even tell his left from his right at the moment. And besides, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. That is, as long as you are willing to be sworn to secrecy.”

“You want me to keep my mouth shut?” Link asked with raised eyebrows. “And what if doing so gets me into trouble?”

Zelda shrugged. “I’m sure it won’t be anything that I can’t bail you out of.”

Link just frowned in response. “Well gee, that’s reassuring.”

Zelda giggled a bit at his reaction. “You will keep this secret for me, won’t you?”

Link scratched his head for a second, but soon smiled. “All right, fine. But just know that if I do end up getting in trouble for this, I’m dragging you down with me.”

“Fair enough,” Zelda agreed as she smirked once more. Truthfully, she knew that if it really did come down to it, she would gladly spare the Hero and accept all of the blame herself. It had been her decision to sneak away in the first place, after all.

“So what brought you to the spring?” Link asked as he walked up and joined Zelda by the water. “You didn’t have to travel this far if you just wanted some quiet time.”

Zelda nodded. “Truth be told, I actually came here to pray.”

“Pray?” Link repeated, suddenly looking surprised.

Zelda nodded again. “Yes. As I'm sure you recall, in our final battle against Ganondorf, I called upon the four Light Spirits and asked for their aid. In response, they gifted me the light arrows, which I used to fight against the evil tyrant.”

Link nodded as he listened. Of course, he recalled all of that perfectly.

“As part of the tour, I would like to visit each of the Spirits’ homes, and offer them my gratitude for providing their assistance in our hour of need. Without them, who knows if we would have made it out alive?”

“That’s true,” Link agreed as he closed his eyes. So many people had helped him on his journey to save Hyrule, that it could honestly be hard to remember them all. From the Resistance to the various races he encountered, to Midna, Zelda, the Light Spirits, and even the Goddesses above. It really was a miracle that everything had worked out in the way that it had.

“So now here I am, ready to pray,” Zelda concluded as she turned towards the Hero. “Would you care to join me?”

“In prayer?” Link asked with a frown. Zelda nodded. “Admittedly, I’ve never really prayed much before. I’m not sure if I even know what to say.”

Zelda gave him an encouraging smile. “You don’t necessarily have to say anything. A prayer can be something as simple as expressing your feelings of gratitude. As long as it comes from your heart, the Spirits will understand.”

“You make it sound so easy,” Link replied, still looking a little nervous.

“Are you at least willing to try?” Zelda asked softly. “I’m sure the Spirits would appreciate your prayer in addition to my own.”

Link nodded at this. He wasn’t confident that his meager attempt at prayer would be worth anything, but after all of the help the Spirits had given him on his journey, he felt like he at least owed it to them to try.

“All right,” he agreed quietly. “Tell me what to do.”

Zelda smiled at his nervousness. “It is very simple. Bring your hands together, bow your head, and close your eyes. Then, just let your heart speak for you.”

Link found that the gestures were simple enough to perform, but he struggled to understand the final instruction. Let his heart speak for him? How was he supposed to do that? Still, he tried the best that he could. With his hands clasped together and his head lowered, he attempted to project his thoughts towards the Spirit which resided in the spring.

Oh great Eldin, thank you for lending me your aid throughout my journey. I know that we wouldn’t have succeeded without your assistance, and for that I am grateful. Um… Link paused, trying to think of what else he should say. And please continue to watch over us and the good people of Kakariko. Amen…

Link breathed a small sigh of relief as he finished. Sure, he had directly spoken to the Light Spirits before, but it felt completely different to bow to them in reverence like this. The entire experience felt a bit humbling, as it reminded Link of his place in the universe, and just how much he had to be thankful for.

Meanwhile, Zelda also poured her heart into her prayer. She thanked Eldin for aiding her Hero and Kingdom during the Twilight Invasion, and she asked that the great owl Spirit continue to watch over them all. She expressed her hopes that the Kingdom would continue to prosper under the Spirit’s influence for many ages to come, and she asserted that the Royal Family would be forever grateful for his protection and guidance. She then thanked the Spirit one final time before ending her prayer and raising her head.

As she opened her eyes, Zelda turned to find the Hero had already finished. She gave him a small smile. “I’ve said what I needed to say. How about you?”

“Well, it wasn’t very ceremonious, but I at least said what was on my mind,” Link replied with a shrug. “Hopefully, it was good enough for the Spirit.”

Just then, the two of them were caught by surprise as the spring suddenly flared to life. It began to glow with a faint white light; the crystal-clear water now shining onto the cliffs that surrounded it. Both Zelda and Link watched this phenomenon for a few seconds before it gently faded away and the spring returned to normalcy.

“Um…what was that?” Link asked, feeling a little stunned.

Zelda simply smiled some more. “I think that was Eldin’s way of showing his thanks for our prayers. Clearly, the Spirit was pleased to hear what you had to say.”

“Huh,” Link replied, staring down at the water once more. “So, he really heard us?”

Zelda smirked at his suddenly awed expression. “Of course. Never underestimate the power of prayer, Link.”

“As if I could after seeing that,” Link said with a small smile. “I have to say, that was actually pretty cool.”

“It sounds like you enjoyed the experience,” Zelda noted happily.

“Yeah, I think I did.”

“In that case, would you care to join me again when we eventually visit the springs of Lanayru, Faron, and Ordona? I’d be pleased to have you by my side when the time comes to offer prayers to them as well.”

“Sure, count me in,” Link replied confidently. “After all, it wouldn’t be fair to just thank one of the Spirits, now would it?”

“No, I suppose not,” she agreed with a smile. “The Spirits are not especially fickle beings, but it would be best to not show partiality when offering your gratitude. In the end, they all helped us, and therefore, they should all receive a proper ‘thank you’.”

“Agreed,” Link said, nodding again. He then glanced around at the now calm waters. Seeing no further signs of activity, he soon pointed back towards the town. “So, should we go ahead and return to the party then? You know, before people start wondering where we are?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, I think that would be wise.”

The two of them turned and began walking side-by-side back towards Kakariko. They weren’t in a particular rush to return to the festivities, so they kept a casual pace, simply enjoying the evening stroll, as well as each other’s company.

“I think the music and dancing will start to die down soon,” Link informed the Princess. “It’s starting to get late, and Renado mentioned that he wanted to do one last thing before dismissing everyone for the night.”

“Oh?” Zelda replied, sounding curious. “And what exactly does he have in mind?”

Link paused before grinning in a creepy way. “He said that he’s going to share ‘the tale of the old cursed well of Kakariko Village’...”

Zelda just stifled a giggle as she looked at him. “What’s with that expression? Is that supposed to be ominous?”

Link just dropped the expression and laughed. “You don’t scare easily, I take it?”

“Not from something as goofy-looking as that,” Zelda shot back.

Link laughed some more before shrugging. “Renado made it sound like it’s a scary story. I guess I’m just not selling it very well.”

“In that case, I’ll try to keep my preconceived notions in check,” Zelda teased him with a smirk. “I’d hate for Renado’s tale to be ruined by the thought of your cheesy grin.”

“Ha ha, very funny,” the Hero replied sarcastically.

Zelda giggled a bit before looking away. She had a feeling that Renado would be a much better storyteller than Link, but she didn’t plan to tease him about this any more than she already had. The Hero had already endured enough for one day, and the Princess was nothing if not merciful.

Besides, Zelda’s thoughts were soon drifting towards another topic. Specifically, she was thinking about the Shaman that had been mentioned. A moment from earlier in the day still lingered in her mind, and once again, she found it catching her curiosity. She soon turned to the Hero once more.

“Oh, that reminds me, Link. There was something I wanted to ask you.”

He turned to face her as well. “Hmm? What is it?”

“You know Telma, from the bar in Castle Town, correct?”

Link nodded. “Of course I do. She helped me out a lot during the Twilight Invasion.”

Zelda nodded back before frowning a bit. “By any chance, do you know if there’s something going on between her and Renado? Earlier today, I mentioned that she might have an interest in moving here, and he didn’t seem very pleased about it.”

Link blinked for a second before a look of realization crossed his face. “Ah, is that so?”

Zelda frowned some more as she closed her eyes. “Yes, I almost wonder if I’ve done something wrong by mentioning it. The Shaman seemed rather uncomfortable about the whole thing.”

Link sighed a bit before rubbing the back of his neck. “Well…I don’t know too much about it…”

His hesitation caught Zelda’s interest. She immediately turned her curious gaze back to him. “But you do know something, I take it?”

Link sighed again. “Listen, I don’t know the full story, so this is mostly guesswork. But…I think that Telma fancies Renado a bit.”

Zelda’s eyes widened in surprise. She knew that the barmaid could often be smitten with her patrons, but she had never expected her to have taken an interest in someone as mature and reserved as Renado. “Is that so?” she asked.

Link slowly nodded. “Yes…but I don’t think that he feels the same way about her.”

Zelda paused for a second before casting her gaze down towards the ground. Upon hearing this, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity in those words. After all, they accurately described her current situation with the man walking next to her. One of them had feelings for the other, but the other simply wasn’t interested.

“Oh, that’s…rather unfortunate,” Zelda eventually replied, sounding a little sad.

Link nodded a bit before shrugging. “If I had to guess, that’s what could potentially be causing strife between them. Although, if Telma is considering relocating to this village, it sounds like she hasn’t given up.”

Maybe she should, Zelda thought glumly to herself. She knew all too well the pain of pining after someone that you couldn’t be with. Even now, she had her own feelings for the Hero carefully bottled up within her. She wondered, how long was she going to hold on to them for? Would she ever be free of them? Zelda didn’t know the answer, and she honestly wasn’t sure if she ever would.

The Princess soon sighed, pushing such thoughts away as she often did. She knew that there would be time to dwell on them later. Besides, she had other things to focus on, namely the ongoing party that they had now returned to.

“Looks like they’re still playing music,” Link said as he gazed around at all the dancing figures.

“Indeed,” Zelda said, also watching them. She couldn’t help but wonder how late these sorts of festivities ran here in Kakariko. Would they eventually settle down, or would they be up all night?

Before long, a less than graceful Fost stumbled in front of them. He soon glanced up at the duo with unfocused eyes and cheeks that were somehow even redder than before. “Ah, Princessss!” he exclaimed, slurring his words. “I was wondering where you d…disappeared to.”

Zelda just stared down at the short Minister, who was clearly drunk. She chose to greet him with a smirk. “Good evening, Fost. Enjoying the festivities, I take it?”

“A’course!” he replied, speaking in a far less formal tone than usual. “It’s been wonderful. Sssimply wonderful.”

Zelda couldn’t help but giggle a bit as she glanced over to Link. He too smiled in amusement at the Minister’s uncoordinated behavior. This was a far cry from the man who was typically so dignified and composed.

“Anyhoo,” Fost continued. “They’re about to perform the last song of the night! Would you care to join me for a dance, Your Highnessss?”

Zelda just watched as the short man politely extended a hand towards her. “You are requesting a dance with me?”

“If…” Fost paused, suppressing a small hiccup. “If you would be so kind.”

Zelda stifled another giggle as she watched him. He must have really been too far gone if he was requesting such a thing at this hour. So much for him being the responsible one on this trip. “I don’t know, Fost. I think that you might be better off retiring for the night.”

“Non-ssssense!” he insisted. “I feel like I can stay up for hours…”

Zelda just gave him a skeptical look. “Are you sure you’re not tired? You seem a little…disoriented,” she said, trying to put it delicately.

Naturally, Fost just gave her a dismissive wave. “Oh, don’t worry about me, Prrrincess. I’m really enjoying myself! So now, I just want to make sure that you’re havin’ fun on this trip as well.”

Zelda couldn’t help but blush a bit at this. He was trying to provide her with an enjoyable time? She sometimes forgot that in spite of Fost constantly being a nagging nuisance in her life, he was also a kind soul that truly cared about her. “Oh, well isn’t that sweet of you?” she asked with a smile.

“I am as d…diligent as ever,” he assured her as he produced a drunken grin.

Zelda smiled some more before closing her eyes. “Very well, I’ll agree to one dance.” The old man started to cheer while Zelda turned to the Hero who still stood beside her. “Sorry, Link. I hope you don’t mind if I abandon you for a bit.”

“No, of course not,” Link replied, smiling at the bond that the two of them shared. “Go have fun.”

She gave him a nod of appreciation before she took Fost’s hand. The drunken fool was all too giddy to accept it and lead her out into the crowd. They then took up a formal dance position as the musicians began to play a slower song; the first and only one of the night.

Unfortunately, Fost had clearly lost any sense of balance that he originally held. His lazy and drunk movements led to an incredibly unappealing dance, with the Minister stepping on the Princess’s toes on more than one occasion. Zelda knew that he wasn’t doing any of this intentionally, but she still felt like chiding him for it all the same.

“You know, Fost, I don’t think that those bottles you downed earlier have done you any favors. You’re a bit of a disorganized mess right now; a far cry from the graceful gentleman that I used to know.”

Fost simply scoffed. “What’s the problem? I’m just havin’ a bit of fun here.”

Zelda smirked. “At the expense of your composure?”

“Oh, loosen up a little, Princess.”

Zelda nearly snorted at this. You’re telling me to loosen up? Do you even hear yourself? Who are you and what did you do with the real Fost?

“Wh-What’s so funny?” the old man asked, his lazy eyes trying to focus on her expression.

Zelda giggled. “It’s nothing, Fost, nothing.”

The two of them continued to dance with one another until the final song came to a conclusion. At this point, the Princess released the Minister, only to watch him stumble around a bit on his shaky legs. After giggling some more at his foolish behavior, Zelda took him by the hand and insisted that it was time for bed. He tried to resist at first, but his exhaustion from the day’s events was quickly overtaking him, and he soon obliged. Zelda then led him to the inn where she made sure that he was properly placed in bed for the night.

Once that was settled, Zelda returned to the party which had quickly quieted down. The musical instruments had been put away, and the crowd had now gathered around Renado, who stood before the great bonfire. He waited for everyone to settle, some of them rearranging the tables and chairs while others simply chose to stand. He then began recounting his story: the tale of the old cursed well in Kakariko.

As Zelda rejoined the crowd, she spotted Link, who was sitting at one of the tables closest to Renado. He soon spotted her as well, and gestured to the empty seat next to him. “I saved you a seat,” he whispered as the Princess approached.

Zelda gave him a small nod. “That is much appreciated, thank you.”

She soon took a seat next to him, and tried to listen to Renado as he told his old tale. However, she didn’t end up listening too closely, for she found that she was far too distracted by her own thoughts. After discussing the Telma and Renado situation with Link earlier, she admitted to herself that she had felt a little sad about her own situation. Fortunately, all of those negative feelings had been quickly washed away after she experienced that one fun little dance with an old friend of hers.

And she was truly grateful for that distraction.

 

---

 

The next morning, Fost ended up sleeping in a bit later than he usually did. It was rather uncharacteristic for a man who was typically known for being an early-riser, and Zelda was all too happy to point out such things once he awoke.

“Mmph,” the Minister groaned, rubbing his forehead a bit as he walked out into the hall. “Goodness me. What exactly happened last night?”

“You mean you don’t remember?” Zelda teased him.

“No, I do. It’s just all so…fuzzy.” He then paused before frowning and giving her a bow. “Oh, forgive me, Princess. I believe that my behavior last night was irresponsible, immature, and rather unbecoming of a man of my position.”

Zelda just crossed her arms. “Yes, and to think that you were supposed to be the one looking after me on this trip. Meanwhile, I had to be the one who made sure that you were safely tucked into bed last night.”

Fost soon blushed, looking incredibly embarrassed. “I’m afraid that I have no excuses. I am willing to accept any punishment for my uncouth actions.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile at his guilt-ridden expression. It truly was nice to have the upper hand on him sometimes. “Who said anything about a punishment? I for one had a good time last night.”

Fost frowned some more. “But, Your Highness, I foolishly stepped on your poor feet on so many occasions, all while making a complete mockery of what formal dance ought to be.”

“Which is a crime that I am willing to forgive, if only because I was so amused by such foolish behavior coming from you.”

Fost just bowed his head, partially in reverence to her, but mostly in shame. “You are too kind, Your Highness. I don’t deserve such forgiveness.”

“And you are too hard on yourself,” Zelda said adamantly. She then walked over and gave the short man a tiny kiss on his temple. “I really did have fun though. Thank you.”

The Minister ended up placing a hand on his head, looking a bit confused. Meanwhile, Zelda just smiled and walked away. He didn’t need to know how much she truly appreciated him. How much she truly enjoyed being able to spend some time with him and forget the troubles of her heart for a bit.

No, she would just let her actions speak for her.

Notes:

I love the wholesome Zelda and Fost relationship. I hope you do too.

Chapter 25: Death Mountain

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 25 – Death Mountain

That morning, the tour group packed their things back into the wagons and prepared to saddle their horses once more. Similar to the previous day, the townspeople of Kakariko Village gathered outside of the inn, forming a crowd next to the procession. They were all eager to get one last look at their guests before they departed for good.

Naturally, Zelda planned to give them one final speech as they said farewell. “Good people of Kakariko Village, thank you so much for welcoming us into your home. Your hospitality has been nothing shy of wonderful, and we are incredibly grateful for the memories that have been made here. I would also like to thank you for being strong and enduring the hardships that have come about because of the Twilight Invasion. I assure you that the Hyrule Council and Hyrule United Roundtable will do everything in our power to continue making improvements across the Kingdom. I encourage you all to stay strong, and I humbly request that you continue to bless us with your trust and support.”

Zelda bowed her head towards the crowd, and they all applauded. Clearly, they were more than happy to continue supporting the monarchy that looked out for them. Zelda just smiled, feeling incredibly grateful to have been blessed with such wonderful subjects.

Renado soon stepped out from the crowd, and extended a hand to Zelda. The Princess obliged, placing her hand on top of his, and the Shaman soon brought it up to his lips so he could give it a gentle kiss.

“Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Your Highness. I think I can safely say that we of Kakariko have enjoyed our time together just as much as you have. We wish you all a safe travel as you continue on your tour, and may the Goddesses bless your journey.”

The crowd applauded again at this, showing their agreement with their leader’s words. Zelda simply smiled and bowed her head once more before giving the villagers a curtsy. She wanted them to know just how grateful and humbled she truly was.

Once the farewells were settled, everyone saddled up and hopped in their wagons. The guard at the front of the procession then blew a small horn, indicating that they should all begin the march forward. As the horses began trotting towards the edge of town, Zelda made sure to give the villagers one final wave goodbye. They happily continued to applaud her in return until they eventually disappeared around the corner.

From here, the tour group began the long and arduous trek up towards Death Mountain. The terrain in this region was far from easy to traverse, as it was rough and rocky and consisted of numerous cliffs that their horses were completely unable to ascend. Fortunately, the group encountered a guide who had been stationed at the base of the first cliff. He was a Goron by the name of Daleg, who was here to show the party how to access and traverse the secret mountain path. This path was the only known means of getting both horses and wagons up to the Goron dwelling near the summit, but it was hardly straightforward. In order to avoid the numerous cliffs in the area, the path curved up and around the rocky terrain, sometimes even going through tunnels that had been carved in the mountain’s side. Fortunately, Daleg knew the way and was able to safely lead the procession through the mountains with ease, but it still created quite the detour.

Needless to say, it took almost a full day’s worth of travel before they eventually made it to the top. Here, they were finally able to gaze upon the tall mountain spire that contained the Gorons’ home within. The outside of the mountain was carved by a path that spiraled up to its top, and consisted of numerous metallic structures that had been constructed around it. It was a rather breathtaking example of the Gorons’ natural skill with both metal and stone.

The group was soon led to the base of the mountain, where they encountered a few more Gorons who gladly came to their side and greeted them. They offered to lead the horses to a nearby cave, where they would be fed and safely stored alongside the wagons. The Gorons had no place for such animals in their city, so this cave was the only “stable” that they had available. It wasn’t the most ideal substitute, but it worked well enough.

By this point, it was late afternoon, and the sun was steadily making its descent towards the horizon. Needless to say, Zelda couldn’t help but notice how warm it was. She had visited this mountain before, and she recalled that it naturally exuded a heat so strong that it could honestly be a bit unbearable at times. Still, she felt like she would be able to endure it, at least for the duration of their stay. Fost, on the other hand, was a different story.

“Oh heavens,” he mumbled as he attempted to fan himself. “Couldn’t the Gorons have settled down somewhere cooler? Why’d they have to pick a location with such overbearing heat?”

“It’s okay, Little Fost,” one of the Gorons spoke up in a deep but friendly tone. “It’s much cooler inside some of the tunnels.”

Fost just blinked at the mention of the word “little” before his name. “What the–? Where did you learn of that title?”

“From our Chief, of course.”

Fost soon scowled and began muttering under his breath. Zelda wasn’t sure what he was saying, but she managed to catch something about a “foolish old Goron”.

Surprisingly enough, Link also seemed to be a person that easily attracted the Gorons’ attention. Whenever one of them spotted the Hero, they would gladly walk up and greet him with a big smile.

“Brother Link!”

“It’s good to see you again, brother.”

“Brother, how are ya?”

“I’m doing well, thanks,” Link replied, enthusiastically returning their smiles. The Gorons then gave him gentle pats on the shoulder before walking away.

Meanwhile, Zelda just stared at the Hero with a curious gaze. “My, you certainly seem popular around here.”

“Yeah, the Gorons and I have always gotten along,” he told her. “I like their simple yet strong nature, and it honestly feels good to see them again after all this time.”

“They referred to you as ‘brother’,” Zelda noted, looking interested. “I believe that they use that as a term of endearment when referring to their own kind, and in rare circumstances, they even use it for outsiders whom they have taken a strong liking to.”

“Is that so?” Link asked, looking surprised. “I had no idea. I just assumed that it was normal.”

“I believe that Darbus uses the same term to refer to my father as well. You should consider it a great honor.”

Link nodded. “Of course. At the very least, I know it’s better than being called ‘little’.”

Zelda giggled a bit but quickly stifled it once Fost cast a curious glance in their direction. Fortunately, his attention was soon pulled away by Daleg, who began leading them towards the city.

“We’ll follow a short tunnel through here that leads to an elevator,” the Goron explained. “That will take us straight into our tribe’s great hall.”

The group soon entered the tunnel which was dimly lit by lanterns hanging on the walls. As expected, it was noticeably cooler in here, much to the relief of everyone, especially the guards who were wearing full suits of armor. The group walked until they reached the back of the tunnel, where a large metallic plate rested on the ground. Everyone safely shuffled onto it before Daleg joined them, stepping on a large switch on the floor. The plate shifted for a second before it slowly began to rise, ascending through the dark cave above.

The trip only lasted for a few seconds before the elevator arrived at its destination. The party was soon bathed in light once more as the metal plate came to a halt, thrusting them into a large, cavernous room. This place was noticeably warmer than the tunnel that they had just come from, and it too was lit by lanterns strung around the walls. This was the Gorons’ great hall.

As expected, the room was filled with Gorons, each of them excitedly clamoring as they witnessed the arrival of their new guests. As Link and Zelda stepped out into the light, the Gorons immediately recognized them, and produced a thunderous applause in their honor. Zelda gratefully accepted it, and even Link seemed more comfortable with the praise for a change. The Princess wondered if it was because he was more familiar with this audience as opposed to the people of Castle Town and Kakariko.

Nevertheless, she soon pushed such thoughts away as she stepped forward and gave the Gorons a proper greeting. Similar to their arrival in Kakariko, she introduced herself and thanked them for welcoming her into their home. Naturally, this introduction led to more thunderous applause from the crowd, who were more than happy to host their guests.

Before long, Darbus stepped forward, his hulking form pushing his way through the crowds. He immediately greeted the Hero and Princess with a wide grin, and even gave “Little Fost” a smile as well. Truth be told, the Chief’s greeting was far from formal, but Zelda didn’t mind. She had known Darbus for long enough that she felt his behavior here was nothing short of natural.

Darbus soon led the procession further into the room and introduced Zelda to the four Goron Elders that helped lead the tribe alongside him. The Elders themselves were an interesting bunch, their bodies varying in size and shape, and surprisingly enough, color. The only thing they seemed to have in common was their age, as they all certainly appeared to be older than the rest of their brethren that filled out the cave. Nevertheless, they were incredibly kind, and Zelda was more than happy to make their acquaintance.

Darbus then invited the tour group to join his people in a feast. A long table had been set up at one end of the hall, where Darbus, the Goron Elders, and the Hylians could sit on one side and face the crowds. Meanwhile, the Gorons would simply seat themselves on the floor, perfectly content to have nothing but the earth beneath them. Zelda was happy to accept the invitation to dine, but some of her guards were a bit hesitant. The Gorons were a species known to only consume rocks and minerals, after all. Everyone couldn’t help but wonder: would the rock creatures even have anything that could satisfy the Hylians’ diet?

Fortunately, their fears were quickly allayed, as the Gorons and Ministers had prepared for this ahead of time. The Gorons knew that the Hylians wouldn’t be able to stomach their earthly cuisine, so a group of them had departed earlier in the day to hunt down some of the local wildlife. The animals had since been brought back to the mountain, where the tour group’s chef would now step in and prepare the meal for them. Upon learning that the silent but trustworthy man would be their meal-maker once more, the men began to relax. With him in the kitchen, they would surely be fed to satisfaction.

The group soon settled into their seats at the table, Darbus taking the center position with his four Elders to his right. Meanwhile, the Princess sat at his left, followed by Fost and then Link. The guards that had accompanied them were seated at another table off to the side. As the food was served, Darbus was more than happy to strike up a conversation with his guests. Specifically, the Princess.

“It has been too long since you have last visited our home, Princess Zelda,” the Goron said with both a smile and a shake of his head. “You really should consider visiting more often. We would always be happy to welcome you.”

“Thank you, Darbus,” Zelda said with a nod. “And forgive me, I too realize how long it has been since our last visit. I believe I was just a young girl back then, gawking up at the Gorons that towered over me.”

Darbus grinned before reaching over and grabbing Zelda by the shoulder, pulling her close to his hulking figure. “Not much has changed there, eh? Ga ha ha!”

Zelda just smiled. It was true. Compared to someone of his size, she still seemed like nothing more than a child.

Darbus soon released her, before shaking his head some more. “Ah, it saddens me that brother Caius could not be here as well. It has also been many years since his last visit.”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, perhaps once he’s finished recovering from his condition, I’ll suggest that he come to visit. I’m sure that he’d be more than excited to return to your home after all this time.”

Darbus’s face lit up into a bright smile. “That would be wonderful, Zelda. I eagerly look forward to that day!”

Zelda returned his smile, happy to have given the Goron something to look forward to. Still, she wasn’t sure how long it would be before her father would be able to fulfill that promise. Even after all of these months, he was still suffering from the effects of his poisoning, and it was unclear just how much longer it would go on for. Zelda just silently prayed that his health would continue to improve in the coming weeks.

“But enough about future events,” Darbus soon continued, waving his massive hand in dismissal. “Today, we should be focused on entertaining our current guests.”

“That is very kind of you,” Zelda said, smiling once more. “However, I can assure you that my party is already more than entertained by the meal and atmosphere here. I hope you realize that you don’t have to go out of your way for us.”

“Nonsense!” the Goron barked back. “If you think that this is entertaining, then just wait until we conduct the festivities that we have planned. I can assure you that every brother in the hall will have their eyes glued to the contest!”

Contest? Zelda wondered to herself. She had to admit, this word had quickly captured her curiosity. “What exactly did you have in mind, Darbus?”

The Goron just grinned down at her. “Tell me, Zelda, have you ever heard of sumo before?”

“Sumo?” she repeated. Truth be told, she actually had heard of it before, from a book she had read when she was younger. From what she understood, it was a sport that consisted of two men wrestling each other, until one of them was forced out of bounds. It was a contest that required strength of body as well as quick reflexes, and it was naturally beloved by the Gorons.

“I am somewhat familiar with it,” Zelda answered. “Although, I hope that you don’t expect me to participate in such a thing.”

Darbus just laughed, loudly and cheerfully. “Ga ha ha! Of course not, Princess. We understand that the womenfolk generally hold little interest in such things.”

Zelda smirked a bit. “I’m glad that you understand us so well.”

“However,” Darbus continued, taking on a confident expression, “we would be more than happy to accept any challenges from your menfolk.”

Zelda just frowned before raising her eyebrows at this. “You would like to wrestle with my guards?”

“Of course,” Darbus said with a nod. “If there are any who are willing to take on my brethren.”

Zelda just gave him a look of disbelief. Was he being serious? “Er…Chief Darbus, while I appreciate the invitation to have my men join in your contest, surely you understand that there will be no competition in such a thing?”

Darbus just stared at her, looking confused. “What do you mean?”

Zelda could only sigh. Did he really not understand? “I believe that what I am trying to say should be rather apparent. My guards, while strong and muscular, simply cannot hold a candle to the strength that you Gorons possess. It is beyond the limits of us humans. Even if they did walk into the ring with one of your brethren, they would simply be tossed away a second later.”

Darbus stared at the Princess for another second, but soon smiled and chuckled a bit. “Ah, but that is where you are wrong, Princess. While it is true that the strength of Gorons tends to overshadow the strength of man, that does not mean that there are no Hylians capable of competing with us. Why, I myself know of two men who were able to compete with us on even terms, and even managed to secure victory.”

Zelda gave the Goron a skeptical glance. “Surely you are exaggerating.”

Darbus shook his head. “Nope, it’s entirely true. Ask any of my brethren and they’ll say the same thing. The feats of these two men have been forever inscribed into our memories, like words written on stone.”

Zelda frowned, still hesitant to believe such ridiculous claims. “Is that so? Then tell me, who exactly were these two men?”

Darbus laughed a bit before grinning. “Believe it or not, Princess, you already know both of them.”

Zelda’s eyes immediately widened in surprise. “I do?”

“Of course,” Darbus said with a nod. “The first of which is Mayor Bo, from Ordon Village.”

“Bo!?” Zelda exclaimed, now even more surprised.

“He visited us many years ago, and managed to defeat a number of us in the ring. We were quite amazed to see a human contain such strength.”

Zelda felt equally amazed. She knew that Bo was a large man, but she could hardly imagine him wrestling with a Goron, let alone achieving victory. “And who is the other?”

Darbus grinned some more. “Why, it is none other than your companion, Link, the Hero of Twilight!”

For the second time that day, Zelda felt her eyes shoot wide open. “Link!?” she repeated, feeling stunned. She soon glanced over to the Hero who sat a few seats down and was currently talking with another Goron, oblivious to her and Darbus’s conversation. “You’re telling me that he managed to defeat your people in sumo?”

“It’s true,” Darbus said with a nod. “Many of my brothers claimed to have witnessed it, even though I myself wasn’t there to see it with my own eyes.”

“How do you know that it wasn’t just an exaggeration?” Zelda asked, still feeling doubtful. Sure, she knew that Link was strong, but he might as well have been a twig when compared to the mighty Gorons.

“Please, allow me to reassure you, Princess,” one of the Elders said, suddenly speaking up from the other side of Darbus. His name was Gor Coron, and he had been the Chief of the Goron Tribe prior to Darbus. “I watched with my own eyes as the Hero singlehandedly wrestled with some of our strongest brothers, and time and again, he managed to toss them out of the ring and secure his victory. Finally, I decided to step forward and challenge him myself.”

“You did?” Zelda asked, her eyes widening again. Even at a glance, she could tell that this older Goron was still quite muscular, and far from being considered an easy opponent.

“Yes,” Gor Coron said, nodding. “And lo and behold, brother Link managed to defeat me as well. Our brothers were shocked to see such an outcome, but we could not deny his strength. Link is arguably one of the best sumo wrestlers we have ever seen.”

Darbus soon laughed. “And that isn’t said lightly. For many years, Gor Coron here was the reigning champion of Death Mountain. To defeat him in the ring is something that only the greatest of men could accomplish.”

“I can’t believe it,” Zelda said, glancing over at the Hero once more. “To think that he was this strong…”

Darbus just laughed some more. “Come now, Princess. If anyone should have faith in the Hero’s abilities, it should be you!”

Zelda felt a bit taken aback by this. “What? Why me?”

“Because!” the Goron insisted. “Brother Link saved you, didn’t he? You should know just how capable he truly is!”

Zelda couldn’t help but blush a bit. True, she did know better than most just how strong and capable Link was, but she didn’t necessarily appreciate what Darbus seemed to be implying here. That the two of them were closer to each other than anyone else…

Doesn’t he know that Link doesn’t have feelings for me? Zelda thought glumly. He’s interested in someone else, and the two of them are far closer than he and I will ever be…

Suddenly, Gor Coron decided to speak up again, pulling Zelda out of her depressing thoughts. “I have an idea, Darbus. Why don’t you challenge the Hero to a sumo match? That way, the Princess will be able to see the boy’s skill for herself.”

Darbus’s mouth fell open, but it soon widened into his biggest grin of the day. “Why, brother Coron, that is an excellent idea!” he exclaimed before playfully patting the elder on the back. “I always regretted that I wasn't able to witness Link’s skill in sumo firsthand. But now we have the perfect opportunity!”

Gor Coron nodded. “I expect that our brethren will also be keen to see his skill once again.” The Elder then paused before glancing at Zelda once more. “Princess, with your permission, would you allow our Chief to challenge the Hero to a sumo match?”

For the umpteenth time, Zelda felt surprised at this turn of events, but she soon found herself nodding. “Why, of course. As long as Link is willing to accept, then I have no qualms with it.”

“Wonderful!” Darbus said, clapping his hands together. “In that case, let’s not waste time, shall we?”

The Goron then abruptly rose to his feet, and began making his way over to where the Hero was seated. Zelda just watched him go, all the while flashing a nervous expression. She wasn’t sure why, but she suddenly felt a little uneasy about the whole thing.

Before long, Link turned around and glanced up at the massive Goron that was approaching him. He was currently in the middle of chewing his food, but he still managed to greet the giant with a smile. “Oh, hey Darbus. What’s up?”

“Brother Link!” the Goron shouted, his booming voice being loud enough for the entire room to hear.

Link just froze as his name echoed across the hall. “Er…yes?” he asked, his mouth still full of food.

Darbus grinned before standing tall and balling his giant knuckles into fists. “I hereby challenge you to a sumo match!”

The reaction was immediate. The entire room fell silent, while Link managed to yelp out a “What?” as his eyes shot wide open. He then paused as he gasped a bit, swallowing his food and subsequently choking on it.

“Link!” Zelda exclaimed, immediately seeing the danger he was in. She rose from her seat and ran over to place a hand on his shoulder. “Link, are you all right?”

Link coughed for a few seconds before nodding and forcing the food down his throat. He then gasped again before turning back to the Goron with fearful eyes. “D-Darbus…you want to do sumo…with me?”

“Of course, brother!” Darbus replied. “My brethren have witnessed your strength and skill before, and now, we would gladly like to do so again! Isn’t that right?”

Every Goron in the room immediately stood up and began cheering. It was clear that they were eager to see the Hero in action. In response, Link just felt his jaw fall open in shock.

“I…I don’t know, Darbus,” he said hesitantly. “I’m not sure that I’m as good as you say I am.”

“Nonsense!” Darbus replied confidently. “You managed to defeat Gor Coron, one of our best wrestlers, didn’t you?”

Link frowned. “W-Well, yes, that is true…”

Meanwhile, Zelda just gave the Hero a curious glance. Why did he appear so nervous? She admittedly had her own reservations about this challenge, but was it possible that Link felt the same way?

It was around this time that Fost decided to speak up. “Oh, come now, Chief Darbus. Can’t you leave your roughhousing for another time? We’re still in the middle of our dinner.”

Darbus just gawked at the tiny man. “Little Fost, how could you say such a thing!? Sumo is the favored pastime of our people!”

Fost scowled a bit. “Very well, but must you drag Master Link into this? I’d hate to see our Kingdom’s Hero get hurt from playing in your games.”

“Of course, brother Link must join us!” Darbus insisted. “It would be incredibly disappointing not to see his amazing skill on display!”

Link just gulped. He could already feel the pressure from everyone in the room starting to weigh on him. Was there really no way out of this situation?

Fost frowned some more. “Hmm…What do you think Princess?”

Zelda just sighed and shook her head. “I’m afraid that I’ve already given my permission for them to host such an event. If they want to start their sumo competition, then we should respect that.”

The Princess then blinked as the Hero turned to face her with a bewildered expression. Suddenly, she couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. Why did Link look so forsaken? Like the Princess had just sealed his doom?

“Well, brother Link?” Darbus asked, grinning once more. “Do you accept my challenge?”

Link just sighed, letting his shoulders sag a bit. What was he supposed to do now? It wasn’t like he had any excuses. None that he was willing to share, anyway.

“Very well, I accept your challenge,” he murmured solemnly.

The entire room soon erupted into cheers and applause. Everyone was more than excited to see their mighty Chief and famed Hero climb into the ring together.

Meanwhile, Zelda just continued staring at Link, wondering what could possibly be making him feel so nervous and afraid…

 

---

 

The Gorons did quick work, constructing a raised platform out of earth in the middle of the great hall. The crowds soon gathered around it, eager to see the match unfold. Even the Hylian guards seemed rather interested in seeing how this would play out. It wasn’t every day that you got to see a human take on a Goron, after all.

Link, on the other hand, was far from thrilled. He just stood off to the side, looking glum as he glanced around at all the excited faces. How was he supposed to pull this off? It wasn’t like he had that special item with him to give him a fighting chance. Without it, his prospects for victory were basically nonexistent. Wasn’t there any way for him to back out of this?

“Is everything okay?”

Link soon turned to find Zelda staring at him with a worried expression. He frowned some more, feeling guilty. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine.”

Zelda just raised her eyebrows at the Hero. “Are you certain? You seem kind of nervous to me.”

Link tried to give her a reassuring smile, but the results were less than believable. “Yeah, it’s just, um…been a while since I had to do this sort of thing.”

Zelda continued to eye the Hero up and down for a few seconds, but she soon gave him a soft smile. “Don’t worry, Link. Darbus told me that you’ve succeeded at this before. I’m confident that you can do it again.”

Link felt his fake smile threaten to collapse as he stared at the Princess’s innocent gaze and listened to her encouraging words. To his surprise, he discovered that she was being completely serious. She actually believed in him. How could he possibly back out now?

The Hero soon sighed. “Thanks Zelda. I promise to try my best.”

Zelda smiled some more before giving him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. “I’ll be cheering for you, Hero.”

Link couldn’t help but blush a bit at these words. He really appreciated her confidence in him, but little did she realize, it was entirely misplaced. He soon turned back towards the ring, only to see his mountain of an opponent step inside.

“Come on, brother!” Darbus yelled with a wide grin. “Let’s get this started!”

Link just gulped. He wasn’t sure how things were going to turn out, but he at least had to try. He owed the spectators that much. Before long, he gathered his courage and slowly stepped into the ring.

Zelda simply watched him from her place in the crowd. She ended up placing a hand over her heart as it began to beat fast and strong. She wasn’t sure why, but she had an uneasy feeling that something bad was about to happen. Based on what she had been told, she knew that Link was more than capable of handling this challenge, but if that was the case, then why did his behavior say otherwise?

I hope he comes out of this okay, she thought, aimlessly casting her silent prayer to any Spirit or Goddess that would be willing to listen.

Link and Darbus took their positions on opposite sides of the ring. Darbus was so large that his hulking figure almost covered a quarter of the platform. It was obvious to everyone that his weight and size gave him a massive advantage over his opponent.

However, this fact didn’t deter the crowd's enthusiasm for the Hero. Many of the Gorons cheered out his name, excited to see him in action after all this time. The Hylian guards also chimed in, rooting for the Hero of Twilight with ceremonious grunts and raised fists.

Before long, the sounds of the crowd died down as some of the Gorons began playing numerous sets of bongos. They produced a rhythmic beat that reverberated throughout the cave. The two opponents soon crouched down, facing each other. Darbus, with the look of confidence and excitement, and Link, with a nervous yet determined expression.

The thunderous sound of the bongos continued to escalate until they eventually ceased completely. Gor Coron then called out in a loud voice, giving the signal for the match to begin.

Wasting no time, Link charged forward, hoping to get the first move in. If he could just make contact with the Goron, then he might actually have a chance…

However, Darbus didn’t make it easy. He soon swung his gigantic arm forward, attempting to push the Hero back. Link managed to see it coming though, and used his quick reflexes to duck beneath it. He then continued running forward and managed to grasp the Goron’s body with both hands. Using all his might, he attempted to push Darbus towards the edge of the ring.

The crowd quickly erupted into cheers and whistles. They were excited to see such swift movements from the human, and now the two of them had finally made contact! The question had presently been posed: whose strength would prevail? The mighty Chief or the courageous Hero? It was anyone’s guess, but they were dying to discover the answer!

However, as the struggle continued, the crowd soon began to quiet down. They then began casting perplexed looks at the combatants. Despite all of Link’s grunting and struggling, he had yet to move Darbus by even an inch…

Link’s eyes just went wide as he too realized his predicament. He tried pushing even harder against the Goron’s rough skin, but it was to no avail. His own feet just uselessly skidded along the dirt beneath him. Damn, I can’t make him budge!

Darbus also glanced down at the Hero with a somewhat confused look, but soon laughed it off. “Ga ha ha! Nice try, brother! Now, it’s my turn.”

Wasting no time, the Goron Chief shook the Hero off of him, causing Link to stumble back a bit. The Hero then looked on in horror as the Goron flashed a grin and charged at him with his full body. Unfortunately, he had no time to react as the mountainous creature slammed into him.

The crowd went dead silent as they watched the Hero’s body fly backwards through the air, as if he were lighter than a feather. However, they soon stepped out of the way as the pull of gravity caught up with Link, and he came crashing back down. With a startled grunt, the Hero fell flat on his back, utterly defeated.

The room remained in complete silence as they all stared at the Hero’s resting spot with confused and stunned expressions. Everyone could hardly believe this turn of events. The Chief of the Gorons had just defeated the Hero of Twilight with hardly any struggle at all.

However, there was one person who was currently making noise, and she was quite frantic to boot.

“Oh my goodness,” Zelda gasped as soon as she saw Link plummet to the ground. Wasting no time, she began pushing her way through the crowd, over to the spot where he had landed. “Link!” she cried. “Link, are you all right?”

Within seconds, Zelda managed to reach the Hero, and she soon crouched down next to him. His eyes were closed, and his limbs were sprawled out around him in random directions. In a way, he almost appeared lifeless, but Zelda wasn’t about to entertain that thought.

“Link,” Zelda called again. She then placed her hands on his chest and started shaking him. “Link, are you okay? Please wake up.”

The shaking seemed to help, and the Hero’s eyes soon fluttered open. He coughed a few times before letting out a low groan.

“Ouch…” was all he said.

Zelda breathed a small sigh of relief, happy to see that he had regained consciousness. Meanwhile, the rest of the spectators began murmuring amongst themselves, wondering what exactly had just happened.

“What was that all about?”

“The Chief tossed him away like it was nothing.”

“You’re sure that this is the same human who bested Gor Coron?”

Darbus also seem confused by this turn of events, and he soon approached the edge of the ring with a troubled expression. “Er…brother Link, are you all right?”

Link coughed some more, but gave a small nod. “Yes.”

Zelda placed a hand on his arm. “Can you sit up?”

“I think so.”

With his approval, Zelda helped ease him up into a sitting position. He winced a bit as he did so, feeling sore from his fresh bruises.

“Brother, what exactly happened to you?” Darbus asked, still looking concerned. “By our standards, that display of strength was rather…pathetic.”

Link rubbed his neck a bit and tried to give a nervous laugh. “Ha ha, I, um, guess I’m just a little out of practice.”

The Goron Chief turned his head, still looking perplexed. However, he soon grunted and shrugged. “A pity, that is. Perhaps we will have to try again at another time, when you are in better shape.”

“Yeah, that would probably be best,” Link agreed weakly.

Seeing that the match was clearly over by this point, the stunned Gor Coron soon cleared his throat. “Ahem, yes, well it would seem that Chief Darbus of the Goron Tribe is victorious!”

The crowd was expected to erupt into cheers once more, but all this announcement produced was a small and awkward applause. The crowd was still very much confused and trying to make sense of what had transpired.

Gor Coron just sighed before trying to move things along. “Now, who would like to step into the ring next? I’m sure our guests would love to see another match!”

Numerous hands shot up into the air as the crowd grew livelier once again. Meanwhile, Link just slowly rose to his feet, holding his back as he winced a bit.

“Are you sure that you’re all right?” Zelda asked as she rose up with him. “You took quite the tumble there…”

Link tried to give her a reassuring smile. “Yeah, I’m just a little sore, is all.”

Zelda nervously bit her lip as she stared at him. She still couldn’t help but feel a little concerned.

Just then, one of the Elders appeared from within the crowd and began approaching the Hero. He was an incredibly small Goron by the name of Gor Amoto. He walked with a cane, and oddly enough, he had small wisps of smoke coming out from his hardened backside.

“Brother Link,” he said in an old, trembling voice. “If you would like, I can show you to our hot springs outside. The warm waters are sure to soothe any injuries that you have sustained.”

“That actually sounds pretty nice,” Link said, trying to smile again. “Thank you, Elder.”

The Elder smiled back before slowly turning around. “Very well, come with me then.”

Zelda silently watched the Hero start to limp away. Truthfully, she kind of wished that she could accompany him, in order to make sure that he was truly all right and not just putting on a brave face. However, she didn’t get the chance, as Darbus soon rejoined her, directing her attention back towards the sumo matches.

“Ga ha ha! Now this is more like sumo, eh Princess?”

Zelda just gave him a polite smile and nod. “Yes, Darbus, it is very entertaining.” She then turned away as soon as he wasn’t looking. She kept her eyes on the Hero as he made his way out of the cave. She frowned as she noticed his expression, looking both tired and defeated.

As he vanished from sight, Zelda couldn’t help but wonder one thing.

What had went wrong?

Notes:

There’s a sport that’s been on my miiind…All the tiiime! Su-Su-Sumo…ohh-oh!

Yeah, please forgive me. I’m just a dork who’s trying to have a little fun here lol.

Chapter 26: Hot Springs

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 26 – Hot Springs

Zelda ended up witnessing numerous sumo matches play out throughout the evening. With every pair of combatants that climbed into the ring, the crowd only grew livelier and more energetic. There were loud cheers, applause, and laughter (mostly from Darbus) as Goron after Goron competed for victory. At one point, a few of the Hylian guards even jumped in the ring to have a go at it, but they were only willing to face their own kind. After witnessing Link’s attempts at wrestling a Goron, nobody else was keen to try it. Nevertheless, the Gorons kept their elevated enthusiasm, even for the humans that were far smaller and weaker than they were.

Zelda, on the other hand, began to tire of these events after some time. It felt like she was watching the same thing over and over, with the Gorons grunting and pushing and shouting far more than what she considered necessary. Still, she endured every match, giving her subjects the full attention that they deserved and providing a polite applause for each victor.

Eventually, the sumo wrestling came to an end, with the Gorons being too tired to compete any further. Sensing that the evening’s events were wrapping up, Zelda stood up and addressed the crowd, thanking them for their lively display of entertainment. She commended the victors, leading the crowd in one final applause. She then dismissed herself, hoping to retire for the night.

The Princess soon made it back to the room that had been prepared for her: a small, rounded cave that was well-lit and furnished. She entered inside, closing the door behind her before she sat down on her bed. She then breathed a long, heavy sigh.

She was tired.

Today had felt incredibly long, particularly because of how much was happening. Honestly, Zelda found it hard to believe that she had just been in Kakariko Village earlier that morning. After that, they had endured a long and exhausting journey up the mountainside, only to be forced into the Gorons’ festivities for the rest of the evening. It almost felt like the Princess had hardly had any time to relax. At least she could take solace in the fact that she was alone, and she could now rest and recuperate in peace.

Suddenly, an idea came to mind. Zelda recalled what Gor Amoto had mentioned to Link earlier: that the Gorons had numerous hot springs located here for their guests to enjoy. The Princess couldn’t help but smile a bit at the thought of soaking in such warm and relaxing waters.

Feeling a little adventurous, Zelda decided to go and pay the springs a visit. It wasn’t every day that she journeyed all the way to Death Mountain, after all. She might as well enjoy everything that the Gorons had to offer.

Zelda began rummaging through her luggage until she found the swimsuit that she had packed. It was a purple one-piece garment, consisting of short sleeves and a frilly middle that turned into a skirt further down. The skirt fell halfway down her thighs and contained a pair of shorts sewn-in underneath.

With a small smile, Zelda changed into the swimsuit, and slipped on a comfortable pair of slippers. She then let her long brunette hair free of the neat braid she always kept it in, before carefully gathering it up and tying it into a bun at the back of her head. She didn’t plan to get it wet, so she hoped that keeping it up would help her maintain some level of order.

Lastly, Zelda donned a salmon-colored robe, tying it around her swimsuit for the sake of protecting her modesty. She didn’t necessarily mind showing some skin, but she knew that if Fost ended up catching her in such a garment, he would likely have a conniption. “Such a display is hardly becoming of a Princess!” she knew he would say.

Zelda just sighed. Even when the Minister wasn’t around, his nagging voice still echoed in her thoughts with precise clarity.

Still, she had no intention of running into him tonight. With a small smile, Zelda snuck out of her room, making her way through the long, cavernous hallway. Eventually, she encountered a Goron, who was more than happy to point her in the direction of the nearest spring. Zelda thanked him and then moved on, grateful that he hadn’t asked any further questions.

After navigating through a few more hallways, she finally found an exit leading outside. Surprisingly enough, it was still rather warm out here, even despite the lack of sun. Zelda didn’t mind though. She was looking forward to warming up in the waters under the star-filled sky. Wasting no time, she turned a corner and began making her way to the nearest spring. Even now, she could hear the low bubbling coming from the heated pool, as well as the soft hissing of the steam rising above.

However, another sound soon caught Zelda’s attention, causing her to freeze in her tracks. It was the sound of her own name being called out.

“Zelda?”

The Princess immediately glanced into the pool, only to spot another occupant already bathing inside the waters. She quickly recognized the figure as none other than Link, but she still remained frozen in place. For while the Hero sat there, enjoying the warmth of the spring, he appeared to be completely unclothed.

As soon as Zelda realized what she was walking in on, she gasped and instinctively turned her head away, all while raising a hand up to block her view. “O-Oh my…!” she exclaimed, suddenly breathless. “A-Apologies, Link. I didn’t mean to, um…w-walk in upon you while you were, uh…b-bathing…” By the time Zelda stammered her words out, she couldn’t help but notice that she had started blushing quite excessively. Her lips also began to tremble a bit. She was so embarrassed!

Meanwhile, Link just glanced over at her, giving her a weird look. “Um…it’s fine. You don’t have to apologize.”

Zelda still refused to look in his direction, keeping her hand up at all times. “Y-Yes, well…be that as it may, I was not aware that you were h-here, and I shall simply move on to another spring so that you can have your, um…privacy…”

Link just continued to stare at her. “Oh, that’s okay. You don’t have to go. You’re welcome to join me here if you like.”

Zelda somehow felt her cheeks turn an even deeper shade of red. “L-Link! What are you suggesting!? Surely you understand the…the impropriety of such a thing! I mean…to bathe with you when you are in such a…such an indecent…” She opened and closed her mouth a few times, far too flustered to continue.

Link just frowned. “Um…I’m not bathing.”

The Princess blinked in response. “Wh-What…?”

“I’m not naked in here, you know.” Suddenly, Zelda heard the sound of Link slowly rising out of the water. She forced her eyes shut and turned away some more, only for Link to eventually call out in a reassuring voice. “See? You’re worried over nothing.”

Zelda remained still for a few seconds, unsure if she should trust him. Eventually, she timidly lowered her hand, only cautiously daring to look past it. It was there that she saw Link, grinning over at her apprehensive self. He seemed to be rather amused by her behavior. Daring to look a bit further, Zelda noticed that Link had indeed been telling the truth, as he wore a dark pair of shorts that covered him from the waist down to just above his knees. She eyed them for a second, and once she was completely certain that she wouldn’t catch a glimpse of anything untoward, she finally allowed herself to lower her defenses. Nevertheless, she was still fully blushing as she turned to face him again. Even as she gazed at him now, Zelda felt that his sole article of clothing was still rather revealing, although she supposed that this was a better outcome than her original assumption.

“M-My apologies, Link,” she stammered, her eyes glued to the ground. “It seems that I may have made some rather…inappropriate assumptions.”

Link just laughed at this. “Apology accepted. Besides, the look on your face was priceless, ha ha ha!”

Zelda felt her face redden even more. She felt incredibly embarrassed by all of this. How could she have made such a foolish mistake!? “Y-Yes, well, perhaps I should just move on to another spring anyway…”

This caused Link to shake his head. “Relax, Zelda, I’m only teasing you a little. I’d be more than happy to have you join me in here.”

Zelda hesitated to give a response. “I…I don’t know…”

“Please?” Link asked softly. “I could honestly use the company.”

Zelda winced a bit as she felt her heartbeat begin to quicken. She already felt flustered enough as it was, but Link’s soft and sweet voice was really threatening to push her over the edge. Still, how could she refuse his request?

“V-Very well,” she stuttered. “If you’ll have me.”

Link laughed some more. “Of course.”

The Hero soon settled back down into the water, the only part of him sticking out being his bare chest. Zelda couldn’t help but eye him a bit as he did so. She had never seen what lay beneath his green tunic before, but now that she had, she couldn’t deny that his muscular body was looking far more appealing than she could have ever imagined. Zelda felt her cheeks rise in temperature once again, and she had a feeling that it wasn’t because of the hot water that surrounded them…

“Well?” Link asked.

Zelda blinked. “Well what?”

“Aren’t you going to come in?” he asked with a smile. “You came here to soak, didn’t you?”

Zelda weakly nodded. To be honest, she felt quite steamed already, and the thought of entering a hot bath in her current state sounded less than appealing. Nevertheless, the Hero appeared to be encouraging her, so she chose to oblige.

Zelda turned away, removing her slippers before she began untying her robe. Once it was loose, she set the garment on some rocks nearby. She then turned around, now wearing nothing but her swimsuit. To her surprise, she ended up catching Link staring at her, only to watch him quickly look away. This time, his face was the one that was turning red.

Zelda gave him a curious glance. “What?” she asked.

“N-Nothing,” the Hero stuttered, looking embarrassed. “You just, uh…you look good.”

“Oh,” Zelda replied, suddenly realizing what this was all about. She still felt like her swimsuit wasn’t all that revealing, but she couldn’t deny that it showed off a lot more skin than what her usual outfits allowed. It was only natural that the Hero would gaze at her in such a curious manner. Zelda just chose to accept his compliment, all while trying not to lose what little nerve she had left.

“Thank you.”

Wasting no time, the Princess then entered the water, wading in and lowering herself at a spot near the Hero. She was eager to exit his gaze for a bit, and the steam and water provided the perfect cover. She breathed a small sigh of relief once she finally settled down. She had to admit, this warmth felt amazing.

“This is quite nice, isn’t it?” Zelda asked, hoping to move on from their previous conversation.

“Yes,” Link replied, nodding. “I’ve actually been in here for over an hour now.”

Zelda cast him a somewhat concerned look. “Goodness, I hope that you’re not starting to shrivel up.”

Link laughed. “No, I’m not planning to look like Gor Amoto quite yet.”

This comment caught Zelda by surprise. She honestly had to fight hard not to laugh in turn as she pictured the tiny Goron Elder in her mind. In the end, she still couldn’t resist producing a smirk. “Link, that is hardly appropriate or courteous. The Gorons are our wonderful hosts, you know.”

“It’s just a joke,” Link said with a shrug. “I’m sure that if Darbus were here, he would laugh.”

“Even so…”

“Fine, I’m not planning to shrivel up and look like Fost then.”

This time, Zelda released an unrestrained giggle. She had to admit, that was rather clever, and the short Minister was fair game as far as she was concerned. “Aye, I should hope that you don’t.”

Link laughed some more as well before shaking his head. “Don’t worry. I’m only planning to stay in here as long as I have to.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda paused, suddenly recalling why the Hero had come to the hot springs in the first place. She had almost forgotten just how badly he was bruised after his sumo match with Darbus. With a concerned expression, she soon glanced over at him. “Tell me, how are your injuries?”

“Much better,” Link said with a smile. “Believe it or not, these springs really do ease your aches and pains.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Zelda said, allowing a bit of relief to wash over her. “I feel like I should offer you an apology. If I had known that things were going to turn out like that, I never would have granted Darbus permission to challenge you.”

“It’s fine,” Link replied, shrugging. “I’m pretty tough, and he didn’t rough me up too badly.”

“Still, I felt a bit panicked when I saw you hit the floor like that,” Zelda admitted. “I noticed that a lot of the Gorons looked rather surprised as well. For some reason, they seemed to think that you would perform better than you actually did.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Zelda watched as Link suddenly tensed up. “O-Oh, they did?” he stuttered.

Zelda just turned to him with slightly raised eyebrows. His behavior struck her as odd, but she decided to continue her thought all the same. “Yes, they claimed that you had fared much better against them the first time you came here.”

Upon hearing this, Link quickly looked away, refusing to meet the Princess’s gaze. “Huh…I, uh…I guess I must really be out of practice…ha ha,” he finished with an awkward laugh.

Zelda just gave him a perplexed look. Despite Link’s best attempts at remaining calm and acting nonchalant, it was painfully obvious that he was hiding something. This, on top of her own curiosity, caused Zelda to question the Hero further.

“You know, the Gorons also said that you were able to best some of their greatest tribesmen in sumo when you visited here before. That’s actually quite a feat, as a Goron’s strength is typically said to far exceed that of a human’s.”

This time, Zelda watched as Link started sweating a bit, and she had a feeling that it wasn’t because of the hot spring they were currently soaking in. “Is…Is that so?” he stuttered, still refusing to look at the Princess.

Zelda just smirked, amused at his reaction. She could tell that she was getting close to drawing the truth out of him. “Yes, and now that I think about it, that description seems to line up with your performance earlier today. Just a small human being tossed aside by the powerful boulder known as the Goron. So, I have to wonder, if you struggled so much today, then how were you able to best them when you first visited this place? I’m very curious to hear the tale…”

By this point, Link was truly at a loss for words. “Well…I, uh…About that…”

Zelda continued to smirk as she stared right at him. “You wouldn’t have happened to use some sort of…underhanded tactic to best them, would you?”

Link finally turned to meet Zelda’s gaze with the look of a wild animal that had been cornered. His mouth opened and closed a few times, not sure what to say to her. “I…How did you…?”

Seeing that was all Zelda needed to confirm her suspicions. She soon folded her arms and raised her eyebrows a bit. “Ah, so you did cheat.”

“Shh! Keep your voice down!” Link suddenly insisted with a loud whisper. He then frantically glanced around to make sure that there were no Gorons nearby to overhear them.

Zelda dropped her own voice to a whisper as she responded, still smirking all the while. “Oh dear. What’s the problem?”

Link just shook his head as his gaze fell towards the water. “It’s not good. If the Gorons find out what I did, they might get really upset!”

“As they should be,” Zelda replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “I would be displeased too if my people had been cheated out of an honorable match.”

Link frowned as he turned to her, but soon sighed. “Look, it was a desperate situation, all right? Midna and I needed to get access to the mountain, and the only way that they would let us in was if I proved myself in a sumo match. Like you said, I really had no chance against someone of their stature, but the Kingdom was in danger at the time and every second counted, so I…I kind of just…you know, did what I had to do.”

“You cheated,” Zelda replied bluntly.

“N-Not necessarily!” Link stuttered back. “If anything, I was just…evening the playing field.”

Zelda had to admit, she was very curious to hear the truth of the matter now. “And what exactly did you do? Did Midna help you from the shadows?”

Link shook his head. “No.”

“Then tell me, how did you manage to overcome them?”

Link glanced around once more to make sure that the coast was clear. Once he was satisfied, he leaned in closer to Zelda, and continued to whisper. “I used a pair of iron boots. Mayor Bo lent them to me. They were so heavy, I could barely move in them, and the Gorons were no longer able to toss me out of the ring like a sack of potatoes. With the added weight, I finally had a fair shot at beating them, and so I did.”

Zelda blinked a bit, surprised at this answer. “Seriously? And they never noticed the heavy footwear?”

Link shook his head. “I guess Bo used to use them during sumo too, but the Gorons have never been any the wiser. And I would prefer to keep it that way, for both his sake and my own.”

Zelda soon looked away, staring off into the distance. She took a few seconds to imagine the situation, before she eventually smiled. “Hmm…I must admit, that does sound like it was rather clever on your part. I suppose that there are times where a Hero’s wits are just as important as his brawn.”

Link blinked a bit, surprised at this response. He had almost expected the Princess to scold him for cheating, but here she was actually sounding rather impressed. This gave the Hero some encouragement, but he decided not to let his surprise show. Instead, he just tried to play it off coolly, as though the Princess’s words were what he had understood all along. He sunk a bit deeper into the water, and allowed his shoulders to relax. “Y-Yeah, it wasn’t really cheating if you think about it. I was just using my wits, fair and square.”

Zelda just gave him another curious look, immediately noticing the change in behavior. “Oh? You sound so much more confident all of a sudden.”

“Of course. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Is that so?” Zelda asked playfully, before flashing a mischievous grin. “Then I suppose it wouldn’t hurt for the Gorons to learn of your little secret…”

Link’s face quickly went pale again, and he splashed back up into a sitting position. “W-Wait, Zelda, you’re…you’re not going to tell them, are you?”

Zelda just laughed at his quick change in tone. It was clear that he still felt guilty about the whole thing, no matter how much he tried to hide it. “Well, it seems that you only did it with the best of intentions, and the Kingdom was in danger at the time, so I suppose that just this once, I can keep your secret for you.”

Link stared at her for a second before allowing himself to relax again. The thought of avoiding an angry mob of Gorons was enough to fill him with relief. “Okay, good.”

However, Zelda soon smirked for the final time. “Besides, earlier today, you did get the beating that you were originally meant to, so I’d say that you’ve already paid the price for your dishonesty.”

Upon hearing this, Link just stared at her with his mouth hanging open before eventually rolling his eyes. “Gee, thanks…”

Zelda couldn’t help but giggle. In spite of her tumultuous romantic feelings, she still enjoyed toying with the Hero. Besides, she considered it payback for when he had made fun of her for being so flustered just a short while ago.

Zelda eventually stifled her laugh, and turned to the Hero with a genuine smile. “I’m truly glad that you agreed to come along on this trip, Link. You’ve made things much more amusing than I could have imagined.”

Link just frowned. “Why? Because you get to make fun of me so often?”

Zelda shook her head with a small laugh. “No. I will admit that I do get some enjoyment from such things, but that is not what I meant.”

Link raised his eyebrows, wondering what she was talking about.

“I’m just happy to spend time with you,” Zelda replied, her smile turning a little shy as she looked away. “That’s all.”

Link blinked in surprise once again, but he soon returned her smile. “I’m having fun too. It’s been nice getting to visit all of these places again.”

Zelda nodded. The Hero hadn’t seemed to pick up on any deeper meaning in her words, but she hadn’t really expected him to either. She told herself that it was probably for the best. She still intended to keep her feelings bottled up, and she was not about to start making any heartfelt confessions.

“What about you?” Link continued, interrupting her thoughts. “Have you been enjoying the sights?”

Zelda smiled, looking more confident this time. “Yes, these travels have honestly been wonderful. It’s been so nice to be free of the castle for a change. Not to mention, I’ve loved greeting all of my subjects from across the land. I am forever grateful to know that my family still has their support after everything that has happened.”

Link nodded. “I can only imagine. But you know, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise. The people of Hyrule have always loved you.”

Upon hearing the Hero talk about her like this, Zelda suddenly felt her shyness returning. “Is that so?”

“Of course. I guess you don’t always get to hear about it from inside of the castle, but it’s true. A lot of people speak of your wisdom and kindness. They’ve gladly placed all of their trust in you, as well as your father.”

Zelda blushed a bit. “You flatter me, Link.”

He laughed in response. “Hey, thank the people of Hyrule. I’m just passing their feelings along.”

Zelda soon glanced over at the Hero, looking curious once more. “But you agree with them, don’t you?”

Link just paused. He hadn’t expected the Princess to turn the conversation around to focus on him. “Well, of course. You know that you have my full support.”

Zelda smiled. That wasn’t exactly the answer that she had been searching for, but she was willing to accept it all the same. “Thank you, Link. And by the way, I hope you realize that the subjects of Hyrule that we’ve encountered on this trip are not only supporting myself. They’re showing support for you as well.”

Link paused again, this time looking sheepish. “I know. It’s still hard to believe such a thing, but I know.”

“Does the attention still bother you?” Zelda asked kindly.

“Not as much as it used to, I think,” Link replied, trying to sound confident. “I’ve started getting used to it over the last few months. And besides, it’s easier when you have a Princess by your side, absorbing half of the attention for you.”

Zelda smirked at this. “Well, I’m glad to know that my presence has made things easier on you. Admittedly, there are times where I still wonder if my actions have caused you nothing but trouble, but it sounds like you are getting along just fine.”

To Zelda’s surprise, Link just chuckled in response. He then turned and stared at her with a smile full of gratitude. 

Zelda just stared back at him. “What?”

Link ended up bowing his head. “Thanks Zelda.”

This just made the Princess feel even more confused. “For what?”

“For everything that you’ve done for me,” Link said sincerely. “These last few months haven’t always been easy, but I really have enjoyed them. So thank you.”

Zelda felt her heart begin to beat loudly within her chest, but she managed to keep her composure and accept the Hero’s gratitude with grace. “You’re welcome, Link. I hope that I can continue to count on you for many years to come.”

“I hope so too,” Link replied with a smile.

The two of them sat there in silence for a moment, save for the soft hissing of the steam rising from the water. Before long, Link released a big yawn.

“I feel exhausted,” he announced, blinking a bit. He then slowly rose from the water. “I think it’s about time for me to turn in for the night.”

Zelda gave him a small nod. “Very well. Thank you for keeping me company tonight.”

The Hero smiled at her. “The pleasure was all mine.”

Zelda watched as he waded his way to the edge of the pool before stepping out. He then dried off with a towel, before giving a wave goodbye to the Princess. “Good night, Zelda.”

Zelda smiled back. “Good night, Link.”

The Hero then took his departure, leaving Zelda alone with her thoughts under the star-filled sky.

Notes:

These last two chapters were a lot of fun. I hope you enjoyed them. Aside from that, I really have nothing else to say, so I’ll simply leave you with this public service announcement: Even after ten years, A Link Between Worlds is still one of the greatest Zelda games ever made!

There, now I hope that this information has brightened up everyone’s day. See you all next time.

Chapter 27: Zora's Domain

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 27 – Zora’s Domain

After spending another day with the Gorons, the tour group reassembled and packed their bags, continuing their journey to the north. Their next destination was Zora’s Domain, a hidden cove beloved by the aquatic people that it was named after. The trek there was expected to be long and difficult, considering the distance as well as the numerous waterways that intersected with the Zora’s home. At the very least, they knew that it wasn’t going to be easy to get several horses and wagons there.

Fortunately, a plan for the group’s travel had been set up ahead of time. Their first destination would actually be Lake Hylia, which was much closer to their current location and could easily be accessed from Hyrule Field. There they planned to meet up with an envoy of Zoras, who would help them travel the rest of the way by water.

Zelda was grateful for this quick stop, as it provided her with the chance to visit Lanayru, the Light Spirit that resembled a great serpent. Naturally, Link offered to accompany her, and the two of them walked over to the spring’s location on the south side of the lake. As before, they both bowed their heads in prayer, and offered their gratitude for the Spirit’s assistance in the final battle of the Twilight Invasion. Similar to Eldin, Lanayru must have been pleased with their words, for his lake momentarily lit up with a bright light before gently fading away.

A short while after that, the envoy of Zoras arrived, bringing several large wooden rafts along with them. The tour group was then instructed to load all of their horses and wagons onto the rafts one at a time. Fost seemed a bit nervous about the safety of such wooden structures, but the Zoras assured him that they were incredibly durable and capable of carrying great loads. Once everybody was properly boarded, the party then began the next leg of their journey by traveling upstream. Numerous Zoras swam up behind the rafts and began to push the wooden structures forward, going against the current. Zelda assumed that this would be rather exhausting work, but she was actually surprised at how well the Zoras managed it. They were naturally fast and graceful in the water. To them, pushing the rafts upstream was a breeze.

For the next few hours, the rafts traveled up the river, passing through numerous cliffs, caves, and valleys. There wasn’t much for the passengers to do as they traveled, but Zelda was more than happy to take in the sights. She assumed that most people would never get the opportunity to follow this river’s path from start to finish, so she made sure to treasure the experience.

Eventually, the rafts reached a cave lined with torches. The Zoras pushed the rafts inside before they finally arrived at a massive cove, which contained of a large pool of pristine water under an open sky. Numerous waterfalls rolled over the mossy cliffs, tumbling into the basin below. Zelda could only gawk as she marveled at the glorious sight that had been revealed before her eyes.

This was Zora’s Domain.

The rafts were soon placed at the edge of the water, where the horses and wagons were unloaded onto solid ground. They were then led into a cavern off to the side, which would serve as their stable. Zelda felt a bit guilty about having to force Reina into a cave so often, but the white mare was willing to put up with it for the sake of her rider.

The party then ascended a long staircase that led up the cliffside, before arriving at the top of the cove’s largest waterfall. Following the flowing water to its source, the group entered the Zoras’ great hall. Similar to the cove, this place held a large basin of crystal-clear water, as well as a lot of elegant architecture. There were numerous arches that surrounded the pool in a circle, each one containing a lattice-like framework from top to bottom. Zelda took a moment to admire each of them, noticing the refined pattern of spirals and waves.

The group soon made their way to the final arch, which was free of any framework. Stepping through, they spotted a single seat made of stone, resting against the back wall. It was the throne of Zora’s Domain, and in it sat the young Prince of the Zoras, Ralis.

The boy soon arose from his seat, and properly greeted his guests. Zelda in turn made sure to properly greet her host, as well as thank the Zoras for welcoming them into their home. The citizens that had gathered around seemed pleased to have them there, and they gladly applauded the arrival of their guests.

As had happened in the other locations they had visited, things soon developed into a more casual experience. Ralis was happy to take the group on a tour around his home, exploring the various caverns, rivers, and waterfalls. Zelda was truly amazed at just how much water was constantly traveling through this place. Then again, it was said that Zora’s Domain was the source of all water in Hyrule. The Princess just had to see it in order to believe it.

As the afternoon rolled around, the assembly of Zoras started to disperse, leaving their guests to enjoy the Domain at their leisure. Ralis remained behind, asking Zelda if she would be interested in going for a swim. Zelda just smiled at the boy, happy to oblige. She had enjoyed the opportunity to bathe in the hot springs at Death Mountain, but swimming in these cool, refreshing waters would be an entirely different experience. Naturally, Ralis invited Link to join the two of them as well, and the Hero was more than willing to accept.

Zelda soon changed into her purple swimwear, while Link donned his dark trunks. They then rejoined the Prince at the large pool resting at the base of the cove. Wasting no time, the three of them entered the basin, eager to start swimming around in the clear waters.

“This is wonderful, Ralis,” Zelda said as she floated on her back, letting the cool current run across her skin.

“I’m happy to see that you’re enjoying yourself,” Ralis replied with a bright grin. “They say that the water here is the purest in all of Hyrule.”

“I can believe that,” Zelda said, smiling back. Even now, she was able to glance down into the depths of the pool and see the bottom as clear as day. The lake wasn’t murky in the slightest.

“Do you get the chance to swim often?” Ralis asked as he too began to float on his back.

“I’m afraid not,” Zelda replied. “We have a large bath at the castle, but it’s hardly useful for swimming. Getting to experience something like this is a real treat for me.”

Ralis released a cheerful, boyish laugh. “That’s a shame. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have access to water. I imagine that life would get boring pretty quickly.”

Zelda smirked at this. She knew that for all Zoras, water was a way of life. Sure, they needed it to survive, but they also relied on it for entertainment too.

“It’s really nice having you guys here,” the young Zora continued. “Things have been pretty quiet ever since the Twilight Invasion ended. Not that that’s a bad thing, but it’s just nice to get some company after all this time.”

Zelda sadly smiled, feeling a pang of sympathy well up for the boy. She soon addressed him in a soft and delicate voice. “I’m happy to hear that, Ralis. Have you been doing okay without your mother around?”

Ralis frowned a bit at this. Even now, the passing of Queen Rutela a few months back was still fresh in his mind. Zelda felt a little guilty as she watched the downtrodden expression appear on his face. She hadn’t really wanted to address this topic, but she didn’t want to just ignore it either. She was simply trying to be respectful to the memory of those that had passed away.

“Yes, I’m doing okay,” Ralis said with a nod. “Being a Prince keeps me busy, but the adults have been helping me through it all. They constantly look after me and make sure that I am well taken care of.”

Zelda closed her eyes before frowning herself. “You have my condolences, Ralis. I know what it’s like to lose a parent, and it’s never easy. It takes a lot of time before the pain fully goes away.”

“I know,” he agreed quietly. He then paused before producing a soft smile. “It’s been hard, but I’m doing my best to get through it. I know that this is what my mother would have wanted. She would have wanted me to move on and become a strong beacon for our people. So I don’t plan to wallow in my despair. Not forever, at least.”

Zelda soon adjusted her position in the water, swimming upright so that she could turn to the boy with an encouraging smile. “That is a very brave and wise way of looking at things, Ralis. You have my utmost respect and support.”

The young Zora also drifted into an upright position before flashing the Princess a bright grin. “Thank you, Zelda. That means a lot.”

Zelda continued to smile back at the boy as they floated in the water. In addition to her father, the two of them were the only members of royalty left in Hyrule. It felt nice to know that she had a like-minded companion in Ralis. The two of them just naturally understood each other better than most did.

As their conversation came to a close, Ralis just paused before glancing around, looking confused. “Hmm? Did you see where Link wandered off to?”

Zelda just blinked. She had been so caught up in their conversation that she had honestly forgotten that the Hero was supposed to be with them. “He was here just a few minutes ago. Do you think he swam off somewhere?”

Ralis frowned. “I hope that he didn’t swim too close to the mouth of the cove. The current really picks up there, and it’s easy to get swept away if you’re not a Zora.”

Zelda also frowned as a feeling of dread started to well up within her. Surely the Hero had known better than to do such a thing? Growing concerned, she started glancing around the pool, hoping to spot him somewhere nearby. Unfortunately, he was nowhere in sight.

“Link?” she called, her voice revealing just how concerned she truly was. “Link, where are you?”

There was no response save for the rumbling of the nearby waterfalls.

The feeling of dread quickly grew worse as Zelda turned to Ralis once more. “You…You don't really think he…” Zelda paused. She didn’t even want to finish that sentence.

However, something quickly drew Zelda and Ralis’s attention away from their concerns. An unknown figure suddenly emerged from below the surface of the water, appearing right next to the Princess. She immediately shrieked in surprise as she backed away from the source of the disturbance. She soon paused however, once she recognized the figure.

“Link!?” she exclaimed.

The Hero just took a deep breath before grinning at the Princess. “Hey guys.”

Zelda just stared at the man with wide eyes. She soon turned to Ralis, who looked equally surprised, before focusing her attention on Link once again. “Link, where were you!?”

Link just rubbed some of the water out of his eyes before blinking. “I was diving,” he said with a shrug.

“Diving!?” Zelda repeated incredulously. “We were starting to think that you had gotten lost!”

“You did?” Link asked, now looking rather surprised as well.

Ralis nodded. “Yes. How long were you down there for, anyway?”

“About a minute,” Link said, shrugging again.

“A minute!?” Zelda exclaimed, still upset by all of this. Even now, her heart was beating rather hard within her chest. “You disappeared without saying anything! I was honestly starting to get worried about you, and then you just appear right next to me, scaring me half to death!”

Link soon produced a guilty expression, finally realizing the full extent of the trouble that he might have caused. “Oh…Sorry, Zelda. I didn’t mean to.”

Zelda just frowned. She wasn’t going to let his innocence hold back her frustration this time around. She soon took her hand and playfully splashed some water right into the Hero’s face.

“Pfft!” Link exclaimed before he began blinking and coughing. “What the-? I said I was sorry!”

Meanwhile, Ralis just laughed at their antics. “Ha ha ha, you should know better than to frighten the Princess like that, Link.”

Upon hearing the Prince’s innocent laughter, Zelda felt herself relax a bit. She was still a little spooked, but splashing some water in the Hero’s face had honestly made her feel better. Before long, she smirked in Link’s direction. “He’s right. As a Princess, I have the right to punish those who have made slights against me, as well as those who have endangered my wellbeing.”

“Endangered your wellbeing?” Link repeated before rolling his eyes. “Oh, come on…”

“Are you questioning my judgment?” Zelda asked sternly. “Because if you are, I’d be happy to provide you with another face full of water.”

Link just sighed in defeat. “No mam…”

Upon witnessing the Hero’s crestfallen expression, Zelda and Ralis just turned to each other and laughed. It was amusing to see how quickly he came around. Link soon found himself smiling as well, happy that the Princess didn’t seem to be too upset with him. Sometimes he worried that his reckless actions truly did offend her. Fortunately, she always seemed willing to forgive him.

“Link, you’re quite the swimmer, aren’t you?” Ralis asked, turning to the Hero with a smile.

Link shrugged. “I’m okay. I had the Zora Armor to help me get around the water throughout most of my adventure, but I can manage without it.”

Ralis seemed satisfied with this answer. “Tell me, would you be willing to participate in a little race between us?”

Link just frowned. “A race? You mean, in the water?”

“Yes,” the boy replied cheerfully. “We’d compete to see who could finish a few laps in the shortest amount of time.”

Link frowned some more before sighing. Why did it feel like all the various races of Hyrule wanted to challenge the Hero to contests that they were clearly superior at? “I don’t know, Ralis. I don’t think it would be a fair contest. I mean, you’re a Zora after all.”

“But you’re a mighty Hero!” Ralis replied, his eyes sparkling in admiration. “I’m sure that someone of your caliber could hold your own against me.”

Link closed his eyes as a sweat drop appeared on his forehead. Why did the Prince have to put so much pressure on him like this? And it wasn’t just him, but the Gorons as well. Didn’t the people of Hyrule understand his limitations? Didn’t they understand that being a Hero didn’t necessarily mean that Link was capable of doing anything and everything?

Noticing the Hero’s concerned expression, the Princess soon felt the desire to take pity on him, and cleared her throat. “Ralis, while I’m sure that Link’s swimming skills are exceptional, it’s only logical to conclude that the Zoras hold a significant advantage in the water over us Hylians. Even someone as capable as Link would have a hard time competing with your people in such a contest.”

Link turned to the Princess with a surprised look before flashing a grateful smile. He was relieved to see that she had come to his rescue.

Meanwhile, the young Zora just sighed. “Yes, I suppose that you have a point. But I assure you, Link, that I wasn’t trying to embarrass you or anything. I just thought that it might be fun to have a little competition between our people.”

Link smiled at the boy. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. However, I think that it would be best if we held a competition that is fair for both parties. Do you have anything else that you guys like to do around here?”

Ralis took a second to consider this. “Well, there is cliff-diving.”

“Cliff-diving?” Zelda immediately repeated with raised eyebrows.

“Yes,” the Prince replied with a smile. “We climb to the highest cliff next to the waterfall, and then dive down into the pool below. We Zora like to judge each other’s performances when we attempt such things.”

Zelda just gave the boy a doubtful look. She wasn’t sure how Link felt about such activities, but she knew that shecertainly didn’t want to witness the Hero recklessly jumping off a cliff. “Ralis, that sounds incredibly dangerous. Don’t you have any activities that are a little more…mundane?”

The Prince frowned before brainstorming some more. After a few seconds, his face lit up with an excited grin. “Ah, I’ve got it! We can have a fishing competition.”

“Fishing?” Zelda repeated, a little surprised. She soon turned to Link, only to find that his face had brightened as well.

“Hey, that could be fun,” the Hero agreed, smiling. “We can compete to see who can reel in the biggest fish.”

“So you’re up for it?” Ralis asked.

“Of course!” Link agreed.

Zelda just smiled back at the Hero. As long as Link was on-board with this, then she was too. And besides, at least this activity didn’t sound reckless or dangerous. “Very well. I look forward to seeing the results.”

“You know,” Ralis continued, looking thoughtful, “we don’t have to limit this competition to just ourselves, Link. We can invite everyone here to join in. We certainly have enough fishing poles to go around.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” Link replied with a grin. “We can determine who is the best fisherman in all of Zora’s Domain.”

Ralis nodded. “And this is also a contest that doesn’t favor either the Zora or the Hylians. It will be completely fair for everyone involved.”

Link nodded back before turning to the Princess. “This means that you can join in as well, Zelda.”

Upon hearing this, she just froze. “Oh, me?”

“Of course,” Ralis said with a nod. “I’m sure that everyone would love to see the Royal Princess’s fishing skills in action.”

Zelda frowned before shamefully looking away. “I’m afraid that there’s a bit of a problem there. You see, I actually…don’t know how to fish.”

The two boys just turned to the Princess with blank stares. Link frowned while Ralis’s mouth fell open.

“You don’t…”

“...know how to fish?”

Zelda blushed a bit as she shook her head, feeling a little embarrassed. “I’ve never had the opportunity to learn how.”

The Zora Prince gawked at her some more. “That’s nearly unheard of! Why, all of my people know how to fish. We learn it at a very young age.”

Zelda frowned some more. “Well of course, Ralis. Your society is entirely based around the lakes and rivers. Meanwhile, there aren’t a lot of great opportunities to go fishing within the confines of the castle courtyard.”

The boy just rubbed the back of his head, looking disheartened. “Still, to think that the fair Princess of our Kingdom has never experienced such a thing. It boggles the mind.”

Zelda hung her head, feeling embarrassed once again. “I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

However, to Zelda’s surprise, Link soon laughed. She turned to the chuckling Hero, only to receive an encouraging smile from him. “Relax, Zelda. There’s no need to apologize. If you don’t know how to fish, then I’ll just teach you.”

Zelda blinked at this. “Teach me? But…are you sure?”

Link smiled some more. “Of course.”

Zelda soon looked away again. “But…I’ve never attempted such a thing before. What if I’m no good at it?”

Link just laughed. “Nonsense. I know how smart you are, Zelda. I’m sure that you’ll be able to pick this up in no time.”

“Fishing is easy to learn,” Ralis assured her. “You should be able to compete with everyone else without any issues.”

Zelda allowed herself a small smile, grateful for their words of encouragement. “Very well then. If you are willing to teach, then I am willing to learn.”

“Great,” Link replied with a bright grin.

Ralis also smiled as he began swimming back to the shore. “Come on, let’s go gather everyone together so we can announce the competition!”

Wasting no time, Link and Zelda smiled before swimming after him.

Notes:

I considered having this chapter and the next combined into one, but I felt that the scenes they covered were different enough to warrant keeping them separate. So that’s what I did. You’ll just have to wait until next time to see how the fishing contest turns out :)

Chapter 28: Fishing Contest

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 28 – Fishing Contest

It didn’t take long for Ralis to collect all of his brethren and inform them of the competition. The rules were simple. Everyone would gather around the pool and spend one hour casting their lines into the water. Whoever managed to land the biggest fish in that time would then be declared the winner.

Naturally, many of the Zoras seemed excited about this, and went to fetch their fishing rods. Others declined to participate, but they were more than happy to watch the competition from the sidelines. Before long, a crowd of spectators formed around the shores and the cliffs, excited to see what types of fish would be wrangled from the water’s depths.

Meanwhile, Link and Zelda stood off to the side, at a private spot further away from the crowds. Link had since donned a blue tunic in order to cover his torso, while Zelda had wrapped her salmon-colored robe over her swimsuit. Now that they were out of the water, they felt no need to lounge about in their swimwear.

Link had borrowed a fishing rod from the Zoras, and he soon handed it over to Zelda. The Princess cautiously took it into her hands, not quite sure how to handle it. She felt a bit nervous about attempting this for the first time, especially since there would be a crowd watching her every move.

Her lost expression must have been noticeable, for Link soon laughed and gave her an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry, Zelda. I’ll help you through every step.”

Zelda nodded a bit before taking a deep breath. He was right. As long as she had the Hero by her side, then she would have nothing to worry about. “Very well…So, what do I do first?”

Link smiled before taking his own rod and leaning it against his shoulder. He then grabbed the end of his line. “First, you’ll need to set your hook.” The Hero took a second to fetch a small metal hook which he securely tied to the end of his line.

Zelda watched his movements carefully before mimicking them with her own rod. Fortunately, she knew how to tie a good knot, and her delicate fingers were dexterous enough to get it done without any trouble.

Once she was finished, Link admired her work. “Not bad,” he said with a nod. “Next, we’ll need to apply the bait.”

Zelda then watched as Link reached into a small container full of dirt that had been provided to them. After a few seconds, his fingers retracted, now grasping a small, writhing worm.

“You’ll just want to stab your hook through the middle,” Link explained before showing her. A second later, he had the worm safely secured to his hook. “See? Pretty simple.”

Zelda wrinkled her nose in disgust as she watched the worm continue to writhe on his hook. She had never been fond of bugs. Or whatever this pink slimy thing was supposed to be. Taking a deep breath, Zelda approached the small container of dirt. She then slowly extended her hand towards it, only to freeze as soon as she saw something move inside. Zelda nervously bit her lip as she felt her skin start to crawl.

Link quickly picked up on her hesitation, and gave her a curious look. “What’s the matter?”

Zelda frowned before shaking her head. “Nothing.” She then turned her attention back to the dirt and attempted to stick her fingers inside once again. However, the second she saw something else move in there, she quickly retracted her hand back to her side. Zelda bit her lip once more as she felt a chill run down her back.

This time, Link ended up snickering a bit. The Princess soon glanced over to find that he had an amused smile on his face. “Wow, I never would have thought…” he mumbled.

Zelda scowled as she kept her hand close to her side. “Thought what?” she pressed him.

“Thought that you would be scared of worms,” Link replied with a smirk.

Zelda quickly frowned as she scowled some more. “I am not,” she told him, her words sounding much more confident than she truly felt.

“Then what’s taking so long?” Link asked, still teasing her with his smirk.

Zelda looked away from his taunting eyes, desperately trying to come up with an excuse. “I was…just trying to determine which worm would serve as the best bait. This is a competition, after all.”

“Aren’t they all the same?” Link asked. “That’s what makes this a fair competition.”

Zelda bit her tongue, not quite sure what to say to that. She certainly wasn’t going to start pretending like she was an expert on what made some worms more appetizing than others. “I…suppose you have a point.”

Link just laughed before shaking her head. “You know, Zelda, it’s okay if you’re afraid of the worms. I won’t hold it against you.”

Zelda frowned again, almost feeling a little offended. The last thing she wanted was for Link to think that she was showing some sort of weakness. Especially over something as insignificant as a worm. “I am not afraid,” she reiterated. “In fact, I’ll have you know that I am not afraid of anything. Just because I am a Princess that was raised in a luxurious castle does not mean that I am weighed down by fears of the outside world.”

Link just blinked, feeling a bit surprised at this rebuttal. “Oh…is that so?”

“Yes,” Zelda replied with a confident nod. However, while her conviction sounded strong on the outside, Zelda knew that she was greatly exaggerating the truth. Even off the top of her head, she could think of numerous things that she was afraid of. Her father’s condition worsening, Ganondorf’s dark power threatening her Kingdom, her true feelings for the Hero being exposed…

Zelda soon shook her head, pushing such thoughts away. That was all beside the point. The truth of the matter was that the Princess didn’t frighten easily, and that was all she was trying to convey.

Nevertheless, Link just ended up giving her a skeptical look. “You’re really not scared?”

“Of course not,” Zelda replied, keeping her head held high.

Link continued to stare at her for a moment, but soon shrugged with a smile. “Well, great. In that case, go ahead and grab a worm already.”

Zelda flinched as the color drained from her face. Leave it to the Hero to demolish her entire argument with such a simple request. Still, Zelda wasn’t about to give in. Feeling brave, she extended her hand towards the dirt once more. She hesitated when she spotted a worm wriggling around inside, but not for long. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Zelda stuck her fingers into the dirt, blindly digging around until she grasped the slimy creature.

The Princess tensed up, but she soon brought the worm back to her side and dared to open her eyes. Somehow, her fingers found the courage to bring the hook up to the creature and connect the two of them together. She only watched long enough to make sure that the worm was secure before she dropped the line, letting it hang loose. She then released a nervous breath of air that had been pent up within her. She also made sure to avert her gaze, hoping that it would be free of the slimy creature for a while. That task had been far more difficult than she would have liked to admit…

Suddenly, Zelda’s eyes ended up falling on Link, who was staring back at her with the most amused expression that she had ever seen from him. His lips were tightly pursed together, and he honestly looked like he was trying his hardest not to burst out laughing. It didn’t take long for Zelda to figure out why. While she had been successful in securing a worm on her hook, she realized that her actions must have seemed far from confident. No, it was worse than that. Zelda knew that her actions probably shared a closer resemblance to those of a frightened child. Before long, she began to feel her cheeks turn a light shade of red from her embarrassment.

Oh, what a fool she was.

“Um…can we move on to the next step?” she requested quietly, before Link had a chance to tease her further.

Stifling his laugh for good, Link just nodded. The Princess’s behavior was rather entertaining, but he saw no need to dwell on it. “Sure. Next, I’m going to show you how to cast your line.”

Link proceeded to approach the water and explained the best technique for casting. He then gave a demonstration, bringing his rod back before giving it a short but strong thrust forward. The line flew out towards the center of the pool before sinking into the water below.

Zelda just nodded before attempting it herself. Fortunately, she found the motion simple enough to complete, and seconds later, her lure was also plunged into the depths of the pool.

Link nodded his approval before taking a seat on the ground. “Good, now all you have to do is wait for something to bite. Just keep an eye on your line, and as soon as something starts tugging on it, reel it in.”

Zelda nodded. “Sounds simple enough.” She then smiled at the Hero. “Thank you for teaching me, Link.”

He smiled back. “No problem.”

Zelda also sat down on a nearby rock, watching her line carefully as the minutes ticked away. Even though the Princess had never gone fishing before, it didn’t take long for her to appreciate the tranquility of such a thing. The cove was quiet. The water was calm and undisturbed. It quickly put Zelda into a peaceful state of mind.

“This is sort of relaxing, isn’t it?” she asked Link.

Link just smiled and nodded back. “Yeah, there’s nothing more peaceful than just sitting back by the water, waiting to see what your rod brings back to you. It just feels so nice to waste your hours away in the sun like this.”

Zelda nodded in agreement. “If only every day could be like today. Unfortunately, life often keeps me too busy to ever provide the opportunity.”

Link gave her a sympathetic look. “You know, if you ever want the chance to sneak away from the castle for a few hours, I’d be happy to help you with that.”

Zelda gave him a faint smile. “Sneak away from the castle?”

“Yeah,” he replied. “Like if you ever wanted a break from all of your duties.”

“And you are saying that you would help me sneak away?”

“Of course.”

Zelda's smile soon turned into a perplexed smirk. “Really? Because if I recall correctly, you were against the idea of me sneaking away from the festivities back in Kakariko Village. At the very least, you mentioned that you didn’t want to get into trouble for being my accomplice.”

Link blinked at this accusation, but he soon smiled. “Well, I still don’t want to get into trouble…But, if it means that you get to be happy and have some peace of mind for a change, I’d be willing to risk it.”

Zelda just looked away, feeling her cheeks start to redden a bit. She always felt a bit flustered whenever the Hero showed her such kindness. “I see…That is very thoughtful of you, Link. Perhaps I’ll have to take you up on that offer.”

Link simply flashed a satisfied grin. “Just say the word and I’ll come anytime.”

The Princess was about to ask him exactly how he planned to sneak her out of the castle and away from her duties, but she ended up pausing instead. Suddenly, she could feel a strong tug on her line. Glancing down at it in confusion, she quickly gathered what was happening.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Something is biting!” She then froze, completely forgetting what she was supposed to do next.

“Quick, reel it in!” Link instructed her as he jumped to his feet.

Zelda also stood up and tightly grasped her rod. She then began pulling back while trying to wind the line in. It proved a bit more difficult than she had expected, as whatever had bit her lure was fighting against her with all its might. Clenching her teeth, Zelda continued to fight back, reeling in her catch as fast as she could.

At this point, a crowd had started gathering behind her, many of the spectators eager to witness the Princess’s catch. Ralis also appeared from within the crowd, and soon ran up to her with a bright smile.

“Good job, Zelda,” he said encouragingly. “Now don’t let it get away.”

Zelda just huffed, feeling her hands grow a bit tired. “This is…rather difficult...”

Link shook his head. “Don’t worry, you’ve got this. Just keep reeling it in.”

Zelda nodded and did as she was told. Eventually, she managed to get her line near the shore. By this point, the fish was barely resisting at all, and Zelda was having an easier time reeling it closer to her. Before long, she managed to pull her lure free from the water, revealing her catch at the end of it.

The crowd quickly fell silent as Zelda marveled at her catch. It was a beautiful fish; ivory in color, with its scales sparkling in the light. It harmlessly flapped its fins around a bit as it dangled from her rod.

Zelda flashed a bright smile as she turned to face the two boys beside her. “I did it!” she said cheerfully. “I caught my first fish!”

However, to Zelda’s surprise, Link and Ralis both just looked dumbfounded. She curiously stared back at them, watching as their faces then slowly lit up into small smirks. A few seconds later, they couldn’t contain their amusement, and they both ended up bursting into full-on laughter.

Zelda just frowned, feeling a bit taken aback at this reaction. Even as she stood there, she could hear some of the spectators in the crowd start chuckling as well. She didn’t quite understand. Why was everyone laughing at her?

“Ah ha ha ha!” Ralis bellowed cheerfully, placing a hand on his forehead. “That is quite amusing, Princess Zelda, quite amusing indeed.”

Zelda frowned some more, still confused. “Um…what’s so funny?” she asked, turning from the Zora Prince to the Hero.

Link chuckled some more before pointing to the fish at the end of Zelda’s rod. He then smiled as he tried to explain. “Well, Zelda, it’s a nice fish and all…But tell me something, have you noticed the size of your catch?”

Zelda blinked before taking another glance at her fish. Somehow, in all of her excitement, she had completely failed to acknowledge its size. Which, incidentally, was barely larger than her finger. It was so small that it could have easily fit in the palm of her hand.

With an embarrassed blush, Zelda suddenly realized what everyone was laughing about.

“Ha ha, why, that might be the record for the smallest catch we’ve ever had in Zora’s Domain,” Ralis continued with a smile. “Unfortunately, I’m afraid that it’s probably not going to be winning any competitions today.”

Zelda sighed before closing her eyes, feeling a little ashamed. “Er, yes, I see your point.” She then paused as she felt someone place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Opening her eyes, she glanced back to find Link smiling at her.

“Don’t worry, Zelda,” he told her. “The fish might not be very impressive, but you should still be proud of yourself.” 

Zelda just gave him a doubtful look. “I should?”

“Of course!” Link exclaimed with a grin. “You’ve successfully managed to catch your first fish. Well done.”

Zelda produced a shy smile in response. It was still a little embarrassing to hear everyone laugh at her miniscule catch, but she was just glad to know that Link had appreciated her effort. Truth be told, she was proud of her first catch, and she honestly didn’t care what anyone else had to say about it. She had succeeded at something that she had never attempted before, and she intended to keep her head held high.

With soft eyes, Zelda stared back at the Hero. She was grateful for many of his qualities, including his kindness, his patience, and his empathy. However, in this moment, the thing that she was truly grateful for, were his genuine words of encouragement. He always had a way of comforting her, simply by being his positive, uplifting self.

“Thank you, Link,” she whispered.

Notes:

You see? Link isn’t the only one who embarrasses himself. Sometimes Zelda embarrasses herself too! lol

And sorry the chapter is a little short this time but I just wanted to focus on the fun little fishing contest. But fair warning, the next chapter will be quite long, so please look forward to it :)

Chapter 29: Memories of Her Mother

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 29 – Memories of Her Mother

As the day passed on into evening, the fishing competition came to a close, with Prince Ralis being declared the winner after having caught an incredibly large reekfish. Link accused him of cheating by using some sort of special earring as bait, but the boy denied it, stating that using special lures was fair game.

The Prince’s catch ended up being roasted and served for dinner. A large feast was held in the Zoras’ main hall, and every Zora in the cove had been invited to attend. Long tables were set up around the pool of clear water, and numerous seafood dishes had been prepared for their guests.

Having finished up her time in the water, Zelda had changed out of her robe and swimsuit, and now donned her signature royal attire: a white and purple dress. As she stared at all the aquatic delicacies, she was reminded of a promise that she had made before she left the castle. When she had a chance to speak to Ralis, she made sure to pass along Ashei’s request for reekfish in the Castle Town market. The boy just laughed at both the randomness and simplicity of the request, and assured the Princess that he would mention it to the Zoras that specialized in trade. Zelda just bowed in thanks, happy to see his willingness to cooperate.

The next few hours were spent in relative luxury as both hosts and guests settled down and enjoyed the festivities. A few Zora musicians ended up playing some relaxing tunes with beautifully crafted instruments, while some of their brethren jumped into the pool and began performing some sort of slow dance. Zelda felt like this place was definitely a far cry from both Death Mountain and Kakariko Village. It had a certain dignity to it. A certain refinement that the other cultures seemed to lack. Being a Royal Princess, Zelda definitely felt an appreciation for such things.

Link, however, seemed to feel differently. As the evening began to settle down, Zelda couldn’t help but notice that the Hero had subtly started to sneak away from the hall. She watched as he disappeared, following the stream that led outside.

Feeling a little curious, Zelda wished to follow him and see where exactly he was sneaking off to. However, she didn’t want to just abandon the party, especially since it had been thrown in her honor. She glanced down the table that she had been seated at, and noticed that Ralis and Fost appeared to be deep in conversation. Apparently, the Minister was recounting a story about the boy’s father, King Zora. Being as young as he was, Ralis was especially entranced as he listened to the tales of long ago.

Zelda just smirked as she watched the two of them. Since they were distracted, she supposed that it would be all right if she snuck away as well. Just for a little bit.

Moving quickly, Zelda followed Link’s path outside, and soon arrived at the waterfall that poured over the cliffs into the large basin below. There, she spotted the Hero, standing by the water’s edge and gazing up at the dimming sky. It was currently bathed in the orange glow of the sunset, but it wouldn’t be long before it would be replaced by a dark sea of stars.

Softly smiling, Zelda decided to approach him from behind. Unfortunately, the rush of the waterfall was quite loud, so Zelda had to make sure to raise her voice when she announced her presence.

“What are you doing out here?” she asked loudly.

To her surprise, Link immediately jumped and whipped around, looking stunned to find someone approaching him from behind. He then tripped a bit, falling backwards onto his butt as he gave a loud yelp of surprise.

“Whoa! Z-Zelda!?” he exclaimed.

Zelda gasped as well, shocked at his sudden behavior. She placed her gloved hands over her mouth for a moment, but soon lowered them as the tension slowly evaporated. “Goodness, Link. What was that all about?”

“Y-You scared me,” Link said, still speaking loud enough so he could be heard over the falls. “I didn’t hear you coming from behind!”

Zelda winced a bit at his shouting. She really didn’t care for all this noise, especially at a time so late in the day. She soon pointed to the stairs that led down the cliffside, away from the waterfall. “Can we talk over there?” she asked.

Link followed her finger and soon nodded, rising to his feet. The two of them walked over to the stairs where it was much quieter, the rumbling of the waterfall now nothing more than a distant drone.

“Sorry about frightening you like that,” Zelda said with a sigh. “I had no intention of sneaking up on you. Although, I suppose you could consider it payback for when you scared me in the water earlier today.”

Link smirked at this. “Heh, fair enough,” he agreed.

“What are you doing out here anyway? I noticed that you snuck away from the party when no one was looking.”

“No one except for you,” Link noted. “I just wanted some fresh air is all.”

“Hmm,” Zelda hummed, giving the Hero a perplexed look. “I take it that this sort of celebration doesn’t really catch your interest?”

“Not really,” Link admitted guiltily. “I definitely prefer how the people of Kakariko and the Gorons like to party. This feels a bit too stuffy for me.”

“I find that it can be relaxing,” Zelda argued back. “And trust me, this is far from the worst I’ve seen. I’ve been to celebrations that are far duller, some of which were held at my very own castle.”

Link smiled a bit. “Yeah, I can imagine,” he said, thinking of all the older nobles in the court that preferred to have things a certain way, regardless of how monotonous they might be.

Zelda soon glanced at the Hero with a playful smirk. “Oh? In that case, I should hope that you don’t believe that I am stuffy and dull as well.”

Link immediately looked taken aback. “What? Of course not. When have I ever said that?”

Zelda giggled a bit. “You didn’t, but it’s nice to know where you stand on this subject.”

Link just frowned as he looked away. Once again, it felt like the Princess was teasing him for her own amusement. He wondered if she would ever grow tired of such trickery, but he wasn’t about to hold his breath.

Naturally, Zelda just smiled at his expression. “Would you care to take a walk? I wouldn’t mind a break from the party as well, and it’s not every day that you get to see the quiet side of Zora’s Domain.”

Link soon found himself smiling back. Despite all of the Princess’s teasing, he couldn’t bring himself to be upset with her. “Sure, that sounds nice,” he agreed.

With a small nod, Zelda led them forward, descending down the stairs. They walked in silence as they slowly made their way to the bottom of the cliffs. As they did, they took some time to admire the sight of the water falling around them, as well as the overall tranquility of the cove. The sky continued to darken, but the bright moon and stars appeared and cast their light on the reflective pool below.

“This is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited,” Zelda said, breaking the silence with an awed sigh.

“It sure is,” Link said with a nod. “It’s amazing to see what the other races of Hyrule can accomplish when it comes to their natural element. Zoras with their water, Gorons with their earth…”

Zelda nodded back. “I agree. Although…at this particular moment, I must admit that the thing that I am most interested in witnessing is what the people of Ordon have done with their village.”

“Oh,” said Link, suddenly looking surprised. “You’re eager to see Ordon?”

“Of course,” Zelda replied. “As I’m sure you recall, I’ve never been there before, and I must say that I’m quite interested in seeing the place you call home.”

Link scratched his head a bit, looking a little bashful. “Well, I wouldn’t get your hopes up too high,” he warned her. “It’s not really anything special. At least not like this.” He soon gestured to the magnificent cove that spread out before them.

In return, Zelda gave him a sad smile. “Nonsense, Link. Even if it’s not particularly grand, I’m sure that Ordon will be perfectly unique.”

“Sure…if you consider forests and pumpkin patches to be unique,” Link replied with a shrug.

Zelda smirked a bit, amused at his humor. “As a matter of fact, I do. We don’t exactly have forests in the castle’s courtyards, and believe it or not, I’ve never seen a pumpkin patch before.”

Link seemed a bit surprised at this, but soon smiled. “Trust me, if you can imagine a patch of dirt with some pumpkins growing in it, you’ve basically already seen it.”

Zelda just shook her head. “Still, I’d like to see it for myself, as well as meet all of your friends and family.”

Link laughed a little. “If anything, I bet that they’re even more excited to see you. I doubt that any of them would believe me if I said that the Royal Princess was coming to Ordon just to personally meet them.”

“But it’s true,” Zelda insisted. “They are the wonderful subjects of my Kingdom, as well as your close neighbors that you grew up with. Why would I not be interested in meeting them?”

“Because we’re nothing more than a bunch of poor farmers and ranchers,” Link said with a shrug and a sad smile.

“Nonsense,” Zelda quickly denied with a frown. “I really hate to hear you speak of your home in such a derogatory manner, Link, especially when you used to speak so highly of it. You should take more pride in your origins.”

Link quickly frowned back, and began waving his hands a bit. “No, I do. I just…I want to make sure that your expectations aren’t too high going into this. At the end of the day, we’re still just a tiny village in the forest.”

Zelda sighed before flashing a soft smile. “Nevertheless, that ‘tiny village in the forest’ managed to produce a Hero capable of saving the entire Kingdom. And I daresay that that is rather impressive.”

Link just smiled bashfully at the Princess’s words. “I suppose you have a point.”

“Yes, I do,” Zelda agreed. “And I eagerly look forward to exploring every aspect of your home. From its landscape to its culture to its citizens.”

“That’s very kind of you, Zelda,” Link replied, his words full of appreciation. Even now, he still found it hard to believe that the Princess of Hyrule herself had taken such an interest in his humble little village, but he knew that her words were completely genuine. “I still look forward to showing you around, and introducing you to everyone as well.”

Zelda smiled, happy to see that she had managed to restore some of his confidence. “As do I.”

The two of them continued to walk in silence, comfortable in each other’s company. That is, until Link spoke up again, and unknowingly dropped a verbal bombchu right on top of the Princess.

“I’m especially excited to finally introduce you to Ilia. I think that the two of you will get along really well.”

Zelda just froze at the mention of the only part of Ordon that she wasn’t looking forward to. In all of her excitement to visit the Hero’s home, she had almost forgotten that it would also entail confronting his newfound lover. Ilia, the famed, mysterious beauty of Ordon that had managed to capture the heart of the Hero.

“Of course, I’m looking forward to that as well,” Zelda replied, nearly lying through her teeth. As things stood, she wasn’t being entirely dishonest. She did hold some interest in meeting this girl, although not for the reasons that Link might have imagined. Zelda definitely wasn’t interested in becoming good buddies with her, that was for sure. She was, however, interested in learning more about her, and hoping to discover just what exactly the Hero saw in her. Despite her best attempts at moving on, Zelda still wished that she could call Link her own, as impossible a task as that might seem. Because of this, she felt the strong urge to study this Ilia girl; to see why exactly Link had chosen her over every other woman in Hyrule.

Specifically, she wanted to know why Link had chosen Ilia over the Royal Princess herself…

Zelda soon shook her head, trying desperately to keep both her composure and her sanity. The last thing that she needed was to continue dwelling on these pointless, depressing thoughts. Instead, she wished to keep focusing on her conversation with Link. In fact, there was one question in particular that lingered on Zelda’s mind. She had been curious about this behavior for a while now, but it wasn’t until this moment that she decided to ask the Hero about it.

“You know, you never talk about Ilia very much,” she noted slowly as her eyes narrowed a bit. “Why is that?”

Link seemed surprised at this observation, but he soon gave the Princess a sheepish smile. “I don’t know. I guess I just assumed that you wouldn’t care to hear about such things.”

Of course I don’t, the more vicious side of Zelda’s mind replied bluntly. However, she soon paused and took a deep breath, allowing the kinder, more reasonable side of her mind to take over. Stop this, Zelda. There’s no reason for you to be so hostile…

Goddesses help her, she now had two voices arguing in her head. She really hoped that she wasn’t losing her mind…

“Nonsense, I’d love to hear more about her,” the Princess replied, trying her best to sound as genuine as possible.

Link smiled with a bit of pride. Naturally, he enjoyed talking about the woman that he loved, although he wasn’t exactly sure where to start. “Well, what do you want to know?”

Zelda just paused, suddenly realizing that the Hero himself might provide some of the answers that she wished to uncover. She slowly started thinking over some of her curiosities, the ones that she had secretly held for weeks now. “How old is she?”

“The same age as me.”

“And you’ve known each other since you were children?”

“From as far back as I can remember,” Link said with a nod.

Zelda slowly nodded back before silently cursing herself. To be honest, these answers weren’t exactly revealing anything substantial. Most of these responses were things that she already knew, or simply could have surmised. Thinking about it some more, Zelda then paused before coming up with a good question. A question that she really wanted to know the answer to.

“What is she like?”

Link paused as well, taking a moment to think about how to answer such a vague query. However, he soon smiled as the words slowly came to him. “She’s kind. Thoughtful. Headstrong and stubborn at times. She’s responsible, and knows how to keep things in line around the village. Especially me and the Mayor,” he said with a laugh.

Zelda absentmindedly nodded some more. She could see why someone like Link found those traits so appealing. Naturally, she did as well.

“Ilia is also sweet and caring,” he continued. “She’s always looking out for others, even if it puts herself in danger. In fact, during the Twilight Invasion, she even helped take care of Ralis when he was sick. She tended to him throughout the entire trip from Castle Town to Kakariko.”

Zelda’s eyes widened at this. She didn’t recall hearing about that specific detail in Link’s exploits. “Wait, she did?”

Link nodded. “Yep. Even though she had no memories at the time, she was still concerned for this Zora child that she knew nothing about.”

Zelda frowned as her eyes fell to the ground. She couldn’t help but wonder if she herself would have done the same thing in that situation. “I see. That sounds incredibly selfless of her.”

“Yeah, I was surprised but also really inspired. She made me want to go out and keep helping people too.”

She was an inspiration to him? Zelda wondered sadly. She felt her heart painfully twist a bit as she recalled her own feelings for the Hero, and how he had been such a big inspiration for herself. But now, Link was claiming to have seen something similar in someone else. He had seen it in someone that he truly loved. Before long, Zelda had a sudden but painful realization.

What I see in him is everything that he sees in her…

Zelda softly sighed as she closed her eyes. She truly hated feeling like this. To still have these lingering feelings for the Hero standing next to her, but knowing that she couldn’t do anything about it. Knowing that the two of them didn’t belong together. Knowing that Link’s perfect match was probably this Ilia girl, as much as she hated to admit it.

“Zelda? Hello?” Link’s voice suddenly called out, bringing the Princess back to reality.

“Oh, sorry, what?” she replied, opening her eyes and becoming alert.

Link just laughed at her expression. “You looked like you were starting to zone out again. It feels like you do that a lot these days.”

Zelda felt her cheeks turn a bit pink, as she felt both embarrassed and ashamed. “My apologies, Link. I’m not trying to be rude or anything. I just…feel like I have a lot to think about.”

Link gave her a curious glance. “Concerning Ilia?”

Zelda quickly frowned and waved her hand in dismissal. “No, not necessarily. I meant about Ordon, and the tour in general,” she tried to reply innocently.

Link seemed a bit puzzled by this answer, but he soon shrugged. As always, he just assumed that the Princess’s mind was being pulled in a hundred different directions. He wasn’t surprised that she found it hard to stay focused when she had so many duties to stay on top of.

Meanwhile, Zelda just breathed a small sigh of relief, happy that the Hero had bought her excuse. The last thing she wanted was for him to know the real reason for why she dwelled on Ilia as much as she did.

“Well, is there anything else you wanted to know?” Link asked, trying to continue the conversation once more.

Zelda thought about it some more, still trying to reassemble her thoughts after that nerve-wracking situation. “Yes, you claimed that Ilia tended to Ralis while he was sick. Tell me, does she have any experience as a medical practitioner?”

“A little bit,” Link replied. “She can tend to anyone who is wounded or sick just fine, but I think that she’d honestly like to learn more. Ordon doesn’t really have a reliable doctor, so maybe one day, she’ll manage to become the first.”

Zelda nodded. A doctor, another admirable characteristic for Ilia to add to her belt. One that epitomized all of her best traits: her kindness, thoughtfulness, and caring nature. Zelda couldn’t deny that she was starting to grow more jealous by the second. She truly hated how perfect this girl sounded.

Zelda then froze, literally, as a frigid gust of wind blew from somewhere off to the left. The gale encompassed the Princess completely, its icy chill circling around her body as she stood in place. Zelda soon wrapped her arms around herself as she started shivering. Her dress was good at covering most of her figure, but it did leave her arms and back exposed, a feature that Zelda suddenly found most regrettable.

“G-Goodness,” she stuttered through chattering teeth. “Wh-Why did it get so chilly all of a sudden?”

The Princess soon turned to find that Link was in a similar situation to herself: shivering with his arms wrapped around his body. He too had experienced the full force of the cold gale. He glanced around for a bit before his eyes landed on a familiar sight. Before long, he smiled in realization. “Ah, it’s this tunnel. It leads straight to the Snowpeak Province, where the temperature drops drastically.”

Zelda followed his line of sight and managed to spot a cave off to the side of the cove. Glancing inside, she could clearly see that a decent amount of frost and ice had coalesced on the walls. Additionally, she could still feel the frigid air drifting from its mouth.

“That leads to Snowpeak?” she asked.

“Yep, directly to it,” Link confirmed.

“I forgot that Province was so close to the Zoras’ home.” Zelda then paused before releasing a deep breath, shivering some more. “Hoooo…”

Link smiled a bit. “Pretty cold, huh?”

“Incredibly so.”

Link gave the Princess a look of sympathy. His blue tunic covered him well enough, but he could tell that her outfit left her a little too exposed to the elements. “I wish I had a coat to offer you.”

Zelda immediately ceased her shivering, finally feeling some heat for the first time since the gale overtook them. Specifically, she could feel it rising in her reddened cheeks. “Oh,” she said softly. “Th-That is very kind of you to say, Link. Spoken like a true gentleman.”

To her surprise, the Hero began to blush as well, almost as if he was a bit surprised with himself. He soon looked away, likely in an attempt to avoid her gaze. “W-Well, that’s the right thing to do, isn’t it? When a lady starts shivering in a man’s presence?”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile at his bashfulness. She assumed that he was just being humble again. “Yes, that would be the thoughtful thing to do,” she agreed. She then paused before deciding to add another small comment to encourage him. “I’m sure that Ilia would be very proud of you.”

Once again, Link looked surprised, but he ended up releasing a small chuckle. “I don’t know about that. She’s usually the one saying that I have no manners at all.”

Zelda frowned at this. She didn’t agree with that assessment of the Hero at all. For as long as she had known Link, he had done nothing but behave himself, acting kind and polite at every opportunity. He was definitely a far cry from some of the more stuck-up court nobles that she had encountered in her lifetime; arrogant people that only pretended to have manners for the sake of saving face.

“I’m sure that she’s just exaggerating,” Zelda said, trying to sound optimistic.

“Maybe,” Link agreed with a half-hearted shrug. He then frowned a bit. “It’s still too bad that I don’t have a coat though. You can call me a gentleman all you like, but the only thing I can really offer is to move you away from this cave.”

“It’s the thought that counts,” Zelda said with a smile. “And I think I’ll take you up on that. At least before my nose starts running.”

Link laughed before nodding in agreement. He soon led the way to a spot around the corner, where the endless gusts of frigid air would no longer reach them. Here, the two of them finally managed to get their shivering under control and start warming up.

“Much better,” Zelda breathed, rubbing her hands together.

Link nodded back. “I’ll bet the thought of turning into a wolf doesn’t seem so funny anymore, does it? A big fur coat must sound pretty nice right about now.”

Zelda smirked, recalling how she had teased him earlier on in the tour. “Yes, I see your point.” She then glanced over at the frozen cave once more, this time from a distance. “So is this where you entered the Snowpeak Province during your adventure? From Zora’s Domain?”

“Yes,” Link said with a grin. “I walked through that cave and eventually came across a Yeti. After that, he led me all the way back to his mansion of a home.”

“Is that so?” Zelda whispered, her eyes suddenly narrowing in curiosity. At the mention of the Yeti’s magnificent home, she couldn’t help but conjure some memories in her mind. Memories of an age long past…

“Hmm? What’s up?” Link suddenly asked, noticing the distant expression in her eyes.

Zelda soon blinked before shaking her head a bit. “Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about the manor that you claimed to have explored.”

Link gave her a curious glance, wondering why that of all things would have caught her attention. “Do you know of it?”

“Perhaps,” Zelda replied mysteriously.

This just caused Link to raise his eyebrows, feeling even more curious. It felt like the Princess was hiding something from him. As if to prove his suspicions, she soon turned to him with a small smirk. Glancing at one another, Link could tell that there was a spark of curiosity in her eyes as well.

“Link, could you do me a favor?” Zelda asked softly. “Can you describe the manor to me?”

“Describe it?” Link repeated. He had already told her about his escapades in Snowpeak before. He wasn’t exactly sure why she would want to hear such things again, especially at this seemingly random point in time.

“Yes,” she replied with a nod. “If you don’t mind, I’d like for you to describe it in greater detail. Tell me about what you saw in there. What the layout was like. What sort of things were lying around…”

Link just gave Zelda a weird look. He wasn’t quite sure, but to him, the Princess almost appeared to be nostalgic, as if she were recalling some distant memories. Nevertheless, he chose to comply. He described the general layout of the manor. What each floor contained, which room led to which, what their intended purpose seemed to be as well as what the Yeti couple were actually using them for. He also listed off everything that could be found inside. From old suits of armor to beautiful paintings of various Hyrulean landscapes and important historical figures.

As Zelda listened, her small, nostalgic smile remained on her face. When Link eventually finished his description, she just bowed her head and closed her eyes.

“So it’s true,” she whispered, more to herself than to him.

“Um…What’s true?” he asked, still feeling confused by her behavior.

Zelda soon opened her eyes and turned to him, a look of realization now written on her face. “That manor,” she said softly. “It belongs to the Royal Family.”

Link just blinked at this. “Wait, what?”

“Yes,” Zelda said with a small nod. “It used to be our winter vacation home.”

Link blinked again. He had never known any of this, let alone suspected it! “Wait, a vacation home? So you’re saying that…”

“I’ve been there before,” Zelda confirmed with a smile. “My family used to stay there once a year, back when I was young.”

“I…I had no idea,” Link breathed, feeling rather stunned. He knew that it was a magnificent home, but he never would have guessed that it belonged to royalty. Let alone the royalty that was standing right in front of him. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

Zelda knew what he meant. He had recounted the tales of his adventures to her on more than one occasion. And yet, Zelda had failed to mention that the manor at Snowpeak rightfully belonged to her family even a single time. “Honestly, I’ve had my suspicions that the place you described was our old winter home. However, I wasn’t entirely certain, so I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions.”

Link furrowed his brow a bit. “Why not? Are there a lot of manors out in the middle of Snowpeak or something?”

Zelda giggled a bit. “No, but I still wasn’t about to assume.”

Link frowned some more as he looked away, still trying to process all of this. “But wait, I told the King–er, I mean, your father–about this too, and yet he never made the connection either. Why is that?”

Zelda frowned as well, a surprisingly sad expression appearing on her face. She soon looked away, glancing at the frozen tunnel once more. “My father has some…bittersweet memories of that place. I imagine that he tries to avoid thinking about it.” She then paused for a bit, before closing her eyes. “To be honest, neither of us think about it very often. It’s basically ancient history, having been abandoned for as long as it has.”

Link felt his heart start to grow heavy with sympathy, and yet he wasn’t entirely sure why. The things that the Princess was telling him…she almost seemed to be implying that some sort of unfortunate event had occurred. Something that would have driven the Royal Family away from their isolated home among the snowy mountains. Slowly, Link started to gather the pieces of a puzzle that he had never fully noticed before. Why was the manor abandoned? Why had it fallen into ruin over the years? Why was there a Yeti couple living there now?

Link wanted to ask all of these questions, and try to get some concrete answers. His curiosity was insisting upon it. However, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not when the Princess looked as sad as she currently did. Instead, he decided to compromise. Rather than asking all of the numerous questions that had come to mind, he settled on asking only one.

“What happened?”

Zelda was silent for a while, keeping her head bowed and eyes closed. Eventually she took a deep breath before finally opening her eyes and turning to the Hero. She stared at him for a moment, wondering if she should trust him with the truth. Trust him with her past, and all that such a thing entailed. However, any concerns that she held quickly melted away as she studied his expression. It was one of empathy. It was the expression of someone who wished to understand and comfort.

She knew that she could trust him.

“We stopped visiting the manor after my mother passed away,” she revealed quietly.

Link’s expression quickly turned somber, the sympathy in his heart growing ever stronger. “Oh…” he said slowly, all while feelings of compassion began to rise up within him. Suddenly, he was starting to understand the full weight of the memories that were weighing on her.

Zelda just gave a small nod before looking down. “I’ve been told that my parents spent many seasons there in their younger years. I’m certain that they made a lot of happy memories in that home…Which is why it’s understandable that my father didn’t want to visit the manor much after her passing. I think that the memories proved to be too much for him. He much preferred to stay at the castle and distract himself with work instead.”

Link slowly nodded, still trying to fully process this information. “I’m…really sorry to hear that,” he told her, his voice low and full of kindness.

Zelda just smiled, trying to put on a brave face. “It’s all right. It happened a long time ago, after all.”

“Your mother,” Link said slowly. “The Queen, she…” His voice just trailed off as he hesitated. He wasn’t exactly sure how to go about asking what was currently on his mind.

Fortunately, Zelda seemed to be able to piece together what he wanted to say, and was willing to provide an answer. “She died when I was six,” she explained quietly. “She succumbed to an illness that had plagued her for months.”

“I think I remember hearing about that…”

“Of course. The entire Kingdom was in mourning for a time. It was rather unexpected for her to go so young, after all.”

Link just nodded some more. Even now, he could still remember the genuine shock and sorrow that had rippled throughout Ordon after news of the Queen’s passing had reached them. He had just been a child at the time, but even Link could understand how tragic it had been to hear that she had passed away at such a young age. It was even more tragic to know that she had left a young child behind, that child of course being Princess Zelda.

Link went silent for a while, taking some time to mull over his thoughts. He had always known that Zelda’s mother was deceased, but he had never taken the time to give much thought to it. A sentiment that he now felt rather guilty about…

“It must have been hard for you,” he noted quietly.

Zelda gave a small nod, but managed to sadly smile again. “It wasn’t easy, of course, but I managed. It helped to still have a loving father to support me, as well as numerous others, including Fost. I was young, but they ensured that I was well cared for, even in my mother’s absence.”

Link produced a sad smile of his own, mirroring Zelda’s. “Do you still have memories of her?”

Zelda’s smile widened a bit. “Yes, quite a few, actually. I remember that she was always smiling and watching over me. She often took my hand as we walked through the castle gardens on sunny days. Even now, I can remember her voice and laugh quite clearly. She was always making me laugh and encouraging me. We had such good times together…And of course, I wasn’t the only one that loved her. I still hear the guards and maids tell stories about her from time to time. From what I can gather, she was one of the kindest and gentlest souls in the entire Kingdom. They referred to her as Queen Athena Hyrule: wise, noble, and fair.”

Link couldn’t help but grin a bit. “It sounds like she was well-liked by a lot of people.”

Zelda nodded. “Of course. I myself respected her just as much as I loved her.”

“I wish I could have met her,” Link said with a sigh. “Although, something tells me that if I did, she would just remind me of you.”

Zelda began blushing, as her eyes turned to Link, full of gratitude. “Thank you, Link. That means so much.”

Link just blinked, a bit surprised at this heartfelt reaction.

Zelda simply noted his astonishment before smiling. “Truth be told, I aspire to be like my mother,” she explained. “That’s why whenever someone claims that I remind them of her, I consider it a compliment of the highest honor.”

“As you should,” Link replied, now understanding the full depths of Zelda’s feelings for her mother. “You must miss her a lot.”

Zelda gave a small nod. “There are times where I wish I could see her again. Just to talk to her and show her what kind of person I’ve grown up to become…” Her voice soon trailed off; her face one of longing. Nevertheless, she soon replaced her expression with a smile, one that was quite confident. “But at times like that, I just try to remind myself that she’s still smiling and watching over me, even now.”

“That’s a good way to think about it,” Link said, flashing a grin. “I’m sure that if she were here, she’d be very proud of you and what you’ve accomplished. Saving your Kingdom, aiding in the recovery effort…”

Zelda just subtly started to blush again. “That’s very kind of you to say, Link. I should hope that you are right.”

“I’m sure I am,” he replied positively.

The two of them then fell silent after that. The Princess was simply content to bask in the Hero’s encouraging words, while the Hero was happy to understand the Princess a little bit better. Link was also glad to know that Zelda trusted him enough to reveal her personal thoughts and feelings to him. They shared a genuine friendship, and it was nice to know that it was both healthy and strong.

“So, do you have memories of the manor as well?” Link asked, bringing the conversation back around to its origin.

Zelda nodded, her nostalgic smile appearing once more. “Yes, I can clearly recall spending a few of my younger years there. My parents and I always had fun playing in the snow-filled courtyard, and then after that we would retreat to the warmth of the den where we could cuddle up under blankets.”

Link smiled, imagining the peaceful family that once was. “It sounds like fun.”

Zelda smirked. “It was. And of course, Ashei made sure to keep things interesting as well.”

Link just paused, caught off guard by this new information. “Ashei?” he repeated. “What does she have to do with any of this?”

Zelda just turned to him, looking equally surprised. “Ah, did she fail to mention it as well?”

“Mention what?”

“That she grew up in that manor.”

“What!?” Link exclaimed. Even though he had already learned a lot that evening, the Princess seemed determined to just keep piling up the shocking information! “Ashei lived in that place too?”

“Forgive me,” Zelda told him. “I assumed that Ashei would have likely mentioned it to you. Or that even if she hadn’t, that you would have been able to piece it together.”

Link furrowed his brow. He knew that Ashei had always held a great knowledge about the Snowpeak Province, but he had never thought it obvious that she must have lived there. Let alone live in the giant, well-furnished manor in the middle of it all.

“Why was she there?” Link asked, both his confusion and curiosity getting the best of him.

Zelda just smiled, amused by his lost expression. “Allow me to explain. You see, Ashei’s father was a great Knight who was charged with protecting the winter home all year round. Because of this, he dwelled in the manor, even during the times where we didn’t come to visit. Naturally, his family lived with him, and so Ashei was also able to call the manor her home. Since we were the only children in that isolated place, the two of us ended up spending many of our younger winters together.”

“Wow,” Link said, still surprised. “I had no idea.”

“It’s how we grew to be good friends,” Zelda said proudly. “And even though we stopped visiting after my mother passed away, Ashei and I always kept in contact through the mail. Thus, we’ve been close ever since…for better or worse,” she added with a small laugh.

“I see,” Link said with a nod. For the first time, he felt like he had a better understanding of Ashei as well. Being a child and growing up in such an isolated location must have certainly had an effect on her. Link couldn’t help but wonder if this was why the female Knight tended to be so blunt and have no boundaries whatsoever. If it was because she didn’t exactly have a lot of people to talk to when she was young…

“Ashei’s father ended up passing away a number of years later,” Zelda continued. “He was the manor’s last remaining caretaker, so it’s no surprise that the place fell into ruin in his absence. Ashei herself ended up moving to Castle Town so that she could fully finish her training as a Knight. With no one left to watch over it, and no one in our family interested to return, the place has been abandoned ever since.”

Link nodded again, finally able to start piecing the puzzle together toward its completion. He now understood how the manor had slowly degraded into its current state. “Abandoned ever since,” he softly repeated before smiling. “That is, until two Yetis decided to move in.”

Zelda smirked, all too familiar with their tale after Link had shared it with her. “A cute and loving Yeti couple, to be exact. Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah,” Link said with a small laugh. “I hate to break it to you, but if you ever do wish to return to your winter home, you’ll probably have to find a way to chase them out.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Zelda said with a smile. “I have no intentions of returning, and I doubt that my father does either. I would be perfectly happy to allow the Yetis to keep living there. Besides, they helped you out during your adventure, didn’t they? It’s only fair that they should receive some sort of compensation. If you ever see them again, let them know that the manor is theirs to do with as they please.”

Link blinked in surprise at this, but soon smiled. “You’re sure?”

“Positive,” she replied.

“In that case, I’ll gladly let them know,” Link said with a grin. “Unless of course you would rather tell them yourself? I’d be happy to introduce you, you know.”

Zelda giggled at this, the thought of meeting such large creatures that dwelled in her old home sounding rather humorous. “Perhaps I’ll have to take you up on that, but not tonight of course. It’ll have to be another time.”

Link laughed as well. “Sure, another time sounds good.”

Zelda smiled some more before releasing a large, unrestrained yawn. She wasn’t sure when it had happened, but it seemed that at some point, the day’s events had started to wear on her. “Ah, forgive me,” she said as she forced her mouth shut. “I was planning to return to the party, but now I’m starting to think that it would just be better if I retired for the evening.”

To Zelda’s surprise, Link soon yawned as well, clearly having caught the contagious motion from the Princess. “Yeah, I should probably go to bed too. If I go back to the party, something tells me that I’m just going to fall asleep.”

Zelda nodded in understanding. Her gaze then softened a bit as she continued to eye the Hero. “Um…Link?”

He glanced at her. “Yeah?”

Zelda just smiled some more before giving a slight bow of her head. “Thank you for keeping me company tonight, and allowing me to reminisce. It was very nice.”

Link just produced a heartfelt smile in return. “Of course, it was my pleasure.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda took a few timid steps forward before performing the one motion that she felt comfortable with. She reached up and gently patted his shoulder, just as she had many times before.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she told him.

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

Notes:

I wanted to take some liberties on expanding the lore of the manor in the Snowpeak Province. I’ve always thought that it was such a fascinating location. Like why is there a manor in the middle of the snowy tundra? With all of this lavish furniture and big rooms and detailed paintings and suits of armor? Like it just feels too important not to be connected to Hyrule’s Royal Family in some way. Or at the very least, a person of significant influence.

So, I thought it would be fun to give it a backstory by saying that it was the Royal Family’s vacation home that they used to frequent. I imagine that some of you might find it odd that it serves as a winter vacation home, but from what I understand, Snowpeak seems like a place that is frigid all year round. Thus, it really wouldn’t make much sense to go there in the summer months, because there wouldn’t really be any summer activities to do there. It would just be the same as if it were winter in summer. So, following my logic, if you have to endure the cold winter weather back at Hyrule Castle anyway, why not change locations to a warm and cozy manor for a month or two? And thus the Snowpeak manor became a winter vacation home. Hopefully this makes sense lol.

There’s also hints from various sources that Ashei’s father once owned the manor, so I tried to tie him into it too by simply stating that he was once its caretaker. Now it makes perfect sense why Ashei was so familiar with the place, while also giving a bit of background to her and Zelda’s friendship that I’ve shown in this story. Feels like a win-win :)

Anyway, we are now officially caught up with the releases on Fanfiction.net! Feels like it took forever, but hey, we're finally here. And now I can publish simultaneous releases for both sites! Woo! I'm specifically planning to do weekly releases for the upcoming stretch of Ordon chapters, so please look forward to that. And as always, thanks for reading.

Chapter 30: Ordon Village

Notes:

Woo-hoo! We did it! We’ve finally arrived at the first simultaneous release for both Fanfiction and AO3! (takes a moment to somehow hug all of my readers at once) Now let’s all continue to enjoy the story together!

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 30 – Ordon Village

Finally, the Princess’s tour across Hyrule had started the last stretch of its journey. After departing from Zora’s Domain, the procession began making its way south towards the Faron Province, where a lush, green forest awaited them.

As promised, Zelda was truly fascinated by what she saw. The trees were tall and beautiful, and they stretched out for as far as the eye could see. Their bountiful branches provided a canopy over the earth below, covering the ground with cool shade but also some occasional warm splotches of sunlight. The grass beneath the trees was a light, pleasant shade of green. The entire forest just seemed to breathe the beauty of nature itself.

“So this is the forest,” Zelda whispered in awe. She had seen the Faron Woods before, but only from a distance. She had never actually walked among the plants and trees.

Link just smiled as he watched the Princess’s gawking expression. He soon chuckled. “Like what you see?”

Zelda just turned to him, her eyes still wide in amazement. “I’ve heard you describe it before. How the sunlight filters through the leaves and casts everything into a beautiful shade of green. I always imagined that it must look rather amazing.” She then paused, directing her gaze upwards once again. “However, upon seeing it in person, I believe that your words honestly don’t do it justice. This is breathtaking.”

Link just laughed some more. “I’m glad you appreciate it. I’ve always loved this place too.”

Zelda soon turned back to the Hero, this time with a smirk on her lips. “You see, Link? I told you that I would find this place unique.”

Link bashfully smiled back. “Yeah, you were right,” he agreed.

From ahead of them, Link and Zelda could also hear some of the others admiring the beauty that surrounded them. Much like Zelda, many of the guards had never visited a place like this before. However, there was one voice that stuck out from all the rest, and it belonged to a short Minister currently riding in a horse-drawn carriage.

“I say,” the older man said as he stuck his head out the window. “This place is rather pleasant. I daresay that it is almost as relaxing as our castle’s esteemed garden.”

Zelda just smirked as she stifled a giggle. “Almost?” she whispered.

Link bit his lip, resisting the urge to laugh as well. Clearly, the good Minister's evaluation had been far from objective or fair. After all, how could a simple castle garden ever compare to something as majestic as this?

The party continued onward, heading deeper south. Eventually, they reached the sacred spring that belonged to the monkey-like Spirit known as Faron. As before, Link and Zelda stopped here to offer their prayers and gratitude to the Light Spirit, which was naturally well-received. After that, the party traversed an old wooden bridge over a chasm (much to Fost’s apprehension) only to arrive at yet another spring. For the final time, Link and Zelda provided a silent prayer to their mighty benefactor, the goat-like Spirit known as Ordona. Once again, the water shone with a bright light which quickly dissipated. At last, all four Light Spirits had been appeased.

With this task now behind them, Zelda just turned to Link with a smile. “Thank you for joining me on this journey. It feels good to finally let the Light Spirits know just how grateful we are.”

“Agreed,” Link said with a nod. “Hopefully they’ll keep supporting us for years to come.”

“We can only hope and pray,” Zelda nodded back. She then paused as she noticed something bright flash out of the corner of her eye. She quickly turned to inspect it, only to gasp and jump back a bit in surprise.

There, fluttering right before her eyes, was a radiant yellow butterfly.

Zelda just bit her lip as she took a half step back. She still wasn’t fond of bugs, especially ones that insisted on getting right up in her personal space.

Link soon noticed her dilemma and laughed a bit. He could tell that the Princess was uncomfortable. He decided to give her some helpful advice.

“Zelda, stick out your hand,” he whispered.

Zelda gave him a half-glance back, but soon did as she was told. She slowly, timidly extended her arm towards the gentle creature.

Within seconds, the butterfly hovered over her palm, apparently attracted to the elegant white color of her glove. A moment later, it decided to land, giving its big, billowing wings a well-deserved rest.

Zelda just continued to nervously eye the butterfly. She wasn’t thrilled to have a bug crawling on her, but she couldn’t deny that it did appear rather majestic. The bright yellow color of its wings was especially appealing.

“It’s…rather pretty,” Zelda admitted after a moment.

Link just laughed some more, still seeing the hesitation on her face. “This must be the forest’s way of saying hello. Clearly, you have been welcomed here.”

Zelda just raised her eyebrows. “You think so?”

“Of course,” Link replied with a grin. “Why else would it be so friendly?”

Zelda softly smiled. She had a feeling that Link was just trying to make her feel better, but she still wished to accept his words as truth. It was nice to know that she had been accepted into a world that was honestly rather foreign to her.

A moment later, a gentle breeze blew through the spring, and the butterfly began flapping its wings as it took off. It then followed the path of the gale, disappearing into the foliage beyond them. Zelda just stared after it longingly. That interaction had actually been somewhat…pleasant.

“So,” Link said, calling her attention back to him. “Are you ready to finally get to Ordon?”

Zelda gave him a firm nod. Truth be told, she had been looking forward to this for the entirety of their journey. She still had a great interest in seeing Link’s home as well as the people he lived alongside. However, she would be lying if she said that she wasn’t also a little nervous. She had never visited this place before, so she wasn’t fully sure what to expect. It also didn’t help that this home belonged to Link, someone whom she felt very close to. The last thing she would ever want to do is disappoint him by having a bad experience here. Zelda just hoped that she would make a good impression and that the people of Ordon would accept her, just as the rest of her Kingdom had.

Fortunately, Link flashed her a grin, and that helped to alleviate some of her concerns. “Well, we’re about as close as we can get. The village is basically right down the road.”

Zelda nodded again, allowing her confidence to rise. She had spent a lot of time preparing for this, and she knew that she was ready. “Let’s go.”

The procession started moving once again, finishing up the last stretch of their forest-bound journey. Before long, they managed to spot a break in the trees, where the landscape seemed to become a lot more uneven. Numerous grass-covered rock formations rose up out of the earth on both sides, creating a natural path that guided them towards the heart of the village. They soon crested a hill, and as they did, Zelda finally got her first glimpse of Ordon.

Much like the forest, the place was covered in the lush green grass. A creek flowed through the village’s center before dispersing its water out into a pond at its southern end. A few trees lined the hills that surrounded them, each one looking strong and healthy with branches full of bright green leaves. The homes themselves were simple yet unique, most of them being fashioned entirely out of wood, and one in particular being fashioned into a tree itself. Zelda just gawked as she gazed upon it.

She soon glanced around at the other homes, trying to see what else she could notice. She spotted numerous pumpkin patches dotted throughout the flatter areas, each one containing over a dozen of the rounded orange produce. She also noticed a house with a waterwheel attached to it, one that gently creaked as the stream flowed underneath it. As they ventured further in, Zelda even began to spot livestock. There were a handful of goats, grazing inside of fenced-in yards, as well as numerous cuccos, which seemed to be wandering about the village aimlessly.

Zelda just blinked, surprised at everything that she was taking in. To say that Ordon was a humble village would be an understatement. Zelda could probably count the total number of homes on her two hands. Nevertheless, she quickly found that this place had a lot of charm to it. It was a small village, but an incredibly cozy one as well.

Link just grinned as he watched her reaction. “Welcome to Ordon Village. The place I call home.”

“It’s wonderful, Link,” Zelda said, honestly feeling a little breathless. “It’s small and simple, but it feels so homey at the same time.”

Link laughed. “You think so?”

“Of course,” she said with a nod. “I can see why you are so eager to return here all the time. It has a very relaxing atmosphere.”

“Well, things do tend to be pretty slow, and sometimes even dull around here,” the Hero admitted with another laugh. “But that’s just the way we like it.”

Zelda just nodded again while remaining silent. For the first time, she started to understand why Link had originally been so nervous during his first escapades to Hyrule Castle. That lifestyle was a far cry from the one that she was currently witnessing.

As they continued their journey into the village, it wasn’t long before they began to spot the citizens. They stood near the sides of the road, many of them gawking at the sheer number of horses and guards that passed by. However, the thing that truly caught their attention was the Princess herself. They soon produced stunned expressions, their mouths hanging open and their eyes going wide as they gazed upon her. For many of them, this was their first time ever seeing royalty in person.

Zelda just gave them all a bright smile, as well as several friendly waves. She still felt a little nervous, but she was honestly excited to be here and finally give them all a proper greeting.

Meanwhile, Link just tried to stifle his laughter as he rode next to Zelda. He couldn’t help but find a good amount of humor in his neighbors’ various shocked expressions. One expression that he found particularly funny belonged to Fado, who looked completely dumbfounded at what he was witnessing.

Before long, the procession came to a halt, stopping next to the creek in the center of the village. Here, Zelda dismounted from Reina, and took a few steps forward. The crowds slowly began to gather around her. Surprisingly enough, there was no cheering or applause, as had been found in the other villages. Here, the villagers seemed to have been awed into complete silence.

Zelda soon found herself stifling a giggle as she gazed around at them. They remind me of when Link first met my father, she thought with a smirk. Nevertheless, Zelda made sure to keep her composure. She intended to do this properly, just as she always did.

“Greetings, citizens of Ordon Village,” Zelda spoke loudly and majestically. “I am Princess Zelda of Hyrule. It is a great honor to be with you all today.”

Again, there was nothing but stunned silence. Many of the villagers just continued to gawk, too caught up in what they were seeing and hearing to form any sort of response. Fortunately, Mayor Bo soon stepped forward, clearing his throat loudly. He then began politely clapping his hands together, all while shooting sharp glares at the other men to do the same. A second later, they all joined in, producing a meager applause.

Zelda just smirked some more. Once again, their behavior truly reminded her of Link. She soon continued her greeting, gesturing to her right. “Accompanying me is Minister Fost, a member of the Hyrule Council.”

There was another delayed but polite applause, along with several more stunned expressions. Clearly, these villagers had never seen a Minister in person, either.

Zelda gestured to her left. “As well as someone who I am sure requires no introduction: Link, the Hero of Twilight.”

This time, there was an enthusiastic applause, as well as a few cheers. This introduction didn’t come as a shock to the villagers, and they seemed all too happy to congratulate the brave swordsman that hailed from their home. Someone even ended up whistling a bit. Link just squinted, trying to see who it was. He wasn’t sure, but he had a feeling it was Rusl.

As the cheers finally began to die down, Bo stepped forward, making sure to give the Princess a proper greeting in return. “Welcome to our humble abode, Princess Zelda. It is a great honor to have you here. We genuinely hope that you enjoy your stay with us.”

“Thank you, Mayor,” Zelda replied with a polite bow of her head. “To be honest, I have been eagerly anticipating our arrival here. Link has told me much about your home, and I’m very excited to finally witness it in all its glory.”

“Your words are too kind,” Bo said, bowing in return. “If there’s anything we can do to help accommodate your stay here, please do not hesitate to ask.”

Zelda smiled at this. “In that case, would you be so kind as to introduce me to everyone?”

“Introduce you?” Bo repeated as he blinked in surprise. “Er…you would like to personally meet everyone? As in, one on one?”

“Of course,” Zelda replied confidently. “Knowing that you are Link’s friends and neighbors, I have a very great interest in meeting all of you.”

Much like the Mayor, the crowd just stood there in stunned silence. Hardly any of them could believe what was coming from the Princess’s own mouth. They had never even seen a person of royalty before today, and yet now there was one right before them, insisting on greeting each of them in person. It was honestly impossible to believe!

Zelda just paused as she awaited a response. However, upon receiving none, she soon frowned. “Unless of course you have other things that you need to attend to. Being a farming village, I understand that you all must have a lot of work to complete while it is still light out.”

Bo soon shook his head in horror, as well as wave his hands in front of him. “No, of course not, Princess! I’d be happy to introduce you to everyone. I was just a little shocked, is all!”

Zelda just blinked in surprise, not fully following. She soon glanced back at Link. “I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?”

Link chuckled a bit as he shook his head. “No, they’re just not used to this sort of thing,” he assured her.

Zelda faced forward again, wondering if she should apologize anyway. She knew that this crowd was a little nervous, but she never intended to make them uncomfortable.

However, Mayor Bo quickly cut off any chance she had of doing so, by inviting her to step closer to the crowds. “Come, Princess. I’ll introduce you to all of the families that reside in Ordon.”

Zelda just nodded and obliged. Bo seemed to have disregarded the matter entirely, so she supposed that she should do the same.

“I’m certain that you’ve met this man before,” Bo said with a smile as he led Zelda to the first of the families.

Zelda just smiled as well, immediately recognizing the man before her. “Of course. It is lovely to see you again, Rusl.”

Rusl just laughed a bit before reaching out and shaking Zelda’s hand. Being a member of the Resistance, the two of them had met before on a handful of occasions. “Likewise, Princess Zelda. Allow me to introduce you to my family. This is my wife, Uli.”

A youthful woman with blond hair stepped forward with a timid smile on her face. She currently carried a baby in her arms, but she still managed to extend a hand to Zelda. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Princess.”

Zelda just graciously accepted her hand. “Please, the pleasure is all mine.”

“This is our son, Colin,” Rusl continued, patting the shoulder of a young boy beside him.  He then gestured to the baby in his wife’s arms. “And this is our daughter, Hope.”

Zelda just smiled and gave a friendly wave to the bashful boy, before taking a second to admire the newborn. She was about as adorable and precious as one would expect. Zelda soon found her smile growing even wider. Something about this small happy family just set her heart at ease.

Bo then continued making his way through the crowd, introducing the families to the Princess one by one. As expected, many of them were a little nervous about meeting royalty for the first time ever, but all of the adults managed to give her a proper handshake as well as a friendly greeting. The children behaved much the same, most of them just content to stand there and gawk at the majestic woman that had been presented before them.

However, there was one girl whose behavior managed to catch Zelda’s attention. Her name was Beth, and upon meeting the Princess, she girlishly clasped her hands together, bringing them up next to her cheek. She then stared at the Princess with bright, glistening eyes. Zelda just allowed an amused smile to appear on her lips as she watched her. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think that the girl might swoon for her.

Eventually, they managed to make it to the end of the crowd, but they weren’t done yet. Bo still had one last family that he needed to introduce Zelda to.

“And last but not least is my own family.” he announced with a smile. “Ilia, would you kindly step forward?”

Zelda immediately froze. In all of the commotion, she had almost forgotten that this girl would be lurking somewhere in the crowds. She had almost forgotten that she was the daughter of the Mayor. But here, in this one instant, it all came rushing back to her. Taking a deep breath, Zelda mentally prepared herself.

This was it. She was finally going to meet Ilia.

She was finally going to meet Link’s lover.

Zelda wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but a hush seemed to fall over the crowd. It lasted for what felt like an eternity, but it slowly dissipated as she glanced up. There, a lone girl walked forward, casually approaching the Princess. Zelda just watched her with wide eyes, her breath going silent as her heart began beating loudly.

This was the girl who had captured the heart of the Hero.

“Ilia, I’d like to personally introduce you to Princess Zelda of Hyrule,” Bo said proudly. “Princess, this is my one and only daughter, Ilia.”

The girl ended up stopping just short of Zelda, and extended a hand forward. “It is so nice to finally meet you, Your Highness,” she said with a warm smile.

Zelda just remained frozen for a moment, still trying to process what was taking place before her. Her reaction honestly bared a strong resemblance to those of the villagers when she had first rode into town. Nevertheless, Zelda kept her composure, and soon accepted the hand that was before her. The hand of Ilia.

“It is nice to meet you as well.”

Notes:

Oh man, they finally meet! And it only took me like…thirty chapters to get here…Geez, why did I have to make this story so long? And to think that we’re not even anywhere close to being finished! lol

Well, at least it’s been an enjoyable journey so far. Now who’s ready for some fun Ordon chapters? With some drama and jealousy and wholesome bonding? Because I know that I am! :)

Chapter 31: Ilia

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 31 – Ilia

When Zelda had first heard that Link had entered a relationship with Ilia, she pictured that the girl must be the very image of beauty itself; someone with such compelling looks and charm that Link wouldn’t be able to resist pursuing, and someone that Zelda would never be able to compete with.

However, upon seeing her for the first time, Zelda was surprised to find that Ilia looked rather…plain.

Zelda felt a bit guilty, as she certainly didn’t want to approach things from such a vain point of view. However, she couldn’t help but feel that this girl’s appearance was certainly nothing to write home about. Her dirty-blonde hair was short and messy, spilling in various directions and honestly looking somewhat unkempt. Her figure was slim, almost a little too slim in Zelda’s honest opinion. The girl barely had any curves to her at all. Her manner of dress was also about as plain as it could possibly be, consisting of nothing more than a sleeveless top and amber leggings. There was hardly any style to be found there.

However, in spite of Ilia’s lack of noteworthy attributes, there was one feature that did manage to catch the Princess’s attention. It was her beautiful pair of eyes. As they innocently stared up at Zelda, they shone in a bright shade of green, not unlike the leaves of the lovely trees that surrounded them. It was such a deep, mesmerizing color…

“Ahem…”

Zelda just blinked, the girl’s soft voice cutting through the air, as well as her thoughts. The Princess soon glanced down to find that she still had Ilia’s hand firmly grasped in her own. Realizing that she had accidentally extended their handshake far past what would have been considered normal, Zelda immediately released her. She then safely brought her hand back to her side, all while looking a little embarrassed.

Before long, a message came to the front of her mind, sent straight from her own conscience. Stay focused, Zelda! You have duties to perform!

Zelda just released an inaudible sigh. Her conscience was right. She really needed to pull herself together…

Meanwhile, Ilia just stared up at Zelda, giving her a somewhat perplexed look. It appeared as if she found the Princess’s behavior to be a bit odd as well, but she refrained from questioning it. Much like everyone else in her village, Ilia seemed to be a little nervous about her first meeting with royalty.

“Um, Link has told me a lot about you,” she said, before producing a small smile.

Zelda just blinked. “He has?” She knew that the Hero had always been happy to talk about his home life whenever he was with her at the castle, but she never realized that he must have also been talking about the events at the castle whenever he returned home.

“Yes,” Ilia said with a nod. “He’s had nothing but wonderful things to say about you. Isn’t that right, Link?”

Zelda soon turned to find the Hero standing beside her. Up until now, he had remained silent as Bo had gone around and personally introduced Zelda to each of the villagers. However, he now held a soft smile on his lips, and he nodded at Ilia’s words.

“Of course, I’m always happy to compliment our lovely Princess.”

Zelda immediately felt her cheeks turn red, all while her heart threatened to beat its way into a frenzy. To think that Link was complimenting Zelda behind her back! To think that he had just called her lovely! Oh, just hearing such kind comments was enough to make Zelda’s heart flutter in her chest.

Still, the Princess did her best to conceal these troublesome feelings of glee. She simply insisted on keeping her composure. The last thing that she wanted to do was make a fool out of herself because of these silly emotions. Especially in front of all of these people!

“That’s very kind of you, Link,” Zelda replied, making sure to keep her voice calm and stable. “I never knew that you spoke so highly of me.”

To her surprise, Link just ended up blushing as well, as if he was embarrassed about the whole thing. “Yes, well, it’s all true, of course…” he mumbled.

Zelda just eyed the Hero for a moment, wishing to study him and discover the source of his sudden nervousness, but she soon relented. She was supposed to be having a conversation with Ilia, after all. It would be rather rude and improper for a Princess to ignore her for any longer than she already had.

“Link has told me a lot about you, as well,” Zelda said, turning back to face the girl.

Ilia’s beautiful green eyes soon lit up in excitement. “Oh, he has?”

Zelda withheld a frown. She didn’t care to repeat any of this, but she supposed that she had no choice. “Of course. He’s mentioned that you are very sweet and kind and always help take care of Epona for him.”

Ilia just grinned before she sidled up next to Link. Zelda then watched in both surprise and horror as the girl reached out and grabbed the Hero’s hand. A moment later, their fingers were intertwined together, and Ilia stared at Link with loving eyes before she drew close and rested her head against his shoulder.

“That’s very sweet of you,” she mused. “To know that you talk about me, even when we’re so far apart.”

Zelda just stared at the girl, feeling stunned. Alarm bells soon began going off in her head, and a small fire began to kindle in her eyes. She hated having to watch this. She hated seeing how affectionate this girl was with the man next to her.

A second later, the alarm bells were forcefully silenced in order to allow the more reasonable side of her mind to speak up. It just inwardly sighed as it began to chide her. You know, Zelda, jealousy really doesn’t suit you…

Oh, shut up, the more irritable side of her mind shot back.

Yes, Zelda hated to admit it, but she was upset. She was jealous. She was frustrated. The last thing she wanted to see was the Hero resting in Ilia’s embrace like that. Zelda would have rather cried out in protest, denying the couple their happy moment than have to witness it any longer. She knew that she was being unreasonable. She knew that she was being selfish. But she didn’t care. She wished that Ilia was completely out of the picture, and that things could go back to the way they used to be, before Zelda had ever even learned of her existence.

However, Zelda’s jealousy and anger immediately withered away, only to be replaced by a cold, lonely sadness. For as she stood there, watching the happy couple, she soon saw Link turn to Ilia and return her loving gaze with one of his own.

“Of course,” he told Ilia. “I’m always happy to tell the world about you.”

Zelda just froze, her eyes going wide. That sweet, loving look on the Hero’s face was enough to break her heart. To know that what Ilia felt for him was not a one-way street. To see with her own eyes that Link truly loved her just as much as she loved him. It was earth-shattering, to say the least.

But Zelda forced herself to stay strong. She clenched her fists a bit as she endured the sight before her. She knew that this sort of thing was to be expected. She knew that Link loved this woman. She honestly had no right to be surprised or upset by it, let alone depressed. Besides, hadn’t she suffered enough already? Zelda once again reminded herself that it would simply be best if she just steeled her heart and moved on.

That is, if these blasted feelings for him will ever go away, she thought with a defeated sigh.

Around this point, Mayor Bo spoke up again, finally pulling Zelda’s attention away from the couple. “I believe that should be the last of the introductions. Now, would you allow me a moment to discuss your accommodations with us?”

Zelda just breathed a sigh of relief as she turned to him, grateful to discuss anything other than the couple in front of her. “Yes, of course. What did you have in mind?”

Bo produced a meager smile. “Well, as I’m sure you can see, we don't exactly have a lot of housing to go around here. Because of this, I was told that all of your guards and servants would be content to simply camp outside.”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, that is correct.”

“Very good,” Bo replied. “In that case, we only needed to prepare accommodations for our three most esteemed guests. Yourself, Link, and the good Minister Fost.”

Zelda just gave him a small smile. “Oh, I hope you didn’t go to any trouble. I’m sure that I’ll be perfectly capable of resting anywhere here.”

Bo just shook his head. “Nonsense, Princess. It’s no trouble at all. We’ve already made all of the necessary preparations. Link has decided to simply stay in his own house, of course, but as for you and the Minister, we have made sure to provide a warm home to welcome each of you.”

It was at this moment that Rusl emerged from the crowd of villagers, slowly approaching Fost with a kind smile. “Minister Fost, if you would be so inclined, my wife and I would be happy to welcome you into our home for the duration of your stay.”

Fost’s face soon lit up, the old Minister clearly pleased to have such a polite offer extended to him. “Why, that sounds heavenly, good Sir Rusl. I would be delighted to accept your invitation.”

Rusl smiled some more before leading Fost away, over towards a house that rested on the top of a hill. Before long, Uli and the children began to follow them as well.

Bo then turned to Zelda with a grin. “As for you, Princess, I’d like to invite you to stay in my very own home.”

Zelda just blinked in surprise, not having expected such personal accommodations from the Mayor himself, but she was happy to accept them all the same. “That is very kind of you, Mayor. I’d be honored to join you.”

“Wonderful,” he replied. “Why don’t you go ahead and grab your things from the wagon, and then I’ll show you the way to my house. The rest of the villagers will be happy to assist your guards in settling in.”

Zelda nodded before doing as she was told, fetching some of her luggage from the wagon. A guard politely offered to carry her things for her, but she declined. She was more than capable of hauling her own belongings around. She then followed the Mayor to his home towards the back of the village.

Naturally, Ilia ended up following along behind them as well. Being the daughter of Bo, this place must have been her home too. Zelda just hid a frown as she looked away from the girl. She had been hoping to be free of her presence for a while, but it seemed that she wasn’t so fortunate.

Before long, the three of them entered the Mayor’s house, and Zelda ended up marveling at what she saw inside. For a home constructed entirely out of wood, it was rather magnificent. The place was fully furnished, with old rustic carpets and furniture filling the main den. Numerous paintings and decorations lined the walls. It felt like a home that was full of tradition. Lastly, there was a staircase off to the side which curved upwards to a second floor.

Bo soon pointed at said stairs with a smile. “You’ll be staying up there, Princess. We’ve prepared Ilia’s bed for you. I hope it’s to your liking.”

Zelda just blinked. Ilia’s bed? They offered me her own bed? Immediately, she went to protest.

“Oh, that is completely unnecessary,” she stammered, waving her hands a bit. “I couldn’t possibly impose like that.”

To her surprise, Bo just laughed. “Impose? Why, you could never.”

Ilia soon flashed a smile as well. “It’s okay, Princess. I’m happy to let you have it for a few days.”

Zelda just eyed her warily. Link had told her that Ilia was kind at heart, but now she was finally starting to experience it firsthand. “But…if I take your bed, then where will you sleep?”

“I’ll set up a cot down here,” Ilia assured her. “It’s no trouble. Really.”

Zelda just nervously bit her lip. For some reason, the thought of taking Ilia’s bed filled her with an odd sense of anxiety. Maybe it was because she would now be a lot deeper in her enemy’s territory than she had originally anticipated…

She’s not your enemy, Zelda’s conscience suddenly reminded her with an imaginary roll of its eyes. Link isn’t yours, remember?

Zelda just bit her lip even harder. Yes, she remembered, but she really did not care to be reminded of that fact every second of the day, even by her own conscience.

“Well, if you insist, then I suppose I have no choice but to accept,” Zelda finally replied. She then respectfully bowed her head to the girl. “Thank you.”

Ilia just gave the Princess a bright smile. “You’re welcome!”

Zelda soon hid another frown as she felt the jealousy and contempt grow ever stronger within her. She hated seeing how nice Ilia was being to her, and she especially hated the thought of having a favor bestowed upon her. All it did was give credence to the argument that there was truly nothing wrong with Ilia. She was basically as perfect as Link had claimed, and even worse, Zelda knew that she honestly had no right to hate her for it.

It frustrated the Princess to no end…

It was around this point that Ilia walked over to the stairs, and gestured up to the second floor. “Come on,” she told Zelda. “I’ll show you around and help you get settled in.”

Zelda just blinked in surprise again. Now the girl was offering her yet another favor! Zelda soon turned to Bo, as if hoping that he might say something, but he just gave her a warm and encouraging smile. There was no hope. Zelda had to stay with Ilia.

“Very well,” she agreed, slowly approaching the stairs while hauling her luggage up with her.

Zelda followed Ilia up to the second floor, which revealed a room that was smaller than the den below, but it appeared to be just as cozy. A bed sat off to the side, just beneath a window. There were a few other pieces of furniture as well, including a desk, a chair, and a bookcase. However, the thing that surprised Zelda the most was how many photographs were hanging around the walls. In them, Zelda could spot the familiar faces of the villagers of Ordon. Naturally, some contained Ilia, some contained Bo, and some even contained Link.

Even more surprising though, was how many pictures there were of horses. There were dozens of them, each one containing different shots and angles of horses doing various activities, from running to grazing to even sleeping. Zelda just eyed them in awe. It was honestly an impressive collection.

“I take it you like horses?” she asked as she continued to glance around. She even ended up spotting a picture of Epona.

“Oh, yes,” Ilia said, sweetly smiling as she gazed at the pictures as well. “I think that they’re just such majestic creatures.”

For the first time, Zelda actually felt her jealousy slowly fade away as she found herself agreeing with this girl. She too had always found that horses had a certain beauty to them. A certain grace and majesty.

“I couldn’t help but notice your horse when you rode into the village,” Ilia continued. “She looked like a beautiful mare.”

Zelda smiled a bit. “Thank you. Her name is Reina, and she is my faithful companion. Especially when it comes to long trips such as this one.”

Ilia soon crossed her arms, suddenly looking a little nervous. “Um…Princess? By any chance, would you mind showing her to me later? I’d love to meet her, if that’s all right.”

Zelda just smiled some more, feeling a bit of sympathy for the girl. How could she possibly say no? She could tell that this would mean a lot to her. “Of course. I’ll gladly introduce the two of you when we get the chance.”

Ilia produced a bright smile, her green eyes flashing. “Oh, thank you, Princess!”

Zelda just smirked a bit. She wasn’t sure how it had happened, but the two of them suddenly seemed to be getting along. In spite of the contempt that was still boiling deep in the recesses of her heart, Zelda honestly felt like she might be able to look past all of her personal issues and potentially become friends with this girl. After all, maybe Zelda was just being too hard on her. Maybe Ilia wasn’t as bad as she had initially thought.

“Oh, anyways,” Ilia said, suddenly glancing around the room again. “This is where you’ll be staying. The bed is comfy enough, and you’ll have plenty of privacy if you need it.”

Zelda gave her a grateful smile. “That is very kind. Thank you.” She soon carried her luggage over to the bed, where she carefully set it down. She then began organizing it a bit, making sure that she hadn’t left anything behind at the wagon. Once she was satisfied, she turned back around, only to find Ilia eyeing her.

Zelda just paused, eyeing her back. “Er…yes?”

Ilia smiled before looking away, suddenly appearing a little nervous again. “So…when Link goes to the castle, you and he spend a lot of time together, right?”

Zelda just blinked. “Sometimes.”

Ilia smiled a bit more. “Which means that you and he end up talking a lot, right?”

“Yes,” Zelda said, slowly nodding. What exactly was she getting at?

Before long, Ilia’s cheeks turned a little pink. “So…can I ask you a question then?”

Zelda could only raise her eyebrows, still not sure what was going on. “Go ahead.”

“You mentioned that Link has told you a lot about me,” Ilia reminded her, all while smiling at the floor. “Tell me, what are some of the other things that he’s said about me?”

Upon hearing this, Zelda’s expression immediately soured. The jealousy within her heart quickly flared back to life, as if it had never dulled to begin with. To think that the two of them had been doing so well up until now. That they might’ve even become friends. Of course, leave it to this clueless girl to ruin it with her incessant, annoying questions such as this one!

“What do you wish to know?” Zelda asked, trying her best to hide the hint of irritation that was naturally creeping up in her tone.

“Oh, anything!” Ilia insisted. “Anything he’s mentioned, anything at all!”

Zelda scowled a bit. She hated how this girl acted all “buddy-buddy” with her. So what if Zelda had started softening up to her just a few moments ago? It didn’t mean that the two of them were friends, and it certainly didn’t mean that Zelda wanted to answer this question for her!

Nevertheless, Zelda paused and took a deep breath, trying to quell the raging inferno that was her heart. She insisted on concealing any and all signs of contempt, locking them up deep inside with the rest of her tumultuous feelings. The expected disposition of a Princess was to be noble and civil at all times, and so she was.

“Well, let me see,” Zelda said slowly, trying to think back. She hated having to recall any moments where Link was expressing his love for Ilia, and yet here she was, trying her best to piece together her memories of such horrid events. “I suppose this should go without saying, but he mentioned that you and he are in a relationship.”

Ilia brightly grinned. “That’s right. You can basically just call me his girlfriend.”

I wish to do no such thing! Zelda’s mind retorted with a huff. On the outside, however, she kept her composure, hardly even reacting to such words.

“What else?” Ilia pressed her.

Zelda just sighed. “Let’s see. He mentioned that you have some medical expertise, I believe.”

Ilia smiled bashfully. “A little bit. I really only know the basics, but I’d love to learn more someday.”

Zelda absentmindedly nodded. That seemed to track with what Link had told her. “I must say, it’s a very impressive skillset to have.”

“Thank you,” Ilia said with a nod. She then stared intently at Zelda, as if searching for deeper answers. “Did Link say anything…more?”

Zelda just blinked. “More?”

“Yeah, you know, like the stuff you told me earlier,” Ilia explained. “Like how he said I was kind and sweet. I want to know if he said anything else like that!”

Zelda nearly bit her tongue. This was the exact sort of thing that she was trying to avoid recalling, and yet Ilia would just not stop pushing for it. She truly hated this experience, especially the fact that Ilia was smiling and blushing like a young schoolgirl. The last thing that Zelda wanted to do was continue to entertain this side of her!

Nevertheless, the Princess released a defeated sigh and did what was asked of her. “Of course. He mentioned that you were thoughtful and responsible and caring. You know, things of that nature,” she soon trailed off.

To her surprise, Ilia just squealed a bit as she brought her hands together. She seemed incredibly happy to have heard such heartfelt compliments showered upon her.

“He said all of that, and in front of a Princess no less! Oh, what a sweetheart he is,” she finished before blushing and swooning a bit.

Zelda practically had to stop herself from baring her imagined fangs at this girl. She already knew how sweet all of it sounded, and she hated it. It was bad enough having to hear it from Link! It was a hundred times worse coming from Ilia!

Zelda honestly wasn’t sure how much more she could take of this. Her jealousy and contempt were steadily reaching new heights, all while she felt like she was slowly losing her mind. Fortunately, a gruff voice soon called up from below, saving the Princess from having to endure this conversation for any longer.

“Are you about finished settling in, Princess?” Bo asked politely. “There’s someone here to see you.”

Zelda blinked a bit, wondering who he was referring to. Although, in this moment, she honestly didn’t care who it was. She was just glad for any excuse to be done with this conversation. “Yes, I’ll be right down,” she called back.

Zelda then turned to find Ilia slowly composing herself. Her expression and posture began looking more civilized, although she still held a small blush on her cheeks. “Um…Excuse me, Princess. I should probably head back down as well.” She then did her best to respectfully bow before descending the stairs and disappearing from sight.

As soon as she was gone, Zelda just released a long, frustrated, pent-up breath from deep within her lungs. She hadn’t even known Ilia for a full hour yet, and she was already sick of her.

How in the world was she going to survive her stay here?

Notes:

So much drama. So much jealousy. So much heartbreak for poor Zelda.

What a fun time I am having lol.

Chapter 32: Seeing the Sights

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 32 – Seeing the Sights

Zelda spent a few blissful moments in privacy, making sure that she was properly composed once more. She reminded herself that she really needed to not let Ilia get under her skin so much. Especially when the girl wasn’t doing it intentionally. Or doing anything wrong for that matter. This was Zelda’s personal issue, after all.

Heaving a small sigh, the Princess soon made her way back down the stairs and into the den of the Mayor’s home. There she found Bo, reclining comfortably in a chair.

“Um, I believe that you said that someone was here to see me?” she asked hesitantly.

Bo nodded and gave her an encouraging smile. “He’s waiting outside,” he said, pointing towards the door.

“I see,” Zelda replied with a nod. Wasting no time, she made her way outside. By this point, she had a feeling that she knew the identity of the one who awaited her.

Sure enough, Zelda walked out onto the front porch to find Link standing there. As soon as he spotted her, he gave her a friendly smile. Zelda went to return his smile, but quickly paused as soon as she noticed Ilia standing next to him. Of course she had stepped outside to see him as well. Zelda just felt her lips twitch in annoyance.

Still, Link’s bright expression was enough to keep her calm. She soon approached him with a curious look. “Bo just told me that someone was here to see me. I take it that he was referring to you?”

“That’s right,” Link said with a grin. “You’re finished settling in, right?”

“More or less,” Zelda said with a shrug. “Why do you ask?”

“I’m here to fulfill a promise,” he said confidently. “If you have some free time, would you like to take a walk around the village? I’d be more than happy to show you around.”

Zelda blinked. In all of the commotion of the morning, she had almost forgotten that Link had agreed to this weeks ago. She slowly smiled. “Yes, that would be lovely.”

“Great,” Link said with another grin. He then turned to Ilia. “You’ll come along too, won’t you?”

Zelda’s smile faltered. This wasn’t what she had wanted! However, to her surprise, Ilia soon giggled before playfully squeezing Link’s arm.

“Oh, Link, you know that I can’t do that.”

Link just gave the girl a confused look, but soon understood. “Oh yeah, I forgot about that.”

Meanwhile, Zelda just carefully tried to process this development, all while a wave of relief washed over her. “You won’t be joining us?” she asked, trying her best to hide the elation in her tone.

Ilia smiled before shaking her head. “Sorry Princess, but I’m afraid that I have to step out and take care of some things this afternoon. But don’t worry, the two of us can spend some time together later, yeah?”

“Sure, that’s no problem,” Zelda said, feeling a bit more relieved. She didn’t particularly want to spend time with Ilia later, but hearing that she would have an afternoon free of her presence certainly sounded nice.

“Thanks for understanding,” Ilia said with a bow.

“If you don’t mind me asking, where do you have to be?” Zelda asked politely. It wasn’t that the Princess particularly cared where the girl was disappearing to, but she was rather curious to discover what prior obligation she should be owing her thanks to. After all, it would be ridding her of the girl’s unwelcome presence for a while.

Ilia smiled, suddenly looking both proud and confident. “I’ll be with the rest of the women, cooking tonight’s meal. We’re planning to host a huge feast right here in the middle of the village.”

Zelda blinked, not having expected to hear this. “Oh, you know how to cook?”

Ilia gave her a blank stare before she suddenly burst into laughter, as if Zelda had just asked some ridiculous question. “Why, of course, Princess. Every woman in Ordon knows how! It’s part of being a good homemaker.”

Zelda just frowned, feeling positively dumbstruck by this. A good homemaker? Is that what Ilia was? Suddenly, Zelda began to see a new side of her. She was more than just a kind, sweet girl that knew some medicine and also looked after the horses. She was also someone that could cook, clean, and keep a house in order. In retrospect, this revelation almost seemed kind of obvious. Ilia and Bo were the only ones living in their home, so it made sense that Ilia would become the caretaker, being the sole woman in the house and all.

As she dwelled on these thoughts, Zelda couldn’t help but suddenly feel a little insecure. Here was yet another skillset that made Ilia desirable. Another attribute that would make her an appealing choice to become someone’s potential future wife.

And what was Zelda compared to that?

The Princess nervously bit her lip a bit. Surprisingly enough, Zelda was actually capable of cooking a few meals, but they were meals that were usually best consumed while on the road. They were foods that were quickly thrown together and really only useful for tiding someone over as they traveled. The meals weren’t exactly healthy or hearty, or even tasty for that matter. They were just “substance” that served one purpose and one purpose only, which was hardly anything to write home about…

Still, Zelda knew that this comparison wasn’t quite fair. As a Princess, she had much larger responsibilities than cooking warm meals. She had to manage an entire Kingdom. Appease numerous diplomats. Ensure the safety and wellbeing of countless citizens. Keep track of the courts and the legislation and the recovery effort and on and on the list went.

But still, Zelda couldn’t help but wonder if any of that stuff really mattered. Not when she was about as far from being a good homemaker as you could possibly be. When it came to surpassing Ilia, she wasn’t even close…

Before long, the voice of her conscience resurfaced, drifting to the front of her mind in order to chastise her once again. Oh, Zelda, you lovestruck fool. Stop comparing yourself to her. It’s not as if the two of you are competing for Link’s love. And even if you were, has he not already made his choice clear?

Zelda just inwardly cursed. Sometimes she really hated how rational her mind was. If only because it seemed to be arguing against everything that her heart believed in.

Clearing her thoughts, Zelda soon glanced back up to find that Link and Ilia had turned their attention to one another. Fortunately, neither one of them seemed to have noticed that the Princess had been lost in thought for more than a few seconds there.

Ilia smiled up at Link. “I better get going. I’ll see you again later, okay?” She then leaned in and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

Link smiled back. “Yeah, see you later,” he said sweetly.

Zelda just stood there, stunned and wide-eyed. Her mind had gone blank. She honestly didn’t know what to think anymore. The only thing that she did know was that she certainly didn’t enjoy having to witness that, and she hoped that she would never have to do so again.

Ilia soon turned to Zelda with a smile and a wave. “Have fun, Princess! I’ll see you later.”

Zelda just mindlessly waved back. “Yes, farewell Ilia.”

The girl produced one final grin before playfully running off, heading in the direction of another home. Zelda just felt her shoulders slump a bit as she watched her go. She was finally free of the girl once again, but for some reason, she still didn’t feel any better about it. Ilia’s depressing words and actions were still weighing on the Princess’s mind.

“So, what do you think?” Link soon asked, pulling her attention back to him.

“Hmm?” she mumbled. “About what?”

“Ilia,” Link said with a proud smile. “Have the two of you been getting along?”

Zelda blinked in surprise, but quickly managed to put together a believable smile. “Oh, um, yes. She’s pretty much exactly as you described her.”

Link smiled some more, not wise enough to see through her charade. “I’m glad to hear that. I had a feeling that the two of you would hit it off.”

Zelda did her best to hold back a glare. Her and Ilia, hitting it off? What kind of fantasy world was he living in? Oh, if only he knew the truth of the matter; not that Zelda would ever let him know, of course. Once again, she simply reminded herself that it was best to keep such things a secret.

“Anyway,” Zelda continued, desperately hoping to change topics, “how about that tour? I’m ready to see everything that this lovely little village has to offer.”

Link just grinned with pride once again. As expected, he was excited to begin showing her around. “Come on then. There’s a lot to see!”

For the first time in recent memory, Zelda produced a genuine smile. She soon followed after him, just as excited to begin exploring.

Link began by showing her some of the wooden houses, each one a distinct structure with its own personality. Some were large and grand. Others were small but cozy. However, the most impressive residence by far was the one that had been fashioned out of a tree. Zelda just gawked as she looked it over from top to bottom.

“How did someone manage to make this?” she asked.

Link laughed a bit. “Believe it or not, it was already hollow before it was turned into a home. Nobody knows why that was the case, but it has still managed to become a sturdy residence.”

“Very impressive,” Zelda said with a nod.

Link then showed her the pond at the southern end of the village. To Zelda’s surprise, the water here was rather clear, almost as clean as the water in Zora’s Domain. Glancing down inside, Zelda could nearly see all the way to the bottom.

“The water is so clear because it runs directly from Ordon Spring,” Link explained. “This means that we always have a clean supply to drink from.”

“I see,” Zelda replied. “I take it that you like to go fishing here?”

Link nodded. “I do, actually. How did you know?”

Zelda smirked, glancing down at the numerous fish that could be seen swimming in the depths. “Just a feeling.”

The next sight they visited was a pumpkin patch. As Link had warned her, it was basically just a field of dirt with a few pumpkins growing in it, but Zelda was still impressed by it. She soon smiled as she knelt down next to one of the large orange fruits.

“Goodness, I didn’t realize that they could get this big,” she noted.

“You’re telling me,” Link replied with a smile. “I think it has something to do with the soil here. It's full of nutrients, so we almost always end up with a bountiful harvest.”

“And how do they taste?”

“Amazing,” Link promised her. “You’ll see tonight at the feast. You can expect to dine on more than a few dishes with pumpkin in them.”

Zelda brightly smiled. “I look forward to that.”

Moving along, Link led Zelda over to one of the fenced-in yards that held a few goats within. The large but lazy animals just stared at the ground as they continued to graze.

“Have you ever seen a goat before?” Link asked.

“Yes, but never this close,” Zelda admitted.

Link grinned. “Do you want to pet one?”

Zelda just raised her eyebrows. “Is that allowed?”

“Of course, they’re pretty docile,” Link assured her. He then stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. Most of the goats just ignored his call, but one did look up and soon wandered over to the fence.

Zelda just eyed the creature, suddenly feeling a little cautious. She hadn’t expected it to be this large once it was up close. “It won’t bite, will it?” she asked timidly.

Link just laughed. “You? No. But you might want to make sure to keep your dress back. They’ll chew on just about anything that catches their interest.”

Zelda gulped as she used one hand to bundle up the folds of her dress. “Duly noted.”

Link then smiled before reaching over and scratching the creature behind its large, pointed ears. “Go ahead,” he invited her.

Zelda was still a bit hesitant, but she soon reached out and gently patted the back of the goat’s neck. She was rather impressed by just how soft its bluish-gray fur was. As she continued to stroke it, the goat suddenly lifted its head and released a cheerful bleat.

Zelda immediately giggled. “I didn’t think that these animals would be so friendly.”

“Yeah, they’re not afraid of people,” Link explained. “They share a peaceful existence in Ordon alongside us.”

Zelda smiled some more as she continued to pet its soft fur. “They’re actually kind of cute.”

Upon hearing this, Link just laughed a bit. “Cute? You really think so?”

Zelda quickly frowned, feeling taken aback by his reaction. “Er…yes, don’t you?”

Link chuckled some more as he shook his head. “The thought has never crossed my mind. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone call them cute before. If anyone, maybe the kids have.”

Zelda soon began blushing out of embarrassment. She meant what she had said, but she didn’t realize that she would be alone in that sentiment. She soon looked away, hoping that Link wasn’t starting to think that she was some sort of naive child.

Eventually, they moved on to their next stop, a store at the edge of town known as “Sera’s Sundries”. The shop’s owner, a woman by the name of Sera, wasn’t around as she was off with the other women, helping prepare tonight’s meal. Fortunately, her short and scrawny husband, Hanch, was manning the shop in her place. Zelda took some time to look over the wares that were available. The store itself was rather small, and only offered a limited array of items, but she soon managed to find something that caught her fancy. It was a jar of honey, labeled as one of Ordon’s specialties. The Princess gladly purchased it, and then departed the shop so that she could safely store it in one of their wagons. Zelda planned to take it back to the castle and offer some to her father. She hoped that it might help his condition, or at the very least, brighten his day.

Once the jar of honey was safely stored away, Zelda turned to Link with a smile. “This place is rather amazing. Thank you for showing me around.”

Link happily returned her smile. “Yeah, no problem.”

She then paused as a curious smirk appeared on her lips. “However, there is one location that we still have yet to visit. One that I have been eagerly looking forward to viewing.”

Link just blinked, looking a little curious himself. “Er…And what’s that?”

Zelda smirked some more. “Your home, of course.”

Link seemed a bit surprised at this. “You want to see my house?”

“Of course,” Zelda replied. “We haven’t come across it yet, have we?”

Link shook his head. “No, it’s on the edge of town.”

“Is it all right if I take a look?” Zelda asked politely.

Link soon smiled. “Sure, but don’t expect things to be too neat and tidy. I wasn’t exactly expecting company when I left home.”

“I won’t,” Zelda promised. Link then began leading her over to the edge of the village. Zelda just cheerfully followed along behind him, eager to see more of his lifestyle outside of the castle. Eager to learn more about his background.

Within a few minutes, they arrived at an open yard that housed a large tree towards the back. Built on a ledge in front of the tree was a rustic yet grand looking home. Like many of the other residences in Ordon, it too was fashioned completely out of wood, in addition to being covered in moss and other greenery. A single ladder rested at the front, leading up to the ledge where the home’s front door stood.

Zelda just took a second to marvel at it. It was far bigger than she would have imagined. “Goodness, Link, this is your home?”

Link grinned. “That’s right. I’ve lived here all my life.”

Zelda soon began to circle the tree, trying to get a better look at the structure. “Is this like the other home that we witnessed before? Has this one been fashioned out of a tree as well?”

Link laughed at this. “Not quite. The tree is so large that it managed to serve as the base, but the house itself was simply constructed on top of it. I do have a basement that delves down into the hollow part of the tree though, so it’s not completely standalone.”

“Fascinating,” Zelda breathed. As she continued to admire it, she could start to understand how a place like this could be a fitting home for a Hero. The house itself looked almost fantastical, as if it suitably belonged to someone with an adventurous spirit. It was no wonder that the person who lived here ended up taking up a sword and fighting to save his Kingdom.

“Want to see inside?” Link invited her as he approached the ladder.

Zelda just gave a cheerful nod. “Yes please.”

Link climbed the short ladder that led up onto the ledge. Zelda soon followed him, moving carefully in order to keep her balance. As she neared the top, she was surprised to see Link standing there, offering her a hand.

“Watch your step,” he said with a smile.

Zelda instantly blushed before looking away. It always caught her off-guard whenever he started being sweet like this. “Thank you,” she mumbled before taking his hand.

A moment later, Link gave a gentle tug and helped pull Zelda onto the ledge. Once the ground was firmly beneath her feet, he gladly showed her to the door.

Upon stepping inside, Zelda was once again impressed by what she saw. The place was large, spacious, and cozy. A big rug covered most of the wooden floor. Off to the side, there was a stove built into the wall. Numerous shelves and cabinets lined the interior, each one containing various pottery and dinnerware, as well as old knickknacks and keepsakes. There were other pieces of rustic furniture as well: a bookshelf, a small dining table, and an unmade bed. Last but not least was the most eye-catching thing that rested in the home, the few tapestries that hung on the walls from above. There was a reddish-orange one with an ornate design that was particularly appealing to look at.

As promised, there was plenty of clutter to be found as well. Numerous crates and barrels were shoved away into corners. A few pieces of firewood sat near the stove, hardly stacked at all. A bucket rested on the floor, as did more than a few pieces of clothing. This was a home that felt very much lived in.

As soon as Link spotted his clothes on the floor, he quickly kicked them under his bed, hiding them from sight. Zelda just giggled a bit as she watched him.

“Well, what do you think?” he asked, gesturing around. “I mean, it’s no castle, but it works for me.”

Zelda gave him a warm smile. “I think it’s marvelous, Link. This might be the most impressive home we’ve visited today. Even more so than the Mayor’s.”

Link laughed. “You think so?”

Zelda nodded. “I’m surprised at how large and spacious it is. And it has a lot of personality as well.”

“Personality?” Link repeated. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that it reminds me of you,” Zelda said with a smirk.

“Ah, of course,” Link said, playfully rolling his eyes.

Zelda just smirked some more as she glanced around the room. She soon spotted some framed pictures nearby. One was of a smiling goat, which in Zelda’s eyes, still looked as cute as ever. The next one was of Fado, a man that Zelda had met earlier who was said to have run the ranch where Link occasionally helped out. And last but not least was a picture of the “Princess of Ordon” herself, Ilia.

Zelda just frowned. She didn’t care to see this girl’s smiling face and beautiful eyes. Not right now.

She soon tore her gaze away from the frames, only to notice a ladder off to the side of the door. Her eyes followed it upwards, and she soon spotted a small landing, which subsequently led to another ladder and a final floor at the very top of the house. Zelda just eyed that spot for a moment, her expression growing curious.

“What’s up there?” she asked.

Link followed her line of sight, and soon smiled. “Would you like to see?”

She smiled as well before nodding. Link soon led the way up the ladders, offering Zelda a helping hand once she reached the top of both. They ended up arriving at the topmost landing, one that looked out over the rest of the home below it. Zelda took a second to admire the view, but her attention was soon pulled away as Link beckoned her to join him at the other end. Glancing over, she spotted a single window that gazed outside.

“You’re going to want to take a look at this,” he said with a grin. He then stepped out of the way and gestured to the window.

Zelda gave him a curious look but soon did as she was told. She stepped right up to the window and peered outside. She then gasped at the sight she saw before her.

It was a magnificent view. From this spot, Zelda was able to gaze out over the valley that Ordon Village rested in. She wasn’t able to see everything, but she could easily spot the tops of the houses, as well as the waterwheel. She was also able to observe the sea of trees that spread out before her. Each one stretched upwards, using their luscious branches to poke into the beautiful blue canvas that was the sky. Before long, a gentle breeze blew through the open air, carrying a few leaves and the fresh smell of pine along with it.

Zelda just took a second to gently brush some of her hair back behind her ear. “Wow…” she breathed.

Link grinned at her reaction. “Pretty cool, right?”

Zelda slowly nodded. “It’s not as impressive as Kakariko’s watchtower, but this is still quite the view. To think that you can see for miles from up here.”

“And there’s nothing but nature in every direction,” Link added. “Sometimes I like to come up here at sunrise and sunset to relax. That’s when the sky turns into these beautiful shades of pink and orange.”

Zelda closed her eyes, easily imagining the scene that he was describing. “That sounds lovely.”

“It really is,” he agreed.

After a moment, Zelda reopened her eyes and turned to the Hero with a heartfelt smile. “I must say, Link, you have a wonderful home. And I don’t just mean this house. I am referring to all of Ordon Village as well.”

Link just softly gazed back at her with his deep blue eyes. Before long, a grateful smile appeared on his lips. “Thanks Zelda. That means a lot to me, really.”

Zelda just confidently met his gaze head-on. Previously, she might have felt inclined to look away whenever their eyes made contact with one another, but not this time. This time, she was happy to stare right back into his eyes and appreciate this moment with him. It honestly reminded Zelda of a more peaceful time when things weren’t so complicated between them. Or at least, complicated from her side of things. She almost longed for the days when she wasn’t plagued by such constant heartache.

However, their eye contact soon broke, as a loud, beckoning voice suddenly rang out through the air.

“HEEEEEEYYYYY!!!”

Link and Zelda just blinked, giving each other confused looks before turning back to the window. The voice had come from outside.

“Liiiiink!” the voice continued. “Are you in there?”

Link soon sighed. It hadn’t taken long for him to recognize who the voice belonged to. He turned to Zelda with an apologetic expression. “Would you excuse me for a moment?”

“Of course,” she replied, still looking lost. She then watched as Link approached the window and stuck his head outside.

“I’m up here, Fado,” he announced.

Upon hearing the name, Zelda quickly recognized it. It belonged to the man who was pictured in one of Link’s photographs. She recalled that he was a tall, lanky guy whom Bo claimed was in charge of running the goat ranch at the other end of town. She wondered what he was doing here, and why his voice sounded so desperate.

“Oh, good,” the voice of Fado came back. “Hanch said that I might be able to find you here.”

Link frowned a bit. “Do you need something?”

“Well, yeah, actually,” Fado replied, this time sounding a little guilt-ridden. “If you have a minute, can you come over to the ranch and help me herd some of the goats into the barn? There’s a few of them that need to be milked, but they’re being very stubborn about leaving the field today.”

Link soon sighed, letting his shoulders slump a bit. “I see…”

“Sorry, Link,” Fado continued. “I know that you’re technically here on some fancy official ‘castle business’, but I just figured if you have a second…”

Link shook his head before conjuring a smile. “No, it’s fine,” he assured the man. “I’ll grab Epona and then I’ll be right over.”

“Aw, thanks Link! You’re a lifesaver!”

Link just shook his head some more before waving him off. He then retreated back into his house before facing Zelda again.

She just offered him a meager smile. “I guess a Hero’s work is never done, huh?”

Link couldn't help but smile back. “More like a ranch hand's work is never done. I better go and see what I can do to help.”

“Do you mind if I come along?” Zelda suddenly asked, surprising herself almost as much as she surprised the Hero.

“You want to come and watch me herd the goats?” Link asked with raised eyebrows. “I can’t exactly promise that it will be exciting stuff.”

Zelda gave him an encouraging smile. “Nonsense. I for one would love to get a firsthand look at your well-refined goat-herding skills.”

Link just gave her a blank stare before laughing a bit. “Wow, you really do have a way with words. Are you able to make anything sound as elegant as that?”

Zelda just smirked. She knew what he was saying. When the words came from her own lips, she could make something as mundane as goat-herding sound positively fascinating.

“It’s all part of being a Princess,” she replied smoothly.

“It must be,” Link agreed with a laugh. “Because I’ve never seen anyone pull it off quite as well as you.”

Zelda's cheeks threatened to redden at this compliment, but she managed to stay strong and keep herself under control. “Oh, you flatter me,” she said, still smirking.

Link just smiled before walking back towards the ladder. “Well, come along then. I’ll show you the greatest goat-herding skills in all the Kingdom.”

Zelda released a giggle of her own. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Notes:

I’ve decided that Zelda doing anything in Ordon is my favorite thing ever, so please enjoy Zelda doing lots of things in Ordon.

Also, I hope you guys don’t mind if we are here for a LOOOOONG time lol. I originally came up with so many fun ideas for Zelda’s visit to Ordon, and of course, I just had to include them all. So please get cozy and expect to be here for a while. It’s going to be a good time :)

Chapter 33: Goat Herding

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 33 – Goat Herding

Link went to fetch Epona, and then led Zelda towards the ranch. They followed a dirt path up a hill past the Mayor’s house, before finally arriving at a wide grassy field. Much like the village, this place seemed to be mostly free of trees, and they could easily see the numerous hills that dotted the landscape around them. It was also another great opportunity to view the beautiful blue sky above.

Scanning the field, Zelda spotted a great number of goats within a fenced-in perimeter. They were spread out from one end to the other, all with their heads bowed low in order to enjoy the nutritious feed at their feet. As she stood there, she managed to hear more than a few content bleats echo out into the air.

“So this is your old workplace, huh?” Zelda asked, turning to the Hero.

Link shrugged. “Old, current, and with how much Fado asks for help, probably my future workplace as well.”

Zelda frowned. “Does he ask for help that often?”

“You’d be surprised at how little the goats care to listen to him.”

Zelda just raised her eyebrows, wondering how a man like that had ever been chosen to oversee the ranch in the first place.

“I don’t mind though,” Link continued with a smile. “It’s simple work, and it always gives me and Epona a chance to ride around together.”

As if on cue, Epona whinnied from behind her master. Link just laughed as he glanced back.

“Sounds like someone’s excited,” he noted.

“So how does it work?” Zelda asked, turning her attention back to the animals. “How do you make the goats listen to you?”

“It’s pretty simple,” Link explained. “It’s really not much different from commanding a horse. You just have to make sure that you use specific noises and motions to communicate with them. To make sure that they understand you.”

“What kind of noises?” Zelda inquired, growing curious.

“It can be anything, really. As long as it is a sharp, clear sound. You just need to be stern with them. Make sure that they hear your call and know that it is not to be disobeyed.” Link then smiled before laughing a bit. “That’s why Fado tends to have so much trouble with them. He’s not stern enough to earn the goats’ respect.”

“Ah, I see…” Zelda replied, also smiling. “I must say, it reminds me of how one should conduct themselves when speaking in the court. You should always be strict and clear in what you are trying to convey.” The Princess then paused before turning to the Hero with a playful smile. “I’m a bit surprised. I had no idea that you had such a skillset safely tucked away in your repertoire. Although, something tells me that you would have a much harder time handling the court nobles than you do these goats.”

Link just frowned at both her words and her expression. He didn’t particularly care to be reminded of his general behavior at the castle in this moment. Especially when he was about to go out and start confidently herding these goats around as he so often did.

“You’ll see,” he said bravely, before mounting himself on Epona’s saddle.

Zelda just smirked some more, amused with herself for successfully managing to toy with the Hero. She wasn’t trying to be cruel, of course. She was simply hoping to encourage him in her own unique way, with some harmless vocal prodding. And now, seeing the confident look on his face as he rode atop his horse, she felt like she had succeeded.

At this point, Fado ended up spotting them from the barn and soon ran over to greet them. “Heeeeyyy!” he called in his loud, trademark tone. “Thanks again for coming, Link. I really appreciate-”

However, he soon stopped in his tracks as he spotted the woman standing next to the Hero. His eyes immediately went wide and his mouth fell open in shock. “What the-!? The Princess!?”

Zelda gave him a smile, charmed by his dumbfounded expression. “Hello again, Fado.”

Fado just continued to gawk as he stared at her. He then looked to Link, as if hoping for some sort of explanation, only to gaze upon the Princess once more. “But what is she–I mean, what are you doing here at our…um, humble little goat ranch, Your Highness?”

“I wished to come and watch Link herd the goats,” she explained, still smiling. “I hope that my presence here won’t be a bother.”

Again, Fado’s mouth fell open, as if his jaw was no longer functioning properly. “A bother?” He soon began frantically waving his hands in front of him. “O-Of course not, Princess. You…You could never…!”

“That is very kind,” Zelda said, her smile growing ever warmer. “Would it be all right if I watch from the fence here?”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness. That would be p-perfectly fine!”

Link just began chuckling as he watched his blithering friend try to communicate with the Princess. He sincerely hoped that he himself had never looked that foolish in front of Zelda.

“So Fado,” Link interjected, hoping to save his friend from further embarrassment, “can you point out which goats need to be herded into the barn?”

“Oh, sure,” Fado mumbled, finally managing to tear his gaze away from the Princess and start focusing. “It’s those four in the back corner there. I need to collect some milk for tonight’s feast, and they’re the ones that are due for it. But, as always, they’re just being so darn stubborn…”

Link nodded before flashing the man a grin. “Got it, just leave it to me.” He soon nudged Epona in the side, urging her to move forward.

As both rider and horse passed the Princess, she provided them with one last smile. “Good luck,” she said softly.

Link just nodded again. “Thanks.”

Then, without another word, he rode through the gate and entered the field. Zelda stepped forward and held onto the fence in front of her, an excited glint in her eye. She watched as Link and Epona picked up speed, entering a full gallop as they crossed the green field. Numerous goats recognized the sound of Epona’s thundering hooves, and quickly scattered out of the way, all while releasing several irritated bleats.

Link focused in on the group of goats that Fado had pointed out to him. He soon changed course, slowly circling behind them. Zelda felt her lips curve upwards a bit once she realized what he was doing. He was trying to position the goats between himself and the barn.

As he drew closer, the goats soon raised their heads, staring at the oncoming horse with wide eyes. As soon as he was sure that their attention was on him, Link raised an arm and released a loud cry.

“Hyah!”

Zelda was shocked to see how effective it was. As soon as they heard the cry, all four goats turned in unison, and began galloping away from him. As planned, they were heading straight for the barn.

“Ha ha, great job, Link!” Fado cried out from the side. He soon began running for the barn as well, hoping to shut the gate once they were inside.

Link kept his eyes trained on the goats as he chased after them. He needed to make sure that they didn’t change course and would continue galloping in the direction of the barn. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before one of the goats started to veer off to the side, hoping to slip away from Link’s charge.

“Hyah!” Link cried again, his clear voice ringing out across the field. Within seconds, the lone goat quickly changed course, rejoining its brethren as it continued scampering towards the barn.

Zelda just smiled as she watched this. As promised, Link was able to command these goats as he pleased. For the first time, she felt like she had discovered where Link had acquired the ability to ride a horse as exceptionally as he did. She could still recall how skillful and steady his riding had been in the final battle against Ganondorf. At that time, she had been incredibly grateful for it. Without his skills, she knew that she would have had a much harder time shooting her light arrows at the evil tyrant. She supposed that she owed it all to this little ranch, and the stubborn goats that lived in it.

Before long, the four goats scurried into the barn, and Link pulled away, galloping off to the side. Fado just grinned as he shut the gate to the barn, securing the goats for good. He waved to Link again, thanking him for his help before hopping the gate and entering the barn himself.

Link smiled as he directed Epona back over to the fence where Zelda was waiting. He soon came to a stop in front of the Princess, and she offered him a polite applause.

“Very impressive, Hero,” she complimented him. “You looked like a complete natural out there.”

Link gave her a confident grin. “I told you that it was pretty simple. As long as Epona and I work together, we don’t have any trouble at all.” He soon reached down and rubbed the side of the chestnut mare’s neck. She just snorted, feeling pleased.

Zelda smiled at the two of them before turning her attention back to the field. It seemed like all of the goats that had been disturbed by Link’s charge had since settled down and returned to their grazing. It was clear that they truly were peaceful creatures at heart.

“I must say, I felt a bit envious having to just simply watch from the fence here,” Zelda said as she turned back to the Hero. “It looked quite fun.”

Link just paused, furrowing his brow a bit as he wondered if he had misheard her. “Fun? I don’t know about that. It’s more like work, if anything.”

“And work can’t be fun?” Zelda questioned him.

Link just gave her a blank look, not quite sure what to say. “Well, sure it can, but I mean…at the end of the day, this is still just herding goats around a field…”

“So?” Zelda pressed him. “You certainly seemed to be enjoying yourself. Epona too.”

Epona gave another happy snort while Link just frowned. “I mean, I guess we had fun riding around,” he admitted.

Zelda simply smirked at his reaction. Once again, it felt like the Hero was trying to downplay the merits of his hometown, but the Princess wasn’t about to let him get away with it. After all, she felt the exact opposite.

“Would I be able to give it a try?” she suddenly asked.

“Give what a try?” Link asked, feeling lost.

“Herding the goats, of course.”

Link felt his jaw fall open, not unlike how Fado’s had earlier. “You want to try and herd the goats around?”

“That is correct,” Zelda said with a nod.

Link just frowned, still feeling confused. “But…what for?”

Zelda smirked some more as she shook her head. “I believe I have already explained that. I thought it looked fun, and now I wish to try it for myself.”

“You’re serious?”

“Yes, and I would really prefer not having to repeat myself again.”

Link just gave the Princess an incredulous look. Never in his life would he have imagined that she would take such a strong interest in his mundane work at this simple ranch. And not only did she find it interesting, but she apparently found it appealing as well! The Princess of Hyrule herself! At his dinky little ranch!

Still, in spite of his disbelief, Link could see that Zelda’s expression was genuine. She was still imploring him for a chance to ride out onto the field and try it for herself. He soon released a small sigh. Even when he felt like he understood her pretty well, she would go and do something completely unexpected, forcing him to rethink everything that he thought he knew. Leave it to Zelda to stun him in ways that no one else could.

“All right,” he finally agreed. “If you really want to give it a try, I’ll show you what to do.”

Zelda's face quickly brightened. “You mean it?”

Link nodded. “Yes. I’ll talk to Fado and make sure that it’s okay.”

Zelda soon grinned, showing her pearly teeth. “Wonderful! I’ll go ahead and fetch Reina.”

Without another word, Zelda excitedly ran off towards the dirt path that led back to the village. Link just shook his head as he watched her go. He really hoped that she wasn’t getting her hopes up too high for this.

It was just goat-herding, after all.

 

---

 

Link ended up explaining the situation to Fado, who was equally stunned by the Princess’s request. Nevertheless, he happily agreed to let her do as she pleased. Zelda soon returned, riding up the hill on Reina. The two of them then joined Link and Epona on the field, where the Hero carefully instructed the Princess on how to properly signal and call out to the goats. She made sure to give him her full attention, memorizing every detail with perfect clarity. Once she was satisfied, she felt ready to give it a try.

Link and Fado retreated to the area outside the fence, leaving Zelda and Reina alone with the goats. The Princess took a few seconds to go over everything that Link had told her, while also gently stroking Reina’s neck and making sure that she was ready to ride.

As they waited, Link soon heard a commotion coming from behind him. He glanced back towards the dirt path only to spot a number of the village children walking over with curious expressions.

“Hey Link, what’s going on?” asked Talo, the loudest and most rowdy child of the bunch.

“We thought that we saw the Princess ride her horse up here,” Colin said with a smile. “Is something happening?”

Link just smiled at the small crowd that was forming near the fence. He soon stepped aside and gestured to the field. “See for yourself.”

The kids quickly flocked to the fence, only to end up gawking at what they saw.

“That’s the Princess!” Talo shouted in surprise.

“What’s she doing out there?” asked the small, soft-spoken child known as Malo.

“Is she planning to ride her horse around the field?” Colin asked.

Link just laughed. “She’s going to be doing a bit more than that. Just watch.”

“Oh…” sighed the young girl known as Beth. She tilted her head a bit as she gazed out onto the field with starry eyes. “Just look at the Princess, riding her beautiful white horse. She’s so…elegant. So magnificent.”

Talo just snorted a bit as he looked at her. “Ha ha, I think Beth might be in love.”

The girl quickly dropped her gaze and replaced it with a glare. “Oh, shut up, Talo. You just don’t understand the way of dignity and refinement.”

“Um…the way of what?”

“Exactly.”

Link just shook his head at their arguing. He then turned his attention back to Zelda, who seemed to have noticed the small crowd forming around the fence to watch her. She soon smiled and gave a friendly wave to them, much to the kids’ surprise, and Beth’s delight.

Zelda stifled a giggle as she watched the children’s reactions. It really was amusing to see how expressive they were over the smallest of things. Her eyes soon landed on Link, who provided her an encouraging smile. She just confidently smirked back before leaning down next to Reina’s ear.

“Come on, Reina. Let’s make Link understand just how much fun there is to be had here.”

Reina whinnied, showing that she fully understood the wishes of her master. Feeling satisfied, Zelda rubbed the mare’s neck a bit before rising back up to her full height.

It was time to begin.

With a quick snap of the reins, Reina took off, dashing across the field. Zelda’s dress billowed around her legs, while her long brunette braid danced in the wind behind her. She soon grinned to herself. Within an instant, they had already reached a good speed.

Zelda circled around the field, hearing the surprised gasps of the children as she galloped past them. Naturally, she paid them no mind. She was strictly focused on her goal, and that alone. It was a small group of goats nestled in the corner, similar to the ones that Link had herded earlier. Fado had claimed that this group needed to be milked next, and he appreciated the Princess’s willingness to help with that. All she had to do was get them into the barn.

Zelda closed her eyes for a second, carefully recalling the instructions that Link had given her. Feeling determined, she soon reopened her eyes, just in time to see the first of the goats raise its head towards her. The rest soon followed, cautiously eyeing the white mare that was bearing down on them.

Staying calm, Zelda simply raised a single arm into the air, and cried out in a clear, majestic voice.

“Hi-yah!”

It worked like a charm. Zelda nearly laughed as she watched each goat turn and start dashing away from her as fast as they could. They had understood her signals just as easily as their brethren had understood Link’s. In this moment, she felt rather proud of herself.

However, her work wasn’t done yet. She still had to escort them to the barn on the other side of the field. She leaned closer to Reina, encouraging her to keep chasing them. The goats were currently traveling in a random direction towards the other side of the field, but Zelda was eager to fix that.

Wasting no time, she slowly and gradually directed Reina to the goats’ right flank all while drawing near to them. The effect of this action was almost immediate. One by one, the goats slowly started to curve to the left. Before long, their direction had changed completely.

Zelda just smirked as she had Reina straighten out and continue chasing them head-on once again. As expected, they were now running straight for the barn.

Meanwhile, the onlookers by the fence just watched in both shock and awe as the Princess successfully ushered the goats around the field. They could hardly believe what they were seeing.

“She’s herding goats…” Talo mumbled incredulously.

“And she’s pretty good at it too,” Colin whispered with wide eyes.

“Haaa, she’s so majestic,” Beth sighed, her eyes glistening once more.

Somewhere off to the side, Fado simply fell to his knees. “I can’t believe it,” he mumbled, more to himself than anyone else. “The Royal Princess…herding goats around my ranch…Oh, if only my ancestors could see this…”

Link just laughed at his friend’s reaction before turning his attention back to Zelda. Honestly, he was a bit surprised as well. Not only was she doing really well so far, but she truly seemed to be enjoying herself. There was a fierce, determined look in her sapphire eyes, in addition to a smile that simply exuded bliss.

He couldn’t believe it. She really was having fun herding the goats around.

“Ah, there you are, Master Link!” a voice suddenly called out from behind him. Link soon pulled his attention away from the ranch, only to turn around and spot the short Minister Fost slowly walking up to him. “I’ve been searching all over for you. One of the villagers mentioned that you might be found here.”

Link just gave him a curious look. “Is there something you need, Minister?”

Fost nodded. “Why yes. By any chance, have you seen the Princess around? I haven’t seen her in the last few hours, and I’m starting to worry about where she might have wandered off to.” The older man then paused, glancing around at the children swarming the fence, as well as the man that was on his knees. “Er, and what exactly is going on here? Why does it seem like a crowd has gathered around?”

Link just laughed at his confusion. He soon pointed out into the field. “Come take a look. I think this will answer all of your questions.”

Fost just furrowed his brow, looking positively bewildered, but he did as Link requested. Stepping up to the fence, he soon noticed a lone rider, gallivanting around the field and chasing after some goats. And that lone rider was none other than…

“Oh my heavens!” Fost exclaimed with a huff. “Th-The Princess! What is she-!?”

“She wanted to try her hand at ranch work,” Link explained with a smile. “As it turns out, she’s quite good at it.”

Fost’s mouth hung open as he continued to watch the Princess and her mare dash across the field. He soon vehemently shook his head in protest. “N-No, absolutely not! I forbid it! Just look at how dangerous this is! Whose foolhardy idea was this?”

“It was hers, actually,” Link explained patiently.

“Oh, that foolish girl,” Fost muttered as he balled his hands into fists. “What in the Goddesses’ names was she thinking? Master Link, please put a stop to this at once! Before Her Highness gets horribly injured!”

Link sighed as he continued to smile. He knew that the Minister was just being overprotective. Like Zelda had said on numerous occasions, he worried too much for his own good. “Relax, Minister. Zelda has things perfectly under control.”

“What nonsense!” Fost scoffed. “Her Highness has no experience dealing with such creatures! Why, if something were to happen, I don’t know what I would-”

“Fost,” Link interjected, speaking the short man’s name in a clear voice. He soon gave the Minister a soft smile. “Put your trust in her. Zelda is no fool. She knows what she’s doing.”

Fost stared back at him, still looking troubled, but he soon released a sigh. “I hope that you are right.”

I know that I am, Link thought confidently. He knew that she was capable, and he knew that she could handle this without a problem. He had the utmost faith in her.

Back on the field, Zelda was still dashing forward, herding the goats straight towards the barn’s open entrance. At one point, the cluster of goats began to disperse a bit, slowly curving off into different directions. However, all it took was one sharp cry from Zelda to usher them all back into place. They once again traveled as one singular unit, heading for their destination at the edge of the field.

Zelda smiled, still feeling proud. Things were going so smoothly, and within a few seconds, the goats would be safely herded into their shelter. However, things ended up taking a shocking turn when one of the goats suddenly broke away from the group without warning. It galloped directly off to the right at the last second, just as the rest of its brethren were about to cross the barn’s threshold.

Oh no! Zelda thought. She tried to raise her arm and call out once again, but it was too late. The single goat scampered off, finally free of her chase. As the other goats successfully filed into the barn, Reina skidded to a halt, nearly colliding with the wooden structure. Zelda just glanced to the right, watching as the single escapee made a clean getaway.

A second later, Zelda clenched her teeth as a fire blazed to life in her eyes. It was not in her nature to give up now.

“Yah!” she cried, gently nudging Reina’s sides with her brown boots. The white mare immediately took off once more, trying to zero in on the goat that dared to disobey the Princess’s commands.

The goat just ran, desperate to be free of its pursuers. Unfortunately for it, Zelda was not about to offer any leeway. Growing ambitious, she urged Reina to go even faster as she began to circle off to the side. The horse’s hooves picked up speed, kicking up dry clouds of dirt at a furious pace. Their trajectory soon led them right back into the middle of the field. This time, however, they were in front of their target. The goat had nowhere left to run.

As soon as they were in position, Zelda gave a sharp tug on the reins. Reina instantly reared back, her front hooves flying into the air as she released a loud whinny. Zelda just raised her arm high into the sky as she glared down at her prey. Her strong voice soon echoed across the field.

“Hi-yah!”

Looking skittish and wide-eyed, the goat immediately stopped in its tracks before barreling in the opposite direction. With a small smirk, Zelda urged Reina to plant her hooves back on the ground and give chase. By this point, it was no longer necessary though. The lone goat had been scared senseless; it knew that it had no hope of escape. Without any sense of thought, it charged straight into the barn, right where it belonged.

Once again, Reina skidded to a halt just short of the structure. Zelda glanced inside to see all four of the goats secured within. She then paused, realizing that there was still work left to do. With a curious frown, she turned to face the fence as well as the onlookers.

“Um, Fado?” she called. “Aren’t you going to come and close the gate?”

“Oh, right!” Fado exclaimed, immediately rising to his feet and running over. He had been too caught up in his astonishment to realize that the Princess had finished.

They all were.

Before long, the kids ended up clapping and cheering a bit. Link just smiled before he joined in the applause as well. He had not expected the Princess to do this well, and on her first attempt no less.

Once Fado had the gate closed, Zelda had Reina trot over to the fence. She soon stopped once she was in front of Link, and flashed him a smile. “Well, how did I do?”

Link just smiled back as he crossed his arms. “Honestly, that was incredible.”

Zelda quickly blushed a bit, surprised at such a strong reaction. “Well, it was by no means perfect,” she said bashfully. “The one goat did slip away.”

“Still, that was pretty good for a beginner,” Link insisted.

“I know right!?” Talo interjected, suddenly running up to Link’s side. “That was awesome. She did much better than Fado ever has.”

“Yeah,” Colin agreed. “When that one goat got away, the Princess made sure to chase right after it.”

“Oh, she looked so lovely,” Beth mused.

Link just laughed as he looked down at the kids’ smiling faces. “Well, there you have it. The general consensus is that you did very well, Zelda.”

Zelda just smiled as she too gazed at the children’s expressions of admiration. “You’re all too kind. Thank you.”

The Princess soon paused, however, when her eyes landed on one stunned, short, elderly Minister. Zelda just raised her eyebrows a bit as she stared at him. “Oh, hello Fost. How long have you been standing there?”

The old man just blinked before quickly furrowing his brow. “Why, long enough to nearly suffer a heart attack!” he huffed. “What exactly were you thinking, attempting something so borderline reckless?”

Zelda smirked a bit before shrugging. “I thought that it looked fun and wanted to give it a try. As it turns out, I found it quite exhilarating.”

“Exhilarating?” Fost breathed in disbelief. “You found this enjoyable?”

“That’s right,” Zelda said with a strong nod. “Would you like to give it a try, Fost?”

“A-Absolutely not!” he replied, as if she were insane. “I must insist that you get down from your horse at once, Princess! Before one of these dangerous creatures gores you to death!”

Link just chuckled before deciding to chime in. “Um, Fost, you see that these goats have ring-like horns, don’t you? They’re incapable of goring anything.”

Fost just scowled as he clenched his fists. “Then get down before they trample over you!”

This time, Malo spoke up. “How can she be trampled if she’s up on the horse?”

“Yeah, if anything, getting down would just put her in more danger,” Talo agreed as he thought it through.

Fost soon muttered under his breath as he glared at the innocent but foolish youth that surrounded him. Did none of them care for the Princess’s wellbeing?

Meanwhile, Zelda just laughed at his reaction. Like always, it was a joy to see him so stumped. Still, she decided to give in and make her way out of the field. Her time of herding the goats was finished, and there was no reason to stay.

Once she was outside the fence, she dismounted from Reina, grabbing her reins as she approached Link. She soon stood face to face with him, and just playfully smirked.

“Well?” she asked.

Link just gave her a blank look in return. “Well what?”

“Was I wrong?”

“Wrong…?”

Zelda smirked some more, amused by his cluelessness. “I feel like I’ve made my point. Goat-herding can be rather fun, don’t you think?”

“Oh,” Link said, blinking in surprise. To be honest, he had been a bit too caught up in all the excitement to even remember their conversation from earlier. Not until now, at least. He soon smiled in return. “All right, I’ll admit that it can be a little exciting from time to time.”

“Only a little?” Zelda pressed him.

Link couldn’t help but smile some more. He knew in his heart that she was right. That he too had found it exhilarating to watch her speed across the field and direct the goats to their destination. “I suppose it was more than a little exciting. I’d even dare to say it was very exciting.”

“That’s more like it,” Zelda said, flashing a content smile.

“I do still think that it’s a bit of a chore,” Link continued as he crossed his arms. “But I will agree that there is some fun to be had here. If nothing else, watching you do it was fun, at least.”

Zelda smirked again, trying her best not to blush at his offhand compliment. Fortunately, she was semi-successful, with her cheeks only turning a little pink as she gave him a look of gratitude. “I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed my performance. I had a wonderful time as well.”

Link just laughed. “I could tell. You could hardly stop smiling out there.”

Zelda smirked some more before patting the neck of her beloved steed. “I’m sure Reina enjoyed the experience too. Didn’t you, girl?”

Reina simply snorted. It was her own way of showing her excitement at getting some proper exercise.

Zelda just smiled before rubbing the mare’s neck. She then turned back to Link. “So, what else do you guys do for fun around here?”

“What else?” Link asked in surprise.

“Yes. Are there any other activities that the people of Ordon enjoy?”

Link scratched his head a bit. To be honest, he didn’t know what to suggest, especially when Zelda had seemed so enamored with simply herding goats around. “Um…we have fishing, I guess?”

Just then, Talo ran up, raising his arms overhead in order to get the Hero’s attention. “Oh, Link, I know what would be a good idea!”

Link just scowled in a disapproving way. Why did it seem like this kid was always listening in on his conversations and waiting to add his own suggestions? “What is it, Talo?”

“Why don’t you show the Princess what you have set up next to your house?” the boy asked with a grin. “I’m sure that she would find it fun!”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile at the boy’s enthusiasm. “What is he talking about?”

Link soon smiled as well, finally realizing what Talo was referring to. “Oh, well we do have a shooting range that we like to use for practice sometimes.”

Zelda’s eyes quickly sparkled with interest. “A shooting range, you say?”

Notes:

Me before writing this: “There's no way I can spend an entire chapter focused on herding goats, can I?”

Also me: Somehow writes an entire chapter about goat-herding.

I have no regrets though lol.

Chapter 34: Requests

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 34 – Requests

Before long, Link led Zelda back to the other end of the village where his home sat in the open glade. The children naturally tagged along as well, sensing that something exciting was about to happen once again. Upon arriving, Link directed the group off to the side, where a small scarecrow stood before a clump of trees. He then gestured out into the forest.

“Well, it isn’t much, but welcome to Ordon’s finest shooting gallery.”

Zelda just smirked a bit as she quickly noticed what he was talking about. Dotted amongst the trees were a number of wooden targets, each one hand-painted with rings. They had been placed just about everywhere. From the ground to the tree trunks to even dangling from some of the higher branches. It was certainly a lot more chaotic than the shooting range at the castle which Zelda was used to, but she had to admit that this setup had its own unique charm to it. With the targets having been placed so haphazardly around the trees, it created a more natural feeling to the environment. As if Zelda were truly out in the woods, hunting some wild beast.

“Well, what do you think, Princess?” Talo asked loudly as he jumped in place a bit. Clearly, he was excited to see her reaction.

Zelda just smiled down at the boy. “It’s very impressive. Did you guys set this up yourselves?”

“Well, Link set up the targets, but we helped make them,” Colin said with a bashful smile.

“I did the painting,” Malo pointed out.

“This place is really fun!” Talo continued. “Link lets us come here whenever we want to practice with our slingshot.”

“I can see that,” Zelda said as she took a closer look at the targets. Each one had been peppered with tiny dents in the wood, with each mark serving as a sign of a successful hit. She soon turned to Link. “Are the targets sturdy enough to handle arrows?”

The Hero nodded. “Yeah, I practice my archery out here from time to time.”

Zelda’s smile grew even wider, as she felt her own excitement rise within her. “In that case, do you mind if I give it a try?”

“I had a feeling that you would ask that,” Link replied with a smirk. “Go ahead.”

Zelda gave him a grateful nod before walking over to Reina. Fortunately, the white mare was still with them after the goat-herding, so she didn’t have to go far. After taking a few seconds to ruffle through her saddlebags, she managed to retrieve her elegant bow as well as a full quiver of arrows. She then made her way back to the shooting range, only to be met with numerous looks of excitement.

“The Princess is gonna use our shooting range!?” Talo asked incredulously.

“This is going to be so cool,” Colin agreed, his own eyes glistening.

Zelda smiled at their reactions before turning to Link once again. “Any requests?”

Link seemed surprised at this. “Oh my, someone is confident.”

“I assure you that it’s not arrogance,” Zelda said with a shake of her head. “I’d just like for the crowd to be as entertained as I’m about to be.”

Link couldn’t help but smile at the Princess. He soon recalled his own archery practice with her only a month ago, where she had been completely against the idea of any crowds forming to watch her. Now, she seemed like the complete opposite. As if she wanted nothing more than to perform in front of an audience, and create a more enjoyable experience for all.

“If you want a request, how about trying for a bullseye on every target?” Link suggested. “If you can pull that off, I guarantee that the kids will be impressed.”

Zelda slowly nodded back before flashing him a smirk. “And what about you, Hero? What will it take to earn your admiration?”

Link just blinked, a bit surprised at her sudden playfulness. Still, he couldn’t deny that this was typical of her character. “You want to impress me as well?”

“I’d like to go for a completely satisfied crowd, if you would be so kind.”

Link laughed at her polite yet sportive attitude. He then took a second to brainstorm. What would it take to impress him here? He glanced around at the trees, and before long, he felt like he had his answer.

“Pin a leaf,” he said as he crossed his arms. “Pin a falling leaf to one of the targets with your arrow. And of course, it must be dead center.”

Zelda raised her eyebrows a bit, but she didn’t seem afraid of such a challenge. “Very well, but how am I supposed to predict when a leaf will fall?”

“Not to worry,” Link assured her before reaching down into his pack. He soon pulled out one of his trusty weapons. “I have the Gale Boomerang with me. I can use it to rustle some leaves free before you take your final shot.”

Zelda’s eyes widened in understanding. “Ah, very wise.”

“I wasn’t about to demand the impossible,” Link said with a grin. “Although, I imagine this will still be quite difficult. Especially since the boomerang’s gust might end up shaking some of the targets around.”

Zelda nodded a bit before eyeing him, still looking positively fearless. “Tell me, Link, have you ever managed to pin a falling leaf to a target before?”

Link smiled and shook his head. “Nope. I’ve never even thought about trying it.”

“And yet you ask so much of me,” Zelda said, smirking a bit. “But worry not, for I am a Princess who lives to serve her people. If you wish for a bullseye on every target, and for a falling leaf to be pinned, then I shall do my best to make it happen.”

Link grinned some more. He knew that he had asked a lot of her, and yet the Princess was still radiating confidence. He had to admit, he was excited to see how this would turn out.

With the goals having been set, Zelda stepped forward, taking her place at the firing line that had been drawn in the dirt. The rest of the crowd safely congregated behind her, save for one boy, who seemed content to stand just off to the side. Zelda eyed him for a second before frowning. Somehow, she wasn’t surprised to see him there.

“Young man,” she said with all the sternness of a disappointed mother. “Your name is Talo, correct?”

The boy just jumped at her tone before giving her a confused look. “Um…yeah.”

Zelda simply shook her head as she approached him. She then turned him around and placed a hand on his back, pushing him towards the crowd. “Would you kindly stand back with the rest of the children? I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Talo furrowed his brow. Get hurt? How would he have gotten hurt? It’s not like he was standing that close to the targets or anything…

Zelda nudged the boy until he fell in place next to the girl that continued to admire the Princess with glistening eyes. Zelda soon turned to her. “Excuse me, Beth, was it?”

Beth nearly gasped. “You…You remembered my name…”

Zelda smiled, amused at the girl’s expression. “Of course I did. Now, by any chance, would you be able to do me a favor?”

“Anything for you, Princess,” the girl breathed, almost in a sigh.

“Would you be able to keep a close eye on Talo and make sure that he stays back with the crowd?”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Beth replied before immediately locking a hand around Talo’s arm.

Zelda gave her another appreciative smile before turning away. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

As the Princess walked back to the firing line, Beth found herself sighing once again. “Haaa, she’s so mature and responsible…”

Meanwhile, Talo just frowned, still feeling confused. “I don’t get it. Why’d she ask me to stand back like that? She didn’t ask anyone else.”

Beth just smirked at the boy. “Because, the Princess knows that you’re the only one dumb enough to stand near the targets.”

“That’s true,” Malo muttered from beside them.

Back at the firing line, Zelda ignored the crowd’s comments as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She allowed a great calmness to fall over her. Things became silent. Peaceful, even. It was the perfect mindset for wielding her bow.

Feeling determined, Zelda reopened her eyes and fetched an arrow from her quiver. She soon placed it against the bowstring, and strung it back, all while keeping a close eye on her first target. She carefully adjusted her position, raising her bow so it was just right.

Fwip! She released.

Thunk! It struck.

Naturally, it was a bullseye.

The crowd quickly began to murmur their awe, many of the children gawking as their eyes widened. But Zelda didn’t leave much room for their appreciation, for she was quickly moving onto the next target. She had no intention of letting this take long.

And so it was, with arrow after arrow hitting target after target, each one striking dead center, just as Link had asked. The children were beyond impressed. Never in their life had they seen someone with such precise marksmanship. Even Link on a good day would have struggled to produce results as accurate as this.

Before long, each and every target had an arrow to call its own. All save for the last target, which still hung loosely from the tallest branch. Zelda just stared up at it before raising her bow and taking aim with what was about to become her final arrow. Once she was satisfied, she glanced at Link out of the corner of her eye, and gave him a tiny nod.

She was ready.

Seeing her determination, Link took a second to take careful aim with his own weapon. The boomerang soon flared to life within his hand as he set his sights on the highest of branches above them. With a small wind now whipping around him, the Hero released the boomerang, and it soon collided with the branches, setting dozens of tiny green leaves free of their home. They quickly began fluttering towards the ground, while Link successfully caught the returning boomerang in his hand.

Zelda tightened her focus as the numerous leaves showered down from above. As predicted, the final target that dangled from the branches was swinging back and forth a bit, having been rustled by the gale. But Zelda didn’t mind. All she needed to do was be patient and concentrate. She only needed one leaf to make this work. Just one leaf in the right place at the right time, when the target had swung into the perfect position. In all honesty, the odds were stacked against her. There was no guarantee that things would line up as perfectly as she hoped. And even if they did, it would still take an incredibly well-trained eye to spot such a golden opportunity.

But Zelda wasn’t afraid. This was archery at its finest. This was her element, and she intended to make Link proud.

A second later, Zelda released the arrow. Up until now, time almost seemed to have slowed as everyone awaited the Princess’s final shot, but in an instant, it all came rushing back. Zelda couldn’t even spot the loosed arrow before it hit the target with the mightiest thunk yet.

It took a few seconds for things to calm down. For the leaves to hit the ground and for the hanging target to stop swinging so everyone could get a clear view of what exactly had happened. As the crowd waited, the silence was deafening. The tension was nail-biting. Everyone was desperate to see the results of her final shot.

Fortunately, their patience was soon rewarded, for as the target came to a halt, everyone in the glade glanced up to see that a sole arrow had pierced through a leaf, pinning it dead center in the middle of the target.

The crowd immediately erupted into cheers, the children completely unafraid of being raucous in their amazement. Zelda just breathed a small, content sigh as she pushed some of her hair back behind her ear. Even she wasn’t quite sure how that last shot would turn out, but her success was apparent, and she was incredibly proud. She soon turned to the children with a beaming smile. She ended up giving them a curtsy, showing them how thankful she truly was for their support.

As she finished, Zelda glanced at the Hero to find him beaming as well. He soon walked over, all while applauding her efforts. Zelda couldn’t help but blush a bit at his amazed expression.

“Did that satisfy you?” she asked humbly.

“That…was incredible,” he answered with a wide grin. “Honestly, Zelda, I think that you might be the best archer in the entire Kingdom.”

Zelda blushed a bit more at his praise, not having expected it to be so excessive. “Maybe when it comes to trick shots,” she agreed halfheartedly.

“And battles,” Link insisted. “I’m sure that even Ganondorf would agree that your arrows have a knack for always hitting their mark, no matter how difficult the target.”

Zelda couldn’t help but giggle at this comment. The thought of the evil tyrant being both equally impressed and frustrated with her skill did sound rather amusing. “Thank you, Link.”

It wasn’t long before the children were by her side as well, gawking and praising her skill just as much as the Hero.

“That was awesome!”

“Very impressive.”

“Not even Link could do that!”

“It’s true,” Link agreed with a chuckle. “When it comes to using a bow, I think I can safely say that the Princess has me beat.”

“Are you able to fight with that?” Malo asked as he eyed the weapon in question. “Or is it simply for sport?”

Zelda nodded at the child who was surprisingly mature for his size. “Yes, I am able to fight with this, but I only use it when it is necessary.”

“That’s so cool!” Talo exclaimed. “Imagine the Princess riding around a battlefield, shooting arrows at all the monsters!” He soon mimicked the motion of the bow, as well as produce the exaggerated sound effects with his mouth.

Beth just scowled at the boy, clearly unamused with his performance. “As if the Princess would ever look that stupid, Talo. If she had to fight, then I am sure that she would do it gracefully and majestically.”

Talo just ignored her, choosing instead to turn to the Princess with an excited grin. “Hey, Princess, do you have any other cool skills?”

Zelda smirked a bit before giving another nod. “Why yes. I happen to be proficient with the sword as well.”

“Really?” the boy replied, his eyes flashing with interest.

“Wow, you really are just like Link!” Colin said with a smile.

“Can you show us your sword?” Talo asked as he started to fidget. “Please, please!”

Zelda giggled a bit before turning to Link. “My, these children are rather excitable, aren’t they?”

Link just shook his head and released a sigh; a tired sigh that could only have been accumulated from years of handling these kids. “You have no idea...”

Zelda smiled before turning back to the children. “Very well, follow me.” She soon led them over to the spot where Reina was resting, where she carefully stored her bow and quiver away (Link promised that he would collect her arrows for her later). Zelda then took out a long instrument which was wrapped in cloth. She slowly unraveled it, revealing the sheathed blade within. She then encouraged all of the children to stand back as she took the hilt in hand and pulled the sword from its sheath. She proudly held it before her, high enough for the children to see.

“Wow…” the kids murmured, each of their eyes going wide.

“What is that?” Colin breathed.

“Is that really a sword?” Malo asked.

“It looks like a metallic stick,” Talo noted.

Once again, Zelda smiled at their reactions. “I take it you’ve never seen a weapon like this before?” They all shook their heads. “This is a rapier. It is a thin blade that is useful for making quick, precise cuts.”

Colin’s face lit up. “Can we see?”

“Ooh yeah, show us, show us!” Talo insisted.

Zelda gazed down at them with soft eyes. It was amusing to see how much they adored her. Because of that, she didn’t want to disappoint them. She carefully took her stance, instructed them to step back further, and then threw out a few casual swipes. The thin blade moved so quickly that it almost whistled as it sliced through the air.

“Whoa…” the kids mumbled incredulously.

“It’s a good weapon for those that rely on speed,” Zelda explained as she brought the rapier back to her side. “The blade is so thin and light, it allows you to attack before your opponent even has a chance to react.”

“So impressive,” Beth sighed dreamily.

Colin nodded. “I wish that we could see your sword skills in action.”

“Yeah!” Talo agreed. “The Princess would be all like fwoosh and swish!” Once again, he used his wild movements to create a poor reenactment of what the Princess had shown them.

Zelda just giggled at his behavior. She then turned to the Hero. “Is there any sort of setup here for practicing swordsmanship?”

Link shrugged. “Well, we have that dirty old scarecrow,” he said, pointing to the pitiful little thing in front of the shooting gallery. “It’s really only good for taking hits from wooden weapons though. I imagine that if you took your rapier to it, you’d slice it to pieces.”

Zelda smirked. “And I assume you would prefer that I didn’t do that.”

“Aye. I do still use it for training sometimes, as decrepit as it is.”

“I see,” Zelda said, taking a moment to think things over. A second later, an idea came to mind. A bright, wonderful, amusing little idea. Without warning, she suddenly took her thin blade and pointed it straight towards the Hero’s chest. “In that case, how about this?”

Link just frowned, staring down at the rapier with wide eyes. “I’m…not sure that I follow…”

Zelda smirked some more. Of course he didn’t understand, but she intended to make things perfectly clear. She immediately spoke up in a loud, majestic tone. “Link, Hero of Twilight, I, Princess Zelda of Hyrule, would like to challenge you to a duel.”

Link blinked in response. “Wait, what?”

“You heard me,” Zelda replied. She gently poked the end of her rapier into his tunic before drawing it back to her side. “I would like to have a duel with you, in order to properly display my proficiency with the sword.”

Link just stared at her, feeling dumbstruck. “Are…Are you serious?”

“Oh yes, very much so,” Zelda said with a strong nod.

Naturally, it didn’t take long for the kids to get excited.

“Whoa, Link is going to duel the Princess?”

“This is going to be amazing!”

“This might be the coolest thing that’s ever happened in Ordon.”

Link quickly frowned. He didn’t exactly appreciate their enthusiasm at this moment. “Now hold on, I haven’t agreed to anything yet!”

To his surprise, Zelda simply nodded before looking at him expectantly. “That’s right, I am still awaiting an answer.”

Link ended up shutting his mouth. He didn’t like that look on her face. That smug, playful look that claimed that she was confident and easily believed that she could coax the Hero into agreeing with her request. But Link wasn’t about to be convinced so easily. He had a lot of reservations about this proposal, and he fully intended to voice them.

“Zelda, I don’t think that this is such a good idea,” he said, trying to sound stern. “One of us could end up getting seriously hurt.”

“I have no intention of injuring you,” Zelda replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Do you have any intention of injuring me?”

Link just froze, staring at her. Why did it seem like she had managed to derail his argument so easily? Honestly, he was starting to loathe having discussions with her, if only because she was so good at bending things to her will.

Zelda smirked at his reaction. “We won’t be using real weapons, of course. I’m sure that you have some wooden practice swords on hand, don’t you? Those should suffice.”

Link sighed, preparing himself to jump back into the battlefield that was this conversation. “Well, yes, but even a wooden sword can leave a nasty bruise if you’re not careful.”

“Ah, but we will be careful,” Zelda countered back. “There will be no need for any of our swings to connect. I’m sure that you’ve participated in this sort of thing while training with the guards at the castle. We will simply fight until one of us is disarmed or has the sword pointed at the other’s throat.”

Link frowned, feeling frustrated. He knew that she had a point here. He honestly had participated in such duels before, not only with the guards at the castle, but also with Rusl and the Hero’s Shade that had trained him. He knew how to conduct himself in such battles, and he also knew that both combatants were likely to come out completely unscathed.

But still, to take a sword up against the Princess? To attack her in the same way that he would attack an enemy? Link wasn’t sure if he could stomach the thought. He had already done it once before, when Ganondorf had possessed her body, and finding the will to fight back had truly pained him. Zelda was an important friend of his. He would never want to risk injuring her, and if he did, he knew that he would never forgive himself for it. It wasn’t just about her wellbeing, but the wellbeing of his own conscience as well.

But how could he possibly make her understand that?

Suddenly, the kids ran up to Link’s side, drowning out any sense of thought with their unrestrained volume.

“Come on, Link!”

“You’ve gotta do this!”

“It will be so cool!”

Link clenched his teeth, growing even more frustrated. How could he make any of them understand how he felt? Was it even possible to provide an answer that would satisfy them?

Growing desperate, Link glanced at Zelda again, and a bright idea quickly came to mind. Maybe this would be his answer!

Grinning a little, Link soon shook his head. “But Zelda, even if we did have this duel, it wouldn’t exactly be fair, would it?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows a bit, looking both surprised and intrigued. “What do you mean?”

Link grinned some more, feeling his confidence rising. “I believe that I would hold a significant advantage over you.”

This statement only managed to capture even more of her curiosity. “Oh? How so?”

“Your clothing,” Link replied, pointing at her long, elegant dress. “It isn’t suitable for battle.”

Zelda just blinked before glancing down. “Oh, this?” she asked, taking a second to run her hand over the beautiful fabric. “This shouldn’t be any trouble.”

Link just paused, immediately losing his momentum as a wave of confusion overtook him. “Huh? It won’t?”

Zelda gave a confident shake of her head. “No.”

Link nervously bit his lip. He hadn’t expected her to deny his claim so effortlessly. “But…surely it is difficult to move around in such a thing.”

Zelda raised her eyebrows again, but this time she held a smirk on her lips. “Not for me,” she assured him. “Believe it or not, Link, I am more than capable of fighting in a dress.”

Link frowned. “Yes, but only with a bow and arrow.”

“And a sword as well,” she insisted. “I have been wearing these garments since the day I was born, and I assure you that I have long since grown accustomed to moving around in them.”

Link paused again. He didn’t know what to say to that. He didn’t even know if there was anything that could be said to that. His argument had been completely dismantled. He was now back to square one, and he honestly didn’t know how to proceed.

Zelda just felt her expression soften as she looked at him. She soon felt a pang of sympathy well up within her heart. She knew that he was conflicted. She knew that he had his reservations about this. She knew that fear had taken control of his heart. His concerns were understandable, but Zelda felt that he was needlessly worrying. She was certain that nothing would go wrong. That they both would be careful and provide a wonderful time for their audience. Still, Link held his doubts, and Zelda understood that it was up to her to assuage those doubts.

Without warning, Zelda took a step closer to the Hero, and stared directly at him with her bright, sapphire eyes. “Link, I trust you completely,” she said, her voice both soft and sincere. “Do you trust me?”

Link just stared back with his own blue eyes, looking lost and unsure. “I, um…”

Seeing his hesitation, Zelda took another step forward, this time placing a hand over her heart. “Do you trust me, Link?”

Link gulped at the sincerity in her voice. The subtle desperation to know the answer to the posed question. Before long, it naturally escaped from his lips. “Of course I do, Zelda…”

Zelda smiled, her expression turning both warm and grateful. “Then let go of your fear,” she whispered.

Link wasn’t sure why, but he felt shivers ripple through his body when she said that. Her words seemed to have had a profound impact on him. They always did.

For the first time, Link began to understand how she truly felt. She wasn’t afraid like he was. No, she was faithful: completely confident that the two of them could do this. That there wouldn’t be any injuries. That there wouldn’t be any accidents. It would just be a fun, innocent, entertaining bout between the two of them. A magnificent spectacle for the people of Ordon to enjoy.

And if that was all she wanted, then who was he to say no?

Link closed his eyes before sighing. He then slowly reopened them and gave the Princess a smile. “Fine, let’s do it.”

Zelda’s face slowly lit up as well. “You’ll accept?”

Link gave a nod, his confidence suddenly rising. “Yes, I accept your challenge, Princess Zelda of Hyrule.”

Zelda couldn’t help but grin. “Excellent.”

The children soon erupted into cheers as well, excited to know that they would be getting some more stunning action. Apparently, they were almost a little too excited, for they soon felt the need to share it with others.

“Don’t start right away,” Colin said as he took off towards the village. “I’m going to tell my dad to come and watch!”

“Hey, that’s a great idea!” Talo quickly agreed, chasing after him. “I’m going to tell my dad!”

“I’m going to tell the Mayor,” Malo mumbled as he tottered off as well.

“Link, is it okay if I go and fetch the wooden swords?” Beth asked with a grin.

Link just smiled back. “Sure, they’re in the basement.”

The girl nearly squeaked with glee as she climbed the ladder and ran into Link’s home. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have been nearly this ecstatic to see some silly old sword duel. This time would be different though. To think that she would actually get to see the Princess’s graceful battle technique in person! The thought alone was enough to make her heart swoon.

Link just shook his head as he watched her go. He then turned to Zelda with a smile. “It sounds like we’re going to have quite the crowd watching us this time.”

Zelda smiled back. “I don’t mind. The more the merrier, they say.”

Link soon glanced over, carefully watching her expression. “I take it you are enjoying your time here in Ordon?”

“Very much so,” she assured him. “Thank you for agreeing to do this, by the way.”

Link simply nodded. “Of course. I want to have fun too, after all.”

This time, Zelda carefully watched his expression in return, only to eventually release a small sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness,” she murmured.

Link just raised his eyebrows at this. “What?”

“To be honest, there was a moment there where I was beginning to worry that you had turned into Fost.”

Link immediately frowned, scowling at her exaggerated joke. “Okay, I’m not that bad.”

Notes:

Do you ever just stop and think about how awesome Zelda’s character is? Because I do. I imagine her as an absolute queen of archery, and I just love getting the chance to show off her skill :)

Chapter 35: Duel

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 35 – Duel

Before long, Link and Zelda’s largest crowd yet had assembled in front of the Hero’s home. In addition to the children, a number of Ordon’s menfolk had come to witness the duel, which included Mayor Bo, Rusl, and Talo and Malo’s father, Jaggle. It didn’t stop there either. Almost all of the soldiers that had accompanied the Princess on the tour came to watch as well. Not only would this be a rare opportunity to see the Princess’s swordsmanship in action, but the Hero of Twilight’s as well.

Last but not least was Minister Fost, who had picked up rumors of what was happening in this corner of the village, and quickly scuffled over to see what it was all about. Much like Link, he had taken some time to try and dissuade the Princess from partaking in something so borderline dangerous, but she simply refused to hear him out. She fully intended to commit to this harmless duel, and so she did.

When the frustrated Minister ended up storming off, Zelda couldn’t help but give Link a suggestive look that almost seemed to say “see what I mean?”. Link just rolled his eyes and shook his head. He would never admit to being as anxious as the Minister. Never.

Colin and Rusl ended up drawing a wide circle in the dirt that would serve as the stage for the two duelists. Beth had also returned with two wooden swords in hand, which she promptly handed to each of the combatants. Link had practiced with these weapons many times before, so he was already quite used to using them. Zelda, on the other hand, took a few moments to swing the wooden weapon through the air, trying to adjust to its weight and size. It was very different from the rapier that she was accustomed to, but she felt like she could easily acclimate to this sword in no time.

While Zelda took a few minutes to practice, Fost ended up making a return, this time pulling Link aside so he could have a private word with him. “Master Link, please be honest with me. The Princess has roped you into this scheme of hers, hasn’t she?”

“Well…more or less,” Link shrugged.

“And I suppose that there’s no way you could talk her out of it?”

Link sighed, not even bothering to mention how he had already tried such a thing. “I’m afraid that I’ve already agreed to it. There’s no way of backing out now.”

Fost sighed in return. “I was afraid of that…Why must this foolish girl always insist on putting herself in danger?”

Link didn’t really know what to say to this. A part of him felt inclined to agree with the Minister, but another part of him understood that he was needlessly worrying. After talking things through with Zelda, he was now confident that the two of them would complete this duel free of injury and harm. He trusted her, and she trusted him.

Not that Fost cared about any of that. He was still far too focused on what could potentially go wrong. Before long, he ended up giving Link a stern look. “Master Link, please do be careful with the Princess. I understand that this is just a duel for fun, but should anything happen to Her Highness, you would undoubtedly face incredibly harsh consequences.”

Link just blinked, hardly believing what he had heard. Um…was that a threat?

Unfortunately, the Hero did not get his answer. Before he even had a chance to respond to such a passive-aggressive warning, the short Minister walked away, going to a shady spot in the glade where he could calm down and attempt to maintain what little composure he had left.

As Link watched him go, he ended up scanning the rest of the crowd as well, all while nervous and unwelcome thoughts started popping into his head. He honestly couldn’t help but wonder if the soldiers had actually been assembled as a security measure rather than spectators. If by chance, Link did end up harming the Princess, would he be skewered by spears on the spot? Oh, he wasn’t sure he felt so great about this anymore…

“Are you all right?”

Link blinked, a calm and concerned voice calling him out of his thoughts. He soon turned to find Zelda watching him with her bright, sapphire eyes. Before long, he took a deep breath as his nerves melted away. He wasn’t sure why, but something about her concerned expression seemed to set him at ease.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said with a smile.

“Are you certain?” Zelda asked, stepping closer. “You seemed a bit worried there for a moment.”

“It’s nothing,” Link insisted with a shake of his head. He then smiled some more as he took his wooden sword and gently knocked it against her own. “If anything, I’m just excited to see your excellent swordsmanship in action.”

Zelda blinked, a bit surprised at his sudden confidence, but soon decided to play along. “As am I, Link. I know that your skill with the blade is quite commendable, and I’m rather interested to find out if I’m capable of matching it.”

Link grinned. “Well, we both know that you’re better than me at archery, but I wouldn’t expect to go two for two.”

Zelda simply smirked in response. “Don’t you mean three for three?”

“Wait, what’s the third?”

“Horseback-riding, of course.”

Link couldn’t help but smile as he gave her a disapproving shake of his head. “Right, and you think that your skills are superior to my own because…?”

Zelda shrugged. “I feel that my performance at the ranch should speak for itself.”

“That was hardly a proper contest between us,” he argued back.

“Fine, we’ll consider that matter ‘unsettled’ for now,” she replied offhandedly, as if she wasn’t very concerned with proving her point. “Perhaps we can agree on a victor at another time. For now, we should simply focus on our duel.”

“Agreed,” Link said with a nod. He then stared out at the crowd, which had now started to gather around the dirt ring in anticipation of the event. With a small grin, he decided to walk forward. “Well, I guess we shouldn’t keep them waiting any longer.”

“Link, wait a moment,” Zelda soon called out to him.

The Hero just paused and glanced back to find her bright eyes carefully watching him once again. He stood there in silence, refusing to move as he stared back. It was almost as if her soft gaze was holding him in place.

Zelda then blinked, replacing her innocent stare with one that was full of determination. “Promise me that you will give it your all,” she requested sincerely.

Link nodded and flashed her a confident grin. “Of course. I know that you won’t settle for anything less.”

Zelda produced a smile in return, one that was full of gratitude. “Thank you, Link.”

With that finally settled, the two duelists felt any remaining sense of hesitation or doubt fade away from their hearts. They stepped into the dirt ring, taking opposite positions as they faced each other. The crowd that surrounded them hummed with a buzz of excitement, eager to see the main event finally unfold. They soon quieted down however, when Rusl stepped into the ring as well, and called for their attention.

“I shall be officiating this duel between Princess Zelda of Hyrule and Link, the Hero of Twilight. Do the two of you have any objections to this?”

They both shook their heads, offering him their acceptance.

“Very well. The terms of the duel are as follows. Both combatants will spar until one of them is disarmed or has the blade pointed at the other’s throat. Do the two of you agree to these conditions?”

They both nodded.

“In that case, please take your positions.”

Link and Zelda both raised their swords, cautiously pointing them towards each other. Their eyes soon narrowed in sync, the two of them focusing on nothing else but their opponent and the weapons between them.

The crowd went silent as they watched with bated breath. Rusl just smiled before taking a few steps back and rejoining them outside the ring. Once he was satisfied, he then raised his hands into the air for a moment before giving the final call.

“And…begin!”

Zelda was the first to make a move. She rushed forward, brandishing the wooden blade in hand, and attempted to thrust it towards the Hero’s chest. However, Link was immediately aware of this, and safely managed to knock her sword aside using his own. Zelda then quickly brought the sword back up, throwing out two swift swipes that Link managed to block. This wooden weapon might not have been a rapier, but she fully intended to use it as such.

As Link withstood the incoming attacks, he tried to remain patient as he assessed the situation. This was his first time truly crossing blades with Zelda, so he wanted to discover her strategy before he began making any definitive moves. Her reflexes were quick and her senses were sharp. Link knew that even a single opening might cost him the victory.

Zelda whipped her blade through the air, fervently swinging at Link from a variety of angles. As Link continued to study her, he noticed that she was quite proficient with using only one hand to wield her weapon. He quickly understood why. The Princess was able to invest more speed into her swings if she only focused on controlling one side. This meant that her free hand would be useless, but it strengthened the dominant hand all the same. It was a very interesting battle style.

Link was naturally used to fighting one-handed as well, but he was also used to having a shield in his free hand. This meant that he was currently at a disadvantage, as he had nothing but his own weapon to defend himself. And defend himself he did, for Zelda refused to relent.

The Princess went for another thrust towards his chest, forcing Link to knock the blade away just as he had before. However, Zelda followed it up with another swing, this one traveling even faster than the last. Link barely managed to block in time, the sound of the two swords echoing out in the forest.

He had to admit, he was impressed. Zelda had quickly proven herself to be one of the swiftest opponents he had ever faced. She never relented, and her blade, despite being a hefty piece of wood, was almost too fast to see.

But it was in that impressive speed that Link confirmed what Zelda’s strategy was. She wasn’t trying to disarm him. She was simply trying to overwhelm him with attacks. To force an opening with her quick strikes. To leave Link defenseless as she went for his throat.

Link just smiled, the realization helping him stay calm. He had fought many battles before now, and he knew that as long as he could understand how his opponent fought, he could overcome them.

The Hero patiently waited for Zelda’s next strike. It came just as swiftly as the others, cutting horizontally. As soon as Link managed to block the strike, he took a daring step forward, and decided to give a swing of his own. It was his first attack of the duel.

Zelda had been intending to follow up her endless flurry of attacks with yet another one, but her eyes just went wide as she watched Link raise his sword. Reacting instantly, she firmly held her own sword vertically in front of her.

Whack!

The sound of this blow was louder than any of the ones that Zelda had produced. That was because Link had decided to focus on strength rather than speed. He knew that he could never hope to outspeed the Princess. That would just be a lost cause. However, he could potentially overpower her, and it was from this angle that Link chose to form his battle plan.

Zelda managed to quickly recover, and wasted no time in retaliating. She released two swift swings, hoping to prevent Link from gaining any momentum. However, Link was no longer willing to remain on the receiving end of her attacks. Taking another daring step forward, Link swung back in unison, fending off both of her strikes with his own.

Zelda just paused for a second as she watched him. She could tell that his demeanor had changed. He was no longer content to sit and endure her endless attacks. He was going on the offensive, and she would need to be cautious.

Unfortunately, Link had already noticed her moment of hesitation, and decided to capitalize on it. Now that he had a proper strategy in mind, there was no need to stop and think. He just had to see his plan through. Taking yet another step forward, Link swung vertically down, forcing the Princess to take a defensive stance once again. Another loud crack rang out through the air as the wooden weapons collided.

Zelda just clenched her teeth a bit as she planted her feet firmly in the dirt and went to retaliate once again. However, as soon as she raised her sword, she was surprised to see that Link had disappeared.

He was gone. Completely gone.

Or so it seemed…

With wide eyes, Zelda immediately glanced down, realizing far too late what was happening. The Hero’s downward swing had been nothing more than a distraction. He had simply used the momentum of his attack to allow himself to fall as well. Link ended up rolling onto his shoulders and back, quickly circumventing the Princess’s position. Zelda just gasped as she turned, her eyes trying to lock onto him.

But it was too late. By the time she properly faced him, Link was already springing to his feet, swinging his sword in a circular motion as he did so. Zelda just responded in the only way she could. She threw out a quick slash of her own. But it unfortunately lacked any sense of power or finesse. It was a weak swing, one born of desperation. It was no match for Link’s perfectly calculated attack.

“Hyah!”

With a loud cry, Link swung his sword, knocking Zelda’s weapon clean out of her grasp. Before she even had a chance to move, Link then brought his weapon back around, pointing its end straight at her throat.

It was checkmate. The duel was over.

Zelda, still wide-eyed, just slowly raised her open palms into the air. “I concede,” she said breathlessly.

Link just smiled before retracting his weapon. At this point, the crowd was completely silent, having been stunned by what they had witnessed. However, Rusl soon emerged from their ranks, and called out in a loud, clear voice.

“The winner of this duel is Link, the Hero of Twilight!”

Finally, the crowd erupted into their long-anticipated applause. The kids jumped up and down in excitement. The soldiers gave a few impressed nods. Fost breathed a sigh of relief now that this whole thing was finally over.

Link just bashfully smiled as he heard the crowds cheering his name. It wasn’t like he had done any of this to earn their admiration, but it was still nice to know that his friends and neighbors supported his victory.

He soon turned to Zelda, and she smiled as well. “Well done, Hero. It seems that your skill with the sword is still unmatched.”

“In all of Ordon, at least,” he agreed with a grin.

Zelda just shook her head, partially at his sense of humor, and partially in disapproval. “I must say, that last tactic of yours seemed a bit unfair though. Rolling through the dirt and striking from behind? What was that all about?”

“That was completely fair,” Link insisted, suddenly looking smug. “You never declared that the both of us must remain upright during the duel. Besides, you were equally as welcome to use the technique against me.”

Zelda scoffed before crossing her arms. “As if I would ever roll around in the dirt like that.”

“Why not? The tactic proved successful, didn’t it?”

“Yes, but I must say, the state of your attire leaves much to be desired.”

Zelda then smirked as she pointed at the Hero’s green tunic. Link just glanced down, suddenly realizing that he was covered in a thin layer of dusty earth. There was no doubt that it was a remnant of his little stunt back there.

“I can’t help but feel reminded of a recent memory where I stumbled upon you in the castle garden,” Zelda added, her smirk growing wider.

Link just frowned. He knew that she was exaggerating, for his current status was a far cry from that muddy disaster in the garden, but he still didn’t like giving her the satisfaction of teasing him. Especially when he was supposed to be the victor here. He soon patted the dusty dirt off of himself, looking fresh and clean once again.

“No scars left behind,” he said, gesturing to his tunic with another grin. “And I have a victory to boot.”

Zelda shook her head before sighing. “Very well. Just as I conceded the duel, so too do I concede this argument. The victory is completely yours, Hero.”

“Ah, you have my utmost thanks, Princess,” Link replied, before giving her a bow.

Zelda just giggled, amused at his sudden formality. However, before she had a chance to comment on how exaggerated his behavior was, the children suddenly began to swarm him. Each one of them was still jumping up and down, excited to praise his amazing display of swordsmanship.

“That was awesome!”

“You’ve never shown us anything like that before, Link!”

“How could you move so fast?”

Link just backed up a bit as the children continued to rush him, but he soon released a happy laugh. Zelda simply smiled as she watched the Hero bask in his moment of victory alongside his young audience. It was clear that the children were not only impressed, but also incredibly proud of the swordsman that hailed from their tiny village. And of course, they weren’t the only ones who felt this way…

Secretly, Zelda was proud of him too.

Notes:

If I had to split my story into arcs, I wouldn't refer to this stretch of chapters as the "Ordon Arc". I think I would actually call it "The Longest Day Arc", because I’ve decided to fit so many events into one single day lmao. But hey, I’m having fun here in Ordon. I hope you are too.

Chapter 36: Visiting

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 36 – Visiting

With the duel having reached its conclusion, the crowds began making their way back to the center of Ordon. The children sped ahead, each one of them eager to share the story of Link and Zelda’s battle with anyone who couldn’t attend. Meanwhile, the adults moved at a slower pace, some of them even breaking off to return to their work for the day. The soldiers chose to return to their makeshift campsite, and one of them even graciously offered to take Reina back with him. This freed Zelda up to follow the rest of the crowd into Ordon, alongside Link.

As they walked, she couldn’t help but notice that the Hero had a bright smile planted on his lips. She soon flashed him a curious look. “My, someone seems cheerful. Are you still basking in your victory?”

Link’s smile widened a bit as he shook his head. “No, you should know that I never really take pride in such things.”

“Yes, I suppose that’s true,” Zelda agreed with a smirk. “But in that case, what has you looking so elated?”

Link shrugged. “It’s nothing, really. I just realized that I’ve really been enjoying myself today.”

Zelda felt a bit surprised by this response. “Oh? You have?”

“Of course,” he said with a nod. “From exploring the village, to the goat-herding, to watching your archery with the kids, and finally a heart-pounding duel. It’s just been one good time after another.” The Hero then paused, before turning to the Princess with a sincere smile. “I’m really glad that you came here, Zelda. I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve had this much fun.”

As expected, Zelda couldn’t help but blush a bit at this compliment. “Surely you’re exaggerating,” she insisted. “We haven’t done anything that you don’t normally do around here, have we?”

Link shook his head. “No, but for some reason, having you around has made things much more exciting. I guess you just bring a fresh perspective to this rusty old town.”

Zelda produced a bashful smile, still feeling undeserving of such praise. “Well, I’m glad to know that you’ve been enjoying yourself. I’ve been having a wonderful time as well.”

Link smiled back, happy to know that his meager little home in the forest had managed to satisfy the Princess. He had been worried that she would be disappointed with this place, but alas, her feelings of delight seemed to be completely genuine.

Before long, the crowds made it to the center of town where they slowly began to disperse in different directions. Off to the side, a number of the village’s women could be spotted preparing food in front of the home with a waterwheel. Many of them were using wooden tables and small ovens to clean, cut, and cook their meals. As they did, their children naturally congregated to their side, gushing about every magical event that they had witnessed that day. It wasn’t long before some of the menfolk approached them as well, just as excited to share the tale of the incredible duel with their wives.

Link and Zelda just turned to each other and smiled when they saw this. They were happy to know that their innocent battle had helped liven things up around here and create a general buzz of excitement.

However, the Princess soon felt her own happiness slowly fade away as one of the women chose to run up to them. Specifically, it was a young girl with dirty-blonde hair and mesmerizing green eyes. Zelda just frowned as she approached. She had truly enjoyed the last few hours in which she had been free of her, but now she would have to be subjected to her presence once again. She soon took a deep breath, bracing herself for yet another encounter with her enemy.

She’s not your enemy, Zelda’s conscience reiterated. The Princess just rolled her eyes. It’s not like acknowledging such a thing would make her any less jealous.

“Link!” Ilia cried, calling for the Hero’s attention as she ran.

Link just smiled, happy to see her approach. “Oh, hey Ilia. How’re things going over here?”

“Forget about that!” the girl said as she skidded to a halt in front of him. “Is what they’re saying true?”

Link blinked, feeling a bit confused. “Um…what now?”

“The kids,” Ilia clarified. “They’ve been telling us about all these adventures that you’ve gone on today.”

Link just chuckled before turning to Zelda with a smile. “Well, I don’t know about adventures, but we’ve certainly had a fun time.”

Zelda softly smiled back, showing her appreciation once again. However, the moment was cut short when Ilia spoke up.

“Almost too much fun, by the sound of it!” she said incredulously. “Why didn’t you invite me along for any of that?”

Link blinked again, this time feeling even more confused. “Um, what do you mean, Ilia? I told you that I was going to be showing Zelda around the village, and I asked if you were interested in joining us.”

“Yes, but you never told me what you would be doing!” Ilia replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Archery? Dueling? I would’ve liked to have seen that! Oh, and the kids say that you had a fun time goat-herding as well?”

Link frowned, suddenly feeling a little defensive. “Er…well, yeah. Zelda wanted to try it so I just showed her how.”

“And to think that I’ve been stuck here cooking all day,” Ilia said with a frown. “How’s come you’ve never shown me how to herd the goats?”

“What?” Link replied. “Um, you never asked…”

“But you know how much I enjoy riding horses!”

Zelda just remained silent as she watched the couple continue to bicker. After a moment, she suddenly began to realize why Ilia seemed so upset about missing out. As it turned out, she was jealous. Ilia wished that she could have been the one having all the fun with Link throughout the day. Not Zelda, or the other Ordon residents. She simply wanted her man all to herself, and she was upset for having missed out a perfect opportunity to spend time with him.

Zelda couldn’t help but smirk a bit at this fact. She found it rather amusing to see Ilia being jealous for a change. Even if it was over something as insignificant as goat-herding.

“Sorry Ilia,” Link eventually said with a sigh. “But you’re the one who said that you had to spend all day cooking.”

Ilia just smiled before crossing her arms. “Still, I expect you to make this up to me.”

Link shrugged. “Fine. If you want, I can show you how to herd the goats some other time.”

Ilia shook her head and smiled some more, her expression turning somewhat playful. “Actually, I was hoping that you could do something for me right away. I have a favor to ask.”

Link could only raise his eyebrows. “And that is…?”

Ilia gestured back towards the yard where the women were preparing the food. “I have a huge pumpkin that I need to prepare for the feast tonight. Can you use your strong arms to lift it onto the table for me?”

Link just sighed again before producing a small smile. “Of course I can do that.”

“Then come on, mister.” Without waiting for any more approval, Ilia snatched up Link’s hand, and began pulling him away to the outdoor kitchen.

As Link followed behind Ilia, he cast an apologetic frown in Zelda’s direction. It was clear that he felt bad about abruptly abandoning her like this. Nevertheless, Zelda forgave him with a small smile and a wave goodbye. She hated to see him go, but she supposed that it couldn’t be helped. When trouble called, the Hero naturally had to come running to the rescue.

Still, she wished that he didn’t have to go running off to her rescue…

I know, I know, jealousy is unbecoming of a Princess, the more irritable side of Zelda’s mind declared before her conscience had any chance to make a disapproving comment. Unfortunately, it didn’t stop her conscience from clicking its imaginary tongue and shaking its imaginary head…

The Princess soon sighed. She really did wonder if she was losing her mind. At the very least, she certainly didn’t feel like she had it all together.

“How are you doing, Princess?”

Zelda blinked, suddenly realizing that she had company standing next to her. Turning her head, she spotted a blonde woman carrying a baby in her arms. She immediately recognized her as Rusl’s wife, Uli.

“Oh, I’m doing well, thank you,” Zelda replied, quickly conjuring a warm smile. Once again, she was more than happy to have any excuse to leave her annoying and depressing thoughts behind her.

The woman gave the Princess a bashful smile, one that was not dissimilar to the expressions that her son, Colin, made. “I hope you don’t mind that I approached you. I just noticed that you seemed a bit lonely standing here.”

“Oh, of course not,” Zelda replied with a frown. “I’m more than happy to share your company.”

Uli’s smile brightened, and her shoulders seemed to relax a bit. “My son, Colin, was just telling me about all the fun you guys have been having. I hope that you have been enjoying yourself here in Ordon.”

Zelda nodded. “Oh yes, very much so. It’s been vastly different from any other place I’ve visited so far. Very unique.”

Uli just laughed. It was a soft, almost melodious sound. “Well, that’s certainly one way to put it. I imagine that life here is quite different from life at the castle.”

“Of course, but I enjoy it all the same,” Zelda assured her. She then paused for a second, curiously glancing back and forth between Uli and the other women. “Forgive me for asking this, but are you not participating in the cooking?”

“No, I am,” Uli said proudly. She then raised the baby in her arms. “Unfortunately, I needed to take a break so I could change this little one.”

Zelda smiled as she glanced down at the infant. At this moment, the girl was wide awake, and she happily smiled up at the Princess. “How adorable,” Zelda mused. “Her name is Hope, correct?”

“That’s right,” Uli said with a smile. “We named her after victory was achieved in the Twilight Invasion. Believe it or not, she was actually born during that final battle against the evil tyrant known as Ganondorf.”

“Is that so?” Zelda asked. She was a bit surprised to hear that Uli was so knowledgeable about the final battle, but then she realized that Rusl must have filled her in afterwards. “Well, I’m happy to know that this innocent life and many others were spared because of our victory. I still shudder to think what might have happened had Ganondorf seized control of the Kingdom.”

Uli simply shook her head before looking down at her baby. “It’s best to leave such dark thoughts alone. We all survived, and now we’re here: happy, safe, and healthy. That’s all that really matters.”

“Agreed,” Zelda said with a nod. Despite everything that her subjects had been through, she was happy to know that they had all remained strong and optimistic. The future was still undetermined, but she knew that keeping a positive attitude would only help them in the days to come.

Uli turned back to Zelda. “Would you like to hold her, Princess?”

Zelda blinked before smiling at the offer. “May I?”

“Of course,” Uli replied. She then carefully handed the precious bundle over to the Princess, who gently received the baby in her arms.

Zelda felt both her eyes and her heart soften as she stared down at the little infant. The girl just happily opened and closed her mouth as she stared back at her. She soon began babbling in her tiny voice, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

“Hi sweetie,” Zelda whispered, greeting the baby with a smile. The infant just continued to excitedly babble, which made Zelda giggle in amusement. “She’s so cute.”

Uli proudly smiled back. “Thank you, Princess. That truly means a lot.”

Zelda continued to cradle the baby in her arms. She wasn’t sure why, but she truly enjoyed this experience. There was just something nice about holding such a sweet and innocent life in her hands, all while watching the infant stare back at her in oblivious admiration. Zelda didn’t often get to experience this sort of thing back at the castle, so this felt like a really tender moment for her.

She soon sighed, feeling content. “You know, I’d love to be blessed with a child of my own someday.”

Uli gave a confident nod. “I’m sure you will, Princess. All you must do is find the right man, and then the rest will fall into place.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda couldn’t help but glance over to the outdoor kitchen. There, she spotted Link lifting the large pumpkin onto the table for Ilia. With a sad smile, she looked away.

“Yes, but that’s easier said than done.”

Being a mother, Uli couldn’t help but notice Zelda’s slight change in expression. “Having trouble with romance, I take it?”

Zelda just blinked before shaking her head. “Oh, it’s nothing worth worrying over.”

Uli continued to stare at the Princess with a look of sympathy, but soon closed her eyes and nodded. “I understand, Princess. I won’t pry any further.”

“Thank you,” Zelda said, also closing her eyes. She didn’t necessarily want to push the older woman away, especially since she only wanted to help, but she still wasn’t about to reveal the anguish of her heart to someone who was basically a complete stranger. It was far too embarrassing. And depressing, honestly.

Zelda then paused as she suddenly felt something give a sharp yank on the side of her head. She quickly opened her eyes, feeling confused, only to have something pull on her once again. “Ouch!” she cried.

Zelda, with her head now slightly tilted to the left, soon glanced down and noticed that the infant in her arms held a bundle of her hair in the grasp of her tiny hand. Zelda’s eyes just went wide while the baby flashed an amused expression. Clearly, she enjoyed her new toy, and she was eager to pull on it once again.

“Ow!”

“Oh Hope,” Uli said, immediately stepping close so she could chastise her infant. “We don’t pull on people’s hair, remember? Let it go at once.”

It took a bit of tugging, but Uli eventually managed to make the baby let go of the hair. She then pulled her free of Zelda’s grasp, bringing her back into her own arms. “I’m terribly sorry about that, Princess,” she apologized.

“Oh, it’s no trouble,” Zelda said as she slowly ran her fingers through her mangled strand of hair. “I understand that babies will do as they please.”

“Thank you for understanding,” Uli said with a slight bow. She then pulled her child close to her, who was still babbling with excitement. “I suppose I should return to cooking then. There’s still a lot of work to be done in preparation for tonight’s feast. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Of course, thank you for sharing this conversation with me,” Zelda replied before providing a polite curtsy.

The woman simply smiled before walking away. Zelda was now standing alone once again. She soon frowned, pondering what she ought to do next. She figured that it might not hurt to go and find Fost, and make sure that he was getting along okay in this town. Especially since Zelda herself had potentially given him more than one heart attack with her activities today.

However, her chance to move on quickly slipped away, as Zelda soon found herself with company once again. This time, it was the Hero clad in green, having returned to her.

“Oh, Link,” Zelda said, blinking in surprise. “Back so soon?”

Link sighed but produced a smile. “Yeah, once I helped Ilia with her pumpkin, she shooed me away, saying that it’s better if I don’t get involved in the cooking.”

“Really?” Zelda asked with raised eyebrows. “That’s odd. I would’ve thought she was eager to spend time with you after her behavior a short while ago.”

Link just chuckled at this. “Not quite. I think she was just disappointed to know that she missed out on so much fun.”

“That’s a shame,” Zelda said, although if she were speaking truthfully, she didn’t really think of Ilia’s absence as a shame at all. “Does she always get that upset?”

This time, Link seemed a bit surprised. “Upset? I don’t know if I would say that. Ilia just gets really…excitable whenever she feels like she’s missing out.”

Zelda simply frowned. That’s not how she would have described the girl’s behavior at all. Then again, Link knew Ilia better than she did, so who was she to argue?

“So, it seems like we have some more free time,” Link noted. “Anything else you want to see in Ordon?”

Zelda thought about it, but soon shook her head. “If it’s all the same to you, I think I’d like to take it easy for a while. We’ve already done so much today.”

Link just smiled. “Sure.”

The Hero led the way over to a picnic table by the stream that ran through the middle of town. Here, the two of them took a seat, happy to relax for a change. The warm rays of the sun felt rather pleasant, and the constant babbling of the creek helped provide a tranquil atmosphere.

“This is more like Ordon,” Link said as he looked around. “We don’t usually have as much excitement as we had today. It’s typically calm, quiet…”

“Peaceful,” Zelda added with a smirk. 

“Exactly,” he agreed. He then paused, before frowning a bit. “Well, until now, that is.”

Zelda gave him a curious look, but Link just pointed out to the field in front of them. She then glanced over, only to find the children of Ordon excitedly scampering over to their location.

“So much for peace and quiet,” Link said with a sigh. “I hope you don’t mind their endless noise.”

Zelda simply smiled before shaking her head. “Nonsense. If anything, I appreciate their youthful admiration.”

Link just shrugged. “If you say so.”

It was around this point that the kids finally caught up to them, appearing out of breath, but still quite energetic. Naturally, Talo was the first to speak.

“We finally found you guys!” the boy said with a grin. “So, what are we doing next?”

Link just rolled his eyes. “We?”

“Yeah, you and the Princess are going to do something cool and fun again, right?”

“Sorry, but not quite,” Link said, shaking his head. “We are going to sit here for a while and relax.”

Talo’s grin immediately faltered, as did his shoulders. “What? You’re just going to sit here? But that’s boring…”

“Oh, shut up, Talo,” Beth snapped at him. She then smiled before immediately running over to the Princess and taking a seat next to her. “I for one would be more than happy to sit in the presence of Her Highness.”

Zelda merely smiled back at the girl. “Why, that is very flattering, Beth. Thank you.” The girl naturally beamed at these words.

Meanwhile, the other kids soon turned to her, and surprisingly enough, began to follow suit.

“Um, I would be happy to sit for a while too,” Colin said, taking a seat next to Link.

“Agreed,” Malo said, before also finding a seat.

Talo frowned a bit, but he soon sighed and sat down as well. “Fine…”

Link just smiled before reaching over and rustling the kid’s brown hair. “It’ll be good for you to take a breather. If anything, you’ve probably had too much excitement for one day.”

“Have not!” he exclaimed loudly as he swatted the Hero’s hand away. “I want to see you guys do more cool stuff! Like with the archery! And then the sword fight! You guys were all like fwish and swish!”

Beth just rolled her eyes as she watched the boy’s exaggerated hand motions. “So uncivilized…”

Zelda simply giggled, finding the child’s enthusiasm to be rather charming. “It’s okay, Beth. I’m sure that this is just Talo’s way of showing flattery.”

“That’s a bit far-fetched,” Malo muttered from the other end of the table.

“Hey, I know!” Talo exclaimed, as if an idea had just suddenly come to him. “Princess, do you have any exciting stories to tell us?”

“Exciting stories?” Zelda repeated. “Like what?”

Beth quickly piped up. “Ooh, can you tell us what it’s like to live in a castle?”

Zelda paused for a second before realizing what they were getting at. These children grew up in the small village of Ordon, and didn’t know a whole lot about the outside world. Naturally, they were curious to learn more about the lifestyle of royalty.

“Of course. As I’m sure you can imagine, living in a castle is quite different than living here. Our castle is many stories tall with thick stone walls to keep us protected. We have a number of guards and servants that live there as well, and they work hard to keep everything running smoothly.”

“Wow,” Beth breathed. “And they follow your every command?”

Zelda laughed a bit. “I don’t often feel the need to issue ‘commands’, but yes, they listen to my every word.”

Beth nodded as her eyes started to sparkle again. “What kind of things do you have in your castle? Anything fancy?”

“Of course. We have a great number of beautiful paintings and fine rugs lining our halls. We also have some rather luxurious furniture.”

“Pfft, boring…” Talo muttered with a frown. Clearly, the talk of interior goods was not catching his interest in the slightest. Fortunately, Zelda had the solution for this.

“We have many suits of armor and old weapons displayed in our hallways as well.”

The boys’ faces immediately lit up at this.

“Oh, cool…” Colin breathed.

“Do the soldiers ever use that stuff for training?” Talo asked, his excitement rapidly returning.

Zelda smiled and shook her head. “No, the soldiers have their own gear for such activities. They tend to spend a lot of their time out in the courtyard practicing their skills.”

“Awesome,” Talo said with a grin. “What about real battles? Do they ever go out and fight?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, but only when it is necessary.”

“What about you, Princess? Have you ever been in a battle?”

This question gave Zelda some pause, and the smile slowly faded from her lips. She hadn’t expected the boy to ask her that. “Er…yes, a handful of times.”

“Wow, what were they like?”

Zelda frowned some more, not quite sure how to respond. Fortunately, she didn’t have to, for Link ended up coming to her rescue.

“Knock it off, Talo,” the Hero said with a shake of his head. “I don’t think the Princess wants to talk about such things.”

Talo just gave him a confused look. “Huh? But why not?”

“Just forget it, kid,” Link said, sternly shaking his head again.

Talo still looked confused, but the serious expression on Link’s face convinced him to relent. “Fine,” he agreed.

Zelda just flashed Link a grateful smile. Truth be told, she really didn’t care to relive any of her past battles, especially since they all consisted of nothing more than a desperate struggle for her life. She truly appreciated that the Hero had stepped in and quelled the boy’s questions, so that those dark memories could be left behind her.

However, Talo was quick to speak up again, still looking curious. “In that case, can I ask you a different question, Princess?”

Zelda looked surprised, but she soon nodded. “What is it?”

“Are the stories true?” the boy asked bluntly.

“The stories?” Zelda repeated, feeling confused. “What stories?”

“You know,” Talo said, sticking his hand out. “The stories about Link being a grand Hero who went on an adventure and saved the Kingdom.”

Zelda just paused. Everyone at the table did. Zelda never imagined that the children of Ordon would be doubtful when it came to tales of Link’s exploits, and yet, as she looked around at each of them, she could tell that they were curious to hear the truth of the matter from her own lips.

“Why, of course it’s true,” she stated clearly. “Link was very brave and he managed to save a lot of people. Myself included.”

Talo simply blinked, still looking skeptical. “Seriously?”

Link had never been one to take pride in his achievements, but in this moment, he couldn’t help but scowl at the runt that was questioning his adventures. He always believed that the children in Ordon admired him and looked up to him. They basically believed everything he said. Where was all of this doubt suddenly coming from?

Zelda also found herself growing curious as to the origins of the children’s doubt. “What’s the matter? You don’t believe that Link is capable of saving the Kingdom?”

The entire table turned back to Talo, who simply sighed. “Well, he’s pretty strong and I know that he can handle stuff around here just fine, but the whole Kingdom? I mean, come on!”

“I see,” Zelda said, nodding a bit as she finally started to understand the issue. “You’ve known Link your entire life, so you find it hard to believe that he could go out on such an incredible adventure, the likes of which are usually only found in legends.”

“Exactly,” Talo agreed. “Link isn’t some mighty Hero. He’s just Link, a guy who lives and works in Ordon.”

“Ah, but why should that mean that he is not a mighty Hero?” Zelda pressed him.

The boy looked surprised, and soon went silent. The entire table did.

Zelda simply smiled as she shook her head. “Your desire to discover the truth is appreciated, Talo, but I can assure you that Link truly is the savior of Hyrule. I have witnessed it with my own eyes. He crossed numerous landscapes and defeated many dangerous foes, all for the sake of saving our Kingdom. Of that, there is no doubt.”

“S-Seriously?” Colin whispered, looking positively awestruck.

“I promise you it is the truth.”

Talo gawked a bit. “And he did it all by himself?”

Zelda nodded, but soon decided to smirk. “Well…I suppose that Epona did do half of the work for him…”

The reaction to her quip was immediate. All of the tension melted away as the children began to giggle, the thought of Epona ferrying the Hero from place to place suddenly sounding quite humorous.

Zelda glanced over to Link and noticed that he was smiling along with them. Clearly, he was amused with her joke as well, but there was also an appreciation in his eyes. A gratitude for defending his honor and assuring the children that the tales of his exploits were completely true. Link had to admit, there were times where even he had trouble believing everything that he accomplished, but he couldn’t deny that it felt very gratifying to hear the Princess stick up for him like this.

It felt like she always had his back, no matter what the situation was.

 

---

 

As the afternoon dragged on, the children continued to ask a few more questions about Link, until the conversation eventually focused on the Princess once again. Naturally, they were curious to hear more about her interesting and exciting life. Zelda was happy to indulge them, spending the next couple of hours talking about her duties in the castle, important people she had met, and the amazing places she had visited. The children just listened with wide eyes and big smiles. Her stories were so riveting, they almost felt like fairy tales.

Link just smiled as he watched the children’s expressions, as well as Zelda’s own excitement as she shared her life with them. He was happy to see that she was so comfortable in his tiny village. She was always so open and friendly, and she seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself. He noted that she was certainly a far cry from himself, who had struggled to adapt to life within the castle halls. All she had to do was spend half a day in this unfamiliar village and it already felt like she fit right in.

At some point, the children began to grow tired of stories, and Talo thirsted for more action. He soon challenged Colin to a duel, and asked if the Princess would be willing to watch. She just politely smiled and accepted his offer, happy to see the children imitate her and Link’s battle from earlier.

The group moved over into a nearby clearing, where Talo and Colin both took up wooden swords. Zelda was a bit surprised that they knew how to handle such weapons, but Colin explained that his father had trained him a bit, and Talo assured her that he was self-taught. Link just shook his head before whispering into the Princess’s ear, claiming that he would make sure to stop them before anyone got hurt.

And so, the second duel of the day began. Well, if you could even call it a duel. Colin seemed to have the proper form as well as technique for handling the sword, but Talo just whipped his weapon around wildly, almost as if he was trying to mimic the Princess’s swordplay from earlier. Needless to say, it was less than a satisfactory imitation. Still, Zelda made sure to give them her full attention, not wanting either child to believe that their duel deserved anything less.

At some point, while the kids were distracted, Link ended up taking a step closer to Zelda. He then began whispering under his breath once more. “Thanks for earlier, by the way.”

“Hmm?” Zelda hummed, not taking her eyes away from the battle. “Whatever for?”

“For standing up for me and letting the kids know the truth,” Link answered back. “I never realized that they had such massive doubts about my adventures.”

“I never would have imagined such a thing either,” Zelda said with a nod. “What did you do to make them believe that you are so untrustworthy?”

Link frowned. “Nothing. If anything, I feel like having you around doing all of these amazing things is starting to make them think that I’m not as cool as they used to believe.”

The faintest trace of a smirk appeared on Zelda’s lips. “Ah, my apologies for that. I never intended to steal your fan club away from you.”

“They’re not my fan club,” Link asserted with a straight face. “And trust me, you can keep them.”

Zelda fought hard not to giggle while she kept her eyes on the duel. She wanted to stay focused on the two young combatants and the display that they were putting on for her own amusement, but she couldn’t deny that Link’s naturally comedic expressions were making it quite difficult.

“Hey Princess, did you see that?” Talo shouted, sounding proud after doing some sort of makeshift spin attack.

“Yes, very impressive Talo,” Zelda answered with a smile.

“He needs work,” Malo muttered from beside her.

The duel continued for the next few minutes, but it wasn’t long before a victor was decided. Colin waited patiently for an opening before knocking the sword free of his opponent’s grasp. Meanwhile, Talo ended up tripping over his own feet, and fell backwards into the grass.

“Whoa, how’d you do that?” he asked, looking up with his mouth agape.

“It was easy,” Colin said with a shy smile. “I just had to wait for the right moment to counter. That’s what my dad taught me.”

“Easy is an exaggeration. Even a monkey could beat him…” Malo murmured from off to the side.

Link just shook his head before stepping forward and calling for everyone to quiet down. “All right, the duel has now concluded, and the victor is none other than Colin!”

Zelda and Malo produced a polite applause from the sidelines. Link just helped Talo up off the ground before patting both boys on the back.

“You did good, both of you,” he said with an encouraging smile.

“Thanks, Link,” Colin said, looking a little bashful, but also proud.

“Just wait, Colin!” Talo said, suddenly growing louder as well as determined. “I’ll defeat you next time!”

“Maybe you should try to get some practice in first,” Link said with a laugh as he tousled the boy’s hair. The Hero then paused for a second as he glanced around the field. “Hmm? Where did Beth go?”

Zelda and the children also paused, suddenly looking around. “I don’t know,” Zelda whispered.

“She was just here a minute ago,” said Malo.

“Do you think she went back home?” Colin asked.

Link just frowned. It wasn’t like her to just disappear like that. He hoped that she hadn’t wandered out of town. He knew how dangerous the forest could be, and you didn’t have to explore very deep before you encountered such dangers.

Fortunately, his fears were short-lived, for Beth soon appeared on the hill behind them, running forward. “Hey, I’m over here!” she cried. It didn’t take long before she was standing in front of them once again, smiling innocently.

Link just crossed his arms as he sighed. “I was starting to worry that you had gotten lost.”

“In the middle of town?” Beth asked with a frown. “I know my way around Ordon, Link. I would never get lost.”

Link just rolled his eyes. Like that had ever stopped the kids from getting lost before. “Right…”

“Where did you run off to anyway?” Colin asked curiously.

“I wanted to go and fetch something,” she said with an excited grin. She then extended her hands forward, showing everyone that they were currently clasped together, and that she secretly held something within. “It’s a gift for the Princess.”

“Oh, for me?” Zelda said with a smile. “What is it, dear?”

Beth grinned before opening her hands and grabbing a flower that rested on her palm. It was a beautiful white lily, with six large, bright petals. “Ta-da!”

Zelda just smiled some more as she admired the lovely bud. “My, how pretty.”

“It’s a decoration, for your hair,” Beth explained. She then tapped the side of her own head, and Zelda quickly noticed that she already had a white lily of her own placed in her sandy-brown hair.

“That’s lovely, Beth. Thank you.”

“Crouch down and I’ll put it in your hair for you,” the girl insisted with another excited grin.

Zelda simply closed her eyes and nodded. “Of course.” She soon bowed low enough so that the girl could properly tuck the lily behind her pointed ear. Once it was secure, Zelda rose back to her full height, gently gracing the flower with her touch. She then paused once she noticed that Link was staring at her, and she couldn’t help but start to blush.

“Um…How do I look?” she asked quietly.

Link just blinked, feeling surprised with how suddenly she had asked that question. Still, he managed to conjure a genuine smile. “You look good,” he assured her.

Zelda ended up blushing some more at his compliment, but fortunately, Beth managed to draw the Hero’s attention to herself.

“And what about me, Link?” she asked while running her fingers through her hair. “How do I look?”

Link just laughed at her obvious attempts to appear mature. “You look good too, Beth.”

The girl grinned again. “Good answer! Now, here is your reward for being such a gentleman.” She soon grabbed another lily from her open palm and presented it to Link.

He gingerly accepted the flower before staring at it. “Um, I hope you don’t expect me to put this in my hair...”

Beth just frowned before putting her hands on her hips. “No, stupid. It’s for Ilia.”

Link blinked before rolling his eyes. “Oh, of course. What was I thinking?”

“Make sure to give it to her, all right? Then the three of us will be the most beautiful women in all of Ordon…” Like usual, the girl started to swoon as her imagination ran wild.

“Maybe the Princess and Ilia will be,” Malo muttered under his breath.

Beth immediately frowned. “What? Who said that!?”

Talo just sighed as he walked up to the Princess. “Aw, who cares about that stuff? I want to get back to sword fighting again! Hey Princess, do you think you can show me how to fight with that rapier thing?”

Zelda just raised her eyebrows. “Ah, you are eager to learn?”

“Yeah!” he said with a grin. “I want to learn how to fight all fast and stuff like you do. Like fwish and swish-”

Unfortunately, the child’s elaborate demonstration was quickly cut short by a loud call through the air. “KIDS!”

All of the children immediately froze before glancing behind them. There, they saw a woman standing by one of the fences, giving them a stern but friendly smile. Zelda quickly recognized her as Pergie, one of the village's housewives.

“It’s time to get washed up for dinner,” she announced with a smile. “And that goes for all of you.”

“What?” Talo exclaimed, immediately looking disappointed. “But mom, can’t we have like, five more minutes or something?”

Pergie just gave a firm shake of her head. “No way. You need to come home and take a bath.”

Talo cringed as his mother’s embarrassing command rang out through the air. “Mooom!” he whined. “Not in front of the Princess!”

Zelda just giggled a bit before stepping forward and giving the boy a soft push on his back. “Go on, Talo. It’s rude to keep a lady waiting.”

The boy just sighed. “Even if she’s my mother?”

“Especially so.”

Talo frowned, but he soon nodded. “Okay…”

The rest of the children followed his suit, making sure to say a proper farewell to the Princess before scampering off to their homes. Zelda just smiled and waved as they disappeared from sight. She then turned to face the Hero.

The two of them were alone once more.

Notes:

I’m curious to know if this part of the story feels a little too slow. A part of me wondered if I should cut out some of these long Ordon scenes, but then another part of me was like "but I want to write it and it's my story and I can do whatever I want with it and who's gonna stop me wahahaha!"

So now here we are…lol.

Besides, I just love giving Link and Zelda some downtime and a chance to interact with the kids and other villagers. It’s just so fun and wholesome and I love it to pieces. And you can’t take that away from me! (Not that I imagine any of you would ever want to. All of my readers have been so friendly and kind, ha ha.)

As always, thanks for reading and showing your support. It is greatly appreciated! And I’ll see you all next time :)

Chapter 37: Memories of His Parents

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 37 – Memories of His Parents

Link and Zelda ended up walking along the stream that ran through the village. According to the Hero, the feast wouldn’t be served for at least another hour, so they still had some time to kill. Zelda didn’t mind though. She was more than happy to continue sharing his company.

“Link, I must say, today has been nothing short of wonderful,” she said with a small smile. “I might even say that today’s events have been the highlight of the entire tour.”

Link laughed a bit. “Really? It’s even better than my sumo match with the Gorons?”

Zelda smirked, but nodded. “Yes, and even better than my sad attempt at the Zoras’ fishing contest.”

“That’s true,” Link said, laughing some more. He then closed his mouth, letting it settle into a sincere smile as he gazed at the Princess.

Zelda couldn’t help but feel a little shy when he did that. “What’s that look for?”

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m just surprised at how much fun it is to be around you.”

“Oh?” Zelda said, her shyness escalating as her cheeks threatened to redden a bit.

“It’s true,” Link insisted. “Back before the two of us met, I never would have imagined that royalty was capable of being so friendly and down to earth. If anything, I probably would have expected you to be more strict and serious. More formal and less…playful.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile at his analysis. “Yes, well perhaps I would be like that if Fost had his way. There’s no doubt that there are times where he finds my behavior to border on being ‘recklessly unsuitable for someone of my position, hmph!’” she said, mimicking the Minister’s pretentious voice.

Link immediately snorted, covering his mouth as he released an unrestrained bout of laughter. Sure, her impression was exaggerated, but as far as Link was concerned, the resemblance was uncanny.

Zelda giggled as well, allowing the Hero’s contagious laughter to spread over to her for a moment. She ended up shaking her head. “On a more serious note, I am glad that all of the villagers seem to have taken so kindly to me. I feel very welcome here.”

Link ceased his laughter in order to give her a warm smile. “Of course, who wouldn’t like you?”

Once again, Zelda couldn’t help but blush a bit. She both loved and hated when the Hero complimented her like this. It was bliss but also torture. “That’s very sweet of you to say, Link. Thank you.”

“Well, it’s true,” he said with a shrug. “You’re just really easy to get along with. Even Epona has taken a liking to you, and she has the most stubborn personality of anyone I know.”

Zelda giggled some more, glad to let the heat fade from her cheeks. “I see. Well in that case, please let Epona know that I’m grateful to be counted in her good graces.”

Link laughed as well. “Yeah, of course.”

Zelda smiled before facing forward again, focusing on the small path next to the peaceful stream. She couldn’t help but think back on all the fond memories that she had made on this day. “It really has been nice getting to meet all of your friends and neighbors. I’ve been completely convinced that Ordon is a wonderful little village.”

Link nodded. “Thanks, Zelda. That means a lot.”

“However,” she continued, slowly starting to smirk, “I believe that there is still someone whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting.”

Link just raised his eyebrows, feeling confused. “Someone you still need to meet?”

“That’s right,” she said with a nod. “While I have greeted most of the villagers here in Ordon, I still have yet to come across anyone that has claimed to be your family.”

Link just stopped in his tracks. “My family?” he repeated.

Zelda soon stopped as well, turning back to smirk at him. “Of course. You claimed that you’ve been born and raised in Ordon, correct? Surely you have family that lives here? Your parents, at least?”

Link just stood there, looking like he was at a loss for words. “I…Well…Not really…”

Zelda blinked before flashing him a quizzical look. She honestly believed that she had been asking a harmless question. She didn’t expect him to look so disoriented. “What’s the matter? Do they not live around here?”

Link was silent for a few more seconds before slowly shaking his head. “Er…not quite…” He then paused, releasing a sad sigh as his shoulders slumped a bit. “I’m sorry. I guess I should’ve told you this sooner…”

“Told me what?”

“Zelda,” Link said slowly, “my parents are dead.”

Zelda immediately froze. The only thing she could feel other than sheer confusion was the subtle motion of her heart breaking in half. “Wh-What…?”

“My parents passed away many years ago,” he said, keeping his eyes focused on the ground. “It was back when I was just a kid.”

Zelda frowned, placing a hand over her heart as she felt intense feelings of sympathy start to well up within her. “Link, I’m so sorry. I…I had no idea. Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

Link just shrugged. “I don’t know. You never asked, I guess?”

Zelda gawked, feeling absolutely appalled with herself. How had she known this man for months, considered him a close friend even, and yet never once asked about his family? How was she only discovering this now?

“What happened?” she whispered breathlessly.

Link sighed again. He honestly didn’t like to dwell on these thoughts too much, but upon glancing at the Princess’s genuinely concerned expression, he supposed that he owed her an explanation.

“It wasn’t anything noteworthy,” he said with another shrug. “It was an illness that spread through the village one winter. Most of the villagers survived it, but some got it so bad that they couldn’t even leave their beds for weeks. It ended up claiming the lives of both my mom and dad, and it took the life of Ilia’s mother as well.”

Zelda gasped a bit as she placed her clasped hands before her mouth. She had never imagined that such a thing had happened to him. “How old were you?”

“Ten.”

“And they both died at the same time?”

“On the same night, actually.”

“Oh, Link, that’s horrible,” Zelda said, her eyes growing soft with sympathy.

“It was pretty shocking,” he agreed. “But I eventually moved on. I had to.”

“But you were so young,” she said, sincerely mourning over his tragic past. “How did you get by without your parents around?”

“It wasn’t that hard,” he said, shrugging yet again. “Mayor Bo allowed me to stay in our home by myself. He said that as long as I was responsible enough, I could live on my own. Which was fine. It was kind of what I wanted actually. Bo ended up giving me lots of work to do so I could make a living. Working on the ranch, in the pumpkin patches, whatever. Rusl and Uli insisted on taking care of me too. They were a newlywed couple at the time, so they didn’t mind keeping an eye on a lonely kid like me. They checked up on me a lot, and kindly invited me over to dinner at their house almost every night. And then, as I got older, I eventually just started taking care of myself.”

“I can’t even imagine what that was like,” Zelda said, shaking her head. “To be so young, and to have all of that responsibility forced on you, all while dealing with the loss of your parents.”

Link sadly smiled. “It wasn’t that bad. If anything, I appreciated the work. It always kept me busy.”

“Still, even when I lost my mother, I still had my father and numerous servants to look after me…” Zelda then paused, her eyes suddenly shooting open in alarm. “Oh my goodness! What a ridiculous fool I am!”

Link just blinked, letting his sadness fade away to be replaced by confusion for a moment. “Um…what?”

“I can’t believe myself,” Zelda said, regretfully shaking her head. “There I was in Zora’s Domain, telling you about the loss of my mother, and yet I never realized that you were shouldering that exact same pain!”

Link watched her for a second before softly smiling. “Oh, it’s okay, Zelda. I didn’t think anything of it.”

She shook her head some more. “No, I was terribly inconsiderate, going on about my own loss while never considering your situation. And to think, your loss was so much more devastating than my own…”

Link raised his eyebrows. “Er…it was?”

“Of course!” Zelda insisted. “Link, you lost both of your parents at once. That is incredibly tragic.”

Link sighed before shaking his head. “Yeah, but you lost your mother when you were only six, right? At least I was older and better able to handle that loss.”

“Better able to handle it?” Zelda scoffed. “Link, it sounds like you were completely alone…”

“I wasn’t alone,” he assured her. “The villagers all looked after me, remember?”

“But still…”

Link just sighed again before producing a sad smile. They wouldn’t get anywhere with this kind of thinking. “I guess we’ve both had it pretty rough, huh?”

Zelda silently nodded. She supposed that she couldn’t argue against that. Even though she felt like his suffering must have been worse than her own, she couldn’t deny that they both had to endure that sadness. The sadness of losing a parent when they were young…

“Still, I’m sorry for not realizing it sooner,” she apologized, staring at the ground shamefully.

“Don’t worry about it,” Link told her. “If anything, I probably should have told you ahead of time. I just don’t tend to think about it very often. It’s all in the past now.”

“In that case, I’m sorry for bringing it up,” Zelda said, still insistent on expressing her shame. “I was just so curious to meet them. I thought that this trip to Ordon would be the perfect opportunity. I never imagined that they might have already long departed from this world.”

Link shook his head again. “Don’t feel bad, Zelda. I honestly don’t mind sharing this part of my past with you. Especially after everything you told me about your mother.”

Zelda slowly looked up, only to find the sad but sincere smile still pasted on his lips. She couldn’t help but reflect the expression back at him.

“Um…would you be willing to tell me about them?” she asked quietly. “Tell me who they were, and what they were like?”

Link slowly nodded. “Sure.” He then paused before turning to the stream, staring down at the clear running water. “My dad’s name was Ross. He was a hunter mostly. Nobody knew their way around the forest quite like he did. He did a lot of other stuff too. He practiced swordsmanship with Rusl, helped out at the ranch and in the fields when it was needed, and liked to go fishing on his days off. He was a kind man. It felt like he was always in a good mood and never really let anything bother him. He was friendly but also strong and reliable. And loud too. Nobody laughed quite like he did…” Link ended up smiling as the memories came back to him. “He taught me so much before he passed away.”

Naturally, Zelda smiled as well. “And your mother?”

“Her name was Ophilia. She stayed at home mostly, doing the same work as the other wives. Cooking, cleaning, laundry. She helped out in the fields from time to time too. She was a bit different from my dad. She was more quiet and reserved, but she was still very kind. She was always willing to offer her help to others, no matter what they needed. I can’t remember how many winters passed where she donated clothes, blankets, and food to families that needed it more than we did…”

Zelda smiled some more, wondering if these qualities were the origins of Link’s own personality. The reason why he was always so friendly and willing to help others. “They sound like wonderful people, Link.”

He nodded, still basking in his long-suppressed memories. “Yeah, they were.”

“I truly wish that I could have met them,” Zelda said sincerely. “I would’ve liked to see for myself the proud parents who raised such a reliable Hero.”

Link smiled before finally turning to face her again. “Well, they’re not alive anymore, but I suppose that I can still introduce you to them, if you want.”

Zelda blinked, looking a little curious. “What do you mean?”

“They’re buried here, in Ordon’s graveyard.”

“Oh, I see,” Zelda said, suddenly understanding. “I’d honestly love to visit their graves. I mean…if that’s all right.”

“Of course it is,” Link said with a bright grin. “Come on, I’ll show you the way.”

 

---

 

The two of them trekked to the top of a hill behind the Mayor’s house. Here they ended up coming across a small graveyard, where humble tombstones dotted a grassy clearing amongst the trees. There weren’t very many graves, but Ordon had always been a relatively small village, so this was to be expected.

Link soon led the Princess towards the back of the graveyard. However, he ended up coming to an abrupt halt in front of a small tombstone. Written on it was a name that Zelda didn’t recognize, so she looked to Link for answers.

“This is where Ilia’s mother is buried,” he said quietly.

“Oh,” Zelda replied in a solemn voice. In all the commotion of learning about Link’s parents, she had almost forgotten his brief mentioning that Ilia had lost a parent as well. “She was just a kid at the time, correct? The same as you? I’m sure that it must have been hard for her as well.”

“It was,” Link agreed. “But we had each other. And it helped.”

Zelda gulped as she nodded. Here was another part of Link and Ilia’s history suddenly being revealed to her. Not only had the two of them been close friends that got along as children, but they had probably helped each other through the difficult times too. They had probably bonded over the deaths of their family members. Grieved with each other. Encouraged each other. Supported each other until they were both able to move on.

Zelda frowned with a troubled expression as she continued to eye the grave. For the first time, she was actually happy to know that Link and Ilia had always been close friends. If only so that lonely little boy didn’t have to endure such a tragic event alone.

Link spent the next few seconds staring at the grave, but he soon had his fill and started to move on. He gestured for Zelda to follow him, and she did so without a word.

Before long, they reached the very end of the graveyard. Here, Zelda ended up spotting a single tombstone, one that looked a bit weathered having gone many years without any kind of attention. Still, she could clearly make out the simple words inscribed on the stone.

Here lies Ross and Ophilia, the kindest souls in Ordon.

Zelda just smiled, wondering who had chosen such words as their legacy. She doubted that it had been Link; he likely would’ve been too young to think of such a thing. Therefore, she could only assume that one of the other villagers had come up with it. It was just another testament to their kindness that Link had proclaimed.

The two of them stood there in silence for a while. Link just stared down at the graves, content to look upon this place with a friend by his side. He honestly didn’t come out here to visit very often, but now, he was starting to wonder if maybe he should. There was just something calm and peaceful about being here. Something that set his heart at ease.

Eventually, Zelda broke the silence when she turned to him. “Would it be all right if I said a short prayer?” she asked quietly.

Link nodded. “Of course.”

Zelda nodded back before returning her gaze to the grave. She then clasped her hands together before her.

“Greetings, Ross and Ophilia of Ordon,” she said quietly and clearly. “My name is Zelda, and I am the Princess of Hyrule. It is an honor to meet you, even if it is in this roundabout way.

“I want to thank you for your time spent here with the living. Your actions and kindness have clearly left an impact on this tiny village in the forest, and I sincerely hope that they will not soon be forgotten. I beseech the three Goddesses to continue to watch over your souls which have departed from this world. I pray that you rest in peace, wherever you may be.

“Lastly, I want you to know that you should be very proud of your son, Link. He has truly been a blessing to us all. He has performed some incredible deeds and saved a great many people, myself included. I thank you both for raising him into the fine young man that he is today. Without him, our Kingdom likely would have succumbed to a terrible fate. So truly, thank you.

“May your beautiful souls continue to smile upon us. Amen.”

With the final words uttered, Zelda released her hands, allowing them to fall back to her side. She then turned to Link, seeking his approval. “Was that sufficient?”

To her surprise, he seemed a bit embarrassed, perhaps because of her excessive praise of his accomplishments, but he still managed to produce a genuine smile. “That was perfect,” he whispered. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for sharing this with me,” Zelda reflected back. “I wanted to meet the family of our Kingdom’s beloved Hero, and now I can safely say that I have.”

“It was my pleasure,” Link said with a nod.

Zelda sadly smiled, as she gazed down upon the grave once more. “Still, I wish I had something to leave them…”

Link raised his eyebrows. “You want to leave something here?”

“Yes. It feels a little inconsiderate to visit their grave without offering anything…Oh!” Zelda then paused, suddenly reaching up to her temple. There, she found the white lily that Beth had gifted to her. It was still safely tucked behind her ear. With a small smile, she grabbed it and brought it before her. Even now, the flower’s large white petals still looked vibrant and beautiful.

“What about this?” she asked Link. “Do you think your parents would find it acceptable?”

Link just stared at the flower for a second before laughing. “A flower from the Royal Princess herself? Trust me, my folks would say that was more than enough for a couple of rustics like them. Honestly, I think they’d be shocked to know that a Princess had even come to visit their grave at all.”

“Nonsense,” Zelda said with a smile. “This is the least that I could do for them. And for you, Link.” Without waiting for a response, she soon crouched down, placing the single white flower on the grass before the tombstone. She then stood back to admire her work. Sure enough, adding a beautiful little flower had really improved the grave’s image. For some reason, it no longer looked as worn as it once had. It now looked much nicer and well cared for, even though almost nothing had changed.

“That’s better,” she mused.

“Thanks, Zelda,” Link said, also admiring the grave. “That really means a lot to me.”

“Of course, Link. It’s my pleasure.”

“Still, that flower seems a little lonely by itself,” he said as a small smile crept onto his lips. “Don’t you agree?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows, wondering what he meant. He just smiled some more as he too produced a white lily in his hand. It was the one that Beth had given him earlier, having been stored in his pocket until this moment. Without a word, he knelt down next to the grave, and left his flower right beside Zelda’s. He then rose back to his full height.

“There, now it’s better.”

Zelda just blinked, staring from the Hero to the grave and then back again. She was honestly surprised that he had just done that. “But Link…weren’t you supposed to give that flower to Ilia?”

Link shook his head. “No, I’d rather leave it here. It just feels right to me.”

“I see,” she said, turning her eyes back to the grave. Somehow, it did seem more fitting to have two flowers placed on the grave as opposed to one. Secretly, Zelda was also rather pleased to know that Ilia would not be receiving said gift from Link, but she tried to push these thoughts out of her mind. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on such pettiness.

The two of them stood in silence once again. By this point, the sun was starting to descend towards the horizon, turning the sky into a bright shade of orange. Before long, it would be nightfall.

“Come on,” Link said, finally turning away from the grave. “We should probably head back to the village now. It’s almost time for the feast to start.”

Zelda simply nodded. “Right.”

The Hero then proceeded to lead the Princess out of the graveyard, leaving nothing but the flowers and their words behind them.

Notes:

I want to take a moment to talk about the names of Link’s parents. The name Ophilia comes from the game Octopath Traveler, and is taken directly from the wonderful cleric (and best girl). I felt like it might be fitting for depicting someone who was quiet and kind in all things. And I think it’s a cute name too. I really like it!

As for Ross, I just wanted a name that sounded simple. Kind of like how Link’s name is simple. Ross is also kind of close to the name “Rusl”, so it almost suggests that it could be Ordonian in nature. (It’s totally not a name that I just came up with on a whim, ha ha, what no of course not… -.-‘)

At the end of the day, they’re both simple names with little thought put into them. But hey, I think they work and I like them :)

Chapter 38: Horse Bathing

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 38 – Horse Bathing

As expected, by the time Link and Zelda made their way back to the center of the village, the feast was ready to begin. All of the villagers congregated in a clearing near the stream, where numerous wooden tables had been set up and conjoined into one long, makeshift table. It seemed that everyone in Ordon planned to dine together this evening.

As a sign of respect, Mayer Bo insisted that Zelda sit at the table’s head, since this feast was prepared in her honor. She accepted, and the Mayor and Fost ended up taking seats to her left, while Link sat to her right. It didn’t take long before Ilia suddenly appeared, sitting by Link’s side and planting a small kiss on his cheek.

“Finally, I get to have you by my side again,” she said with a smile.

Zelda just frowned as she looked away. She wasn’t sure why, but watching this display of affection just made her feel positively nauseous with jealousy, and she really didn’t care to upset her stomach before the meal.

Fortunately (or perhaps, unfortunately), Ilia soon turned her attention to the Princess as she continued to flash her bright smile. “How are you doing, Princess? Are you enjoying your time in Ordon so far?”

Zelda nodded, making sure to be polite before all else. “Of course. I mentioned to Link earlier that I feel very welcome here.”

“That’s wonderful,” Ilia said with a grin. “I’m happy to hear that.”

“As am I,” Bo agreed. “We weren’t quite sure what to expect from a Royal Family visit, but I think I can safely say that it’s been an enjoyable experience for all.”

“Which is what we were hoping for,” Fost said with a nod. “I’m sure that the Hyrule Council will be happy to know that this tour was such a wonderful success. I believe that all of Hyrule’s citizens now feel closer to our Princess because of it.”

“And I to them,” Zelda said with a smile. “Thank you again, Mayor, for welcoming me into your home. I truly appreciate it.

Bo just released a loud, hearty chuckle, not unlike the one that Darbus so often produced. “Of course, Princess. The pleasure is all ours. You’ll always be welcome here, as will your father.”

Zelda gave him a grateful nod. “Perhaps I’ll insist that he visit. Once he fully recovers, that is.” She then smiled, growing eager at the thought of sharing the stories of her travels with her father. Somehow, she had a feeling that he would enjoy Ordon just as much as she had.

Before long, the feast was served in full. There were numerous dishes, consisting of turkey, fish, fruits, vegetables, and goat cheese. Bo assured his guests that everything on the table had either been hunted, grown, or produced here in Ordon. The food itself appeared humble but tasted excellent. It was obvious that the women of Ordon hadn’t simply been twiddling their thumbs all day. They had put their heart and soul into these dishes, and the taste showed.

Eventually, dessert was served as well, in the form of a warm pumpkin pie alongside genuine Ordonian goat milk. It was around this point that Ilia piped up, looking both proud and giddy.

“This is the dish that I made. I hope it suits your tastes.”

“You made this?” Fost asked as he finished swallowing his first bite. “Why, it’s wonderful, lass. Simply wonderful.”

Zelda just hesitated, suddenly wondering if she even wanted to take a bite of the piece that had been set before her. She didn’t want to be reminded of how perfect Ilia’s cooking was, on top of everything else. Still, she knew that she was just being spiteful for no reason other than her own selfishness, so she soon took a bite. She then paused, hating how easily her taste buds had betrayed her heart.

“My, this is delicious,” she said, now marveling at the pie before her.

Ilia produced a bashful smile. “Thank you, although I’m sure that it doesn’t compare to the meals served in the castle.”

“Please,” Zelda said with a stern shake of the head. “This really is quite good. My compliments to the chef.”

“You are too kind, Princess,” Ilia said as she closed her eyes and bowed her head. She soon did the same motion for Fost. “And you as well, good Minister. Please consider this my way of saying thanks for always looking after Link when he is away from home.”

Upon hearing this, Link just paused, forcefully swallowing his own bite of pie. “Why do you make it sound like they completely take care of me when I’m there?”

Ilia simply frowned. “Don’t they?”

Link shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed. “Well, sure, they’ve helped me out a lot…”

“Then let me thank them,” Ilia said, before playfully squeezing the Hero’s arm. “Knowing you and your lack of manners, I’m sure that you never thought to.”

Link grumpily frowned at her playfulness. “That is not true.”

Ilia gave him a skeptical look, as if she didn’t fully believe him. She then gave Zelda and Fost another bow. “I really do hope that he doesn’t cause much trouble for you.”

Zelda immediately frowned, waving a hand as she spoke up to defend him. “Oh, of course not. Link has been nothing short of a great help, and a wonderful companion to have around.”

“Indeed,” Fost agreed. “And Master Link really does seem rather well-behaved. We Ministers on the Hyrule Council find no issue with him at all.”

Link soon shot a scowl back at Ilia, as if to say “see?”. Ilia simply smirked before rubbing his arm some more.

“That’s good to hear. And my father?”

Zelda blinked in surprise, but waved her hand once again. “We have no issues with Mayor Bo, either. He has also been a big help to our recovery efforts.”

“Very good,” Ilia said with a small nod. “Sometimes it’s hard to know who is keeping these men under control when they are so far from home.”

“Oh please, Ilia,” Bo said with a shake of his head. “We’re grown men. We know how to behave ourselves.”

“Hmph,” she replied with a shrug, as if she didn’t fully believe that.

Zelda just curiously stared at the girl from off to the side. Truth be told, her actions and behavior towards her father surprisingly reminded Zelda of herself. The way she treated Bo as if she was the parent looking after him. She wondered if it was because the girl’s mother had died many years prior, and now being the oldest matron in her home, she felt the need to look after the men in her life. The same way that Zelda did.

The Princess soon shuddered. Sometimes, she felt uncomfortable knowing how similar she and Ilia were.

Ilia soon leaned closer to the Hero, smiling as she still loosely hung onto his arm. “And how does your slice of pie taste, Link? I still haven’t heard any compliments from you.”

He softly smiled at her. “It tastes as good as always.”

“Which is how good?”

“Amazing,” he admitted.

Ilia beamed as she rubbed his arm again. “Good. I couldn’t have done it without your help earlier, so thanks.”

Zelda simply averted her gaze from the girl’s bright and cheerful face. She hated having to watch Ilia bask in her moment of glory. Especially when she was hanging on Link’s arm like that! Zelda wondered if the girl would ever let go. If she would ever let the Hero breathe a little bit…

Which, she soon did, but only so she could turn her attention to Zelda again. “Princess, can I ask you something?”

Zelda just turned to her with a curious expression. She couldn’t help but notice that Ilia’s demeanor seemed to have shifted throughout the day. The girl had initially seemed rather nervous in front of the Princess, but now she seemed rather outgoing. It was almost as if she was in a playful, spirited mood. What exactly had changed? Was it the fact that Link had returned to her side?

“Er, yes, of course,” Zelda answered slowly, still not sure what to expect.

“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Ilia asked, flashing nothing but an innocent smile.

“Tomorrow?” Zelda repeated. She took a second to think. “There’s nothing pressing that I’m aware of. I imagine I’ll simply spend more time roaming the village and getting to know everyone better.”

Ilia smiled some more, as if that was the answer that she had been hoping for. “In that case, would it be all right if you and I did something together?”

Zelda blinked. “The two of us? You mean…alone?”

“Mm-hmm,” Ilia said with a quick nod.

Zelda nervously bit her lip, suddenly feeling hesitant. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

“Well, I was hoping that we could take a trip to the Ordon Spring. It’s a great place for washing horses, and I’d still love to meet your beautiful mare.”

“Oh,” said Zelda, suddenly remembering her promise from earlier in the day. “Of course, I’m sure that Reina would love that.”

“And I’m sure that she’s not the only one,” Ilia continued before turning to the man next to her. “Link, when’s the last time that you bathed Epona?”

Link blinked, looking like he had just been accused of a crime. “Um, before the tour. You helped me out with it, remember?”

Ilia shook her head disapprovingly. “And you haven’t bathed her since? As I thought.”

Link frowned, quickly growing defensive. “Well, we’ve been really busy every day, what with all the traveling…”

“I know, I know,” she said quietly, almost as if she was talking to a child. She even patted his arm a bit more, likely in an attempt to appease him. “Still, it sounds like she could use a bath, so I’ll gladly give her one when I take the Princess to the spring tomorrow.” She then paused, before turning to the Princess once again. “That is, if you’re willing to accept?”

Zelda hesitated to provide an answer. After having met her, Zelda wasn’t sure if she wanted to spend any time alone with Ilia. Especially not after their conversation in the girl’s bedroom earlier that day. However, she knew that it would be rude to deny her, and she had already promised to introduce her to Reina, so she felt like she had little choice.

“Very well,” Zelda replied with a forced smile. “I look forward to it.”

 

---

 

And so, the next day came, and Zelda gathered Reina’s reins and began leading her to Link’s home on the edge of town. There she found Link handing Epona’s reins over to Ilia, although he seemed a bit reluctant. He soon asked why he couldn’t join them as well, but Ilia just shushed him, claiming that it was her turn to spend some time alone with the Princess. Besides, she claimed that they had secret things to discuss; things that a man like himself had no business hearing. Zelda just rolled her eyes at this. She truly dreaded the thought of Ilia asking her to repeat all of Link’s compliments towards her again.

Link soon relented and wished both of the girls a fun morning. Zelda then took a moment to remove Reina’s saddle which she left by Link’s home. It would only get in the way of the bath, and the Hero assured her that he would keep an eye on it. After that, she and Ilia took a short trip down the road before eventually arriving at the spring.

Much like the day before, the spring appeared to be both tranquil and beautiful. The bright sunlight shone through the leaves above, casting everything into different shades of green and gold. The water itself was clear and calm, with nothing but the gentle waterfall in the back to disturb it.

“This is the best place to get away from the village,” Ilia said with a smile. “And of course, it’s the best place for washing horses too. Isn’t that right, girl?”

Ilia reached up and rubbed the chestnut mare’s neck, only for her to happily whinny. She clearly knew what was coming, and she was excited about it.

In spite of her apprehension, Zelda smiled as well. She soon rubbed the neck of her own white mare. “What about you, Reina? Would you like a bath?”

Reina just sniffed a bit before shoving her face closer to Zelda. It was a sign that she wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but she trusted her master.

Zelda simply smiled some more before turning the horse’s head to Ilia. “Reina, this is Ilia, by the way. The best horse caretaker in all of Ordon, according to Link.”

Ilia blushed a bit at this comment, but she soon stepped forward, offering a hand to the white mare. “Hello Reina,” she said timidly. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Reina was slow to trust her, as she always was when it came to strangers, but she eventually allowed the girl to pet her muzzle. She soon released a soft but satisfied snort.

Ilia giggled a bit. “Oh, she’s just as lovely in person as she is from a distance, Princess,” she said with the utmost sincerity.

“Thank you,” Zelda replied with a nod. “I find her quite breathtaking as well.”

Ilia grinned. “Well, you have excellent taste.”

Zelda just paused, closing her eyes as she realized that Ilia’s comment not only applied to horses but to men as well. Specifically, a Hero clad in green. However, she quickly shook her head with a disapproving frown. She really needed to stop thinking such foolish thoughts.

“So what now?” Zelda asked, glancing around at the spring that sparkled in the sunlight.

“Now we step out into the water,” Ilia replied before immediately leading Epona forward. The mare just cheerfully splashed her hooves in the pool as she followed the girl. Ilia smiled at the horse, but she soon frowned once she spotted the Princess still standing at the bank. “Oh, your dress…I’m sorry, Princess, I should have warned you to wear something else.”

Zelda simply smiled before shaking her head. “Oh, it’s no trouble. Just give me a moment.” She then released Reina’s reins as she set to work. She removed her brown boots and set them off to the side, along with her long white gloves. She then reached under her skirts to roll up her white legging a bit, leaving her bare ankles and feet exposed. Finally, she gathered up the folds of her dress and managed to tie them into a tight knot. Now, her hem hung far from the ground, and her clothes were no longer in danger of getting soaked. With a confident smile, she took up Reina’s reins once again, and led the white mare over to Ilia’s side.

Ilia just gave the Princess a happy smile. “How stylish,” she noted. “So, have you ever bathed a horse before?”

“Of course. I bathe Reina from time to time back at the castle, but I’ve never had the pleasure of doing it in a spring before now.”

“It’s pretty simple,” Ilia insisted. She then grabbed two small buckets and offered one to Zelda. The Princess glanced down to see that there was a soft scrub brush inside. “We use the pails to run water over them. You can use the brush to clean any dirt or mud off.”

“That sounds simple indeed,” Zelda said with a nod.

“Just be careful not to be too rough,” Ilia advised. “Sometimes when Link pours water on Epona, she can get a little skittish.”

Zelda nodded again. She knew well enough the dangers of a wet horse. Still, she wasn’t worried about her own mare. She soon reached over and rubbed Reina’s muzzle. “You’ll behave yourself, won’t you?”

Reina snorted, as if to say that she wasn’t promising anything. Zelda just smiled before she set to work. She bent down in order to scoop some clear water into her pail before slowly pouring it over Reina’s neck and back. The water itself was cool, but in the warm rays of the sun, it felt rather refreshing. Zelda continued to do this, moving at a careful speed that Reina was comfortable with, until the mare was properly soaked from front to back. After that, Zelda set about scouring for any tiny specks of dirt that clung to the horse’s side before taking the brush to them. Reina just snorted as the bristles rubbed against her, but she stayed still for the sake of her master.

As time passed, Zelda found that she was honestly enjoying herself. She always loved spending time with Reina, even if cleaning her was a bit of a chore. She also loved this sequestered grove, and the calm atmosphere that it provided. It was just so quiet, cozy, and peaceful.

That is, until Ilia spoke up again, her voice cutting right through the tranquility.

“Um, Princess, is it okay if we talk?”

Zelda frowned from behind Reina, where Ilia couldn’t spot her. Honestly, she would’ve preferred the peace and quiet over a discussion with this girl whom she wasn’t necessarily fond of. But she supposed that she couldn’t (or rather, shouldn’t) say any such thing, so she answered back politely.

“Of course, what do you wish to discuss?”

To her surprise, Ilia was blunt and to the point. “Link.”

Zelda stiffened, feeling her once swift brush in hand start to slow. “What about him?” she asked hesitantly.

“Is he…?” Ilia paused, taking a moment to pour another bucket of water down Epona’s back as she considered her words. “When he’s at the castle, is he doing okay?”

Zelda frowned again. She took a second to step around Reina, so that she could glance at Ilia out of the corner of her eye. “What do you mean?”

“Well, he gets along well enough at the castle, right? He doesn’t have a hard time or anything, does he?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows a bit, wondering where the girl’s sudden concern was coming from. “Of course. So far, Link has done very well in the role that we have given him.”

Ilia slowly nodded. “The role of ‘Hero’.”

“That’s right.”

Ilia then frowned, looking rather displeased. She distracted herself by pouring another bucket of water over Epona. “Is it dangerous?” she asked quietly.

Zelda blinked. “Hmm?”

“Being a Hero,” Ilia clarified. “Is it dangerous?”

Zelda paused, taking some time to think it over while she continued to scrub Reina. “Not inherently,” she eventually answered. “We have not assigned Link any tasks that have put him in danger. There has been no need for such a thing.”

Ilia frowned some more, only to turn to Zelda with surprisingly soft eyes. “But you would,” she said, almost accusingly.

Zelda blinked, not quite sure what to say for a moment. Still, the words that eventually spilled from her lips were completely honest. “If a threat were ever to rear its head against our Kingdom, then yes, I would ask for Link’s assistance in dealing with the matter.”

“I see,” Ilia mumbled before staring down at the water. “That’s what I was afraid of…”

Zelda felt her own expression soften as she looked at the girl. She could tell that she was genuinely concerned about something. “Ilia…What’s wrong?”

Ilia just breathed a deep, stressful sigh. “I don't really understand all of this ‘Hero’ business. I know that Link is strong and reliable, but I just…I don’t know. I can’t help but get worried about him.”

Zelda slowly nodded, starting to understand. “You’re worried that he’s putting himself in danger.”

“Yes,” Ilia admitted. She looked a little ashamed, but she quickly tried to explain herself. “You don’t understand how hard it is, Princess. How it feels being stuck here, while he’s gone for long periods of time. Not knowing where he is. Whether he’s safe or not.”

Zelda swallowed, stopping herself from speaking up. The truth was, Zelda did understand how Ilia felt. In fact, she had lived through such a situation herself. Back during the Twilight Invasion, when she was imprisoned in a tower and had almost no way of knowing what Link and Midna were up to for weeks at a time. Not knowing if they were safe. Not knowing if her Kingdom would be spared. Not knowing if anyone would come out of that terrible situation alive.

But Zelda digressed. She knew that this was Ilia’s moment to lament, and she fully intended to hear her out.

“Sometimes I wish that things could go back to the way they used to be, before the Twilight Invasion,” Ilia continued. “Back when everything was safer and simpler. In fact, sometimes I wish that Link would just settle down and stay in Ordon for good. Just to know that he isn’t putting himself in danger. Just to have him close where I can keep an eye on him. Maybe then things would be easier. Then everything would be the way it is supposed to be.”

Zelda remained silent for a while as she stewed on the girl’s words, but she eventually sighed. “I understand how you feel, Ilia, but I can assure you that your concerns are not necessary. As I mentioned before, Link will only be asked to fight for his Kingdom if a great threat appears, and we believe it is very unlikely that one will at this point in time. At the very least, we will never ask him to do something that we don’t believe he can handle. Additionally, I want to assure you that Link’s time and talents are not going to waste, and that he truly is helping a lot of people by assisting us.”

“I know, Princess,” Ilia said, slowly nodding. “Trust me, I know that what he’s doing is helping others. But still…sometimes I wish that he would just focus on helping himself.”

Zelda frowned, wondering what she meant by this. “Does Link need help?”

“I think so,” Ilia said with a shrug. “He’s not invincible, you know. Even Heroes bleed.”

“Of course, but Link is still very capable,” Zelda insisted.

“Sure, but is this really what’s best for him?” Ilia wondered with a frown. “Does he really belong in a castle? Don’t you think that his days might be better spent living peacefully in Ordon rather than gallivanting across the Kingdom?”

Upon hearing this, Zelda just froze, suddenly feeling herself growing frustrated and angry. She turned away from Ilia as she cast a glare down into the water. Zelda knew that the girl had only said it for Link’s sake, but she was honestly appalled at how selfish it sounded coming from her mouth. Ilia herself had been saved by the Hero when he was on his journey. If it weren’t for Link, she might still be out there in Hyrule Field or Castle Town, wandering around with amnesia. She might still be captured in the clutches of the Bulblins. Didn’t she realize how much good Link was capable of achieving? Didn’t she realize how much Link’s Kingdom needed him? How much the Princess needed him?

“Not at all,” Zelda eventually replied, sounding both strong and stern as she found her voice and the confidence to back it up. “I believe that Link’s talents have been a tremendous help in assisting with the Hyrule Recovery Effort, and I am eternally grateful for his support. Truth be told, I would be very disappointed to hear that he had withdrawn to Ordon for the remainder of his days. Not when he is still capable of accomplishing so much. Still capable of helping others and making a positive difference. And Ilia, while I do understand your concerns for his safety, I feel that they are completely and utterly misguided.”

Zelda released a small breath of air as she finished. She then stood there in silence, honestly feeling rather surprised. She hadn’t expected such a passionate speech to boil out of her like that, but she couldn’t help it. Not when she felt like Link’s character and role were being challenged.

Ilia looked stunned as well, almost as if she was a child that had just been badly scolded. She soon frowned, avoiding the Princess’s gaze as she glanced down towards the water. “Oh, I…I see…”

Upon seeing this, Zelda quickly bit her lip, inwardly cursing herself for being so reckless with her words. She quickly went to explain. “Forgive me, Ilia. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but this is how I truly feel. I too wish nothing but the best for Link, but I have my doubts as to whether that future lies in Ordon as opposed to his current role.”

Ilia slowly nodded. “No, I understand,” she said quietly. “Things have changed, and Link isn’t relegated to Ordon like he used to be. And you’re right, I’m probably worrying over nothing…”

Zelda bit her lip some more. She felt like Ilia had been in the wrong, but she never intended to make the girl painfully admit it like that. She felt rather awful about the whole thing.

Oh, Zelda, you malicious fool, her conscience chided her. Do you see what your destructive feelings for the Hero have done?

Zelda soon sighed. She didn’t need to be reprimanded by her conscience to know that she had gone too far. Or at least, she thought that this was her conscience. Even the more reasonable voice in her head had started to sound more hostile after all this time. She soon decided that another apology was probably in order.

However, before Zelda even had a chance to open her mouth, Ilia chose to speak up, all while flashing a timid smile.

“I’m sorry, Princess,” she said, sounding sincere. “I won’t take Link away from you. Not as long as I know that he’s in safe hands.”

Zelda just let her mouth fall open, not quite sure what to say to this. She wasn't even sure what Ilia seemed to be implying with that statement. “I, um…”

“However,” Ilia quickly continued, her expression growing more confident, “if Link is going to continue performing his duties as a Hero, then I want you to promise me something.”

Zelda blinked, feeling lost once again. She honestly felt like she was on the back foot in this rapidly moving conversation. “What is it?”

Ilia flashed a genuine smile, no longer appearing timid or ashamed. “I want you to promise to take good care of Link. To keep him safe for me when he’s away from home. Can you do that?”

Zelda blinked again, only for her sapphire eyes to meet the girl’s emerald ones. Immediately, she could see the sincerity that lay behind them. The gentle, pleading look that was asking this favor of the Princess. The small favor of looking after the man that she loved. Zelda soon found herself producing an encouraging smile while she nodded. She and Ilia may have had their differences, but the Princess had no intention of ever breaking such a promise.

“Of course, I promise to never let harm befall him,” Zelda said clearly. “I assure you that Link will always be in good hands whenever he visits the castle.”

“That’s all I can ask for,” Ilia said before giving a bow. “Thank you, Princess.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Zelda assured her.

Silence fell over them after that. Both girls became a little too engrossed with washing their respective horses, as they refused to turn in the other’s direction. The silence only grew more awkward as the minutes ticked away. It seemed that both of them had said things that might have gone a little too far, and now the echoes of their conversation hung in the air around them. This thought, however, wasn’t nearly as troublesome as the realization that the two of them didn’t quite see eye to eye.

Zelda saw Link as a Hero, someone who needed to leave his home and come to the aid of his Kingdom. Ilia saw him as the opposite, someone who had done his duty and now deserved a relaxing retirement in the safety of Ordon Village.

Zelda ended up shaking her head as she mulled over these viewpoints. Truth be told, she wasn’t quite sure which one was correct. She wanted to believe that her own analysis of the Hero was accurate. That he enjoyed being a Hero and was happy to visit the castle and aid his Kingdom, but another part of her wondered if Link felt differently. She wondered if Ilia, someone who by all rights knew Link better than she did, was actually correct and Link had begun to grow weary of the constant tasks being asked of him. Maybe he really did deserve nothing more than a peaceful ending to his already chaotic life. And if that was truly the case, then Zelda was at fault for keeping the Hero bound by commitment.

The Princess shook her head. She couldn’t believe such things. She honestly couldn’t even stomach the thought of Link being anything other than what she knew him as: a courageous Hero who was always willing to help others. That was his true character. It always had been, and she had complete faith in it.

Eventually, Zelda was pulled from her thoughts as the awkward silence was quickly torn asunder. Both horses immediately raised their heads as voices could be heard coming from the front of the spring. The two women also perked up a bit, finally sparing a glance at each other before turning their attention to the source of the noise.

There, they spotted Link, who was holding a squirming Talo by the back of his shirt. The Hero lifted the boy up with one hand so that he was suspended in the air. Link just held an unamused look on his face, while Talo threw his arms and legs around, fighting for freedom.

“Link, let me go, would ya?” the boy demanded. “I said I was sorry!”

Link frowned and shook his head. “Not until you apologize to the person you truly wronged,” he said sternly. He then took a few more steps towards the spring, all while keeping a firm grip on the child’s shirt. “Sorry for interrupting, ladies.”

Zelda and Ilia glanced at each other again, feeling confused, before returning their gaze to the duo. “It’s no trouble,” Zelda said slowly.

“What exactly is going on?” Ilia asked.

Talo immediately stopped fidgeting once he realized that the women were staring at him. “N-Nothing!” he said, quickly looking away.

“Yeah right,” Link said, shaking the boy a bit. “Why don’t you tell the Princess what you were doing with this.” Link then held out his other hand, revealing a long, sheathed weapon in his grasp.

Zelda recognized it at once. “That’s my rapier.”

Link nodded before glaring at the boy. “Go on, Talo, tell her.”

The boy just gulped before producing an innocent smile and nervously laughing. “Well, it was the weirdest thing. I just found it lying in the middle of the road, ah ha ha…”

“Talo,” Link growled, shaking the boy some more.

Talo just closed his eyes as he sighed. “Fine. I took it from the Princess’s saddle…”

Ilia’s eyes went wide. “You stole the Princess’s weapon?” she asked, making it sound as if this were an incredibly serious crime.

Zelda, however, was much more calm and forgiving. “Talo, why did you do that?” she asked softly.

Talo avoided her eyes, suddenly feeling uncomfortable about the whole thing. “I just wanted to take a look at it and, you know…practice using it a little bit.”

“I found him in my yard, unwrapping it from its cloth,” Link explained. “I caught him before he did anything stupid or dangerous.”

Zelda simply sighed before wading her way through the water. Once she stood in front of him, she extended her hand out to Link, who promptly handed her rapier over to her. She then took the sword in hand, slowly unsheathing it. The bright metal of the blade began to sparkle as it met sunlight.

Zelda held the weapon before Talo, while staring at him with her stern sapphire gaze. “Talo, I want you to understand that this is not a toy. It is a weapon, and it can be very dangerous in untrained hands.”

“But I am trained!” the boy insisted.

Link just rolled his eyes before shaking the kid again. “No, you’re not.”

“B-But I will be, someday!”

“Even so,” Zelda continued. “It is not safe for you to handle it. You could have gotten seriously hurt, and that would have saddened me greatly.”

Talo just went silent, staring up at the Princess’s sincere expression. He was surprised at how truly concerned she was for him. Even Link felt a bit taken aback by her solemness.

Nevertheless, Zelda soon sheathed her sword, feeling that her point had been made. She then fixed her eyes on Talo for the final time. “I want you to promise that you will never do something like this again, all right?”

Talo sighed, looking at the ground once more. “All right…”

Link just frowned, feeling unsatisfied with this response. He went to shake the kid. “All right, what?”

Talo frowned. “I promise not to do it again…”

Link shook the kid once more. “And?”

“And I’m sorry for stealing your sword.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile at the two of them. “Very well. I forgive you.”

Link soon smiled as well. “Great, then it looks like we’re done here.” Without warning, he then released Talo from his hand, allowing the boy to fall flat on his butt.

“Hey!” he complained.

“Oh, you’re fine,” Link said with a shake of his head.

Zelda smirked a bit as she watched the boy scamper to his feet. She then turned to Link, giving him a small bow of the head. “Thank you, Link, for keeping an eye on things.”

“Yeah, no problem,” the Hero said with a shrug. “It’s my job, isn’t it?”

At this point, Ilia spoke up from across the pool. “It’s true. What would we do if we didn’t have you around, Link?”

Zelda just paused as she stared back at her. The girl’s words sounded innocent enough, but Zelda couldn’t help but feel like there was some deeper meaning behind them. Even now, while she watched Ilia’s genuine smile, she noticed the subtle hint of a smirk on her lips, as if she was trying to prove a point. That Link truly belonged here. That he was needed here, and always would be…

Zelda frowned as she looked to the ground, letting her thoughts wash over her. Ilia had posed the question: what would Ordon do if Link wasn't around? But Zelda had a more pressing query in mind, one which painfully tugged at her heart as she considered it.

What would the Princess do if Link wasn’t around?

Notes:

Oooh, Zelda and Ilia conflict! Drama! Opposing views! What fun.

Anyway, the next chapter will be the final chapter set in Ordon Village. That’s right, we’re finally moving on to other things! Who would’ve thought we’d ever see the day? lol

Chapter 39: Farewell, Ordon

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 39 – Farewell, Ordon

The rest of the day passed by rather uneventfully. After Zelda and Ilia had finished bathing their horses, they went their separate ways. Zelda ended up spending the remainder of her time with the villagers, visiting with them and getting to know them better. By this point, she felt like she already knew the children pretty well, but there was still plenty to learn about the adults. Zelda took pleasure in talking with them, sharing stories and learning more of the tiny village’s history as well as its day-to-day activities.

Eventually, night fell and the villagers congregated once more in the center of town. Here, a large bonfire was constructed, and everyone soon took seats around it, using nothing but various logs and rocks as furniture. Fost complained that he was hardly comfortable on such rugged surfaces, but Zelda simply shushed him, insisting that he be polite to their hosts. Before long, a dinner was served to them. It was a meal that was much more meager compared to the feast of the night before, but it tasted just as delicious.

At some point, someone began playing some light music in the background. Upon hearing the familiar songs of old, the village couples quickly linked up and began dancing in front of the bright flames of the bonfire. Zelda was simply content to watch them from afar, but she ended up being roped into the scene as well. She shared a dance with Beth, the only person who had been brave enough to request such a thing from her. Zelda simply smiled, happy to give the girl some of the attention that she always seemed to crave from the Princess.

As she danced, Zelda couldn’t help but spot Link and Ilia out of the corner of her eye. The young couple was locked together, just like all the rest, and they slowly swayed to the music. Even at this distance, and even in this darkness, Zelda could clearly see a genuine smile planted on each of their faces.

Zelda just tore her eyes away from them with a frown. She knew that she was being spiteful, but she honestly didn’t care to see the Hero like that. She didn’t want to see him basking in the embrace of another woman, even if the two of them seemed to be meant for each other.

And that wasn't the only issue that bothered the Princess either. Even now, echoes of her earlier conversation with Ilia still plagued her mind. Zelda hated to admit it, but Ilia’s words seemed to have had a profound impact on her. She suddenly found herself filled with her own concerns and doubts concerning the Hero.

“Does he really belong in a castle? Don’t you think that his days might be better spent living peacefully in Ordon rather than gallivanting across the Kingdom?”

Zelda shook her head. Those words had stung her, and while she had valiantly fought against them, they had still left a dull pain in their wake. The pain of realizing the possibility that Link might not belong at her side. That Link truly belonged here, in his home, with his friends and loved ones by his side. With Ilia by his side.

Zelda sighed, which only caused her dance partner to look up at her in alarm.

“What’s the matter, Princess?” Beth asked with an innocent stare.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Zelda assured her with a small smile. “Thank you for inviting me to dance, by the way.”

The girl immediately beamed, dropping all of her concerns. “You’re welcome, Princess!”

And so, as always, Zelda kept her thoughts and feelings to herself.

 

---

 

With the next day’s dawn came a bit of a bustle in the small village of Ordon, for at last, the tour’s final day had arrived, and it was now time for the travelers to pack their bags and depart for Castle Town once again. That morning, Zelda found herself feeling a little somber as she gathered her things from Ilia’s room. She had truly enjoyed her time here in Ordon. She felt that it might be a little hard to leave it all behind. But on the other hand, she had been away from the castle for weeks, and she now held a strong desire to return home. To return to her desk and her courts and her duties and above all else, her dear father.

Focusing on this line of thought, Zelda managed a small smile as she secured her luggage and carried it downstairs. There, she found her lovely hosts waiting for her.

“Do you have everything packed, Princess?” Ilia asked with a smile.

Zelda nodded. “Yes.”

Bo smiled as well. “Then I suppose it’s about time to see you off.”

“I suppose so,” Zelda agreed. She decided to set down her luggage before grabbing a hand from each of her hosts. She then flashed a sincere smile before bowing her head. “Thank you for graciously welcoming me into your home. For providing me with food and a room and a warm bed. Your kindness has been greatly appreciated, and I promise that it won’t soon be forgotten.”

“Oh, it was no trouble, Princess,” Ilia replied, suddenly looking a little shy.

Bo gave a strong nod at his daughter’s words. “Agreed. Having you stay here has been a great pleasure. And should you ever decide to visit Ordon again, please know that you’ll always be welcome in our home.”

“That is very kind,” Zelda said with another bow. “Thank you, Mayor, Ilia.”

The three of them soon broke hands and Bo snatched up the Princess’s luggage before she had a chance to say boo, politely carrying it for her as they all shuffled out the door. Once outside, the bright rays of the early sunrise greeted them, casting light and warmth under a lavender sky. As they approached the caravan of horses and wagons, Zelda could spot her guards moving about, trying to disassemble their campsite and get it packed away. Many of the villagers congregated to this spot as well, offering an extra set of hands wherever they were needed.

Bo soon went off to join them, depositing Zelda’s luggage as he did. This left the two girls alone, and naturally they ended up turning to each other.

“It’s been so wonderful to meet you, Princess,” Ilia said, flashing a smile and extending a hand. “Thank you for gracing Ordon with your presence. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Zelda politely accepted her hand and shook it. “It’s been nice to meet you as well, Ilia. Thank you for sharing your home with me.”

“I hope we can see each other again sometime,” Ilia continued. “It’s like my father said. You’ll always be welcome here if you ever wish to return.”

“I imagine I will,” Zelda assured her. “I’ve come to enjoy this little village so much that I’m starting to think it might be hard to leave it behind. But I have a home that I must return to, so I’ll simply have to wait until the opportunity to visit strikes again.”

Ilia giggled a bit. “Hopefully that day comes sooner rather than later.”

Zelda smiled. She felt her gaze soften as she looked over this simple Ordonian girl. Admittedly, the Princess had held more than a few reservations about her. There were quite a few times where Zelda had grown tired of her personality, and wished to have nothing to do with her. But now that she was on the cusp of saying farewell, Zelda couldn’t detect any such hostility residing in her heart. If anything, she felt genuinely sad to part ways with Ilia, and she too wondered when their paths might cross again. They may have had their differences, but Ilia had treated the Princess with nothing but kindness and respect, and she intended to return the favor regardless of any personal feelings.

“We’ll see,” Zelda finally answered. “In the meantime, if you ever find yourself in Castle Town, feel free to stop by the castle and say hello. My doors will always be open to you and your father.”

“Really?” Ilia asked. Zelda just gave a sincere nod. “Wow, thank you, Princess. That means a lot.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Zelda insisted.

Ilia then smiled for a moment, while the soft rays of the morning sun reflected in her beautiful green eyes. “I wish you a safe trip home then. Oh, and Princess? Please remember to keep your promise. I’m counting on you to keep him safe.”

Zelda blinked for a moment, but soon gave a firm nod. “Of course. No harm will befall him as long as I have anything to say about it.” She then paused, feeling a painful tug at her heart as her mouth naturally produced her next set of words. “And Ilia? I’d like to ask that you continue to watch over him and make sure that he’s well taken care of here in Ordon. It sets my heart at ease to know that our Hero always has a peaceful home that he can return to.”

This time, Ilia blinked, as if shocked by these words. However, she soon flashed a wide grin that was brimming with confidence. “Of course. I’ll always take care of Link. Don’t you worry about that.”

Zelda smiled and nodded back. Truth be told, a part of this killed her. She didn’t want Ilia to be the one looking after Link. She didn’t want them to be together. But in this moment, none of those feelings seemed to matter. She had no thoughts. No spiteful remarks or jealous comments. She just succumbed to a sad feeling of emptiness.

After this, Zelda parted ways with Ilia, and took a moment to scan the village. During the earlier parts of the tour, whenever Zelda had departed from a town that she had visited, she always made sure to address the citizens of said town as a collective, thanking them for their hospitality and wishing them all a bright future. This time, however, Zelda wished to do things differently. She soon went around, greeting the villagers and families one by one and providing each of them with a personal farewell. After having spent so much time alongside these people, she honestly felt like it would be rude to provide them with anything less.

The villagers were more than happy to accept her goodbye. Many of them brightly smiled as they shook her hand and wished her a safe trip home. A few of them even seemed quite sad to see her go. The children were especially disappointed after having had so much fun with her. Still, they all smiled and encouraged her to visit again soon. Beth requested that she share more stories of the castle the next time she visited. Talo asked her to show off her archery and swordsmanship. Finally, Colin mentioned that he might like to challenge the Princess to a duel, surprising even himself as the words spilled out of his mouth. Zelda just giggled and said that she would gladly accept that challenge when the time came. She then bid them all farewell, softly smiling as they waved their small hands goodbye.

Zelda continued making her rounds until there was only one person left to say goodbye to. One person whom she had specifically been saving for last. To no one’s surprise, she found him working alongside the soldiers, helping pack the last of their provisions in the wagons. All it took was a light tap on his shoulder to get him to turn around and step aside.

“What’s up?” Link asked with a smile.

Zelda simply smiled back. “It looks like we’ll be heading out soon, so I came to say goodbye.”

Link just raised his eyebrows, looking a little lost. “Goodbye? Um…what do you mean? I’m coming with you, aren’t I?”

Zelda’s expression saddened a bit as she shook her head. “I figured that you would be staying here. At this point, the tour is over. All we have to do is make the short trip back to the castle. And, well, considering that Ordon is your home, it wouldn’t make much sense for you to come with us.”

To her surprise, Link just frowned and shook his head back. “What? Don’t be ridiculous. I promised that I would join you for the entirety of the tour. It wouldn’t be fair for me to back out now.”

“And it wouldn’t be fair for me to force you to tag along,” she insisted.

Link just sighed, letting his shoulders sag. “Zelda, you’re not forcing me at all. I made a commitment.”

“One which I am freeing you of,” Zelda said with a small smile. Link quickly went to argue some more, but she just held up a hand, calling for silence. “Link, I know how you feel, but trust me when I say that I’m happy to let you stay here. You’ve been away from home for weeks. I don’t want to keep you away for any longer, especially not for something as insignificant as this short trip back to the castle. The tour is over. You have played your part and Hyrule’s spirits have been lifted. Now please, I wish for you to relax after a job well done.”

Link frowned. As if he could ever accept an outcome like this so easily. “I get what you’re saying, but wouldn’t it be better to have me along for the return trip? I mean, what if there’s danger?”

Zelda smiled some more. “Link, there hasn’t been any danger throughout the entire trip. It seems like Hyrule is truly at peace now. And even if we did run into trouble, I still have a dozen guards ready to stand up and defend us. I am certain that we’ll be fine.”

Link furrowed his brow, still feeling unsatisfied. “Maybe I should just tag along until you’re out of Faron Woods then. Just to be sure.”

Zelda shook her head a bit before eyeing him. “Tell me, Link. Have you packed your bags?”

The Hero paused. “Well, I just left everything at home since I figured I’d be coming right back…”

“Is Epona prepared to depart?”

“Well, not yet but I just need to put her saddle on her.”

Zelda shook her head again as she flashed an amused expression. “It sounds like you already have your answer.”

Link promptly shut his mouth, realizing that the Princess had lured him into another one of her verbal traps. He had basically just admitted that he wasn’t ready to leave! He soon cursed himself, as well as the Princess’s ever-present ability to bend any argument to support her own goals.

Zelda’s expression softened as she spoke up again. “Link, please don’t misunderstand. I don’t wish to confine you here or leave you behind. I simply wish to give you a well-deserved break after all that you have done for me and our Kingdom, and I think we both know that you…” Zelda paused, suddenly struggling to finish her sentence. She didn’t want to utter these words, let alone believe them, but after listening to Ilia and spending so much of her time in Ordon alongside Link, she no longer felt like she could deny them.

“You belong here,” she finished quietly.

Link just stared at her for a long while, before eventually crossing his arms and sighing. “I guess you have a point,” he agreed. “It would be nice to stay here and relax now that the tour is over.”

“Then please do so,” Zelda encouraged him. “You’ve earned it.”

Link smiled as he gave her a grateful nod. “So this is really goodbye then?”

“I suppose it is,” Zelda said, nodding back. “Link, I can’t thank you enough for joining me on this tour. Having you by my side really has made this trip so much more enjoyable than I could have ever hoped. And now, because of our efforts, I feel closer to all of Hyrule. I truly believe that this has been a successful venture.”

To her surprise, Link laughed a bit. “You almost took the words out of my mouth,” he teased. “I wanted to thank you for inviting me on this tour. You’ve honestly given me so many good memories to look back on. Not to mention, it was so nice to travel and see all the different parts of the Kingdom again. My adventures across Hyrule may have ended, but I’m always happy to have a chance to explore and visit old friends.”

Zelda smiled, truly grateful for his words. “I’m glad to hear that, Link.”

The Hero nodded in return. He then stared at the Princess for a while, as an amused smirk slowly formed on his lips.

Zelda just raised her eyebrows, feeling a bit shy under that gaze of his. She always did. “What?”

Link’s smirk grew wider as he shook his head. “It’s funny. We haven’t known each other for very long, but I feel like you’ve already become one of my closest friends.”

“Oh,” Zelda replied, her cheeks immediately starting to redden. She had never expected him to say something like this. “Link, you truly mean that?”

“Of course I do,” Link said with a grin. “We’ve been through so much together, and I feel like you really understand me. Plus, I think that you’re always fun to be around.”

Despite her best attempts to compose herself, Zelda could feel her heart start hammering away inside of her chest. It was beating so hard that she could practically hear it ringing in her ears. Never in her life had she expected Link to bestow her with such a high honor. An honor that was likely only shared with others such as Midna and Ilia. The honor of being his close friend.

“That…That’s so generous of you to say,” she responded quietly.

To no one’s surprise, Link just flashed a look of both concern and confusion. He hadn’t expected the Princess to seem so out of sorts after his comment. “Um…is something wrong?”

Zelda quickly shook her head, hoping to contain her nerves and quell his concerns. “Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

“Was it something I said?” Link persisted, now looking guilty. “I mean…you think of us as close friends too, don’t you?”

Zelda’s eyes widened as he asked this. Oh, she had really done it now. First her behavior had started to concern him, but now it was plaguing him with doubts as well! She quickly shook her head and went to respond in the most sincere voice she could muster.

“Of course, Link. You and I are close friends. After everything that we’ve been through, I can’t imagine us as anything less.”

Link finally smiled, letting his doubts fade away. “That’s what I thought.”

Zelda returned his smile as she gave him a long, lasting stare. It almost felt kind of surreal to be standing here next to him. To know that she enjoyed his company so dearly, and yet they were about to part ways. She didn’t want to leave him behind, but she felt like she ought to. Even now, the questions posed by Ilia still haunted her mind. Link belonged here, and despite her best attempts to believe otherwise, Zelda feared that it would only be a matter of time before he gave up on Hyrule and the castle and being a Hero altogether.

And worst of all, it might only be a matter of time before he abandoned Zelda too.

It was as she stewed on this horrible thought that Link softly called out her name, just as he always did whenever she was distracted and feeling down.

“Um…Zelda?”

“Hmm?” she murmured, blinking a bit. “Yes?”

“It looks like it’s about time for you to go,” he said, gesturing to the caravan of wagons and horses. “The soldiers have finished packing everything away and they’re starting to saddle up.”

Zelda followed his finger, only to see that he was correct. Nearly every soldier was mounted and even Fost had settled into his carriage after saying his goodbyes. Now it was time for the Princess to do the same.

Zelda gazed at Link again, and just took a moment to take him in. She looked into his eyes, which were bright and innocent. His face, which was hardy but friendly. His hair, which looked messy yet perfect. His tunic, which reminded her of the forest he hailed from but also of courage and strength. This was her Hero. Her friend. A man whom she had spent so much time with and yet wished to spend so much more. She honestly wished that this moment could last forever. That they didn’t have to say goodbye. That they weren’t destined to fall apart as Ilia might have led her to believe.

“Link, I…” Zelda’s words died in her throat. She didn’t know what to say to him. Her time was short and her doubt was great. But even so, with a nervous expression and a voice that threatened to waver, she asked the question that she was most afraid of learning the answer to.

“...I’ll see you again, right?”

Fortunately, her fears were completely unfounded. To her immediate relief, Link’s lips twitched a bit before he fell into a brief laugh, almost as if she had asked him some ridiculous question. He looked at her much the same, with a confused smile planted on his face. “Um, of course I’ll see you again. I’m still part of the Roundtable meetings, right?”

His voice was so reassuring, so casual and obvious, that Zelda immediately breathed a sigh of relief while also feeling like such a fool. Yes, of course she would see Link again. Why had she ever doubted that? Link was still the man that she believed him to be. A brave Hero who would stand by his Kingdom and ride to the castle whenever duty called. It all seemed so clear to her now. There had never been any reason to doubt her assessment of Link’s character, or his desire to help others. If anyone was wrong about this matter, then surely it had to have been Ilia.

Yes, Zelda thought. I should have known better than to believe anything else.

With a grateful smile, she took a step forward, intending to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. However, so great was her relief and gratitude that before she even realized what she was doing, Zelda had loosely wrapped her arms around Link’s torso and pulled him into a hug.

Through this action, Zelda seemed to have stunned herself by her own forwardness, as her mind soon went completely blank. Link also seemed a bit startled by her actions, for the Princess had always seemed rather reserved when it came to matters such as this, but he soon smiled and wrapped his arms around her in return.

A few seconds of deafening silence passed before the gears in Zelda’s mind began to turn once more, and she realized the full extent of what she was doing. Even though she had only intended it as friends, she couldn’t stop the powerful blush that was assaulting her cheeks. Now that her wits had forcefully returned to her, she found the strong desire to pull away from Link’s embrace.

“Um, thank you for everything,” she mumbled, her eyes now glued to the grass below. Before she realized it, her feet soon began to carry her away from the Hero. “I’ll see you later.”

Whether Link was being kind or just didn’t think anything of it, he made no comment on her behavior. Instead, he just returned her grateful smile with his own as he nodded his head. “Yeah, see you later, Zelda.”

And it was at these words that Zelda fully turned away and walked over towards the line of horses and wagons. As she did, her mind was a haze, barely processing what she had just done. She had never imagined herself being so forward with a man with whom she should have been keeping her distance, and yet, she couldn’t help it. The action of hugging him had just felt so natural. So right.

The next thing Zelda knew, she was mounted atop of Reina and the guard at the front of the line gave the signal to move and she was smiling and waving while villagers and buildings passed her by. Although, she barely retained any of this as her mind was now a complete web of scattered thoughts and conflicted emotions.

In this moment, Zelda felt like her feelings for Link were stronger than ever before. Her feelings of admiration and trust and interest and affection all threatened to bubble up within her and spill out of her heart. After having spent so much time with him, throughout the tour and their time in Ordon, she realized that she had come to develop a newfound appreciation for his company. His presence now meant more to her than ever before.

And it was because of this that Zelda suddenly felt the strong urge to leave Link behind in Ordon and keep moving forward, for she truly feared that being near him would only cause her more pain.

A pain that she wasn’t sure she could withstand.

Notes:

And with that, the Ordon Village section of this story, as well as the tour in general, has reached its conclusion. Man, it took a long time to get through it all, but I truly did have so much fun with it. I hope you all did too!

Now, I have a bit of an update. Moving forward, I’m going to slow down releases for this story to just one chapter every two weeks. This will give me some more time to work on future chapters for this story, as well as start releasing some other projects that I’ve been working on in the background. Speaking of which, feel free to tune in to my profile next week. There won’t be a new chapter, but I do have a special little one-shot that I’ve had in the works for a while now. It’s TP Zelink focused, and of course, it’s very fun ;) Hope to see you there!

As always, thank you for reading and thank you for the support! It truly means a lot to me :)

Chapter 40: Surprise Visitor

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 40 – Surprise Visitor

As expected, Zelda and her companions didn’t run into any danger on the short trip back to Castle Town. If anything, the journey back almost felt a little too uneventful. The Princess had naturally started to feel a bit lonely without a certain Hero and chestnut mare to ride alongside her, but she supposed that Reina was satisfying enough company.

When the Princess finally returned to Castle Town, the crowds gathered and created a rousing applause to welcome her home. Zelda just smiled and waved, happy to be back in familiar territory after all the time that she had spent away. However, it wasn’t until she set foot back inside of her own castle that she felt truly at peace. Fost felt much the same, happy to return to the safety of the castle’s large stone walls after enduring such a “lengthy and harrowing escapade” as he so eloquently put it.

Upon reentering the castle, Zelda handed her luggage off to her servants to have it returned to her room. As for herself, she quickly made her way to the infirmary, in the hopes of reuniting with a certain someone that she had dearly missed throughout the last few weeks. However, as soon as she arrived at the partitioned room located at the back of the medical facility, she was surprised to find nothing there save for an empty bed. She just stood there in silence for a few moments, feeling confused and a little concerned as she stared at the clean bedsheets.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the castle’s doctor appeared before her. “Ah, welcome back, Princess. It is good to see you again.”

Zelda didn’t bother responding to his pleasantries. She wasn’t trying to be rude, but her mind was elsewhere at the moment. “Where is-”

“His Majesty?” Roswald quickly supplied. He then smiled. “You won’t find him here, my dear.”

Zelda felt even more befuddled by this response, but Roswald was quick to elaborate. As soon as he did, Zelda’s expression immediately brightened, and she nearly jumped for joy. She gave him a quick word of thanks before dashing from the room, hurrying up the stairs and floors towards her new destination. Before long, she reached the specific bedchamber that had gone unused for months in its owner’s absence, and flung open the door.

And there, resting in the privacy and comfort of his bed, was none other than King Caius.

Zelda couldn’t help herself. As soon as she spotted him, she smiled wide and ran forward to pull him into a hug. Naturally, he just grunted a bit before glancing down at the wonderful surprise that he held in his arms.

“Zelda!” he exclaimed, now smiling as well. “I see you’ve returned.”

She simply closed her eyes and nodded while she pulled him closer. “Yes, father, I’m home.”

“And not a moment too soon,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s lovely to see you again, my dear. Tell me, how was your trip?”

Zelda grinned before playfully pushing herself out of his embrace. She then took a seat on his bed while she gestured to the chambers around them. “Ah, not so fast. First, you simply must explain all of this! What are you doing back in your bedchamber?”

Caius chuckled some more as he watched her enthusiasm. She wasn’t usually this spirited, but considering the circumstances, he could easily understand why she was in such a good mood. “Haven’t you heard? I’ve officially been released from the infirmary.”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, Roswald mentioned that you had been relocated here, but he didn’t give me any details. Tell me, are you finally on the mend?”

“Zelda, I’ve always been on the mend,” he reminded her. “But I understand what you are asking. To put it simply, I am still recovering from the effects of the poison. However, within the last few weeks, my condition has noticeably improved. The frequency of my cough is starting to wane, and my constant fatigue is starting to ease. Upon witnessing this, Roswald finally determined that I was well enough to return to my bedchambers, where I could comfortably rest without the need for a doctor by my side. He claimed that I would still require plenty of bedrest, but as long as there are no alarming developments, then I should have no need to return to the infirmary.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Zelda said as she clasped her hands together. “The Goddesses be praised. You’ve suffered the long-term effects of this poisoning for months but now your health is finally starting to move in a better direction.”

“Indeed,” Caius said with a nod. “It seems that my patience has been rewarded.”

“And our prayers have been answered,” Zelda agreed. “Honestly, you had been stuck in the infirmary for so long that I was starting to fear that you might never recover.”

“Well, let those fears burden you no more,” the King said in a majestic tone. “For I assure you that my health is still improving. Otherwise, Roswald would have never let me leave his sight.” Caius then paused, dropping his regal appearance as he began to chuckle once more. “Truth be told, it’s a rather pleasant outcome for both him and myself. Now we can finally be rid of each other for a while.”

Zelda couldn’t help but giggle alongside him. “Yes, I imagine that you’ve just removed a great deal of stress from that poor man.”

Caius simply smirked as he eyed his daughter. “Oh, and what exactly are you implying, my dear? Surely I’m not thattroublesome.”

Zelda could only roll her eyes and shake her head. Of course her father would be stubborn enough to deny such truthful claims against his character.

The Princess wanted to come up with some sort of witty retort, but something else caught her curiosity before she was allowed the chance. Blinking in surprise, she suddenly noticed that Caius’s bed was covered in sheets of paper, both stacked and loose. And they weren’t just any papers either. It only took a glance before Zelda recognized the parchment as legal documents.

“Hmm? What is all of this about?” she asked as she slowly took a sheet into her gentle fingers. Upon inspecting it, she quickly found that the name Caius Vesperi Hyrule was neatly written in fresh ink at the bottom.

Caius shrugged before gesturing to the stacks of documents that surrounded him. “It’s exactly what it looks like.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda just eyed her father. She was honestly surprised that she hadn’t noticed this storm of sheets strewn across his bed until now. But then again, she had been caught up in their heartfelt reunion. “You’re working?” she asked, somewhat surprised.

“Of course,” the King replied nonchalantly. “With you and Fost gone, someone had to keep this castle running.”

Zelda felt a bit taken aback by this. “Yes, I suppose, but…are you well enough?”

“Well enough to sign some papers?” Caius asked with a hearty chuckle. “Yes, I should think that I am.”

Zelda still felt concerned, as well as a bit hesitant to accept this. “But, you are still recovering, are you not? Doesn’t this sort of thing tire you out?”

“Hardly,” the King said with a shake of his head. “If anything, this is more tedious than tiresome. I can assure you that I am not pushing myself beyond my limits. I’ve just been using some of my newfound freedom to sign some papers and occasionally attend a Hyrule Council meeting.”

“You’ve been attending meetings as well?” Zelda asked with raised eyebrows.

“Oh, don’t look so troubled, Zelda. It was only one or two and I was never out of bed for long.”

Zelda merely sighed. “Still, I’d hate to find out that your condition worsened because you were pushing yourself too hard and not getting enough rest. Especially if it was due to my absence.”

“Nonsense,” Caius said with a wave of his hand. “I’ve made sure to get plenty of rest and none of this work has set my health back at all. You really shouldn’t be surprised or concerned. After all, I made a promise that I would take my recovery seriously, didn’t I?”

Despite her reservations, Zelda soon found herself smiling. “Yes, you certainly did.”

“Then please do not feel uneasy,” he insisted. “I humbly ask that you allow your loving father to perform this small favor for you. As I’m sure you’re aware, it’s only thanks to me that you don’t have a complete mountain of paperwork to come home to.”

Zelda couldn’t help but giggle a bit. “Yes, I suppose I should be grateful for that. Thank you, father.”

“Of course, Zelda,” he replied warmly.

“But don’t think that I’m going to let you handle this all on your own,” the Princess quickly retorted. “I plan to tackle all of this paperwork first thing tomorrow morning.”

“And I figured as much,” Caius said with a proud smile. “But will you at least continue to share it with me?”

Zelda nodded, finally willing to let go of her reluctance. “Very well. We can work through it together.”

Caius beamed. “Nothing would make me happier.”

Zelda returned his positive expression with her own. After being away for so long, she had truly missed this man that was so dear to her. She was overjoyed to see him in a better condition than she had originally left him, and of course, she truly appreciated the lengths that he went to in order to look out for her.

Meanwhile, Caius just raised his eyebrows a bit as she stared at the Princess in turn. “Well?” he eventually asked.

Zelda blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Well what?”

“Am I allowed to ask about the tour now?”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile once again. “Yes, of course. I suppose I’ve kept you waiting long enough.”

“Indeed you have,” Caius agreed with a nod.

“Do you want the long version or the brief summary?”

“Why, the long version, of course!” he exclaimed. “Tell me everything. I want to know all of the details.”

Zelda laughed as she shook her head. She really shouldn’t have expected anything else.

 

---

 

A week had passed since the tour had reached its conclusion. Now that the Princess had been returned home safe and sound, life slowly began to return to normalcy. As Caius had mentioned, there was plenty of work to be done in light of Zelda’s absence, and before she knew it, she found herself buried in paperwork once again. She had agreed to delegate some of the endless stacks of parchment to her father, but she still insisted on handling most of the work herself.

And so it was that Zelda found herself isolated in her study on this particular day, silently making her way through document after document. There were laws to review, investments to approve, and letters from foreign dignitaries to respond to. It was rather tedious work, but the Princess honestly didn’t mind it. If anything, being away from her royal duties for so long had actually left her with a fondness for them. Even now, she couldn’t help but smile a bit as she took in the soft aromas of fresh parchment and ink, all while carefully crafting her elegantly curved letters.

Still, in spite of her dedication to the task at hand, the Princess couldn’t resist allowing her mind to wander from time to time. Between the silence and the solitude and menial duties laid out before her, it was honestly the perfect setting for such a thing to occur. And so she did, smiling some more as she thought back on the few weeks that she had spent away from home. The adventures she had experienced and the memories that had been made.

And of course, she thought of her close friend, Link.

Zelda finally frowned a bit as she felt the troubles of her heart begin to stir, not unlike a cloud of muck being stirred up from the bottom of a muddy lakebed. She soon sighed and set her quill aside, choosing to let her depressing thoughts run loose for a while. Since she was alone, there was no need to keep them bottled up at this time.

Link: a man whom she admired, trusted, and respected. A man who was kind and warm and friendly and always looking out for her. A man whom she felt attracted to, despite how often she reminded herself that it was a hopeless endeavor. Sadly, it was a sentiment that had only worsened since the conclusion of the tour.

It was honestly disheartening. After spending the last few weeks with Link and finally visiting his home, Zelda felt like she now understood the Hero better than ever before. She understood more of his origins, his personality, his interests. But with that understanding came a great pain. The pain of knowing that she couldn’t be with him. The pain of knowing that despite how well she knew him, he would never fully understand her, and how she truly felt about him. It seemed that the Princess’s attraction to the Hero was a secret that was destined to stay with her until the day she ultimately perished.

But she supposed that it was for the best. Zelda would never want to bother Link or inconvenience him, especially when he was already in a relationship where he was perfectly happy. So she gladly chose to continue suffering alone, just as she always did. Not that it was suffering so much as a subtle sadness that always seemed to settle over her.

But Zelda digressed. She had already come to the same conclusion on this subject a number of times, and she saw little use in reviewing such repetitive thoughts. With a sigh, she picked up her quill and went to return to work.

That is, until a distracting noise caught her attention. With a furrowed brow, Zelda paused before glancing up at the door that led into her study. For a moment there, it almost sounded as if someone had been tapping upon it. However, she soon had to perform a double-take, for she heard the sound once more. And it clearly wasn’t coming from her door, but rather the latticed window that sat off to the side.

With a small gasp, Zelda immediately rose to her feet as she spotted a figure crouched snugly on her windowsill. And it wasn’t just any figure either, for Zelda quickly recognized him as a dear friend of hers. A friend who was clad in a green tunic, wore an eager grin on his face, and gently used his knuckle to tap on her window once more.

Zelda just froze as she watched him, blinking a bit. Of course it was surprising to see Link appear out of the blue like this, but perhaps even more surprising was the method with which he had done so. As it turned out, Zelda’s study was located high up in one of the castle’s upper floors, and thus the adjoining window was also a fair distance from the earth. Zelda couldn’t help but wonder: how had the Hero managed to climb up here?

But she quickly shook her head and went to open the window. She supposed that acknowledging his presence here should take precedence over figuring out the hows and whys. She soon unlocked the latch and gently swung the window open, carefully eyeing the Hero as she did so.

“Link,” she breathed in astonishment.

“Hey Zelda,” he replied casually, still grinning to himself. “Is this a bad time?”

“A bad time to visit?” Zelda inquired, still eyeing the man in disbelief. “Not particularly, although I’m a bit curious to know what this is all about.”

Link just laughed. He understood how absurd this situation must seem from her point of view. “Sorry, I promise that I’ll explain. But first, can I come in?”

Zelda simply shrugged before stepping out of the way. “Be my guest.”

Link nodded before swinging his legs and pulling himself inside the study. A gentle breeze blew in alongside him, but Zelda made sure to close the window before any of her neat stacks of documents had a chance to be disturbed. Once that was done, she turned to the Hero with folded arms and raised eyebrows.

“Well?” she asked. “Care to explain why you have graced me with your presence in such a stunning and adventurous manner?”

Link just laughed some more. He was clearly amused by how startled she was. “Stunning, huh?”

“Is it not?” Zelda retorted. “In all my years of living in this castle, not once have I ever witnessed someone attempt to perform something as daring and foolish as scaling a tower from the outside and entering through a window. I must say, I’m shocked.”

“Well, when you put it like that, it does sound kind of grand,” he agreed with a smile. “But I felt that it was necessary.”

“Necessary?” Zelda repeated. “Now, I’m even more lost. I never would’ve expected a humble Hero such as yourself to insist on being so magnificent in his actions.”

Link simply shrugged, as if he personally didn’t think much of his unorthodox entrance. “Sorry for the confusion, and the abrupt arrival. I’m sure it would help if I explained why I’m here.”

“Please,” Zelda said with a nod. “You’ve kept me waiting on pins and needles for long enough now.”

“Right,” Link said before nodding back. “To put it simply, I wanted to talk to you. However, when I entered the castle, I ran into Fost. He mentioned that I could find you here, but he claimed that you were incredibly busy working on paperwork and not to be disturbed. I wasn’t sure if he was just exaggerating or not, so I figured that I would come here and check on you myself.”

Zelda just blinked a bit as she continued to eye the Hero, almost as if he was crazy. “And it is for that reason that you chose to scale the outside of the tower?”

“It wasn’t that difficult,” Link insisted. He then pulled one of his reliable clawshots from his bag, displaying it for the Princess. “As long as I have this, climbing up the side of a tower is a breeze.”

Zelda just eyed the tool for a moment before turning her wary gaze back to Link. “Still, to have gone to such lengths just to see me,” she said with a shake of her head. “We have a door, you know.”

Link just smirked, suddenly looking confident. “Yes, but it wouldn’t be much of a rescue if I just walked in the front door, now would it?”

“A rescue?” Zelda repeated. It took her a second to try to piece together what he was trying to say. “I don’t understand. You’re here to rescue me?”

“More or less,” he said with a shrug.

Zelda slowly nodded, but still appeared skeptical. “Mm-hmm…And what exactly are you here to rescue me from, my good friend?”

“From your duties, of course,” Link said simply. “Don’t you remember the conversation that we had back in Zora’s Domain? I told you that I would be happy to help you sneak away from your duties from time to time.”

At this, Zelda couldn’t help but smile a bit. “I suppose you did say that, didn’t you?”

“Yes, and now I’ve come to make good on that promise.”

“I see…” the Princess replied slowly. She took a moment to uncross her arms, choosing instead to place her hands behind her as she began to pace around the room a bit. “So, just to get this straight: you, being the dashing Hero that you are, decided that you would scale a tower and come to the rescue of your Princess?”

Link shrugged. “Pretty much.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smirk at how casual he was being about all of this. She supposed that this was his trademark humility shining through. Still, she couldn’t resist teasing him a bit. “Goodness, Link. Did you spend too much time reading old fairy tales and suddenly feel inspired to make them a reality?”

Link laughed, amused at her joke, but quickly shook his head. “I think of it more as coming to the rescue of a close friend.”

“Well, isn’t that kind of you?” Zelda responded. She turned away a bit as her cheeks threatened to turn red, just as they always did whenever Link made such sweet comments to her. It was torture enough that he had willingly decided to come to her rescue in the first place. And over such a small thing as paperwork too. He really was one of the most considerate persons she had ever met.

Additionally, Zelda felt her heart start to swoon for the man before her. She knew it was cliche. She knew it was no more than the wish of a child. But she couldn’t deny that she had always adored the thought of a brave and handsome knight coming to her rescue, ever since she was a little girl. She recalled reading stories of such things and finding them nothing short of romantic. And even after all of these years, it seemed like her innocent, childlike wish still lived on inside of her, for the Hero’s appearance here was enough to make her heart dance with giddiness.

“So, what do you say?” Link eventually asked. “Do you care to leave your desk behind for a few hours and have some fun?”

Zelda turned back to him with a small smile. She couldn’t deny that his sudden entrance had really brightened up what would have otherwise been a dull day. “Ah, so I have a choice in the matter?” she asked playfully.

“Pfft,” Link scoffed. “Of course you do. This isn’t a kidnapping, you know.”

“And where, pray tell, would you whisk me away to? That is, assuming I agree.”

“Well, I was hoping that you could join me in the castle’s library.”

Zelda let the smile fade from her lips, immediately taken aback by this response. When the Hero had offered to rescue from her paperwork, she assumed that he must have had some sort of fun activity planned. Perhaps they could have visited the castle’s courtyard to practice their archery, or mount their horses and gallop across Hyrule Field, or visit a fishing hole and allow the Princess to redeem herself for her pitiful catch in Zora’s Domain. But this…this was certainly unexpected.

“The library?” Zelda eventually repeated, sounding surprised yet confused.

“Yeah,” Link said with a nod. “I figured that we could spend a few hours looking through some of the books there.”

Zelda just blinked a bit, feeling even more dumbfounded by this response. She never would have expected him to invite her to something like this, and she made sure to point this out. “Forgive me, Link, but you never struck me as the type to enjoy studying texts for hours on end.”

“Well, admittedly, I’m not…” Link said slowly, and for the first time that day, he started to manifest a sheepish expression. “Truth be told, I was kind of hoping that you could help me with something. I wanted to start looking for a way to contact Midna, and I remembered that you suggested the library as a good place to research such a thing, but…I have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t know where to start or what to look for. And that library is just so massive…”

As she took all of this in, Zelda slowly ended up scowling at the Hero. “Ah, now I see why you went to such great lengths to come here. You only had need of my assistance.”

Link frowned, suddenly looking guilty. “What? No, I meant what I said earlier. I truly did wish to relieve you of your duties for a while.”

“Yes, you intended to free me from paperwork so that I can help you study some ancient tomes,” Zelda said with a roll of her eyes. “I hardly consider that liberating, Link.”

The Hero frowned some more. He felt like his request had been innocent enough, and he really thought that Zelda might be up for it. He never imagined that she would interpret things like this. “Zelda, please don’t misunderstand. I’ll admit that visiting the library probably isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but surely it’s better than being cooped up in here for the rest of the day?”

“Hmm…perhaps,” the Princess agreed with a shrug. “Truth be told, I tend to genuinely enjoy going to the library and researching history among various other topics. However, it still doesn’t change the fact of the matter.” Zelda then paused before playfully smirking. “This isn’t so much you coming to my rescue as it is me coming to yours.”

“Well…” Link just shut his mouth. He wasn’t sure what to say to this. He had fully intended to rescue Zelda from her duties for a while, but he couldn’t deny that he was the one that truly needed help.

Eventually, he gave a sigh, as well as a formal bow to the Princess that stood across from him. “Will you please consider it? I know that this isn’t what you expected, but I could really use the help. Your help. I need you, Zelda.”

Zelda felt her heartbeat quicken a bit as these wonderful words danced around in her ears. To hear the subtle desperation in the Hero’s voice, all while he admitted that he required her of all people to help him…it filled Zelda with a strange, lovely warmth. Feelings of sympathy began to swell within her as well, and before long, she found the need to take pity on the humble man before her.

Zelda just released a sigh of her own before smirking. “You’re lucky that I like you,” she said quietly.

Link slightly raised his head out from his bow, daring to look up at her. His expectant eyes met hers as he nervously awaited her answer.

“Very well, I’ll lend you a hand,” she finally agreed.

Link quickly smiled before forcing himself to perform another courteous bow. “Thanks, Zelda. I really appreciate this.”

“You’re very welcome, Link. Now please rise,” she said, almost laughing at how uncharacteristic his formal behavior was. Link did as he was told, standing upright as he gave the Princess a grateful smile. She cheerfully returned it before gazing at a wooden clock that hung on the nearby wall. “Hmm…I should be able to free up some time this evening. Perhaps after dinner. I can join you in the library around then.”

“Sounds good,” Link said with a nod. He then paused, furrowing his brow as he realized that he had just responded to the Princess’s words before he fully understood them. “Wait, what?”

“Is something the matter?” Zelda asked innocently.

“You said that we can meet up this evening?” Link asked, turning to glance at the clock himself. By its count, it was still early afternoon. “Um…I was under the impression that we would be heading to the library right away.”

Zelda smirked, her expression quickly turning playful once more. “Ah, and perhaps I would have been willing to run off with you if you had actually presented me with an entertaining activity. However, seeing as how you only need me to help conduct your research, I see no reason to put my duties on hold for the day. This paperwork must still be attended to, after all, and it’s only fair that it takes precedence over your personal project.”

Link just blinked, feeling lost and confused. “Wait, so you would rather stay cooped up in this room all day instead of help me?”

Zelda simply laughed at his expression. “Oh, I still intend to assist you, Link. I just won’t be available until later tonight.”

Link sighed as his shoulders sagged a bit. Seeing as he was the one that was asking for her assistance, he supposed that he had no room to argue with that. It wasn’t like the Princess owed him her time or anything like that. Still, this certainly threw a wrench into his plans. “Okay…but what am I supposed to do until then?”

“Get a head start at the library?” Zelda suggested. “I’d be happy to join you later and discover what all you’ve accomplished on your own.”

Link just groaned. That was exactly the type of situation that he had been trying to avoid. “Um…I’m not really sure if I’ll make much progress on my own.”

Zelda shrugged. “Very well, then find some other way to pass the time. Explore the castle, make yourself useful. It’s really up to you.”

Link could only sigh again. “Fine…” he agreed begrudgingly. He supposed that he could find something to keep him busy around here until Zelda was finished with her work. Although, he wasn’t exactly keen to stall his studying. After all, this was the precious research that would potentially allow him to reunite with Midna in one way or another.

Zelda couldn’t help but smile. She knew that he was disappointed, but she intended to make it up to him later. “I suppose I should return to work then. Every second I spend away from my documents is another second away from the library.”

“Right,” Link said with a nod. He then turned around, making his way to the door. “I guess I should make myself scarce. See you later, Zelda.”

However, before he could even take a step, he felt Zelda place a hand on his shoulder, effectively holding him in place. “Now, hold on just a moment, Link. What do you think you’re doing?”

Link just gave her a blank stare, feeling confused once again. “Um…leaving?”

Zelda smirked at him, her eyes flaring to life with a mischievous aura. “But you said that this was a rescue, did you not?”

“Yes. Or at least, that’s what I intended…”

“Of course. And earlier, you also claimed that this wouldn’t be much of a rescue if you used the front door to come and go, yes?”

“I…” Link just paused, suddenly gulping. He had a bad feeling about where this conversation seemed to be heading.

Meanwhile, Zelda just gifted the Hero an amused grin as she turned him around and led him to the other side of the room. “You were right, Link. A Hero that comes to his Princess’s rescue doesn’t use the door. This is his method of entry and exit.”

Link just blinked, suddenly finding himself face to face with the latticed window that he had originally entered from. He was at a loss for words, so he just stared at it, feeling completely dumbfounded.

Zelda proceeded to make her intentions all the more clear by opening the window, and giving the Hero a gentle push forward. “Go on,” she encouraged him.

Link just set his bewildered gaze on the Princess. Surely, she had to be teasing him. “Zelda, are you serious?”

“This is how you found your way inside, is it not? I’m sure that you’ll have no trouble climbing back down.”

“But…do I really have to? Can’t I just use the door?”

“Nonsense. I’d hate to have the image of your daring rescue shattered in such a mundane manner. This exit truly befits you. Now please, go on. I still have a lot of work to attend to.”

The next thing Link knew, he was crouching on the windowsill once again, glancing over the ledge at the courtyard far below him. He soon turned back to Zelda, flashing an unamused expression that was quite the opposite of her own.

“Do be careful on your way back to the ground,” Zelda said sincerely. “I’d hate to hear that one of our archers spotted you and assumed that you were an intruder who would be better off with a backside full of arrows.”

“This isn’t funny,” Link replied as he rolled his eyes.

“Speak for yourself,” Zelda said with a wink. She then promptly closed the window, cutting off any chance for him to argue back.

Notes:

I like to think that Zelda forces Link out the window with the same energy as Skyward Sword Zelda when she pushes Link off of a cliff lol.

Anyways, last week I released a TP Zelink one-shot! Feel free to give it a read if you haven’t done so already. It’s titled “A Lovely Disaster” and focuses on Link and Zelda having a terrible date in Ordon Village where everything goes wrong. I had a lot of fun with it :)

Chapter 41: Research

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 41 – Research

As promised, Zelda finished her paperwork and after consuming a light dinner, made her way to the castle library. As she walked into the large room filled with towering bookshelves, she felt herself begin to relax a bit. After spending all day in her study, this grand archive served as a welcome change of scenery. Not to mention, the Princess had always enjoyed visiting this place, content to do nothing more than spend hour after hour poring through the endless texts.

The library itself was an impressive collection of all things literature. From historical tomes to fantasy stories to scientific studies to religious works to even books that studied supernatural legends. It was honestly the greatest assortment of information in all of Hyrule, and the Princess had always had it within her grasp. Outsiders were permitted to visit and use the library as well, but only if they had requested permission ahead of time. Because of this, all of Hyrule was allowed to take advantage of the library’s resources, should they wish to do so.

Naturally, there was only one person whom Zelda needed to find today. Wasting no time, she began making her way through the endless rows of bookshelves and desks until she finally came upon the man she was looking for. He sat at one of the tables, currently reading through a book.

Or at least, that’s how it appeared to anyone passing by. Zelda just placed a hand over her mouth as she fought hard to stifle a snicker. She couldn’t believe what she had just stumbled upon. While it was true that Link was sitting at the table and had a book open before him, the Hero was fast asleep. He lightly breathed in and out, silently dozing as one hand mindlessly supported his head and the other grabbed the page of his book, as if he was ready to turn it.

Zelda could only assume that he had fallen asleep while in the middle of reading. With a small smirk, she recalled how much Midna had poked fun at the Hero’s sleeping patterns, and how typical it was for him to doze off at the most inopportune times. She had never witnessed the truth of such claims before, but now she was finally able to observe it in all its comical glory.

With a small sigh, Zelda soon approached where the Hero was seated. She knew that they wouldn’t get anywhere if she allowed him to continue resting like this, so she decided to wake him up. “Link,” she said, softly tapping his shoulder.

The reaction was immediate. The Hero opened his eyes, mumbling something as he blinked a few times. His hand then lazily slid out from underneath him, and with nothing left to support his head, it swiftly plummeted into the book below him. A second later, his head shot right back up, looking alarmed. “Huh…what? What happened?” he mumbled tiredly.

Zelda had to fight hard not to burst out laughing. She wasn’t sure why, but Link always seemed to be prone to the most humorous of antics. “You were asleep,” she explained, still speaking in a soft tone.

Link glanced back at her, as if noticing her presence for the first time. “Zelda? You’re here? Oh…what time is it?”

“Just past 6:30. How long have you been here?”

Link leaned back and yawned before attempting to rub some of the sleep from his eyes. His mind was still rather sluggish and he struggled to do the math. “Hmm…about half an hour.”

“That’s it?” Zelda asked with raised eyebrows. “That’s all you could take before dozing off?”

Link smiled sheepishly. He wasn’t sure what to say. He knew that he had plenty of excuses, from having just eaten dinner to sitting down in this calm and silent environment to the fact that his book had been nothing short of dull. To him, it was hardly a surprise that he had succumbed to his drowsiness. He just wished that the Princess hadn’t walked in on his nap when he was supposed to be working diligently.

“Sorry, Zelda,” was all he said in the end.

The Princess sighed and shook her head. Fortunately, she didn’t seem disappointed. If anything, she seemed rather amused by his actions. “Well, no harm done I suppose. Have you at least been making any progress with your research?”

Link glanced down at his book, only to discover that he had made it as far as the table of contents before passing out. He chose to slam the text shut, suddenly deciding that this was a fact best kept to himself. “Um…not really,” he replied vaguely.

Zelda’s eyes grew curious, and she stepped closer to get a look at the tome in question. “What are you reading anyway?”

“How to Craft Mirrors and Other Glass Decor.”

Zelda just turned to the Hero with a deadpan look. She honestly couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Goodness, you really are hopeless without me,” she said with another sigh.

Link frowned, suddenly feeling a little defensive. “What? I figured that this might be helpful for understanding the Mirror of Twilight. Maybe we could find a way to restore it, or potentially craft a new one.”

Zelda just gave him a sympathetic look as she shook her head some more. “Oh, my naive Hero. How little you understand.”

“What?” Link asked, feeling all the more defensive.

“Link, the Mirror of Twilight was a very ancient and powerful artifact that was likely crafted using sacred magical arts. A simple craftsman’s guide isn’t going to tell you anything useful about it. At the very least, it won’t provide any clues on how to contact the Twilight Realm.”

This time, Link sighed. “Yeah, I figured as much…but I just have no idea where to start. This topic is so much bigger than anything I could possibly understand.”

Zelda smiled as she patted his shoulder a bit. “Well, just relax. I’m here now, and I intend to assist you. Besides, you’re eager to see Midna again, aren’t you?”

Link couldn’t help but smile back. “Of course.”

“Good, then let’s set to work.”

Zelda instructed Link to return his current book to the shelf before she began leading him around the library, scoping out various tomes that she thought might be useful in their quest to contact the Twilight Realm. Link collected each book that she pointed out, and before long, he carried a modest stack of them in his arms. As each new text was added to the pile, he naturally glanced at the titles. Some of the ones he noticed were Legends of the Realms Outside of Hyrule, Transportation and Communication Spells, and History of the Gerudo Desert. Link soon found himself feeling impressed. Not only did these titles sound leagues better than anything he had discovered, but Zelda had managed to find them so quickly and efficiently too. She certainly had a knack for this sort of thing, and he was truly grateful for her assistance.

Once they finished making their rounds, Link had a stack of tomes so high that it threatened to block his line of sight. He carried them back to the table, where he gently set them down. He then breathed a small sigh of relief. “Man, it’s surprising how heavy paper can be.”

“That’s the weight of knowledge,” Zelda replied with a smirk. She then carefully began sorting through the texts, wondering which ones might be the best place to start. She ended up handing one to Link. “Here, why don’t you read about the history of the Arbiter’s Grounds and see if you can find anything about the Mirror of Twilight’s construction.”

“Sure,” he said, taking the tome as well as a seat.

Zelda soon sat across from him with two books of her own, the one about outside realms and one about spells. Link just eyed her for a moment.

“Um…you’re going to read two books at once?” he asked skeptically.

“Not quite,” Zelda replied. “I plan to jump back and forth, using both books as references for the other.”

Link simply frowned. Just hearing talk like that was enough to make him feel like he had steam coming out of his ears. The Princess really was a great deal smarter than he could ever hope to be.

Zelda didn’t take notice of his bewildered expression though. Instead, she opened up her first book and began scanning the table of contents. As she did, she decided to start some light conversation.

“So, you mentioned that you’ve only been studying here for half an hour. Do you mind if I ask how you spent the rest of your day while you waited for me to arrive?”

Link glanced up, having already struggled with his own table of contents. “It’s funny you ask. I spent an hour wandering around the castle to see if anything needed to be done, but eventually I just ended up visiting with your father.”

Zelda paused as she was in the middle of turning a page. She quickly glanced up at Link with wide, surprised eyes. “You visited my father?” she repeated.

Link nodded. “That’s right. I heard that he had been released from the infirmary, so I thought it would be polite of me to stop in and congratulate his good health. And, well, it was kind of nice to talk to him again too. He really is rather easy to get along with once you get to know him.”

Zelda blinked, honestly stunned by the words that were coming out of the Hero’s mouth. “You actually went and talked to him?”

“Yeah,” Link said hesitantly, all while throwing the Princess a weird look. “Why are you so surprised?”

Zelda continued to stare at him for a moment, but she soon smiled as she felt her shock give way to amusement. “Well, it's just that in your first meeting with him, you seemed so nervous and shaken up. After experiencing that, I assumed that you might never wish to visit him again.”

Link blinked as his expression slowly settled into a scowl. “Okay, it wasn’t that bad.”

“It was fairly bad,” Zelda argued back. “I recall that you were so stiff. Your words caught in your throat and stuttered as they left your lips.”

Link rolled his eyes, as if she was greatly exaggerating the truth. “Well, I’ll admit that maybe I was a little nervous at first, but I got used to it over time. Now I have no problem talking to your father at all.”

“Is that so?” Zelda asked with raised eyebrows. “My, such courage…”

Link quickly detected the sarcasm in her tone. “You’re making fun of me.”

Zelda produced a guilty smile that appeared cheerful rather than remorseful. “Perhaps I am,” she admitted. “But on a more serious note, I suppose it is rather impressive that you’ve managed to overcome your nerves. It sounds like you’ve grown.”

Link couldn’t help but blush a bit. He had expected her words to sound a bit patronizing, but in reality, they were actually so heartfelt and sincere that he was honestly embarrassed to hear them. As always, receiving such praise from the Princess made him feel a little bashful.

“Thanks,” he eventually managed to reply.

Zelda smiled at his suddenly shy behavior before turning her attention back to her book. As she resumed flipping through page after page, she attempted to concentrate, but she couldn’t deny that the Hero’s activities had left her more than a little curious.

“So…what did the two of you talk about?” she asked casually as she kept her eyes glued to the paper.

Link simply shrugged as he started flipping through his own book. “It wasn’t anything grand. He just asked how the tour went and how I’ve been getting on. I asked him how he’s been feeling and how his recovery is progressing. You know, just casual stuff.”

“And that’s it?” Zelda replied, as if expecting more.

“Yeah, more or less,” Link said with a shrug.

Zelda absentmindedly nodded. Honestly, she wished that she could have asked for more details, but she didn’t want to overstep any boundaries. She figured that she owed Link and her father their respective privacy. Still, it almost felt a bit strange to know that the two of them were talking to each other in private. Zelda had always been the bridge that connected these two individuals together, so it was just odd to hear that they had started conversing on their own out of the blue like this. It almost made Zelda feel like she was missing out on something important. Like the two of them were talking behind her back. Oh, how she would have given anything to know some of the finer details of their conversation…

However, with nothing left to be said, the present conversation soon died out while the Hero and Princess focused on the task at hand. They both buried their noses in their respective tomes, searching for hints or clues on how one might go about accessing the Twilight Realm.

Hours passed as evening turned to night and the library had to be illuminated with lanterns. Other patrons of the library came and went during this time, but Link and Zelda paid them little mind. They were both focused on trying to glean whatever relevant information they could from the texts before them. Zelda ended up grabbing numerous books and flipping through them, likely to use as references for something she had discovered. Meanwhile, Link just kept to a single book, already feeling perfectly challenged just trying to learn the ancient history of Hyrule’s grand desert.

Eventually, the Hero managed to finish said book, but it was hardly useful. It detailed the construction of the Arbiter’s Grounds but it gave no mention of the Mirror of Twilight. Either it had been constructed in secret or it was added in at a later date that the book didn’t cover. With a sigh, he set the book aside as he turned to his partner. “Well, I haven’t learned anything. How about you?”

To his surprise, Zelda simply shushed him without even looking up. Link had to blink and perform a double take just to make sure that he hadn’t imagined it.

“Um, Zelda?”

Once again, she quickly shushed him, this time adding, “I think I’m close to figuring something out.”

Link just rolled his eyes. While he was happy to hear that she was close to discovering something useful, he felt that her harsh shushing had been somewhat excessive. This, on top of how familiar she was with the library and how absorbed she was in her book, seemed to paint her in a new light. He soon smirked as he crossed his arms.

“Has anyone ever told you that you would make an excellent librarian? You’re certainly strict enough.”

This comment was enough to make Zelda rip her eyes away from her book, only to give the Hero a dissatisfied glare. “Do you want my help or not?” she asked bluntly.

Link just quickly frowned. “Er…sorry. I’ll shut up.”

“Thank you,” Zelda breathed, before returning to her tome.

Link watched in uncomfortable silence as she swiftly ran her finger over a line of text, reading it carefully. It was clear that she was heavily invested in her research. Meanwhile, Link wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do next. He wanted to ask Zelda which book he should move on to, but he refrained out of fear of getting his head bitten off. So Link simply sat there and watched Zelda work as the minutes slowly ticked away. By this point, it was starting to get late, and the Hero was growing weary. He could even feel his eyes start to droop as he leaned back in his chair and relaxed.

Fortunately, a change in Zelda’s behavior managed to keep him awake. As the Princess continued reading, she soon smiled as she checked another page in a book off to her right. Her smile then elevated into a grin as she grabbed a spare piece of parchment and began jotting something down. Once she was done, she took a second to read what she had written.

“I did it!” she said, suddenly beaming. “I’ve figured it out.”

Link’s eyes widened and he quickly sat up in his seat. “Huh? You did? What did you figure out?”

“Here, take a look,” she said proudly before handing him the piece of parchment.

The Hero eagerly took it into his hands, hoping to find some sort of stunning revelation. However, upon looking the paper over, all he found there was a short sentence written in a language he didn’t recognize or understand. He soon glanced back and forth between the paper and the Princess, feeling disappointed, and quite frankly, stupid.

“Um…what is this?” he eventually asked.

Zelda just smiled. Of course Link would be clueless about this. “It’s a spell,” she explained. “If you read out that inscription, it should allow you to make contact with the Twilight Realm.”

“Seriously?” he asked, suddenly feeling impressed. 

She nodded. “The spell is written in an ancient language that was widely used by magicians at one point in time. It roughly translates to ‘connection to the Twilight’. The ‘Twilight’ word in particular is marked with a tiny symbol that indicates it is referring to an outside world. In other words, it is specifically referencing the Twilight Realm.”

“That’s amazing,” Link said, feeling completely awed. “How did you even find this?”

Zelda produced a proud expression once more. “It wasn’t easy, mind you. As it turns out, there haven’t been any scholars interested in contacting the outer realms for centuries. I had to dig rather deep into these tomes just to uncover that small string of words.”

Link shook his head, feeling both grateful and speechless. He honestly couldn’t believe what he was holding in his hands. He couldn’t believe that this moment had actually arrived. That he and Midna might finally get the chance to see each other again after spending so many months apart. The feeling was almost overwhelming.

“I don’t know what to say,” he murmured with a smile. “This is incredible, Zelda. Thank you.”

Zelda smiled back as she gave him a nod. “Of course, Link. This was my pleasure.”

The Hero simply stared at her, feeling content to do nothing more than let his eyes settle on the Princess. In this moment, he was so appreciative of her kindness and wisdom. He honestly felt like he didn’t deserve such generosity from her, and yet at the same time, he didn’t know what he would do without her.

Meanwhile, Zelda was feeling impatient, and soon rose to her feet with an excited grin. “Come on, let’s go test the results of our labor.”

Link cracked a shy smile. “You mean the results of your labor? I didn’t really do anything.”

“Nonsense, Link,” Zelda said with a quick shake of her head. “If it wasn’t for you, I might never have come down here and spent all this time studying. It’s only because you asked me for this favor in the first place that anything was accomplished at all.”

Upon hearing this, Link just felt even more bashful. He had a feeling that the Princess was stretching the truth in order to make him feel better. Still, he appreciated her attempts. “I guess so,” he agreed quietly.

“So come on,” Zelda insisted. “I’m eager to see if the spell works. And you do want to see Midna again, don’t you?”

“Of course,” said Link as he too rose to his feet. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, but, um…” He paused, suddenly glancing at the parchment in his hands and feeling confused again. “How does this work exactly?”

“It’s very simple,” Zelda assured him. She then glanced down at the tome she had left open, double-checking her research as she explained it to the Hero. “The spell requires three things: a conduit, a verbal reading, and a host with some level of magic proficiency.”

Link felt his shoulders physically start to sag. Despite his best efforts to understand, he felt terribly confused. “I don’t know what any of that means,” he admitted sadly.

Zelda just giggled at his crestfallen expression. “Trust me, it really is simple. Follow me and I’ll explain it all step by step.”

Link nodded before following her across the room. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but he had faith that if anyone could guide him through this, it would be Zelda. 

Before long, the two of them arrived at the far wall where an ornate mirror was hanging. Zelda simply inspected it for a moment before smiling. She then turned to Link.

“First off, a conduit is an object through which a spell is performed. Not every spell requires such a thing, but those that do tend to specify the necessity of objects with very specific qualities. In this particular case, our spell calls for either a mirror or a reflective surface of some sort.”

“I see,” Link said, slowly starting to smile. “So when I was reading about mirrors earlier, I was actually on the right track.”

“All right, don’t start thinking you’re a scholar just because you made such a simple connection,” Zelda chided him with a smirk. “The next part is the easiest. You just have to verbally read out the inscription in a clear voice.”

Link stared down at the sentence that was written in a foreign language. “Er, but what if I can’t read this?” he asked, sounding unsure.

“You recognize the letters, don’t you?”

Link checked again, and sure enough, the sentence appeared to have been written in the common Hylian script. He soon nodded. “I guess so, but I’m not quite sure how to pronounce this.”

Zelda smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you with that before we begin the casting. After all, we wouldn’t want a small slip up that forces the spell go awry, would we?”

“I hope not,” Link said with a gulp. All of a sudden, he felt rather nervous. He didn’t know much about magic, but he had a feeling that if even the tiniest thing went wrong, it could produce catastrophic results. He just hoped that Zelda knew what she was doing by trusting him with this.

Zelda, on the other hand, was calm as could be as she continued with her instructions. It was clear that she had done this sort of thing many times before. “The last requirement is a host with some level of magic proficiency. In most cases, the host refers to the person casting the spell.”

“And they must be capable of performing magic?” Link finished. Zelda just nodded, causing Link to frown and hand the parchment over to her. “In that case, I can’t do this at all. I’m not proficient in magic.”

To his surprise, Zelda shook her head at this. “I think you might actually be wrong about that, Link.”

Link frowned some more, feeling doubtful. “You think that I am capable of casting spells?”

“Perhaps,” Zelda said with a smirk. “At the very least, I think it’s worth a try. If you do have an affinity for magic, the spell will work as intended. If you don’t, then nothing will happen at all. So there’s really harm in trying it.”

Link could only raise his eyebrows. “But what makes you think that I have magic?”

“Just a feeling,” she replied mysteriously. This only caused the Hero to look even more skeptical, but Zelda gave him an encouraging smile. She recalled that she had seen the sacred mark of the Goddesses appear on the back of his hand on more than one occasion. A mark that typically indicated a great source of power, and one that Zelda secretly held herself. The Princess was more than confident that when the Hero attempted to read the inscription, the dormant magic within him would flow through the symbol and bring the spell to life.

Naturally, Link wasn’t fully convinced, but he allowed Zelda to go over the spell with him one more time as he prepared to cast it. He especially made sure that he knew the correct pronunciation before he was ready to proceed. Following Zelda’s instructions, he then approached the mirror on the wall and stared back at his own reflection.

“Before we begin, I suppose I should give you a fair warning,” Zelda said as she stepped up to his side and gazed at her own image in the mirror. “The spell itself is a little vague. It is unclear if it will open up a portal to the Twilight Realm, or if it will only allow you to communicate through it, or if it will only allow you to view the realm without being able to interact with it at all. It’s a shame, but all I can surmise is that some sort of window may be produced that connects their world to ours. And of course, there’s no clear way to get ahold of Midna either. It may just end up connecting you with some random Twili resident, or perhaps nobody at all. But this is a start, at least, and I feel it’s worth giving a try.”

Link nodded, carefully taking in all of her words. He understood what she was trying to say. Basically, “don’t get your hopes up”. The spell was ancient and unfamiliar and neither one of them had any idea what to expect. But Link didn’t care. If this spell gave him even the slightest chance of talking to Midna again, then he fully agreed with the Princess. It was worth a try.

Zelda smiled as she noted the resolve in his expression. “Are you ready?” she asked quietly.

Link nodded again. He felt nervous, but excited too. “I’m ready.”

“Good. Now go ahead and place a hand on the mirror and read out the spell. Remember to use a clear voice and carefully enunciate your words.”

“Got it.”

“Oh, and Link?”

Link glanced over to the Princess, only to watch as she produced a soft smile and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Good luck.”

Link smiled back. “Thanks, Zelda. For everything.”

She nodded before withdrawing her hand and taking a step back. Link then faced the mirror again before taking a deep breath. By this point in the evening, the library had completely emptied out save for the two of them. Link didn’t mind the lack of people, but he did find that their absence had created a quiet yet eerie atmosphere in this grand archive. He fought off the desire to shiver as he raised his left hand and placed his palm against the mirror.

It was now or never.

Link glanced down at the inscription and carefully read it out word for word. As promised, he spoke in a clear voice and made sure to accurately pronounce all the syllables. Once the final word left his lips, the mirror began to change…

Notes:

Well, place your bets. Do you think that Midna will make an appearance next chapter or not? I’m eager to hear what everyone has to say :)

Also, I have another self-promotion announcement! I recently started releasing a second long-fic, titled “Children of the Triforce: Retold”, and I’d like to encourage you all to go and give it a read. It’s a retelling of an older story, written many years ago by a different author. I’ve since revisited it and tried to breathe some new life into it. It’s a semi-wholesome and semi-tragic family drama focusing on Link and Zelda as parents. I plan to release a new chapter every two weeks, specifically on the weeks where this story is on break. So, if you’re looking for something to read while waiting for new updates, please consider giving it a look!

Chapter 42: Results

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 42 – Results

As Link finished reading out the inscription, his eyes went wide as a golden symbol started to glow on the back of his hand. Suddenly, he could feel some sort of energy passing through his arm and into the mirror before him, as if Link’s own lifeforce was fueling the magic that was springing to life. He then gasped as the image presented in the mirror began to transform. His and Zelda’s reflections dissolved, as did the rest of the library. It was soon replaced by another setting, one that looked rather familiar to Link.

He couldn’t help but smile at what he saw. He witnessed a formless landscape, with a golden sky that softly glowed amidst dark, shapeless clouds. Additionally, he noticed small black crystals that naturally floated up into the air, constantly appearing, disappearing, and reappearing at their leisure. The Hero began to beam. This was it! This was the Twilight Realm!

However, Link’s smile soon faded as something strange happened. The mirror cast some sort of pale, golden light onto his body, and he immediately winced as he withdrew his hand. Something didn’t quite feel right about this. He suddenly began shivering nonstop as a coldness overtook him.

“Ugh,” he grunted.

Zelda’s eyes shot open in alarm. “Link?” she asked before taking a step closer to him. “Link, what’s wrong?”

Link went to respond, but his words died in his throat. He then felt his body lock into place as he continued to shiver. He couldn’t move an inch. He didn’t know what was happening. It felt like a strange sensation was assaulting his body, and yet, at the same time, it felt familiar too.

A second later, the pale golden light that was spilling out of the mirror ceased, and the image of the Twilight Realm soon faded away as well. As it did, Link found himself staring at his own reflection just in time to watch his entire body be enveloped in shadow. He soon fell forward, landing on all fours.

Zelda just gasped as she watched the shadows overtake him. She had no idea what was happening or how she could possibly help him. However, a second later, she had her answer.

For there, sitting on the floor before the mirror, rested a majestic black and white wolf.

Link just blinked and sniffed a few times before stretching his neck. He felt a little confused and disoriented. He naturally went to shake his fur coat and it was then that he started to piece together what had happened to him.

He was a wolf!

Link couldn’t help but blink a few more times as he looked himself over. Sure enough, he was covered in fur and he had four strong paws resting beneath his long body. Even that old iron manacle was still clamped around one of his legs. He couldn’t help but whimper a bit as his ears perked up. What exactly had happened?

Meanwhile, Zelda just stared at the animal with wide eyes. Of course, she recognized the creature as Link in his wolf form, as evidenced by the black and white pattern on his coat as well as his bright blue eyes. But still, she was at a complete loss as to why the transformation had taken place. Surely, it had something to do with the spell that they had attempted to cast, but she couldn’t fathom what might have gone wrong.

It didn’t help that she suddenly found Link’s behavior so distracting. The wolf, seemingly both confused and curious, couldn’t stop fidgeting around. He lifted his paws, sniffed them loudly, and even spun in a circle as he tried to examine his tail. However, it wasn’t until he came to a stop and glanced at Zelda with the most dumbfounded puppy-dog expression that she lost her composure.

“Pfft!” she exclaimed, quickly placing a hand over her mouth as she tried to contain her giggles. “Oh-ho-ho my…” she said in a shaky yet festive voice. “L-Link, what happened to you?”

Link just blinked before tilting his head a bit. He tried to shrug his shoulders, but his animal instinct took over and he just ended up shaking the rest of his body instead. He then glanced backwards with a frown, as if his body had betrayed him.

This was enough to make Zelda lose it. She soon snorted and released a howl of laughter. It was that mirthful, unrestrained laughter; the same one that had complemented the Hero’s fall into the fountain that one time. Zelda felt rather bad about poking fun at the Hero like this, but she couldn’t help herself. This situation was just so surprising and unexpected that she couldn’t resist seeing the humor in it. It also didn’t help that it was rather late at night, and she was tired and probably not in her right state of mind.

Link just scowled as he watched the Princess start to double over. Clearly, he did not find this amusing at all. Before long, he bared his fangs as he began to growl.

Zelda casually waved a hand as she clamped her mouth shut. She then stood up straight before releasing a content sigh. “Oh, forgive me, Link. I’ve just never seen such a confused look on such a fearsome animal before. And what with the suddenness of this situation, it was quite the comedic combination.”

Link softly snorted through his snout. Zelda just interpreted this as a sigh.

“I’m sorry. Truly, I am,” Zelda said as she slowly brushed some of her hair back behind her ear. “Clearly you’re confused about what just happened, as am I. I suppose we should try to figure out what went wrong, hmm?”

Link brought his forelegs in close as he planted his butt on the floor. He then began wagging his tail back and forth in approval. Upon seeing this, Zelda almost fell into giggling again, but she managed to restrain herself.

Zelda soon walked over and placed a hand on the mirror. As before, it revealed nothing other than her reflection and the room that surrounded it. “It seems that our spell went awry.”

Link simply growled.

“Yes, I suppose that goes without saying, doesn't it?” Zelda agreed with a smile. “Still, what could have happened? You used a clear voice to read out the inscription and you nailed the pronunciation. We also witnessed the mirror start to show signs of activity, so clearly some sort of spell took effect. Which means…the only variable that didn’t go according to plan was our results. Why did you change into your Twilight form?”

Link closed his eyes, wishing that he could come up with an answer. Unfortunately, he was clueless about these sorts of things. All he knew was what he had experienced in the past. He recalled that the only times he had ever turned into a wolf was when he entered the Twilight, or whenever he used Zant’s dark crystal. And he wasn’t quite sure how either of those situations applied to this one.

Zelda seemed to be thinking much the same as her eyes fell on him. She rubbed her chin a bit as she studied him, trying to think things through. At one point, she mindlessly ended up reaching down and scratching behind one of Link’s ears.

The wolf just gave her a weird look.

“Oh, sorry,” she said, withdrawing her hand. “It just felt right.”

Link rolled his eyes. Now he was being reminded of all the times that Midna had treated him like a dumb animal. No, on second thought, he had actually been more like her own personal pet.

“Hmm,” Zelda hummed as she continued to brainstorm. “If the results were unexpected, then perhaps the spell itself is the issue?” She mulled on this theory for a moment before suddenly pausing. “Oh dear…” she murmured.

Link tilted his head as he gave her an inquisitive look, but she paid him no mind. Instead, she hurried back to the table where all of their tomes rested. Link quickly decided to follow after her, his four feet padding across the floor.

Once she reached the table, Zelda began flipping through page after page, trying to check on something. Link just settled down on the floor next to her as she worked. He wasn’t sure how he could be of use in his current form, so he simply had to wait for Zelda to find some answers.

Which, before long, she did. The Princess nodded as she turned to another book and used it as a reference. After reading a few lines, she produced a satisfied smile. “Ah-ha,” she said proudly. “I see what the issue is.”

Link quickly rose to his feet, wagging his tail excitedly. His mouth even fell open as he happily started to pant. Although, as soon as he realized he was doing this, he put a stop to it.

“It was a mistranslation,” Zelda said, still smiling. “It seems that I misunderstood the meaning behind that spell I wrote down. I originally understood it as ‘connection to the Twilight’, but in actuality it was ‘exposure to the Twilight’.”

Link simply blinked, feeling kind of lost for the umpteenth time that day.

“Don’t you understand?” Zelda encouraged him. “Our spell was never meant to connect you with the Twilight Realm. It simply exposed you to the effects of it. In other words, you were forced to turn into a wolf, just as if you had entered one of the Twilight curtains in our world.”

Okay, now Link was starting to understand. It was as if he had summoned the effects of the Twilight onto himself. That certainly would have explained his sudden transformation into a beast.

Zelda soon shook her head as she nervously laughed. “Oh, this is all my fault. A mistranslation, of all things. Such a careless mistake. Forgive me, Link, I must be losing my mind…”

Link frowned as he listened to her. He could clearly sense her guilt over how things had turned out. The heart of the beast began to well up with sympathy, and in an attempt to make the Princess feel better, he slowly drew close and nuzzled his head against one of her legs.

Zelda seemed a bit surprised by this action, but she soon smiled and leaned down to scratch behind his ear again. “You’re right, I suppose that this isn’t all bad. At least I was able to see your adorable little wolf form again,” she said with a laugh.

Link felt his jaw drop open as he stepped away from her. This wasn’t what he had been trying to convey!

Zelda laughed some more, easily amused by his expression. “Come now, Link. You have to admit that this is a little funny.”

Link promptly shut his jaw as he gave her a deadpan glare. Clearly, he did not find this situation amusing at all.

Zelda soon smirked, her expression turning playful as she rose back to her full height. “Well, I suppose I should work on changing you back. Unless, of course, you would prefer to stay in this form?”

Link bared his fangs as he began to growl. He wanted to make it perfectly clear that he was not okay with this!

Meanwhile, Zelda just tried to play innocent. “What’s the matter? I thought you said that being a wolf wasn’t so bad.”

Link growled some more. He even placed his front legs on a chair so that he could appear larger and more intimidating.

“My, what large teeth you have,” Zelda responded playfully. “Are you sure you don’t want to remain in this form? It really is a good look for you, in my opinion.”

Link glared as he felt his patience wearing thin. He immediately started barking as loud as he could. “Ruff! Ruff!”

This caused Zelda to break down and giggle once more. It was just so amusing to see the Hero-turned-wolf sounding so desperate for her assistance. Still, she felt like she had achieved her fill of fun. “Okay, okay,” she said, waving her hands at him. “Calm down and I’ll get this sorted out.”

But Link didn’t calm down. Instead, he just continued to bark, his loud voice echoing throughout the far corners of the library. It was possible that his animal instincts had taken over again, because he seemed to have worked himself into a frenzy. “Ruff! Ruff! Ruff!”

Zelda quickly dropped her amused smile as it suddenly dawned on her just how loud he was being. She soon waved her hands some more as she flashed an alarmed expression. “Shh! Link, please calm down. I promise to change you back, but you must be quiet!”

“Ruff! Ruff!”

“Link, I’m serious. Please quiet down before the guards hear you!”

But it was too late. For as soon as Zelda uttered these words, there was a clash of metal at the front of the library. The sound was so loud that it immediately caught the attention of both the Princess and the wolf. Link ceased his barking as he turned to find the cause of the commotion that was louder than his own. Before long, he spotted a single soldier, clad in metallic armor with a spear in hand. The man recklessly charged into the room, looking positively alarmed as he nearly tripped over himself.

“What’s going on in here?” he demanded as he whipped the end of his spear from one direction to the other. “What was all of that noise ab–Huh!?”

The soldier immediately froze as soon as he laid eyes on the only human in the room. And of course, it didn’t take long for him to recognize her. “Pr-Princess!” he exclaimed. “What are you–”

The man paused for a second time the moment he spotted the giant beast next to Zelda. And once again, his defensive instinct flared to life. “W-Wolf!” he shouted. The fact that such a dangerous creature had infiltrated the library seemed to have stunned the soldier senseless. However, it wasn’t long before he pointed a shaky spear in the Hero’s direction and spoke up in a trembling voice. “Y-Your Highness! Please step away from the beast. I…I will slay him myself!”

Zelda just remained calm. She took a second to stare from the wolf to the soldier and then back again before sighing. She made sure to give Hero a certain look, as if to say, “now see what you’ve done?”

Link just lowered his ears, feeling ashamed. Perhaps he had gotten a little carried away there…

“Soldier, please lower your weapon,” Zelda called out in a calm voice. “There is no danger here.”

“I…I beg to differ, mam!” the soldier cried back. “That thing is huge. It…It could probably rip you apart with those claws and fangs! Please get behind me!”

Zelda sighed again. “Soldier, your courage is appreciated, but it is not necessary. I assure you that I am in no danger. This beast may appear monstrous, but he is completely tame.”

The man was still rather shaken up by this chain of events, so it took more than a few seconds for the Princess’s words to fully sink in. “H-He’s…” The guard paused. “Tame?”

Zelda gave a firm nod. “Please, lower your weapon and I can explain.”

The man still seemed quite nervous, but upon realizing that his Princess had just issued him a direct order, he hastily went to comply. “Er, yes, Your Highness.” The spear was lowered and the man remained still, although he was still staring at Link out of the corner of his eye.

Zelda simply sighed as she crossed her arms. “Soldier, I am sure that you have heard tales of the Hero of Twilight who recently saved our Kingdom from the Twilight Invasion, correct?”

“You mean Sir Link?” the soldier asked, immediately recognizing who she was referring to.

“Yes. And I’m sure that among those tales, you heard some that mentioned how the Hero was able to use the Twilight’s power to take on the form of a wolf, yes?”

“Well, sure,” the soldier said with a nod. He then paused as he managed to put two and two together. “Wait, don’t tell me…” His eyes fell on the Wolf. “This is the Hero!?”

“He is indeed,” Zelda replied. She soon reached over and scratched Link behind his ears again. The Hero just remained still. He didn’t like being treated like an animal, but he supposed that staying calm would help convince the soldier that he truly wasn’t a threat.

And, well, he supposed it did feel rather good to be scratched like that…

“So this is Sir Link,” the soldier said, eyeing the wolf from top to bottom. “But…how did this happen? Why does he look like that?”

“We came here to practice a magic spell and I’m afraid that something went wrong,” Zelda explained patiently. “The next thing we knew, he had been forced to take on his wolf form.”

“Oh, poor bloke,” the soldier said with a frown.

Zelda just bowed her head. “My apologies for causing such a disturbance.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble!” the man replied quickly. “As long as the two of you are all right, Your Highness.”

“I assure you that we are. I’ll just have to perform a spell to change the Hero back into a man. It should only take a moment.”

Zelda then turned to Link, carefully looking him over. She recalled the last time that she had tried to dispel the magic that had turned him into a wolf. Midna had requested it while she lay pale and dying on the floor, and Zelda had been unable to grant that request due to the potency of Zant’s dark crystal. But this time would be different. Zant’s twisted magic wasn’t involved in this instance.

“Are you ready?’ she asked the wolf.

Link just barked in agreement. As if she even had to ask!

Zelda smiled before placing a hand on his head. She then bowed her own head in prayer. For this instance, she was going to use the most reliable source of magic she knew. She was going to ask the Goddesses to come to her aid and lend her their power.

“Goddesses, I beseech thee,” she spoke in a soft voice. “Please assist me in returning our brave Hero to his original form.”

Link went still, suddenly growing nervous as the seconds ticked away. However, it wasn’t long before a bright light shone from Zelda’s palm, and a moment later it completely enveloped him. He soon felt a warm energy rushing through his veins, and he was met with a familiar feeling. The feeling of turning back into a man, with his wolf figure being dispelled like a shadow under lantern light.

Zelda simply removed her hand as she stepped back to admire her work. Sure enough, the Hero now stood before her, having become human once again. He even had the parchment with the spell written on it clutched in his grasp. It was as if he had never become a wolf in the first place.

Link breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness,” he mumbled.

Meanwhile, the soldier in the room had no shame in expressing his astonishment. “Goddesses be praised!” he exclaimed. “It truly was the Hero turned beast. What a sight to see. Just wait until I tell the rest of the men about this.”

Link cast a scowl in the soldier’s direction, but the man was too stunned to notice. As if Link needed any more rumors spreading around the castle! Nevertheless, he sighed and let it go. It wasn’t like there was anything that could be done about it now.

He then turned back to the Princess, only to watch her flash a guilty smile at him. “I really am sorry about this, Link,” she said sincerely.

Link released another sigh, but he soon smiled too. “Aw, don’t worry about it. You were right. It was kind of a funny mistake, now that I think about it.”

“Always so positive,” Zelda replied with a hint of a giggle. “Still, I wish I could say that our research has proved fruitful, but I feel like we haven’t really made any progress.”

Link nodded as he stared at the paper in his hand. “Yeah, this spell isn’t going to be of much use to us.”

“We’ll have to keep studying then.” Zelda took a moment to glance at the night sky through the library’s windows. “But perhaps at another time. It’s already rather late.”

“Right, let’s stop here for today,” Link agreed.

With nothing to show for their hours of research, Link and Zelda gathered their things and prepared to leave. The soldier was instructed to return to his post for his presence was no longer needed there, and he departed, still grinning like an idiot at what he had just witnessed. After that, Link and Zelda took a few minutes to return all of their texts back to their proper places on the shelves before they made their own departure.

As they walked, Link gave Zelda a small smile. “Thanks for your help today. You’ll come back and help me again the next time, won’t you?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows a bit. “Are you sure you even want my help after today?”

Link just laughed. “Of course. I think we both know that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere if it wasn’t for you.”

“I suppose not,” Zelda agreed before smiling back. “Very well, I promise to continue assisting with your research until you and Midna are finally reunited.”

Link bowed his head in gratitude. “That’s all I could ever ask for.”

 

---

 

Link groaned a bit as he opened his eyes. He then winced as he found direct sunlight pouring onto his face. He held up a hand to block the golden light as he sat up straight with a yawn.

He had been taking a nap when the sunlight had shone through his window and awoken him. He couldn’t help but yawn as he went to rub some of the sleep from his eyes. It was the middle of the afternoon, but Ordon had proven to be rather uneventful that day, almost to the point of being dull. On days like this, the Hero just couldn’t resist reclining in one of his wooden chairs and dozing the hours away.

A few days had passed since Link had returned home from the castle. He hoped to revisit the library at some point and have another go at contacting the Twilight Realm, but he supposed that he would have to wait for Zelda to be available. As much as he hated to admit it, he truly was clueless without her. So, with that option off the table and nothing else in Hyrule to keep him occupied, Link had decided to bide his time in Ordon. Not that he minded, of course. He was always happy to return home and relax for a bit.

The Hero soon readjusted his seat so that it was no longer in the path of the sun, and then closed his eyes as he grew comfortable again. He really did enjoy taking naps in the quiet of his home.

However, it wasn’t long before his sleep was interrupted by a knock at his front door. Link just smiled as he reopened his eyes. “Come in,” he called out.

The door swung open, and to little surprise, he found his most frequent visitor standing there. Of course, she was also his longtime best friend, and more importantly, his beloved.

Link greeted her with a bright smile. “Hey Ilia.”

“Hi Link.” She smiled back as she shut the door behind her. She then walked over and gave him her usual greeting: a soft kiss on the cheek. As always, this subtle motion made Link’s heart swell with joy.

The girl giggled at his expression while she brought her arm out before her. She revealed a basket hanging from her hand. “I brought some cucco eggs. Father wanted you to have them.”

“Hey, that’s great,” Link said with a grin as he admired the small white ovals. “How about sticking around and then we can have them for dinner?”

Ilia beamed, delighted at this proposal. “That sounds lovely.” She soon went to place the basket on the table in the kitchen. She would start cooking them before long.

“Tell your dad I said thanks,” Link mumbled as he went to stretch. He felt a little stiff after sleeping for so long.

Ilia just laughed as she watched him. “Oh my, it seems like someone has had a lazy day. Have you even bothered to leave your house today?”

“I took a walk in the forest this morning,” Link said with a shrug. “By the time I got back to the village, things were really quiet, so I decided to take the rest of the day off.”

Ilia shook her head as she continued to smile. “Oh, you really ought to be careful, Link. If you keep lazing around, you might get too stiff to even leave your chair.”

“Not true,” Link replied as he jumped to his feet. He then stretched some more. “I feel completely rejuvenated. If anything, this chair works wonders.”

“You should at least sleep in your bed,” Ilia said with another shake of her head. “Oh, what am I to do with you?”

“What makes you think that something needs to be done?”

“My instincts are constantly telling me that you need to be kept in-line.”

Link just laughed before walking up behind Ilia and wrapping his arms around her. He then pecked her on the cheek, causing her to giggle as well.

“I hope that wasn’t stepping out of line,” he whispered.

Ilia’s face turned a little red, but she continued to smile. “Of course not. I’ll permit that at any time.”

“Good,” Link said. He decided to keep holding her for a few moments, happy to have her warm presence in his arms.

“Oh, I just remembered,” Ilia said as she reached for the basket. “The postman came through town today. He had a letter for you.” After a second of digging around the basket, she soon grasped the white envelope and presented it to Link.

The Hero let go of Ilia as he took the letter into his hands. “Really?” he asked while blankly staring at it. It wasn’t often that he got mail, but sure enough, this envelope had been addressed to him.

“It’s from Telma,” Ilia explained, pointing to the return address in the corner.

“So it is,” Link murmured to himself. “I wonder what she could want?”

Ilia shrugged. “She sent me a letter too, asking how I’ve been getting along. Maybe she’s decided to check in on you as well.”

“Maybe,” Link agreed. He supposed that it had been a few months since he had last talked to the barmaid in Castle Town. The two of them really did need to catch up.

Still, with no further clues to go off of, Link assumed that he would have to actually open the letter in order to get his answers. So he did, tearing open the envelope and retrieving the letter from within. It only took him a minute to read what had been inscribed on it. Once he finished, he simply furrowed his brow.

“Huh…”

“What is it?” Ilia asked, suddenly watching his expression closely.

“She says that she wants me to visit her bar tomorrow night,” Link replied as he read through the letter again. “She claims that she has something important to share with me. Some sort of ‘secret’, based on the hints she’s dropped.”

“Oh,” Ilia replied, her expression quickly turning somber. “So…you’ll be leaving then?”

Link shrugged. “It sounds like I should.”

Ilia just frowned, suddenly pouting. “Oh, but it’s not fair. You just returned a few days ago, and now you’re already setting off again?”

Link just gave her a soft smile. “Ilia, what’s the matter?”

The girl merely sighed as she crossed her arms. “It’s nothing. It’s just…I don’t like it when you have to be gone for so long. I get terribly lonely and start to miss you.”

“Aw,” Link said before pulling her into a hug. “That’s awfully sweet of you to say. However, weren’t you the one that was just saying I was being too lazy?”

Ilia frowned some more in his embrace. “That doesn’t mean that I want you to run away.”

“I’m not running,” Link said with a laugh. “If people need me, I want to be there for them. And besides, I always come back, don’t I?”

Ilia glanced up at the Hero, and looked as if she had something to say, but soon held her tongue. Eventually, she produced a soft smile. “Yes, you do.”

“This time will be no different,” he assured her, taking a moment to gently rub her back.

She gently rubbed his in return as she leaned her head into his chest. “When will you depart?” she asked quietly.

“Tomorrow morning, probably.”

“Does it have to be so soon?”

“It can't be helped. It takes all day to get to Castle Town.”

“Hmm,” the girl sighed as she closed her eyes. “All right. I guess if Telma needs you, then it wouldn’t be fair for me to say no.”

Link smiled at her acceptance. “Is there anything you want me to tell her?”

Ilia cracked a smile, albeit a small one. “Tell her I said hello, and that I’m doing well. I’ll go into more detail once I find the time to respond to her letter.”

“Got it,” Link said with a nod.

“Still, I wish that you didn’t have to go at all,” Ilia said sadly.

Link ran his fingers through her hair a few times in an attempt to console her. “We at least have the rest of today,” he reminded her.

“Yes,” she agreed, before pulling him close again. “We at least have the rest of today.”

Notes:

You ever notice how when a dog gets agitated and starts barking, they literally NEVER SHUT UP? I personally love dogs, but I think we can all agree that they can be very annoying at times lol.

Also, have you ever been in a situation where you noticed that you wrote a story about Link and Ilia being in a relationship together but then went through 40 chapters while barely showing any details of it? Ha ha, me neither…(sweats nervously)

On a more serious note, I felt inclined to include the Link and Ilia scene just so we can get a glimpse into their peaceful daily lives. I know that this is a Zelink-centric story, but the Link/Ilia relationship is important as well, so I hope you don’t mind if I visit it from time to time :)

Chapter 43: Telma's Intel

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 43 – Telma’s Intel

The following day, Link made the trip to Castle Town and arrived just as the sun was starting to set. By this point, the appointed meeting time was already nearing, so Link went straight to Telma’s bar. After a short trip down the south street of Castle Town and an alley off to the side, Link arrived at the small square where the bar was located.

The Hero couldn’t help but smile with nostalgia as he approached. He was ashamed that months had passed since he last stopped by to visit the friendly barmaid, so he took a moment to take in the sight of the bar nestled away in the corner of the square. A soft glow could be seen spilling out of the door which was always cracked open. From inside, Link could hear the cheers and laughs of many happy patrons. There was no doubt that this locale would be busy now that the workday was over.

Nevertheless, Link gathered his courage and stepped inside. Naturally, the bar itself was even more nostalgic, as well as noisy and eventful. There was a number of people occupying the tables scattered throughout the room. Some of them were soldiers and some were merchants. Some were Hylians and some were even Gorons. Many of them laughed and smiled and cheered and toasted their drinks to a wonderful evening. Some were happy to get drunk, others were hoping to drown their sorrows, and some still were just content to sit in a warm environment like this and relax. They may have come from all walks of life with different motives in mind, but at least one thing was clear. They were completely satisfied.

It wasn’t long before someone came to greet Link. He just looked down in surprise to find Louise, Telma’s big, fluffy white cat. She must have instantly recognized Link, for she wasted no time in rubbing her face against his legs and purring.

Link laughed as she squatted down and gave the cat a gentle scratch. “Hey, Louise. It’s good to see you again. How have you been doing?”

The cat simply purred in response.

Link smiled, happy to know that she was getting along okay. During his adventures, this tiny feline had helped him on more than one occasion, and to some extent, he still felt like he owed her for it. He made a mental note to bring her some genuine Ordon goat milk the next time he visited.

“Do you know where your master is?” Link asked as he continued to stroke the cat

“Meow,” the cat replied before using her head to gesture to the other side of the room.

Link followed this direction and soon spotted Telma: tall, large and cheerful as she stood amongst her patrons. Naturally, she wore a wide, friendly smile on her face as she worked. Her long red hair was loosely tied up behind her, and she wore her typical outfit: a big black coat (which was entirely too revealing, in Link’s embarrassed opinion) and a long black skirt. It was a bit of a dynamic look, but it somehow gifted her all the sentiment of a warm, motherly figure.

As Link watched her, he noticed that she seemed to be in the middle of serving a particularly large group of soldiers. He wasn’t surprised that she was stretched thin considering how busy the place was tonight. Link soon decided that he would take a seat at the bar and wait for Telma to come to him. As he walked, Louise happily followed behind him.

However, as Link approached the bar, he soon stopped in his tracks. The bar itself was mostly empty, save for one customer who was clad in a dark cloak from head to toe. They even had a hood pulled up over their head. Link couldn’t help but shudder a bit when he spotted the figure. He wondered if that’s why no one else was currently sitting at the bar next to him. Because the dark cloak was just so imposing, even at a glance.

Regardless, Link couldn’t stop eyeing the figure. Before long, he almost felt like he had to do a double take. Was it just him, or did he recognize those dark robes that the stranger was cloaked in? He felt like he had seen them somewhere before, back when he had been on his adventure. He soon took a few curious steps forward, approaching the stranger. By the time he made it to the bar, he felt like his mind had started to connect the dots. Perhaps he really did know this person!

Sure enough, his suspicions were quickly confirmed once a familiar pair of sapphire eyes turned and glanced at him from beneath the dark hood.

“What the…” Link blurted out. “Is that you, Zel-”

A hand, covered in an elegant white glove, shot out from beneath the dark cloak. It placed a single finger against Link’s lips.

“Shh, not so loud,” came a soft yet familiar voice.

Link’s eyes just went wide. “It is you!”

“Yes, it’s me,” Zelda replied, pulling her hood back just enough to show her face to Link, and only Link. “But please keep your voice down, and don’t use my name.”

Zelda ended up retracting her finger from his lips, but Link just stood there, looking confused. “Why not?”

“I don't want to be recognized. If the townspeople realize that the Royal Princess is here, it might cause a commotion. Thus, I have donned this cloak to keep my identity a secret.”

“Oh, I see…” Link said, slowly nodding. “What brings you here though? I almost never see you leave the castle.”

Zelda shrugged. “Telma sent me a letter asking me to meet her here tonight. She claimed that she had some sort of information to pass along.”

Link gawked. “Huh. She asked the same of me.”

Zelda’s eyes shimmered with curiosity beneath her hood. “How interesting. In that case, it sounds like she intended to meet the two of us together. Although she never mentioned that she had invited someone other than myself…”

Link rolled his eyes. Somehow, he wasn’t surprised that Telma had decided to leave out such important details. It always seemed like she had a way of toying with people, even if it was just in minor ways.

“Well, in any case, would you care to join me?” Zelda asked as she gestured to the empty stool beside her. “It seems like it will be a while before Telma finishes serving those customers.”

Link shrugged before taking a seat. He had not anticipated such a surprising turn of events this evening, but he supposed that he should’ve expected nothing less from Telma and her invitation. However, what was worse was that he had a feeling that the truly shocking events were still yet to come.

“I didn’t realize that you personally knew Telma,” Link said, still trying to piece everything together.

“Oh yes, since I was a little girl,” Zelda replied with a nod. “My father enjoyed visiting this bar from time to time, and Telma was always happy to welcome us. Throughout the years, I occasionally visited on my own, and I’ve come to know her better because of it. She’s always been a good friend, and a surprisingly helpful source of information.”

“Makes sense,” Link said with a nod. By running a local bar, Telma had always been privy to the rumors and secrets related to Hyrule, and she was often willing to pass those useful hints along to her allies. It was why the Resistance had originally used this bar as their base of operations. Because she was just such a reliable source, as well as a gracious host.

“I’m curious to know what she wishes to speak to us about,” Zelda continued as she eyed the numerous bottles of brandy on the wall behind the bar. “Do you have any idea?”

Link shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Do you?”

“No, I’m equally clueless,” Zelda admitted with a sigh. “But based on the wording in her letter, it sounded rather important. It makes me wonder what her pointed ears have managed to pick up this time…”

“Whatever it is, it must involve the both of us,” Link said with a shrug. 

“Hmm,” said Zelda, mulling this over in her thoughts. “I just hope it isn’t trouble. Hyrule’s recovery has been proceeding so smoothly, I’d hate to have to deal with any sudden setbacks.”

At this, Link just flashed a confident grin. “Aw, don’t worry, Zelda. If it ends up being something dangerous, I’d be happy to deal with it.”

Zelda just turned to the Hero with a surprisingly disappointed look. “Um, Link, my name…” she whispered.

Link immediately clasped a hand over his mouth as he realized his mistake. “Sorry Zel–Oh, I mean, Prin–Er…” He paused, looking positively confused. “Um…what should I call you?”

It was hard to see beneath her hood, but Link managed to spot a subtle smile appear on her lips. “Just ‘Lady’ shall be fine for tonight.”

“But that makes you sound like a stranger,” Link noted, mimicking Zelda’s own words from the Gerudo Desert a long, long time ago.

Naturally, she picked up on this, and continued to smile. “Very funny, Link, but there is a time and place for everything. Now, will you please try to keep my name from your lips for the rest of the evening?”

Link smiled. “Sure thing, lady.”

“My Lady,” Zelda was quick to correct him.

Link playfully rolled his eyes. “Of course, My Lady…”

Zelda couldn’t help but giggle before she nodded in approval. “There, much better.”

Link just shook his head before a warm and friendly presence soon approached them from behind the bar.

“Well, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes!” Telma exclaimed as she greeted her guests. She took a second to set a tray on the counter before giving them each a wide grin. “Link, honey, it’s been ages since I’ve last seen you! Where’ve you been hiding all this time?”

Link smiled bashfully. It was partially because of her overwhelming enthusiasm, but also partially because her wide chest had been planted front and center before him. He had to intentionally divert his eyes away from her bosom, and more specifically, her shamelessly exposed bra.

“I’ve been in Ordon,” he answered. “And helping out around the castle, of course.”

“And yet you never make time to stop in and see little old me?” Telma asked as she placed a hand on her hip. “You’re not trying to avoid me, are ya, honey?”

Link shook his head. “Of course not. It’s always a pleasure to see you, Telma.”

“Well aren’t you flattering?” Telma said, cracking another warm smile. “Tell me, how’s that lovely little Ilia of yours doing? Is she getting along okay?”

“Yeah, she’s doing fine back home,” Link assured her. “Also, she says ‘hello’ and plans to respond to your letter soon.”

“Isn’t that sweet of her? You’ll have to bring her along the next time you stop by. I’d love to see her again and catch up.”

Link smiled. “Sure, I’d be happy to do that.”

Telma paused for a moment before smirking. She soon leaned over the counter and gave Link a surprisingly stern glare. “And you better keep treating her well, you hear me? If you ever break her innocent little heart, just know that there’ll be hell to pay, young man.”

Link backed away, partially in fear and partially because he didn’t want to risk her large breasts coming into contact with his hands or face. “Of course not! I would never hurt her.”

Telma smirked some more as she backed off. “Of course, honey, I know you wouldn’t.”

Link just felt his surprised expression dissolve into a frown. Then why are you giving me such a hard time?

Fortunately, Link’s time in the barmaid’s gaze had finished, for she soon turned to the Princess who had been surprisingly quiet up until now. Perhaps her silence was because there hadn’t been a chance to get a word in. There usually never was when Telma was leading the conversation.

The barmaid simply smiled as she placed a hand on her hip once more. “Well, it seems that we have another stranger in these parts. I’d say it’s nice to see you again, if I could actually see you under that thick cloak of yours.” She took a moment to laugh at her own joke before shaking her head. “How are you doing, Zelda?”

This seemed to snap Zelda out of whatever daze she must have been in, for she quickly protested against the older woman. “Shh, Telma, don’t use my real name! I’ve already had to stress this to Link. I don’t need you jeopardizing my identity too.”

Telma just laughed some more. “Oh, don’t make such a fuss, little lady. These patrons are as rowdy and drunk as can be. They won’t catch a word of our conversation. I guarantee it.”

“Still, I would prefer to be cautious,” Zelda insisted.

“Hmph, suit yourself, dear,” Telma replied with a shrug. “Tell me, how’s that sick old father of yours doing? Is he getting any better?”

Zelda let go of her nerves and allowed herself to relax. It helped to talk about familiar and comforting things. “Yes, he’s steadily improving. He was even allowed to return to his own bedchamber recently, so he’s no longer confined to the infirmary.”

Telma’s face brightened. “Is that so? Well good for him. And hey, tell Caius that if he finally gets well enough to leave his bed, I’ll have a free drink waiting here with his name on it.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smirk. “Well, I appreciate the thought, but something tells me that this offer would just cause him to rush out the door before he could even make a full recovery.”

“And what would be wrong with that?” Telma asked with a grin. “A hard drink might be just the thing he needs to get back in gear.”

“I seriously doubt that,” Zelda said with a shake of her head.

“Mercy, when did you get so strict?” Telma said with a sigh. “Still, it’s good to see you again, honey.”

Zelda nodded. “And you as well.”

Telma smiled brightly. “Well, now that you’re here, can I get you anything to drink? It’s on the house, of course.”

“I’m fine, thanks,” Zelda replied.

“Do you have pumpkin juice?” Link asked.

Telma laughed. “I should’ve known that you were a softie. Sure, here ya go.” It didn’t take long for her to fill up a pint and hand it to the Hero. She eagerly watched as he took a few sips. “Good?”

“As good as it gets,” Link said with a smile. “Thanks, Telma.”

“Aw, anything for you, honey,” she said with a wink. Link wasn’t sure, but she seemed to be getting a little coy with him. He wondered if it was because it had been so long since they had last seen each other, or if the older woman was just in a playful mood. This certainly wouldn’t have been the first time that she had ever flirted with him.

“Ahem,” Zelda suddenly interrupted in a stern voice. “Excuse me, Telma, but now that the pleasantries are out of the way, can we move on to the topic at hand?”

Telma raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms. “The topic at hand?” she repeated, sounding clueless.

“I’m referring to the reason for why you called us here.”

Telma smiled, doing her best to appear innocent. “What? Can’t I just invite a few friends down to my bar for the sake of catching up?”

“Telma…” Zelda sighed tiredly. “I was under the impression that you had something important to tell us. If you’ve only invited us here to waste our time-”

“Ugh, how rude!” Telma exclaimed with a disapproving look. “To think that my company would be considered a ‘waste of time’ of all things! Mercy, don’t be such a stick in the mud, Zelda.”

Zelda sighed again, and Link had to fight hard not to laugh. It was clear that the barmaid was toying with the Princess, much to the latter’s disappointment.

“Forgive me, Telma, I was not trying to be disrespectful,” Zelda apologized while trying to maintain her patience. Fortunately, her cloak made it easy to hide her visible annoyance.

Telma casually waved a hand as if none of it really mattered. “Oh, relax, sweetheart. I’m only teasing you. Besides, I think you’ll find that your time here will be more than worth the trouble. Trust me, I have some info that you’re definitely going to want to hear.”

This quickly caught Zelda’s attention, and she leaned in a bit closer. “So you do have something to share with us.”

“I always have something worth sharing,” the barmaid corrected her. “But you’re right, this time is something particularly special.”

Zelda nodded. “Well, I’m all ears.” Link nodded and leaned in a bit as well. The sudden seriousness of the discussion had quickly attracted his curiosity.

Telma smirked, more than happy to have their attention. She soon grabbed an empty glass and casually began wiping it with a cleaning cloth. “Tell me, dearie, what all do you know about the Gerudo?”

Zelda’s eyes went wide before she flashed a quizzical expression. She had not expected such a topic to come up, but she answered the query anyway. “I know quite a lot about them, but all of my knowledge comes from what I’ve read in books. I’ve never actually had the pleasure of meeting one.”

“Of course, you always were well-read,” Telma said with a nod. “And what about you, Link?”

Naturally, Link felt equally surprised by this question. “The Gerudo?” he repeated.

“Yes, surely you’ve heard of them?”

Link slowly nodded. Truth be told, he had. “Sure, but only in stories and history books. They were a group of bandits that used to live in the desert, right?”

Telma laughed, as if Link had said something rather humorous. “That seems to be their general perception, yes, but they were more than that.” She soon turned to Zelda. “Would you care to fill him in, little lady?”

Zelda seemed like she was eager to push the conversation forward, but she relented for the sake of catching Link up to speed. She turned to the Hero next to her. “To be more specific, the Gerudo were a group of desert-dwellers that consisted entirely of women. That was just how their race functioned biologically. Gerudo mothers would only ever bear daughters, and thus the tribe never had any male members outside of a few exceptions.” (Zelda could have elaborated here, but she chose not to for the sake of keeping things simple.) “Nevertheless, while some of them did turn to thievery–and were quite good at it, mind you–many of them were honest, hardworking folk. Quite a few of them took up trade and became merchants while others took up crafting and others still took up bodyguard duty. You see, many of these women were actually fierce warriors, and it was said that you would never want to find yourself on the receiving end of one of their blades.”

“I suppose it goes without saying that they specifically lived in the Gerudo Desert?” Link asked.

“That’s correct,” Zelda said with a nod. “They were said to have dwelled there for many centuries. Much like the Gorons and Zoras are today, the Gerudo were once counted as one of Hyrule’s proud peoples.”

“So, what happened to them?” Link asked, trying to piece everything together. “I mean, they don’t live in the desert anymore, do they?”

Zelda shook her head, almost looking a little sad. “I’m afraid not. Centuries ago, they mysteriously vanished from those sanded plains. There were rumors that they packed their bags and departed for another land outside of Hyrule, but it is unclear if this is truly the case. And even if it is true, it is unclear why they did this. All the history books can tell us is that the Gerudo ultimately vanished without a trace, and nobody has seen one in Hyrule since.”

“Not until now, that is,” Telma interjected with a knowing smirk.

Both Hero and Princess fell silent as they turned to her with curious expressions.

“Telma…what are you suggesting?” Zelda eventually asked.

“Exactly what you think,” Telma replied. She then grinned. “The Gerudo have returned to their desert, my young Princess. Why, it was just the other day, in fact.”

Zelda just gawked, looking stunned beyond words. Link felt rather confused too, and seeing just how startled Zelda was, he took it upon himself to ask the simple question that was on both of their minds.

“Wait, what?”

Telma merely laughed, refusing to elaborate as she basked in their confusion. She continued to wipe her empty glassware clean, almost as if she didn’t have a care in the world. That was just how Telma was.

“You really ought to close your mouth, dearie,” she eventually whispered to the Princess. “Before a fly crawls in there.”

Zelda simply shook her head, not really in the mood for jokes. “Telma, is what you’re telling us true? The Gerudo have been sighted in the desert after all of this time?”

Telma nodded. “Of course. I would never lie to you, darling.”

Link just raised his eyebrows. Much like Zelda, he was having a hard time coming to terms with this information. “Where did you hear of this? From one of your patrons?”

“Nope, I heard it directly from the Gerudo themselves,” Telma replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “From a lovely girl known as Kanora, to be exact. She’s actually the current Chief of the Gerudo Tribe.”

Zelda opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying but ultimately failing to find words. This was just too much to take in. One of Hyrule’s most iconic peoples had just suddenly returned out of the blue! After having been gone for centuries! And on top of it all, they were apparently in contact with this lowly little barmaid in Castle Town?

Zelda just sighed, expelling more than a few breaths of air from lungs. She soon gave the older woman a pleading look. “Telma, this is a lot to take in. Could you please explain?”

“Sure, sweetie,” Telma said with a shrug. It seemed like she had her fill of teasing the Princess for fun. “I suppose it would be best if I picked up where you left off, huh? You see, centuries ago, the Gerudo didn’t truly vanish. Not like the history books say, anyway. Instead, it was the rumors that were actually on to something when they claimed that the Gerudo had departed for other lands. I heard that they became a nomadic people, fleeing their traditional desert home in order to explore other nations. They took everything they owned with them, even their children and horses, and made a long, distant journey across the land.”

“And where did they go?” Zelda asked, her eyes glistening with excitement at the thought of discovering an unknown part of history.

“I can’t say that I know,” Telma said with a shrug. “I’m sure they settled down in places from time to time, but from what I understand, they remained nomadic and always kept moving, even as the centuries slowly ticked away. That is, until now…”

Link and Zelda slowly leaned in, eagerly awaiting what the barmaid would say next. She simply continued to grin, grateful for such an attentive audience.

“Just the other day, I received a letter from Kanora. I’m not sure what changed on their end, but she told me that the Gerudo’s long pilgrimage has finally come to a close. They plan to take up residence within the Gerudo Desert, and call the Kingdom of Hyrule their home once again.”

“I can’t believe it,” Zelda whispered, mostly to herself rather than the others next to her. “The Gerudo have finally returned to Hyrule, after all of this time…”

While Zelda was lost in this revelation and all that it entailed, Link simply frowned and turned to the barmaid. “How is it that you know so much about the Gerudo?”

Telma just laughed, as if he were asking for answers that should have been obvious. “Honey, you’re looking at one.”

Link had gone to take another sip of his pumpkin juice, but he almost immediately spit it back out. “What?” he asked before blinking. “You mean…you? You’re…”

Zelda quickly tuned in, assisting the Hero in finishing his query. “You’re a Gerudo?” she asked with mild surprise.

Naturally, Telma just laughed again. “Of course. Couldn’t you tell by my glorious red hair, and my irresistible charm?”

Zelda rolled her eyes. “I…never quite picked up on that, no.”

“Well then you really ought to be more attentive, honey.”

Meanwhile, Link was still trying to make sense of all of this. It felt like Telma had dropped a few too many bombchus on him today. “I don’t understand. Telma, if you’re one of the Gerudo, then what are you doing here in Castle Town? Why aren’t you with the rest of the Gerudo?”

Telma playfully shrugged before giving the young man a wink. “I’m afraid that’s a private affair, honey. But I’ll let you know that I’m not the only one. There’s a small number of us dotted throughout Hyrule, laying low and keeping an eye on things. You see, the Gerudo never truly disappeared from this Kingdom. A few of us were here the whole time.”

Once again, Zelda’s eyes went wide at this revelation. To think that the Gerudo still lived in her Kingdom, even if it was such a small number. “I had no idea,” she whispered.

“And that’s exactly how we prefer it,” Telma said with a smile. “We’re not exactly keen to make ourselves known, especially when we’re under cover. Oh, and I’m sure this should go without saying, but I really would appreciate it if you kept this secret to yourselves.”

Zelda had to resist rolling her eyes again. She couldn’t help but note the irony in Telma wanting to keep her identity a secret while so callously revealing Zelda’s own. Still, the Princess planned to respect her wishes. “Very well. My lips are sealed.”

Link nodded in agreement, but he still looked rather confused. “Why are you under cover though? Is there a reason why you can’t reveal your identity?”

“It’s just better this way,” Telma said with a shrug. “Some people find the Gerudo to be untrustworthy, even though we’re harmless, pretty little things.” She took a second to smile innocently. “Still, some people find it easier to talk to a Hylian, so that’s my facade. A friendly bar maid tucked away in one of Castle Town’s alleys. It’s a good position, honestly. I’m able to gather a lot of information from my patrons and then I communicate anything useful back to the Tribe.”

“And how do you communicate with the Tribe?” Link asked. “This ‘Kanora’ or whoever.”

“Why, through the mail, honey,” Telma said with a laugh. “You know how reliable that dedicated little Postman of ours is, don’t you?”

Link frowned as he imagined the little man running across distant landscapes, all for the sake of delivering mail. Somehow, the image seemed fitting. “True…”

A silence fell over the counter after that. The two guests seemed to be lost in thought, while Telma was content to simply gaze at the two of them. At some point, Louise climbed onto the counter, and Telma casually began petting her.

“Well, this is all very interesting,” Zelda eventually spoke up. Even now, her eyes seemed a bit glazed over, as if she was still trying to fathom everything she had been told. “And I’m honestly glad that you shared this information with us. But…” She paused, thinking of how to word her question.

“Why am I telling you this?” Telma supplied before shaking her head. “Of course, leave it to our cynical little Princess to always need a reason for everything.”

“Telma-” Zelda began with another sigh, but she was immediately cut off by the bar maid’s snicker.

“Oh, I’m only teasing again, darling. I really did have a reason for dragging the two of you down here.”

Link raised his eyebrows. “And that is…?”

Telma smirked, allowing the silence to drag on for just long enough to make their curiosity peak again. “I heard the two of you went on a little tour around the Kingdom recently,” she said, almost as if she was striking up a casual conversation. “I assume you got the chance to say hello to a lot of faces, both old and new.”

Zelda’s eyes narrowed, but she slowly nodded. “Yes, what of it?”

“How’d you like to extend that tour? Add one more location to the list of places to visit?”

It didn’t take long for the Princess to put two and two together. “You’d like us to make a trip out to the Gerudo Desert?”

Telma smirked some more. “I don’t necessarily want that, but Kanora does. She asked me to contact the two of you and see if you would be interested in paying them a visit. She specifically asked for the Hero and Princess who put an end to the Twilight Invasion.”

Link seemed taken aback. “Us? But…why?”

“Well, you are the famous individuals who saved the entire Kingdom, aren’t you?” Telma asked while beaming at him. “It’s only natural that everyone wants to know you a little better, honey.”

“Naturally, I am very interested in meeting them as well,” Zelda interjected. “The Gerudo have always been one of Hyrule’s peoples, and we will gladly welcome them back with open arms. If they wish to meet with me, I’ll speak to the Hyrule Council and arrange to take a trip out there at once.”

“Delightful,” Telma said as she clapped her hands together. “I’ll let Kanora know to expect you. I’m sure she’ll be pleased.”

Zelda soon turned to the Hero with an expectant gaze. “And you’ll come with me, won’t you, Link?”

Link honestly felt a little hesitant about how fast things seemed to be moving. He had just returned home from the tour a few weeks ago, and now he was already being asked to embark on another adventure? All to meet someone who he didn’t even know existed ten minutes ago?  It almost felt too sudden, but slowly and surely he managed to come to terms with the idea. Being a Hero, he simply couldn’t resist the call to adventure.

“Sure,” he answered with a smile. “Tell the Gerudo I’ll be happy to meet them too.”

Zelda smiled back as relief washed over her. She hadn’t expected the Hero to say no, but she couldn’t deny that she held a small bit of doubt in her heart. Thankfully, there was no reason to be worried. It seemed that the Hero was always happy to stand by her side.

Zelda soon turned back to Telma. “I’ll begin the necessary preparations for our visit then. It might take a few days, but we should be able to get everything assembled. In the meantime, is there a way for me to contact this ‘Kanora’ so we can let her know when to expect us?”

“It’s probably better to just leave that to me, sweetie,” the barmaid insisted. “I have the quickest method of contacting her, and she trusts me. If you have any messages to pass along, just send them my way.”

Zelda smiled before bowing her head. “Thank you, Telma. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course, honey. It’s my pleasure. Just be sure to make a good impression with the Gerudo. You wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of their ire. And that goes especially for you,” she said as she pointed an accusatory finger at Link. “Don’t go breaking any hearts, okay honey?”

Link just blushed. He wasn’t quite sure what Telma seemed to be implying, but he knew that he didn’t like it. He turned to Zelda, hoping that she might come to his aid, but she seemed to have gone strangely silent as well.

Just then, a customer in the corner of the bar yelled out Telma’s name. A few of the men sitting with him banged their empty mugs on the table, all while laughing and hollering.

“Tch,” Telma said as she put her hands on her hips. “Seems I’ve been distracted for too long. Sorry, but I need to get back to attending my tables.”

Zelda nodded in understanding. “Of course. We’ll talk again soon, Telma.”

Telma flashed the Princess a grin and threw the Hero one final wink before she strolled away from the bar. A second later, Louise lazily yawned before she rose to her feet and followed after her master.

And thus, Link and Zelda were left alone.

The Hero turned to the Princess and eyed her for a moment. To his surprise, she kept her gaze down, staring hard at the wooden countertop while her eyes were glazed over again. It was obvious that she was still lost in thought, trying to fully grasp everything that Telma had shared with them. He couldn’t help but smile as he imagined the gears relentlessly turning in her mind.

“Well, what do you think?” he eventually asked, eager to discover what must be going through her head.

Zelda simply smiled back as she dismissed her daze. “I think this news is nothing short of wonderful,” she said sincerely. “Link, you may not fully grasp how amazing this is, but this truly is a historic moment for Hyrule. I mean, the Gerudo have been missing for centuries, and now they’ve suddenly returned to us, and wish to be a part of our Kingdom again. It’s just so…so exciting!”

Link couldn’t help but laugh. Zelda had almost started sounding like an enthusiastic child. “Trust me, I can gather how amazing it is just from hearing you talk about it,” he assured her.

“Oh, it’s going to be so wonderful to meet them,” she continued. “To welcome them back to their homeland. To forge a bond of friendship with them. To learn more about their culture. Surely, the reunification of our Kingdom will only grow stronger because of this. We’ll stand united like never before.”

Link smiled, just as he always did whenever he heard the Princess begin to speak so passionately about the betterment of Hyrule. “It sounds great, My Lady. I hope it works out.”

Zelda nodded. “And you'll be willing to help?”

“Of course. I’m always happy to pledge myself to your cause.”

Zelda stared at him with soft, appreciative eyes. She was about to thank him, but the moment was soon cut short as a lively group funneled in through the bar’s front door. These patrons were so cheerful and noisy that they honestly put the rest of the bar to shame. They were easily the rowdiest group of the night, and they had no remorse in seating themselves right in the middle of the room, where everyone could hear their obnoxious cheers and chuckles.

Zelda simply winced at the noise. “Perhaps now would be a good time to dismiss ourselves.”

Link nodded. He too felt like the atmosphere had transformed into something he did not care for. He took a moment to drain the last of his pumpkin juice before standing up. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Zelda did the same and followed him out of the bar. Once they reached the dark alley, the atmosphere shifted completely. They could still hear the cheers of the noisy patrons inside, but they were now dull and muffled thanks to the walls between them. Link and Zelda just gave each other a small smile of relief before they made their way up the stairs and back to the main thoroughfare of Castle Town. Naturally, they were both happy to be free of a place as raucous as that.

“Honestly, I’m not sure how Telma deals with it,” Zelda said as they came to a stop.

Link laughed. “She’s tough enough to handle customers like them. If anything, she probably appreciates their liveliness.”

“Ha ha, probably,” Zelda agreed. She then took a moment to glance down the main street. The market had been closed by this point, so the street was mostly empty save for a few passersby. She soon turned back to Link. “Where are you off to now? If you need a place to stay for the night, you’re welcome to come to the castle.”

Link shook his head. “Thanks, but I actually think I’ll start making my way back to Ordon. Ilia was hoping that I wouldn’t be gone for too long.”

“Oh,” Zelda replied. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t help but look a tad disappointed. “Will you be riding through the night?”

“Yeah,” he said with a shrug. “I know my way well enough by now that there’s no chance of me getting lost. And if I end up feeling tired, I can always stop and make camp.”

“I see,” Zelda said, slowly nodding. She hated to have to part ways with him so soon, but she supposed that there was no reason for him to stay. “In that case, I don’t plan to keep you here any longer. I’ll contact you once I talk to the Hyrule Council and our trip to the desert has been ironed out. Until then, farewell Link.”

Zelda then turned to leave, not planning to make this goodbye any more painful than it had to be by dragging things out. However, she immediately froze when a hand reached out and secured her wrist.

“Wait a second,” Link said, tugging on her wrist and turning her back around. Once she was facing him, he gladly let go. “Are you going back to the castle?”

Zelda raised her eyebrows. “Er…yes.”

Link’s expression softened a bit, and he almost looked a little bashful as he spoke up again. “In that case, I’ll walk you to the gate.”

Zelda blinked before immediately waving a hand in dismissal. “Oh, that’s okay. You don’t have to do that for my sake.”

Link shook his head. “But it’s dark out, and late at night. It wouldn’t be right to send a lady on her way without an escort.”

She couldn’t help but smile at his modest attempt to be a gentleman. “Really, Link. I’ll be okay. Even if a thief approaches me, I’m sure I could drive them off.”

“I’m sure you could too,” he said quietly. “But I…I just know that I would feel better if I saw you arrive safely at the castle with my own eyes.”

Zelda went silent, not quite sure what to say to this. Here was the Hero, being as sweet and kind as he could possibly be. She couldn’t help but feel her face start to steam a bit.

“Will you let me walk you home?” Link asked softly.

Zelda looked away, hiding her expression from him. She then thanked the Goddesses for both the cover of night and her dark hood for she was fairly certain that her face had turned as red as a tomato. “V-Very well then,” she stuttered clumsily.

Link just smiled, happy to have her acceptance. “Then come along, My Lady.”

In spite of her nerves, Zelda smiled too. Even now, Link was still using the title that she had insisted on for the evening.

The two of them began making their way north to the castle. By this point in the evening, the streets were quiet. Serene, even. The local pedestrians were sparse, leaving most of the roads and alleys empty. The only people out seemed to be solely intent on heading home for the night. The streets were rather dark as well, as they were only illuminated by the soft glow of lantern light. But it was a pleasant sight. Almost magical in a sense, just to see the dark buildings with orange and yellow lights in their windows: a sign that families and friends had safely returned to the comfort of each other’s company for the evening.

Link and Zelda remained silent as they continued their stroll into the main square of Castle Town, where a large fountain continued to gently flow, even at this late hour. They both had a lot on their minds at the moment. For Zelda, she was consumed by her flustered feelings as well as her future plans regarding their visit to the Gerudo. Meanwhile, Link had his own troubles to dwell on. He wondered how Ilia might feel about him having to travel so soon after returning home again. It seemed like she had begun growing less tolerant of his absences over time. He was fairly certain that she would still permit him to go, but he dreaded the thought of upsetting her. He hoped that everything would work out this time around, and that once the trip was finished, things could quiet down for a while.

Before long, the pair walked beneath a grand stone arch before taking the path to the Castle Gate. Once they were in sight of the guards, Zelda came to a halt and turned to Link.

“Well, here we are,” she said softly. She then nervously stared at the ground as she attempted to conjure her next words. “Um…thank you for walking me home tonight. It seems like you’re always looking out for me and I…I truly appreciate it.”

Link smiled modestly. “Of course. See you again soon?”

“Yes, I’ll see you soon,” she promised. Zelda then surprised herself by doing something completely unexpected. Her hand slowly reached up and gave Link’s arm a small squeeze of affection.

As soon as she did it, Zelda just froze, as if she couldn’t comprehend what had just transpired. Why had she done this? Was it because Link had grabbed her by the wrist earlier and now it felt okay to do the same to him? Was it because she wanted to show Link a physical sign of her appreciation through a gentle, innocent touch? Was it because it simply felt right in the moment? Who knew; perhaps that truly was the reason. After all, Zelda’s hand seemed to have acted naturally, almost as if it was only following instincts.

Still, Zelda couldn’t help but feel like this action had been far too sudden and forward of her, so as soon as the gears forcefully began turning in her mind again, she immediately released her grasp. She then quickly brought her hand back to her side, almost as if she had just stuck it into a fire or some other danger. Now her instincts were telling her to flee as fast as she could, before she embarrassed herself any further.

“F-Farewell, Link,” she stuttered as she hastily turned away. She then hurried over to the gate where she showed her face to the guards who had been expecting her. They soon let her inside.

All the while, Link just stood there, feeling both surprised and confused by her sudden departure.

“Um…bye?” he said, mostly to himself.

Notes:

Writing Telma is so much fun. She’s just such a playful, endearing troll. I ended up taking a lot of inspiration from her when I wrote about the Gerudo in the upcoming chapters, so please look forward to seeing more of her antics manifested in other characters lol.

If anyone out there is curious as to why I decided to include the Gerudo in this story when the Gerudo don’t even make an appearance in Twilight Princess, please listen to my reasoning! One, I thought it would be fun (lol), and two, the official timeline seems to suggest that the Gerudo reappear in Hyrule after the events in TP (and personally, I’m a big subscriber to the timeline). To explain a bit further, Four Swords Adventures (the game that chronologically follows TP) shows us a thriving Gerudo settlement in Hyrule. So that begs the question, why were they absent in TP if they inevitably return centuries later? Well, I came up with my own theories and plan to explain and expand upon them in the upcoming chapters. Please look forward to it :)

Also, speaking of theories, I included one in this very chapter! Telma being secretly revealed as a Gerudo. I think it’s somewhat plausible based on her appearance and flirtatious personality. Also, I refuse to believe that the Gerudo all died out, and I also really like the idea of the remnants staying undercover in Hyrule and just being friendly information seekers. And Telma seems to fit that role perfectly, so I happily gifted it to her. Personally, I think it makes for a more interesting read, and I hope you all agree.

Anyway, that’s enough theories and headcanons for one chapter lol. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you all next time!

Chapter 44: Gerudo Desert

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 44 – Gerudo Desert

Not even a week had passed since the meeting at Telma’s bar, and yet plans had been made, wagons had been prepared, guards had been assembled, and the Princess was once again ready to embark on a journey across the Kingdom. It was honestly surprising how quickly things had come together. Similar to Zelda, both the King and Hyrule Council had expressed great joy upon hearing of the Gerudo’s return, and insisted upon sending the young Princess and Hero out to the desert to greet them at once.

Fortunately, it was rather easy to organize such a trip, for the Kingdom had already accomplished it just weeks prior. It was basically as if the tour across the Kingdom had just been slightly extended, with one more location added to the list. It also helped to have Telma acting as a reliable “go-between” for both the government and the Gerudo. With her carrying out the conversations, things proceeded smoothly and successfully right up until the day of departure.

Which is how Zelda now found herself mounted on Reina, traveling across the green fields of Hyrule amongst a procession of wagons, horses, and guards. Naturally, Link accompanied them as well, riding safely by her side. There were also plenty of other familiar faces to be found, since most of the guards and the chef from the previous journey had been selected to travel with the Princess once again. Even Minister Fost had elected to tag along for another round of adventuring, although he made sure to voice his concerns about meeting these strange people in an undeveloped land, where there may very well be no food or water or warm beds.

However, there was one new face joining the procession this time around. It was the old tutor known as Auru, a man of the Resistance as well as a respected member of the Roundtable. Upon hearing of the Gerudo’s sudden return, he had simply insisted on coming along. He had spent a good portion of his life studying the various provinces and civilizations of Hyrule, and the Gerudo Desert was no exception to that. With all the giddiness of an excited schoolboy, he dreamed of meeting the ancient desert-dwellers and learning more about their culture. So, due to his passion and his vast knowledge on the subject at hand, Zelda allowed him to join the tour. She figured that having the old scholar around might prove useful for greeting the Gerudo, and no one else seemed to have an issue with his participation.

Well, no one except for Ashei, who felt like she was missing out again. But, as always, everyone just sighed and ignored her.

“What are you smiling about?”

Zelda blinked, suddenly realizing that the Hero was staring over at her with a bright grin. She too held a positive smirk on her lips, no doubt due to her thoughts on the incessant female Knight back at the castle.

“Nothing,” she said with a slight shake of her head. A warm wind rushed past them, blowing some of her hair into her face, but she just calmly brushed it back behind her ears. “I’m just enjoying the journey.”

“Of course,” Link replied, suddenly recalling how little time she spent away from her castle and the duties there. “I guess it’s pretty lucky that you get to set off again so soon.”

“Yes, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that I was spoiled,” Zelda joked.

Link just laughed. “Well, this trip is technically work-related too, so I guess it’s not the most freeing.”

“I suppose not, but it is a nice change of pace.”

Link smiled at the Princess and her ever-present optimism. “Tell me, how are you feeling about meeting these ‘Gerudo’? This is going to be a historical moment, right?”

Zelda nodded before glancing down. “Yes, I’m very excited, but I’m admittedly a little nervous as well. I’ve never had the chance to meet these people before, so I’m not fully sure what to expect. Telma even handled all of the communications for us, so no one in the castle has made direct contact with them. It almost feels like we’ve planned a blind trip into the desert, and now we have to hope that the Gerudo are actually there and that Telma isn’t just pranking us.”

Link laughed as he shook his head. “She wouldn’t do that.” He then paused, taking a second to think it over. “Well, probably not…”

“Yes, I’m not sure that I would put it past her either,” Zelda said with a smirk. “But assuming that she hasn’t been leading us on a wild cucco chase, I very much look forward to meeting the Gerudo and establishing friendly relations with them.”

“Well said,” Link agreed.

“And how about you? How do you feel about coming across this new group of people? This will be your first time visiting someone that you didn’t encounter on your adventure during the Twilight Invasion, after all.”

Link slowly nodded before smiling. “I feel the same as you: excited, but a little nervous. Still, I’m always happy to make new friends of course.” He then paused for a second. “That is, if they actually are friendly. Based on what Telma said, it sounds as if the Gerudo can be rather hostile at times.”

“Oh, only the most hostile, if you go by bedtime stories,” a third voice suddenly interjected. It was soon accompanied by a chuckle as well.

Link and Zelda glanced over to spot Auru riding up beside them with a grin on his face. Much to Fost’s disapproval, the old scholar had also chosen to ride on horseback as opposed to joining the Minister in the carriage he had arranged. He claimed that it reminded him of his youth, to journey across the green sunlit fields with nothing but a horse and saddle beneath him.

“I’m sure you’ve been warned that the Gerudo are very fierce warriors,” Auru continued as he now rode in step with his companions. “But they’re not as aggressive as the stories make them out to be. Long ago, they were said to be a friendly but reserved people that mostly kept to themselves. Seeing as how they’ve kindly invited us to visit them after all this time, I imagine that they’ll treat us with great hospitality.”

Link smiled a bit. “So I won’t have to worry about finding myself on the wrong end of a spear?”

“Unlikely, my boy,” Auru said with another shake of his head. “Just think of the Gerudo as people who behave like Telma. After all, she is among their number.”

At this, Link gave the scholar a deadpan look. “But Telma is one of the most dangerous women I know.”

Auru simply chuckled. “Aye, that’s true...”

 

---

 

It took almost an entire day’s worth of travel to reach their destination. They had to stop and make camp once the sun set, but they resumed their journey at the next dawn. Eventually, the green grass of Hyrule Field turned to plains of sand beneath their horses’ hooves. From here, they planned to travel straight into the heart of the desert, where the giant sanctum known as the Arbiter's Grounds stood tall and proud. According to Telma, the Gerudo had situated themselves right in front of the ancient stone structure where the Bulblins had once had a campsite, and it was there where the royal procession would finally meet one of Hyrule’s long lost peoples.

Upon reaching the endless plains of sand that was the Gerudo Desert, the party had to slow down their speed considerably. It turned out that the wagons of supplies, as well as Fost’s carriage, didn’t travel too well over the constant hills and valleys forged by wind and sand. With each mound they crested, they had to make sure to keep a slow but steady pace, lest the wagons would tumble to one side due to the uneven ground. Needless to say, it created quite the uncomfortable riding experience for those inside.

“I say,” Fost cursed as he stuck his head out of the carriage window. “We really ought to have a road paved out here. This borders on barbaric.”

The heat was also incredibly uncomfortable. With a clear sky and few sources of shade, it was no surprise that the sun simply scorched the desert from dawn until dusk. Still, the travelers managed the heat by donning white cloaks and hoods to keep the sun off of them. It was still uncomfortably hot, of course, but at least it was bearable.

Around midday, when the sun was approaching its peak, the travelers spotted their destination in the distance. Zelda took a moment to admire the large circular structure, accentuated by six grand pillars that breached the sky. The last time she had been here, Midna had departed from this world. She soon glanced over to Link, and from his expression, she assumed that he was thinking the same thing.

Nevertheless, the journey continued onwards. It wasn’t long before they spotted the first signs of the Gerudo Tribe. A great number of tents had been set up on the ruins of the Bulblins’ old camp, but there was much more than that too. There were wagons and crates and canopies and horses that were contained in a fenced-in area off to the side, and cats and camels and bonfires with meals roasting over them, and carpets and old pieces of wooden furniture and many other things that were beyond recognition. It almost felt chaotic, looking over this assortment of homes, possessions and livestock. But it was exciting too, and the travelers couldn’t take their eyes away from the unique culture that was unfolding before them.

They soon spotted the locals as well. Those that were outside stopped what they were doing and admired the visitors, while those that were inside their tents soon crawled out and did the same. Similarly, the visitors admired their hosts with eyes widened in amazement.

Zelda had seen portraits of the Gerudo before in ancient library texts, so for her, they appeared exactly as she expected them to. For Link, on the other hand, this was an entirely new experience. As Epona walked through the countless rows of tents, he gladly gazed out at the masses that congregated around them and began to study them.

Sure enough, they were all women. Their ages ranged from old ladies that walked with a hunch in their back to infants and toddlers resting in their mothers’ arms. But they were all clearly female, and they all had similar traits as well. From their naturally dark skin to their long, beautiful hair that was cast into many shades of red. Some of the reds were bright like fire while others were pure like rubies while some still were so dark that they almost bordered on being shades of purple.

Their manner of dress was fairly consistent as well. They each wore tops that covered their bosoms while leaving their arms, shoulders, and midriffs completely exposed. Some wore skirts with slits to expose their long legs while others wore bright, puffy pants with intricate designs sewn into them. Most of them wore pointed shoes, some with heels and some without, and yet some even went completely barefoot. Link couldn’t help but wonder if they ever burned their feet when they walked around on the scorching sand like that. Additionally, many of them were decorated in lavish jewelry. From golden bracelets to armbands to ring-like earrings to hair decorations to tassels hanging from their skirts. There were even gems and medallions adorning their outfits. Suddenly, Link felt reminded of all those rumors about the Gerudo being infamous bandits, and upon seeing all of this, he wasn’t quite sure if they had been rumors after all. How else would they have acquired all of this wealth if not for thievery?

But Link pushed such thoughts from his mind as their procession quickly came to a halt at the center of camp. Everyone soon dismounted from their steeds and exited from their wagons before facing their hosts. They also made sure to remove their white cloaks, so they would be perfectly visible to the crowds that gathered around them. The Gerudo approached with expressions ranging from surprised to curious, and they seemed to hold a great interest in these fresh visitors.

Naturally, Zelda just greeted them all with a warm smile before properly addressing them. “Greetings, Gerudo Tribe. It is a great honor to be with you all today. I am Princess Zelda of Hyrule, and I have come to greet you and welcome you back to our humble Kingdom. Tell me, is there a Chief Kanora here whom I may have the pleasure of meeting?”

There was silence for a moment, the Gerudo too awed by their guests to do or say anything helpful, but they soon parted as a sole woman stepped before the Princess. She was tall (all of the Gerudo were, actually), with long red hair tied into a ponytail, and with fierce yet curious eyes. Her age was uncertain, but she appeared rather young, perhaps in her late twenties or early thirties. Her outfit consisted of a blue top embroidered with patterns of gold, and a long blue slitted skirt to match it. Much like her sisters, she wore a great number of golden treasures and shiny gems. She eventually looked Zelda up and down before her lips twitched into a friendly smile.

“Ah, spoken like a true Princess,” the woman said, using a surprisingly light tone. “So, you must be Telma’s young friend. It is a pleasure to meet you! Come, come, we must shake hands.”

Ordinarily, Zelda would have initiated the friendly handshake, but this woman just strutted right up and clenched Zelda’s hand before she even had the chance. She shook it enthusiastically, while Zelda just stood there, feeling a little stunned by her forwardness. However, what stunned her even more was when the woman ran a hand through a lock of her dark brown hair, and used her other hand to cup Zelda’s cheek.

“My, what a young beauty you are,” she mused as her expression softened. “You surely hold the image that is worthy of a Princess. How charming.”

Zelda just took an uncomfortable step back, feeling positively dumbstruck at how friendly this woman was, and how she seemed to hold no boundaries whatsoever. “I, um…”

The woman blinked before placing a hand to her temple. “Oh, where are my manners? I ought to introduce myself! I am Kanora, the current Chief of the Gerudo Tribe, and a good friend of Telma’s.” She soon went into a bow of sorts, just ever so slightly lifting her skirt in order to curtsy.

Zelda still felt a bit taken aback by this woman, but she mirrored the curtsy for the sake of showing respect. “The pleasure is all mine,” she insisted, somehow finding her voice among the awkwardness.

However, things only grew more awkward when Kanora raised her head and glanced around at the Gerudo with an expectant gaze. “Come now, ladies. Don’t just stand there gawking at our lovely guests who have traveled so far to meet us. Give them a proper welcome!”

Zelda had expected a great applause in their honor, but to her surprise (and perhaps horror), the Gerudo actually started to break free of the crowds and approach them directly. A moment later, not only Zelda, but all of her companions had been surrounded by Gerudo who had come to welcome them personally.

“Oh, what an honor it is to meet you, Princess,” one of them said as they freely clasped her hands. “Thank you for visiting our humble frontier.”

Zelda tried to smile in spite of being caught off guard like this. “Oh, the pleasure is all mine, really.”

To her surprise, she soon felt a pair of hands running along her dress. “Such a pretty fabric. It really suits her.”

“Yes,” another woman agreed as she ran a hand over Zelda's long braid. “Isn’t she just a doll?”

Zelda shivered before immediately taking a step back and grasping at both her dress and hair. She didn’t intend to be so rude, but she really was not comfortable with them touching her like this!

Fortunately, the Gerudo thought nothing of it. In fact, Kanora just chuckled. “Oh, do be careful with her, would you? We wouldn’t want to scare her off when we just had the pleasure of meeting.”

The rest of the ladies laughed as well. “No, of course not, Chief.”

One Gerudo who was surprisingly buff just crossed her arms. “She just needs some time to warm up to us.”

Zelda couldn’t help but blush a bit as she suddenly realized what exactly she was confronting. Auru had been right on the mark earlier when he said that dealing with the Gerudo would be the same as dealing with Telma. In fact, they all acted just like her! Far too forward and friendly and playful with no respect for boundaries or secrets!

Zelda inwardly cursed the barmaid. She had a feeling that if Telma were here with them, she’d be laughing too.

Kanora soon noticed her expression and placed a far-too-friendly hand on her shoulder. “Oh, do be at ease, Princess. We are all friends here, and I assure you that we are only trying to say hello. I told Telma that we had a great interest in meeting you, and I meant it.”

Zelda scowled a bit before taking a deep breath and composing herself. Despite her discomfort, she knew that she was expected to maintain the elegant disposition of a Royal Princess, so that was exactly what she did. Besides, now that she knew what exactly she was facing, she knew how best to deal with it. She just had to treat the Gerudo the same way that she treated Telma: friendly but strict and to the point.

“Ahem,” Zelda said, clearing her throat. “Yes, well, as grateful as I am for such a warm welcome, I really would prefer that you keep your hands to yourselves. It is rather impolite to treat someone you just met so casually.”

Kanora raised her eyebrows in surprise. “My, what a silver tongue you have. Truly befitting of your status, no doubt. Apologies, Princess. We will keep our touch to ourselves for now.”

Zelda smiled a bit. At least Kanora seemed to be understanding and sincere, if nothing else. “Thank you,” she said with a small nod of the head.

“Although…I must ask. Does this request extend to your companions as well?”

Zelda blinked, looking confused, while Kanora simply pointed past her, to where Link and the rest stood. Zelda quickly turned around only to witness a scene straight out of a horror story. All of the men, from Link to Auru to Fost to the chef to the servants to even the guards, had Gerudo women standing close and touching them in rather inappropriate ways. Well, truth be told it was mostly innocent touches to the men’s arms or shoulders, but for strangers, Zelda felt that it was inappropriate enough! And of course, the worst case of them all was the woman standing next to Link, gently using a finger to stroke under his chin. The Hero just stood frozen in place, his face red and his mouth hanging open.

Zelda suddenly felt a fire burst to life within her. She clenched her fists and stared daggers at the woman next to him. It was one thing to see Ilia being affectionate with Link, but it was far worse from some random woman out here in the desert. Zelda simply wouldn’t stand for it!

“Oh, absolutely not!” the Princess exclaimed, honestly surprised at how upset she sounded. But she didn’t care. All she could think about was saving Link from the arms of his captor. “Tell them to withdraw at once!” she demanded.

Kanora produced a somewhat sad smile, but nodded. “Of course, Princess. Ladies, please do give those men some space! They are not prey waiting to be dined upon!”

Many of the women cast their Chief disgruntled looks, but they soon obeyed, withdrawing their hands and either crossing them or keeping them at their sides.

Kanora then bridged her fingers together, as if she was attempting to appear innocent. “Do forgive them, Princess. We have no men here, so I’m sure you understand how…hmm, enticing, it is to provide them with our undivided attention.”

That’s a fancy way of saying ‘seduce’, Zelda thought with a frown. She was quickly realizing that the Chief likely had her own tongue of silver.

“Speaking of men,” Kanora continued suddenly, “Telma claimed that you would be bringing the great Hero along with you. The one who recently saved your land from the threat of Twilight. Tell me, is he among your number?”

Zelda sighed, but soon nodded. “Yes, he is. Link, would you kindly step forward?”

At this, the crowds fell strangely silent, and all eyes turned to Link who slowly and nervously stepped forward to meet them. Underneath their collective gaze, he suddenly felt rather shy, but he supposed that this was also due in part to the Gerudo women who had so flippantly started flirting with him just a moment ago. Still, he kept his composure enough to approach the Gerudo Chief and give her a polite bow.

“It is an honor to meet you, Chief Kanora,” he mumbled.

“Oh, you must be Link, the Hero of Twilight,” the Chief replied, looking positively charmed. She soon took his hand, and instead of shaking it, gave it a long, affectionate squeeze. As she did, Link felt the steam of the moment rise straight to his cheeks. “How lovely it is to meet you, dear.”

A second later, Kanora released his hand, and the Hero suddenly found himself surrounded by women once again. They leaned in close, studying him with their eyes, as if he was some magnificent specimen. The women soon began to make comments as well, and naturally, since Link was standing right next to them, he caught every word.

“This is the mighty Hero? He is nothing but a young boy.”

Another Gerudo soon pushed the first aside. “Speak for yourself. He looks like a charming young man to me…”

“But he’s hardly got any muscles. Why, he’s as thin as a twig.” This woman then reached over and lifted Link’s arm in order to show the others, but soon paused and began feeling it up with admiration. “Ooh, on second thought, there is some muscle here. Why do you bury it beneath all of these clothes, Hero?”

Link just opened and closed his mouth a few times, too startled to properly form any sort of words. Originally, he had been warned that the Gerudo were fearsome warriors that you would never want to anger or offend. And yet, in reality, they truly did seem to be rather friendly. In fact, they were almost a little too friendly! He thought that dealing with the ladies of the castle was bad, but this was honestly a nightmare!

Meanwhile, Kanora just laughed as she watched the ladies admire the Hero from top to bottom. She soon turned to Zelda. “Ah, Princess, it really was kind of you to bring us such a lovely man. He’s a wonderful gift, and we’ll gladly treasure him forever.”

Zelda just glared at the woman. She assumed that she was joking, but this was certainly no time for jokes! “Kanora, he’s not here for you to have your way with him,” she muttered through clenched teeth.

Kanora just tried to appear innocent again under the rays of her fiery gaze. “Oh, but what if the Hero takes an interest in us? Surely it would be wrong to deny him a taste of our affection?”

“I can’t imagine that he would ever desire such a thing,” Zelda replied, practically spitting fire. “I’ll have you know that he’s already in a relationship, and he’s not seeking the comfort of another.”

This gave the Chief some pause, and she looked Zelda over with a surprised expression. “Ah, my sincerest apologies. I did not realize that you had already snatched this one up, Princess.”

This time, Zelda was the one who froze. What was she suggesting? That Zelda and Link were in a relationship together? That’s certainly how it sounded!

Zelda ended up gawking for a bit before the heat appropriately rose in her cheeks and she felt the need to look away in embarrassment. “N-No, you’re mistaken,” she stuttered. “Link is actually in a relationship with someone else.”

“Oh?” Kanora pried, looking ever more curious. “Not with you?”

“No,” Zelda reiterated bluntly.

Kanora put a finger to her cheek before staring up into the sky, as if lost in thought. “Huh, and here I thought that you might hold some sort of affection for him. You certainly seemed eager to shoo all of the women away from him. I simply assumed that he must be your beloved.”

Zelda remained silent as she glared daggers at the Chief. All the while, she wondered if there was a polite way to tell someone to “shut up already”.

Nevertheless, Kanora seemed to pick up the hint that enough was enough. With a smirk of glee, she addressed the Gerudo. “Ladies, let’s try to remember to keep an appropriate distance from the Hero, hmm? It seems that his heart is already sworn to another fair maiden, and that is something that we would never wish to tread upon.”

Again, there were more disgruntled murmurs but the women soon backed away, finally giving the Hero some much-needed space to breathe. Link just slowly inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm down. He wasn’t sure he had ever been so flustered in all his life. But then again, he had never had this many women fawning over him either! It was incredibly uncomfortable.

Fortunately, the Gerudo’s attention seemed to be moving on for the moment, as Kanora soon approached Fost and Auru with a friendly smirk. “Oh, and who are these wily codgers? They look like proper gentlemen, I should think.”

“I’m Minister Fost of the esteemed Hyrule Council,” the short man said as he bravely extended a hand. “It is an honor to meet you, Chief Kanora.”

“Oh, a councilman,” Kanora said with wide eyes. She soon accepted his hand. “What an honor, indeed. And your lovely companion here?”

“I’m Auru, mam. I’m nobody too important. Just an old scholar that’s interested in studying history and culture.”

“Oh, you speak so humbly,” Kanora said, looking charmed once again. “Surely you are more distinguished than you claim? I imagine that you must be quite literate.”

Aura provided a harmless chuckle as well as a wave of his hand. “You are too kind,” he insisted.

Kanora smiled before taking a step back, and allowing the onlooking Gerudo to step in once more, almost on cue. Surprisingly, they seemed to have taken just as much of an interest in the older gentleman as they did the young. And naturally, they made all of their thoughts perfectly clear.

“Mercy, he’s short,” said one Gerudo who stared squarely down at Fost. “Are we sure he is to be called a grandfather? Is he not actually a grandchild?”

“Oh, don’t be silly,” another said. “Look at his bald head, graying hair, and wrinkles. He is clearly an elder who has begun to shrink.”

“I say!” Fost scoffed, looking incredibly embarrassed. “To say such things so blatantly! And to my own face!”

The women all laughed, as if they found his outburst amusing. “Oh, do be calm, Minister. We are only appreciating your appearance.”

“Yes,” another agreed. “Believe it or not, you look perfectly charming for your age. Just say the word, and we’d be happy to keep you company.”

Fost gawked as his face turned redder than ever, but he soon shut his trap and proudly looked away. “Absolutely not! I’ll have you know that my heart beats solely for another.”

“Oh, another taken man?” the women whispered, some of them looking quite sad.

“What of his companion?” one asked as she turned to Auru. “Surely you have an interest in the opposite sex, hmm?”

Auru simply laughed, trying to downplay their advances. “Forgive me, but I believe that my days of entertaining the lovely young ladies of Hyrule are far behind me.”

“Who said that we’re all young?” one of the older Gerudo suddenly spoke up. She gladly approached Auru and gave him a friendly wink. “Many of us are quite ‘experienced’, if you will, sir.”

If Auru had any reaction to this, he didn’t let it show, although Link did feel like the scholar's face had turned slightly redder than usual.

Kanora just sighed as she crossed her arms. “Oh, grandmother, do ease up, would you? I swear, trying to run this Tribe is like trying to run a pack of wild animals.”

Zelda just stared at the Chief with a frown. “Kanora, I sincerely hope that you keep your promise. I don’t want any of my companions being seduced into something that they do not wish to partake in. You must promise to keep your distance unless your presence is openly welcomed.”

Kanora turned to the Princess with a sad, almost pouting look. “But where is the fun in that, Princess? Are we not meant to make any friendships at all? Not even with these young, brave soldiers in their bright, shiny armor?”

Zelda scowled a bit. She couldn’t even believe that she was having this conversation. But then again, she had always read that the Gerudo needed to mate with outsiders in order to propagate, so she supposed that she couldn’t hold their natural curiosity and desires against them. Nevertheless, there had to be rules.

“As I said, you may spend time with any of my companions who are willing to accept you. But please do not force yourselves onto them. And also, I would appreciate it if you made sure that your charming ‘friendships’ don’t distract any of the men from their duties. I count on them to stay alert at all times.”

Kanora brightly smiled before nodding. “Oh, yes, yes of course. We understand that there is a time for pleasure and a time for business. We would never wish to intrude upon that, Princess, and I assure you we won’t.”

Zelda scowled some more, not fully trusting such an innocent act. It seemed plenty apparent to the Princess that if you gave the Gerudo an inch, they would take a mile. She would have to be on her guard during this trip, not just for her sake, but for her men’s as well.

“Now then,” said Kanora, clapping her hands together before glancing around. “It is time for some proper recognition. Where did the young Hero get off to?”

“Um, here,” Link called out nervously. He nearly froze as all the eyes turned to him once again. Fortunately, Zelda was standing near him at this point, and it set his heart at ease to have such a friendly presence close by.

“Ah, yes, there you are,” Kanora said before walking over and facing Link directly. “Please, allow our Tribe to honor you, oh wonderful Hero.”

Link raised his eyebrows, and was about to ask what she meant, when all of a sudden, the Gerudo moved in unison. Every woman, from the oldest grannies to even the youngest toddlers, lowered their knees down to the sand and bowed low. Their heads touched the ground as well, and they brought their hands together to lay flat in front of them. Naturally, they all faced in Link’s direction. It wasn’t long before they all spoke up in one collective voice.

“How deep is our gratitude, great Hero. May your days be blessed by the Goddesses and Spirits.”

Link just stood there, feeling stunned. He soon glanced at Zelda, who held a similar expression. Neither one of them quite understood what was happening. If Link didn’t know any better, it almost looked like they were worshiping him, with their heads bowed in prayer. But that couldn’t possibly be right, could it? Why would anyone ever want to worship someone like him?

A second after their voices rang out into the air, the Gerudo all rose to their feet once again. They still faced the Hero, but this time with sincere smiles and looks of gratitude. Again, Link was baffled. Why did it seem like it had ended almost as quickly as it had started?

Kanora also provided him with a bright smile, but it didn’t take long for her to notice his confusion. “Ah, what is the matter, Hero? Was that not to your satisfaction?”

Link just struggled to find his words. “I, um…suppose that it wasn't dissatisfying, but, er…what exactly was that?”

“I am rather curious as well,” Zelda chimed in, looking equally perplexed.

“You don’t understand?” Kanora inquired, looking shocked. “I thought it should be quite obvious. It was our way of showing thanks to you, wonderful Hero.”

“Er…but why?”

Kanora blinked. “Well, you are the Hero who saved Hyrule and defeated the evil tyrant, Ganondorf, are you not?”

Link frowned. “Well, yes I am, but I don’t understand why that constitutes such a grand display of gratitude.”

“Agreed,” Zelda said, backing him up. “While I too believe that Link should be praised for his achievements, I can’t determine what has brought this on. Unless I’m mistaken, the Gerudo were never subjected to the horrors of the Twilight Invasion, correct?”

Kanora stared at the both of them for another moment, before realization crossed her face. “Oh, I see. You don’t know what you have done for our people. You have no understanding of our eternal gratitude.”

“Your eternal gratitude?” Link repeated, feeling rather uneasy as he uttered the central word.

“Yes, Hero, I assure you that you deserve nothing less. Not after everything you have done to bless our people. To free us from a curse that has lasted for centuries.”

“Er…what do you mean?” Link asked slowly.

Kanora just gave him a gentle smile. “Be calm, Hero, and I will make it all clear. Tell me, how familiar are you with your great foe? How much did you know about the terrible and mighty Ganondorf?”

Link glanced at Zelda while he answered. “Um, not much. He was an evil man who lived centuries ago, right? But then he was sentenced to imprisonment in the Twilight Realm, and there he existed as an immortal spirit of hatred until he finally escaped and tried to conquer Hyrule.”

“Yes, and then you kindly put a stop to him by ending his life,” Kanora concluded, still smiling. “However, that is not all there is to that foul ogre’s story. You see, we Gerudo share very close ties to that tyrant, for he is our kin.”

Link didn’t quite understand, but Zelda was quick to grasp what she was saying. “Ganondorf was a Gerudo?”

Kanora nodded. “I see that you understand what this means, dear Princess.”

“Well, I’m afraid that I’m still lost,” Link said sadly.

To his surprise, Kanora just giggled. “Patience, great Hero. I shall explain. Now, I’m sure you’ve heard before that we Gerudo consist only of women, and that our mothers only ever bear daughters, but that is not entirely true. You see, once roughly every hundred years, a special Gerudo child is born: a son. This is a rare phenomenon that is greatly celebrated among our people. So celebrated is this child that he is often recognized as King, and we place him even higher than our Tribe’s Chief.”

Link nodded, slowly beginning to understand. “So Ganondorf was a Gerudo King, born hundreds of years ago?”

“Precisely, my handsome young Hero. Our Tribe’s history tells us that he too once ruled over our people, but it did not last before disaster struck. According to the tales of old, Ganondorf betrayed the King of Hyrule, and was subsequently banished into the Twilight Realm where he rested, biding his time until the current day where he chose to strike again. It is said that our people were glad to be rid of such a tyrant, but it was a short-lived happiness. For you see, our people eventually discovered that we had been cursed by Ganondorf’s very existence.”

“What do you mean?” Zelda asked, supplying the question that was on Link’s mind as well.

“Oh, it is a great tragedy. One that plagued us for centuries,” Kanora said as she held a hand over her heart. At first, Link thought she might just be exaggerating, but he soon discovered that she genuinely did seem to be lamenting their past. “You see, there can only ever be one Gerudo King. One male heir to ascend our throne. As long as one King breathes, another will never be born. Do you understand what this meant for our people? As long as Ganondorf survived, immortal in that distant realm, we would be forever left without a King. Cursed to never know the joy of bearing a son. Of having a strong, reliable man to lead our people. We managed to get by, of course, but this was a terrible existence that we had to accept. One which we could not change, and simply endured…

“That is…until a certain Hero came along and freed us of our shackles,” Kanora said, her bright smile returning. “Do you understand our gratitude now, Hero? Once Ganondorf was finally slain at your hand, our people were liberated. Our opportunity to be blessed with a son has been bestowed upon us once again. Every woman in our Tribe now has the chance to bear a King. Oh, it is such an exciting time for our people, and after centuries of sorrow, no less.”

Link just stood there, feeling awed at what he was being told. “I…I had no idea,” he said quietly. “I was just trying to save the Kingdom. I didn’t realize that I was also undoing such a long-held curse.”

“Oh, but our people are in your debt all the same, good Hero,” Kanora said with a bow of her head. “We will forever be grateful for what you have done. We will write your name on our tapestries and we will tell stories of your adventures and we will teach our children to sing your praises for years to come.”

Link nervously smiled. “W-Well…I don’t think you need to go that far…”

Kanora firmly shook her head. “Nonsense. The savior of our people deserves nothing less! Isn’t that right, ladies?”

Without warning, all of the Gerudo suddenly began chanting in one strong, unified voice. “Long live Link, the Hero of Twilight, Savior of the Gerudo, and our great Tyrant-Slayer!” This was then complemented with a round of applause, as well as many cheers that ranged from “Hero!” to “Link!” to one person even screaming “I love you!”

Naturally, Link just accepted all of this as if the weight of the world had been thrust on his shoulders. To receive their gratitude was one thing, but this excessive praise and adulation was enough to make him squirm uncomfortably. It was as he had said many times before: he hadn’t done any of this to be recognized, he had just been trying to save people.

But he soon sighed and tried to relax. After all of this time, he now understood that accepting people’s admiration was simply part of being a Hero, whether he liked it or not. He still felt rather uncomfortable about the whole thing, but it had become easier with time and consistent encouragement. He supposed that he had Zelda to thank for that.

Link glanced over to find said Princess staring at him with concern written all over her features, but he just gave her an encouraging smile. He soon turned back to Kanora, and gave her a bow. “I’m happy to know that my actions have helped you. The pleasure was all mine.”

“Oh my,” Kanora said, looking charmed as she brought her fingers to her lips. “Not only are you a courageous Hero, but such a well-mannered one as well. Oh, how fortunate of us to have made your acquaintance.”

There was another round of applause for the Hero, but it was soon cut short as Kanora gracefully waved her hands in the air.

“We could be here talking all day in the scorching sun, but we’ve had enough of these pleasantries, yes? Come, Hero, come! We plan to hold a great feast in your honor!”

Link seemed surprised at this, and almost had half a mind to deny the necessity of it, but he soon shrugged and chose to accept their gratitude once again. “I would be honored,” he said humbly.

“Excellent!” Kanora cheered. She soon hurried off, as did many of the Gerudo. “Quickly now, let’s set up the tables and cushions and canopies! Surely our guests are famished, and we must make good hosts!” And they soon disappeared and reappeared in and out of tents in a great bustle of activity.

Link just stood there, still feeling a bit stunned by this turn of events, but he glanced over once he realized that Zelda was still watching him closely. As always, she had a bit of an amused smirk on her lips.

“You’re okay with this?” she asked quietly.

He smiled, trying to seem confident. “Yeah. It seems like they just want to thank me, and well, it would be rude to refuse them, don’t you think?”

Zelda just blinked in surprise at this. “My, you really have grown,” she noted, almost sounding proud. “What happened to that nervous and shy Hero that I used to know?”

Link laughed and shook his head. “Trust me, he’s still here. He’s just gotten a little stronger is all.”

“Hmm, how pleasant,” Zelda mused. She then smirked some more as she began to follow the Gerudo. “Just don’t let it go to your head, ‘our dear Hero’.”

Link simply rolled his eyes. As if that could ever happen.

Notes:

I simply love Kanora. She’s a bit of a dork but also sly and tries to be charming in everything she does. I’ve had such a fun time writing her in all of the upcoming Gerudo chapters. Please look forward to seeing more of her as the story progresses :)

Chapter 45: A Favor of Friendship

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 45 – A Favor of Friendship

After a bit of preparation and table-setting, the Gerudo and their guests were soon seated around a long thin table in the middle of camp. It had been set beneath several thick, colorful canopies, which provided the guests with some much-needed relief from the sun. The table itself sat low, close to the sandy earth beneath it. Because of this, the seats consisted of no more than rounded cushions which had been placed directly on the ground. The guests had to find ways to bend their legs in order to sit upon such furniture, but once they did it was comfortable enough.

Zelda and Kanora took seats on either side of Link, who, being the guest of honor, naturally sat at the head of the table. Needless to say, he was a little nervous about this, for he had never been bestowed with such an honor before, not even in Ordon. Not to mention, this was a privilege usually reserved for the Royal Princess. But Zelda dismissed this, stating that she was perfectly happy to let him have the spotlight for once. He had earned it, after all.

So at the head Link sat. It felt awkward to have so many people lined up in front of him like this, but he put up with it the best he was able. However, something far more awkward soon caught his attention.

Link furrowed his brow a bit as he noticed a gentle breeze from off to his left. Glancing over, he soon spotted a young Gerudo girl with a large palm branch in her hand. She gently waved it back and forth, creating a pleasant breeze for him and him alone. All the while, she stared at him with starry eyes and a cheerful grin.

Link just frowned as he looked away. Okay, this was a step too far. “Um, Kanora, what is she doing?”

The Gerudo Chief glanced over with a bright smile. “Oh, my wonderful Hero, can’t you see? She is trying to soothe you with a lovely breeze.”

Link’s frown grew wider, and he soon turned to Zelda, who honestly looked like she was fighting hard not to laugh at him. He rolled his eyes. “Well, this really isn’t necessary. Can you tell her to stop?”

“Yes, of course, dear Hero. We’ll send her away at once.” Kanora then called the girl by name, and sent her scampering away, likely back to where her mother was seated. She then smiled at Link once more. “There, is that better, dear Hero?”

Link just sighed. “Yes. And also, you don’t have to call me ‘Hero’ all the time.”

“Ah, my apologies,” Kanora said with a regretful shake of her head. “Tyrant-Slayer it is then.”

“No, not that either,” Link said with a deadpan expression.

“Oh? Then what would you prefer?”

“Link,” he begged. “Just Link, please.”

“Link?” the Chief questioned. “Hmm, it doesn’t seem very cordial. But if that is what you insist, my wonderful Link, then I shall abide.”

Link nearly groaned, choosing to give up at this point. Meanwhile, Zelda still struggled to keep a straight face.

Before long, the feast was served. Numerous dishes were brought out, ranging from roasted animals to fresh fruits to some sort of beverage concocted from a cactus, to a great number of other foreign delicacies that neither Link nor Zelda recognized. When questioned about this, Kanora cheerfully laughed.

“Ah, we brought all of this with us from the other lands that we visited. It’s amazing how vastly the cuisine differs from region to region. We managed to trade a lot of foods as well as recipes, and because of this, our culture has greatly expanded since the time of our ancestors’ first nomadic venture.”

Zelda nodded at this, her curiosity swelling as it so often did. “I was hoping to ask about that. Where exactly have you been all this time?”

“I was hoping to ask that as well,” Auru added from his spot next to Kanora. He soon pulled out a small personal journal, as well as a quill. “According to the history books, the Gerudo simply vanished from the desert without a trace. And now for centuries, Hyrule has been wondering what exactly took place.”

Kanora smiled some more, as if amused by the historian. “Ah, I see. Those boring old books don’t tell the whole story, huh? I assume you’d rather come to the source itself for an inside scoop…” As she said this, she licked her lips in a seductive fashion, which was enough to make the whole table feel uncomfortable.

“Well, a firsthand source is the most reliable,” Auru said with a light chuckle, trying to play it off innocently.

Kanora smirked. “Well, I’d be happy to show you all the things you can’t find in books…”

“Ahem,” Zelda bluntly interrupted by clearing her throat. She wasn’t trying to be rude, but she truly did not care to listen to her “flirting” or whatever this was supposed to be. “Pardon, Kanora, but can we please focus on the topic at hand? Where exactly have your people been all this time?”

Kanora simply retained her smirk, not bothered by her interruption in the slightest. “Everywhere, nowhere,” she answered with a shrug. “We’ve moved around so much, it’s almost hard to keep track. But if it’s on a map, then we’ve probably been there. And if it’s not on a map…well we might’ve been there once or twice anyway,” she finished with a wink.

Zelda tried to keep a level head and ignored the girl’s attempts at being “cutesy”. Similar to when she dealt with Telma, the Princess always had to make sure that the conversation stayed on track. “So you’ve been traveling to neighboring lands for the last few centuries?” Kanora nodded. “In that case, why have we never heard any word of your whereabouts?”

“We didn’t exactly make ourselves widely known,” the Chief replied innocently. “We tended to keep our heads low. Moved around a lot too. Every once in a while, we’d find a peaceful, remote region where we could settle down for a few years. But even then, we’d insist upon packing our bags and taking to the road once again. We never stayed in one place for too long.”

“Why?” Zelda asked with a frown. “You make it sound as if you never wanted to be found.”

“Perhaps we didn’t,” Kanora said with a shrug. “We lived as we were raised. We were people who were born on the road. People who were born to travel. Our ancestors prioritized keeping a low profile and we did too. I can’t really tell you why. It’s just the way we lived.”

Zelda frowned some more, feeling troubled by this explanation. Fortunately, Auru was willing to speak up and ask the burning question that was on her mind. “And why did your ancestors leave Hyrule in the first place?”

At this, Kanora snorted, almost as if she had been asked something ridiculous. “I suppose you'd have to ask them. It was so long ago that we don’t even know. We’ve heard plenty of stories, of course, but who can say if there’s truth to them or if they’re nothing more than rumors? A lot of them claim that it had something to do with Ganondorf’s banishment, but I can’t say if it's one way or the other.”

At this point, Link spoke up. “So…you guys just left your home and kept wandering around the world without knowing why?”

Kanora giggled and shook her head. “Oh, my dear Link. Haven’t you been listening? The way of travel has been our life for hundreds of years. It’s the only way we’ve known how to live. Would you have been so quick to change your lifestyle if it was all you had ever known?”

Link went quiet at this. His ancestors had been nothing but poor farmers living in Ordon. He too would have likely continued that lifestyle if he hadn’t picked up a sword and shield and embarked on a heroic adventure. Not that he had wished for it, of course, but because he had to do it.

“So what did change then?” he asked. “Why have you suddenly chosen to return now, after all of this time has passed?”

Kanora sighed, looking content as she stared at the brightly colored canopy hanging overhead. “We always heard stories of our true home in Hyrule, and we all believed that one day we would return. Our nomadic ventures, even if they lasted for centuries, were only ever meant to be temporary. Our ancestors assured us that one day, when the time was right, we would be freed from our self-imposed exile and make our journey back to this spiritual land of sand.”

“And the thing you were waiting for was the death of Ganondorf,” Zelda deduced.

“Exactly, Princess,” Kanora said with a proud smile. “Once we caught word of the Hero’s great deeds, we felt a great weight lifted off of our shoulders. And not only that, but a great curse too! All of us knew it then; that we couldn’t just sit around. Now freed of our curse, we knew that it was time for a great change. Time for us to return to our native land and settle down once again. And so we have come to our motherland of Hyrule, and now we hope and pray that a great King will soon be born and offer us much wisdom and guidance.”

“Fascinating,” Auru said, promptly writing all of this down in his journal. “To think that one of the greatest mysteries of our Kingdom is being solved right before my eyes. I never thought I’d live to see the day.”

Zelda smiled in agreement. She too was grateful to have learned about this unexplained part of history, and even more thankful to finally have the Gerudo back in their homeland. “So what do you plan to do now that you’ve returned?”

“That’s easy,” Kanora said quickly. “We’ll settle down and find a way to live in our new home. Admittedly, this landscape seems rather harsh, but we’ll learn to adjust. Our ancestors did, and we will too. Naturally, our first goal will be to build homes. Sturdy ones, made of stone, that won’t easily be weathered down by wind and sand. Which reminds me, do you happen to know any good stonemasons by chance? Preferably those who are strong and muscular men?”

Zelda wished to roll her eyes at this desperate plea for romance, but she managed to keep a straight face. “I can put out a notice in Castle Town once we return. Anyone who wishes to take up the job will be put in contact with you.”

“Wonderful,” Kanora said as she clapped her hands together. “Oh, and do let them know that we’ll pay them handsomely for their services. And not just in riches…”

Okay, this time Zelda did roll her eyes. Could this woman go two seconds without making some kind of seductive remark? Could any of the Gerudo? She had been happy to meet them, but her patience for their behavior was honestly wearing thin.

“There is still one thing that I’m curious about,” Link announced with a frown.

Kanora just turned to him and batted her eyes, much to Zelda’s annoyance. “Ask away, my dear.”

“If you were in another land, how did you hear word of my adventures?”

“Oh, is that all?” Kanora asked with a laugh. “Why, Telma shared them with me, of course.”

Link frowned a bit as he imagined the barmaid smirking in his mind. “She did, did she?”

“Oh yes, she tells me everything. I’m not sure if you’ve ever noticed, but she’s honestly a bit of a gossiper.”

This time, Link was the one who rolled his eyes. “You don’t say…”

Kanora simply giggled. “She also mentioned that the two of you were good friends, of course. Oh, and she had so many nice things to say. Like how you’re kind, and brave, and a total sweetheart.”

“I’m sure she was just exaggerating,” Link replied sheepishly.

“Oh, no, my wonderful Link. I can clearly see what she was talking about. If anything, her words don’t do you justice…” Kanora then went to extend a hand to the Hero, potentially to graze his cheek with her gentle touch. However, she never made contact, for as soon as she caught Zelda’s mild glare from across the table, she chose to behave herself.

“Ahem, anyway,” the Chief said, awkwardly clearing her throat. “It really has been a pleasure to meet everyone. Hopefully this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship which will last for years and years to come.”

Zelda sighed, dropping her glare for the sake of fulfilling her duties as an ambassador of Hyrule. “I completely agree. And on that note, Chief Kanora, I have a proposition for you on behalf of the Hyrule Council.”

“Oh?” she asked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.

Zelda nodded. “Yes, as the Royal Princess of Hyrule, I would like to formally extend an invitation for you to become an official member of the Hyrule United Roundtable.”

Again, Kanora clapped her hands together, as if greatly excited. “Oh, how wonderful! A position with the Hyrule United Roundtable!” She then paused as her smile faltered. “Er…what is that, exactly?”

Link nearly facepalmed from his seat next to her. He was starting to wonder if this “wise” Gerudo Chief was actually a bit scatterbrained.

Zelda also had to fight hard to keep a straight face and reserve her judgements. She soon provided a brief explanation of what the Roundtable was, who was a part of it, and its overarching goal of aiding the various civilizations of Hyrule and unifying the Kingdom. Naturally, Kanora’s giddiness returned at once.

“A meeting at the castle? Oh, how lovely! And with so many important figures too…I’d be perfectly happy to accept your invitation, Princess. And I’m sure that my people will offer their full support as well. After all, we are always happy to accept the glowing hand of friendship!”

At this, Link just felt his shoulders sag. “The what now?”

“The glowing hand of friendship!” she repeated without missing a beat. “I’m sure it’ll be oh so fun joining a table with such distinct individuals. I greatly look forward to it.”

Link gave the Chief a deadpan stare, wondering how she could possibly think so lightly of what by all accounts was an incredibly honored position. Even now, Link still wondered if he himself was worthy of it, and yet here Kanora was just treating it like a trifle. “You do realize that this is more than just a group of friends sitting around a table and having fun, right?”

“Hmm? What’s that?” Kanora asked, quickly whipping her head to him. “Did you just say something about being more than friends? My, my, dear little Link. To think that you would suggest this so brazenly! Although I am flattered, of course.”

Link went to respond, but his words died in his throat upon realizing just how utterly confused he was. “I…what?”

“Kanora,” Zelda interjected, using a tone that was low and full of warning. “Would you please?”

Again, Kanora retracted her gaze and sat perfectly still. “Oh, do forgive me. Sometimes my heart gets ahead of me. But I do promise to leave him well enough alone. After all, I would never dare tread on the relationship you have with your significant other, my wonderful little Link.”

Link just felt his face turn red as he tried to wrap his mind around everything that had happened in this chaotic camp of women. In the end, all he blurted out was a very blunt, “Thanks.”

The table quieted for a moment while the guests picked at their food. Some were trying to manage their embarrassment, while others were trying to manage their jealousy, and one person in particular was just trying to act innocent as if nothing was amiss. As for Auru, he just kept to himself and continued jotting down notes as he admired the Gerudo around him. He was happy to simply study their mannerisms and way of life.

Before long, Kanora did find the daring to speak up again, much to Zelda’s apprehension. “Speaking of friendship,” she began nonchalantly, “I do have a favor I’d like to ask of you, my lovely Hero, Link.”

Link hesitated, but he addressed her all the same. “A favor?”

At this, Zelda tensed up, and began to scowl once again. “You’d best watch your tongue, Kanora.”

“Oh, phooey!” the Chief quickly snapped. “Do relax, would you, Princess? This really is serious business, you know.”

Zelda gave her a skeptical look, but soon sighed. “Very well,” she said with a wave of her hand.

Kanora smirked before turning back to the Hero. “Tell me, brave Link, have you ever visited the Arbiter’s Grounds?”

Link paused, suddenly thinking about the large stone structure that loomed in the distance behind all of them. “Yes, a few times, actually.”

“Hmm…So you are familiar with it, yes?”

“I’ve pretty much explored it from top to bottom,” he said with a shrug.

“Ah, how fortunate,” the Chief hummed. “You see, we Gerudo are the rightful caretakers of such a place. It was our ancestor’s duty to look after the monument; to make sure it stayed pure and well-kept. And now that we have returned to our homeland, it shall become our duty to look after it once again. However, we are very much not acquainted with the structure. We have never lived here before, after all. Naturally, a few of us journeyed inside to familiarize ourselves with the place, but we quickly ran into serious trouble.”

Link frowned and his eyes narrowed a bit. “What kind of trouble?”

“Monsters, tons of them,” Kanora said with a shake of her head. “Hiding around corners, crawling out of the sand. It was quite the fright, I’ll have you know. Our ancestors had always cited the Grounds as a pure and holy place, where the spirits came to be worshiped. We never imagined that it would actually be a den of devils.”

“So what did you do?” Zelda inquired, looking just as concerned as Link.

“We fought them off as best we could. Even managed to slay a couple. But in the end, we felt forced to make a retreat. We were too unfamiliar with the place. The enemies just kept pouring out, and we had no idea from where. Although, some of my sisters did claim that they could sense dark magic at work…”

Upon hearing this, Link’s expression turned grave. The Arbiter’s Grounds that Kanora was describing sounded exactly like the one he had faced during his adventure: a ruthless, monster infested structure. However, the Arbiter’s Grounds of today should have been very different; much safer and pure as the Gerudo’s ancestors had described it. The only reason it had been infested to begin with was due to Zant and Ganondorf’s dark magic. Once Link and Midna had successfully cleared the dungeon, all of the magic had dissipated, and the enemies had disappeared as well. And so it had remained for weeks. In fact, when Link and Zelda had last visited the structure in order to see Midna off, they hadn’t even encountered a soul.

But if what Kanora said was true, then it seemed that something had seriously changed within the last few months…

“What sort of monsters did you encounter?” Link asked her.

“You name it,” she said with a shrug. “We encountered some Keese and Moldorms first, but those are indigenous and we expected them. However, we soon came across much more horrific creatures than that. Ghouls and Poes and Stalfos, and the most terrifying of all, ReDeads.”

Link shivered as this final name reached his pointed ears. He truly dreaded those foul creatures. They were simply terrifying in nature: disfigured bodies wrapped in dirty bandages that wandered around, dragging their swords and looking for prey with their fierce red eyes. However, the worst thing about them by far was their signature scream which was horrible enough to make anyone’s blood run cold.

Link soon turned to Zelda, and he found that her expression was equally grim. “I don’t understand,” he said. “They were completely cleared out the last time we came through here.”

She nodded, agreeing that his words made sense, but clearly there was more to this puzzle than they realized. “They must be spawning from some source of darkness. Something we missed the last time we were here.”

“The Mirror of Twilight?” Link suggested.

“No, it shouldn’t have been capable of something like this. And besides, it lost all of its power when Midna shattered it.”

“Then what could it be?”

“I don’t know, but I expect we will have to do a thorough search in order to find out.” Zelda soon turned to Kanora. “I assume that this is the favor you wanted to ask?”

“Only if our daring Link would be so kind,” she said with an innocent and sappy smile.

Link just folded his arms and sighed. “It looks like there’s no helping it. I know my way around that dungeon better than anyone else.”

“You do not mind entering a monster-infested dungeon?”

Link laughed and shook his head. “No, I’ve done it numerous times already, and I should be able to handle it just fine. Besides, I’m always happy to help.”

Kanora gave him a bright smile of gratitude, and soon bowed her head. “It seems we are in your debt once again, Link. We truly don’t deserve your kindness.”

“No, really, it’s my pleasure,” Link said, shyly smiling back. “I’ll go take a look once this meal is through.”

“And I’ll be going with you,” Zelda stated, both suddenly and adamantly.

The table immediately went silent, and everyone’s heads turned to glance in her direction. Even Fost, who had been busy talking to another Gerudo all this time, shot up as soon as this declaration reached his ears. So great was his surprise that he even began choking on a mouthful of food while he desperately tried to speak up.

“The Princess (cough, cough) in a dungeon (hack, hack), absolutely not!”

Zelda simply wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Fost, please be so kind as to keep your mouth shut while chewing…”

Fost went to speak up again, only to succumb to another fit of hacking as he forced the food down his throat. He doubled over while the friendly Gerudo next to him gently patted him on the back. This left the rest of the table free to question Zelda in his place.

“Princess, you wish to journey into the den of devils?” Kanora asked with raised eyebrows.

“Are you certain?” asked Auru.

Zelda gave a firm nod. “Yes. I believe it would be best if I accompanied Link in this search for the source of darkness.”

“No, no, absolutely not!” Fost shouted, having finally recovered from his choking. “Princess, as your caretaker, and dare I say, protector, I may not allow you leave to visit somewhere so dangerous and terrifying! Why, it would border on lunacy!”

Zelda rolled her eyes, not surprised by this outburst in the slightest. “On the contrary, Fost, I believe that allowing me to accompany Link would be the wisest course of action.”

Fost looked both frustrated and speechless, so Kanora interjected for him. “How so?”

Zelda took a moment to close her eyes and clasp her hands together, looking perfectly professional and royal. “The way I see it is quite simple. In spite of Link’s capability, I think it would be unwise to send him into a den of monsters completely alone. It would be best if he had someone by his side who was also capable of fighting off whatever threats he encounters. Similarly, while Link is very familiar with this place, I doubt that he knows exactly what he is searching for. Isn’t that correct?”

Link, much like the others, had felt rather speechless up to this point. But upon seeing the Princess turn his gaze to him, he quickly stammered his words out. “Er…no, I don’t.”

“Exactly,” Zelda continued. “For all his strengths, Link has no experience tracking great sources of magic. I, on the other hand, am very adept at this sort of thing. I believe that I might be the one most capable of accompanying Link on this endeavor, and will thus be able to solve this matter in a timely manner.”

Again, the table went quiet, but Fost was quick to speak against her once more. “But Princess, consider your own wellbeing! Is it really necessary to risk your life in such a way? Why, in spite of your reservations, I’m sure that Master Link will be just fine on his own.”

Zelda turned to the Minister with a mild glare, almost as if she was offended. “Minister Fost!” she scolded him in a purely formal tone. “How can you say such a thing? You claim that my life is too great to risk and then insist that Link does the same with his own? Are you not worried about our young Hero’s life as well? How utterly cruel! And let me remind you, this is no trivial matter either. We are here to make friends with the good Gerudo people, and they have just come to us for help. How could I, as the Princess of the Kingdom, turn my back on them in their hour of need? I am not some doll that sits on a throne and is meant to be admired. I live to serve my people, and I fully intend to do what I am capable of doing.”

Once again, there was silence, as Fost was honestly stumped by such a passionate and practical rebuttal. He soon glanced around at the others, hoping for assistance.

“Well,” Auru began, looking a little uncomfortable, “the Princess is rather capable, but this is still a dangerous task, and I can’t imagine that King Caius will be too pleased to know of this.”

“Yes, exactly!” Fost quickly agreed. “Good man, Auru! His Majesty would be worried sick if he knew of this! He’d never allow it!”

“Oh, bother him,” Zelda said with a surprising amount of indifference. “If he doesn’t know, then it won’t hurt him.”

“Hmph!” Fost grunted. “In that case, I shall inform His Majesty of this directly! We’ll see how that changes your careless tune.”

“Then you’d best be off at once,” Zelda shot back, again sounding nonchalant.

“Why, you stubborn girl-” Fost began, but he was quickly cut off by a distressed Kanora.

“Oh, please, new friends. Let’s all calm down, shall we? There is no need for raised voices and lost tempers at this wonderful gathering, is there?”

Fost simply huffed before turning his eyes to her and bowing. “Pardon my outburst, esteemed Gerudo Chief. I do not mean to become a disgrace in your pleasant company, but I fear that the Princess’s words have torn my heart asunder. Please, surely you could speak in my defense?”

Whether intentional or not, it was clear to everyone that the Minister’s polite words had an effect on the Chief, who promptly giggled. “Oh, so charming,” she mused. She then paused before clearing her throat and returning to the matter at hand. “Ahem, yes, as things stand, this could be quite the predicament. Young Princess, surely you understand that the Arbiter’s Grounds are not as safe a place as you might believe. Even our greatest warriors felt it wise to turn and retreat upon facing the foes in those depths.”

“My argument stands regardless,” Zelda said plainly. “I will not abandon Link to traverse those depths alone without my knowledge to help guide him.”

“Yes, and that is very noble of you,” Kanora agreed. “However, what if our young dear Link does not require your talents? Would you not then be needlessly placing yourself in danger, much to the fear of your advisors and father?”

Zelda went quiet at this. For all of Kanora’s tendency to be scatterbrained and playful, she was just as capable of crafting a practical and convincing argument too. “But I believe that Link does need me,” she asserted. “I would certainly not insist on coming along if I believed otherwise.”

Kanora smirked. “Very well, then it seems that we are on the cusp of reaching a conclusion. We’ll let the brave Hero Link make the decision for us. Tell us, Link, will you require the capable Princess’s aid in settling this matter?”

Link furrowed his brow, appearing uncertain. He had mostly remained silent up to this point because he wasn’t sure which argument he supported. On the one hand, he agreed with Fost that the Princess should be kept free from harm, and that he would probably be able to handle the monsters on his own. On the other hand, he appreciated Zelda’s willingness to come to his aid, and he truthfully didn’t know how to track down this potential “source of darkness”, or even what to look for, for that matter. Still, would it be fair to bring the Princess along just because he was too incompetent to settle the matter on his own? Surely it would be better if Zelda remained at the camp, and he just figured it out along the way. He was a Hero, after all, and navigating dungeons and stopping monsters was supposed to be his area of expertise.

However, as he pondered the query, he glanced at Zelda and she stared back at him with a soft, pleading look on her face. She frowned slightly and her sapphire eyes sparkled a bit, almost as if asking for his blessing. And it was under that gaze that Link felt his doubts fade away. He soon took a deep breath before smiling.

“I would be more than happy to allow Zelda to accompany me,” he finally declared.

Zelda smiled too before breathing a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Kanora and Auru shrugged while Fost just gawked at this conclusion.

“This is preposterous!” the tiny Minister exclaimed. “Master Link, please, you must reconsider-”

“Relax, Fost,” Link quickly interrupted him with a look of confidence. “I know you’re worried, but Zelda can handle herself. And not only that, but I promise to stay by her side and keep her safe at all times. No harm shall befall her as long as I have anything to say about it.”

“Well said,” Kanora piped up as well. “I know that I would certainly feel safe if I had a strong, capable man like Link by my side.”

“Agreed,” Auru said as he crossed his arms. “Let’s not forget that Link is one the greatest swordsmen in the Kingdom. I’m certain he will do an adequate job of keeping the Princess safe.”

Fost gawked for the final time, looking appalled with the lot of them. “I cannot believe this. I simply cannot! Oh, but very well, have your way if you must. Send the Princess into that den of devils for all I care! But know this: when the time comes to inform His Majesty that his precious daughter was horrifically devoured by monsters, I will gladly assign the blame to each and every one of you for being so careless and irresponsible!”

While Fost started to huff as his speech came to a close, Zelda simply smirked, unfazed by his tirade. “Then let’s pray it shall not come to that, for all of our sakes.”

Kanora immediately laughed at this while Link and Auru smiled. Meanwhile, Fost just began to pout, clearly not amused by any sort of joke concerning such a dire situation.

Amidst this wide range of emotions, Zelda glanced at Link and managed to catch his eye once more. She produced a sincere smile before whispering a soft phrase under her breath.

“Thank you.”

Notes:

Link and Zelda dungeon crawl incoming! Should be a fun time :)

Also, happy Zelink Week everybody! I actually released a few one-shots for the event earlier in the week, so feel free to check them out. I did one for TP and one for ALBW. Zelink is real! :D

Chapter 46: Silent Dungeon

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 46 – Silent Dungeon

The meal eventually came to a close, as did the afternoon, and the orange glow of the setting sun soon settled over the sand. The Gerudo began preparing luxurious, well-furnished tents for their guests to inhabit for the duration of their stay. As expected, the visitors settled in amongst the comforts that their hosts had provided for them. However, there were still two guests that had work to do, and they wasted no time in getting to it.

Link and Zelda marched towards the Arbiter’s Grounds, accompanied by Kanora and a small group of Gerudo. They approached a long set of stairs which was surrounded by stone pillars, some of which had been chipped and cracked and eroded away by the harsh, sandy winds. At the stairs’ summit was a single entrance, which led directly into the dark depths of the dungeon.

The Hero and Princess halted at the bottom of these stairs, taking a moment to look over their equipment. As always, Link was armed with both sword and shield, and he carried his bag which contained most of his adventuring equipment as well. As for Zelda, she had her ornate bow as well as a full quiver of arrows slung over her shoulder. Additionally, she donned a sash around her waist from which her rapier hung in its sheath. She was more than prepared to handle any threats that came her way, both distant and close.

The two of them planned to enter the dungeon alone. The Gerudo that currently accompanied them had only come to see them off and wait at the entrance should they need anything. Fost had tried to argue that Zelda should take her entire battalion of guards with her, but she refused. She claimed that having all of those soldiers would just slow them down and put more lives at risk. Link and Zelda would be able to move around much more quickly on their own, and would thus be able to find the source of darkness that much sooner. Therefore, the guards would be nothing more than a hindrance, much to the Minister’s disappointment and frustration.

However, it seemed that Fost wasn’t the only one who was concerned, for Kanora soon took a moment to pull Zelda off to the side and have a quick word with her. “Are you sure of this, Princess? I know that I am not the most knowledgeable about this structure, but I would be happy to accompany the two of you in this quest.”

Zelda gave the Chief a grateful smile before shaking her head. “I appreciate the offer, but it will not be necessary. Link and I should have everything under control.”

Kanora stared at the Princess for a moment, before her eyes widened a bit and her lips curled into a smirk. “Ah, I see now…”

Naturally, this expression just confused Zelda. “See what?”

“I see that you wish to spend an evening alone with your dearest Link,” she replied confidently. “It’s okay, Princess. I understand. After all, he is quite dashing and handsome, hmm?”

Zelda’s face quickly turned red from embarrassment. “No, absolutely not,” she muttered under her breath. “That is not what I am saying at all!”

“No, no, it is truly all right, Princess,” Kanora said as she placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I get it. Really, I do. Under normal circumstances, I might have insisted on accompanying you, just to be safe. But in this instance…I will gladly allow the two of you to go alone. I wouldn’t want to be a third wheel, after all,” she finished with a tiny giggle.

Zelda just glared at the Gerudo Chief. The Princess knew that she and her party had come to the desert for diplomatic purposes, but in this moment, she could hardly resist the growing desire to reach out and give a powerful tug on this woman’s hair.

Fortunately, Kanora laughed some more and released the Princess before she had a chance to do anything untoward. She soon made her way over to Link, where she playfully grabbed his arm and wished him luck in his quest. She then retreated to the safety of the other Gerudo that accompanied her.

Feeling positively steamed, Zelda made her way over to Link, who just turned to her with a friendly smile. “Well, ready to go?”

“Yes,” she hissed bluntly. She then cast a look in Kanora’s direction before stomping her way up the stone stairs.

Link just watched her for a bit, wondering what that was all about. The behavior seemed a bit odd for a Princess who was usually so composed and cordial. But now that he thought about it, he felt that there was something strange in general about everyone’s attitudes today. Almost as if everyone was acting “off” or “awkward”. Perhaps it was the stress of two different parties meeting for the first time? Or perhaps the overwhelming heat was getting to them? He wasn’t sure, so he soon shrugged and followed Zelda up the stairs.

By the time he made it to the top, Zelda seemed to have been restored to her calm and collected self. She stared into the dark entrance before them, looking for any movement and listening for any sounds. Thankfully, there was nothing to report.

“Did you bring your lantern?” she asked the Hero.

Link nodded before fetching the small fire-holder and lighting it. The stone walls of the dungeon were instantly bathed in its light, and the two of them were able to see the path forward. With a small nod of approval from Zelda, Link led the way inside.

The duo moved slowly and cautiously, keeping an eye out for any dangers that might pounce on them. Before long, they managed to make it to the first room without any trouble. Here, the path split into multiple hallways, and Link took a moment to eye each of them. The only sounds that could be detected were the occasional shifting of sand (which was natural in this dungeon) and the soft thuds of their boots on stone. Once he was sure that there were no creatures around, Link allowed himself to relax.

“Well, we’re in,” he declared with a small smile. “Are you able to sense this ‘source of darkness’ that the monsters are spawning from?”

Zelda frowned a bit before closing her eyes. She then called on the Goddesses to lend her their power, and her hands promptly began to glow with the use of magic. She stood there for a minute, still and silent as she tried to detect any strong gatherings of dark energy. It wasn’t long before she sensed numerous sources, dotting the dungeon from top to bottom, but these were likely monsters, and not what she was searching for. She was seeking the source that had spawned said monsters, and she soon discovered it. It felt like a black void of twisted aura, much stronger than any of the others surrounding it. Zelda simply flashed a troubled expression as she opened her eyes.

“I’ve found it. It’s a few levels below where we are now, and to the northwest.”

Link smiled, looking impressed. “I guess it really was a good thing that you came along.” He then reached for his bag and rummaged through some old documents. After his adventure with Midna had concluded, Link had taken it upon himself to give away most of the maps that he had acquired. He specifically gifted them to the people that probably needed them more than he did. The map of Death Mountain was given to the Gorons, the map of Snowpeak Manor was given to the Yeti couple, and the map of the City in the Sky was given to the Oocca. However, there were some maps that didn’t really belong to anybody, and the Arbiter’s Grounds was one of them. He soon managed to retrieve the old parchment, and he spread it out on the floor.

“Let’s see,” he said as he familiarized himself with the layout. “It sounds like it could be coming from this large chamber here. Fortunately, there’s a relatively straight path that leads there. We’ll just have to take that left hallway, make a few turns, and then keep an eye out for a set of stairs. That should at least get us close, and then if we need to stop and have you check for the source again, we can.”

Zelda nodded, feeling a bit impressed by how quickly Link had formed this strategy. In spite of all his typical clumsiness, he really was in his element here. “Sounds like a plan,” she agreed.

Link took a second to carefully fold up his map and store it in his bag. He then grabbed his lantern and held it high once again. “Ready?”

Zelda simply smirked a bit. “By all means, lead the way my dear, wonderful Hero,” she said, doing her best imitation of Kanora’s voice.

Link just took a half-step forward before immediately stopping. He then turned to Zelda with an expression that could only be described as a cringe. “No, not you too. Please.”

Zelda nearly had to stop herself from laughing at the desperation in his voice. She placed a hand over her mouth, trying to hide her widening smile. “Oh? Is it not to your liking?”

“No,” he replied bluntly.

“You do not wish to be showered with praise, dear Hero?”

Link sighed. “Come on, Zelda, cut it out. Please?”

Zelda finally giggled a bit before shaking her head. “Forgive me, I couldn’t resist having a bit of fun. Those Gerudo are quite the interesting bunch, don’t you think?”

Now that the two of them were alone without any of the Gerudo present, he felt inclined to agree. “You can say that again. They were practically worshiping me earlier.”

“For good reason,” Zelda pointed out. “You did them a monumental favor.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t make their praise any less awkward,” Link insisted.

Zelda smiled some more before walking up and placing a comforting hand on Link’s shoulder. “Well, if it helps, you’ll always be ‘Link’ to me. Just Link.”

“Hmph, that hardly seems to match what you said a second ago.”

“Starting now, I mean.”

In spite of his reservations, Link couldn’t help but smile at her playfulness. He appreciated her attempts to comfort him, even if they did come at his expense from time to time. Additionally, he couldn’t help but recall their last visit to the desert in which Zelda had questioned how he would enjoy being referred to as “Hero” or “Sir” all the time. Well, as expected, it turned out that he didn’t enjoy it much at all. Because of this, he was grateful to have people like the villagers of Ordon in his life. He knew that they would always call him by name, no matter how high his status seemed to surpass him. And it seemed that Zelda could safely be counted among their number as well.

“Thanks, Zelda,” he said plainly. “Now perhaps we should move on with the task at hand?”

Zelda blinked, a bit surprised at how mature and responsible he suddenly sounded, but she smiled all the same. “Yes, let’s be off.”

 

---

 

The two adventurers silently made their way through the deserted chambers one after the other. Occasionally, Zelda would stop and sense for foes while Link navigated using his map. Because of this, the two managed to avoid any rooms with dark auras coming from them, and successfully evaded any encounters with enemies. However, not all of the monsters were avoidable. They eventually encountered some Moldorms in one of the rooms’ sandpits, but Link retrieved his bow and his and Zelda’s arrows made quick work of them.

Before long, they managed to arrive at the staircase they sought with hardly any trouble. Here, Link paused for a moment and turned to Zelda. “Well, down we go.”

“Right,” she said with a nod.

However, as soon as Link took his first step down, something startling happened. A flock of something small, black, and winged shot out of the dark tunnel, rushing towards the adventurers while releasing several agitated squeaks. Then, something even more startling took place. Zelda promptly shrieked and jumped close to Link in order to cower behind him. She closed her eyes as she balled her hands into fists, holding them close to her chest.

Meanwhile, Link drew his sword, ready to face the oncoming foes. However, he was surprised once again to watch as they simply flew straight overhead, not paying him any mind. They soon disappeared into one of the corridors beyond, leaving the two of them alone once more.

Link sighed a bit before sheathing his sword. He then glanced back at his companion, only to find that she was still hiding behind him. And not only that, but it seemed that at some point she had tightly grasped his green tunic, as if holding on for dear life. He couldn’t help but smile a bit as he looked at her.

“Um…Zelda?” he called out quietly.

“Yes?” came her equally quiet reply.

“They’re gone. You can let go of me now.”

“Oh…” Zelda slowly opened her eyes and carefully unraveled her fingers from Link’s tunic. She then took a step back before taking a deep breath and placing a hand over her heart. She wasn’t sure why she had been so frightened. She supposed that she was just surprised by how suddenly those creatures advanced, and it didn't help that they were quite a horrid sight as well. “Um…” she said, slowly finding her voice, “what were those things?”

“Keese,” Link replied simply. “Or large bats, if you will. They must have been sleeping in this stairwell before we disturbed them.”

Zelda couldn’t help but shudder a bit. The thought of those terrifying winged creatures swarming her was almost too much to bear. However, her nerves were hardly a concern as she soon took note of a new dilemma. Link was staring at her, and he was softly smiling. The Princess quickly began to feel self-conscious.

“Wh-What?” she stuttered.

Link flashed her an expression of doubt. “Er…Maybe it would have been better if you had just stayed behind at the camp.”

Zelda simply blinked at this. “What do you mean?”

Link laughed a little. “Well, I just never expected you to be so frightened by a harmless flock of Keese. Especially considering that you once claimed to be a Princess who wasn’t afraid of anything.”

“I…” Zelda’s words quickly died in her throat, and she suddenly felt rather upset. He seemed to be implying that she was showing some sort of weakness! “I am not afraid,” she said adamantly.

Link just rolled his eyes, not buying it for a second. “Zelda, come on. I heard you squeal.”

The Princess merely gawked at his gall. “I was just startled is all!”

“Just startled?” Link repeated.

“Yes!”

“Then what about the cowering? And the shaking? And holding onto me?”

Zelda deeply frowned as her cheeks started to turn red. She knew that he had a point, and she was incredibly embarrassed by it. The Princess had never allowed herself to show any sort of weakness if she could help it. She was a royal; a leader, and she was not meant to be one who cowered in the face of mundane fears. Unfortunately, it seemed that her actions had already betrayed her, and Link had been all too quick to pick up on her discomfort and point it out, plain and simple.

Still, the Princess was nothing if not stubborn, so she soon resorted to the only option available to her. She simply put on a brave face and made it seem that all was well.

“I should not have to listen to this!” she stated, her voice full of pride as well as a touch of arrogance. “I may have hesitated for a moment, but that does not imply that I am too weak to go on, and it most certainly doesn’t mean that I belong back at camp where I am of no use to anyone. I promised that I would direct you to the source of darkness in this dungeon, and I fully intend to keep that promise. Now then, Link, would you kindly stand aside? I would be more than happy to lead the advance from this moment forward.”

And without another word, Zelda pushed past the Hero, descending the stairs with her head held high. She would do whatever it took to show him that there was no fear in her heart!

Naturally, it wasn’t long before the Hero called out to her. “Zelda, wait.”

She quickly paused and turned, almost expecting an apology from her companion. However, what she received instead was another playful grin pasted to his lips, as if her speech hadn’t fazed him at all.

“If you’re going to lead, then at least take the lantern.”

Zelda scowled before snatching the lamp out of his hand. She knew that he was just teasing her, but she insisted on showing him just how brave she could be! Raising the lantern high overhead, she descended the stairs one by one, making her way into the depths of the dungeon. Link just followed behind while smiling and shaking his head.

Eventually, they reached the end of the stairs, and the two of them paused in order to get their bearings on the new floor. Zelda sensed the general direction and Link deduced a proper pathway for them. Once they were satisfied, they set off once more.

As they had planned, they continued taking the route that avoided most enemies, and so they came upon many empty and silent chambers. As they traversed them, Link decided to strike up a conversation.

“Hey, Zelda?”

“Yes?” she replied, still sounding a little blunt and angry. Not that her frustration was with him, of course, but rather herself.

“Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

There was a slight pause. “Why were you so insistent on coming along with me?”

Zelda halted her advance and turned to glance back at him in the soft glow of the lantern light. She remained silent as she flashed him a curious expression.

“Not that I mind,” Link was quick to clarify. “Or that I think you are incapable or too frightened to be here-”

Zelda simply scowled again. “Please choose your next words carefully, Link…”

“I just said that I didn’t think that!” Link insisted as he waved his hands a bit. He soon sighed. “My point is that everyone else at the table was encouraging you not to go, and yet you insisted upon it anyway. Even though you knew that this place would be scary and dangerous. Why is that?”

Zelda pursed her lips before facing forward and continuing her march. Naturally, Link followed behind her; the only noise in the dark hall being the soft thuds of their boots. “I thought that should be obvious,” she answered quietly.

“Then say it,” Link replied quickly and simply. “If it’s obvious, then you might as well say it aloud.”

Zelda’s expression soured once more, but Link didn’t have the pleasure of witnessing it this time since she was facing ahead. “I wanted to help you.”

Again, there was silence.

“Did you think that I wouldn’t be able to handle it on my own?” Link asked quietly.

“What? No, of course not,” Zelda said with a quick shake of her head. “I fully trust you, Link. You should know that. It’s just that…” Here she paused, before her expression and voice became a bit more solemn. “It seems like you always have to carry the burdens of others. To carry the burden of keeping this Kingdom safe, and, well…it wouldn’t exactly be fair if I left all of the work to you, now would it?”

Link smiled a little in surprise. “Zelda, you don’t have to feel bad about that. I’m happy that I’m able to be of use to others.”

“I know,” she said with a nod. “But I don’t want you to push yourself too hard and feel overburdened by any of this. You have done so many services for Hyrule, and I am forever grateful. And I…” Again she paused, surprising herself with how open and sincere she was being, but she gathered her courage and continued all the same.

“I could never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

Quiet. And then a soft laugh. “So your solution is to jump into danger with me? Even if it frightens you?”

“I am not afraid,” she reminded him

“Right, of course…” Link replied, his tone dripping with skepticism. Nevertheless, he soon smiled. “Well, in any case, thank you, Zelda. It seems like you always have my back.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile a bit in return, even though she was still facing away from Link. “That's what I should be saying to you, Hero.”

“I thought you said that you wouldn’t call me that anymore…”

“I can’t help using your title from time to time. Sometimes it just feels appropriate.”

Link sighed and Zelda giggled a bit, amused by their interactions. Fortunately, it seemed that any tension originally caused by the Keese had already evaporated away, leaving nothing but two close friends who deeply cared about each other.

Zelda couldn’t help but smile some more as she went to speak up again. “You know, Link, I-”

But her voice was abruptly cut off by a loud click from beneath her. With wide eyes, she glanced down, only to spot a square pressure plate sinking into the floor under the weight of her boot. She suddenly felt her heart drop into her stomach.

Link was equally alarmed, and quickly began to shout. “Zelda, get back!”

But it was too late. For as soon as the pressure plate clicked into place, the floor fell open beneath them, and both Hero and Princess plummeted into a dark abyss.

Notes:

Oh nooooo! Will our brave hero and princess survive? Tune in next week (well, in two weeks) to find out!

On a more serious note, I want to talk about Zelda’s encounter with the Keese. Personally, I tend to feel that TP Zelda isn’t afraid of many things. But I was replaying Spirit Tracks a while back, and I remembered that Zelda in that game is terrified of mice, and that made me start wondering if most Zeldas tend to be skittish around rodents. And what’s worse than a rodent with wings? So, I figured I could justify having a scene where she is a little spooked by a sudden flock of Keese, thus leading to her and Link’s silly interaction.

Besides, I already established earlier in this story that Zelda is afraid of worms, so what’s one more hideous creature to add to her list of terrors, right? 😂

Chapter 47: Death Sword

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 47 – Death Sword

The two of them only fell for a moment, before abruptly hitting the hard ground and having the wind knocked out of them. They both lay flat for a few seconds as they tried to gather their breath, and more importantly, their bearings. Unfortunately, the rush of their descent had doused their lantern, and they were currently unable to see a thing.

Link groaned a bit before his surprisingly tired voice called out. “Zelda? Are you okay?”

The Princess winced before managing to lift her head. “I’m a little sore, but I’m fine. I feel like I landed on something rather rough…” She paused, taking a moment to squirm around. She wasn’t sure what exactly she was laying on top of, but it certainly didn’t feel like the solid stone she had been expecting. “Er…Link, where are you?”

“Where do you think?” came his cheeky response. And then, to Zelda’s horror, she realized that the Hero’s voice was coming from beneath her.

“Oh!” she squeaked as her face turned the deepest shade of red that it possibly could. “Oh my goodness. Link, I’m so sorry.” She quickly and awkwardly scrambled off of him, all while trying her best not to think about how much her chest must have been rubbing against his when she was squirming around just a moment before.

“It’s fine,” came his relieved voice now that her weight was off of him. “I’m happy that I could break your fall.”

“Do you have to be so positive?” she said, almost scolding him. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you broke something other than my fall.”

Link just chuckled at this as he slowly sat up. “No, I’m fine,” he assured her. “Like you, I feel a little sore, but that’s to be expected when you fall into a pit trap. Do you still have the lantern?”

“I’m afraid I dropped it,” Zelda admitted shamefully.

“Well, no worries,” Link said with a shrug. “I’m sure it’s around her somewhere. Let’s start looking.”

“Wait, that won’t be necessary.”

Link glanced in the direction of her voice, feeling confused, but a moment later the darkness was illuminated by a small orb of light coming from Zelda’s hand. He smiled once he realized that she had simply used magic.

Zelda held the opposite expression: frowning as she realized that the light was bright enough to reveal how red her face had become from both shame and embarrassment. It didn’t help that she felt incredibly self-conscious under the friendly gaze of Link. She didn’t deserve such a grateful smile from him.

“I…I really am sorry about this,” she said quietly. “It’s my fault for activating the trap in the first place. I wasn’t paying close enough attention.”

However, to little surprise, Link just shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve survived worse.”

“You wouldn’t have had to survive anything if it wasn’t for my carelessness,” Zelda pointed out. And for the first time, she truly started to feel that maybe it would have been better if she had stayed behind at the Gerudo camp, if only so she wouldn’t be getting in Link’s way and hindering his mission.

Nevertheless, Link was quick to forgive. “Seriously, don’t worry about it. Getting out of here should be a cinch. Aha! There’s the lantern.” With a content smile, he picked up his lamp and lit it once more.

Zelda sighed, feeling like she still had more to apologize for, but it seemed that Link was already moving on. He had simply left their troubles in the past and was now working towards a solution. He really was one of the most optimistic persons she had ever met.

Zelda soon went to dispel her ball of light, but paused once Link called out. “Wait, we might actually need that. Are you able to move that light away from you?”

Zelda gave him a curious look, but nodded. “Yes.”

“Can you direct it towards the ceiling? The lantern’s light doesn’t reach that far.”

She nodded again and did as he asked, magically directing the tiny sphere high overhead so that it illuminated the hallway that they had originally fallen from. The two of them now had a full view of the trap in which they stood. It was perfectly square, with nothing but four solid walls of stone surrounding them. The walls were very smooth, with no dents or footholds by which they could climb out. It seemed that their options for escaping this trap were very limited.

Fortunately, the Hero already had a solution in mind. “Perfect,” he said with a grin. He then attached the lantern to his belt before he began rummaging through his adventure bag.

Zelda simply watched him, not quite sure what she could say or do to be of use in this situation. A second later, she was surprised to see him pull a clawshot out of his bag.

“There’s a crack in the ceiling that I can latch onto,” he said as he pointed upwards. “The clawshot should have no problem getting us out of here.”

Zelda, who still felt rather ashamed after her failure, couldn’t help but smile at his excited expression upon finding a solution. She had to admit, seeing his confidence did make her feel a bit better. As if her mistake really hadn’t been that consequential after all. Well, unless you considered the Princess entangling herself with the Hero, but that was a matter best left forgotten.

“Very impressive,” she told him. “You always manage to save the day, don’t you?”

“It’s all part of being a Hero,” he said confidently. “Now come over here and hold on tight.”

Zelda’s smile quickly faltered at this new instruction. “Er…Whatever for?”

Link paused, looking a little confused as well. “Well, you’re coming with me, aren’t you?”

Again, Zelda looked rather apprehensive as realized that she hadn’t fully understood what all was entailed in this plan of his. She didn’t predict that she would have to cling to his body. Her cheeks quickly started to turn red again as she went to protest.

“Um…Isn’t there another way that we could possibly accomplish this?”

“What’s the matter?” Link asked. “Are you scared? I mean, I know the clawshot can be kind of a rush, but it’s not too bad.”

“N-No, it’s not that…” And then she sighed, realizing that she didn’t have much of an argument outside of her nerves flaring up. Which, in and of itself, hardly mattered in the face of escaping this trap. Besides, the longer she insisted on staying in this pit, the greater a hindrance she was being to Link, and she truly did want to be useful.

With a deep breath, she summoned her courage and approached the Hero. She then loosely wrapped her arms around his waist. “Okay, I’m ready,” she said, although she didn’t sound confident in the slightest.

“Um, Zelda? You’re going to want to hold on tighter than that.”

She swallowed, even though her mouth felt rather dry. “Tighter?”

He laughed. “Yeah. At this rate, I’ll just slip through your fingers.”

What a phrase, she thought before daring to close her arms together around his middle. “L-Like this?”

“Good enough,” he said with another chuckle. He then wrapped an arm around her timid self, raised his clawshot into the air, and took careful aim. All was still for a moment, and then the claw fired like a cannon and they were off.

As soon as their feet left the ground, Zelda suddenly had no qualms about clutching Link’s waist. In fact, she was gladly hanging on for dear life, and it took nearly all of her willpower to not force her eyes shut and whimper. All in all, it wasn’t too bad though, as the rush didn’t last for long and Link kept one arm safe and secure around her. When Zelda finally dared to look around, she noticed that the two of them were dangling over the pit, the clawshot now firmly grasping the large crack in the ceiling. Link soon released some of the claw’s chains, lowering them down to the safety of the floor. Within seconds, they were back in the hallway once again.

“There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked as he retracted the claw back to his side.

Zelda just slowly loosened her arms around him and took a step back. She wasn’t quite sure what to say, but she eventually managed to utter a simple, “No.” She then turned away before he had a chance to notice the raging inferno that were her scarlet cheeks, and focused on dispelling her magical ball of light that still rested in the air. Once it dissipated, the two of them were left in nothing but lantern light once again.

“Lead the way,” Zelda said quietly.

“You don’t wish to take the lead?” Link asked innocently.

“After I landed us in that pit trap? No thank you. You clearly know what you’re doing, and I think it would be best if I just supported you.”

Link gave her a sad stare. He felt that she was being far too hard on herself, but he knew that she probably didn’t desire his pity either. “Suit yourself,” he said with a shrug.

 

---

 

The two of them forged onwards, through chamber after chamber without incident. They came upon a few more pit traps, but unlike Zelda, Link was alert, and managed to safely guide the two of them around the danger without fear of activation. This in-turn only made Zelda feel all the more glum about her previous mistake.

“Oh, cheer up,” Link eventually told her. “We all make mistakes, and yours was a minor setback at worst.”

Zelda just sighed. She knew that she tended to be the one who was most critical of herself, sometimes to an unfair degree, and because of this she found it especially difficult to forgive herself. But she couldn’t deny that Link’s constant encouragement did help, if only a little bit.

“Thank you, Link, for always being so kind. I really do appreciate-”

The Princess then paused and abruptly frowned. Link glanced back at her. “Zelda? What’s-”

“Shh,” she quickly shushed him. She soon dropped her own voice to a whisper. “I can sense that we’re very close now. The ominous presence that I’ve been sensing is stronger than ever before. I believe that the source of darkness we’ve been seeking is just ahead.”

Link looked over his map before nodding. “Makes sense. It’s in the largest chamber ahead of us.”

“Then we’d best be ready to face whatever is in there.” And with that, Zelda swiftly drew her rapier from its sheath. Any doubts that she held before were quickly washed away in the face of danger. She was ready for action.

Link simply nodded again and drew his own sword. He then gestured forward, and the two of them began a stealthy advance down the hall. It wasn’t long before they reached the chamber in question, but they chose not to enter just yet. Instead, they hid around the corner of the doorway, and took a careful peek inside.

They were met with a sight that they had been anticipating, but it was still wretched all the same. The entire chamber, large and round, was bathed in an eerie red light. Dozens of creatures clambered around, most of them appearing as dark figures walking on two legs and brandishing swords and shields. Upon looking closer, Link could spot that some of the figures appeared to be skeletal, while others were wrapped with cloth from head to toe, as if they had been mummified.

Link released an inaudible sigh. “Stalfos and ReDeads,” he whispered. “It’s about what we expected. At least there’s no Poes.”

Zelda soon pointed into the center of the room, where the eerie red light seemed to be originating from. “And that must be our source of darkness that has spawned them.”

Link looked close amongst the shambling bodies, and sure enough, noticed some sort of object that seemed to have been lodged into the ground. It was long and straight and black in color, although it did have some glowing red marks scribbled on its front. Link soon scowled. While it appeared different than how he remembered it, he recognized it all the same.

“The Death Sword,” he muttered under his breath.

“Death Sword?” Zelda repeated curiously.

“Yes, Midna and I encountered it the first time we came here. She claimed that it was an evil artifact that had likely been placed here by Zant. It ended up being wielded by a powerful Poe and I had to fight it.” He paused, squinting a bit. “But I don’t understand. I thought that I destroyed it for good. What’s it doing back here?”

“Perhaps you didn’t destroy all of it,” Zelda theorized. “It is not uncommon for artifacts of great evil to reform and plague the world once more. This could explain why the Arbiter’s Grounds was quiet for a time, but now it’s full of monsters again.”

“I guess this would also explain its size,” Link agreed. The original Death Sword had been nearly as long as he was tall, but this current sword was much smaller; probably as short as his own blade. “It must still be returning to its former power.”

“And yet it was still able to summon all of these monsters,” Zelda breathed. Even now, she could see that the Stalfos and ReDeads seemed to follow a pattern. They weren’t just walking aimlessly, but rather circled the dark blade, almost as if they were guarding it, or perhaps even worshiping it.

“Well, at least this makes things easy,” Link said with a shrug. He set aside his lamp and went to grab his shield. “All we have to do is rush in there and destroy the sword.”

“Not so fast,” Zelda sharply interjected. “While I appreciate your decisiveness, I'm afraid that this won’t be as simple as you think. First off, destroying the source of darkness will not eliminate the monsters it has spawned. Even if you rush past the army of foes to do away with the sword, you’ll still have to face them afterwards. I’m sure you experienced something similar the first time you came here.”

“Oh yeah,” Link said slowly. Thinking back, even when he had defeated the Death Sword the first time, all of the monsters had remained afterwards.

“Second, it won’t be easy to simply destroy the Death Sword. I imagine that an evil weapon like that can only be defeated by its mortal enemy: a blade of light. Last time, you had the Master Sword to accomplish this, but this time you do not.”

Link just frowned, realizing that there was way more to magic than he had ever realized. He supposed that Midna had always done most of the thinking for him while he just swung his sword around. “So then how can we destroy it?”

“Fortunately, there is a simple solution. Hand me your sword.”

Link did as he was told without hesitation. Handing over his blade, Zelda carefully took it into her palms before bowing her head and closing her eyes. After a few seconds of what seemed to be a silent prayer, Link’s sword flared to life with a bright, radiant light. Zelda soon opened her eyes and smiled before handing it back to him.

“There, your sword has been imbued with the power of light for the next hour. It should have no trouble shattering the Death Sword.”

Link just admired it with wide eyes. “Is there anything that magic can’t do?” he asked in awe.

“Yes, a great many things actually, but we hardly have time to go over them. Now, onto the third and final thing that you must understand. Even if we destroy the Death Sword with your blade of light, it will still likely respawn in a few months’ time, just as this one did. However, I should be able to prevent its return if I perform a sacred ritual. By praying to the Goddesses and calling for their blessing, this dungeon should become a sacred place free of the Death Sword’s malevolence.”

Link smiled at this. “Well, then it’s a good thing I brought you along. I wouldn’t have known to do any of this, let alone how.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile, feeling a little bashful under his praise. To her, such actions truly felt like nothing special, but Link’s words meant the world to her.

“So we have three goals then,” Link reiterated. “Smash the Death Sword, defeat the monsters, and then perform the ritual.”

Zelda nodded. “And in that order, preferably. Shattering the Death Sword won’t extinguish the monsters’ lives, but it could very well weaken them. At the very least, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to destroy the source before it spawns anything else.”

“Leave it to me,” Link said confidently. “I’ll shatter the Death Sword and then we’ll take on the monsters.”

“I’ll support you from behind,” Zelda agreed.

“Ooh, in that case, you should take these.” Link took a second to rummage in his bag before handing a few items over to Zelda. “Here, you’re the better shot.”

“Arrows?” Zelda questioned as she inspected them.

“Bomb arrows," he corrected her. “If you light them before firing, they’ll explode on impact. Here, take the lantern too.”

Zelda smiled a bit at her new gifts. “Excellent. I imagine this will thin out the horde quite a bit. Although I better do it before you charge in there.”

Link quietly laughed. “Yes, that would be best.”

The two of them went silent and nodded, both resolute in their course of action. Link grabbed his shield while brandishing his glowing sword in front of him. Zelda hung the lantern from her sash and sheathed her rapier before grabbing her bow. She then nocked one of Link’s bomb arrows.

“Link, one last thing,” Zelda said just as they were about to begin.

He glanced back. “Yeah?”

She stared at him for a while with a soft look in her sapphire eyes. “Just stay safe, okay?”

Link’s lips cracked into a smile and he confidently nodded. “You too.”

And with that final exchange, they were ready to begin. Zelda lit the first of her bomb arrows and pulled her bowstring taut. She took a single second to adjust her aim and then released.

Boom!

There was a loud explosion to the right of the room, shattering Stalfos to pieces and charring ReDeads to a crisp. The rest of the room’s inhabitants quickly turned to look, startled at the sudden noise and burst of fire, but they had precious little time to comprehend it for Zelda had already lit and nocked her next arrow.

Boom! Boom! Another explosion at the front and one to the left. Similar to before, a number of corpses and bones lay scattered across the stone floor, no longer able to move. Those that remained standing were now only a mere fraction of their original number, and the situation had easily become much more manageable in only a few seconds.

With a determined grin, Link raced into the room, holding his radiant blade of light before him. It wasn’t long before the survivors of the bombings became enraged and moved forward to stop him. But it was of little use. With Link’s magical sword and unrelenting courage, he made quick work of whoever stood before him. Stalfos collapsed into piles of bones while ReDeads had their heads lopped off before they even had a chance to scream.

Zelda took a few steps into the room, drawing fresh arrows and taking out what enemies she could from a distance. Unfortunately, these foes proved to be a bit tougher than her arrows could handle. When the ReDeads were pierced through the chest, they merely paused for a brief moment before stumbling their way forward once again. Clearly, they weren’t easily encumbered by such small weaponry. As for the Stalfos, Zelda occasionally managed to land a direct shot on their skulls, knocking them clean off the bony neck and shoulders. However, this only proved to be a temporary setback, for even when they were dismembered, the Stalfos were still able to put themselves back together piece by piece. All they had to do was scoop their skulls back into place and they were good to go.

Nevertheless, Zelda’s long-ranged attacks were at least able to serve as a distraction, and it provided Link with just enough leeway to dash into the middle of the room. One ReDead in particular seemed to realize what the Hero was aiming for, and swung its thick broadsword in retaliation. But all Link had to do was jump to the side to be free of its reach. With nothing left to stop him, he brought his blade of light straight down on the Death Sword.

There was a loud noise like grating metal, and then a moment later, the Death Sword burst into black and red sparkles before evaporating into the air. In an instant, the eerie red light faded away, and the dark room was now only lit by Link’s blade and the lantern at Zelda’s side.

“Well done!” the Princess cheered as she took out another Stalfos skull.

“Now for the enemies,” Link said with a grin. He soon swung his blade just in time to have it collide with the ReDead’s greatsword. Clearly, the mummified creature was not pleased with him. It soon opened its maw and released an unrestrained, ear-piercing scream.

Link shivered as his blood ran cold. He could feel his entire body lock into place as that cry paralyzed him. His eyes went wide and he inwardly cursed. Perhaps he had been a bit too reckless running into battle like that. He hadn’t expected the ReDead’s scream to come so suddenly, although he knew that he honestly should have.

Link’s stomach lurched as he watched the furious ReDead raise its sword high overhead. It soon cast a malevolent glare at him.

“Link!” The frantic cry came just as quickly as the arrow. It pierced the ReDead right in the eye and the foul creature froze for a moment.

Fortunately, it was just long enough for Link to break free of his paralysis. The ReDead swung its sword but Link ducked forward, forcing himself into a roll that circled around the back of his foe. He then leapt up into a spin attack, slicing the creature’s back wide open, and it soon fell to the floor where it lay completely still.

“Thanks, Zelda,” he said before running to her side and shield-bashing a particularly stubborn Stalfos. “We make a good team, don’t you think?”

“Just focus on the enemies. We’re not out of the woods yet.” And yet, despite her seriousness, she couldn’t help but smirk at his words.

They continued to fight with both sword and bow, doing anything they could to bring their enemies down. By this point, only a handful of ReDeads and Stalfos remained. But as one would expect, they were the most tenacious of the whole lot and refused to fall without a struggle.

“Ugh,” Zelda groaned as she knocked the same Stalfos’s skull from its shoulders for the third time in a row. “I can’t get these Stalfos to stay down.”

“You can’t take them down with simple arrows,” Link explained from behind her. “You have to bomb their remains or else they just keep putting themselves back together. Why don’t you leave them to me? I can have them wiped out in a minute or two.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, as long as you can handle the ReDeads without me.”

Zelda simply grinned, feeling confident. “No problem.”

With a solid plan of action in mind, the two quickly set to work. Link grabbed a few bombs from his bag and began leading the Stalfos away from Zelda where he could safely blow them to bits. Meanwhile, Zelda slung her bow over her shoulder and drew her rapier from its sheath. A melee weapon would serve her better than her arrows at this point.

Wasting no time, the Princess rushed to the nearest ReDead and whipped her thin blade through the air, slicing both its wrappings and flesh open. Fortunately for her, the ReDead was far too slow to react, taking an eternity to lift its long and heavy sword overhead. By the time it did, Zelda had easily managed to pierce the monster through its neck, and with a sudden twist, severed its head completely. Its body and blade fell harmlessly to the floor.

As Zelda moved to challenge her next foe, she heard a few explosions behind her, and noticed some brief flashes of light. A second later, she caught the sound of numerous bones clattering to the floor like a heavy autumn rain. It sounded like Link was truly making quick work of the Stalfos.

The next ReDead was tougher. Sturdier. It seemed content to weather the Princess’s fast attacks behind its thick broadsword. She scowled a bit as her rapier whirled around, trying to find an opening, but it was difficult. All she could do was land harmless cuts to its arms and shoulders while it used its sword to block any vital areas.

The ReDead’s patience was quickly wearing thin though. With an angry growl, it soon opened its mouth wide, and Zelda immediately realized what was to follow. A horrible, piercing scream…

But it never came, for Zelda decided to do the only thing she could. She rashly stepped forward, bringing herself far too close to the enemy, and stabbed her rapier right through its open maw. The creature immediately choked on the blade, and any sound of its blood-curdling scream quickly died in its throat. Seizing this moment, Zelda brought the sword down, cutting into its neck and jaw before withdrawing the blade completely. The monster now had a gaping gash in its head, and it soon collapsed to the floor, going limp.

By this point, the final ReDead insisted on coming to her. Zelda was more than ready to face it, but she took a moment to scan the rest of the room. It seemed that only one Stalfos remained as well, and Link was well on his way to taking care of it.

We’re going to do it, she thought with a smile. The battle is as good as won.

But the Princess soon found that thought of hers to be foolish and short-lived, for in a moment of true horror, the ReDead rushed her with a ferocity and speed that she didn’t anticipate. All she could do was raise her rapier to block the heavy weight of the oncoming greatsword. When the blades collided, Zelda was nearly knocked off her feet.

She soon gasped, amazed at the strength of this final ReDead. It was nowhere near as slow as the others had been, and it truly posed a threat. Even now, Zelda could sense a horrifying amount of hatred in its deep red eyes.

Boom! Somewhere in the background, a bomb went off. Zelda assumed that this meant the end of the last Stalfos, but she didn’t have time to process this thought. She was already rushing in, trying to attack her foe before it had a chance to swing that dreadful sword again.

Much like the previous ReDead, this one seemed content to sit and weather her attacks for a while. She managed to land a few nicks on its shoulder, but nothing more. This creature twisted and turned in addition to blocking with its blade, but Zelda continued her relentless assault all the same. She feared the idea of slowing down, for she knew that as soon as she did, that greatsword would be upon her.

But this was the Princess’s mistake, for she soon realized that the ReDead had been cleverly waiting to be attacked in a certain location, and she only realized this once the blow had been struck. She thrust her rapier at its side, and the monster growled before reaching out and performing the most surprising move yet. It grabbed her blade with its free hand; using its cold, long fingers to firmly hold it in place. Zelda’s eyes went wide with terror as she realized what this meant.

My sword is stuck!

The ReDead nearly grinned with its crooked rows of teeth before lifting its greatsword overhead. This was the moment that Zelda had been dreading. She was about to be cleaved in two. Even if she abandoned her sword and tried to fall back, the enemy’s weapon was guaranteed to reach her. It was simply too large to escape.

So Zelda performed the only trick that she could think of. She gave her rapier a hard, violent twist, severing the ReDead’s fingers in an instant. Now free of its cursed grip, she quickly raised her blade in order to block the incoming strike, but it was a sad, desperate ploy. Yes, her rapier successfully saved her from receiving a fatal blow, but it was immediately knocked loose from her hands. She watched with wide eyes as her thin sword spun across the floor, far out of reach.

Zelda then experienced the most dreadful noise she had ever heard. The ReDead unleashed its haunting scream, paralyzing her in place: weaponless and alone. The sound was so horrible, and yet the ReDead proudly bellowed as if this were its victory cry. As if its prey had finally been cornered. And it was as the monster raised its blade into the air once more, that Zelda realized the terrible fate that awaited her in mere seconds.

She was about to die.

However, another scream soon rang out, one that echoed behind the ReDead’s own.

“Zelda, NO!”

At this point, it felt like many things happened at once. The ReDead aimed its sword at Zelda’s chest, this time going for a piercing thrust. Meanwhile, there was the sound of rushing footsteps from behind, and while Zelda couldn’t see what was happening, she suddenly felt a powerful shove knock her to the ground. The suddenness of such a thing immediately broke her paralysis, so she managed to stick her arms out and break her fall. She then quickly turned and glanced behind her.

Only to watch as Link was stabbed in the chest.

Notes:

Hmm…I’m not entirely sure what to say here…so perhaps it is best if I simply say nothing. As always, thanks for reading hahaha (runs away)

Chapter 48: Blood

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 48 – Blood

Link had done his best to avoid a lethal blow, and because of this, the wound wasn’t very large or deep. However, it was still enough to draw a terrifying amount of blood and stain the Hero’s tunic red within seconds. And of course, it was still enough to rip a scream from Zelda’s lungs.

“LINK!” she cried, feeling absolutely horrified.

The Hero coughed up blood and soon fell backwards. His sword and shield clattered on the floor. Meanwhile, the ReDead drew its blade back, looking irritated and unsatisfied. It knew that it had been cheated out of a kill, but that wasn’t going to stop it for long. The Hero now lay sprawled out on the floor before the mummified monster, and they all knew that it would be a simple matter to snuff out his life.

“NO!” Zelda shrieked. Before she even knew what she was doing, she scrambled to her feet and picked up Link’s blade. Even now, it still radiated the light energy that she had blessed it with earlier.

The ReDead growled, feeling no pity for those who were about to become its victims. With surprising speed, it threw out a horizontal swipe, hoping to cleave the Princess in two for good this time.

As the attack drew towards her, Zelda didn’t think. She only dared to move. She instinctively ducked beneath the sweeping greatsword and rushed her foe. With all her strength, she plunged her blade of light into the ReDead’s chest, just as the monster had done to her Hero. But she didn’t stop there. She forced it in deeper, going so far that the end of the blade protruded out of the monster’s back. The ReDead just froze as its body constricted around the wound.

Zelda then released an angry cry as tears streamed down her cheeks. She called upon the magic that had been instilled in the blade, and commanded it to run wild. The sword soon began to shine brighter and grow hotter, and the ReDead cried out in agony.

A second later, the monster was enveloped in a piercing light. A second after that, it was obliterated, having been reduced to nothing more than ash. The sword fell to the floor, free of Zelda’s grip and no longer glowing. The only light left in the room was the soft orange glow coming from the lantern at Zelda’s waist.

“Oh, Link,” she whimpered before running to his side. She quickly kneeled to the floor and tried to inspect him. Already, she could feel her hands begin to shake. She was frightened by what had taken place, and even more horrified to find out what would happen next…

“Link, are you okay? Please speak to me.”

Link’s eyes were forced shut, and he winced a bit as he tried to reach for his bloody chest. “Zelda, I’m sorry,” he said in a surprisingly weak voice. “They got me.”

Her mind was going a hundred miles an hour. The words spilled out of her mouth without any consideration. “Why are you sorry? Link, you have nothing to be sorry for. You saved me. I’m the one who should be sorry. Oh so sorry.” She soon choked back a sob, realizing that this horrific accident was all her own doing. But she didn’t have time to process that now. “We need to get your tunic off so I can inspect the wound. Quickly.”

Link didn’t respond. Instead, he just did his best not to fight her as she pulled the bloody tunic up over his head and arms. Unfortunately, he couldn’t resist gasping in pain. His wound was fresh and even the smallest of movements made it burn like white-hot fire.

Zelda soon gasped as well, staring at the wound in all its horrific glory. It seemed to have been opened just near his ribs. Even now, she could see the blood freely spilling out of it. It poured down his stomach and out onto the floor where it slowly began to pool.

With clenched teeth, Zelda pressed Link’s tunic to the wound. The Hero immediately writhed in pain. “AHHH-ha-howww!”

A few more tears fell down Zelda’s cheeks. She hated doing this to him. “I’m sorry, Link. We have to get the blood to clot. If I don’t keep applying pressure, then…then…” She began to choke again.

Link’s eyes flew open and twitched a bit while he glared at the ceiling. “Just keep doing it,” he muttered through clenched teeth.

Zelda could tell that he was being brave. The pain must have been agonizing, to be torn open like that and then have so much pressure applied to the wound. Zelda almost felt like she was torturing him instead of saving him.

The blood got everywhere. On Link’s remaining clothes. On Zelda’s dress. Her pristine white gloves. What had once been the Hero’s lovely green tunic was now a dark and damp mess of fabric. And worse yet, it was already losing its use. Before even a minute had passed, it was already soaked through, and it could barely keep the blood from spilling out further.

Feeling desperate, she soon tossed the tunic aside and stripped off her gloves. She crumpled up one of them and pressed it to the wound, allowing the rich white fabric to be stained red. Again, Link winced and writhed a bit as the pressure intensified.

“I’m sorry, Link. I just don’t know what else to do…” They had no bandages. No potions. No fairies. Zelda soon cursed herself for being such a fool. She should have been more prepared. More careful. How could she have done this to Link?

She supposed that she could run back through the dungeon and try to get help from the Gerudo, but that would mean leaving Link all alone, and who knew what might happen then? He could very easily bleed out if she took too long. Or even worse, a monster might wander into this chamber and finish him off. Aside from that, the only other option she had available was prayer. Perhaps if she begged the Goddesses to spare Link’s life, they might just grant her the power to do so.

And then it suddenly came to her. A surefire way to save the wounded Hero from a slow and painful death.

More tears came to Zelda’s eyes as she realized the simplicity of it all. If she could just perform this single spell, then all would be restored. Link would be complete and whole once more. She soon retracted her bloodied hands, letting the crumpled white glove stick to the wound on its own. She then brought her hands together in prayer and gave the Hero a soft smile.

“Don’t worry, Link. I’ll save you, just like I saved Midna.”

Link ceased his wincing and deep breathing just long enough to process Zelda’s words. “Wait…what?” he asked quietly.

“In a moment, it won’t hurt anymore,” she promised him. “Just relax and everything will be set right.”

Yes, “set right”. That was the perfect phrase to describe her actions. As things stood, it wasn’t fair. Link had only gotten stabbed because he had been trying to save Zelda. If she had never insisted on accompanying him into this dungeon, or recklessly thrown herself into danger, then Link would never have gotten injured. It was entirely Zelda’s fault, and it would only be fair if she had to be the one to pay the price for her own mistakes.

Link still looked confused, and almost frightened. “Zelda, what are you-”

“Shh,” she told him. “Just relax, Link. Please.” And then she bowed her head and closed her eyes.

But Link was far from relaxed. If anything, he was seething. “No, Zelda, stop!”

She ignored him, keeping her head low as she began to call upon the Goddesses. In a few seconds, it would all be over.

With a roar of frustration, Link forced himself to sit up. One hand flew to his chest in order to cradle his excruciating wound, but he used the other to firmly grip Zelda by the shoulder. “Stop this at once!” he shouted. And his actions were so forceful and sudden and passionate, that Zelda just recoiled, losing her concentration.

“N-No,” she stuttered, struggling to find her words under that fierce gaze of his. “Link, I have to do this.”

“Don’t do it!” he growled at her. “Don’t you dare, Zelda. I’d never forgive you.”

Tears began streaming down her face once again. “B-But Link…you’re…you’re going to…”

“Zelda, look at me,” he demanded. And then he forcefully pulled her close so that her watery eyes met his own. “I’m not gonna die. I promise I won’t. So stop crying already!”

“L-Link,” she whimpered helplessly. “I…I don’t…don’t know what to…”

Link took a deep breath as he continued to look into her sapphire eyes. He could tell that she was very frightened and desperate, and the best thing for her right now would be a calm, reassuring voice. So that’s what he provided.

“We just need to get the blood to clot,” he told her quietly. “I’ll be okay as long as the bleeding stops.”

She tried to shake her head, but she found it hard to look away. “You…You don’t know that…”

“Yes, I do,” he said confidently. “I know it and you know it too. Now please, help me stop the blood.”

“Link, I don’t-”

“Please,” he begged again. “I need you, Zelda.”

Zelda’s hands shook as they fell to her side. She could slowly feel herself abandoning her desperate attempt at sacrifice. The effect of his words and his expression were just too powerful. Eventually she gave him a tiny nod.

“Link, lie back down,” she whispered to him.

The Hero just stared at her, looking skeptical.

“It’s okay. I promise I won’t do it. Now please.”

Link took a deep breath through his nostrils and slowly lay back on the stone floor. Zelda used one arm to help guide him down while her free hand returned to the wound. By this point, her white glove had been stained completely crimson, so she set it aside and grabbed her second one. She applied it to the wound, and this time, Link forced himself not to wince.

The two of them sat there in silence for a while. The only sounds were Link’s shallow breathing, and Zelda’s quiet sniffling. They were both too focused on getting through this ordeal to think of anything to say.

Eventually, Zelda noticed that the endless gushing of blood started to ebb. It was a sure sign that the wound had begun to clot, and any further bleeding would be minimal. “The Goddesses be praised,” she whispered.

The small sign of hope was all she needed to be inspired to action. An idea suddenly came to mind, and Zelda placed a hand on Link’s shoulder. “Can you hold the glove here for a minute?”

He just eyed her. “Why?”

“I’m going to prepare some bandages.”

Link gave her a curious look but nodded anyway. He pressed his own hand to the wound, continuing where Zelda had left off. Naturally, he hissed in pain.

“Keep it pressed tight,” Zelda told him. “We don’t want the clot to loosen.”

“Right,” he grunted.

Once she was sure that Link was settled for a minute, she removed his lantern from her waist and set it on the floor next to him. She then rose to her feet and walked away, off to where the lamp’s light ended and the shadows began. Here, she quickly set to work, removing both of her boots and setting them aside. Next, she reached far up beneath her dress and removed her white leggings. The idea had dawned on her that this fabric might make for some decent temporary bandages, and the Princess certainly didn’t need them. Her dress covered her lower half even without them.

Now barefoot, Zelda carried her boots and leggings back to Link’s side. The Hero just curiously watched as she then proceeded to collect her rapier from its place on the floor and used it to make long, precise cuts into the fabric. He quickly clued in to what was happening, and he was even quicker to protest.

“No, Zelda, you don’t need to do that-”

“Bandages will help,” she replied simply. 

“B-But your clothes…”

“Relax, they’re just pants. It’s not like this is a royal dress or anything.”

“But-”

A loud ripping sound cut him off completely. Zelda had finished making her cuts and she was now tearing the rest of the fabric to shreds. “It’s too late to argue, Link. I’ve already ruined them. Now come on. Let’s have you sit up so I can properly apply them.”

Link looked like he was at a loss for words, but he soon closed his mouth and accepted her generosity. Besides, he knew that she was right. There was no point in arguing now.

With a bit of difficulty, Zelda helped raise Link up into a sitting position. There was a good amount of grunting and hissing, and scarily enough, even a bit of swaying from side to side. It was as if he could hardly sit up straight. Although Zelda supposed this was to be expected. He had lost a lot of blood, and he was likely feeling lightheaded.

“This will just take a minute,” she promised. “And then we’ll have you lie down again.”

“Mm-hmm,” he mumbled.

Zelda had Link remove her glove from the wound before she applied some fresh, smaller pieces of fabric to it. She then took the longer strips and began winding them around his middle, completely covering the wound before pulling them tight. Once they were all applied, Zelda tied some simple knots to make sure that they would stay in place.

She took a second to inspect her work. It was a shoddy job, but it seemed effective enough. At least the bleeding had ceased.

“We should probably move you,” Zelda said quietly as she glanced down. Even now, Link was sitting in a small puddle of his own blood. It would be better if he could lay somewhere dry. “Do you think that you can move?”

“I’ll try my damndest,” he told her.

Zelda gave him a soft, sad smile before reaching over and hooking an arm under his own. They took their time, and she slowly, carefully helped the Hero get to his feet. From here, the Princess aided him in limping to the nearest wall, where she eased him down onto his back.

“Are you comfortable?”

“No,” he said bluntly. He then laughed a bit. “But it’s good enough.”

Zelda just sighed. She truly felt so bad for him.

“Hey Zelda?”

“Yes?”

“Could you get me some water?”

“Of course, Link. One moment.”

Zelda drifted back to where the rest of their things lay and collected them. The bloody clothes, the lantern, her boots, and Link’s sword, shield, and adventuring bag. She then brought them all back to Link’s resting place and fished through his bag until she found a waterskin.

“Drink as much as you like, and then I’ll help you wash up a bit.” Even now, the Hero’s middle was still stained red, as were his and Zelda’s hands.

Naturally, Link went to protest such kindness. “But I only brought the one skin. There won’t be enough-”

“I can get more with magic," she assured him softly. “Now please, drink.”

Link was still hesitant, but he drank until he properly quenched his thirst. Meanwhile, Zelda laid out the bloodied clothes in an attempt to let them dry. Perhaps they could be used for fresh bandages later, although she honestly doubted it. Still, it was worth the effort. She also used a spare bottle of lamp oil to refill the lantern and guarantee that they would have a few more hours of light.

Once that was finished, she kneeled next to Link and took the waterskin from him. It was nearly empty, but it was no trouble. Zelda simply prayed and used her magic to fill it back to the top. All it took was a simple spell, one of many that she had mastered long ago. Now with a fresh source of water, she ran some over her hands, washing away the blood. She then moved onto Link, pouring the water on his torso while making sure to keep his bandages dry. She took her time, running her gentle fingers over his chest and removing the terrible stains of crimson.

To her surprise, Link smiled. “That feels good.”

If the circumstances had been different, Zelda might have blushed at this comment, but she was currently far too solemn and distressed to think of anything other than the Hero’s wellbeing. So she simply remained straight-faced. “How do you feel?”

“Sore,” he said bluntly.

“Surely you are worse than that.”

“Well, I’m a little dizzy too,” he admitted.

“As you should be. You lost a lot of blood. Just keep relaxing.”

Eventually, Zelda finished washing him, and she used the end of her dress to wipe him dry. Link just shot her a look of disapproval, but she paid him no mind. As far as she was concerned, a stained dress was a small price to pay for his comfort. Before long, the Hero sighed.

“Zelda?” he said.

“Yes, Link?”

“Thank you for fixing me up.”

Zelda simply shook her head. “You don’t need to thank me. This is all my fault in the first place.”

“But I appreciate it all the same,” he insisted. “It’s not every day that you get this kind of medical care in the depths of a dungeon.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile a little at this. “Tell me, what did you do when you found yourself in a situation like this before? Did Midna ever take care of you?”

Link immediately chuckled, despite the pain it caused him. “Are you kidding? She would have sooner left me for dead.”

Zelda smirked a little, allowing herself to be playful for the first time in what seemed like forever. “I sincerely hope that you’re exaggerating.”

He just laughed some more. “I am. Midna honestly wouldn’t have done that. She truly was a good friend to me.” Here, he paused for a moment. “You are too.”

Zelda felt her heart threaten to melt, but she managed to hold herself together. As always, Link was far too kind to her. And it didn’t stop here either. The Hero soon forged onwards with a surprising look of guilt.

“Listen, Zelda, I’m…um, sorry for yelling at you back there…”

Zelda simply waved her hand and shook her head. “Don’t be. I think that I truly needed to hear those words in that moment.”

He stared up at her, still looking sad and a little concerned. “Will you promise to never attempt that again? I know that it all worked out in the end with Midna, but you might not be so lucky the next time. I don’t ever want to hear that you sacrificed yourself to save another. It just…it wouldn’t be fair to those you leave behind. Your father, your Kingdom…I would be torn up over it too. So please, will you promise?”

Zelda just stared back into his beautiful blue eyes. When he looked at her like that, how could she possibly say no? “Of course, Link. I promise to never do it again.”

“Thank you,” he said, breathing a small sigh of relief. “I swear, sometimes you can be so reckless.”

“Says the guy who just got stabbed,” Zelda pointed out quietly.

He just smiled at this. “Fair enough.”

Zelda smiled back, and soon moved his adventuring bag so that it lay under his head as a sort of cushion. She imagined that it wasn’t the most comfortable thing in the world, but it had to have been better than simply resting on the hard stone floor. Regardless of whether it was comfortable or not, he thanked her all the same.

“You know, I think you’ve forgotten something,” he added with a small grin.

She just frowned back. “Is there something you need?”

“No, not me. Don’t you still need to perform that sacred ritual you mentioned? The one that will cleanse this place of the Death Sword for good?”

Zelda simply blinked. In all the chaos of the battle and its results, she had completely forgotten about the ritual. “Oh, yes, you’re absolutely right.”

“You’d best hurry,” he encouraged her. “I’d hate to have it reappear when I’m in this state.”

“It doesn’t work that fast,” she assured him. “Will you be okay on your own for a bit? The ritual will only take a few minutes to complete.”

He grinned again. “Yes, I’ll be fine. Go and do your duties, Princess.”

Zelda felt a bit hesitant to leave him in such a weak and injured state, but she supposed she had no choice. She soon rose to her feet. “Okay, just call out if you need anything and I’ll be right there.”

He nodded in agreement and she left him behind. She returned to the spot in the center of the room where the Death Sword had rested. Using magic, she created a sphere of light overhead so that she could properly see what she was doing. She then bowed low and placed two fingers on the stone floor. She soon began to chant in the old Hylian tongue.

This was an ancient spell, and one that Zelda had never performed before, although she knew it well. She had studied this magic and many others while growing up, and she had long since mastered the craft. Besides, this spell was another that was rather simple in nature. As long as she had the blessing of the Goddesses, the words and motions came to her as if they were instinct.

The Princess traced her fingers along the floor, and as she did, trails of light were left in her wake. She used this magical way of writing to create glyphs atop the stone. She continued to chant and to pray as she circled off to the side. With each step she took, she would crouch again and create a new glyph. When she finally made it back to her original position, the circle was complete. Now all that was left was the final command.

“Goddesses above, please, rid this place of evil and make it a sacred temple once more.”

And with that, she touched the circle of glyphs and they promptly erupted into a blinding white light. But it only lasted for a moment until the light and glyphs disappeared completely.

Zelda simply smiled as she rose to her full height. The ritual had been a success. The Death Sword would never haunt this place again. It was now a sacred and holy temple dedicated to the Goddesses above. And it wouldn’t just prevent the Death Sword’s return either. Within a few days’ time, even the monsters dwelling in this dungeon would likely start to weaken under the effects of this spell. It was truly a great and thorough cleansing.

Feeling satisfied, Zelda soon dispelled her sphere of light and returned to Link’s side. The Hero just greeted her with bright eyes and a wide grin.

“That was really cool.”

“That was nothing,” she insisted, kneeling down next to him once more. “That was only the Goddesses’ powers working through me.”

“It’s still impressive,” he replied. “I certainly couldn’t have done that.”

Zelda couldn’t help but bashfully smile. She soon shook her head, attempting to turn things back around on him. “You are talking too much. I think it might be best if you tried to sleep.”

“Sleep?” he scoffed. “I can’t sleep. We still need to get out of here.”

Zelda gave him a look of doubt. “Link, you can barely walk right now. We’ll worry about escaping after you’ve gotten some rest.”

He frowned, looking rather upset. “So we’re just supposed to sleep in a dark and dangerous dungeon?”

“Yes, I think that would be best. I’ll keep an eye out for monsters, and should any approach, I will gladly deal with them.”

Link frowned even harder. “Why don’t you just run and get help?”

“I will not leave you,” she replied adamantly. “Not when you’re like this.”

“Zelda, I’ll be fine, really-”

“No, you won’t. I nearly lost you to that ReDead and I won’t risk it happening again.”

“Then how are we ever going to get out of here?” he asked with a roll of his eyes.

“Be patient,” she encouraged him. “Kanora and the others know where we are. If we don’t return by morning, there’s a good chance that they’ll come looking for us. And even if they don’t, you might be well enough to walk tomorrow, so we can attempt to leave on our own then. Sound like a plan?”

“No,” he said flatly. “It sounds like I’m holding you back and keeping you in this dark and dingy place.”

“I’m here because I want to be. And believe me, it’s not so terrible.” At this, she sadly smiled and rubbed his shoulder a bit. “Now please, will you try to get some rest? As a favor to me?”

“A favor of friendship?” he asked, mocking Kanora’s comments from earlier in the day. “Fine, but just know that I fully intend to pay you back for all this kindness.”

“Link, you saved my life,” she said quietly. “That is payment enough. Now for the final time, please close your eyes and rest. Or must I sing you a lullaby?”

He couldn’t help but laugh a bit. “That doesn’t sound so bad actually.”

“Fine, one song,” Zelda agreed.

The Princess soon began to hum, her soft melodious voice echoing off the walls and ceiling of the chamber. The lullaby was beautiful. It was such a calm, peaceful sound. Link almost wondered if there was some sort of magic to it, for he quickly found his eyelids growing heavy, and his pulse slowing down. With a final sigh of contentment, he drifted off to sleep.

 

---

 

A few hours passed, and Zelda gently lifted her eyes open, blinking a few times. She then stifled a yawn as she glanced around the dark chamber in which she and Link slept. She had no way of telling time in this dim and isolated place, but by her estimate, it was currently the middle of the night.

Zelda had only been lightly sleeping, ready to wake up at a moment’s notice should someone, or something, approach. She had been taught how to do this from a young age, in case of emergency situations where she might need to wake up in an instant and prepare to fight or flee. Humorously enough, Zelda actually had plenty of time to practice the technique during the Twilight Invasion, as she had spent many nights unsure of who would enter into the room in which she was imprisoned. During those days, the Princess never knew when an enemy might come to silence her forever.

Zelda just gave a slight shiver before shaking her head and clearing her thoughts. As always, it was best not to dwell on those dark days. Besides, she had more pressing matters to focus on. She was certain that she had just heard a noise, for it had woken her from her light slumber. She patiently waited for her eyes to pick apart the shadows of the room, trying to find any hidden signs of movement. She had extinguished the lantern hours ago, and was hesitant to light it again for fear of giving away their position. Besides, her eyes had already adjusted to the dark and she could see well enough.

A minute passed in silence, and once it did, Zelda allowed herself to relax a bit. She felt sure that she and Link were alone. At the very least, she could not see or hear anything worthy of caution.

However, a sudden sound quickly brought Zelda’s guard right back up. She focused her vision once more as she scanned the room. Though, it seemed that her wariness was unnecessary, for she soon pinpointed the source of the noise.

Zelda looked to her side. There, Link lay on the floor, still asleep. However, it seemed that he wasn’t resting as soundly as before, for his body was shivering a bit, and his face contorted in slight anguish. Before long, another soft groan escaped his lips.

Zelda just stared at him for a moment, frowning with guilt. He was clearly in pain from his wound. An injury that Zelda should have been able to prevent, or at the very least, treat properly. She silently cursed herself and her inability to do more for him.

Link unconsciously groaned again. Zelda was not sure what else she could do for him at this point, but she settled on reaching out and gently running her fingers through his hair. She hoped in vain that the touch might comfort him.

Unfortunately, this act seemed to have the opposite effect. Link just frowned further, and his expression turned nervous. Zelda retracted her fingers, immediately regretting what she had done. She hadn’t intended to cause his sleeping self even more discomfort. The Hero soon winced, as if haunted by a terrible nightmare. He clutched at his chest before uttering a single word.

“Ilia…”

Zelda just sat there, feeling stone-faced and dismal. Not only was the Hero in pain, but he was calling out for the person he loved the most. The woman who was currently far from his side. Zelda soon felt her heart well up with sympathy for the poor man beside her. This really was all her fault.

The mumbling didn’t stop there. The Hero continued to call out, and his face winced with pain and worry. He even raised a hand into the air as if he was grasping for something.

“Ilia…Ilia…”

Zelda wasn’t sure how much more of the Hero’s anguish she could take, so she reached out and grabbed Link’s hand with her own, hoping to quell his cries.

The effect was both surprising and immediate. Upon taking Zelda’s hand, Link’s shivering ceased, and his face flashed a rather stunned expression. However, it only lasted for a moment before a content smile formed on his lips.

“Zelda,” he whispered quietly.

He soon brought his hand back to his side, as well as Zelda’s own. The Princess simply sat there, feeling speechless. Not only did Link unconsciously recognize her touch, but he took great comfort in it. This fact alone was enough to relieve her heart and bring the smallest of smiles to her lips. Suddenly, she felt like everything was going to be okay.

With the Hero sleeping soundly once more, it seemed that there was nothing left to be done. Zelda scooted closer to him and tried to settle down while keeping their hands together. She eventually managed it and provided Link with one last smile before promptly shutting her eyes.

“Good night, my Hero.”

Notes:

I love chapters like this. Quiet. Somber but hopeful. Generous amounts of hurt/comfort. And of course, I always love whenever Zelda gets to serve as Link’s nurse and dote on him a bit haha. Our hero works hard, and when he is tired and broken, it’s only fair that he is allowed to rest and heal. I’m glad that Zelda was able to help provide that rest for him here :)

Chapter 49: Assault

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 49 – Assault

Clatter!

Zelda’s eyes shot open, wide awake at the sound. This wasn’t like Link’s soft groans in the middle of the night. This was something louder. Noisier.

Link must have heard it as well, for his eyes soon fluttered open. “Hmm, Zelda?” he mumbled.

“Quiet,” she whispered before placing a single finger to his lips. “Something approaches from the chamber’s entrance.”

Zelda rose to her feet and Link tried to sit up, although it proved difficult for even the tiniest of movements made his wound flare up with pain. But he clenched his teeth and pushed through until he could look upon the entrance of the room. There, he saw a single red eye glaring at them.

“ReDead,” he murmured before cursing.

“And it’s seen us,” Zelda deduced. “It’s already lumbering over.” She then frowned before grabbing the lantern and lighting it. If they had already been found, there was no point in staying in darkness. She then drew her rapier. “Stay here, I’ll take care of it.”

“Wait!” Link reached out and grabbed her by the wrist. “Don’t go alone. Here, I’ll back you up.”

The Princess just glared at him with a look of disbelief. “Oh no you won’t. Link, you can barely stand!”

“Watch me,” he muttered through his teeth. He then winced as he tried to rise to his feet, but it was a slow, delicate, and painful process. And watching this simply frustrated Zelda to no end.

“Sit down,” she commanded abruptly. She then proceeded to do one of the roughest things that a Princess had likely ever done. She forcefully pushed Link flat onto his back. Admittedly, she was a bit stunned by her own actions, as was Link, but she had no time to process this or argue with him. The approaching ReDead was already far closer than she would have liked. “Forgive me. This will take but a moment.”

Link frowned and went to protest some more, but she was already gone. She rushed towards the mummified monstrosity, her thin blade ready to slice through air and foe alike. The ReDead just glared at her before raising its own greatsword overhead.

Fortunately, the fight that followed was brief. Unlike the ReDeads of the night before, this one was slow and witless. Zelda had no trouble evading its large swipes and she promptly tore it to shreds. By the time the creature thought to scream, Zelda had already cut open its jaw. From here all it took was one quick stab to the skull to bring the ReDead down for good. Its corpse now rested among the remains of its brethren and a plethora of charred Stalfos bones.

Zelda took a deep breath and sheathed her blade. She then slowly made her way back to Link, who was still frowning and looking displeased.

“I could have helped, you know,” he mumbled before looking away.

The Princess merely sighed. “Must you always insist on doing everything yourself?”

“I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You’re not a burden, you’re a Hero.”

“Exactly!” Link said, suddenly placing a hand to his chest. “I should be protecting others. Not being saved by them.”

Again, Zelda sighed. She soon turned to him with a soft look. “Link, you did a wonderful job of selflessly protecting me last night. Now is it really so bad if I am allowed to return the favor?”

Link frowned before looking away. “I just don’t want you to get hurt for my sake. You’re far more important than I am.”

The Hero honestly should’ve known better than to make this comment, and he quickly regretted it, for he realized that in doing so he had only summoned the full intensity of Zelda’s wrath.

“Do not say that,” she seethed. “My life is no more precious than anyone else’s, and I will not tolerate anyone who believes such things. No, not even you, Hero.”

Link just gulped, suddenly feeling ashamed. “I’m sorry, Zelda. I didn’t mean to make it sound like you’re superior to everyone else…”

“It’s fine,” she said with a curt shake of her head. “Just…please do not make such comments again. It’s heartbreaking to hear. Especially from you.”

Link frowned once more. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Silence fell between them after that. Neither one of them knew quite what to say after their argument. However, Zelda’s eyes soon fell on Link’s bandages, and she realized that there were more pressing matters at hand.

“How are you feeling?” she asked as she kneeled next to him. “Any better?”

“Well, it still hurts like hell,” Link admitted. “But the sleep helped. I don’t feel lightheaded anymore.”

“Thank goodness,” Zelda breathed, and she even allowed herself a smile. “Why don't we wait a bit, and then perhaps we can try to-”

Thud, thud, thud.

Link and Zelda both froze. There was another sound coming from the entrance to the chamber. It sounded like the footsteps of multiple people. Zelda quickly jumped up and drew her blade once more, fearing the worst. What was it now? An army of Stalfos having come to claim their lives?

Thankfully, it was nothing of the sort. The Princess watched as several figures wandered out of the shadows and into the light of the lantern. Zelda recognized them immediately.

“Oh, Goddesses be praised,” she whispered. “Kanora!”

Sure enough, the Gerudo Chief stepped forward with a bright smile on her lips. She was accompanied by a handful of powerful Gerudo warriors.

“Ah, Princess!” she exclaimed. “Thank the Goddesses we’ve found you. We’ve been searching since dawn. Is everything all right?”

Zelda promptly sheathed her sword and beckoned the Gerudo to come closer. So great was her relief that she almost had half a mind to hug the Chief, but she refrained. “I’m fine, but there’s been trouble. It’s Link.”

“Our wonderful little Link?” Kanora replied. “What’s happened? Oh…Oh my!”

As Zelda stood aside, the Chief soon laid eyes upon the wounded Hero. It only took her a moment to process the situation.

“He was stabbed in the chest,” Zelda explained quietly. “I did the best I could to patch him up, but I fear that he still needs proper medical attention. Please, is there anything you can do?”

Kanora smiled. “Worry not, Princess. We have brought bandages and medicines with us in case we encountered the worst. Pretty clever of us, no? Now here, let us inspect the wound. Oh, and we’ll need to fetch a stretcher so we can carry him out.”

“A stretcher?” Link interjected. “I don’t need anything like that. I can walk out of here on my own just fine.”

“Shhh,” Kanora hushed him as she kneeled by his side. “Don’t be silly, my dear little Link. You are in no condition to move around. Now please lie still and let us look at you.”

The rest of the Gerudo soon kneeled next to Link as well while Zelda watched from the sideline. She was so grateful to have them here. Finally, Link would receive the proper treatment that he desperately needed.

“So what happened here?” Kanora asked as she and the others set to work. “We were worried sick when you didn’t return last night.”

Zelda nodded before briefly explaining. “We tracked the source of darkness to this room and managed to destroy it. After that, we fought a horde of enemies, but a ReDead caught me unawares. Link ran to my rescue and took the attack in place of myself. I did my best to treat him, but we were forced to spend the night here.”

“I see,” Kanora said solemnly. “I’m sorry that this had to happen. And to think that you only encountered such troubles because you were doing us a favor.”

“Don’t fret over it,” Zelda told her. “We both knew the risks and were prepared to face them. And we only experienced trouble at the end due to my own carelessness.”

Kanora nodded at her words. “I’m just relieved to know that you’re both still alive. Although…” Here the Chief paused, looking a bit amused. She was in the middle of admiring Link’s bandages. “I must say, Princess, you certainly did a piss poor job of this.”

Zelda blinked, feeling both taken aback by the playful comment as well as guilty for not being able to do better. “I…I did the best I could with what I had on hand,” she replied nervously.

“What is this fabric anyway?” Kanora asked as she began peeling it back. “It almost looks like…” She paused before blinking a bit. A look of realization washed over her features. “Oh, goodness me. You actually stripped down in front of him?”

Zelda nearly sputtered in response. “I…I did no such thing! What are you even implying!?”

Naturally, Kanora just smirked, as if she was rather amused by the whole thing. She soon glanced up. “Oh my…Are you feeling all right, Princess? Your cheeks are as red as the Hero’s bloodstains.”

For the second time in the last 24 hours, Zelda felt like grabbing a fistful of Kanora’s red hair and yanking on it.

 

---

 

The Gerudo successfully applied some medicine and fresh, real bandages to the Hero’s wound. Once they had finished, they had two of their number go to collect a stretcher from their camp. They only had to wait a short while before they returned. Once they did, they loaded Link into it (despite his protests) and promptly carried him outside.

When they safely arrived at the desert plains, Zelda finally allowed herself to relax. It was still early morning and the sun was shining on the golden fields of sand. It was quite a sight to behold after having spent an entire evening confined in darkness.

Kanora explained that they had waited until dawn for the Hero and Princess to return. However, when no one came back, she insisted on leading a search party into the depths of the dungeon to find them. Fortunately, it was not too difficult of a task, for the Gerudo had an excellent hunter among their number and she was easily able to follow Link and Zelda’s tracks all the way to the chamber where they resided. They had encountered a few monsters along the way, but other than that, it had been a seamless and successful rescue.

“This structure has now been properly cleansed,” Zelda told the Chief as they walked side-by-side down the long set of stairs. “There’s a few monsters that remain, but once you clear them out, they shall never make a return.”

“You have my utmost thanks, Princess,” Kanora said with a bow of her head. “I swear, your kindness will not soon be forgotten.”

Zelda mirrored the motion. “And neither will yours. I’m not sure what we would have done if you hadn’t come to search for us.”

“Oh, I simply had to!” Kanora exclaimed. “We are friends, are we not? Not to mention, your short Minister friend was quite concerned for you. He also would not stop hinting that the King would take all of our heads should something happen to you.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile a bit. “Please ignore him. His words are more menacing than his actions.”

“Aye, that’s what I’d like to believe, but he has quite the feisty temper, that one,” Kanora mused. “And besides, I wouldn’t say we’re in the clear just yet. I can’t imagine that he’ll be all too pleased to see the sight of you.”

“What do you mean?” Zelda asked.

“My dear Princess,” Kanora replied softly. “You have not looked in the mirror lately, have you? Not that I blame you, considering the circumstances, but still…”

It was here that Zelda paused and glanced down at herself. Sure enough, she was a wreck. Her once beautiful dress was now covered in dried blood and gray smudges and was even torn in a few places. Her bare arms looked much the same, coated in marks of red and black without the protection from her pristine white gloves. And while Zelda could not see it, she imagined her head and face were in a similar situation. Her hair felt like a tangled, disorderly mess that was threatening to break free of its braid, and all she had to do was drag a finger across her cheek to find that her face was just as filthy as the rest of her.

Zelda soon sighed before flashing a shy smile. “I suppose I don’t carry the proper image of a Princess anymore.”

“Nonsense,” Kanora said with a wave of her hand. “You look like an absolute doll.”

“I never really wanted to be a doll,” Zelda admitted.

Kanora just laughed. “And yet you are a warrior as well. You should be proud, keeping your man safe through the night.”

Zelda’s friendly expression immediately dissolved into a pout. “Kanora…”

The Chief just released a girlish giggle.

It was around this point that their party arrived back at the Gerudo’s camp, and as one might expect, a great crowd started to form. Many of the women were clamoring to see what had become of the Hero and the Princess. Mostly the former.

“The mighty Hero!” they gasped as they looked upon him in the stretcher.

“He…He has been slain!?”

“And where is his tunic? Not that I mind his bare chest, of course…”

“Oh, pipe down, you gossipers!” Kanora quickly declared. “Can’t you see he’s fine? He just took a small wound to the chest.”

The crowd visibly relaxed a bit, although there were still some who seemed concerned for his wellbeing. They just wanted to know that the savior of their people was all right. However, their concern for the Hero was soon dwarfed by the concern of another. Specifically, one short and elderly Minister.

“Oh, let me through, let me through!” Fost shouted as he pushed his way to the front of the crowd. “How’s the Princess? Is she alive?”

It was here that he finally stopped and spotted her. He gawked as his eyes absorbed her in all her disheveled glory. He ended up being silent for so long, that Zelda just gave a sheepish wave back to him.

“My word…” he finally spoke in a horrified whisper. “The Princess…Our Princess…Just look what she’s been reduced to. Oh, Your Highness, what did those savage women do to you in the time that you were away?”

“Savage women?” Kanora repeated with a perplexed look.

Zelda just smiled, providing her full attention to the worried Minister. “Relax Fost, I am fine. It’s nothing that a warm bath and a change of clothes won’t fix.”

“You speak too lightly!” he insisted, his features suddenly flaring to life. “Why, just look at the blood and the filth. I imagine that you’ve been traumatized for life. I know that I certainly have!”

“That’s because you’re a worrywart,” Zelda said plainly. “Trust me, if anyone needs your concern and care right now, it would be Link.”

“Oh, bother him,” the Minister said flippantly. “You are my greatest concern. I promise to never leave your side again, Princess.”

Zelda just rolled her eyes. “On the contrary, I very well think you shall.”

Fost looked like he wanted to argue back, but to everyone’s surprise, Link suddenly chimed in from his stretcher. “Don’t worry, Minister. I’m okay.”

Stunned silence, followed by a raucous laughter from the crowd. Link couldn’t help but grin, proud that he had managed to make such a dry joke out of Fost’s blatant disregard for him. And of course, the Gerudo simply loved it.

“The Hero is quite funny, yes?”

“He put that old fool right in his place.”

“The timing was marvelous.”

While Fost furrowed his brow and cast a disappointed frown at his critics, Zelda caught Link’s eyes and flashed him a grateful smile. The Hero had known exactly what he was doing; coming to her rescue with that comment of his. And she truly appreciated his kindness.

“Enough, enough!” Kanora soon said, waving her hands with a bright grin. “We’ll have plenty of time for laughs and merriment later. For now, let’s get our guests cleaned up and fed! Why, it is nearly the lunch hour, and I’m certain that they are famished. Go and make ready the food!”

The Gerudo quickly dispersed, ready to fulfill their Chief’s every instruction. It was here that Kanora turned to Zelda and scanned her up and down again.

“Princess, I’d be happy to show you to our baths so that you can wash up, but I’m afraid that dress of yours is beyond any use. Tell me, would like to borrow one of our own outfits?”

Zelda frowned, taken aback by this. She immediately inspected Kanora’s clothing in return, and couldn’t help but notice how revealing it was. Between the exposed shoulders, arms, legs, and stomach, there was hardly anything left to be concealed. Zelda just gave the woman a skeptical look before shaking her head.

“I think I’ll decline. I’ve brought plenty of spare outfits to change into.”

“Are you sure?” Kanora pressed her. “The Hero might find you quite fetching in one of our garments.”

“I said I’m good,” Zelda replied sharply. But the damage had already been done, for her cheeks had turned quite hot, and it wasn’t because of the blazing sun overhead.

Kanora just laughed in amusement as she always did. “Suit yourself.”

 

---

 

The Princess cleaned up, fixed her hair, and donned a new dress just like her old one. She smiled as she looked at her reflection. She was once again the image of royalty that everyone expected her to be, and it felt so good to remove those stains from her skin. The last thing she wanted from the night before was any keepsakes.

Link was similarly allowed to wash up, but he had a fair bit of trouble when the time came. Many of the younger Gerudo women clambered around his bed, each with washcloths in hand, offering to wipe him clean. He just awkwardly refused, claiming that he was more than capable of handling it himself. He then had to dismiss another crowd of women that wanted to personally spoon-feed him his lunch. He soon began to wonder, what was it about being injured that made everyone think he was incapable of taking care of himself?

Things settled down in the afternoon. The Gerudo wanted to provide their guests with a more relaxing experience after the troubles of the night before. They spent the afternoon telling stories of the Gerudo in days long past. They performed ancient dances and rituals and shared much of their customs with their guests. Link and Zelda simply enjoyed the display, thankful for the chance to unwind for a bit.

Eventually, the sun glowed red as afternoon turned to evening. The Gerudo provided another lovely meal with no trouble at all, and after quite a bit of chatting and dining, Link decided to retire early for the night. His wound was still aching and he figured it would be best to get some rest for now.

Nevertheless, he still insisted on walking back to his tent, despite everyone’s protest. Kanora even offered to call for the stretcher, but Link refused. He claimed that he was capable of doing this on his own. With several sharp breaths, he managed to start limping away.

Zelda and Kanora just gave each other a look of doubt before following after him. They couldn’t allow the Hero to wander off alone like that. They needed to make sure that he was actually okay. Which, fortunately, he was. He still hissed with every shaky step, but he courageously carried on at his own pace. Eventually, he arrived back at his tent and set himself safely down on the bed.

“Bravo, my lovely Link, bravo,” Kanora said with a playful applause.

“That was rather impressive,” Zelda agreed. “I hope you didn’t strain anything though. Are you sure you’re all right?”

Link released a deep breath and smiled. “I’m okay. Just a little sore and winded, but it felt good to move on my own, at least.”

“Yes, you always insist on doing everything alone,” Zelda said, recalling their conversation from earlier that morning.

“Not true,” he argued back. “I let you join me in the Arbiter’s Grounds, didn’t I?”

“A decision that I’m sure you have come to regret.”

“Oh, come on, Zelda. Stop saying stuff like that. We helped each other out, didn’t we? We made a good team and we were stronger together than if either of us had been alone.”

“Hmm?” Kanora cut in, looking positively pleased. “What’s this about teamwork? Care to share exactly what the two of you were doing in the dungeon last night? I’ve only heard the short summary.”

Zelda just frowned. She was far from willing to play along with any of Kanora’s prodding at this point. “That's a tale best saved for another time. Link still needs his rest.”

Kanora pouted as if she was a child. “I say, sometimes you can be quite the wet blanket, Princess.”

Zelda rolled her eyes. She was almost certain that Telma had said something similar to her before.

“But alas, I do not wish to rob the wonderful Hero of his recovery,” Kanora admitted with a sigh. “Sleep well, my dear little Link. I’ll have someone posted outside your tent later. Just holler if you need anything and she will assist you.”

“Thank you, Chief,” Link replied warmly. Although, perhaps he had been a little too warm, for Kanora nearly swooned at these words. She then took her exaggerated yet graceful leave.

Zelda sighed and shook her head. “That woman never fails to amaze.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Link said with a small laugh.

Zelda smiled a bit in return. “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”

“Yes. My wound is still sore, but I know that sleep will help.”

Zelda stood there for a while, still hesitant to leave, but she soon accepted that she couldn’t stay there all night. She rubbed his shoulder a bit. “Very well. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“See you tomorrow,” he agreed.

The Princess gave him one last smile before exiting the tent.

Now that he was alone, Link kicked off his boots and removed his tunic, allowing his bandaged chest to breathe a bit. He then carefully lowered himself to his back, trying his best not to agitate his wound. When his head met the pillow, he sighed in contentment. It had felt so rewarding to walk all the way here on his own, but now he was simply happy to be still for a while. He didn’t even bother covering himself with a blanket. The air in the desert was warm enough without it.

He closed his eyes and lay there for a while, feeling completely at peace. This trip had certainly had its share of difficulties, but he supposed that it was worth it as long as he had moments as tranquil as this.

And so it was, until he suddenly heard footsteps by his door.

Link opened his eyes and frowned a bit. He glanced at the tent’s flap and spotted a figure just outside.

“Zelda?” he asked, slowly sitting up again.

However, to his surprise, a young Gerudo woman walked in, looking bright eyed and giddy. Link just eyed her back in surprise. By his guess, she seemed to be about his age.

“Oh, er…hello,” he greeted her awkwardly. “Were you the one who was sent to guard my tent?”

The girl smiled and shook her head, her red locks twirling through the air. “Oh, no, dear Hero. I simply wanted to visit you. That is, if you will have me.”

“Oh, um, sure,” Link said with a shrug. He then watched her for a bit, wondering why she had shown up out of the blue like this. “I, uh, don’t believe we’ve met before, have we?”

“No, mighty Hero,” the Gerudo said with another shake of her head. “Please, my name is Leena. And it is an incredible honor.”

“Hi Leena,” Link greeted her politely. “Is there something that I can do for you?”

“Would it be all right if I stepped closer?”

Link tilted his head a bit, wondering if that was all she wanted. “Um…sure, that’s fine.”

Leena beamed as she strode forward. She kept her hands together and close to her chest, kneading them as if she was nervous, or perhaps eager. And as Link continued to eye her, he couldn’t help but notice that she was eyeing him just as much in return.

“You have a marvelous figure, Hero,” she said bluntly.

“Th-Thanks…” Link said slowly. He then inwardly cursed, wishing that he had his blanket to hide behind. Not that he minded showing off his bare chest, but there was something uncomfortable about the way that Leena was looking at him. She almost had the look of a hungry wolf eyeing its prey. Link would know.

“Hero, can I share something with you?” Leena continued.

“Okay…” he replied uncertainly. Even now, he wasn’t quite sure who this girl was or what she wanted.

Leena just continued rubbing her fingers against each other with a nervous energy. “For the Gerudo people, it is considered a great honor to be able to bear a daughter. And of course, it is an even greater honor to bear a son.”

Link nodded a bit. “Of course. Kanora explained this to me earlier.”

Leena smiled. “But perhaps the greatest honor of all would be to bear the child of the mighty Hero, don’t you agree?”

Link began to nod without even thinking. “Yea–Wait, what?”

Leena smiled some more while her eyes sparkled in admiration. “I mean it wholeheartedly. To birth your child would be the greatest gift that someone in our Tribe could ever receive.”

Link just blinked, and more than once. “Um…” he began awkwardly. “I…I’m not sure that I follow…”

“Hero, would you do me the honor of blessing me with a child?”

This time, Link’s mouth opened and closed a few times. No one had ever asked him for something even remotely along these lines before. He could hardly believe that this was happening. “Leena, um, I don’t really think that-”

Fwoosh! The sound of fabric flying through the air. In an instant, the Gerudo’s top was discarded, and her chest was exposed. Link’s eyes went wide and his cheeks turned scarlet from sheer embarrassment. He did his best to look at any corner of the tent that wasn’t her.

“Wh-What are you doing?” he said, nearly choking the words out.

“Does my figure please you, Hero?” she asked in a surprisingly seductive voice.

Link gulped. “I…I really would prefer that you put your clothes back on…”

“But they will get in the way, no?” Fwoosh! This time, her skirt was discarded. The Gerudo was now completely nude, happily showing off all of her curves.

Link’s face burned red hot. How could this situation have spiraled out of control so quickly!?

“L-Look, Leena. You seem like a nice girl and all, b-but I can’t…We can’t…C-Could you please put your clothes back on?”

“Shh,” she shushed him, and even drew close enough to place a finger to his lips. “This will take but a moment, my dear Hero. and I promise to make it pleasurable for you. You will not be left wanting.”

“This is insane!” Link cried. “I’m not doing this. Look, you need to go-”

Link tried to rise up but unfortunately the shameless seducer was already upon him. She crawled into bed, placing her nude figure overtop of his body. Thank the Goddesses that the Hero still had his pants on, but that hardly mattered for this situation was still extremely uncomfortable. Link soon found himself growing angry.

“Leena, I’m serious, get off,” he growled. He then went to shove her away, but as soon as he did, she responded by clinging tightly to him. And of course, by pure coincidence, her hand fell hard on his bandages.

Link winced as a terrible pain shot through his chest, effectively paralyzing him. He gasped for his voice, and somehow found it.

“Ouch, Leena, my wound!”

Leena blinked a bit, but soon smirked. “Oh, don’t worry, Hero. I will be very gentle with you. We'll start lightly, with some kissing. And then once you’re comfortable, we can get a little more serious, yes?”

Link just screamed.

 

---

 

Zelda and Kanora were strolling through the sea of tents, making their way back to the center of camp. And as always, the Gerudo Chief was more than happy to keep running her mouth.

“I do hope that our brave little Link won’t be too lonely tonight. After all, he no longer has the comfort of your presence like he did the night before.”

Zelda abruptly paused and turned to Kanora with a look of utter shock. If she didn’t know any better, it almost sounded like Kanora knew the exact details of the previous night. When Link had cried out for Ilia in his sleep, but it had been Zelda’s touch which soothed him back to tranquility.

“Oh my,” Kanora said, looking equally surprised. “I didn’t expect to hit the mark quite so closely. But I’m happy to know that your love shines through all your denial.”

Zelda promptly shut her jaw and glared at the Gerudo while her face turned red once again. Of course she hadn’t been privy to the details. She had just been fishing for a reaction, and boy, had Zelda given her one to marvel at.

“It is not what you think,” Zelda mumbled.

Kanora’s expression quickly flashed from amused to sympathetic. “Oh, no worries, dear. I’m only teasing a little. It’s what we Gerudo are best at, you know.”

“Between you and Telma, that’s what I’ve gathered.”

“Oh, I am not nearly as bad as she!” Kanora exclaimed, as if offended. “She’ll spill all your secrets in a second. But do not worry, Princess. I will lock your secret deep within my heart.”

Zelda just frowned, growing all the more weary as this discussion dragged on. “What secret, exactly?”

Kanora playfully grinned. “Why, I’ve already sworn not to say! Forgive me, but I must not speak of it anymore.”

Zelda gave the Chief a long, hard stare before sighing and rubbing her temple. “Kanora, can I share something with you?”

“Of course, dear.”

“I’ve only known you for a day and a half now, but it already feels like you’re prone to giving me the worst headaches of my life.”

To Zelda’s surprise, Kanora just chuckled at this. “Oh, now that is rather funny.”

“What is?”

“The Gerudo Chief before me used to say the exact same thing!”

Zelda couldn’t help it. This time, she gave in and produced a smile. For all of her quirks and petulance, Kanora could be a rather fun person at times. She sighed again, but this time in delight. “Well, I’ll say this, Kanora. If there’s one thing that I appreciate about you, it’s that you wear your heart on your sleeve.”

Kanora blushed with joy. “Aw, you are far too kind, Princess.”

“That’s not necessarily a compliment, you know.”

“Hmph, and you are far too cruel as well.”

This time, Zelda laughed, but it was quickly cut short by a loud noise echoing in the distance. The Princess just paused, glancing around. “Kanora, did you just hear a scream?”

The Chief turned to glance at her. “I very well think I might have. But I doubt it’s trouble. Some of our girls like to spar after dinner in order to stay in shape. It’s possible that one of their number suffered an injury.”

Zelda shook her head. “No, that doesn’t seem right. It almost sounded like a man’s voice…”

She suddenly blinked as the realization hit her.

“Link!”

Wasting no time, Zelda turned around and began running back towards the Hero’s tent. Before long, another scream cried out into the air, and this time, she clearly recognized its source. 

“Help! Zelda!”

Her heart sank with dread. Link really was crying out for help. She immediately picked up the pace, beelining for the tent. Within seconds, she reached it.

“Link, what’s the matter-”

Zelda froze, and if it were possible for her jaw to hit the floor, it certainly would have. The sight before her was perhaps one of the most shocking that she had ever witnessed. A young Gerudo woman, naked and unashamed, lay atop of the Hero, who seemed to be squirming in an attempt to break free of her embrace.

“Wh-What the…” Zelda mumbled, feeling utterly speechless.

It didn’t take long for Link to spot her, and he was quick to cry out again. “Zelda, please help!”

His call was like lightning, forcing Zelda out of her paralysis and into action. Her sapphire eyes twisted into a glare and she clenched teeth and fists alike. She could feel a fire bursting to life within her.

“What…What the hell is going on in here!?” she demanded.

Link went stiff, a bit surprised at the Princess’s sudden temper, as well as her “improper” language. He had seen Zelda be upset before, but never quite like this. Similarly, Leena also froze, for she just now realized that she and her partner had company at the door. And of course, it wasn’t long before Kanora arrived and stuck her head in the tent as well.

“What is with all the shouting in here-” She paused, taking it all in just as Zelda had. “Oh…Oh my…” was all she had to say.

“Oh, Pr-Princess, Chief,” the nude girl greeted them awkwardly. “H-How unexpected…”

“Save it,” Zelda seethed. “Tell us what’s going on. Now.”

“W-We were just-”

“She’s trying to seduce me!” Link cried out. “Please stop her!”

That was all Zelda needed to hear. She felt the fire rage to life within her once more, and she was soon determined to cross to the other side of the tent and pull this scandalous woman off of Link by force. However, it seemed that Kanora was already on top of it, for she leapt the full length of the tent in under a second and seized Leena by the shoulders. She then gave the girl a swift tug, separating her from Link.

The Hero just breathed a sigh of relief, sinking back into his bed. Zelda was quickly by his side.

“Link, are you okay?”

“Yes. Fortunately, nothing happened…Thank the Goddesses…”

Zelda too felt her shoulders relax a bit, but she kept the fire alight in her heart as she shot the girl another icy glare. “What exactly is the meaning of this?” she demanded.

Leena looked like she was about to speak up, but Kanora just clamped a hand over her mouth while keeping another firmly locked to her shoulder.

“Let’s just calm down for a minute, hmm?” the Chief suggested. “I promise, we’ll get this all sorted out. Princess, why don’t you stay by Link’s side for now?”

“Gladly,” she said, fiercely crossing her arms and standing between Link and his seductor.

Kanora sighed before turning her attention back to the naked girl in hand. “Leena, you and I shall step outside and talk for a minute. And for goodness’ sake, girl, put your clothes back on! Were you raised in a barn?”

Notes:

I think that Link might be one of the only people in the world who would tell a woman that she’s “probably a nice girl” while she’s trying to assault him lol.

Anyway, I hope it didn’t feel like that situation went too far or anything. I tried to keep it lighthearted and make it clear that nothing bad was truly going to happen, but I understand that the subject matter is still inherently heavy and risqué. Apologies if this bothered anybody. The situation was only supposed to be silly, and nothing more.

As always, thanks for reading. Next time, we hit chapter 50!

Chapter 50: Broken

Notes:

Happy Echoes of Wisdom release weekend everyone! I’ve been playing it nonstop in the two days it’s been out and it’s sooooo good! Please give it a chance if you haven’t already, I promise you won’t regret it 😉 Now, on to the 50th chapter!

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 50 – Broken

Kanora and Leena were gone for a few minutes, but the passage of time did nothing to lessen Zelda’s anger. She kept her arms crossed and marched back and forth across the tent, pacing furiously. She could not believe what had just transpired. To think that someone as innocent and righteous as Link had been treated in such a way. Oh, it just made her blood boil!

Meanwhile, Link eyed her from his bed, feeling more than a little concerned as he watched the Princess’s typically calm face contort with rage. Eventually, he decided that he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Zelda?” he called out.

“Yes, Link?” came her blunt response.

“Would you please calm down? You’re honestly worrying me.”

Zelda glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and found that he truly did seem more than a little concerned. She soon sighed and allowed her expression to soften. She was still far from calm, but she supposed that she could try to relax for his sake, if nothing else. She took a seat in the chair next to his bed.

“Forgive me, Link. I am just upset that you have been treated so indecently,” she admitted.

“It’s fine,” he tried to assure her. “There was no harm done. Not after you came to my rescue, at least.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile at him. “Of course. It was the least I could do after all the times that you’ve rescued me.”

“I’d rather not keep count,” Link replied, also smiling.

Okay, Zelda had to admit it. Hearing the Hero’s encouraging words and seeing his positive smile did help douse the fire in her heart, if only a little bit.

“Can you tell me what happened?” she asked softly. “How exactly did you find yourself in such an awful situation?”

“Well, I didn't orchestrate it, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”

Zelda’s smile turned sorrowful. “Of course not. I know that you would never make love so shamelessly. Or betray Ilia like that.”

Link blushed a bit. He never thought that he’d hear the Princess speak of such things so casually. And especially not regarding himself!

“So what happened?” Zelda pressed him.

“I don’t know if I want to talk about it,” Link said, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

Zelda just stared at him for a moment before reaching over and squeezing his arm. If the situation had been less serious, the Princess might have been shocked by her own actions, but as things stood, she was just far too concerned for the Hero to care about anything else. “Please, Link. If I’m going to defend you, then I need to hear your side of the story.”

Link was quiet for a while, but eventually he sighed and gave in. “Okay, but just…please don’t tell anyone that you don’t have to. Especially not Ilia.”

“I promise,” she assured him.

And with another sigh, Link began to summarize the situation. He explained how Leena had shown up out of the blue and introduced herself. How she explained it would be a great honor to bear his child. How she came onto him despite his protests and how he was unable to fight back because of his wound. It all concluded with Zelda and Kanora running into the tent and ripping the naked woman away from him.

Zelda initially believed that she could be cool, but it turned out that she was sadly mistaken. Upon hearing the story in its entirety, Zelda felt the blaze within her threaten to erupt.

“Oh, I am going to kill her,” Zelda muttered through her teeth. She soon rose to her feet, but Link clamped a hand around her wrist to keep her from storming off.

“Zelda, wait. At least talk to Kanora about this first.”

Zelda just raised an eyebrow. “Who did you think I was referring to?”

“Zelda!” Link exclaimed in shock. “Don’t tell me that you plan to punish her too!”

“Link, I made it very clear to Kanora that you were not to be touched or approached in such a seductive manner. Her Tribe broke that rule. Now there must be repercussions.”

Link sighed, keeping his hand on her wrist for fear of what she might do if he let go. “Zelda, would you stop, please? If anyone has the right to demand repercussions, it should be me. So please don’t do anything without my approval.”

Zelda gave him a long, hard stare. Eventually, she snapped her wrist out of his grasp, but only so that she could cross her arms once again. “Link, you are far too merciful for your own good,” she said in defeat.

Link produced a defensive look. “I just want to talk things out before doing anything…drastic.”

Zelda frowned. She looked like she had more to say, but she found it hard to argue with the Hero. Here he was, displaying his kindness and humility as he always did. And of course, they were some of his most charming qualities. How could she possibly tell him to be more stern? More furious? That just wasn’t who he was.

It was around this point that Kanora entered the tent, looking positively tired, but she managed to produce a smile all the same. “Well, that’s one conversation down. Who’d like to be next?”

“I believe that would be me,” Zelda said adamantly. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

Kanora shamefully hung her head, but still nodded. She turned and beckoned the Princess to follow. “Yes, yes, come along then. We’ll speak outside.”

Zelda pursed her lips before following after her. However, one final call kept her back for a moment.

“Zelda…” Link said in a low, pleading voice.

She sighed before giving him a nod. “I know, Link. No punishments. You have my word.”

“Thank you.”

The Princess finally made her exit and followed Kanora a few tents down where they would be out of earshot of Link. Both women had a feeling that the Hero would not be keen to hear their exchange.

“All right, Kanora,” Zelda said coldly as she crossed her arms. “Tell me, what is the meaning of this? I told you that Link was unavailable for courtship.”

Kanora gave a patient nod, showing that she understood the royal’s wrath. “Of course, Princess. Please understand, we would never wish to seduce the Hero without permission.”

“You have a funny way of showing it,” Zelda pointed out.

“Oh, Princess, please do not be so short with me,” Kanora begged. “Can you not see my sorrow and shame? And I was led to believe that the two of us were friends.”

Zelda rolled her eyes. She did not care for this “innocent act” of hers. “Kanora, please, this is a very serious offense.”

“I know,” Kanora said. “And believe me, Princess. We would never wish to steal your man away from you.”

“I…” Zelda paused, her mouth hanging open at such an unexpected remark. Although, when it came to Kanora, Zelda supposed that no comment was really all that surprising. “I’ve already told you, he isn’t my man,” she reiterated for what felt like the hundredth time.

Despite her shame, Kanora couldn’t help but smirk. “Hmm…your cheeks say otherwise,” she replied thoughtfully. “And that’s not all. Do you recall whose name he was shouting to come to his rescue? I seem to remember that he was specifically calling for you.”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Zelda insisted. Although, she couldn’t deny that her cheeks had turned more than a little red at this information.

“Are you sure?” Kanora asked, raising a single, suggestive eyebrow. “He truly cares for you, you know.”

Zelda frowned deeply at the woman. She honestly did not care to discuss this at the moment. Besides, there were still pressing matters to attend to. “Enough. Let’s get back to the topic at hand. Why are your women wandering into Link’s tent and trying to seduce him?”

Kanora sighed. She had enjoyed distracting the Princess, but she knew that it was time to answer for the actions of her people. “Yes, yes, trust me, I understand completely. And it was never my intention to allow one of our own to make love to him against his will. But Princess, I want you to understand. For our people, we spend much of our lives trying to attract a man who can help us bear children. It is completely necessary for the proliferation of our people. If we did not attempt to attract men to our side, we would eventually die out. And what a tragic future that would be.”

Zelda remained silent, trying to exercise patience as she listened to the woman. “I understand that, Kanora, but as I already stated when we first met, Link is strictly off limits.”

Kanora closed her eyes and gave a small nod. “I know, Princess, I know. And I explained as much to my Tribe upon your initial arrival, but it seems that not every girl understood just how serious these instructions were. Hence, our mischievous young Leena tried to have her way with him. But I assure you, she will be properly punished and educated on her wrongdoings so it does not happen again.”

Zelda was silent for a while longer, considering her words. Eventually, she bowed her head in acceptance. “I should hope that it doesn’t.”

“I promise it shall not,” Kanora assured her. “I have already scolded Leena once this very night. She was not happy, but she knows what she did was wrong. I’ll have her make a formal apology to Link in the morning.”

“Perhaps it would be better if she didn’t,” Zelda said scornfully. “I think it might be wise to keep her as far away from Link as possible.”

“Oh, Princess, please do not be like that,” Kanora said sadly. “How are we ever to make amends if you will not allow us to?”

Zelda frowned for a while, but eventually uncrossed her arms and looked away. Perhaps she was being a bit harsh. “Fine, she can make a direct apology. But only if Link is comfortable with it.”

“Thank you, Princess,” the Chief said with a bright smile. “Now…are we on better terms?”

“I suppose,” Zelda answered halfheartedly.

“Are you and I still friends?”

“Yes, we are still friends.”

“Oh, joy!” Kanora finished by clapping her hands together and grinning wide. “That’s the beauty of friendship. When it’s true, nothing can tear it apart!”

Zelda smiled a bit in return. Admittedly, she was glad that she was able to patch things up with the Gerudo, considering that she had only journeyed to the desert to form bonds with them in the first place. Nevertheless, Zelda still felt that there was one request that needed to be answered in order to make everything right.

“Kanora, one last thing, if you will.”

“Oh, yes, Princess?”

“Please, step closer.”

The Chief did as she was asked and stood right before Zelda. The Princess then reached up, grabbed a fistful of Kanora’s red hair, and gave it a sharp yank.

“Yeowch!” the Gerudo cried before cradling her head. “Whatever was that for?”

Zelda simply smirked. “Consider that the punishment for all the trouble you’ve caused my heart these last two days. Believe me, you’ve earned it.”

Kanora just flashed a bewildered expression before she eventually began to smile again. “Hmph, fair enough, Princess.”

 

---

 

“So it’s all been settled?” Link asked after Zelda had returned to his tent.

“More or less,” she answered with a shrug. “Kanora has assured me that it will not happen again. I suppose we should pray that her words ring true.”

Link smiled, relaxing a bit. “Thanks for taking care of that. And for not being too harsh.”

Zelda smirked in return. “You speak as if I am cruel and merciless.”

“Yes, well I did notice that you had quite the temper earlier. And don’t deny it.”

“Hmph,” Zelda mumbled, impressed by his gall. “Since when have you learned to speak to me so bravely?”

“Since I realized that you need someone to rein you in from time to time.”

“And you believe that you are capable of this?”

“I like to think I’m better at it than Fost.”

Zelda couldn’t help but snort in surprise. She wasn’t sure that she had ever witnessed Link act so cheeky with her before. Not that she minded, of course. If anything, she found great amusement in it.

“Well, I’m just happy to know that you’re safe and this situation is behind us. I suppose I should let you get some rest.” Here, Zelda paused and released a heavy, tired sigh. Her shoulders even slumped a bit from sheer exhaustion. “What a day this has been. I think it’s time that I find my own rest as well.”

Zelda soon turned and prepared to wish the Hero good night, but his voice ended up cutting in before she had the chance.

“Zelda, wait.”

She stopped, glancing back at him.

“Um…” Link looked down, suddenly appearing a little shy. “By any chance, could you actually…um, stay here tonight?”

Zelda just blinked, stunned by his request. “You want me to stay by your side? But…what for?”

Link kept his eyes glued to the floor, looking incredibly sheepish as the next words crossed his lips. “I…I just really don’t want to be alone…you know, if any more Gerudo decide to come and pay me a visit in the night.”

Zelda simply stared at him, still trying to make sense of this. “But Kanora assured me that this shouldn’t happen again. You can rest without worry.”

“I know she said that, but after the earlier events of the evening, I don’t feel like I can be too careful.”

The Princess was silent for a while. “So you want someone to protect you?”

“I just want someone to watch over me and make sure nothing…bad happens.”

“And you want me to do it?”

“You’re the only one I can trust,” Link pleaded, finally raising his eyes up to meet hers. “I can’t count on any of these Gerudo to guard me. They might just as soon attempt to pull what Leena did!”

“And what of the guards we brought with us from the castle?”

“Well, no offense, but I don’t exactly have the utmost faith that they won’t be distracted by our hosts.”

Zelda frowned. She had to admit, Link probably had a point here. The Hylian men were no strangers to ogling any beautiful women that passed them by. She could only imagine what they had been up to when they weren’t on duty here.

“So I’m the only one you can trust?” she reiterated.

“The only one,” he said with a nod.

Zelda felt her heart melt a bit at his faith in her, but she couldn’t resist sharing a playful thought that had just come to mind. She soon smirked at her wounded Hero. “You know, you must think quite highly of yourself if you think that every woman in camp is willing to climb into bed with you.”

Link gave her a blank stare before closing his eyes in exasperation. “Zelda, I’m the most popular man in a camp full of women obsessed with romance. Do the math.”

Again, Zelda snorted from sheer astonishment. How did the Hero manage to come up with such witty and sarcastic remarks like this? Truly, he had talent. “Very well, Link. I understand your predicament as well as your concerns. So…if it makes you feel better, I suppose I could stay by your side, just for tonight.”

Link breathed a sigh of relief before flashing a grateful smile. “Thank you. I promise that I’ll return all of this kindness to you one day.”

“I’d rather you not worry about that,” she replied sincerely. She soon took a seat in the chair next to Link’s bed. She leaned back, trying to get comfortable.

“Will you be all right sleeping there?” Link asked, suddenly looking guilty.

“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “It’s at least better than sleeping on a cold dungeon floor. Now please, just focus on getting some rest.”

Link just watched her for a while, numerous thoughts running through his head. He had always been aware of it, but it seemed that it wasn’t until this precise moment that he realized just how much Zelda did for him. She was such a kind and considerate person. And even more so, she was such a wonderful friend.

One of the best that he had ever known.

 

---

 

The final day of their stay arrived, and the time came for the Hylians to say farewell to their gracious Gerudo hosts. All of the women gathered around the center of camp to see off their guests. Many of them waved and bowed and some even blew kisses to the men they had grown fond of. Surprisingly enough, the Hylian chef in particular seemed to have garnered quite a few fans from this female troupe.

Link was also very popular, being showered with compliments and farewells, some of which were even tearful. Link wasn’t quite sure why the Gerudo felt the need to be so excessive, but he tried to stay positive and part with them on a good note. He even promised that he would stop by again sometime, which only led to an unprecedented wave of swooning women. After this, Link learned it was best to just keep his mouth shut.

Naturally, the final farewell took place between Zelda and Kanora, the two highly respected leaders of their peoples. They both warmly smiled and shook hands, but then Kanora shocked everyone by pulling the Princess into a hug. When she released the royal, she smiled coyly.

“I hope that was not too forward of me.”

Zelda sincerely smiled back and shook her head. “Of course not. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes, yes we are!” Kanora cheered happily. “And I eagerly look forward to visiting the castle and working alongside you.”

“As do I,” Zelda said with a firm nod. “By the way, did you manage to contact Telma?”

“Yes, she assured me that she would reach out to this ‘Rusl’ of yours and let him know to meet you at the castle.”

Zelda gave her an appreciative smile. Since Link was still injured, he was in no condition to ride Epona. He would have to accompany Fost in his carriage for the journey back to the castle, and after that, he would still need a means of getting back home to Ordon Village. Because of this, Zelda decided to ask Rusl to pick Link up in a wagon and escort the Hero home. Fortunately, between Kanora’s and Telma’s connections, they had easily managed to arrange it.

“Thank you,” Zelda said with a bow of her head. “For everything. Admittedly, our stay here has been rather hectic, but it was very enjoyable too. You have been such gracious hosts. In return for your kindness, I want to wish you all a warm welcome to Hyrule. As your monarchy, I promise that our Kingdom will serve, aid, and protect you throughout all hardships. May our bonds be blessed by the Goddesses themselves, and last for centuries to come.”

The Princess’s speech was met with a resounding applause. The Gerudo were simply inspired by her words of welcome and hope. Kanora grinned as she applauded along with them.

“I knew we made the right decision to return to Hyrule as soon as we met, Princess. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. We too hope that we can work harmoniously for many generations.”

After another applause and a round of farewells, the Hylians packed their things and journeyed across the plains of sand once more. As expected, it took a day of travel before the marvelous sight of the castle came into view. From here, it was a smooth trek along the wide green fields of Hyrule until they finally reached their destination.

The horses and wagons came to a halt inside the castle’s courtyard. The men dismounted and soon began unpacking. More guards approached from the castle and came to lend a hand. Things proceeded quickly and efficiently, just as any well-organized castle should.

As for Zelda, she chose to approach the carriage, and more specifically, the injured man stepping out from it. At this point, Link had recovered enough that he was able to move on his own, but it was still a slow and delicate process. Even now, he winced and clutched his side as he carefully descended the carriage steps.

Zelda produced a sympathetic smile and offered him a hand. “Here, let me help you.”

“Well, aren't you a gentleman?” Link asked playfully. However, Zelda just shot him a glare and he quickly took it back. “Sorry, you’re a very kind lady.”

“Hmm, how thoughtful of you to notice,” she mused.

He just laughed before accepting her hand and making his way to the ground. Once there, Zelda released him and allowed him to continue on his own. It was obvious that each step was still painful for the Hero, but he managed it well. He truly was courageous when he put his mind to it. And stubborn.

Zelda stood by Link’s side as they watched the guards sort through all the luggage. Eventually, they managed to deliver the Hero’s belongings to his feet. Now all that was left was to wait for his escort to arrive.

“Would you like me to fetch you a chair?” Zelda offered. “So you don’t have to keep standing?”

“No, I’m fine for now,” he assured her. “But I appreciate the thought.”

“You’re welcome.”

Link went silent as he eyed her for a moment. “You know, you don’t have to wait with me if you don’t want to.”

She just shook her head. “Nonsense. I won’t leave until I know that you’re safely on your way back home.”

“You sure?”

“Of course.”

Link just smiled to himself as he continued to stare at her. After a bit of hesitation, he spoke up again. “Zelda, can I tell you something?”

She turned to him with innocent eyes. “What is it?”

Again, he fell silent, and appeared a little bashful. “I just wanted to say that…I really appreciate you. In the time we’ve known each other, you’ve done so much for me.”

Zelda blinked, surprised at this heartfelt expression of gratitude. She wondered why he was saying this out of the blue. “We’ve done a lot for each other,” she reminded him.

“That’s exactly my point. I know that we constantly support each other, and that this probably goes without saying, but I truly want you to know just how grateful I am.”

Zelda watched him for a while before smiling. “Of course. You don’t have to say it, Link. I understand perfectly. After all, we’re friends, aren’t we?”

Upon hearing these words, Link gathered his courage and smiled back with confidence. Somehow, the Princess had easily surmised what he was trying to tell her. “Exactly, we’re friends. The two of us will always be friends.”

And then it struck her, like a clock marking the hour. Zelda felt her lips part open, as her eyes grew a bit sad. Unbeknownst to the Hero, that one single word had wedged its way into her heart, and now only served to torture her.

Always…

They would always be friends. Nothing more and nothing less.

“Zelda?” Link asked, suddenly looking a little concerned. “You okay?”

Zelda blinked, realizing that she had been looking rather distraught while she was stuck in her daze. She quickly went to apologize, but her words didn’t even get the chance to soar before the Hero’s attention was lured away.

A horse-drawn wagon pulled into the courtyard, with Rusl holding the reins. He rode right up to where Link and Zelda stood before coming to a halt. He flashed a meager smile down at the two of them.

“I heard someone got a little hurt,” he said, almost in a tease.

Link just smiled back. “It’s nothing I haven’t survived before,” he assured him.

“Glad to see you’re still in one piece,” Rusl said proudly. “And I hope you don't mind, but there’s someone who insisted on tagging along to collect you. She’s been-”

“Rusl, are we here?” a frantic and feminine voice interjected from the wagon. Before long, a blond head with beautiful green eyes appeared over the side. “Where’s Link? Is he-”

Ilia froze, her eyes falling on the Hero below her. With a big frown and eyes that threatened to tear up, she hopped off the wagon and tackled him into a tight embrace.

“Link!” she cried. “Are you okay? I heard you were hurt. Oh, please tell me that you’re all right.”

Link grunted from the force of her hug, but he soon laughed and smiled a bit. “Oof, I guess someone missed me, huh?”

“I was worried sick,” Ilia clarified before squeezing him harder. “Now will you please answer the question?”

Link winced at the pressure being applied to his middle. It suddenly felt very difficult to choke his words out. “Yeah, Ilia, I’m fine, but…you need to…not so tight!”

Zelda had been watching this reunion from the side, content to keep her thoughts to herself. However, for the Hero’s sake, she felt like she ought to step in at this moment. “Um, Ilia, try to be gentle with him. Link’s wound is on his chest.”

Ilia didn’t respond to her. Instead, she just furrowed her brow before pulling back a bit. “Show it to me,” she said, abruptly and adamantly.

“Show it to you?” Link repeated.

“The wound. Show me your wound.”
“Ilia, it’s already been bandaged up.”

“Show me,” she pleaded. And at this point, she really was on the brink of tears.

Link sighed, and for the sake of not causing her any further distress, lifted his tunic. Ilia just gasped as soon as she spotted his bandaged chest, and even worse, the faint spot of red where the wound was located. Even after a few days, the blood continued to leak.

“Link,” she whispered, feeling lost as she gently ran her fingers over the white strips. “Oh, you poor, poor thing…”

“I’m fine,” he tried to assure her again. “It was just a small stab. It wasn’t even that deep.”

“You’re wrong,” Ilia replied, sounding surprisingly bitter. “It’s not fine. Not at all.”

Link just gave her a curious look. He wasn’t sure that he had ever heard her sound so distraught before. “Ilia, what’s wrong?”

The girl simply shook her head, forcing her eyes to the ground. She soon clenched her fists, and it was clear that she was bottling something up inside.

Zelda bit her lip, wondering if she could say something to help lessen the girl’s stress. “Ilia, listen. Link was very brave and he was only trying to help-”

“How could you?”

Everyone went silent. The words were cold and icy, and in addition to an emerald glare, they were cast directly at the Princess.

“How could you, Princess?” Ilia murmured before taking a daring step towards her. “You…You keep putting him in these dangerous situations! You keep thinking that everything will be okay, but it’s not! I already told you, he’s not invincible! He still hurts. He still bleeds…”

Zelda felt her mouth fall open. She didn’t know what to say. “Ilia, I…”

But the girl just gave a curt shake of her head. And it was at this point that a single tear finally managed to spill out of those beautiful green eyes of hers. When she spoke again, it was perhaps the most heartbreaking thing that Zelda had ever heard.

“You broke your promise.”

Zelda closed her mouth, her eyes as wide as a frightened deer’s. She had nothing to say.

Ilia appeared as if she still had more bottled up inside. Her fists shook at her sides while her lips quivered. Nevertheless, she chose to hold her tongue. She soon shook her head for the final time before turning back to Link. “Come on, let’s get you home so you can rest,” she said, quiet as a mouse.

Link just blinked, glancing from Ilia to Zelda and then back again. By his expression, he had no idea what had just transpired between them, but he felt incredibly guilty about it. He tried to catch Zelda’s eyes so he could give her an apologetic look, but it was no use. For Zelda simply stared off into the distance, looking sorrowful, ashamed, and filled with remorse.

She had never felt more like a traitor in all her life.

Notes:

That’s kind of a somber note to end our 50th chapter on, but hey, this is just that sweet, delicious drama that I’m sure we all love so much. Eat it up while it’s fresh folks! And don’t worry, we’ve got more coming right up 😉

Anyways, wooooooo, I managed to make it to 50 chapters! Talk about a big milestone! Not only am I very proud of myself for making it this far, but I am incredibly grateful too. Thank you to all of you who have joined me on this journey. Thank you to all who read consistently with every new update. To those of you who share your thoughts in heartfelt comments. Your support honestly means the world to me, so thank you thank you thank you!

Also, apologies for making this story so dang long 😂 I mean, we’re 50 chapters in with no end in sight. This kind of feels like a problem, doesn’t it? Well, I want all of you to rest assured, and trust me when I say that I have everything from here to the end fully planned out! And I’ve even written out a number of future chapters too! I truly have every intention of finishing this story, and giving it the most natural and happy conclusion possible. So, if I could make the smallest request, it would be to humbly ask you to continue on this journey with me. I promise to deliver us all to the Zelink at the end!

Anyways, that’s enough rambling from me lol. Thank you all again, and have an awesome day!

Chapter 51: Consolation

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 51 – Consolation

“Of course, I promise to never let harm befall him.”

Words spoken in innocence, with only the best of intentions. And now, nothing more than an oath which had been shattered.

In the days following Ilia’s accusations and Link’s brusque departure, Zelda found herself wracked with guilt. She felt bad enough that Link had been wounded while trying to save her, but Ilia’s words truly forced her to realize the extent of her sins. She hadn’t just caused injury to Link. She had also caused Ilia a great deal of stress and unnecessary worry.

And this was after Zelda had specifically promised never to do so.

The Princess felt like a beast. A traitor. Someone who was cruel and selfish and didn’t care enough to keep their word. And worse yet, someone who needlessly placed her loved ones in danger. How could she have allowed this to happen?

“Maybe I should have just went into the Arbiter’s Grounds by myself,” Zelda admitted aloud one day. “Maybe then this wouldn’t have happened. Maybe then nobody would have gotten hurt.”

King Caius sighed from his bed. He and Zelda were currently in his bedchamber working through some legal documents when he insisted on knowing what was going on with her. She had been moping around the castle for days, and he was truly starting to worry. It had taken some prodding, but Zelda had finally confided in him, and now she appeared all the worse for it.

“Zelda,” Caius said softly. “Do not say things like that. Nobody at that camp would have wanted you to venture into that dungeon alone. Especially not Link.”

Zelda frowned, and only dared to glance at her father out of the corner of her eye. “How can you be so sure?”

Caius shook his head, as if his daughter was asking some ridiculous question. “Link is a righteous Hero. A man who always puts others before himself. And from what I understand, he’s a very close friend of yours. He would have never allowed you to face a horde of monsters alone.”

Zelda couldn’t help but question the confidence with which her father spoke. “Since when have you become so familiar with him?”

Caius simply chuckled. “Haven’t you heard? He comes to visit me from time to time and we get to talking. Trust me, Zelda, I know him well enough.”

She frowned some more, realizing that there was likely some truth in his words. Still, her remorse continued to cling to her heavy heart. “Maybe I should have just let him go alone then.”

Caius slowly shook his head as he signed another document. “I think you’re mistaken there as well, my dear.”

“But if I hadn’t been there, then Link wouldn’t have had to save me.”

“Zelda, you are misinterpreting what happened. Link didn’t have to do anything. He chose to save you, because you mean a lot to him.”

Zelda fell silent, stumped by this argument.

The King was quiet as well, taking a moment to dip his quill in the ink bottle before softly smiling. “No man risks his life to save another unless he absolutely wishes to. Remember this, Zelda. Link knew exactly what he was doing when he pushed you out of the way, and I guarantee that he doesn’t blame you for any of it.”

Zelda slowly nodded, recalling the Hero’s own words about how he was just happy to know that she was okay, and how upset he had been when Zelda prepared to sacrifice her life for his. Link had truly wanted nothing more than to spare her a gruesome fate. And yet, Zelda couldn’t allow these facts to console her. Not when Ilia’s bitter words still echoed in her ears.

“But I…I still deserved to be judged for my actions,” Zelda said quietly. “After all, Ilia-”

“Was upset that someone she loved got hurt,” Caius supplied effortlessly. “And when we’re upset, sometimes we can be overly harsh and say things that we don’t truly mean.”

Zelda scowled a bit, starting to tire of his attempts to comfort her. “Trust me, father, she meant every word. I could see it in her eyes. Hear it in her voice. She was so hurt because of what happened.”

To her surprise, Caius simply shrugged. “Then the blame should fall on Link and the Gerudo in addition to yourself. They are equally responsible for the accident that transpired. There is no reason for you to accept all of the blame yourself.”

Zelda lowered her eyes. She supposed that there was some truth in these words as well, but she found it hard to accept. “I still feel awful though.”

“Well, that’s to be expected. You did break a promise, after all. And someone you loved was hurt because of it. But as I’ve already said, when someone we love gets hurt, it causes us to be more harsh than we mean to. And that includes being too harsh to ourselves.” Here, he paused, and gave Zelda a long, knowing look. “And if I’ve ever known someone to be the worst offender of this, it would be you, my wonderful daughter.”

Zelda couldn’t help but crack a small smile. Finally, after much convincing, she was starting to see his point. “I suppose all of this self-blame doesn’t really help anything, does it?”

“I suppose it doesn’t,” Caius replied with a carefree shrug. “So what do you need to do?”

“I need to ask for forgiveness.”

“From whom?”

“Link and Ilia…” She paused. “And myself.”

Caius gifted her a grin that only a proud father could produce. “Very wise, Zelda. Now, do you feel a little better?”

“Yes,” she admitted, still smiling. She soon walked over and gave him a hug. “Thank you for the kind and helpful words, father. It truly means a lot.”

Caius just laughed as he tried to push her away. “Careful, Zelda, I’ve got ink and papers here!”

Zelda laughed a bit as well as she pulled back and helped set his workstation straight. Since the King was working from his bed, he always had to be careful not to spill ink or knock anything over. “Sorry about that.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble. I’m always happy to be here for you.” He took a moment to sigh in contentment before dipping his quill and moving on to his next paper. “Now, when will you be off?”

Zelda just blinked at the query. “Be off? To where?”

“Why, to visit the Hero, of course. I’m sure it would help if the two of you talked things out.”

“Oh…I’m not sure.”

Caius gave a small shake of his head. “Well, don’t wait too long. You and I both know that you won’t feel better until you see him again.”

Zelda slowly nodded. She couldn’t deny that her father had a point. Perhaps it would be best to make a quick trip down to Ordon and see how the Hero’s recovery was progressing. Not to mention, she would also have the chance to apologize and set everything right once and for all.

However, the situation wasn’t as simple as Caius made it out to be, for the Princess still had a separate conflict to confront. One that only made her heart ache every time it crossed her mind. Even now, she could still hear the Hero’s words echoing around in her head.

The two of us will always be friends…

When Zelda wasn’t consumed by her guilt, she couldn’t help but spend every remaining moment trying to interpret that line. What had the Hero meant by that? Was that their baseline? Was he saying that no matter what, they would at least be friends, and nothing less? Or was it the opposite, and “friends” was their limit? Was he saying that they would only be friends, and nothing more?

Zelda felt torn. She hated to admit it, but even after months of telling herself that it wasn’t meant to be, her heart still longed for the Hero. Yes, even at this very moment, her annoying little blood-pumper held a great desire in being together with him. To grow closer to him. To support him. To love him as more than a friend. 

But her mind was much more practical. More rational. It constantly reminded her that she didn’t have a chance with Link and that she just needed to keep doing her best to move on. After all, she had stressed this to herself hundreds of times. Link was together with Ilia, and he was happy. The Hero and the Princess were simply not meant to be.

They would always be friends.

As the days passed, Zelda did her best to swallow her depression and ignore the issues of her heart. She soon resorted to her favorite pastime for issues such as these: focusing all of her efforts on her duties as Princess. After all, she found that it was easier to work on rebuilding a ruined Kingdom rather than sort out her broken feelings.

But this could only go on for so long before Zelda couldn’t take it anymore. She realized that her father had been absolutely right. She couldn’t keep trying to deal with this conflict on her own. She needed to see Link again.

And so, she soon planned to make the journey down to Ordon Village.

 

---

 

Without a word, Ilia slowly and carefully finished wrapping the bandages around Link’s chest. Once they were nice and secure, she rubbed his shoulder a bit. “There, how do they feel?”

“They feel good,” he responded. “Thanks.”

It was evening in Ordon, with dark storm clouds looming overhead. Ever since Link’s return to the village, Ilia had been visiting every day in order to check up on him. And of course, since she was the villager with the most medical experience, she had taken it upon herself to continue the treatment of Link’s wound. She had just finished applying some healing salve to the injury before wrapping it up in fresh bandages.

Ilia soon handed Link his tunic, and he slipped it on over his bonds. “Good as new,” he said with a grin.

Ilia softly smiled at his joke before walking over to the stove in the kitchen. She inspected the stew that hung over the bright flame, and once she was satisfied, prepared two bowls. She walked back to Link and handed him one.

“This will help your strength return,” she insisted.

“Thanks again,” he said before gladly helping himself.

They ate in silence for a while, but eventually, Link couldn’t help but notice that Ilia’s expression seemed a little dismal. And this wasn’t the first time either. She had been looking like this a lot the last few days, and he felt like it was only ever at times when she didn’t think he would notice.

But he certainly noticed it now.

Link finished off his stew before turning to her with a frown. “Ilia, what’s the matter? You’re looking down again.”

She blinked a bit, surprised at having been caught, and nervously turned away. “I just…feel like I have a lot on my mind.”

Link blinked back. If he recalled correctly, he knew a certain Princess that liked to use that excuse a lot too. He soon reached over and placed his hand in hers. “If something is wrong, tell me.”

She managed to bring her eyes up to meet his, and soon sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just a little worried is all.”

“Worried? About what?”

“You, obviously…”

Link smiled a bit as he released a breath. “This again? Come on, Ilia, I already told you that this isn’t a big deal.”

“Maybe not to you, but I can’t help it, Link,” Ilia said softly. “It kills me to see you like this. To see you all broken and bandaged and barely able to move without hissing like a tea kettle.”

Link shook his head. As always, he felt that she was exaggerating. “I’m not broken. I’m just a little hurt and as I’ve already told you, I’ll survive.”

“But for how long?” Ilia questioned with accusing eyes. “You know that those who are reckless tend to die young.”

Link raised an eyebrow. “Who said anything about dying?”

“There’s always a chance,” she answered quietly. “Always a chance…that someday you won’t be fine, and that someday, you won’t come back…”

Link softly smiled before pulling Ilia into a hug. He rubbed her back a bit before speaking up in a gentle tone. “Trust me, you worry too much. I can handle anything that comes my way.”

Ilia nodded, but when her voice came out, it was still rather somber. “I have confidence in you, Link. I really do. I just…I get a little scared sometimes.”

“And that’s understandable,” Link assured her.

Ilia sniffed loudly before pulling out of Link’s embrace. She then stared into his steady blue eyes for a while. “Promise me that you’ll be more careful from now on?”

“I promise,” he said resolutely.

“That helps,” she said with a meager smile. She then took a second to wipe her eyes before any tears had a chance to sneak out. “Sorry about this. Sometimes I just think that you’d be better off if you didn’t do so much adventuring.”

This statement gave Link some pause. He soon frowned. “What do you mean?”

He almost expected Ilia to feel a little guilty as she explained herself, but to his surprise, she said her words with great conviction. “I wish that you’d stay here instead of running around so much. If your adventures are always going to be this dangerous, then I think it would be better if you just remained in Ordon. At least then I’ll always know that you’re safe.”

Link furrowed his brow. He had never imagined that Ilia might say something like this. “But Ilia, I can’t do that. I’m the Kingdom’s Hero.”

“Says the Princess…”

Link nearly gawked at how cold her voice sounded. If he didn’t know any better, he’d almost think that Ilia was being bitter! “People need me, Ilia. The Kingdom is counting on my cooperation. I’m doing a lot of good when I’m not in Ordon.”

Ilia was quiet for a while, but when she spoke up again, her words still sounded rather harsh. “Well, I hope that they appreciate it.”

Again, Link gawked. He felt like he had more to say, but he didn’t get the chance. Ilia grabbed their empty bowls without a sound and made her way to the kitchen in order to wash them. Link knew her well enough to realize that this was her way of saying “the conversation is over”.

Link crossed his arms as he leaned back in his seat. He wasn’t exactly pleased with how that discussion had went. In fact, he wasn’t happy at all. He understood that Ilia was worried about him, but why did she have to question his role? His position within the Kingdom? Didn’t she realize that he enjoyed his work? That he was happy to serve others and was willing to do whatever it took to make improvements? He truly believed that there were people out there who needed him. Relied on him. And not as Link the ranch hand, but as Link, the Hero of Twilight. So what if he wound up in a dangerous situation from time to time? He could never turn his back on the people who needed him, ever.

Just then, a low rumble sounded overhead. Link frowned before glancing out the nearby window. Sure enough, the gray clouds were growing blacker by the minute, and there was an awful gale whipping through the air. A storm was approaching.

Link cradled his side as he rose to his feet and made his way over to Ilia. He soon placed a hand on her shoulder, halting her dishwashing for a moment.

“Let me finish up here,” he told her. “You ought to get going.”

She deeply frowned and went to argue. “What? No, Link, I’ve got it-” 

But Link was having none of it. “There’s a bad storm coming. If you don’t leave soon, there’s a good chance you’ll get caught up in it.”

Ilia glanced outside and she could see that he was right. It would likely start pouring before too long. Her eyes found her way back to the Hero. “You’ll be okay here?”

“Do you really need me to say it again?” he teased her. “I’ll be fine.”

Ilia couldn’t help but smile. Link took her wet hands in his and pulled her in for a quick kiss. He then released her and handed her a towel to dry off.

“Thanks,” she murmured. Once her hands were clean, she made her way to the front door. “I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?”

“Looking forward to it,” he replied. They both smiled.

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

And with that, Ilia took her leave, bracing herself against the harsh winds before closing the door behind her. Link then faced the sink, leaning against the counter to support himself. He picked up the dishwashing where Ilia had left off, and after a few minutes of humming and listening to the low rumble of thunder overhead, he finished. He then smiled with pride.

See? I can handle myself just fine, he thought. Ilia clearly worries too much.

Just then, there came a sudden knock on the front door. Link glanced over, wondering who could possibly have come to visit him. With the storm about to start any minute, he figured that no one would be out and about.

“Ilia, did you forget something?” he asked as he walked over and opened the door. He then paused, startled by the sight of such an unexpected face. “What the…? Zelda?”

A strong gust of wind blew through the trees, and the Princess had to take a moment to brush her hair out of her face. She then gave the Hero a long, silent stare. “Hello, Link,” she eventually mumbled.

“Hello…” he replied slowly and awkwardly. “Um, what are you doing here?”

Zelda simply frowned, looking a little guilty. “Forgive me for the sudden intrusion. Is this a bad time?”

The Hero blinked, only now realizing how badly he had forgotten his manners. “What? Oh, no! Now is perfectly fine. Please, come in.”

Link stepped aside and Zelda timidly entered his home. Link then used both hands to slam the door shut against the howling wind which was fighting to enter along with her. The gale died with a ceremonious whistle.

“Phew,” Link breathed, relieved to have the storm relegated to the outside once more. He then turned to his unexpected companion. “Sorry for greeting you with such shock. I just didn’t expect you to show up out of the blue like this.”

Zelda slowly nodded, showing that she understood. “The fault lies with me. I decided to come and visit on a whim. I hope that’s okay.”

“Oh, of course. You’re always welcome here,” Link assured her. He then took a moment to eye her up and down. “Did you come all the way from the castle?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Alone?”

“It was just Reina and I.”

“In the middle of this storm?”

“The weather was peaceful throughout most of the day. It only started getting dark and windy just an hour ago. Fortunately, I made it here before it truly started.”

“‘Fortunate’ is putting it lightly,” Link said with a shake of his head. “It looks like it’s going to be pretty bad. Did you leave Reina outside?”

“I left her beneath the trees next to Epona,” Zelda explained. “I assume she’ll be okay there?”

Link nodded. He had a small alcove next to his home that was protected by the cliffs and trees. It was the perfect shelter for Epona when the weather turned miserable. And fortunately, there was more than enough room to share. “Yeah, the two of them should stay dry and warm enough. And of course, I’m sure that Epona will appreciate the company.”

Zelda allowed herself a smile. “Good.”

“So,” Link said, walking into his den and inviting Zelda to do the same. They both took a seat. “Tell me, how’d you manage to sneak away on a surprise trip to Ordon without any guards?”

She shrugged. “I told my father and a few servants that I was leaving, and then I did.”

“Does Fost know that you’re here?”

“Does he need to?”

Link couldn’t help but smirk. “No, I suppose not.”

“Then let’s keep this a secret between you and I,” Zelda said resolutely.

Link just laughed. “Fine. So tell me, what brings you all the way down here? I’m happy to see you, of course, but I assume there’s a reason for why you went to all this trouble?”

Zelda smiled a bit. Of course, her actions almost always had a practical reason behind them, and it seemed that Link understood this well.

“I wanted to come and visit you, to see how your recovery is going. And, well…” She paused, allowing her smile to fade. “I also wanted to apologize, to you and Ilia both.”

“Apologize?” Link asked with a raised eyebrow. “Whatever for?”

“For putting you in a situation where you were injured,” Zelda said firmly. “And for causing Ilia so much grief.”

Link gave her a cruious look. “Whoever said that all of that was your fault?”

Zelda shook her head. “I…just feel responsible for what has transpired.”

Link slowly exhaled before producing a sympathetic smile. He supposed that he couldn’t blame Zelda for feeling this way. After all, he still recalled how Ilia had harshly reprimanded the Princess back at the castle, assigning all of the blame to her. Personally, Link had thought nothing of the sort, but for Zelda, the guilt must have been weighing on her. She was probably being too hard on herself, just as she always was.

“Zelda, you don’t have to apologize to me. I don’t blame you for what happened. Besides, it’s all in the past now. I survived, and I only did so with your help, if you recall.”

Zelda produced a weak smile. She wasn’t surprised in the slightest. Somehow, she knew that this would be Link’s position on the matter. However, there was still someone else who had a voice in this discussion, and her words weighed heavily on Zelda’s heart.

“And Ilia?” she asked softly.

Link just sighed and started to shake his head. “I wouldn’t worry about her. She and I have already talked through what happened and she’s come to accept it for what it is.”

Zelda frowned, feeling unsatisfied with this answer. “She was very upset though. I feel like I ought to apologize regardless.”

“Honestly, I think it would be better to not bring it up at all,” Link said with a look of doubt. “She gets so depressed whenever it comes up. I think it might be best to just let it go and move on. That’s probably what she prefers too.”

Zelda nervously bit her lip. “But…I don’t want her to be upset with me.”

“Why would she be upset with you?” Link questioned. “I mean, I know that she kind of scolded you back at the castle, but she didn’t really mean it. I think she was just worried and lost herself in the moment. It’s not often that she gets to see me all bandaged up like this.”

Zelda deeply frowned as her eyes fell to the floor. Did Link really insist that Ilia hadn’t meant what she had said? Zelda honestly couldn’t believe that for a second. She could still hear the conviction in the girl’s voice. Still see the frustration in her eyes. No, Zelda was positive that Ilia had meant every word in that moment.

“I deserved that scolding,” Zelda said solemnly. She then quickly raised a hand before Link had a chance to argue. “You see, I made a promise to Ilia that I would never let harm befall you while you continued your work as a Hero. So it truly is understandable that Ilia became upset with me after hearing of what happened to you. I was supposed to keep you safe, and yet you ended up injured all the same, and now I am nothing more than an oath-breaker.”

Link frowned, staying quiet for a long time. When he finally spoke, it was his turn to sound a little upset. “But Zelda, that’s not your fault. The Gerudo asked me to go into the Arbiter’s Grounds and I happily volunteered. If anything, the blame lies with me.”

“Then I should never have made the promise in the first place,” Zelda responded. “What good is an oath if you can’t keep it?”

Link shook his head. “Nonsense. I’m sure you only made that promise with the best of intentions. You had no way of knowing that things would turn out the way that they did.”

“But I could have done better,” Zelda insisted. “I could’ve prevented this from happening. Link, you were only injured because you saved me-”

“And then you saved me!” Link suddenly declared. “Have you forgotten so soon? How you stopped the bleeding and ruined your clothes and protected me all through the night? And then how you got me back to the Gerudo’s camp and defended me from that woman and stayed by my side through another night just to keep me safe? Because I certainly haven’t!”

Zelda just blinked, feeling speechless. “Link…”

“You don’t owe me anything, Zelda,” Link said adamantly. “Not after all of the kindness you’ve shown me. Now please, stop torturing yourself with the past. I can’t stand to see you like this.”

Zelda gulped, her throat suddenly feeling dry and scratchy. She could hardly resist the power of the Hero’s plea. The desperate look in his deep blue eyes. The humble request from one friend to another. How could she possibly insist on continuing her misery when he was practically begging her not to?

“V-Very well,” she eventually choked out. “But Link, Ilia is still-”

“I’ll take care of it,” he said with a firm nod. He then grinned a bit, showing a surprising amount of confidence. “Trust me, I know Ilia better than anyone else. Sure, she’s worried right now, but I’ll comfort her. And as I’ve already said, if anyone is to blame for this, it should be me. So I’ll go and beg for her forgiveness a thousand times if I have to.”

Zelda gave him a look of guilt. She hated having to shift all of these issues onto him. “Link, are you sure?”

“Positive,” he replied without even thinking about it.

Zelda continued to wrestle with her emotions for a moment, but she soon chose to submit. She realized that she was no match for the Hero. Not when he spoke like this. He was her weakness and he had used his compassion against her without remorse. A flawless victory.

In the end, Zelda conjured a small smile that somehow carried the enormous weight of her gratitude along with it. “You are far too kind.”

“That’s what friends are for,” he replied simply.

Zelda just gave a small nod as the conversation came to a close.

Friends. Yes, that is what they were. And perhaps that was all she really needed.

Notes:

Hmm…Link’s being awfully protective of Zelda here. And he’s protecting her from his own girlfriend, no less. Hmm…it would seem that the affection runs deep…

Chapter 52: Weathering the Storm

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 52 – Weathering the Storm

After a brief moment of silence, Zelda found the courage to speak up again, this time in a lighter tone. “Well, if you won’t let me apologize, can I at least inquire about your recovery?”

Link just laughed, letting any tension drain away from the conversation completely. “I’ve been doing well. Thanks for asking.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile. “Are you still in pain?”

“It’s not as bad as before. The bleeding has stopped completely and now it really only hurts whenever I move around. Thankfully, Ilia has been coming by to check up on me every day. And slowly but surely, I’m getting better.”

“I’m happy to hear that,” Zelda said with a sincere nod. “I hope you continue to recover smoothly. Oh, and Link? Please don’t feel like you have to rush your healing so that you can make a swift return to the castle. I want your health to come first and foremost.”

Link just frowned. Admittedly, he had been hoping to speed up his recovery so that he could return to his heroic duties sooner. However, he had never mentioned anything of the sort out loud. He wondered how Zelda had picked up on that.

“What if I’m needed?” Link asked quietly.

“There is nothing that needs doing until you are fit to make a proper return,” Zelda assured him. “And should anything come up in your absence, I will gladly handle it myself.”

Naturally, Link was quick to argue. “But I don’t want you to be burdened-”

“It will be my pleasure,” Zelda said with a firm shake of her head. “And trust me, Link, I think you’ve done enough for this Kingdom to have earned yourself a little time to relax. Take care of yourself and continue to focus on your recovery. When you have completely healed, I will happily call on your talent once again.”

Link frowned some more, looking a little displeased with this outcome. Nevertheless, he soon sighed in defeat. “Very well. But please don’t overwork yourself trying to cover for me. Then I’d have to recite your own speech back to you.”

Zelda playfully smirked. “Hmph, and when have I ever needed a taste of my own medicine?”

“You’re joking, right?” Link asked flatly.

She simply giggled. “Perhaps we’ll just leave it at that then.”

The two of them sat there in silence for a moment, content to enjoy each other’s company. However, the moment was soon torn asunder as a great crash of thunder roared overhead. Link and Zelda froze in unison before glancing out the window. By this point, the sun had set, and it was pitch black outside. They couldn’t see a thing, and yet, for all the lack of vision there was certainly no lack of sound. The wind was tearing through the trees, bellowing a ghostly wail as it passed. The rain was coming down in droves, pounding the windows like a never-ending drumbeat. And of course, the horrible thunder continued to growl and curse the very skies.

“The storm’s begun,” Link noted quietly.

“Oh shoot,” Zelda cursed as she rose to her feet. “I was hoping to find lodging before it got this bad. Oh well, there’s no avoiding it now.”

Link just shot her a curious look. “Wait, you’re not thinking of going out in that storm, are you?”

She nodded as if it was obvious. “Of course. Mayor Bo said that he’d be happy to house me any time that I choose to visit Ordon, so I was planning to stay there for the night.”

This time, Link stared at her as if she was crazy. “Zelda, don’t be ridiculous. Bo’s house is on the other side of town. You can’t go out into that fierce storm and walk all the way there.”

Zelda simply shook her head before making her way to the door. “It can’t be helped. It’s my fault for staying here so long. And oh, I should’ve thought to bring my cloak…”

Link clenched his teeth and rose to his feet in frustration. He hissed a bit as the pain in his side flared up, but he ignored it. Instead, he focused on grabbing Zelda by the wrist, halting her before she did anything foolish.

“Zelda, stop,” he commanded her. “You can’t go out there.”

“But Link-”

“You can stay here tonight.”

Zelda froze, her eyes growing large. She had not expected him to say something like this, and with such conviction no less. “You…You wish to host me for the evening?”

“Of course,” he said, finally letting go of her wrist. “I have plenty of room here, and besides, it’s better than letting you walk out into that storm where you’ll only get cold, drenched, and possibly sick.”

Zelda bit her lip as she hesitated. She had to admit, he had a good point. “I…don’t want to be a bother,” she said sheepishly.

Link just rolled his eyes. “What did you say earlier about not needing your own medicine? I swear, sometimes you’re worse than me.”

Again, she realized that Link had a point. “You’re right,” Zelda admitted. “Forgive me. I’d be happy to stay here if you’ll have me.”

“Ah, even the most stubborn of horses manages to see reason,” Link said, playfully quoting one of their conversations from long, long ago. Zelda shot him a look, but he just laughed and turned away. “Come on, I’ll build up the fire so that we can warm up. And if you’re hungry, I can make you something.”

“No, I’m fine, thank you,” Zelda answered modestly. “Is it okay if I sleep on your couch?”

Link just paused before glancing back at her. “What? Don’t be silly. You can take my bed.”

Zelda paused as well. She soon frowned and waved her hands in dismissal. “Oh, no, Link, I couldn’t possibly do that.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Why not? You’re my guest. By the rules of common courtesy, the bed is yours.”

“But Link, you’re still injured and recovering,” Zelda reminded him. “I couldn’t possibly take away your comfy bed from you.”

“But I’m insisting upon it.”

“And I’m politely refusing.”

Link and Zelda simultaneously shot each other a frown. In an instant, they both realized that their time of arguing was far from finished, and that they likely had a long night ahead of them.

“You’re royalty,” Link said with a furrowed brow. “You deserve a proper place to rest.”

“The couch will do fine,” she answered back.

“The couch is hardly comfortable.”

“All the more reason for me to take it instead of you.”

“Zelda, I can fall asleep just about anywhere. You take the bed.”

Zelda crossed her arms as she allowed her frustration to boil within her. She may have conceded many arguments today, but she was not about to lose this one. “Link Ordona,” she seethed. “If you think that I’m about to take an injured man’s bed away from him, then you’re out of your mind.”

Link just scowled at the use of his full name. “And you’re crazy if you think that I’m going to let a Princess sleep on that old couch.”

“As if that’s such a big deal. You asked me to sleep in a chair next to your bedside at the Gerudo camp.”

“All the more reason to not have you do it again. I owe you for that time.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I was doing you a favor.”

Link clenched fists and teeth alike. Much like Zelda, he was reaching the end of his rope, and he was not about to take no for an answer. “Listen to me, Zelda Hyrule, and listen well. This is my house, and as long as you’re staying here as my guest, then you’re getting the bed. And that’s final.”

Zelda nearly stomped the floor as she balled her own hands into fists. Link was being particularly stubborn tonight, and she was far from pleased. On the cusp of losing her nerve, a sudden idea came to mind. One that just might be drastic enough to settle the matter entirely.

“Oh, this is ridiculous!” Zelda scoffed. “Keep your bed. I’ll just go to Bo’s house after all.”

Link gave her a grave look. “Oh no you're not.”

“Watch me.” Without another word, she turned, nearly whipping the Hero with her braid as it snapped behind her. She then strode right up to the front door and wrenched it open.

She regretted it almost immediately.

An icy gale tore through her, flying into the humble home and rattling Link’s possessions. The Princess had to raise an arm up just to brace herself against it. Then came the rain. So powerfully was it flying at her that it almost felt as if she were standing at the deck of a ship, challenging massive waves and sea spray. Her arms and face quickly became damp.

It was apparent that this storm was not one to be fought, but the Princess was nothing if not stubborn. She soon brought her foot forward, trying her best to take a shaky step against the terrible wind and wet. But it was no use. The gale was so powerful that it actually forced her to take a step back, and Zelda soon had to raise both arms just to shield herself from the never-ending assault of droplets.

It was at this point that the wind suddenly changed direction, running perpendicular to the entrance. Naturally, it was no less powerful, and Link’s old wooden door began to rattle; shaking so hard that it threatened to break free of its hinges until it unexpectedly and resolutely slammed shut. Right in the Princess’s face, no less.

The house fell silent. The storm was trapped outside once again.

Zelda finally lowered her arms, and dared a glance back at Link. The Hero just stared at her with the most smug “I told you so” look that she had ever seen.

“You were saying?” he asked casually.

Zelda was at a loss for words. She let her shoulders fall as she turned back to the door. She could hardly believe that it had slammed shut before she had even been able to take a single step forward. How was she supposed to argue with that? It was almost as if the Goddesses themselves were forcing the Princess to remain here. And if that was the case, then who was she to contend with their will?

“I guess I’m spending the night here,” Zelda said in defeat.

“I guess you are,” Link agreed with a grin. He then allowed his expression to soften with sympathy as he gazed upon her. He could see that she was still wet from the rain that had assaulted her, and she even seemed to be on the verge of shivering. “Come on,” he continued. “I’ll build up the fire. You just pull up a chair and get warm.”

“Okay,” she agreed weakly. It seemed that the full force of the storm had practically doused the fire in her heart. She no longer had any fight left in her. Following Link’s instructions, she drew a chair up and watched as he threw a few logs into his fireplace. The flames grew big and bright.

Once that was done, Link handed Zelda a towel to dry off with. He then took a seat in the chair next to hers and allowed himself to warm up. As they sat in silence, the storm continued to rage outside. But this moment was peaceful regardless. Here, there were two friends, watching the orange flames dance the night away.

“I’m sorry,” Zelda eventually mumbled. “I shouldn't have walked away from our discussion like that.”

Link smirked. “Well, it was brave, I’ll give you that.”

“Brave and foolish,” Zelda clarified. “Nobody in Hyrule can face that storm head-on. It seems that we’re both stuck here tonight.”

“So it seems,” he agreed. “So I suppose that we’ll have to finish our discussion and determine who is taking the bed.”

The Princess slowly nodded. Once again, she didn’t feel like she had the energy to fight anymore. However, if there was one thing that she did have, it was cunning, and she was not afraid to play this hand of hers. She subtly smirked, but only to herself.

“How about a compromise?” she suddenly suggested. “I want you to take the bed and rest until it’s time to retire for the night. After that, I’ll take it for myself.”

Link eyed her warily. He was certainly cautious of her change in tone, almost as if it contained some sort of trickery, but he was more curious than anything else. “You want me to take the bed first?”

Zelda gave him a strong nod. “I’ll feel better if I know that you’re getting some rest. Even if it’s only for a couple of hours.”

Link stared at her for a moment longer, but soon frowned and shook his head. “Come on, that’s not really necessary. I feel perfectly fine just sitting here.”

“Please?” she pleaded softly. She even went out of her way to flash her bright sapphire eyes at him. “I can’t stand the thought of causing you discomfort. Not when you’re still injured. So will you please accept my compromise? It’s my only condition.”

Link frowned, and quickly found himself cracking under that sincere gaze of hers, just as he always did. “You’ll take the bed after me?” he asked seriously.

“As soon as you’re done with it,” she replied, choosing her words carefully.

Link sighed, but soon smiled. At last, they had reached a conclusion. “Okay. I’ll agree to it.”

Zelda gave him a warm smile, one that hid a sliver of triumph beneath it. “Thank you.” She then rose to her feet, and gestured to the loathsome bed that rested a few feet away. “Now go ahead and climb in. I don’t want you to waste a second of your well-deserved comfort.”

Link playfully rolled his eyes. “You’re exaggerating, you know that?” But he stood as well and cradled his wound until he finally reached his mattress. There, he gratefully lay down and began to relax again.

Zelda just gave him a soft smile before grabbing the blanket and bringing it up to his chest. She wanted to make sure he was nice and cozy. Which, admittedly, he was. Link released a long, content sigh as he allowed himself to sink into his sheets. This honestly felt so good. He was still close enough to the fire to feel its warmth, but it wasn’t overwhelming. And the softness of his bed did wonders for his wound, which had ceased its aching as soon as he ceased his movement.

Zelda stood over him, watching as a protective mother might. “Are you relaxed?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” he admitted.

Her smile turned playful. “Then how about a proper ‘thank you’?”

“Thank you for your generosity, Zelda. This is really nice.”

“You’re welcome, Link.”

The Hero continued to rest while Zelda returned to her seat in front of the fire. But they were still rather close. Close enough to touch, should they desire such a thing.

Link turned to her without raising his head from the pillow. “I’m happy you decided to stay tonight.”

Zelda smiled pleasantly. “Me too.”

Link then laughed to himself a bit.  “It’s funny. Between here and the Gerudo camp, it feels like you and I have been sleeping together a lot lately.”

Pure, utter, horrific silence. One that lasted far too long before the Hero realized what exactly he had just said.

“Er…sorry, that’s not what I m-”

“Forget it,” Zelda mumbled, blushing just as much as he. “I…know what you meant.”

“R-Right,” he stuttered awkwardly. Man, he could be such an idiot sometimes.

For the sake of moving on, Zelda cleared her throat and stood once more. “Ahem. If it’s all right with you, how about I make us a pot of tea?”

Link gave her a blank stare. “Oh, that’s okay. You don’t have to do that for me.”

“I want to,” she insisted quietly.

“But Zelda, you’re my guest. If anything, I should be the one-”

“Shhh,” she silenced him with a soft hiss. “Link, it’s a simple pot of tea. I think I can handle it. And besides, I want you to keep relaxing. Now please, this will just take a moment.”

Link wanted to argue, but he found it hard to do so against the sheer kindness of his close friend, so he simply said nothing. Zelda took that as acceptance, and moved into the small kitchen area next to the fire. It didn’t take her long to get a kettle boiling over the flames and she soon added the tea leaves. Within minutes, the concoction was steamy and smelling delicious. Zelda grabbed two mugs from Link’s cupboard and set them on the counter. She then filled each mug to the top with the lovely warm beverage.

However, she hesitated to serve the drinks, for she was not completely finished. Not quite yet.

With a mischievous smirk, Zelda bowed her head and closed her eyes, all while nonchalantly swirling a hand over one of the mugs. As always, she beseeched the Goddesses to lend her their power.

Oh, great golden Goddesses above, please aid me in providing our Hero with the rest that he does not want but desperately needs.

She soon felt the magic leave her palm, a surefire sign that the spell had taken effect. She dared a glance back at the Hero to ensure that he hadn’t noticed anything. Fortunately, he was staring at his ceiling, none the wiser. Zelda had to fight hard to conceal her smirk before grabbing the mugs and turning around.

“Here you are,” she said, making sure to hand the Hero a very specific mug.

Link sat up, taking the steaming cup in hands. “Thank you,” he said with a grateful nod.

“Consider it thanks for letting me stay here tonight.”

“It’s no trouble,” Link said before blowing on his tea. Zelda did the same, eyeing him closely. It wouldn’t be long now…

After the tea cooled a bit, the two friends brought the mugs to their lips and took a hearty draught. Zelda smiled as the beverage warmed her up from the inside out. Link, on the other hand, grimaced before barely managing to swallow.

“Mmph,” he grunted, furrowing his brow and looking displeased. “Um, Zelda?” he asked slowly.

“Yes, Link?” came her innocent reply.

“What kind of tea did you brew, exactly?”

“I just used what you had on the counter. The generic Ordon tea.”

Link’s brow fell harder as he stared at his mug. “This doesn’t quite taste like Ordonian tea.”

“Really?” Zelda asked, keeping a perfect poker face. “I think mine tastes delightful. Maybe take another sip?”

Link seemed hesitant, but he figured it would be rude to refuse her. After all, she had went to all the trouble of making it. He braced himself and took another sip, but he just cringed once more as he swallowed. It tasted bitter, almost like a foul medicine. And it was hardly comforting.

Still, he watched as Zelda happily continued to sip her own without issue. And surely she had poured their beverages from the same kettle. Perhaps he was simply overreacting?

Third time’s the charm, he thought with a daring shrug. He forced another mouthful down his throat.

Okay, this time, he was convinced. There was something seriously wrong here.

Link raised his eyes just in time to catch Zelda glancing at him, although she quickly looked away, as if playing coy. Link grimaced some more as he ran his tongue over his teeth, trying to determine what exactly had happened to make this brew so ghastly. And of course, he was growing more suspicious of the Princess by the second.

“Zelda, did you put something in this?” he finally asked.

“Whatever do you mean?” Zelda replied, as quietly and innocently as possible. Link could’ve sworn she even batted her eyelashes too. A surefire sign that she was hiding something.

“You put something in this, didn’t you?” he challenged again. He then paused, feeling his movements slow and his eyelids grow heavy. An involuntary yawn escaped him. With lazy yet frustrated eyes, Link suddenly realized what was happening.

“Zelda…don’t tell me you…you…”

He couldn’t even get the words out. Zelda just smirked as she watched the Hero’s eyes close completely, and he swayed for a bit. Using her agile reflexes, she reached over and swiped the mug out of his hand just before he fell backwards, his head landing on the pillow with the softest thud imaginable.

Link was out like a light.

Zelda grinned her victorious grin, and happily walked back to the kitchen to pour the “poisoned” remnants of the Hero’s beverage down the drain. She finished off her own tea before setting the mug aside and returning to the foot of the bed. There, she admired her success. Link would be getting a full night’s rest in his comfortable bed, whether he wanted to or not.

The Princess simply beamed with pride. She really was clever sometimes.

Zelda took a moment to brush some of Link’s hair out of his face and readjust his pillow. She made certain that he was properly tucked in as well and wouldn’t be left desiring warmth. Once she was satisfied, she moved around the home, dousing the lamps one by one until only the light of the fireplace remained. After such a successful ploy, it was time for her to retire as well.

Zelda fetched a spare blanket, kicked off her boots, and relaxed herself on the couch. Sure enough, it was fairly rigid. Hardly comfortable at all. And yet, she knew it would suffice.

She would do anything to grant her Hero this kindness.

As time passed, the fire died down, its orange glow becoming faint and soft. Outside, the rush of wind, rain, and occasional thunder reminded the Princess of the storm’s presence, but she paid it no mind. In this moment, all she could think of was her time spent with the Hero, and the countless words they had exchanged.

Naturally, her mind drifted to the most contentious discussion of the night. She recalled how badly they had bickered back and forth, both being too selfless to allow the other to suffer something as mild as discomfort. Zelda couldn’t help but smile to herself. As if the two of them hadn’t endured far worse during the Twilight Invasion. But then again, they had both fought hard to prevent that too.

Still, it was odd, Zelda thought. She was fairly certain that she and Link had never bickered with each other before. Argued? Yes. Teased and made playful comments? Absolutely. But never bicker.

Strangely enough, it had almost felt…kind of fun.

 

---

 

The next morning, Link opened his groggy eyes with great difficulty and forced himself to sit up. He blinked a few times, glancing around his home. It was currently dawn, and the golden sunlight was streaming through his windows. The birds outside were happily chirping their morning song. It seemed that the previous night’s storm had finished passing them by.

But Link didn’t care about any of that. Instead, his tired blue eyes lasered in on his mischievous guest, who was happily sitting at his kitchen table, enjoying a piece of toast.

When Zelda noticed his glare, she greeted him with a bright and casual smile. “Good morning.”

Naturally, Link wasn’t having any of it. “Why aren’t you in my bed?” he asked bluntly.

Zelda raised her eyebrows as her smile turned playful. “Oh my, what a question to ask a lady…”

“Stop speaking like the Gerudo,” Link snapped. “You know what I mean.”

This time, Zelda tried to appear innocent. “Well, Link, I couldn’t just move you after you dozed off like that. And you appeared so comfortable too…”

Link produced a grumpy frown, throwing his blanket aside before rising to his feet with a grunt. Cradling his side as always, he stormed over to her, feeling as powerful as the previous night’s typhoon. “That wasn’t fair,” he hissed through his teeth. “You told me that you would take the bed after I was finished.”

“And yet you never finished.”

“I-” Link paused, feeling incredibly frustrated. How had he been fooled so easily like that? Then again, he should’ve known who he was dealing with…

With a defeated sigh, Link shook his head and collapsed into the chair across from her. He crossed his arms as he continued to eye the femme fatale in question. “That was a dirty trick you pulled last night. I’m not even sure what you did, but I know it was dirty.”

Zelda shrugged, as if unconcerned with his accusations. “I suppose I’ll just have to keep my methods a secret then.”

Link scowled as his thoughts drifted back to that bitter tea of hers. “Fine. But just know that I’m never drinking anything that you’ve prepared ever again.”

“Fair enough. But how about some toast?”

When Link’s stomach growled, they both knew that this was the sign of total defeat. Link dropped his glare. Uncrossed his arms. His shoulders sunk low. There was basically nothing left to be said.

“I’ll get you back for this,” he mumbled before accepting his breakfast.

“We’ll see,” was all she said back.

 

---

 

Once breakfast was finished, the time came for Zelda to take her leave. The Princess fetched her white mare, who seemed more than a little pleased to see her rider. Zelda giggled at her surprisingly enthusiastic approach.

“Sorry for leaving you out in that storm, Reina,” she apologized. “Did you and Epona keep each other warm at least?”

Reina snorted. From somewhere behind her, the chestnut mare whinnied. Zelda giggled again. Both Hero and Princess were fortunate to have such wonderful steeds.

Zelda made sure that she had all her belongings and soon mounted Reina. The time had come to make the long journey back to Hyrule Castle. However, before she took off, she glanced to her side to find the Hero standing at the landing in front of his door. He had his arms crossed and was leaning against the frame, but opposed to his earlier expression, this time he was smiling.

Zelda chose to smile back. “Thank you for hosting me for the night, Link. It was a pleasure.”

“And thanks for coming to visit me,” he replied. “Although, I think you might have caused me more trouble than it was worth.”

“On the contrary, I believe you awoke this morning looking more refreshed than ever before,” she pointed out.

He just shook his head while she laughed. He refused to give her any more satisfaction than what she had already plundered.

“If you don’t mind, tell all of the villagers that I said ‘hello’,” Zelda requested kindly. “And of course, give Ilia my warmest regards.”

“I will,” he promised, still intending to smooth everything out between them. “Oh, and Zelda?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, okay?”

Zelda simply blinked, surprised by the sincerity in his words. She couldn’t help but feel a little bashful as she glanced down. Sometimes it was difficult to accept just how well he knew her. And how he always seemed to know which words she needed to hear at just the right time.

“I won’t,” came her eventual reply. She then raised her head resolutely. “I'll…see you again soon.”

The Hero softly smiled. “Yeah, see you soon, Zelda.”

With a final nod, Zelda tore her eyes away from him and snapped the reins. Reina took off, leaving the Hero and his home behind them. And throughout the entire journey to Hyrule Field, Zelda simply could not stop smiling to herself.

She had originally come to Ordon with a heavy heart, but now she felt as light as a feather.

 

---

 

The journey back to the castle took up most of the day, but Zelda managed to arrive by late afternoon. The guards allowed her to ride through the front gate and she proceeded to drop off Reina at the stable. From here, she slowly made her way back to the front doors, all while releasing a sigh. After riding all of yesterday and today, she was rather tired. She hoped to spend a quiet evening in her chambers before diving back into her Princess duties tomorrow.

However, her dream of a quiet evening alone was shattered as soon as she entered the castle’s halls. One of the guards immediately recognized her, and almost appeared as if he had seen a ghost.

“Pr-Princess Zelda!” the man stuttered while his spear rattled in his hand. “You’ve returned! Minister Fost, come quick. The Princess has returned!”

Zelda gave the man a curious look, but her confusion only grew worse as the mentioned Minister ran up to her from the edge of her vision, looking pained and out of breath.

“Pr-Princess,” he gasped between breaths. “Thank the Goddesses you’ve returned. Where have you been?”

Zelda continued to eye him for a moment. She wasn’t surprised that Fost had been concerned for her whereabouts, but something about this encounter felt a little…off. Almost as if he was being a bit more serious than usual.

“I journeyed to Ordon Village for a night,” she explained patiently. “Is something the matter?”

Fost managed to get his breathing under control, only for his expression to turn grim. He produced a soft yet sad frown. “Yes, I regret to inform you of this, but I’m afraid it’s very serious. You see, in your absence, there has been an emergency.”

Zelda felt her heart sink. “An emergency?”

“It’s your father.”

Notes:

This chapter was so much fun to write. I love it when Zelink is stubborn. And they look out for each other more than themselves. And when they have to resort to trickery to get their way in the end. It’s always such a pleasure to write something so sweet and fun for these selfless fools :)

Oh, and feel free to ignore that last line. I’m sure it’s nothing…

Chapter 53: Letters, Treasures, and Troubles

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 53 – Letters, Treasures, and Troubles

“Princess!” Fost called from somewhere behind her. “Princess, please wait!”

“No,” she said stubbornly, continuing her frantic stride forward. “I need to see him.”

Fost yelled something back, but Zelda didn’t hear him. She was barely even listening. Her entire mind was solely focused on her father. Even now, her eyes were wide with terror and refused to blink. She could hardly believe what the Minister had told her.

The King had suffered a heart attack on the night of the storm.

Zelda gulped, doing her best to subdue her fear. She needed answers. More details. But no, she knew that she would get those soon enough. What she truly needed in this moment was to see her father.

She strode into the infirmary, only to find several maids there working as assistant nurses. They all turned to her with looks of shock and sympathy.

“Where is he?” she asked, her voice surprisingly hoarse.

The room fell silent, many of them looking too nervous to speak. Thankfully, Doctor Roswald appeared, stepping forward with a raised hand to block the Princess’s path.

“Your Highness,” he said in a calm and quiet voice. “Please keep your voice low. His Majesty is resting in the back.”

Zelda felt her lip quiver as she glanced over to the curtain which partitioned the separate room. Her eyes nearly threatened to well up with tears. It was as she feared. Her father was no longer resting comfortably in his bed. He was stuck in this hellhole once more.

“I…I need to see him,” she said in a shaky voice.

The Doctor gave her a stern look. “I don’t think that would be wise. He needs to rest-”

“Roswald,” she breathed, and once again, her sapphire eyes sparkled with moisture. “Please.”

He stared at her for a while before his expression softened. He released a tired sigh. Even at a glance, it was obvious to Zelda that he was exhausted.

“Okay…but please, be silent.”

“I promise,” she replied.

Roswald didn’t seem convinced, but he dropped his shoulders in defeat all the same. He walked to the curtain and gestured for her to follow. Once they reached it, he parted the fabric and allowed her to walk inside. She did, only to nearly gasp in horror.

In that old infirmary bed lay King Caius, looking sickly and pale. His eyes were forced shut, almost as if he were uncomfortable. His breaths came in long, shallow noises that sounded reminiscent of wheezing. He looked far worse than he had just a few days prior.

Something broke within Zelda and a single tear slid down her cheek.

“Oh father,” she whispered before rushing to his side. She wanted to tackle him into a hug; to hold him close and pray that everything would be okay. But she knew she couldn’t do that. He was far too fragile to withstand anything of the sort. Instead, she contented to brush a single strand of dark hair away from his brow.

Zelda soon collapsed into a chair, not trusting her legs to support her anymore. And it was here that she sat and gazed upon her father’s weakened state, while an overwhelming sense of guilt boiled up within her.

“I shouldn’t have left,” she said, her voice as quiet as a mouse. “I should have never taken that trip to Ordon. I should’ve stayed here, by his side-”

A comforting hand fell on her shoulder. “There’s nothing you could have done,” Roswald assured her. “I was here with him the entire time, and with our treatment, he survived.”

Zelda gulped but slowly nodded. Her heart felt like it was in her stomach. “How did this happen? He…He’s too young to be having heart attacks, isn’t he?”

The doctor sighed. “It was the poison,” he said gravely.

Zelda twitched at the dreaded word. “You said that he was improving. That he was on the mend. That the poison had nearly passed his system.”

“It flared back to life out of nowhere. All of His Majesty’s symptoms came back in an instant, and his heart failed him for a moment. I truly believed he was improving, and I never could have foreseen this. I still know so little of this foreign poison from the Twilight Realm. Forgive me, Princess.”

Zelda shook her head, not to deny him, but to let him know that his apology wasn’t necessary. She could never blame the good doctor for this. This was all Zant’s fault. That vindictive usurper King and his dreadful poison. Even though the Twilight Invasion had been settled months ago, it still felt like the villain had his hands clasped around the monarchy’s throat.

A few more tears escaped the prison that were Zelda’s eyes. She silently cursed herself, wishing that there would have been some way to avoid this outcome. Wishing that she could have done something more, if only to spare her father from this torture.

Her nose began to run and she soon started sniffing loudly. She tried to control herself for the sake of keeping quiet, but it was useless. She was far too emotional in this moment. Before long, someone passed her a handkerchief. Zelda assumed that it was one of the maids, but when she glanced back, she was surprised to find Fost standing there, giving her the softest and most sympathetic expression he could muster. Zelda felt like her heart was breaking in half, but she gave him a grateful nod anyway.

Zelda went to blow her nose, and it was here that the trumpet that was her nostrils made everyone freeze in place. Not only had that been quite uncharacteristic for a Princess, but it had been rather noisy too. It only took a second before the King deeply inhaled and slowly opened his eyes to look upon his visitors. Despite his dazed expression, he raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.

“I guess there’s no rest for the weary, huh?” he asked casually.

Zelda just flinched like a frightened deer, looking positively ashamed. “I’m sorry,” she squeaked.

But Caius simply smirked, turning to his daughter with warm eyes. “Hello, love.”

Zelda nearly felt herself break under that gaze of his, but instead she threw all of her fears aside and launched herself at him. The two held each other close in their arms, Zelda sniffling while Caius laughed.

“Please don’t be sad, Zelda,” he tried to tell her. “I’m perfectly fine.”

“You always say that,” she said into his shirt. “And just look at you now.”

“Yes, look at me indeed,” he said jovially. “Still able to smile and laugh and hold my wonderful daughter in my arms. Life is good.”

Zelda couldn’t help it. She laughed. She heard Roswald and Fost snicker as well. 

The Princess didn’t know what fate the future had in store for them, but in this moment, she felt like things were going to be okay.

 

---

 

Zelda visited her father in the infirmary every day after that. She became like a goose watching over its young, making sure that he was always safe and comfortable. Caius insisted that her excessive doting wasn’t necessary and that Roswald had everything under control, but she refused to stop. In fact, she made a promise to never leave his side again (or at least, she promised not to depart from the castle for a while).

As expected, the King survived his heart attack, but not without complications. Despite insisting that he was okay, his symptoms returned without relent. His cough grew stronger and more horrible. He felt ill and fatigued at nearly every hour. He occasionally succumbed to a fever or chills. And, worst of all, he now experienced light chest pains from time to time. They weren’t anything as severe as an actual heart attack, but they were still a grave concern.

“The poison is growing stronger while his body is growing weaker,” Roswald had explained. “Perhaps this is the toxin’s ‘last hurrah’. A valedictory rampage in a desperate attempt to finish His Majesty off for good. But there’s no need to worry quite yet. If this is the poison’s final effort, then we just need to endure it. We’ll make sure that His Majesty continues to get plenty of rest and eats three hearty meals a day. I also have plenty of medicine to administer, so we’ll see if we can keep those symptoms at bay. Admittedly, his body is rather susceptible to illness in this weakened state, but we’ll fight it off with everything we have.”

The Princess was so grateful for this wonderful doctor.

From this day forward, Zelda did her best to put on a brave face, and it wasn’t just for her own sake. Numerous nobles and council members constantly approached her and inquired about her father’s health. Zelda always felt terrible whenever she gazed upon their concerned expressions, but she managed to produce a warm smile and assuage their fears. She assured them that the King was okay and slowly recovering once again, but it would probably take some time before he was restored to full health. The encounter would then conclude with the nobles expressing their relief and gifting the Princess some encouraging words. She simply treasured their support in these stressful times.

And they were quite stressful indeed. With Caius back in the infirmary, all of the King’s responsibilities fell back into Zelda’s lap. Any time that she wasn’t spending with her father soon had to be spent in her study instead. She signed documents, reviewed proposals, responded to letters…the paperwork basically never ceased. But she kept her head held high and tackled her tasks passionately. If her father needed his rest, then she would happily provide it for him by keeping the Kingdom safe and well-managed. If anything, it was a trivial favor in the face of her reward.

Other than that, things remained relatively quiet around the castle. Between the infirmary and her study, Zelda mostly kept to herself, so it was a little startling when a personal messenger arrived at her door one evening.

“Oh, yes?” Zelda said, nearly jumping at the sound of the knock.

The messenger walked in and gave her a formal bow. “Good evening, Your Highness. I arrive carrying two messages for you. The first is from His Majesty, King Caius. He humbly requests that you come to visit him as soon as you have a spare moment.”

Zelda softly smiled. “Of course. Could you let him know that I’ll be there in a few minutes?”

The man gave an enthusiastic nod. “Gladly, mam!”

“Thank you,” she said, bowing her own head. “And the second message?”

“In written form,” he clarified before handing an envelope over to her. “The postman delivered it at the gate just moments ago. It’s specifically addressed to you.”

Zelda gazed at the letter curiously. Most parcels that were sent to her were usually addressed to “Hyrule Castle” or “The Monarchy of Hyrule” or “Her Royal Highness” or even “Princess”. But the only name on this was a plain and simple “Zelda”. The Princess just smirked as she gathered who had sent this letter. Her smile only grew wider when she realized that the return address was in Ordon Village.

Zelda thanked the messenger and dismissed him. She then used a small blade to open the envelope. She knew that her father was expecting her, but she figured that she could keep him waiting for a bit while she got to the bottom of this message. She soon pulled out the parchment and took a second to admire the somewhat messy yet charming letters that made up its contents. She nearly snorted when she realized that the letter began with a simple and unceremonious “Hey”. The casualness of such a thing was all she needed to determine the identity of the sender.

Taking a moment to shake her head, she relaxed herself in her chair and brought the parchment before her eyes. Once she was satisfied, she eagerly began to read.

Hey.

I was bored sitting at home all the time so I decided to write this letter. It’s kind of funny how we live in different places but now it feels weird to go so long without seeing you. I wish I could come and visit in person, but as I’m sure you know, being wounded really slows you down. It’s honestly a shame because I think Epona is really eager to visit too.

News of your father’s condition arrived here in Ordon. I’m very sorry to hear about that. I hope you’re doing okay, and I hope that the King is doing even better. I imagine it must be very difficult to have all the people close to you getting injured and sick. But please don’t worry, because I promise to make a full recovery soon, and then you’ll only have one person to fret over!

(Sorry if this letter is a mess by the way, writing isn’t really my strong suit.)

Also, please don’t worry about Ilia too much. We’ve talked a lot and she’s been much happier recently. I think she’s just content to know that I’m steadily improving with each day that passes. Hopefully I can try to keep her from worrying too much from now on.

Anyway, I hope you’re doing well. Please remember to take it easy and get plenty of sleep! If Midna were here, I think that she would say the same thing.

Hope to see you soon – Link

P.S. The villagers of Ordon said hi back!

When Zelda finished the letter, she could not stop smiling. She soon read it through again and couldn’t resist giggling as she did so. This letter was so warm and uplifting. She loved it to pieces. The half-hearted attempts at humor. The blunt dismissal of his own writing ability. The encouraging words. She pressed the parchment to her chest, taking more than a few seconds to treasure it.

Still, this missive left the Princess feeling a bit curious as well. Specifically, it was the beginning that caught her attention. Zelda doubted that Link would have chosen to write something this heartfelt and comforting simply because he was bored. She wondered if she had been on his mind the last few days, what with the news of her father and all.

She soon smiled, delighted at the thought of occupying the Hero’s headspace.

Zelda wished for nothing more than to keep rereading and treasuring this simple piece of parchment, but she knew that her father was still awaiting her presence in the infirmary. She carefully folded her letter back up and contented to store it in one of her desk drawers. Surely, she would read it again countless times.

 

---

 

Arriving in the partitioned room in the infirmary, Zelda was surprised to find her father joined by the two most notable Ministers of the Hyrule Council: Enzo and Fost. They had each been seated in chairs around the King’s bedside, with a third and final chair being left vacant. Upon noticing her entrance, they all turned to face her.

“Ah, welcome, Zelda,” Caius greeted her casually. He soon gestured to the vacant seat next to him. “Please, come in and join us.”

Zelda gave them all an inquisitive glance and did as she was instructed. She had to admit, her curiosity only grew stronger as she took note of their expressions. Enzo looked a bit stoic, while Fost appeared resolute. Even Caius seemed a bit more somber than usual. Zelda just furrowed her brow.

“What is this all about?”

“The Ministers and I were just having an important discussion and we felt that it was time to include you in it.”

Zelda scowled a bit, suddenly fearing the worst. “Please don’t tell me that you’ve gathered us around your deathbed.”

Despite his demeanor, Caius couldn’t help but snicker. “No, not quite, my dear. But our topic of discussion is rather serious, and it specifically concerns you.”

“Me?” Zelda repeated before glancing at the two Ministers accompanying them. Sure enough, their somber expressions confirmed the King’s words. Zelda frowned and slowly nodded, bracing herself for whatever was coming. “I’m listening.”

Caius looked away and began rubbing his hands together, showing a hint of nervousness. Much like the others, he almost appeared as if he did not wish to have this discussion. Nevertheless, he soon steeled himself with a sigh, and faced his daughter once more. “Zelda, the Hyrule Council and I believe that it would be wise if you dedicated some time to searching for a potential husband.”

Zelda felt her heartbeat go completely still as time seemed to slow. On the outside, she blinked in dazed confusion. She had not been expecting this.

“A husband?” she repeated quietly.

Caius nodded. Zelda turned to the Ministers once more only to find that their expressions told her much the same. They were being completely serious.

“What has brought this about?” she asked, almost timidly.

“There’s a few reasons for this,” the King explained patiently. “Firstly, there’s my health. In light of my recent heart attack, there are some who fear that I may not be around for much longer.”

Zelda lightly gasped at this. “Oh, please don’t say things like that!”

“But it’s true,” he insisted. “The future is uncertain. Who can say what tomorrow might bring? I may very well not live another month, as tragic as that sounds. And it is for this reason that the Council feels it would be best for you to start searching for a partner now as opposed to later. This way, you shall be in a much better position to succeed me, should the worst come to pass.”

“I…I see,” Zelda said slowly, trying to take all of this in. She still hated the thought of succeeding her father should he experience an untimely demise, but she couldn’t deny that the Council had a point. She was expected to marry and produce an heir at some point in her life. It was a duty that she had been destined to fulfill since the day she was born.

And to be honest, it was a duty that Zelda had never really minded. She very much enjoyed the thought of finding love and eventually starting a family, as well as the joy that was sure to come with such things. But she had her reservations as well. Truth be told, Zelda was relatively unversed in things such as love or romance. It was the reason why her developing feelings for Link had always left her in such a dismal pile of nerves and embarrassment. She just didn’t know how to respond to such emotions without falling apart. And while she had some experience being courted by the sons of the local nobles, those relationships were short-lived and had never really blossomed into anything meaningful. In all her years, Zelda had never truly found anyone that she genuinely loved and wanted to be with.

That is, until she met Link…

Zelda swallowed and pushed those thoughts out of her mind. They were as distracting and obtrusive as ever. She tried to bring her focus back to the conversation at hand. “What if I don’t have time for such a thing? I’ve been rather busy handling all of the paperwork, after all. And choosing a man to rule my Kingdom alongside me is not something that should be taken lightly or done with haste.”

Enzo gave her an encouraging nod. “The Hyrule Council has agreed to offer whatever support is necessary to ensure that you have some extra time to peruse your suitors. We all understand that courtship and marriage are an important part of your duties too.”

“And we also do not wish for you to rush into anything,” Fost added. “We want you to take your time and make a choice that both you and Hyrule will be satisfied with. The Council simply requests that you begin thinking about this and consider your options.”

“I see,” Zelda said again. Although, in spite of her calm words, she must have still looked rather hesitant, for her father soon leaned over and gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

“Listen, Zelda,” he said, both kindly and quietly. “I understand that you had your heart set on another, but I think we both know that chance has passed. I believe it would be best for you to move on, and start looking into other potential suitors.”

Zelda blushed when she realized that he was referring to Link. Of course, Caius knew that she had once held an affection for the Hero, but surely he had assumed that she had moved on from him at some point? Why did he have to bring it up as if her feelings for Link were still pulling on her heartstrings? Why did he have to acknowledge the truth?

Things only became more embarrassing when Fost flashed a confused expression and spoke up with a far greater volume than what she considered necessary. “Another? What do you mean ‘another’? Are you saying that the Princess had her heart set on someone recently? Why wasn’t I informed of this?”

“Enough, Fost,” Caius spoke in a stern, commanding tone. He even shot the old Minister a surprisingly serious look. “I’m afraid that this is a private matter between Zelda and myself, and it is not open for discussion.”

Fost scowled a bit but bowed regardless. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I am not against the idea of searching for a husband,” Zelda spoke up, trying to sound brave and return to the topic at hand. “However, the suddenness of such a task has left me more than a little surprised.”

Caius gave her a reassuring nod. “I understand, Zelda. And as the Ministers stated, we do not wish for you to be pressured or forced into anything. It’s just that you are now a fully-grown woman and of age to be married. It is only right that you begin to seriously consider your future.”

Zelda smiled, fully appreciating his kind and patient words. She could tell that he was trying to be as delicate as possible when it came to this topic. “I will, father. I am prepared to proudly follow in your footsteps and fulfill my role as this Kingdom’s future Queen.”

Caius beamed with pride. “I am very glad to hear that, Zelda. It does my heart good to know that you’ve been raised so well.” He paused, looking nostalgic for a moment. “Although, if it were up to me, I’d wish for you to stay young as my innocent and adorable daughter for eternity. It’s difficult to realize just how quickly you’ve grown up over the years.”

“I’m afraid that my time of innocence is far behind me,” Zelda said, looking a little sad. “Ever since the Twilight encroached on our lands and I had to strike Ganondorf with Light Arrows.”

“A tragedy, that is,” Caius lamented. “But where would we be without your courage and accomplishments? Let’s never forget the good that came out of your hardship, and of course, we’ll always have the bright days ahead to look forward to.”

“Well said, Your Majesty,” Enzo chimed in.

“Hear, hear,” Fost added.

Zelda smiled at each of them, once again feeling grateful for their kind words. Yes, she had been forced to mature quite a bit since the day of the Twilight’s initial attack, but her Kingdom had survived and recovered, and they had all grown stronger because of it. And even though she was currently a little frightened of what the future may hold, Zelda knew that she had to bravely forge onwards, just like always.

“Very well,” she finally said with a curt nod. “Should the Council find any man interested in courting me, I will gladly set aside some time to meet with him.”

At this, Caius just gave her an amused look. “I am happy to hear that, because as things stand, we still have yet to touch upon the second reason for why we are discussing this topic.”

Zelda tilted her head a bit. “Oh?”

The King nodded before entering a short hacking fit. As expected, it was a horrid noise, and Zelda and the others simply had to wait until it petered out. Once it did, Caius did his best to continue. “Hmph. Yes, you see, we recently received a letter from our neighboring Kingdom of Labrynna.”

“Labrynna?” Zelda repeated. Naturally, she recognized the name at once. It was one of the many countries that rested near Hyrule’s borders.

“Indeed. The letter was written by Queen Ambi herself,” Caius explained. “She wished to know if you might be interested in meeting her son, Prince Ralph. He is of your age, and similarly finds himself in a position where he must seek out a potential future partner.”

Zelda blinked a bit, once again surprised by this turn of events. Much like the Kingdom of Labrynna, she recognized the names of the foreign dignitaries as well. Although, she had never once met them in person. “Queen Ambi would like to know if I’d be interested in courting her son?”

“Well, it would start with an innocent introduction, but yes, that is what she is offering.”

“I see,” Zelda mumbled, her voice trailing off. She had already steeled herself for this sort of thing, but she hadn’t expected to be thrown into the “courtship pool” so quickly. Things felt like they were moving rather fast, and she wasn’t sure how comfortable she felt about that.

“So what do you say?” Caius inquired, trying to study her expression. “Would you be willing to meet with Prince Ralph? He’s already offered to journey to our castle should you accept.”

Zelda pursed her lips, still lost in hesitation. Her heart fidgeted, feeling restless as if something was wrong. Somewhere in the back of her mind, thoughts of Link drifted to and fro, in and out of focus. Even after all this time, she still wasn’t sure that she could let him go.

But with a heavy sigh, Zelda knew that she couldn’t keep chasing the shadows of the past. That any chance she had with the Hero had already evaporated long ago. Now, all she had left was her future.

Gathering her courage, Zelda turned to her father with resolute eyes. “Of course, send for him at once.”

Notes:

What? You didn’t think that Zelda would stay single forever, did you? Hehehe…Expect some more fun and drama in the coming chapters.

Speaking of the coming chapters, I actually have a huge announcement to make! I have finally succeeded in writing the final chapter of this fic! Yes, wow, I can’t believe it either! It’s such a huge accomplishment and I’m so proud of myself ^.^

That being said…I still have a lot of editing and reviewing to do, so this story is a long ways away from seeing its conclusion. Also, I guess that now’s as good a time as any to reveal the total chapter count…

“To Capture the Heart of a Hero” will be 100 chapters total.

Um…yeah. If you’re stunned by that number, don’t worry, I’m right there with you XD When I first started writing this story, I imagined that it might be around 60 chapters in total. But then, as things progressed, that estimate quickly grew to be 80 chapters instead. And eventually I realized that even 80 chapters wouldn’t be enough to tell this story from beginning to end lol. I swear, I can be so long winded sometimes. I also have a hard time letting go of ideas that I think are too good to refuse, so I just end up including them all. And then the next thing I know I’m staring at a triple-digit chapter fic and asking myself “how did I get here???” XD

Well, it is what it is. Hopefully I haven’t scared anyone off with that number lol. I assure you all that there will be plenty of interesting developments to come, and a fairly extensive epiloge too, all included within the 100-chapter total! :) As always, thanks for reading, and have an awesome day!

Chapter 54: Ralph

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 54 – Ralph

Zelda nervously wrung her hands together as she took a deep breath. Once she realized what she was doing, she ceased her fidgeting and kept her hands clasped together by her waist.

The Princess was currently standing in front of the castle, alongside a handful of guards and servants, patiently waiting for a carriage to arrive. A week ago, Zelda had agreed to a meeting with Prince Ralph of Labrynna with the potential for courtship on the table. And ever since then, she had felt more than a little apprehensive about all of this. Not only was she rather inexperienced when it came to romance, but she also hadn’t directly dealt with it in quite some time. She wondered, when was the last time that someone had attempted to court her? A year ago? Perhaps more?

And then there was the thought of greeting the man himself. She had never once had the pleasure of meeting this Prince Ralph, so this encounter between them would not only be the potential start of a relationship, but their introduction altogether. Zelda bit her lip as she felt her stomach start to churn. She had heard nice things about the Labrynnian Royal Family, but she still wasn’t quite sure what to expect. And of course, the thought of meeting anystranger for the first time under such romantic circumstances left her more than a little flustered.

But Zelda tried to remain calm. She had met many foreign dignitaries before, and she had always carried herself politely and diplomatically in front of them. She told herself that this encounter should be no different. This would be the same as all her other duties as Princess, and she intended to carry them out as exceptionally as she always did.

The wind picked up and Zelda had to break her formal posture in order to tuck some loose strands of hair behind her ear. She had decided to go with a standard appearance for this day. She donned her trademark white and purple dress, and her hair was in its usual braid at her back. She wore no more makeup and jewelry than what she usually carried throughout her everyday life. Some of her maids had been disappointed with this, as they felt that the Princess ought to gussy herself up a bit more for the sake of her first encounter with a handsome Prince. But Zelda was resolute in her decision. This would be their beginning, and Zelda had no intention of trying to woo the man with such petty displays of beauty. She much preferred to display herself as she always did, and let the young Prince make his own judgements based off of that and that alone.

And while Zelda could admit that she was possibly being a bit stubborn about this, she did not care. This was her task to tackle, and as far as she was concerned, this was the wisest way of going about it. Everyone else’s opinions could simply be discarded. It might have sounded arrogant, but she needed to have some control over her life.

Before long, a short horn rang out from the gate, signaling the expected carriage’s approach. It pulled into the courtyard, a strong white horse leading the way. It followed the cobblestone path straight up to where the Princess and her welcome party stood before pulling off to the side and coming to a halt. The driver soon stepped down and opened the carriage door before properly announcing the presence of his liege.

“Introducing His Highness, Prince Ralph of Labrynna!”

Zelda swallowed a bit before gathering her courage and forcing her eyes to the man impetuously exiting the carriage. She then had to pause and blink a few times at what an odd sight he was. His appearance was very…interesting, to say the least.

As expected, the Prince was a young man, certainly of similar age to Zelda. But the similarities between them basically ended there. His hair was wild and untamed, as well as a striking shade of reddish-brown. It parted at his forehead, creating two wavy bangs, one of which was much larger than the other and even covered half of his face, including an eye. However, of the one eye that was visible, Zelda did find it to be a rather beautiful shade of emerald.

Then, there were his clothes. Zelda knew nothing of Labrynnian fashion, but she certainly hadn’t expected something like this. Both his tunic and trousers were almost periwinkle blue in color, with a single purple stripe lining the frilly bottoms. A green belt was fastened to his middle, accentuated with a ridiculously large golden buckle. Covering his back and shoulders was a broad navy cloak, with a golden stripe along the bottom and a large ruby pendant keeping it clasped near his neck. His footwear was long and pointy, almost like a stereotypical witch’s might be, and to entertain this thought even further, the Prince even donned a blue pointed cap.

Zelda just stood there, taking a few more seconds to eye him from head to toe. His appearance was so far removed from anything that she had been expecting. In fact, if Zelda hadn’t known any better, she might have almost mistook him for a Castle Town street performer. At the very least, she certainly wouldn’t have assumed him a Prince.

However, the time for gawking was quickly cut short as Ralph gazed upon Zelda with his sole visible eye and softly smiled to himself. He soon approached her before placing a hand to his chest and bowing his head.

“Alas, you must be the fair Princess Zelda of Hyrule that I have heard so much about. It is an honor to meet you, My Lady.”

Zelda was still a bit perturbed by his appearance, but she smiled at his politeness. He may not have looked the part of a Prince, but he certainly seemed to behave like one.

“Indeed,” Zelda replied, mirroring Ralph’s movements. “And it is an honor to meet you as well, Prince Ralph of Labrynna. Thank you for making the journey all the way here to our humble little Kingdom.”

“Oh, it was my pleasure!” he assured her. “If anything, I was happy to get out of that stuffy old castle of ours and travel for a change.” He then laughed. Loudly.

Zelda continued to eye him, feeling both curious and confused. Was that supposed to have been an attempt at humor? She honestly wasn’t sure, so she chose to take the middle road and smile politely at his comments. “I’m happy to hear that.”

Ralph simply smiled back before offering a hand towards her. Zelda stared at it for a moment before nearly jumping in surprise. It had been so long since she last courted someone, that she had forgotten that the men often showed their initial interest by placing a kiss on her hand. And of course, it was only polite that she should offer her hand for such a courtesy.

Feeling a bit timid, but knowing that it must be done, Zelda gently laid her gloved hand atop his bare one. With careful, precise movements, Ralph raised her knuckles up to his lips and gave them a soft kiss. He then smiled before kindly releasing her.

“My Lady, if I may. I’ve heard tales of your beauty before, but they simply don’t do it justice.”

Zelda couldn’t help but blush a bit, stunned at the sudden compliment. “Oh, well thank you, Sir Ralph.”

“Your eyes,” he continued, both suddenly and passionately. “They shine like the brightest of blue skies. They contain the waves of the greatest oceans.”

“Um, thank you,” Zelda repeated, trying but failing to keep herself from rubbing her hands together. Just how many compliments was he going to pay her?

“And your hair!” he added poetically. “It appears soft like silk. Straight like an arrow. And a color as rich as the finest of tree barks.”

Zelda nearly lost her composure at this. Straight like an arrow? As rich as tree bark? If these comments were supposed to be compliments, she had surely never heard of their like before. She wondered, was he being serious? Were these words supposed to sound flattering?

“Th-Thank you,” she replied again, not quite sure how else to take his words. She then took a moment to carefully choose her own. “Your appearance is certainly…eye-catching, as well.”

Ralph merely grinned at this. “Yes, you enjoy the royal colors of Labrynna, do you?” he asked as he proudly displayed his cloak. “It is a rather marvelous shade of blue. Although, this sort of garb doesn’t stand out much back at home. Not when everyone else is wearing it too.”

It took a second for Zelda to realize that this was perhaps another attempt at humor, and she chose to respond with a polite giggle. While the Prince behaved courteously and carried himself well, it seemed that he had a less formal side to him that he was more than willing to display. Because of this, Zelda found that he was quickly becoming more fascinating by the minute, although it probably wasn’t for any of the right reasons.

Still, in spite of her reservations, Zelda managed to appreciate his sense of humor. She liked that in a man.

“If I’m not mistaken, this is your first time visiting our castle, correct?” Zelda asked, hoping to steer their conversation back on track. “If you’d like, I’d be happy to show you around and introduce you to a few people.”

Prince Ralph gave her a rash half-bow. “Why, that would be wonderful.”

And so it was. Zelda led him around and showed him all of the important chambers and halls and artwork and artifacts that a foreign Prince may find interesting. However, his reactions ended up proving difficult to predict. Most of the time, he would seem fairly amazed by the things he was being shown, perhaps for the sole purpose of being polite, but other times he would appear completely bored, as if he couldn’t be bothered to feign interest at some of the more dreary sights he was witnessing. And then other times still he would burst out laughing with great enthusiasm, nearly making the Princess jump out of her skin with how sudden and unexpected it was. And his reason for making such raucous chuckling? It was because he simply found the paintings of certain nobles to be “amusing”.

Yes, Zelda was quickly learning that this Prince was quite the character.

Zelda took Ralph to meet her father as well, but once she realized that the King was fighting hard not to laugh at the young Prince’s appearance and was instead cleverly disguising it with a well-timed cough, she made sure to cut the encounter short. If they remained there any longer, she had a feeling that it would only be a matter of time before her father said something insulting or embarrassing. Perhaps both.

By the time they finished exploring the castle’s halls, evening had arrived, and Zelda informed Ralph that a private dinner was being prepared for the two of them. This way, they would have more time to talk and get to know each other better. Zelda then proceeded to lead the Prince to a wide balcony up near the castle’s top levels. Here, a fine dining table was set up, complete with a pristine tablecloth, fancy dinnerware, and a pair of comfortable chairs.

“Our chefs will be serving us dinner out here,” she explained. “I hope you don’t mind being out in the open air.”

Ralph was quick to shake his head. “Of course not! I love the outdoors. And heavens, what a glorious view…” He soon walked to the balustrade, admiring the scenery that stretched out for miles, all bathed in the orange glow of a sun that was beginning to retire.

Zelda soon joined him by the wall. “Yes, it is rather beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It certainly is. Although, it’s not as beautiful as…your smile,” he noted with a grin.

Zelda couldn’t help but allow said smile to show. She felt a bit bashful receiving all of these compliments from him, but she appreciated his attempts at flattery.

“You are too kind,” she said softly. “Would you care to sit and talk?”

“With you? Oh, I’d simply be honored,” he replied, still grinning wide. He then happily plopped himself down into one of the chairs before crossing his arms and legs.

For the umpteenth time that day, Zelda realized that this man did not quite behave as a Prince was expected to.

The two of them contented to talk as they waited for the meal to be served. Zelda spent quite a bit of time inquiring about his family and homeland. Ralph was more than happy to share, and spoke of Labrynna with a great passion. In a lot of ways, it sounded similar to Hyrule: full of friendly people as well as diverse landscapes. It had plenty of interesting marvels as well, including an island of reptilian people that thoroughly enjoyed trading, as well as a village where everything was perfectly symmetrical, even down to the citizens who lived on opposite sides of town. When Zelda asked how exactly that worked, he just laughed and tossed up his hands.

“No clue.”

Zelda frowned, appearing thoughtful. Naturally, her homeland of Hyrule had many marvels and mysteries as well, some of which could also not be explained, but this Kingdom of Labrynna honestly sounded much more extreme in its fantasies. She wondered if dwelling in such a bizarre land had led to the development of the Prince’s surprisingly flippant personality.

Eventually the food was served and Zelda spent some time talking about her own homeland while they dined. Much like before, there were some topics that interested Ralph while others seemed to leave him looking utterly bored. Zelda frowned a bit as she attempted to study the man once again. She wondered, did he wear his heart on his sleeve? Was he bad at hiding his emotions and simply chose not to, no matter how rude it might seem?

“Forgive me,” she said after finishing a story about her recent trip to Kakariko Village. “I get the feeling that this sort of thing doesn’t interest you.”

“Hmm?” Ralph asked, raising his sole visible eyebrow. “Oh, no, it’s nothing of the sort.”

Zelda could only frown some more. It seemed obvious to her that he was lying. However, she didn’t have time to dwell on this much, for Ralph was soon calling her attention once more.

“Excuse me, My Fair Lady Zelda, but might I ask you a question?”

His sudden shift from disinterested to incredibly polite nearly caught her off guard, just like everything else he did. “Oh, yes?”

Ralph placed his elbows on the table and bridged his fingers together before leaning in. “Be honest with me. Are you enjoying yourself on this pleasant evening?”

Again, Zelda nearly felt taken aback by this question, and could only nervously smile in response. “Of course. It’s been very nice getting to know you.”

“Hmm,” Ralph hummed, hiding his frown behind his fingers. He suddenly appeared very skeptical. “Yes, yes, I can hear your words but your eyes speak differently. And the eyes are the windows to the heart, you know.”

Zelda simply blinked. “I…I suppose.”

“It is as I feared then,” Ralph said with a sigh. “You are not entertained, even though I should be providing an enjoyable time for you.”

Zelda quickly shook her head, suddenly feeling bad for the guy. “Oh, no, Sir Ralph. I’m afraid that you are mistaken. I really am having a pleasant time.”

Ralph soon held up a hand to stop her speech, while he used his free hand to rest a few fingers against his forehead. If Zelda had witnessed anyone else make this pose, she might’ve called it an exaggeration, but somehow Ralph made it seem completely natural. “No, please, My Lady. I can sense the disappointment in your eyes, and I assure you that the fault is completely my own. But worry not! I have prepared myself in case such a tragedy should strike.”

Zelda felt like she ought to say something, but her chance to do so was quickly cut short as Ralph rose to his feet. He then planted one pointed shoe on his chair before reaching behind him and pulling out a small, ornate harp. He soon gave it a casual strum, allowing its melodious sound to echo in the air.

“If you would be so kind, My Fair Princess, please allow me to serenade you with a song that I prepared ahead of time.”

Zelda felt her jaw plummet open. Was he being serious? A serenade!? She quickly went to protest.

“Oh, please, Sir Ralph. Such a thing really isn’t necessary–” She paused for a moment, only just now questioning the instrument in his hands. “Hold on, where did you get that?”

Ralph merely smiled. “I brought it with me.”

“Where have you been keeping it?”

“In my cloak.”

“You can store things in your cloak?”

“It isn’t just for show, My Lady.”

Again, Zelda gawked, feeling utterly dumbfounded by what a bizarre day this had been. “Well…all the same, you really don’t have to go out of your way to perform for me.”

“Nonsense!” he said before beaming with pride. “My mother always stressed that a woman’s happiness should be my first priority. This serenade is the least I can provide for such a wonderful maiden as yourself.”

“But I do not require your musical talents to be entertained,” Zelda insisted. “I would be perfectly content to continue talking and sharing our meal.”

But Ralph seemed to be having none of it. “Shhh,” he said before giving another light strum on his harp. “The song begins…”

And then, without any further warning, Ralph’s poetic and melodious voice rang out at such an incredible volume that the whole castle likely could have heard it. But far worse than the volume, were the actual words he produced. 

“Princess Zelda, a lady so fair and so cool. Princess Zelda, a woman so kind and so sweet. I’m glad to have journeyed to the land of Hyrule, so the two of us could finally meet~”

Zelda was stunned speechless. Her eyes were as wide as the dinner plates in front of her. She allowed her mouth to fall open and it seemed that she could not gather her wits for long enough to pick it back up. Admittedly, there had been instances before where she had seen men perform some extravagant and truly foolish actions in order to impress her, but this was on a whole new level. Not once had anyone ever tried to serenade her, and not once had she ever felt so embarrassed as a result of someone else’s actions before.

The song went on for a few verses, even though Zelda had been begging for it to end as soon as it began. Ralph continued to sing about a variety of things, such as her Kingdom, which was rich with freedom, and her hair, which was beautiful and fair. And the compliments and cheesy rhymes continued to pile up one after the other.

As the music dragged on, Zelda became acutely aware of some maids standing at the entrance to the balcony, no doubt listening in to the grand performance that was being put on for her. Zelda felt her face turn the deepest shade of red as she prayed for death. To think that other people were actually listening in on this! And of course it had to be the maids, the worst gossipers in the entire castle! Zelda could only imagine the exaggerated rumors that might spring out of this little musical number in the weeks to come.

For the sake of distracting herself and enduring this never-ending song, Zelda desperately cast her thoughts elsewhere. Her mind soon settled on the one thing that she could always count on to provide comfort: the friendly Hero clad in green. She wondered what Link would have said if he were here, listening in on this like everyone else. It didn’t take long before she concluded that his reaction likely would have mirrored her own. After all, was there any appropriate response for such a thing other than pure, utter shock?

Well, perhaps there was one, for Zelda also thought of Midna and wondered how she might have reacted here. And of course, the only image she could conjure of the Twili girl was one where she was rolling around on the floor, laughing herself silly.

As Zelda took comfort in this thought, Ralph’s song finally came to an end. Thank the Goddesses, it finally came to an end. Ralph simply smirked, tossing one of his bangs to the side before confidently grinning.

“How was that, My Lady? Did my music please you?”

It took a long time for Zelda to properly close her mouth, and it took even longer before she found her words. “Th-That was…um…Well, I certainly appreciate the thought…”

Ralph just blinked, his single eye going wide. “Was it not to your liking?” he asked incredulously.

“I, um…” Zelda gulped, trying to think of how she could convey her thoughts as kindly and politely as possible withoutbeing dishonest. “It, er, didn’t particularly suit my tastes very much, but your harp playing was very good.”

Again, Ralph appeared paralyzed by disbelief. “You truly did not care for it? And yet I spent so much time crafting and reciting it…”

Zelda held back a wince as she felt overwhelmed with guilt. Now she had done it. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Sir Ralph. I don’t mean to belittle your efforts, and I truly did appreciate-”

“No!” he said, quickly and abruptly. “No, please, My Lady, the fault lies with me for not better understanding your tastes. But no matter! Give me a moment and I’m certain that I can find some other way to entertain you.”

Zelda timidly frowned as she watched him remove his foot from his chair and resume brainstorming. She wasn’t sure what he was about to come up with next, but she didn’t think that she wanted to find out. “Prince Ralph, please, you do not have to do such things for my sake.”

But his answer was as ambitious as ever. “No, no, I insist! It is my duty to treat you to a good time, after all! Now let’s see…Perhaps you prefer a more physical entertainment?” And then it struck him. “Ah, yes, I have just the thing!”

Zelda nervously bit her lip. She already had a terrible feeling about this. “Prince Ralph, I would really prefer to return to our meal.”

“Oh, this will only take but a moment, My Lady,” he assured her with a grin. “And I really think you will enjoy this!”

Zelda eyed him with only the most extreme levels of caution. “And what are you going to do?” she dared to ask.

Ralph simply grinned some more before crouching down and balling the tablecloth in his hands. “This is an old party trick I learned. I’m going to remove this tablecloth without disturbing any of the dinnerware. It takes a good amount of finesse and a fairly trained eye to pull it off, you know.”

Zelda leaned forward, trying to determine if he was serious. Of course he was. Panic soon set in, and Zelda was quick to raise her concerns. “Prince Ralph, please, no. This sounds like a terrible idea, and I would truly prefer that you didn’t go through with it.”

“Nonsense!” he replied. “Trust me, My Lady, I know exactly what I’m doing, and I guarantee that you’ll enjoy this. Now, on the count of three. One, two-”

“Prince Ralph, wait!” Zelda tried to cry, but it was too late. With one swift motion, Ralph yanked on the tablecloth, and for a second, his trick almost seemed to work. At the very least, one dinner plate remained safely in place without the rush of fabric disturbing it in the slightest.

But the rest was horrifically lost in an instant. A plate and glass shattered against the floor, while silverware clanged and food flew everywhere. The sole remaining glass tipped over, spilling its contents right into Zelda’s lap. With a horrified gasp, she pushed back her chair and rose to her feet.

“My dress!” she cried as she gazed at the newly stained garment. “Oh, my dress!” It was all she could think to say.

Meanwhile, Ralph just blinked before turning his single eye to the tablecloth in hand. He used his other hand to scratch his head in confusion. “Ah, blast,” he muttered. “That did not quite work as I expected it to.”

Zelda had to fight hard not to shoot him a glare. She understood that his intentions had been pure, but this was practically the height of foolishness. The time for propriety was done. She was done.

“Prince Ralph,” she hissed with all the frustration of a disappointed mother. “Look at what you have done.”

Ralph blinked again before gazing around at all the shattered dinnerware and discarded food. He soon flashed a look of guilt. “Oh, yes, I’m terribly sorry about this…And oh, your dress! Here, let me help you with that, My Lady.”

Zelda then watched as Ralph walked over and tried to wipe away the stain at the front of her dress. But here was the real kicker. He was using the tablecloth that he still had in hand.

It was at this moment that Zelda knew the courtship was lost.

The Princess simply sighed. “Prince Ralph, stop.”

“Just a moment, My Lady, and I’m sure I can find a way to get this stain out.”

“No, Ralph, I sincerely insist that you stop at once.”

Sensing the seriousness in her tone, Ralph frowned before rising up to look her in the eye. “What’s the matter?” he asked, sounding both curious and innocent.

Zelda could only shake her head. “Forgive me, but…I’m afraid that this isn’t going to work out.”

Notes:

The Hyrulean dating pool is rough out here. At least, it is when Link isn’t available lol.

This chapter was so much fun to write. I don’t remember much of Ralph’s character from OOA other than he was kind of a rash fool who meant well. I tried to portray that here, while also making him kind of a fun goofball as well. And the result is disastrous comedy. I hope you all enjoyed it 😂

Chapter 55: Another Suitor

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 55 – Another Suitor

Caius burst out laughing, hardly able to contain his hearty chuckle in the slightest. His head fell back while his majestic voice struggled to form words. “He pulled the tablecloth away? And this was after serenading you with a song? Oh this is too rich, ah ha ha ha!”

Zelda scowled from her place next to his bed. “It was hardly a laughing matter at the time. I’m not sure that I’ve ever felt so embarrassed before.”

The King shook his head, trying but ultimately failing to cease his laughter. Because of this, he had trouble catching his breath, and his chuckling soon dissolved into an awful cough as it so often did. He painfully wheezed over and over again.

Zelda could only wince before placing a sympathetic hand on his back. “See? I knew that I shouldn’t have told you. It makes you far too excited for your health to handle.”

But Caius shook his head once more and quickly brought his hacking under control. “No, no, if anything, this has made my day. Thank you for sharing this with me. Oh, the lengths that young men will go to for love.”

Zelda blushed a bit as she closed her eyes. She had just been telling her father how her dinner with Prince Ralph had concluded, with everything falling apart in a simple matter of minutes. After the disaster with the tablecloth, Zelda had apologized and politely explained that she didn’t think that a courtship would work out between them. She felt a bit bad about letting him down like this, and she expected that he might be a little upset, but she knew it had to be done. There was just no way that she could be with someone as flippant, rash, and sporadic as him.

However, to her surprise, Ralph didn’t seem bothered by her rejection at all. In fact, he just lightly chuckled and said that if he was being completely honest, he found Zelda to be a bit of a bore. He had no qualms about parting ways with her after their dinner had been ruined.

She might have had half a mind to be offended if she wasn’t so relieved.

Caius snickered some more, still rather amused by the whole thing. “Well, at least the encounter ended on good terms. I too feel bad for the Prince, but if the courtship truly wasn’t meant to be, then it’s best for the two of you to part ways.”

“Ahem,” Fost spoke up from the other side of the bed. He and Minister Enzo were in attendance once again, partly for the sake of hearing what had transpired with Prince Ralph, but also for the sake of deciding what must be done next. “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but this hardly seems like a laughing matter. The Princess has failed to make a connection with her most promising suitor, and now she must begin the search anew.”

Zelda frowned. “Prince Ralph really wasn’t all that promising, Fost. He was honestly just a big goof at his core.”

“He was still a Prince,” Fost stressed. “And that is not a title that should be so easily discarded.”

“Believe me. In the face of his actions and personality, his title was all but irrelevant.”

“Why, of all the discourteous things to say-”

“Enough,” Enzo said, cutting his fellow Minister off. “I think we can all understand that the Princess and Prince Ralph did not get along very well, and if that is the case, then I agree with His Majesty that the Prince’s departure was for the best. The Princess gave him a fair chance, and it simply didn’t work out. There’s no need to dwell on it further.”

Zelda softly smiled at the older gentleman. Enzo had a daughter of his own, so he tended to understand and sympathize with the Princess no matter what situation she found herself in. She had always appreciated that about him.

“What we should be focusing on,” Enzo continued, “is what to do next. Now that Prince Ralph has taken his leave, we should begin considering other suitors.”

“Must we?” Zelda sighed. “This single encounter alone has already left me feeling quite drained.”

Fost gave her a stern look. “Now, Princess, you know how important this duty is to both the Council and your Kingdom.”

Zelda shrugged, choosing to toy with the old Minister. “I can always marry later in life. Surely I’ll have more time to look for a suitor then. Perhaps when I’m eighty?”

Fost’s expression turned grave, as if he were actually taking her seriously. “Please do not jest about this, Your Highness…”

“Fost is right, Zelda,” Caius chimed in. “You agreed to spend some time searching for a suitor, and you are expected to take this seriously.”

“I know,” she said with another sigh. She understood that she couldn’t put this off forever. This was her duty, after all. Gathering her resolve, she prepared for the discussion ahead of her. “Very well. When it comes to finding another suitor, I’m open to suggestions.”

The men nodded, grateful to have her compliance.

“Perhaps we could write to some of our other neighboring Kingdoms?” Fost suggested. “We could see if there are any other young nobles interested in courting our fair Princess.”

“Let’s hold off on that for now,” Caius said with a shake of his head. “We’re not that desperate yet. We could just as easily start looking for suitors within our own Kingdom’s borders.”

“That’s true,” Enzo agreed. “We certainly have a fine selection of men within Castle Town’s walls. Tell me, Princess, are you familiar with Minister Edmund’s son? He seems like a fine young lad.”

To everyone’s surprise, Zelda’s expression soured. “I’ve already courted him once before. He lost interest in me, claiming that he didn’t care for someone who ‘always had her nose buried in books’.” She paused, crossing her arms and turning said nose up. “Not that I minded though. I thought he was a bit of a bore as well.”

“Well, are there any former suitors that you have gotten along with?” Fost asked, trying to follow Enzo’s line of thought. “What about that one Knight? Sir Charles, I believe?”

Again, Zelda flashed mild annoyance at the mention of the name. “Arrogant as all get out. He couldn’t stand the thought of courting a woman who was more skilled with the bow than he was.”

Fost sighed, clearly not amused with her temper. “Now, Princess, you should try not to be so picky when it comes to courting your suitors.”

“Picky!?” Zelda exclaimed. “They’re the ones who ended the courtship with me, not the other way around!”

“You don’t seem to mind though,” Caius noted, appearing thoughtful. “Almost as if you are relieved to have had your relationships sullied.”

“Can I be faulted?” Zelda asked with great exasperation. “I will not share my love with someone who can’t even tolerate my presence.”

“And you are wise to think this way,” her father assured her. “But you ought to be careful not to let your presence be overly intimidating. Your suitors will be expecting a Princess who is kind and fair in all things.”

“And I am. Even when it came to Prince Ralph, I was very polite and accommodating…up to a point, of course.”

Caius simply chuckled, a smirk of pride appearing on his face. “Yes, my dear, I know you always carry yourself well.”

Zelda smiled back. She could tell that her father was trying to be stern with her, but he was still very much on her side. He truly only wanted the best for her, and he trusted her enough to go about finding it.

“If I may,” Enzo spoke up, directing the conversation back on track. “There is another name that I would like to offer for consideration.”

“Go on,” Caius offered.

“By chance, I happened to mention our search for suitors to the wise teacher, Auru, and he believed that he might know someone who would get along well with Her Highness. However, I’m afraid that there is a slight issue. The young man in question has no status to his name. He is merely an ordinary citizen of Castle Town.”

The room was silent for a moment but Caius eventually laughed. “That is hardly an issue worthy of concern. Status is not something that is inherited, but attained after all. There will always be time for the young man to rise through the ranks as long as he proves himself capable.” He then paused before turning to his daughter. “But I suppose that my opinion isn’t the most important here. What do you think, Zelda?”

The Princess simply grinned. She too, thought little of status in comparison to what truly mattered: character. She naturally recalled how Link had once been nothing more than a simple goat herder, and yet he had still gone on to save his entire Kingdom and become a well-renowned Hero. And if that wasn’t the most inspiring tale to ever be told, then what was?

“I agree wholeheartedly,” she said with a smile. “I will gladly meet with this man, so long as he is kind and has his wits about him.”

Enzo chuckled at this. “I assure you, he does. And Auru claimed that you two would share some common interests which might help you get along with each other. Apparently, this man is a scholar who enjoys researching history and architecture, and he is very well-learned for his age. Tell me, Princess, does this appeal to you?”

“It does indeed,” she answered with a smile. It wasn’t often that she found someone her own age that was equally fascinated by history and culture. This man truly sounded as if he could be a good match for her, and she was certainly curious to learn more. “Pray tell, what is this young man’s name?”

“I believe you have already met him once before,” Enzo clarified with a small smile of his own. “His name is Shad, and he was once a member of the Resistance.”

Zelda blinked, rather surprised by this revelation. Shad, the timid, glasses-wearing bookworm that tagged along with the Resistance during the Twilight Invasion? It was true that she had met him once before, when she had insisted on thanking the members of the Resistance for their service during those trying times. And she had contacted him a few times since then, even inviting him to join the Roundtable on one occasion before he turned it down so he could focus on his research. Because of this, Zelda honestly didn’t know him very well, but what she did know seemed to match Enzo’s description of him.

“Yes, I am familiar with him,” Zelda confirmed. “From what I recall, he was a polite and intelligent man, although a little reserved in nature.”

“And what do you think?” Caius asked warmly. “Would you be interested in giving him a chance at courtship?”

Zelda hesitated to respond for a moment. Suddenly, thoughts of the Resistance flashed through her mind, and more specifically, the Hero they had supported through all of his trials. Even now, Link still lingered in her head. He still plagued her heart. She thought that she had resolved herself when she had agreed to meet with Prince Ralph, but now she suddenly found herself feeling the need to do so all over again.

But she was hardly surprised. She already knew that he was the poison that ailed her. He was the chain that kept her bound and unable to move on.

She hopelessly wondered, would she ever be free of her feelings for him?

“Zelda?” Caius asked again. Apparently, she had taken too long to respond.

“Oh, yes,” she answered, forcing herself out of her daze. “I’d be happy to give Shad a chance at courtship. That is, assuming he is interested in me as well.”

Enzo gave her a reassuring smile. “Auru seems close to the lad, so I’ll have him reach out and see if Shad would be willing to attend a dinner with you.”

“Thank you,” Zelda said with a slight bow. And with that, she once again cast her fate into a frighteningly unknown future.

 

---

 

As expected, Shad had been stunned to receive the invitation. It wasn’t often that someone was offered the opportunity to join the Princess for a private dinner, after all. And of course, it was even rarer to be offered an opportunity for courtship with Her Royal Highness!

But in the end, the scholar accepted, and Zelda supposed that’s all she could have really asked for.

The two of them now sat on the same balcony where the Princess had shared a dinner with Prince Ralph. As before, a fancy table was set up and a delicious meal was served. The only difference was that this time, Zelda’s company had the common sense not to scatter it all across the floor.

Zelda tried to hold back a smile, pushing such memories away as she turned her attention to the man across from her. She took a moment to look him over. Shad was rather short and lean in stature; definitely a far cry from some of the muscular Knights she had courted in years prior. Not that she thought any less of him for such a thing though. She felt that he had a kind face; one which featured short yet wavy brown hair and a pair of rounded spectacles over his gray eyes. He was rather handsome, if a bit nerdy as well. Although Zelda quickly found that she much preferred the term “studious”. If he was a man who passionately loved reading and research, then why should he be criticized for it?

Nevertheless, Shad appeared a bit nervous to be seated here. He maintained a bright smile on his face, but his movements were timid and even shaky at times.

“Thank you for joining me here tonight,” Zelda said, trying to be warm. “I hope my presence is not too intimidating.”

Shad blinked before flashing a look of horror. “Oh, no!” he stammered with his soft yet formal voice. “It’s an honor to be here with you. If anything, you’ll have to forgive me for being a little shy.”

“That’s okay. I understand that meeting with royalty can be a little nerve-wracking for some.” Zelda then paused. A palpable image of Link flashed in her mind before she quickly forced it away. As always, now wasn’t the time for such things. “I…can be a little nervous when it comes to meeting strangers too.”

Shad raised his eyebrows. “Really? Someone of your stature?”

“It happens to the best of us,” she assured him.

He soon smiled. “Well, I will admit that knowing this does help me feel more at ease. It was just so astonishing, to be invited to the castle with the offer to court the Princess–er, that is, you.”

Zelda flashed an amused smirk. “I can only imagine your shock.” Especially for someone as timid as he.

“But I was flattered, of course,” Shad assured her. “The opportunity to court royalty must be a dream sought out by many. Especially when it comes to someone as fair as yourself, Princess Zelda. I soon found myself wondering why a lowly, bumbling scholar such as I had been so fortunate.”

“Please do not speak of yourself with such disregard,” Zelda said kindly. “Auru simply mentioned that he thought the two of us might get along. That was all the reason I needed to send you an invitation.”

To her surprise, Shad’s face turned a bit red. He soon looked away, unable to meet her gaze. “Well, again, I’m certainly flattered. And I appreciate how kind you are, Princess.” A nervous laugh escaped from his lips. “I guess I just don’t understand what someone like you would ever see in someone like me.”

Zelda’s expression softened. It seemed that Shad was nothing if not the height of humility, not unlike another someone she knew so well…

“You do not need to doubt yourself. From what I understand, you have a great interest in studying history, don’t you? I too enjoy poring over ancient tomes and learning about the past.”

Shad blinked before bringing his eyes back to her. “Y-You do?” She nodded. “I…I had no idea, but yes! I find history fascinating and I can’t help but spend every moment of my free time studying it. The ancient civilizations of eras long past. The development of so many marvels: technology, medicine, law, and culture. And that’s not to mention how many unsolved mysteries there are in the world! So many secrets lost to time. So many treasures of information for me to uncover through my studies.”

Zelda smiled as she listened. Shad spoke of such things with a grand enthusiasm, as well as a brilliant smile. It was honestly incredible. Not only had his face lit up, but it seemed that his nerves had all but dissolved in the face of his passion. It was obvious that he cared a great deal about his research.

However, his nerves eventually caught up with him, and Shad paused before flashing a bashful smile. “Forgive me. Sometimes I can get a bit carried away.”

But Zelda just shook her head. “No, please go on.”

“A-Are you sure?”

“Of course. I find this topic just as fascinating as you do.”

Shad could only smile back, grateful to realize that he had a like-minded companion before him. “In that case, would you be interested in hearing what I’ve been researching in recent years? I’ve already devoted so much time to it, I’m more than prepared to call it my life’s work.”

Zelda’s eyes widened, looking impressed. “Do tell. That is, if you’re allowed to share such a thing. I know that some scholars like to keep their studies close to the chest until they can officially publish their findings.”

Shad just laughed. “It’s no trouble. Trust me, the only people who truly care about this sort of thing are the hardcore bookworms like myself.”

“Well, you may just have to include me in that,” Zelda teased with a giggle. To her relief, Shad laughed back, happily accepting her joke.

“Tell me, have you ever heard of the sky beings known as the Oocca?”

Zelda nodded, her interest growing greater. “I have indeed. I believe Link mentioned that he encountered a number of them in an ancient city in the sky.”

“Ah, I should’ve guessed,” Shad said with a slight shake of his head. “He shared this with me as well. Nevertheless, I have been studying them for years, and my father studied them before me. He was an impressive scholar in his own right, and he spent countless hours trying to unfurl the mysteries of these ancient sky people. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years back, but he entrusted me with the journal containing all of his notes and I gladly picked up where he left off. We had always been so curious to learn more about the Oocca, a race that could very well trace its history back to the origins of Hyrule itself. So, I’m sure you could imagine my surprise when Link revealed that he had actually met them in their secret city!”

Zelda giggled at his reaction. “Yes, I was quite surprised when Link first mentioned that to me too.”

Shad crossed his arms and shook his head. “I swear, that Hero wound up getting all of the scholarly luck without even realizing it. He found a way up to the city in the sky and met the Oocca with hardly any help from me. Why, he even found the sacred ‘Dominion Rod’ lying around in an old temple! Of course, I could only laugh once I realized all of this. It seems that the Goddesses favor the bold.”

“I’m sure that you were a bigger help to Link than you know,” Zelda assured him. “Whenever he mentioned his journey to the sky, he always insisted that it was your research that helped get him there.”

Shad gave a humble nod. “Yes, and to think that it’s his journey that would end up proving so useful to furthering my research. It was like we were two distinct forces helping each other along. I’m very grateful to have met him.”

“Who isn’t?” Zelda mused. She then paused and realized that she might be speaking a bit too highly of the Hero, considering that she was supposed to be solely focused on the man in front of her and no other. She went to clear her throat. “Ahem. So tell me, once Link returned from the sky, did you get the chance to visit yourself?”

Shad grinned. “Well, it was a terrifying venture, climbing into a cannon and all, but I forced myself to do it for the sake of my research. And oh, what a marvelous journey it was! To finally lay eyes upon a civilization lost to time. To speak to a people that knew very little of our world, even though it sits right beneath them at all times. I spent a few weeks there and learned a great many things. But perhaps the greatest thing I discovered was that there were still more answers yet to be found!”

Zelda raised her eyebrows at this. “What do you mean?”

“Well, as it turns out, the Oocca don’t know much about their own history at all,” he said with a small laugh. “None of them knew anything about the origins of their great city, or if their ancestors had once dwelled in Hyrule alongside our own. And while they recognized the importance of things like the Dominion Rod, the owl statues, and the great sky cannons, not a single one of them knew who had constructed them. I was honestly baffled! I truly believed that the Oocca would solve any remaining mysteries, but their surprising lack of knowledge only led to countless other questions. It was then that I realized that my research was far from finished. I would once again need to start studying the past if I wished to discern the truth, and thus I have continued.”

“Wow,” Zelda breathed, still feeling very impressed by both his story and passion. “It’s amazing how dedicated you are to your work. I imagine that others might have given up in that situation. It seems like a mystery that may very well be unsolvable.”

Shad produced an endearing smile. “Ah, but that’s why I find it all so tempting. To fill in the gaps of history is a scholar’s sworn duty. I simply can’t resist the allure of finally knowing the truth, even if it takes decades of research. Besides, my father spent most of his life doing the same. I would dishonor his memory were I to stop now.”

“That’s very admirable of you,” Zelda said with a small smile. “I imagine that pursuing such work keeps you quite busy then.”

“Oh, yes. I’m always poring over old books I’ve read to make sure I haven’t missed any important details. And of course, there’s always a bit of traveling as well, whether it be to the city in the sky or to the various ruins where the owl statues reside.” Shad then paused before appearing a little guilty. “I’m afraid you’ll have to forgive me. It is for this reason that I refused the invitation to join the Hyrule United Roundtable all those months ago.”

Zelda blinked, surprised by the sudden apology. “Oh, that’s okay,” she said with a small wave of her hand.

“I truly would’ve liked to join and aid in the recovery and betterment of my Kingdom,” Shad continued. “But my research is just too important to me, and it can be so demanding. I feared that I just didn’t have the time to pursue both.”

“No, really, it’s all right,” Zelda assured him. “I understand that you were pursuing your own noble goals, and I respect that. Besides, the Roundtable is functioning just fine and is not necessarily in need of additional members. If anything, it sometimes feels as if we have acquired too many individuals,” she finished with a laugh.

Shad smiled before laughing as well. “Yes, Ashei has mentioned much of the same. She often comments that there are too many people and not enough problem solvers. Although I believe she was exaggerating.”

Zelda giggled some more. “And I can only assume that she considers herself a problem solver? In spite of how often she tends to be the contrary.”

“You know her too well,” Shad finished with a grin.

The two of them shared one final, heartfelt laugh. Zelda then leaned back in her seat and took a moment to admire Shad. This dinner was very pleasant, she thought. Shad was a polite and interesting young man, and she thoroughly enjoyed hearing about his research and the passion with which he pursued it. And of course, the chance to make jokes at Ashei’s expense was always a delight.

At the very least, she was certainly enjoying herself more than she had in Prince Ralph’s company.

“Thank you again for joining me tonight, Shad,” Zelda said softly. “This really has been a wonderful time.”

“Oh, no, the pleasure is all mine,” Shad offered with a nervous laugh. “I’m truly honored to be here. Thank you for inviting me.”

Zelda soon flashed her own look of nervousness. “I’m happy to hear that. Um…if you’re interested, would you care to do this again sometime? I think I would enjoy being able to see more of each other. And of course, I’d love to have more discussions with you.”

Shad blinked, his eyes going wide behind his spectacles. He seemed to be stunned that the Princess had taken such a genuine interest in him, but he didn’t let it bother him for long. He soon gave an enthusiastic nod. “Of course, Princess. That sounds wonderful.”

She merely smiled back, happy to have his acceptance. Already, she could feel a bond forming between them. One that was telling her to do away with unnecessary formalities.

“Please, call me Zelda.”

Notes:

Hmm…it seems that a new ship is sailing. Zelda and Shad. I wonder what Link will think about all of this, hehehe…

On a more serious note, I always felt that Zelda and Shad would get along well. I feel like their personalities are somewhat similar (not entirely, but somewhat), and they probably have similar interests/hobbies as well. What can I say? These two nerds just go well together I guess lol.

Next chapter, we’ll get Link’s reaction to the news. If you have any predictions, feel free to leave them in the comments. I’d love to hear them ;)

Chapter 56: May We Have This Dance?

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 56 – May We Have This Dance?

Link nearly performed a double-take when he returned to the castle. “Zelda and Shad?”

Ashei smirked, as if happy to have gotten such a reaction out of him. “You sound surprised.”

“I, well, yeah,” was all Link could stutter. “I just…I never would have thought that they’d take an interest in each other. It’s so…”

“Unexpected?”

“Yeah.”

Ashei snickered.

A few weeks had passed since Link had last seen Zelda. In that time, his wound had closed, and he could now finally move around without wincing at every step. He no longer required any bandages either, although Ilia still insisted on applying some healing salve to it as often as he would allow her. Aside from that, he was the picture of health.

Today, he had returned to the castle for the sake of attending the monthly Roundtable meeting. While navigating his way through the halls, he had the pleasure of bumping into Ashei, who, as always, was far too keen to spill the castle’s latest gossip to him. And man, was it juicy this time.

Apparently, Princess Zelda (his close friend) and Shad (his friend from the Resistance) had started seeing each other.

Link wasn’t quite sure why he felt so surprised by this. Perhaps it was because he knew them both so closely, and yet he had never once witnessed them interact with each other. It almost felt as if two separate worlds were colliding.

“So how did this happen?” Link asked as he hurried to catch up with the Knight who flippantly strutted through the halls.

She shrugged. “Apparently, Auru set them up together. Thought they'd make a good match.”

“Why?”

“You serious? Haven’t you ever noticed how much those two adore books?”

Link frowned and shook his head. “Well, sure, but I was actually asking why Auru did that in the first place.”

“Oh, guess you’ve been away and haven’t heard, yeah?” Ashei said as she blinked. “Zelda has started looking for suitors.”

Link frowned a bit when he heard that word. He wasn’t sure why, but it made him feel kind of uncomfortable. It almost felt alien as it left his lips. “Suitors?”

“Yeah. Zelda is seriously thinking about settling down and getting married.”

“Oh…” Link’s voice trailed off as he stared at the floor. For some reason, he still felt so taken aback by this news. Like it was so unexpected that it had simply left him stunned. He honestly didn’t know what to think about it.

Naturally, Ashei was quick to notice this behavior before giving him a playful punch on the arm. “Hey, snap out of it, bozo.”

Link lightly chuckled. For some, Ashei’s behavior could easily come across as rude, but he knew her well enough to know that this was her way of being endearing. “Sorry, I just had no idea that Zelda was planning on pursuing such things. She’s never even mentioned it.”

Ashei crossed her arms and shook her head. “Oh, Link, Link, Link. I thought you were Zelda’s friend. Do you really understand so little of her position? As a Princess, it’s expected that she will marry and start a family. And she can’t wait for forever, yeah?”

Link almost felt stumped by having this pointed out to him. “Well, sure, I guess I always knew that it was going to happen someday. It just…It feels so sudden.”

Ashei smirked. “Well, I suppose that’s how love works, yeah? Always striking swiftly and suddenly.”

“I suppose,” he agreed halfheartedly. He still felt like he was trying to process everything that he’d learned during their short walk through the halls. Sure, Zelda had always been mature, and she was certainly the type to always be thinking of her future. But when he tried to picture her getting married, it seemed like a foreign concept. It was almost as if he imagined that the Princess was a little too pure and too innocent to ever take an interest in such things.

But Ashei was right. She had to marry someday.

“And how’s Shad handling this?” Link asked, still trying to take everything into consideration. “He doesn’t seem like the most confident guy around.”

To his surprise, Ashei snorted at this. “You’re right, there. I heard he was nervous beyond belief, but I also heard that the two of them have gotten along rather well. They’ve already shared more than a few dinners together, and I imagine there will be more to come.”

“Huh,” Link said, trying to imagine the scholar and the Princess sitting at the same table together. As expected, it was still so difficult. “I never would have thought.”

Ashei smirked some more. “I know. It is rather funny to think of our squirrely little Shad as someone who is capable of entertaining royalty. Although I suppose he does have a charming way of speaking.”

Link smirked too. Yes, Shad did have an elegant way with words, and he felt that he knew Zelda well enough to surmise that it was likely one of the things she appreciated most about him. “Well, I’m happy to hear that they’re getting along. I hope it works out well for them.”

“Agreed,” Ashei said with a nod. She then paused, twisting her lip a bit before releasing a surprisingly somber sigh. “It’s just a shame that he’s not the Princess’s first choice.”

“First choice?” Link repeated, nearly stopping in his tracks. It took him a second to put together what she was suggesting. “Wait, would she rather be with someone else?”

Ashei also stopped and gave him a bewildered stare, as if trying to determine if he was serious. When she realized that he was, she could only roll her eyes. “Goddesses help me, you’re dense.”

Dense? Link repeated to himself. Now he felt completely lost. Leave it to his extended isolation in Ordon to revoke any sense of what’s going on around here. “Sorry, is there something I’m missing?”

“Yes,” Ashei said, and she made sure to stress the word. “But it’s not for me to share, and if you haven’t figured it out for yourself, then it’s simply not for you to know.”

Link could only raise his eyebrows. “Why are you being so cryptic all of a sudden?”

Ashei shut her trap, as if she’d already said more than enough. She then shot him a look as if to say “figure it out for yourself” before she ran off. Link considered following her, but he felt like there wasn’t much point. Instead, he continued walking at his own pace, mulling over his thoughts.

However, it wasn’t long after separating from Ashei that Link ran into the only person more troublesome than she: Chief Kanora of the Gerudo Tribe. The face of the tall redhead immediately lit up in surprise upon recognizing him.

“Ah, my lovely little Link! What a pleasure it is to see you again.”

Her reaction was as over the top as ever, and Link felt like retreating within himself. “Hello, Kanora. It’s nice to see you again too. I honestly forgot that you would be joining us today.”

“Oh yes!” she insisted with a big smile. “It’s my first time here and I am so thrilled to meet everyone. Why, I actually just finished introducing myself to the King. What an interesting man he is. Certainly a sly old fox, and in more ways than one.” She finished with a wink.

Link was speechless, but thankfully, a voice soon spoke up from behind the Chief so that he didn’t have to.

“Kanora, as always, I beg for you to watch your tongue,” Zelda said as she joined them in the hallway. “My father is now your King, and you should treat him with at least some respect.”

Kanora innocently blinked. “Why, of course, Princess! I meant no harm by my words. You must simply understand, we Gerudo often have more than one way of showing respect.”

There was another wink from the Chief, and Link had to fight hard not to laugh as he watched Zelda roll her eyes. Once they finished their revolution, the small sapphire spheres ended up landing on the Hero.

She blinked as she stared at him. She wasn’t sure why, but it felt like it had been a long time since they had last encountered each other, even though it had really only been a couple of weeks.

Naturally, he caught her gaze, and returned it with a warm smile. “Hey Zelda. It’s good to see you again.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile as she felt her shoulders relax a bit. There was no need to feel tense. Link was as warm and friendly as ever. “It’s good to see you as well. How is your wound? Have you finished recovering?”

“Yeah,” Link replied before patting his chest. “It’s all closed up and I’m good as new.”

Zelda placed a hand over her heart before sighing a bit. “I’m relieved to hear that.”

“And how about you?” Link asked. “Is your father doing okay?”

She nodded. “He is still rather sick and requires a lot of bed rest, but he’s doing well considering everything he has to endure.”

“Thanks goodness,” Link breathed with a smile. “I hope he gets well soon. The Goddesses know that you’ve had enough to deal with lately.”

Zelda smiled, appreciative of his sympathy. However, before she had a chance to respond further, Kanora was already swooping in with one of her suggestive remarks.

“You know, my lovely little Link,” she said, casually placing a hand on his shoulder, “one thing that can help relieve stress is to spend time in the presence of pleasant company. If you really want to aid the Princess, perhaps you should consider lending her some more of your time. I’m sure that she’d appreciate it, no?”

Link could only blush before taking a step back. As always, Kanora was getting way too personal, both in her words and proximity. “What are you talking about?”

Zelda was blushing just as much as the Hero, but she still managed to summon a stern, commanding voice. “Kanora, that is quite enough. Goodness, will your tongue never be tamed?”

Kanora released Link's shoulder before chuckling. “Oh, relax, Princess. I assure you that all comments are made innocently. And besides, I truly felt that I had some helpful advice to offer.”

Link furrowed his brow, still feeling lost. “I’d always be happy to spend time with Zelda and help her relax. But…wouldn’t it be better if someone closer did it?”

Both the Princess and the Chief cast a curious glance at the Hero.

“Whatever do you mean, Link?” Kanora asked. “Whose company could ever be more comforting than your own?”

Link frowned beneath her expectant gaze. “Well…” He paused, before realizing that these words were probably best directed at Zelda herself. “You’ve started seeing Shad, haven’t you?”

Zelda appeared beyond surprised, and even a little bashful as she cast her eyes to the floor. It was almost as if she were nervous for him to discover this. “Oh…you’ve caught word of that?”

“Ashei mentioned it to me a little bit ago,” Link clarified. “It’s true, isn’t it?”

Zelda was soon blushing again, but she managed to nod. “Er…yes. We’ve been seeing each other for about a week now.” She took a moment to silently curse herself. She wondered why it felt so difficult to tell him this. Was it part of the process of finally letting go of her feelings? Of moving on from the Hero who had captured her heart so long ago?

Zelda wasn’t sure what she expected Link’s reaction to be, but to her surprise (and relief), he gave her one of his typically warm smiles. “Well, congrats. I’m happy for you. Shad’s a really nice guy, and I know that he’ll treat you with kindness and respect.”

The Princess could only flinch under such compassion, but she soon managed to smile. Sometimes, she felt like she didn’t deserve someone as wonderful as Link in her life. “Thank you. I’ve heard much of the same from many others. I’m glad to know that he has your support as well.”

Link simply grinned. “Of course!”

Zelda wished to pause and appreciate this moment of kindness and peace, but said moment was quickly lost as Kanora snapped out of whatever daze she must have been in, only to zero in on her companion.

“Princess!” she nearly scoffed. “You…You have started seeing someone!? We’ve been in each other’s company all morning and yet you never once mentioned it!”

Zelda was rather taken aback by her reaction, although she supposed that she shouldn’t have been. It was Kanora, after all. “Well, yes. I’ve started seeing a young man named Shad. And there really isn’t much to mention. We’ve only been sharing some meals and having light discussions.”

“Still!” the Chief insisted. “To know that there is someone who fancies you. And to know that you fancy him in return! It’s such a relief. And here I feared that your heart was too frozen to ever find love.” Kanora nearly swooned as the final word left her lips. She was such a hopeless romantic.

Fortunately, Zelda was grounded enough to combat her. “Frozen heart?” she asked with a raised brow.

“Oh, you know, like how you can be such a stick in the mud sometimes?” Kanora chuckled. “But really, congratulations, Princess. I’m so happy for you. Oh! And this is just wonderful. Now you’ll have a date for the event that I hope to propose at today’s meeting. How lovely!”

Both Link and Zelda blinked before glancing at each other. Neither of them seemed to have any idea what the Chief was talking about.

“Date?” Zelda asked.

“Event?” Link questioned.

But Kanora was as coy as ever. She simply placed a hand over her lips before producing a dainty and mischievous laugh. “Oh ho ho, don’t worry, my loves. You’ll find out soon enough.”

And with that, she strangely and mysteriously whisked herself away, leaving Link and Zelda alone to bask in their bewilderment.

“What do you suppose she has planned?” Link asked eventually.

“I…don’t know,” Zelda replied slowly. “But I feel that I ought to be terrified to find out.”

Link just snorted and shook his head. He felt the exact same way. He soon smiled before gesturing down the hall. “Well, come on. We might as well face it together.”

Zelda couldn’t but smile back. “Yes, let’s go.”

 

---

 

As expected, the energy that the newest member brought to the Roundtable meeting was an enthusiastic yet chaotic one. Kanora was very outspoken and made sure that everyone knew what a delight it was to join them as the representative of the Gerudo. She then nearly squealed once she realized that she would be seated between Auru and Enzo, or as she liked to refer to them: two fine, handsome, and seasoned men.

Everyone just nervously laughed at her. They were all more than a little surprised at how blunt and vocal she could be. All except for Ashei, who nearly burst out laughing every time Kanora opened her mouth. It quickly became apparent that the Chief and the Knight would likely get along quite well, as disastrous as it sounded.

Thankfully, Kanora eventually settled, and Zelda was able to get the meeting under way. It proceeded as usual for the most part. The various leaders brought forth any concerns they had with their civilizations, and Zelda and the others pledged whatever support they could offer. Fortunately, things in Hyrule seemed to have quieted down over the last few months, so the issues were minor at best.

Although, at one point, Renado took a moment to warn everyone of an upcoming concern. Being a Shaman, he was sometimes privy to divine visions of what was to come. He soon revealed that a harsh winter would likely be upon them by year’s end, and he insisted that they all take the necessary precautions to endure it. After all, Hyrulean winters could be deadly if you weren’t prepared for them.

Everyone nodded their agreement and thanked the Shaman for his warning. No doubt, they would all make their preparations in due time. It was then that the table turned to Kanora, who had been patiently and eagerly waiting for her moment to speak. Now that it had finally arrived, she simply smirked before clearing her throat.

Oh dear, Zelda thought to herself. Here we go.

But in actuality, it wasn’t as bad as she expected. Kanora managed to behave and conduct herself like the responsible leader she was supposed to be. Sure, there were still a few flirtatious comments and more than a few unnecessary winks, but considering who she was, her conduct was honestly very professional.

She politely asked for trade routes to be established so that her girls could sell their wares in the Castle Town market, which Enzo claimed he would look into. She then inquired about the ongoing search for stonemasons to see if any of them might be interested in constructing some housing in the desert, which Fost assured her was still under way. Most of the masons were currently finishing up work in Castle Town and the surrounding areas, but once winter rolled around, that would be a good time for them to share their talents with the Gerudo. After all, you couldn’t build a home when it was snowing, and there certainly wouldn’t be any snow in the consistently warm desert.

Additionally, Darbus chimed in and claimed that some of his brothers might be interested in lending them a hand. Being Gorons, they knew how to work with stone better than anyone else, and of course, they had access to plenty of natural materials within Death Mountain. It was a genuine and kind offer, although Kanora didn’t seem particularly pleased at the thought of Gorons taking positions that could have been filled by big, burly men instead. But she smiled and thanked her fellow Chief all the same.

Once all of the important topics were out of the way, Kanora then smirked a bit before bowing her head and placing a hand to her chest. “And now for my final request, if you lovely people would be so kind as to afford me yet another moment to speak.”

Zelda frowned a bit. She had a bad feeling about this. No doubt the Gerudo Chief had been saving this “secret plan” of hers for last. The very same one that she had hinted to Link and Zelda not even an hour before. Still, after such a display of humility and politeness, how could she deny her?

“Yes, go on, Chief Kanora.”

The redhead grinned, appearing very pleased. She cleared her voice again, if only so she could guarantee that everyone heard her with perfect clarity.

“I would like to propose an event. One which I hope to see come to fruition, but you will have to inform me if it is at all possible, Princess.”

Again, Zelda felt a sense of hesitation rising up within her, although she couldn’t deny that she was more curious than anything else. “State your request,” she commanded.

Kanora smirked once more. “I propose that we hold a ball here at the castle.”

Silence, followed by many turned heads and raised eyebrows.

“A ball?” Ashei asked, appearing displeased with something Kanora said for the first time ever.

She nodded with confidence. “Yes, a ball. I believe that is what they are called here, no? Those big formal dances that are held at the castle?”

Zelda eyed the Chief warily, wondering what she was plotting. “Well, yes, you are correct. But may I inquire as to why you are requesting such a thing?”

Kanora smiled her girly smirk. “Oh, well I simply assure you that this is all for the sake of my people, Princess. I hold no ulterior motive, other than to have a bit of fun, of course. Ah ha ha ha.”

It didn’t take long for the others to start giving her curious looks. “And how exactly will holding a ball here aid your people?” Auru asked patiently.

“Why, shouldn’t that be obvious?” Kanora asked as she placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “I’ve heard that such events are very social, and an excellent way to meet people. And of course, seeing as how we Gerudo are nothing but a bunch of lonely hearts searching for warmth and comfort in the arms of a lover, our attendance at such an event could certainly prove beneficial to us. Why, just imagine all the handsome, single young men that we may encounter. Can you think of a better opportunity for my kind to discover the romance that we need to survive?”

Zelda nearly lost her composure as the truth of what Kanora was asking for finally sunk in. Her eyes narrowed with distaste. “You…You wish to use the ball as an opportunity to seduce men?” she asked, perhaps more bluntly than she should have.

But her phrasing didn’t faze the Chief in the slightest. “Oh, yes, very much so,” she said, bright eyed and unashamed. “I’d like to remind you that we Gerudo require relations with outsiders in order to propagate our kind. And now that we have returned to our homeland of Hyrule, we simply must seek out Hylian men to accommodate us. Therefore, it would benefit us greatly if we held a wonderful gathering of individuals, where we can greet fresh faces and potentially strike some fancies.”

Zelda nervously frowned. “Kanora, I don’t know about this…While I understand the necessity of your…reproduction,”—the Princess tried to put it gently but the word still made her wince— “I’m not sure that our castle’s ballroom would be the best place to openly display such…um, acts of passion…”

Kanora just raised her eyebrows before laughing and shaking her head. “Oh, please, Princess. Do not be so vulgar. What I am requesting is honestly very innocent. We only wish to meet the men and see if they would be interested in getting to know some of us better. The making of love can come later.”

If Zelda’s face hadn’t turned red by this point, it certainly had now. Not only had she mistakenly assumed what Kanora had been asking for, but this topic in and of itself felt incredibly inappropriate for what was supposed to be a political discussion. And yet, in spite of such truths, Zelda was surprised to find that Kanora’s proposal was quickly gathering support.

“I think this may be worth considering, Princess,” Enzo spoke up. “The Gerudo have recently returned to our lands and after swearing fealty to our Kingdom, it is only right that we should lend them our assistance. And it does sound as if this event could prove useful for introducing the Gerudo to their fellow countrymen.”

“I agree,” Fost said with a nod. “This will be a good experience for the entire Kingdom. We haven’t held a ball here since before the Twilight Invasion took place, so we are likely overdue for one. Additionally, it will mean a lot to the good people of Castle Town if we open our doors and invite them to join us.”

Zelda bit her lip. She couldn’t deny that these were fair points being made.

“I think a dance sounds like fun,” Ralis added with a boyish grin. “It could serve as a relaxing celebration after all of the work we’ve put into the Hyrule Recovery Effort.”

“Absolutely!” Darbus bellowed. “And I know that me and my brothers love a good dance. Count us in!”

It was here that Kanora frowned a bit. “Now hold on, you two!” she snapped. “While I don’t mind if your lovely selves attend, we can’t be filling up the ballroom with Gorons and Zoras! We Gerudo need to meet Hylian men, and no others!”

Auru chuckled a bit. “Good Chief, while your plight is understandable, it would be rather rude to exclude all other races from attending the event, don’t you think?”

Kanora furrowed her brow but soon mellowed under the gentleman’s friendly gaze. “Very well. You can bring a small group of Gorons and Zoras with you but no more. We really do require the space.”

Zelda could only frown. By this point, the situation felt like it was quickly getting out of hand, so she insisted on speaking up. “Ahem. I don’t believe that I have issued my approval for this proposal yet. We still need to discuss it.”

“Oh, what’s there to discuss?” Ashei asked with a roll of her eyes. “Everyone is already on board with it, yeah? And if it’s just a ‘meet-and-greet’ at a dance, it’s basically harmless.”

Kanora beamed at this. “Yes! Exactly! Thank you, my sweet little Ashei.”

“Watch who you’re calling ‘sweet’,” Ashei warned, although she did smirk a bit.

Zelda merely sighed. “Well, yes, I suppose there is little risk involved if it’s all purely formal…”

Kanora nodded. “Oh, yes, Princess. I’m sure you know how well-behaved us Gerudo can be.”

You mean not at all? Zelda wanted to shoot back, but she managed to hold her tongue.

“And besides,” Kanora continued. “It’s as the wonderful Goron Chief and Zora Prince stated. This will be a fun event for all, and that will of course include you, Princess! Why, you’ll even have the opportunity to bring that new lover of yours and share a dance with him!”

Zelda was properly seated, but at the mention of the word “lover”, she nearly fell out of her chair anyway. “I beg your pardon?”

“Why, you know, that wonderful young man you mentioned earlier. What was his name again?”

“Shad,” Ashei supplied effortlessly.

“Ah, yes, the kind and handsome Shad! Why, just think of it, Princess. Holding the ball and sharing a dance with your beloved. Oh, doesn’t it just make your heart swoon?”

Zelda simply stared at the Chief in disbelief. Never before had she attended a meeting that felt this disorderly and chaotic. And never before had anyone encouraged her to seek a dance with “her lover”. No, worse, “her beloved”. Not only did such terms sound far more romantic than the reality of things, but they were still incredibly inappropriate for a political discussion!

“I’ll have to consider it,” was all she said before shutting her mouth and attempting to smother the inferno that was her face.

Thankfully, Kanora’s attention was quickly turned elsewhere. “And not only the Princess, but I believe that you have a date as well, my lovely little Link.”

The Hero, who had been following the conversation but felt no need to add to it, suddenly blinked himself to life. “Huh? What? Me?”

Kanora giggled at his cluelessness. “Yes, of course you, silly. You have a lover of your own, do you not? Surely you’ll bring her to the ball as well?”

Link blushed a bit. Much like Zelda, he was not privy to having his girlfriend explicitly referred to as his “lover”. It sounded so much naughtier than it needed to be. And of course, it didn’t help that the father of his “lover” was sitting right next to him. For the sake of not offending Bo, he tried to choose his words carefully.

“Well, um, I guess I could ask Ilia if she’d be interested.”

To his surprise (and perhaps relief), Bo just chuckled before happily clapping Link on the back. “Oh, don’t be so shy. Go on and take her, Link. I’m sure that Ilia would love the chance to attend a formal ball. Especially if it’s with you, son.”

Link smiled bashfully, but he knew that the Mayor was right. Ilia would certainly be up for it if he asked her. “Okay, count me in then.”

“Wonderful!” Kanora cheered as she clapped her hands together. “And you, Princess? Will you gladly lend us your approval? I’m certain you’ll have a marvelous time. Love is in the air, after all.”

Again, Zelda had to fight hard not to come undone under this woman’s comments. Nevertheless, she could tell that the battle had already been fought and won. Her fellow members of the Roundtable were now simply awaiting her blessing, and nothing more.

“Very well,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll converse with the Hyrule Council and schedule a date for the ball in the near future.”

There was a squeal of delight from Kanora followed by nods of approval from the rest of the Roundtable. Everyone seemed satisfied with this result. Enzo and Fost proceeded to start discussing the preliminary details, such as the organization of such an event, how many servants would be required, and how many guests would likely attend. Not to mention, who would perform the music and what food was to be served?

But Zelda just tuned it all out. She was too distracted by her thoughts as her gaze rested on Kanora. Even now, the Chief had a faint smirk of triumph planted on her lips. The Princess narrowed her eyes as her nerves began to grow restless.

She couldn’t see this event as anything other than a giant melting pot of colorful and interesting characters. The Gerudo would be in attendance, as would the people of Castle Town, the Gorons, the Zoras, and all of the Roundtable members. Not to mention the dates, Shad and Ilia, in addition to numerous other individuals who held ties to the monarchy. With so many moving pieces all congregating in one space on one night, Zelda soon felt challenged by a single provocative query.

What was Kanora planning?

Notes:

What indeed wahahaha. We’ll be going into a ball “mini-arc” of sorts next chapter. I promise it will be chaotic, fun, and rife with drama. All my favorite flavors lol.

Chapter 57: A Dance with Danger

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 57 – A Dance with Danger

The night of Hyrule Castle’s first formal ball in months had finally arrived. It was a beautiful evening, featuring a clear sky adorned with stars. Under this view, the castle was aglow with torchlight, becoming a magnificent beacon amidst the otherwise dark landscape. Many spectators murmured their awe as they walked, arm in arm, through the front gates.

A horse and carriage soon entered through the gate as well, crossing the courtyard before pulling off to the side and halting. It was here that the door opened and Link stepped out, finally getting the chance to admire the castle for himself. He gawked at how magical it appeared at this time of night, especially with all the lanterns and decorations that had been set up.

However, his attention was soon pulled away by his companion, who was still seated inside the carriage. “Um, Link, could I have a hand here?”

Link smiled before approaching the carriage and extending a hand. A moment later, Ilia took it, holding on dearly as she slowly descended the steps. Once she was on solid ground, she managed to steady herself.

“Ooh, that’s better, thank you,” she said before smoothing out her long dress. “I’m just not used to moving in this thing.”

Link produced a playful grin as he eyed her up and down. Ilia currently donned an amber-colored dress which covered her arms and shoulders before flowing all the way down to her ankles where it widened out. Link agreed that it was definitely an unfamiliar look for her. He had seen Ilia in dresses before, but they were much simpler garments, and of Ordonian style. Certainly a far cry from this formal wear that one would expect to find in Castle Town. In fact, Ilia didn’t even own this dress. She had borrowed it from Telma, who had apparently donned it in her younger years, when she was (in her own words) a “skinny little thing”.

Link laughed at the thought before focusing on Ilia again. “Well, you better get used to moving in it,” he teased her. “We are at a dance, after all.”

Ilia shot him a mild glare. “You’re one to talk. You look a little stiff yourself.”

Link laughed again as he glanced down. Naturally, he was dressed up in fancy clothes that didn’t really suit him either. When he mentioned to Enzo that he didn’t have any formal attire, the Minister had insisted on having a suit tailored for him at once. Link now donned said suit which consisted of the traditional green colors of Heroes past. Honestly speaking, he felt that it looked quite good on him, but his collar was a bit tight around his neck, and his dress shoes were small and far from comfortable.

Still, he wasn’t worried. He had always been light on his feet. “I can manage,” he assured his partner. He then extended his arm, elbow out. “Come on, the ball awaits.”

Ilia softly smiled before locking his arm in her own. The two of them then started a slow, careful walk forward, making sure that neither of them would stumble in these unfamiliar getups.

As they departed, they took a second to thank the carriage driver for escorting them. Apparently, being an important member of the Roundtable meant that an escort would be sent directly to your residence for the sake of easy traveling. This carriage in particular had been sent to Ordon to collect Link and Bo, but the mayor had declined to attend. He claimed that he was too old for such things, and simply encouraged Link and Ilia to have a good time without him.

The Hero glanced over to his partner, and soon smiled at the anxious expression on her face. “Are you nervous?”

“A little bit,” she admitted. “This is my first time attending a formal dance after all. As well as visiting the castle.”

Link nodded. He felt the same way about the dance, but fortunately, he at least felt comfortable about visiting the castle at this point. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it as the night goes on. Plus, I’m sure we’ll see a lot of familiar faces here.”

“I’m sure you will,” Ilia corrected him with a smirk. “You’re so well-connected.”

Link laughed before tugging on her arm a bit. “Well, I’ll happily introduce you to anyone you don’t know, and then you and I will be on the same page.”

“That’s sweet of you,” she said before drawing a bit closer to his side. However, as they neared the castle, she couldn’t help but pause and turn her gaze upwards at the looming structure. “Oh wow…It’s huge.”

“Yeah, definitely a lot bigger than when you see it from Castle Town,” he agreed. “But come on. The interior is what’s truly amazing.”

Ilia nodded and allowed herself to be pulled along. A couple of guards were standing on either side of the double doors that led into the castle, but they weren’t stopping or checking anyone. The castle had graciously opened its doors to all of Castle Town, so there would be no unwelcome guests tonight. Link and Ilia soon passed through the threshold, only to stop and admire their surroundings again.

The main hall of the castle was brightly lit, with big, beautiful banners hanging from the ceiling. They came in a variety of colors, and each one carried the insignia from one of Hyrule’s various provinces. Link smiled when he pointed out the ring-horned goat surrounded by trees to Ilia, and she grinned back. Aside from the banners, there were many other decorations lining the space as well, such as ribbons and potted flowers. It was clear that the servants had gone to a lot of trouble to make this place look festive.

It was here that some of the guests stopped and chose to mingle, but Link and Ilia forged onwards. After walking through a short hallway, they finally arrived at the ballroom. As expected, it was just as glorious as everything that came before it. Smooth floors that were so polished they almost shined under the dazzling chandeliers that hung above. The incredibly high ceiling that required you to crane your neck back just to properly look at it. The shiny suits of armor and fancy furniture that dotted along the walls. But of course, none of this was comparable to the guests who occupied the ballroom from front to back. Many of them had already taken to dancing, swirling about in their beautifully colored attire. It was such a breathtaking sight.

And the music? Wonderful. Almost mesmerizing. It all originated from the stage at the back, where a group of Hylians accompanied by a Goron and Zora took up their instruments. Between their number, they covered wind, strings, and percussion all in perfect unity, thus leading to the creation of the softest melodies imaginable. It was perfect for this setting.

“Wow…” Ilia breathed, hardly believing the atmosphere of such a place.

“I know,” Link replied, equally stunned. “The Hyrule Council really went all out for this.”

Ilia brought her free hand up to where their arms connected, and nervously rubbed it against Link. “There sure are a lot of people here,” she murmured, watching the various colors blend together over and over as the music rose and fell.

Link reached over and offered her hand a reassuring pat. “Should we walk around and see if we can find anyone we know?”

Ilia gave him a shy but thankful nod. He smiled as he pulled her to the nearest wall. It was here that the guests could step away from the dance floor and participate in conversation if they wished. Or at the very least, it was a place for them to relax and catch their breath. The young couple strolled along for a while, keeping an eye out for any familiar faces. Naturally, there were many guests here that Link did not recognize, and it seemed that many of them did not recognize him in return. Not that he minded, of course. He was perfectly happy to keep his head low at such a large social event.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the two of them stumbled upon a friendly face. Link smiled when he spotted him, but Ilia was the one who cried out his name.

“Renado!” she cheered, running forward as fast as her dress would allow.

The Shaman in question turned to them before producing a warm smile. “Ah, Ilia, how delightful it is to see you again.” He opened his arms wide, and Ilia gave him a small hug.

“I know, it’s been too long,” Ilia agreed with a grin. “How are you?”

“I’m doing well.”

“And Luda?”

“She’s good too,” he said with a small chuckle. He soon turned to the Hero. “Link, it is always nice to see you as well.”

“Likewise,” Link greeted him. “Are you here alone?”

Renado nodded. “I figured this would be a good opportunity to socialize with new faces. You never know, I may be able to find someone who is interested in relocating to Kakariko Village. We’re much better off than we were a few months ago, of course, but we’re still happy to be accepting new residents.”

“I wouldn’t mind stopping by to visit sometime,” Ilia announced with a smile. “I learned a lot from you during my last stay in Kakariko, and your teachings have been very useful back home in Ordon.”

“Ah, you are interested in pursuing a medical practice?” Renado asked with mild surprise.

“Of course!” she responded. “I love being able to treat people and make medicine. Although, there’s still so much that I don’t know.”

“I see. And now you are eager to learn more?” Ilia nodded and Renado laughed. “Your passion for such a thing is very admirable. Please feel free to schedule an extended visit to Kakariko Village sometime. I’d be happy to teach you everything I know.”

Ilia clasped her hands together with glee. “Oh, I certainly will! Thank you, Renado.”

“It’s my pleasure,” he assured her. The Shaman then took a moment to scan the crowd before his eyes fell on the young couple once more. “Tell me, is Bo in attendance tonight?”

Ilia softly smiled before shaking her head. “I’m afraid not. He said that he wasn’t interested in formal dances.”

Renado also shook his head before releasing a sigh. “That old codger. Leaving me to fend for myself at an event like this.”

“I take it that you don’t care for this sort of thing either?” Link asked, just now noticing that Renado hadn’t even bothered to dress up for the occasion. He was still wearing the typical shaman robes that he always donned.

“Not particularly,” he admitted with a shrug. “But as I stated, I do not mind the social aspect.”

“Did someone ask for a bit of socializing?”

The three of them froze as a new voice rang out over the music. They soon managed to trace it back to a friendly barmaid, who was all too eager to greet them with a large smile.

“Telma!” Ilia exclaimed before running over and securing a big hug. “Oh, it’s so great to see you here.”

Telma chuckled before separating from the embrace. “It’s nice to see you too, honey. And oh, just look at that dress! I knew it would look perfect on you!”

Ilia giggled before hugging her again. Link just smiled as he watched the two of them. Telma behaved like a warm, motherly figure whenever Ilia was around, so it was always sweet to see the two of them reunite.

However, that wholesome moment was short-lived as Telma soon turned her gaze to the Hero. “You,” she said, in a tone that was surprisingly stern. “You still treating this girl right?”

“I…what?” Link asked, completely caught off guard. “Of course I am. What are you even suggesting?”

Telma gave him a knowing look, although Link had no idea what he was supposed to derive from such a thing.

“Oh, Telma, don’t be so harsh,” Ilia interrupted with a playful laugh. “I’ll have you know that Link treats me wonderfully.”

The barmaid laughed in return, tossing her head back as she did so. “I know, darling, I know. I just like to keep our Hero on his toes.”

Link could only roll his eyes. Of course Telma was messing with him, same as always. Thankfully, being the social butterfly that she was, her attention soon fell on her third and final victim.

“Hey stranger,” she said, walking right up to Renado.

“Ah, Miss Telma,” the Shaman replied with a blank expression. “What a pleasant surprise to run into you here.”

Despite his deadpan tone, the words were still enough to make the barmaid grin with delight. “Oh, well aren’t you sweet? How about a dance?”

Renado could only sigh, allowing his shoulders to slump in the process. “I suppose it would be rude to refuse?”

“Incredibly rude,” she asserted.

“Very well then.”

With some level of reluctance, Renado extended his hand to Telma. The barmaid merely smirked before grabbing her favored man and pulling him away to the dance floor. As she did, she gave Link and Ilia a quick wink.

The girl simply laughed. “It’s always so fun to see her.”

“On the contrary, I think she has too much energy,” Link said with a laugh of his own. “But you’re right, she does always have a way of livening up the place. Now, is it just me, or are you in the mood to dance too?”

Ilia blinked as she watched Link extend a hand to her. She then smiled before sincerely nodding. Taking his hand, the two of them journeyed to the dance floor, where they joined all the other guests in a slow, relaxing waltz. Admittedly, Link wasn’t very good at dancing, but he managed to perform the motions well enough. Thankfully, Ilia was a bit more graceful than he was, so she always led him through the steps whenever he needed a bit of correction.

Link softly smiled as he stared into her deep, green eyes. Ilia blushed a bit but found the courage to stare back into his own. They may have felt a little out of place at such a formal event, but as long as they were together, holding each other in their arms as they gently swayed to the light music, everything just felt perfect.

They danced for a few songs before they both agreed to retreat back to the quiet haven that was the walls. Ilia claimed that she could use the break, and besides, there were probably more friendly faces to chat with at this point. Link agreed and they began making their rounds across the ballroom. Eventually, they reached a table where fruity drinks were being served. The young couple took a moment to help themselves, feeling much cooler and refreshed after the beverage passed their lips.

It was around this point that trouble decided to rear its ugly head.

“Oh, my lovely little Link! So you have shown up after all!”

Link nearly choked on his drink at the mention of his familiar yet undesirable title. He soon turned to find the only woman daring enough to refer to him as such.

“Hello Kanora,” he said meekly.

The Chief in question happily strutted forward, accompanied by a handful of other Gerudo ladies. They were each decked out in fancier garments than Link had ever seen from their kind before. They weren’t so much dresses as short tops and long skirts, leaving their midriffs exposed like always. The skirts were slitted as well, giving the tall women every opportunity to show off their long, smooth legs as they walked. And of course, they donned only the most extravagant jewelry. From earrings to brooches to necklaces to bracelets to rings, all consisting of gold, silver, and gems. Link couldn’t help but notice that they were certainly the flashiest guests in attendance tonight.

Kanora soon came to a halt, although not before invading the Hero’s personal space. “It is so wonderful to see you here tonight! Oh, and look at your little Hero-themed outfit. Isn’t that just the cutest thing?”

The Chief reached out, grazing the fabric without permission. The ladies that accompanied the Chief murmured their agreement, gushing over how handsome the valiant Hero looked tonight. Link quickly grew uncomfortable and took a step back before awkwardly clearing his throat. “Er…yes. Minister Enzo actually had it tailored for me.”

“Oh, the wonderfully handsome Enzo did that, did he?” Kanora asked with raised eyebrows. “Perhaps I’ll have to personally thank him for it, because seeing you like this is just such a treat…”

By this point, Link’s face was turning red from sheer embarrassment. Would Kanora ever stop making such suggestive remarks? No, an even better question, would she ever learn to just shut up? In a desperate attempt to force his eyes anywhere other than the women who were fawning over him, the two blue spheres eventually fell on Ilia before promptly freezing in place.

The girl glanced back and forth between the Hero and Gerudo, appearing very confused, as well as a little displeased. Eventually, she spoke up. “Um, Link, who are these women? And how exactly do they know you?”

Link gulped. Her question would have been innocent enough on paper, but something about her tone made it sound like he was in terrible danger. He soon opened his mouth in an attempt to clarify the situation. That is, if such a thing could even be done.

Unfortunately, Kanora cut him off long before he had the chance to try. She stepped forward again, nearly pushing Link out of the way in order to face Ilia head on. She then smiled that sweet and innocent smile which she loved to display so often.

“Oh my!” she gasped. “You must be the lovely little lady who has captured Link’s heart. Oh, it’s such an honor to meet you. He’s told us so much about you, of course.” Kanora graciously offered a hand forward. “Your name is Ilva, correct?”

Ilia just blinked before frowning and furrowing her brow. “It’s Ilia, actually.”

Kanora playfully smacked her own forehead. “Oh, Ilia, yes, of course! That does sound a bit more familiar, actually. Apologies for that, dear. I can be a bit scatterbrained at times.”

“That’s all right,” Ilia said hesitantly. She then reached out and accepted the Chief’s handshake. “And who are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all! I am Kanora, Chief of the Gerudo Tribe, and Queen of the Dance. Although that second title is a secret, ah ha ha ha.” The Gerudo women all laughed at the Chief's joke, but no one else did. “Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you, lover of Link’s.”

This time, Ilia’s face turned red, and her mouth tumbled open as well. To be referred to as Link’s lover was perhaps the most embarrassing thing that could have come from a stranger’s lips. Although, as it turned out, the comments that the Gerudo were about to make were far, far worse.

As was typical of their character, the Gerudo ladies soon stepped forward, freely entering Ilia’s personal space in order to take a closer look at her. Their eyes inspected the girl from top to bottom, completing a full analysis within seconds.

“This is the woman you fell for, Hero?” the first one asked.

“She’s not much, is she?” another commented.

“Why, she’s as skinny as a twig. Where are her curves?”

Link watched in horror as Ilia’s face somehow turned an even deeper shade of red. And he had a feeling that it wasn’t simply due to embarrassment, but also due to frustration. He didn’t need a lesson in female social commentary to know that what these ladies were saying was incredibly rude. Thankfully, Kanora seemed to pick up on this too.

“Okay, ladies, that’s enough!” Kanora said, frantically clapping her hands together. “Remember, we’re only supposed to be seeking out the hearts of lonely, single men. Not those who are already spoken for. Let’s do another sweep of the room, shall we?”

The Gerudo frowned a bit, clearly displeased at having their good time ruined, but they soon nodded their agreement. As they made their way back to the dance floor, they couldn’t resist saying goodbye to their present company.

“Farewell, Hero!”

“If you ever change your mind, come and seek us out.”

“We’d be happy to show you a good time, hehehe.”

And with that, the storm that was the Gerudo disappeared. Although, they had somehow managed to leave a hurricane in their wake. Link slowly turned to face the woman that was currently glaring daggers, pitchforks, and spears at him.

“What was that?” Ilia muttered under her breath. She was so upset that her fists were clenched and they almost appeared to be shaking. “What was that?”

Link nervously swallowed, trying to think of how best to diffuse this situation. “That was, um…That was the Gerudo.”

“Well, I can’t believe them!” Ilia scoffed. “I can’t believe they made such rude comments. And to my face, no less! Oh, and then there was the seductive labeling and the way they acted so close and familiar with you…It honestly makes my blood boil. I’m quite certain that I’ve never met such scandalous women in all my life!”

Link could only sigh under that fiery gaze of hers. “I know, and I’m not sure I’ve ever met anyone as eccentric as them either. But please, try to be forgiving towards them. I don’t think they always realize exactly what they’re saying. They are from a different culture, after all.”

“So being from a different culture means that all manners are thrown out the window?” Ilia demanded with crossed arms. “They actually made it sound like I’m unfit to be in a relationship with you!”

Link softly smiled at her. He could tell that she was bothered, and honestly, she had every right to be. At times like this, Link knew that he had to step up to comfort her. Fortunately, he was a natural at it. He soon walked behind Ilia and placed gentle hands on her shoulders before rubbing them a bit. He then leaned forward so he could softly whisper in her ear.

“Oh, don’t be like that. Who are they to tell me who I belong with? The only ones who should decide that are you and me.”

His touch, his words; both worked like a charm. He could feel Ilia physically relax within his hands as she let out a deep sigh.

“You’re right,” she admitted. “I shouldn’t care about what the gossipers say.”

Link laughed a bit. “That’s the best advice that you can receive in this castle. Trust me, I would know.”

Ilia smirked a bit as she glanced back at him. She appeared a little sympathetic as well. “The people here gossip about you?”

“Nothing as offensive as what you just endured. The rumors about me are mostly fun and innocent.”

“Oh? Like what?”

“Like, did you know that I’m able to win a tug-of-war contest against ten men? And with one hand behind my back to boot.”

Ilia couldn’t help but giggle, finally turning around to face him. “You’re right, that does sound pretty fun. I actually wouldn’t mind watching that sometime.”

“Well, unfortunately, the difference between rumor and reality can always be a little disappointing,” Link teased her. “So don’t get your hopes up.”

Ilia giggled again before pulling her man into a hug. She took a moment to rest her head against his warm chest. “Thanks, Link. You always know how to make me feel better.”

“Of course. Anytime,” he promised with a grin.

They soon separated, now in much better spirits than before. To celebrate, they helped themselves to another round of fruity drinks before continuing their search around the ballroom. After their encounter with the Gerudo, the couple figured that they were due for some more pleasant company.

“Oh, Link, look over there!” Ilia said while pointing a finger. “It’s Prince Ralis!”

Link glanced over and smiled. Sure enough, the young Zora Prince stood there, donning the formal garb of his people. It had been a long time since Ilia and Ralis had last seen each other. In fact, they hadn’t interacted since Ilia had helped nurse Ralis back to health in Kakariko Village, and that had been back during the Twilight Invasion. Because of this, Link knew that Ilia would be excited to greet him again, and the young Prince would probably be eager to see her too.

However, Link stopped dead in his tracks as the crowds shifted, allowing Ralis’s company to enter the Hero’s field of vision. The young Prince was currently conversing with a group of women. Gerudo women. Link just rolled his eyes and sighed.

Why did it seem like there was so much danger afoot tonight?

“Come on, let’s go over and say hi,” Ilia said as she tugged on his arm.

But Link was stubborn, choosing to hold his ground. “Wait,” he said, tugging her arm back.

Ilia spun to a stop before giving him a curious look. “Hmm? What’s the matter?”

“I, um…” Link paused, glancing over Ilia’s shoulder at the Gerudo that surrounded Ralis. He could just imagine it now. What would happen if he chose to walk over there. The Gerudo would likely fawn over him just as their predecessors had, only to meet Ilia and proceed to make rude comments to her face once again. Link would then get embarrassed, Ilia would get upset, and it would just be a miserable time for everyone involved. Fearing this outcome more than any other, Link quickly attempted to come up with an excuse.

“I just spotted someone I know over there,” he said, gesturing to the left with his head. “Um, why don’t you go speak to Ralis and I’ll stop by in a few minutes? I’m sure the two of you have a lot of catching up to do, after all.”

Ilia furrowed her brow, clearly not pleased at the thought of splitting up. Nevertheless, the argument was fairly sound. Of that, Link was confident. Even Zelda might have had trouble finding a flaw with it.

Well, maybe that was an exaggeration, but the Hero dared to hope.

“Are you sure?” Ilia eventually asked.

Link nodded. “Yeah, this other person spotted me too, so it would be rude if I didn’t say hello.”

Ilia frowned some more, but she soon nodded back. “Very well. Don’t take too long, though. I’m sure Ralis wants to greet you tonight too.”

“I won’t,” he promised her. “See you soon.”

And with that, he watched her go, making her way to the Zora Prince on her own. He frowned as he retreated backwards, disappearing into the crowds. He hated having to abandon Ilia like this, but he figured it was for the best. This way, at least the Gerudo wouldn’t learn of any connection between the two of them, and might even treat Ilia with a little more respect.

Link continued to sift through the mob of guests, trying to keep his head low. He supposed he could try to find someone to actually have a conversation with, but he wasn’t exactly eager to be recognized. Especially not with so many Gerudo women in his proximity. Thinking tactically, he decided to retreat to the walls on the opposite side of the room. Perhaps he would be able to hide there for a while.

However, as soon as he broke free of the throng of dancers, he found himself in immediate danger once again. So swift was his movement that he didn’t notice the beautiful woman striding towards him until they had already collided.

“Ah!” they both said in surprise, stumbling a bit as they untangled their bodies.

“Oh, please forgive me!” the woman said, immediately bowing her head. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

Link smiled and shook his head. “Oh, that’s okay. It’s really my fault–”

But Link suddenly paused, his mouth falling open in surprise. He realized that he recognized the beautiful woman before him, and naturally, she recognized him too.

It was Zelda.

Notes:

Admit it. You knew it was only a matter of time before these two ran into each other, didn’t you? ;)

Chapter 58: Letting Go

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 58 – Letting Go

“Zelda,” Link breathed, letting the name loosely tumble from his lips.

Time seemed to slow. The music in the background faded from his ears. In this moment, he was in awe. Not only because he was surprised to have stumbled into the Princess of all people, but also because she appeared so different from usual.

Simply put, she was stunning.

First off, there was her long brunette hair, which had clearly been styled for the occasion. It was free of the usual braid in which it was kept, now flowing down her shoulders and back in long strands that were equally wavy and curly. Then there was her dress, which was also long and flowing and violet—decorated with floral patterns in shades of red, pink, and white. And finally, there was her face, which shined brightly despite the thin layer of makeup that covered it. Her eyes appeared as nothing more than two beautiful gems that contented to stare back at him.

“Oh, Link,” she said, equally surprised as she took in his own appearance. “I didn’t recognize you for a moment.”

“I, um…” Link’s words awkwardly trailed off as he forced his jaw shut. For some reason his mouth felt dry and he couldn’t bring himself to tear his gaze away from the woman before him. There was something magical about her tonight. She was just so…

“Link?” Zelda asked, her expression quickly growing concerned. “Are you all right? I didn’t give you a concussion when I bumped into you, did I?”

“H-Huh?” was all Link could mumble.

“Well, it’s just that…you’re staring,” Zelda pointed out. As she did so, her cheeks turned a little red.

“Oh!” Link breathed, as if this fact alone was enough to snap him out of his daze. “Er, sorry about that. You just look so different.” He paused, regretfully realizing how awkward that sounded. “But, it’s nice, though,” he hopelessly tried to clarify.

Zelda blushed a bit more, but she managed to smile. “Thank you, Link. You look nice too. Although…” This time, the Princess paused before daring to take a step closer. Link wasn’t sure, but she almost seemed to be inspecting his neck.

“What?” he questioned, nearly taking a step back.

“Your collar is a little messed up. Sorry, it must have happened when we bumped into each other.”

Link began to feel a little self-conscious, not only because his suit was apparently out of order, but also because he was trapped within Zelda’s gaze. “It is?” he asked, slowly reaching up.

“Here, let me,” Zelda said, her voice so soft that it could barely be heard over the music. But Link registered it all the same. The Princess soon reached up and used gentle fingers to adjust the collar of his suit. She then stepped back in order to admire her work.

“Much better,” she mused.

“Thanks,” Link mumbled before forcing his eyes to the floor. He still wasn’t sure why, but he felt so nervous in front of her. Was it because she looked so stunning, or was there something more to it?

Zelda continued to eye him, and by this point, was almost seriously starting to wonder if something was wrong. However, another thought soon crossed her mind and she blinked in surprise. “Oh, shoot. I completely forgot what I was doing. Apologies again for bumping into you, Link.”

The Hero then watched as Zelda bowed her head and turned to leave. By pure instinct, he felt compelled to stop her. Almost as if he loathed the thought of letting her go. “Wait, where are you off to in such a hurry?”

She looked at him, hesitating while she debated whether or not to explain her current predicament. Eventually, she sighed, seeing no harm in it. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to ask. You haven’t seen my father around, have you?”

“Your father?” Link repeated before blinking. “He’s here?”

Another sigh escaped Zelda’s lips, this one sounding much more exhausted than the previous. “Yes. He somehow managed to convince Roswald that he was feeling well for a change, and because this is such a big event, the doctor graciously granted him permission to attend for an hour.”

Link frowned at this. He could tell that Zelda wanted to replace the word “graciously” with “foolishly”. “So now he’s here and you’ve lost sight of him,” he surmised.

Zelda nodded. “It’s not that I wished to keep an eye on him for the entire night, but I at least need to check in on him every once in a while! Despite what Roswald said, he still fatigues quite easily, and I really don’t think he should be out of bed to begin with.”

“I understand,” Link assured her. He then took a moment to scan the room. With all of these people crowded together like this, trying to find one specific individual was certain to be a nightmare. “Er, do you need another pair of eyes?”

“Yes, but fortunately, I already have some. Shad offered to search for him on the opposite side of the room.”

“Oh, you’re here with Shad?” Link asked, surprising himself with just how surprised he sounded.

“Of course,” Zelda said with another nod. “As Kanora would so happily point out, he is my ‘date’ for the evening.”

Link nearly felt like face-palming. Of course indeed. Why would such obvious information have startled him? The Hero wasn’t sure, but he felt like something was terribly off with himself tonight, and he didn’t know what it was. Nevertheless, he shook his head and pushed such thoughts away. He figured that Zelda’s troubles took priority over his own.

“Do you want my help as well?” he offered. “The more eyes you have, the easier it will be to find your father.”

Zelda gave him an innocent stare. “Oh, well that’s very kind of you, but shouldn’t you be spending the evening with Ilia? Where is she, by the way?”

Link pointed across the room. “Over there, talking to Prince Ralis. I split off from her so I actually have a few minutes to kill.” He paused as he watched Zelda’s eyes turn curious. “Um, it’s a long story.”

“I see…” Zelda said hesitantly. By the spark of light in her eyes, it was clear that she wanted to hear more, but they both knew that they didn’t have the time. “Very well. If you could spare a few minutes to help me scan the room, I’d truly appreciate it.”

“It’s my pleasure,” he assured her. “Where should I begin?”

“Would you mind combing through the front? I’ll travel along the walls and make sure that he hasn’t passed out on any of the furniture. As sad as it is, that’s probably the most likely place to find him at this hour-”

“Wait, hold that thought,” Link suddenly cut her off. He squinted a bit, staring straight towards the front of the room where Zelda had directed him. He wished that he had his hawkeye mask so that he could zoom in on the crowd, but he could’ve sworn that he had just caught the glint of a crown. “I think I might have spotted him.”

“Seriously?” Zelda asked in disbelief. She immediately turned to face in the same direction. “Where?”

Link waited until he caught the gleam of gold once more. This time, he was sure of it. “There, heading up towards the musicians.”

It took Zelda a moment to see where he was pointing, but once she did, she couldn’t help but produce a sincere smile. “You managed that so quickly! I swear, you’re such a godsend, Link. What would I ever do without you?”

Normally, Link would have felt inclined to bashfully accept her praise, but in this instance he ignored it completely. For as he stood there, keeping a close eye on the frail King’s movements, he couldn’t help but notice something odd. Something that set him on edge. Specifically, it was the bright red hair of the woman who accompanied the royal.

Or as Link had come to recognize it: a surefire sign of danger.

“He’s not alone,” Link noted as he watched the King reach the stage where the musicians were seated. “He’s walking with someone.”

Zelda raised her eyebrows, also trying to get a better look. “You mean that someone else is keeping an eye on him? Who?”

“Kanora.”

Zelda merely blinked, her expression immediately growing wary. “Kanora…” she cursed under her breath. “Of course it’s Kanora. It’s always Kanora.”

Link remained silent, but he felt inclined to agree. The Chief and her people seemed to be at the source of all trouble tonight.

“Don’t tell me that she’s parading him around the dance floor like a trophy,” Zelda continued, obviously growing upset. “She should know that my father isn’t well-enough to be out of bed! Oh, I’ll quickly put a stop to this.”

However, before the Princess even had the chance to take a step, the music echoing across the ballroom died without warning. The crowds quickly fell still and silent, many of them turning to the stage to question what was going on. They soon spotted their King leaning over and whispering in the ear of the lead performer. A second later, a smile flashed across the performer’s face, and he quickly stood to make an announcement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please pardon the interruption. Our gracious King Caius would like to bestow this ball with the first formal dance of the evening. Specifically, he wishes to honor our lovely Gerudo guests by sharing a dance with their charming leader, Chief Kanora. Now, would you kindly clear some space for His Majesty and his partner?”

The reaction to this announcement was immediate. The crowds began to murmur, many of them showing their excitement and interest in being able to witness their King perform a dance, as well as witness the lovely Gerudo Chief in all her glory. It wasn’t long before they cleared a space, creating a proper ring of spectators for this formal occasion.

As for Link and Zelda, however, they remained silent, still, and rooted to the spot. Link could hardly believe this turn of events, not having expected them in the slightest. On the other hand, Zelda’s reaction was much more extreme. Her jaw nearly hit the floor while she curled her fingers into fists. Combined with her stunning image of the night, Link might have considered her expression comical if the situation wasn’t so serious. Or confusing, for that matter.

Caius slowly led Kanora by the hand into the circle of onlookers, pleasantly smiling while the Chief nearly swooned. It was obvious that she was enjoying all the attention, as well as the King’s company. It wasn’t until the two of them linked arm and hip that Zelda finally managed to summon her words.

“Wh-What does that harlot think she’s doing!?” Zelda demanded. “And my father, having the gall to encourage her!”

“No idea,” Link replied innocently. He watched as the couple in question slowly began to waltz while the music picked up again. “Is this normal for this type of event?”

Zelda took a deep breath, allowing her rage and surprise to simmer for a moment. “It is not uncommon for a member of royalty or high nobility to grace a ball with a formal dance. Although, such dances are usually reserved for either the beginning or end of the evening, and they always involve the royal’s official partner. Partner in this case meaning spouse or suitor. Not some hustler who happily pursues the fancy of every man she meets!”

Link slowly nodded. He could tell that Zelda was quite upset about this turn of events. And for good reason too. He knew that the Princess had always been rather protective of her father.

“I’m sure it’s only a formality,” Link said, trying to stay positive.

Zelda shot him a glare, clearly not in the mood for any optimism. “I should hope that you are right. I can only imagine the rumors that might get started if this is anything other than a formality. Talk of how ‘His Majesty has found a new lover with which to occupy his time in his sickbed’. I honestly shudder at the thought.”

“The thought of it being a rumor? Or the thought of it being true?”

“Both!” Zelda seethed.

Truth be told, she absolutely loathed the thought of Caius and Kanora growing closer together. She quickly prayed to the heavens and Goddesses above that such a thing would never come to pass. She honestly didn’t know what she would do if the two of them ever fell in love, married, and then forced her to live in a reality where Kanora was her stepmother.

On second thought, she knew exactly what she would do. She’d probably plan an assassination.

“Just relax,” Link spoke up, still trying to quell her fury. “It’s only one dance, and like the announcer said, this is really nothing more than a welcome to the Gerudo. I’m sure that no one is making anything more of it.”

Zelda could only sigh, feeling tired by this point. “Oh, Link. Always so innocent and oblivious to the ways of castle life, aren’t you?”

“I know enough to understand that any gossip that does come of this will blow over in a month’s time,” Link replied with a surprising amount of confidence. “Kanora doesn’t visit here often enough for those rumors to hold much weight.”

Zelda eyed the Hero, genuinely amazed by his argument. “Hmph, perhaps I spoke too soon. You may understand castle gossip better than I believed you did.”

“You learn a thing or two about gossip when it feels like you’re the one always at the center of it.”

Zelda couldn’t help it. A small laugh escaped her lips, and she soon smiled as well. “An understanding that was forged through fire, huh? Well, that is something I can certainly respect, at least.”

Link smiled back. He wasn’t entirely sure why Zelda always seemed to find his comments to be so amusing, but he was glad to know that he had helped take her mind off of things. Even if it was only for a moment.

“Oh, Zelda, there you are!” a voice suddenly called out from behind them.

Link and Zelda turned away from the dancing King and Chief, only to find a handsome and finely suited scholar approaching them. The Princess produced a fresh smile as she greeted him.

“Ah, welcome back, Shad. Forgive me, I was a bit caught up in the proceedings and forgot to come find you.”

The bespectacled Scholar shook his head before smiling in return. Much like Link, he was garbed in a fancy suit, although his was black in color. “No worries. I’m just happy to know that His Majesty has been located. I’m sure that must be quite the relief.”

“Yes, one helping of relief and two helpings of headaches,” Zelda mumbled as she glanced at the dancing couple. “But never mind that. Thank you for your help in searching for him. I truly appreciate it.”

“Oh, it was no trouble, Prin–I mean, Zelda.”

Link raised his eyebrows as he eyed the scholar from the side. He was surprised to find that he was referring to Zelda by her name rather than her title, although much like Link at a time long past, he still seemed to be having trouble adjusting to it.

“Oh!” Shad exclaimed, suddenly turning and eyeing the Hero back. “Good evening, Link! And apologies, I almost didn’t recognize you in that garb.”

“I said much the same,” Zelda mused, also taking a moment to look him up and down.

Link rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. I’m not one for stuffy suits and fancy balls.”

“On the contrary, I think it suits you,” Shad said encouragingly. “No pun intended, of course.”

“It’s always a pleasure to see you, Shad,” Link replied with a smile and playful shake of his head.

“Likewise! Tell me, have you been enjoying the evening’s festivities?”

“It’s been very…” Link’s voice trailed off as his eyes fell on a random cluster of Gerudo women. “...hectic.”

“Agreed,” Zelda said with a firm nod. “There’s been so much going on, I feel like I haven’t even had time to devote to myself. Let alone you, Shad. Again, I hope you can forgive me for that.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble!” the scholar said, waving his hands before him. “I understand that a Princess is always busy. And besides, the night is still young.”

Zelda softly smiled at him. She truly appreciated how patient Shad could be. Certainly a far cry from some suitors who would have claimed that Zelda owed them her time and attention.

Meanwhile, Link watched his two friends closely, feeling a bit stunned. When Ashei had first mentioned that these two had started seeing each other, Link had been very hesitant to believe it. Not only because the female Knight was known for being a trickster that enjoyed teasing him, but also because he never imagined that this Princess and scholar would grow so attached to one another. But it was here, standing in this moment and watching this small but pleasant exchange between them, that Link finally started to acknowledge it.

There was something special between Zelda and Shad, and for some reason, knowing this was enough to warm his heart.

Unfortunately, the feeling wasn’t meant to last, for the murmuring of the crowd around them suddenly rose a bit, enough to be heard over the music. Link and his companions soon glanced back into the circle where the King and Chief danced, wondering what was happening. To their surprise, they soon found that Caius’s movements had grown sluggish. The poor man could hardly keep up with the music as he continued to sway with his Gerudo partner.

“Is His Majesty all right?” one guest asked.

“He’s still ill, isn’t he? I hope he isn’t pushing himself too hard.”

From the corner of his eye, Link watched as Zelda’s lips pursed into a tight frown. It was clear that her concerns from earlier were starting to skyrocket once more. She feared the worst.

Naturally, these concerns were not unnoticed by the woman who currently held the King in her very arms. “What is wrong, my dearest King? Are you growing faint?”

Caius looked as if he wished to respond, but upon attempting such a thing, the only thing he exhaled was a terribly pained cough. Right into Kanora’s face no less.

The music promptly died while the dance came to an abrupt halt. The only sound in this large ballroom was now the awful hacking of a sickly man. Many of the spectators winced and began offering expressions of pure sympathy. Everyone in the Kingdom knew that their monarch was ill, but it wasn’t clear just how awful it was until this very moment.

Zelda cursed under her breath. “I knew this would happen. I wasn’t eager to cause a scene, but I honestly should have put a stop to this long ago.” And with that, the Princess stomped her way forward, clearly intending to force Kanora to release her father so he could return to the infirmary.

However, it seemed that the Gerudo Chief was already way ahead of her. She somehow maintained a pleasant smirk before casually wiping the fresh spit from her face. Once that was finished, she allowed Caius to lean against her while she gently patted his back. “Oh dear, please forgive me. I never intended to exhaust you.”

“It’s no tr-trouble,” the King replied, still coughing a bit. “If anything, I’m at fault for being so fragile.”

“Nonsense, it takes great strength to display yourself in such a state. Isn’t that right, my fellow guests?”

The crowds seemed stunned to have the attention suddenly turned on them, but upon realizing what was expected, they soon erupted into applause. Everyone was eager to show support for the monarch who was standing tall despite all of his current ailments. To an outsider, he may have appeared as nothing more than a weak, sickly man. But to them, he was someone who was truly worthy of respect.

Caius flashed a sincere smile before pushing himself out of Kanora’s embrace. He then bowed to the room. “You are all too kind. Forgive me for cutting this formal dance of ours short. I’m afraid that I’m not quite as young as I once was.” The crowd laughed at this. “Nevertheless, I appreciate your support, and I sincerely hope that you enjoy the rest of the evening. May the Goddesses watch over you.”

“May the Goddesses watch over us all,” the crowd finished in unison. It was an old Hylian saying. One that was always used to express the utmost respect and well-wishing.

Caius produced another thankful smile before turning to leave. It wasn’t long before Kanora offered him a hand.

“Here, my dearest King, allow me to escort you back to your bed.”

Caius seemed hesitant, but he accepted her hand anyway. “That is very kind. Thank you.”

Kanora cheerfully nodded, but soon paused, as if suddenly remembering something. “Oh, but before we go, it would only be right if I found someone to take our place, don’t you think? After all, it wouldn’t be fair to all of these wonderful people to leave without providing a conclusion to our dance, would it?”

Again, Caius eyed her. This time, he seemed more than a little wary. “I take it you have someone in mind?” he surmised calmly.

“Oh, yes, very much so.”

“You’re not up to any tricks, are you, good Gerudo Chief?”

“Tricks? From myself? Of course not, Your Majesty! I’m as honest as they come! And besides, I’m certain that these lovely guests are up for one more formal dance. Isn’t that right?”

This time, the crowds caught the cue on time, and were quick to provide a satisfactory applause. It was clear that they were more than happy to accept anything that would allow their monarch to be free of his obligations.

The King sighed, still seeming quite wary of Kanora’s intentions, not to mention her exaggerated attempts to appear innocent. Nevertheless, he soon felt compelled to nod his agreement. “Very well, call upon whomever you wish.”

“You have my utmost thanks, my dearest King,” Kanora replied with a smirk. Her eyes then sparkled a bit as she faced the crowd once more. “How about a dance between the two most valiant individuals in all of Hyrule? The two who saved this land from the Twilight Invasion that plagued it earlier this year? I am of course referring to none other than Princess Zelda and Link the Hero of Twilight!”

The entire room fell silent, but none more so than Link and Zelda themselves. Their eyes went wide with shock as they turned to each other. Naturally, the crowds all turned to them too.

“A dance…between us?” Zelda asked, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Why of course!” Kanora insisted. “Being the Royal Princess, it’s only fitting that you take the place of your father. And the Hero of Twilight is so well-known, I’m sure he’d make a suitable partner. Is this not the most agreeable conclusion?”

Her questions were met with yet another applause from the crowd. Either the Gerudo Chief was making a convincing argument, or these guests were just too caught up in the moment and were easily manipulated. It was hard to say, but at least one thing was clear. They all supported this outcome.

Again, Zelda turned to Link, looking more than a little apprehensive. The last thing she wanted to do was force the Hero into anything, but if this would free her father of his obligations, then she felt compelled to pursue it. Besides, how could she deny the crowd that was so humbly asking this of them?

Fortunately, Link’s stunned expression soon softened into something kind and warm. He flashed a sincere smile. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Zelda was surprised that he had even asked. “No…Do you?”

“Of course not. It’s only one dance, and purely formal.”

“Right,” Zelda mumbled, feeling a bit dazed as she nodded her head. “Only one dance and purely formal.”

The next thing she knew, Link had graciously extended his hand to her, and she accepted it. They slowly walked out into the middle of the floor while Caius and Kanora took their leave. As they departed, Zelda couldn’t help but notice that the Chief had an amused smirk planted on her lips. She made a mental note to seriously question her motives later.

But she hardly had time to consider that now. For the next thing she knew, Link was taking both her hand and hip as they waited for the music to begin. In the moment, a fear suddenly took hold of her.

“Do you know how to dance, Link?” she whispered.

He nodded. “Well enough.”

She breathed a small sigh of relief. If he felt confident enough to get through this, then she could too.

The music rose to life. Zelda allowed Link to take the lead. She figured it would be easier to follow his movements rather than try to force him into something he wasn’t familiar with. Besides, she felt so nervous in his grasp like this. It was probably for the best if he was the one pulling her along.

Meanwhile, Link was lost in his own thoughts. He could hardly believe where he was. Standing in a castle ballroom. Dancing with a beautiful woman in front of so many spectators. If he didn’t know any better, he’d almost think that this was a fantasy. He soon found himself smiling.

Due to their proximity, it wasn’t long before Zelda noticed it too. “What’s so funny?”

The question felt so abrupt that Link nearly chuckled. “It’s nothing, just…I never in all my life thought that I would be sharing a dance with a Princess in a castle.”

She blinked and blushed a bit, but managed to keep her eyes trained on him. Now that she considered it, the situation really was quite humorous. Zelda never imagined that she’d be here either. Feeling nervous and afraid as she danced in the arms of a man she fancied. It sounded like the height of folly, and yet, this was reality.

“Aren’t you nervous?” she eventually asked. “Being displayed in front of all these people like this?”

Link slowly shook his head. He knew what she meant. He certainly felt like he should be nervous, given the circumstances. But for some reason, he wasn’t, and he had a feeling as to why. It was because of the woman he held in his arms. The one with wavy, curly hair and mesmerizing sapphire eyes. Somehow, being together with her was always enough to set him at ease.

“I don’t think I could do this if it was with anyone but you,” he said softly.

Zelda nearly gawked at this confession. “Not even with Ilia?”

This time, he snickered. “I’d be too worried that I’d somehow embarrass her. If you’ll recall, I can be a little clumsy sometimes.”

Zelda merely frowned. “Nonsense, I think you’re wonderful on your feet. At least, you’re better than I am at this moment.”

“No, you’re doing good too. Must be from years of practice.”

Sure, Zelda thought, and the guy keeping his steady hand on my waist. She soon sighed, letting her eyes fall to the floor. What was she doing? She felt like such a mess right now. And yet Link was practically the face of confidence? Talk about a role reversal.

“I’m sorry,” she eventually whispered.

“Hmm? For what?” Link inquired.

“Being so much trouble. Roping you into situations like this.”

“I believe that it was Kanora who roped me into this, not you,” he said with a smirk.

“Even so, I feel responsible.”

“Of course you do. You’re always too hard on yourself, you know that?”

She slowly nodded. Naturally, she knew it better than anyone. “I…I’ll try to do better,” she promised.

“I hope so. You’re too kind to be this cruel.”

Zelda nearly felt her heart melt within her chest. His compliments were her complete undoing. They always had been, and she was certain that this would never change. This man was too good to her. Too sweet for her to handle properly. She didn’t deserve him. She likely never would.

And it was here, in this moment, that Zelda realized the greatest kindness that she could ever do for the Hero, would be to simply let him go.

“Link…” Her voice was nothing but a whisper, barely audible over the sound of the music. “Are you happy?”

He raised his eyebrows at this sudden query. “Happy?”

“With your role as Hero? With your life in Ordon? With your relationship with Ilia?” The Princess paused, swallowing a bit. “You’re…content, aren’t you?”

Again, Link seemed surprised by the question, but he soon laughed. “Of course I am. I’m grateful for everything I’ve been given.”

Zelda softly smiled. Deep down, she already knew that this would be his answer. “I’m glad. Hearing that you’re happy is enough to make me happy.”

Link continued to give her a strange look. He wanted to question her. To learn why she had brought up his happiness out of the blue like that. But he never got the chance, for the music soon fell into silence and Link and Zelda’s feet came to a standstill.

The dance was over before they knew it.

The two of them lightly smiled before turning and facing the crowds. With one hand still grasped in the other’s, Link bowed while Zelda performed a half-curtsy. As expected, their audience applauded their performance.

As Zelda rose back up, she finally released Link’s hand, their fingers slowly untangling from each other.

She finally let him go.

“Thank you all for coming tonight,” she said, addressing the crowd. “Now that the formal dance is out of the way, I hope that you continue to enjoy this evening and its festivities. Let us dance long into the night.”

Another applause, followed by the swell of music as the band promptly sprang to life once again. All of the guests were quick to link arms and begin their waltz, following the example of the royals that preceded them.

As the bodies around them began to twirl, Zelda turned to Link for the final time. She softly smiled before placing a light hand on his shoulder. “I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening as well, Link. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

And with that she turned away and made her departure. Link had no response other than to return her smile, even if it was only towards her back. He soon watched as she wove her way through the dancing couples until she finally reunited with Shad, who promptly bowed and extended a hand to her.

“My Lady, if I may have the pleasure of your next dance,” the scholar requested humbly.

She giggled. “Oh, Shad, you can have them all.”

It wasn’t long before they linked arms and began their own waltz, appearing just as satisfied as all the couples that surrounded them.

Link simply sighed, feeling content to watch them for a moment. But it didn’t last for long before a voice was calling for his attention.

“Ahem,” Ilia said, sounding more than a little displeased. Link turned to find her standing there with crossed arms. “You know, it’s a little rude to share a dance with another girl without asking for permission from the one you’re already committed to.”

Link produced a guilty smile. “Sorry, I kind of got swept up in the moment…You don’t mind, do you?”

Ilia continued to cast an emerald glare at him, but she soon relented and allowed her shoulders to relax. “No, it’s fine. That is, so long as you promise to share all of your remaining dances with me tonight.”

Link watched as Ilia’s lips cracked into a smirk, and he soon did the same. With a formal bow, he offered her his hand, which she gratefully accepted. Before long, they joined the sea of couples, swaying back and forth like waves beneath the music.

As they stepped and spun, Link kept his eyes trained on Ilia. She was his love. The one girl who mattered more to him than any other. But as they shuffled around the dance floor, Link would occasionally catch glimpses of Zelda and Shad, basking in the joy of their own company. And while it wasn’t long before they would be lost in the sea of guests once more, Link still had enough time to realize that such a sight always filled him with warmth. 

As long as Zelda was happy, then he was certain that he would be happy too.

Notes:

Hmm…it seems I’ve made quite the mess of things here. Link and Zelda happily in relationships with other people. The two of them feeling like it’s officially time to move on. Trusting that the other can find happiness without themselves. How in the world is this still a Zelink fic?

Well I assure you that it will still be Zelink! I won’t settle for anything less. And trust me, I’ll get us out of this hairy situation. I’m just going to need to break a few things first, hehehe…

Chapter 59: Intimidate

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 59 – Intimidate

A few weeks had passed since the evening of the ball. The event had proved a rousing success, with all of the guests expressing their utmost gratitude and contentment. It had clearly meant a lot to the people of Castle Town, and even now, it seemed that the citizens were still happily reflecting on that night, claiming it was the most fun they’d had in ages.

Despite all of her initial reservations about the event, knowing this made Zelda glad that she had decided to go through with it. She was overjoyed to have been able to provide such a wonderful experience for her subjects, especially after all they had endured during the Twilight Invasion, in addition to the support they had always shown her. Thinking back, it was practically the least she could do.

Needless to say, the Hylians weren’t the only ones who had thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Renado, Darbus, and Ralis all wrote letters expressing their satisfaction with the event as well, and thanked the Hyrule Council for throwing it together. However, their joy simply paled in comparison to Kanora’s. The Gerudo Chief cheerfully informed Zelda that she had not only had the most wonderful time, but she had also managed to find a few men interested in pursuing her. And it wasn’t just the Chief either. Many of the Gerudo women claimed to have encountered men that fancied them as well, and they hoped to develop these introductions into full-on romances down the line. After all, was there any force in the world greater than love? (These were Kanora’s words, of course. Not Zelda’s.)

The Princess smirked as she reflected on Kanora’s giddiness. That woman was honestly such a headache. Perhaps one of the worst that Zelda had ever known. Nevertheless, she was happy to know that the ball had meant so much to the desert tribe, in addition to proving so successful for those romance-starved hussies.

And besides, at least Kanora wasn’t prioritized with pursuing her father. That fact alone filled Zelda with such a relief that she could practically forgive everything else.

But the Princess shook her head and digressed. She hardly had the time or reason to dwell on the relationships of others. At least, not when she had her own romance to focus on.

Yes, in the weeks following the ball, Zelda had continued to spend her free time with Shad. The two of them were still quite new to each other, but with every shared moment between them, Zelda could feel their hearts drawing closer together. They spent their time doing light and casual activities. Sharing a meal. Exploring the castle gardens. Visiting the library and discussing the more interesting parts of history. Occasionally, Zelda would even request that Shad open a book and read to her. He happily complied, translating written word into vocals while she would close her eyes and listen.

It was always so peaceful, listening to him read.

She had truly come to enjoy Shad’s company. He was so kind. Patient. Understanding. Intelligent, bright, positive. Passionate about anything and everything history. She soon came to realize that she eagerly looked forward to the time they spent together. At every separation, Zelda would naturally wonder when next they would meet. And it was in discovering this that she managed to realize something else.

If Zelda wasn’t careful, she might just end up falling for him. And she already knew what an emotional mess it could be to fall for someone so completely.

But still, she found that she wasn’t worried. If anything, she felt that she might just be brave enough to take the plunge…

 

---

 

One evening, Zelda and Shad found themselves on an excursion away from the castle. The scholar so often spoke of the ancient ruins he enjoyed studying that the Princess finally insisted he take her to visit one. He had been quite startled by this proposal, but it didn’t take long before he happily agreed to it. He was always excited to share his passion with others, and now he was being offered a chance to show it off firsthand to someone who was just as interested in history as himself? Talk about a wonderful opportunity!

Zelda simply giggled at his enthusiasm. Personally, she had her own reasons for encouraging such an outing. The two of them spent so much of their time in the castle, that she felt it would be nice to go on a little “adventure” for once. And of course, she was always glad to have a reason to depart from her home, even if it was only for an afternoon.

And so it was that Zelda organized a carriage which ferried them to an old ruin site south of Castle Town. The ancient statues and stone structures were nestled against a cliffside, almost appearing as if they had been carved out of the earth itself. Shad claimed that this was a site tied to the Oocca of centuries past, and while he had visited this location before, he was eager to journey here again and see if he could glean anything new.

Zelda was also curious to see if any discoveries could be made, and happily accompanied him as he paced around the site. She nearly laughed when he spotted a familiar plaque containing ancient sky-writing, for his face brightened boyishly. Among these decrepit ruins, he was practically a kid in a candy store.

Shad soon began deciphering the glyphs, cross-referencing his journal to make sure that he understood each word with perfect clarity. Zelda, wishing to make herself useful, withdrew a book from her bag and graciously offered to help translate. Shad was obviously grateful for her assistance, although he did seem a little bashful about receiving it.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, noticing the oddity that was his guilty expression.

“It just…It feels wrong to ask someone as important as a Princess to help me with such mundane tasks.”

Zelda simply smirked, amused by this notion. “Then don’t think of me as a Princess. Think of me as a girl who enjoys history and wants to lend you a hand. And I wish that you wouldn’t downplay what we’re doing here. This isn’t some ‘mundane task’, this is your important research! And I will always be happy to help you with that.”

Shad blushed, stunned by her kind words and encouragement. But he soon smiled and gave her a grateful nod. “Of course, you’re absolutely right. Forgive me for misconstruing the situation, Prin—I mean, Zelda.”

The Princess softly sighed at him. The two of them had been spending time together for over a month now, but it seemed that he still wasn’t used to calling her by name. She wondered how long it would take for him to finally grow comfortable around her. To willingly treat her as a person before a title. She hoped he would find the courage to overcome his nerves sooner rather than later.

The afternoon passed in relative peace. Zelda and Shad continued to move around the ruin, inspecting various places where ancient glyphs were inscribed. Occasionally, Shad would utter a remarkable “Aha!” before jotting something down in his notebook. Meanwhile, the carriage driver that had accompanied them released the horses from their harnesses so they could graze. Two guards were also among their number, and they spent their time practicing their form and battle maneuvers before eventually settling down to take a nap. Nobody minded though. It was such a tranquil day.

Unfortunately, it was approaching sunset when everything suddenly began to change. Zelda paused in the middle of flipping through her textbook, surprised to feel an odd prickling sensation coming from the back of her hand. It was the same hand that had been blessed with the holy symbol of the Goddesses. It wasn’t often that such a mark grew active, but whenever it did, it usually meant that danger was nearby.

It was as she was entertaining this thought that a single arrow whizzed past her head.

Zelda immediately cursed, ducking below the nearest stone wall and forcing Shad to do the same. The poor scholar was so startled, he nearly dropped his quill and journal.

“Wh-What? What’s going on?”

“Attack!” Zelda screamed, loud enough for her entire company to hear. “Take up your weapons and defend yourselves!”

Shad was absolutely bewildered, but Zelda ignored him for now. She needed to discover what exactly was going on, and she needed to do it quickly. She raised her head back above the wall, only enough to let her eyes bear witness to the scene.

She spared no more than a moment inspecting the carriage. She watched as the two guards snapped out of their stupor and scrambled for their weapons. Meanwhile, the driver was desperately trying to gather the horses’ reins before they grew skittish and fled. Zelda merely sighed, content to know that they were fine for now.

What she really needed to discover was their enemy. Who were they? How many were there? What did they want? Then again, the arrow that had flown past her head was probably enough of an answer for that last query…

Fortunately, it didn’t take long before her scan of the horizon provided answers for her other questions as well. She managed to spot a familiar form. Green skin. Beady red eyes that almost seemed to glow. Short horns that curved out of the sides of their heads.

Bulblins…

Zelda cursed as she ducked below the wall for cover once more. She had only caught a quick glimpse of their company, but by her estimate, there were at least a dozen of them. She had no idea what they were doing here, and honestly, she didn’t feel that she had the time to find out. The Bulblins were notorious for being nomadic, wandering the fields of Hyrule as they pleased, and willingly attacking any unsuspecting travelers they encountered. Again, she supposed that this was enough information to surmise their intentions.

Frowning, Zelda grabbed her bow from her bag and went to nock an arrow. She was so grateful that she never chose to leave the castle without it. Whenever battle broke out, the Princess would always summon her courage and prepare to fight, no matter how sudden and terrible the situation.

She soon glanced at her partner, who still sat somewhere between startled and frightened. “What’s happening?” he asked, his voice no more than a whisper.

“A band of Bulblins is approaching us,” she explained patiently. “Are you able to fight?”

Shad gawked, but only for a moment. He gently set his scholarly items down before drawing a dagger. “If I must.”

Zelda nodded. “Stay close to me. I’ll try to drive them off with my arrows, but if they draw near, you’ll have to be ready.”

Admittedly, Shad didn’t seem like much of a fighter. Anyone could have told Zelda that (and Ashei in particular would’ve likely been happy to do so). But Shad was a hardened member of the Resistance, and when push came to shove, Zelda trusted that he could be counted upon to defend himself.

The Princess paused, taking a deep breath and a moment to compose herself. Her eyes then flared to life, a bright fire burning intensely behind them.

She was ready.

Swiftly and suddenly, she rose from below the wall. As soon as she pinpointed the nearest enemy, she let her arrow loose. Not even a second passed before the Bulblin crumpled to the ground, grasping at its bloody throat.

Zelda was quick to nock another arrow, and another after that. Two more Bulblins fell victim to her projectiles, one in the chest and one in the forehead. These creatures may have held numbers, but they were no match for the best archer in all of Hyrule.

However, upon attempting to strike at her fourth enemy, Zelda was stunned to watch her arrow stop short. Yes, quite literally, it froze in midair. With wide eyes, she dared to look past the floating bolt, closely observing her foe for the first time. And it was here that she realized her recklessness. This creature was no ordinary Bulblin. No, this one was wearing a dark cloak, its face decorated with piercings on its nose and both brows. And unlike its brethren, this one’s eyes shone in a brilliant shade of violet.

But perhaps most unsettling of all, were the words it was chanting while running its fingers through the air.

Magic! Zelda realized. And not a moment too soon, for as she watched her frozen arrow fall helplessly to the ground, she witnessed the remaining Bulblins all raise their bows in turn. She quickly ducked below the wall as fiery arrows soared overhead.

Shad, who had been peeking over the wall, also ducked for cover. “What was that?”

“They have a witch among their number,” Zelda said with a shake of her head. “I didn’t even know that they were capable of such things. But that Bulblin in the center is certainly casting spells.”

Shad gulped but nodded. “Then how are we to drive them off? Your arrows won’t prove effective, will they?”

“No, I’ll have to use something stronger than an arrow.” And with that decisive thought, Zelda soon withdrew the other item that she never left home without: her sturdy rapier. As always, it glinted in the light of the setting sun. “I’ll have to rush in with this.”

Shad looked utterly terrified. “Wait! You wish to confront that entire horde? You can’t do that! It’s completely unsafe!”

“Someone has to,” Zelda said resolutely. Somewhere in the background, she could hear her guards crossing blades with the Bulblins. There was no doubt that they had their hands full. If anyone would take on the witch, it would have to be Zelda.

“It’s okay,” she said, trying to produce a reassuring smile amidst the chaos. “Believe it or not, I am quite capable with a sword, and I am confident that I can deliver us from this situation without injury.”

Shad stared at her, still seeming very hesitant about this decision. Nevertheless, he soon sighed and gave her a nod. “In that case, allow me to accompany you. I may not be worth much, but this dagger will at least keep me from being useless.”

“Very well,” the Princess agreed. “On my signal then, let’s rush forward.”

“Understood.”

With a final nod to each other, the two of them collected themselves once more. They waited for the barrage of arrows to cease before Zelda led the charge. In an instant, she was on the other side of the wall, dashing forward with Shad right behind her. The Bulblins seemed mildly stunned by this daring approach, but they held no mercy in their hearts. With fresh flaming arrows, they took their steady aim.

But it was of little use. If the Bulblin witch could produce a simple magic barrier, then Zelda could too. She called upon the Goddesses above to protect them, and a moment later, a golden force halted all approaching projectiles. With nothing holding her back, Zelda continued onwards.

Off to the side, she managed to witness one of her guards decapitate his Bulblin foe. Fortunately, it seemed that while these men were a little lazy, they were more than capable of handling these creatures. And knowing this was enough to drive Zelda forward with immense courage in her heart.

Within seconds, she faced the horde. Specifically, she looked to the witch herself. Her glowing purple eyes narrowed as she sneered in return. A daring invitation to dance.

But before the she-Bulblin came her allies. Realizing that their bows were useless, they rushed forward, brandishing axes and clubs. Zelda gladly met them head on. Raising her rapier before her, it sliced through the air as magnificently as always. Not even a moment passed before the Bulblins’ blood flowed freely.

One lost an eye. Another grasped at its bloody neck. Another lost all of their fingers and dropped their weapon. Zelda didn’t bother to watch if they fell lifeless to the ground. She was already juggling too many opponents to pay attention to any single individual. Besides, she was insistent on cutting her path forward to the witch. Once she fell, things would become so much simpler.

Fortunately, Zelda had Shad to back her up, and he proved himself more than a reliable ally. Much like Zelda, he was nimble and light on his feet, sidestepping all of the heavy blows that the Bulblins tried to cast upon him. Faithful to his nature as a scholar, he aptly practiced patience and waited for a golden opportunity to strike. And it was when these moments arrived that he would deliver a swift and lethal blow with his dagger before moving onto the next foe.

Zelda was not only impressed, but also grateful. As long as he was on cleanup duty, she could continue her march forward. And so she did, stabbing and slicing Bulblins apart until no one stood between her and the witch.

By this point, the Bulblins’ numbers had thinned considerably. Only a handful remained, and the witch was less than pleased with these results. With another sneer, she glared at the Princess. In fact, she almost seemed to be casting her purple gaze to the golden circlet that rested on Zelda’s brow, but the Princess paid this no mind. The she-Bulblin would soon be slain anyway.

Raising her rapier, Zelda swiped faster than the wind itself, aiming directly for the witch’s neck. But of course, the little devil had been ready for this, and simply waved her hands while muttering something in an unrecognizable tongue. Zelda’s thin blade smashed into the air in front of her, the metal ringing from the impact. Another barrier.

But it was no use. How could it have been, when Zelda relied on the favor of the Goddesses themselves? With a brief prayer, she reached forward, placing a gloved palm against the barrier. Not even a second passed before it shattered to pieces. Once more, Zelda raised her blade, prepared to make the killing blow.

However, it seemed that this witch was nothing if not shrewd and cunning. As if she had already anticipated this outcome, she placed her palms together, her long, sharp fingernails appearing as claws as they intertwined. She muttered another quick phrase, and a flash of reddish-purple fire encircled her. The flames quickly grew bright, tall, and immensely hot.

With the fire serving as a new makeshift barrier between them, Zelda felt forced to retreat lest she get scorched. She scowled as she eyed the flames, which were so great in height that they eclipsed the witch from view. Clenching her teeth in frustration, Zelda began to pray once more. Anything that this witch was capable of summoning, Zelda was certain she could dispel.

And so she did, conjuring incredible gales that slowly began to smother the fire down to earth. Zelda watched the flames carefully, waiting for the first sign of the witch to reappear, for as soon as she did, Zelda was insistent on finally making her strike.

However, it seemed that the she-Bulblin had the exact same plan. Without warning, something dark shot out from the shrinking inferno. By the time Zelda noticed it, it was already too late. It struck her directly on her left shoulder.

She blinked, recoiling a bit as she wondered what had just happened. What was that? A spell? She quickly went to inspect the area and managed to discover a black mark on her bare skin, almost as if it had been physically inked there. She then frowned as she watched it slowly fade from sight, as if it had never been there to begin with.

It was gone. There was no wound. No pain. No sign that she had even been hit in the first place. What exactly was going on?

Unfortunately, Zelda didn’t have the time or the energy to consider it. Not as long as her foe drew breath. Snapping her gaze forward, she was just in time to see the witch’s horned head appear over the tops of the dying flames. This was it! Her chance to finish this!

But it was not meant to be. For as soon as Zelda took her aim, the witch murmured something under her breath once more, before promptly clapping her hands together. She did it so swiftly and casually, it was almost as if she wasn’t bothered by the Princess’s threatening presence at all. And perhaps she had no reason to be, for as soon as her ritual was completed, the she-Bulblin vanished from sight.

Zelda stabbed forward as the inferno finally croaked. As expected, her blade met with nothing but air. The witch was gone, and Zelda was only left to curse.

Teleportation magic… she realized with a glare. She didn’t know why the witch had chosen to abandon the battle as well as her allies so abruptly, but Zelda was certain that this is what had happened. She could feel it from the subtle prickling on the back of her hand. That the greatest threat was long gone from the area. In fact, as far as Zelda knew, the she-Bulblin could be halfway across the Kingdom by now.

Zelda cursed again. It wasn’t often that she used such profanities, but this day had quickly soured, and it didn’t seem to be getting any better. Case in point, she soon heard Shad cry out from behind her.

“Aggh!”

Whipping her head around, Zelda’s eyes locked onto the two remaining foes. The only Bulblins that still drew breath. To her horror, she found that the scholar was currently wrestling with them. One was grasping the man from behind while the other was trying to turn Shad’s own dagger against him. It was all the scholar could do to keep the blade from reaching his throat.

“Shad!” Zelda cried, suddenly feeling panicked. She was such a fool. Just because the witch had vanished didn’t mean that the battle was won! She immediately rushed to his aid.

The first Bulblin fell easily. It never expected to receive a blade through the back of its skull. It fell limp, releasing Shad’s dagger.

The second Bulblin was more alert. More cautious. It kept its fierce grip on Shad, using the scholar as its own personal shield. But Zelda was having none of it. A surprisingly beast-like cry escaped from her throat, and she closed the distance between them. What followed was an incredibly brief struggle, with spinning and tugging and wrestling before one of the Bulblin’s arms finally came loose from its torso. Naturally, Zelda’s blade was responsible.

The creature released Shad and fell to its knees, bellowing a bloodcurdling scream as it writhed in pain. Feeling bloodthirsty yet merciful, Zelda put a swift end to it. Her rapier entered its throat, killing the sound. And with a violent twist, the neck was severed and the head came loose. Its body met the dirt with an unremarkable thud.

And just like that, the encounter was over.

Zelda stood there for a moment, letting her shoulders sag while she tried to catch her breath. Her rapier was covered in bloodstains, as were her dress and gloves. She could tell that her hair had grown somewhat loose and disheveled. She imagined that she must be quite the sorry sight right now. Not that she minded, of course. It was better to be alive and stained rather than dead and pretty.

It wasn’t long before her guards ran up to her, looking much the same with blood covering them in odd spots from head to toe. Thankfully, they seemed unharmed. “Are you all right, Your Highness?”

“Yes, I am fine,” she assured them. “Is the driver okay?”

“He is. He’s managed to collect the horses and they’re unharmed as well.”

“Thank goodness,” Zelda breathed, allowing herself to relax a little more. It seemed that no one had been injured in this battle, and that was something to be grateful for, at least.

However, the Princess soon blinked, realizing that there was still one person she needed to check upon. Feeling guilty, she turned to the scholar who stood behind her and went to inspect him.

“How about you, Shad? Are you okay?”

Zelda extended her hand, hoping to provide him with a light and reassuring touch. But to her surprise, the scholar promptly flinched and took a step back, leaving the Princess’s bloody fingers hanging in the air.

Zelda silently looked at Shad and found him staring back at her from behind his round spectacles. To her horror, she discovered that his eyes weren’t staring at her as they used to, with a look of admiration and kindness. No, in this moment, he looked upon her with fear, as if the Princess herself was just as frightening as the monsters she had slain.

Zelda didn’t know what to say to this, so she simply said nothing, allowing her hand to slowly fall back to her side. Eventually, Shad swallowed and managed to speak up.

“Um, yes, I’m fine…Th-Thank you…”

His voice. It sounded so awkward. So hesitant. So uncomfortable. And it was right then and there that Zelda realized the truth of their relationship. She intimidated him, and despite all of the time that they had spent in each other’s company, this was not something that the scholar could look past.

The Princess was simply terrifying.

Feeling like both a beast and a monster, Zelda frowned while her eyes lost a bit of light. When she spoke up, her voice was hollow. “I’m glad. Let’s…head back to the castle.”

She meant it. They would all collect their things and journey back to the castle together. But despite sharing each other’s company on this final trip home, it wouldn’t mean anything. The bond was broken. The illusion was shattered.

The relationship was over.

Notes:

I told you guys I was going to break some things, didn’t I? First item on the agenda: Zelda and Shad’s relationship. I honestly thought they made a nice match, but I think there are many parts of Zelda that Shad probably isn’t comfortable with. Mostly her title, as well as her sudden spurts of bloodthirst haha. I’ll expand on the fallout of this in the coming chapters.

On the bright side, Zelda got to be a total badass here! I hope you all enjoyed it. I know I certainly enjoy writing it :)

Chapter 60: What Makes a King

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 60 – What Makes a King

“S-Seriously?” Link stammered, nearly spitting out his pumpkin juice as he did so.

“I’m completely serious,” Telma replied casually. Unlike her usual playful self, she seemed a bit somber today. Perhaps it was because of the news she was sharing. News which had simply blown the Hero’s mind.

Not only had Zelda and Shad been attacked the other day, they had also decided to end their relationship.

Link cursed a bit as he wiped his lips free of any leaking juice. He realized that this was the problem with spending all of his time in Ordon. It meant that he always had to hear important news like this second hand. And it wasn’t that he cared for the gossip or anything of that sort. He just wanted to know that his friends were okay and free from harm.

Fortunately, he had decided to pay Telma a visit today, and the friendly barmaid was always happy to catch him up to speed.

“I don’t understand,” Link said as he set his drink down on the counter. “They actually separated?”

“That’s what Auru told me,” Telma answered with a shrug. “And I confirmed it when Shad came in here to mope the other day.”

Link frowned, feeling more than a little conflicted by this news. “But…why? I thought that he and Zelda were getting along really well. I thought that they were…well, happy together.”

Telma nodded to show that she understood. “I know, honey. I honestly thought the same. Especially after I saw the two of them dancing at the ball together. A rather unexpected couple, but a sweet one for sure.” She paused and produced a sad smile. “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what happened between them after that attack. Auru didn’t have a lot of details, and Shad was so despondent that he barely said a word.”

“Is…Is he okay?” Link asked hesitantly.

“He’s what you’d expect. A little sad and riddled with guilt. Clearly, he blames himself for what happened. Not sure why though. Bulblin attacks happen without warning and he shouldn’t fault himself for that.” She sighed a bit. “But I suppose that’s what a broken heart can do to you.”

“Where is he now?”

“Gone. Told me that he wanted to head to some ruins near Kakariko Village and study them for a few days. He sounded like he was hoping to distract himself from his woes. Poor fellow…”

Link nodded in agreement. He too felt sorry for Shad, and if he were still in the area, Link would have certainly wanted to pay him a visit. To provide him with some support and comfort, and make sure that he wasn’t being too hard on himself. But the hero soon sighed and shook his head. If the scholar had the energy to pick himself up and continue his studies, then he must be doing at least somewhat okay.

Besides, there was someone else who he was concerned for.

“And Zelda?” Link asked as he raised his cup to his lips. “Is she okay?”

“Sorry, honey, couldn’t tell ya,” Telma said with another shake of her head. “News from the castle has been quiet lately, and of course, our lovely Princess so rarely chooses to pay me a visit. She’s always such a stick in the mud, trying to keep me at arms’ length like that.”

Telma finally smirked and Link felt compelled to return it. It was nice to see that she was still willing to be a little playful, in spite of the topic.

“Maybe I should stop by the castle and see her,” Link suggested. “Make sure that she’s not blaming herself like Shad is. I know that she’s prone to that sort of thing.”

“Hmm, maybe you should,” Telma agreed, looking thoughtful. “After surviving an attack and parting ways with someone close to her, I’m sure that she’d appreciate having a friend by her side.”

“I wish I could be there for her more often,” Link admitted. “Just knowing that she was attacked makes me feel a little guilty. Like maybe if I had been there, things would have been different.”

Telma shot him a surprisingly stern look. “Oh no, don’t you go and start blaming yourself too. We honestly have enough of that around here and you’re only making things worse.”

She said it so matter-of-factly that Link couldn’t help but laugh in response. “I know, you’re right. The attack was unexpected and no one should be at fault for it.”

“Good,” Telma replied with a nod of approval. “If you understand that, then I’m sure that you can make the others understand too. Now go on and git. It sounds like you have work to do.”

Link smiled before draining the last of his pumpkin juice. “Thanks, Telma.”

“Anytime, honey. Oh, and do me a favor, would ya? If you get the chance to find out what happened between Shad and Zelda, come back and let me know. I always love to stay on top of the latest drama.”

Link shook his head as he rose to leave. As always, he felt that Telma was too nosy for her own good.

 

---

 

It was approaching evening when Link made it to the gates of the castle. With winter looming on the horizon, the days had naturally started to grow shorter and colder. Fortunately, Link was easily recognized and always welcome within the castle’s halls, so no time or warmth was wasted. It was always nice to feel so at home in this large stone monument.

However, while it seemed that entering the castle was the easy part, trying to locate the Princess was another matter entirely. With all of her schedules and duties, she could practically be anywhere at any given moment, and that wasn’t even considering whether or not she would be able to spare the time to see him. But Link wasn’t too concerned. He had a feeling that Zelda would always be happy to set aside time for him, so long as he asked politely. And besides, he was only doing this for her sake.

With no solid clues to follow, Link chose the simplest course of action. He decided to ask around to see if anyone could help point him in the Princess’s direction. Unfortunately, many of the passersby were just as clueless as he was, but he did eventually find a maid whom he recognized and carried the information he desired.

“Ah, yes, Her Highness mentioned that she was off to visit her father in the infirmary this afternoon. You might be able to find her there.”

Link frowned a bit. “Er…is this something that I shouldn’t be interrupting?”

The maid laughed before waving a hand. “Oh no, Hero, I wouldn’t worry about that. Both His Majesty and Her Highness are very fond of you and I’m sure they’d be happy to see you.”

“Oh, good to know.” Link relaxed a bit. The royals had always been kind and patient with him, and he truly appreciated that.

“Would you like me to show you the way to the infirmary?” the maid offered.

“No, I already know it. Thanks, Rita.”

The maid known as Rita suddenly blushed a bit before giving a quick curtsy and scurrying off. Link could only laugh to himself. He assumed the maid was a little flustered to realize that the Hero actually knew her by name. Not that it should have come as any surprise. Link had slowly started to recognize quite a few servants around the castle, especially those that diligently supported his friend.

With nothing holding him back, Link made his way to the infirmary. However, upon arriving there, he found the scene to be strangely silent. The room was bathed in the soft yellow glow of the twilight filtering through the windows. The beds were empty, and their shadows grew long on the floor. There wasn’t a soul in sight.

Fortunately, a brief yet familiar cough sounded from behind the curtain at the far end of the room, signaling that Link wasn’t truly alone. He soon made his way over and pulled the curtain aside, only to be greeted by King Caius and no one else.

“Ah,” the monarch said in mild surprise. He took a second to get his cough under control before turning to Link with tired eyes. “If it isn’t our Kingdom’s courageous Hero.”

“Hello, sir,” Link said with a small bow, trying to be as respectful as possible. “I hope you can pardon my interruption. Is this a bad time?”

“There’s never a bad time for you to arrive, my boy. I can assure you of that.” Caius grinned before resting his back against the headboard. “It is always an honor when our paths cross.”

“That’s what I should be saying to you,” Link said with a smile. After spending a few months getting to know the King better, the Hero finally felt that he could be comfortable and somewhat casual with him. At the very least, he was a far cry from the nervous mess that had graced their initial introduction. “I don't have to stay though. That is, if you need your rest.”

The King waved a hand in dismissal. “Nonsense. Please sit.”

Link did as he was told and patiently waited while Caius subjugated another cough that threatened to escape him. The Hero couldn’t help but produce a sympathetic expression. The monarch honestly looked much worse for wear than he had back at the ball. It was clear that the poison that ran through his veins still had him at its absolute mercy.

“Are you doing well?” Link eventually felt compelled to ask.

“As well as I can be,” Caius replied sadly. “Every day feels like a test of my endurance, but I take it in stride. My people expect a lot from me, and I expect even more. So as long as I continue to draw breath, I shall fight this battle.”

“That’s very admirable,” Link commended him. “I hope things start to improve, and sooner rather than later.”

“Aye, you and everyone else,” he agreed. He then stopped and shook his head. “But please, enough about my health. That’s practically all I ever hear about, and it’s so depressing to boot. I’d much rather hear what has brought you here today, lad.”

Link smiled while appearing a little guilty. “Well, truth be told, I was actually looking for Zelda. I heard that she might be here.”

“Ah, I’m afraid you missed her. She departed a short while ago, insisting that I get some sleep. Not that I can manage much with this wretched cough.” As if on cue, the King stifled another pained sound. He soon sighed. “That daughter of mine. I feel that she worries far too much for me when she has enough issues of her own to deal with.”

Link couldn’t help but smile some more. “I feel like Zelda would say the same thing about you.”

Caius chuckled at this. “Ha ha, yes, perhaps she would. It seems that you know our family well, Link.”

“Well enough,” the Hero agreed humbly. “That’s actually why I was looking for Zelda. I heard about the recent Bulblin attack and wanted to make sure that she was okay.”

The King straightened up a bit, his expression growing serious. “Ah, yes, a tragedy that is.”

“And, well…I heard about what happened with Shad as well.”

“Yes, it seems that my daughter’s woes refuse to cease lately.” Caius sighed again, this time appearing more tired than ever before. “Do not mistake my words. I am grateful that the two of them came out of that situation unharmed. But it is rather tragic that events played out in such a way. And even though Zelda has assured me that she is doing fine, I fear that she may be putting on a brave face.”

“It’s that bad, huh?” Link asked. Although if he were being honest, he had already come to expect this outcome.

“I’m afraid so. She doesn’t tell me these things, you know. She simply doesn’t want me to worry. But I can tell when she’s distraught, no matter how well she thinks she’s able to hide it.” The King paused before smiling. “Which is why I’m grateful that she has friends like you to confide in.”

Link blinked a bit, surprised by this conclusion. “Huh? You think that Zelda will share her troubles with me before she’ll share them with you?”

“Why, of course,” Caius said matter-of-factly. “No matter who you are, there will always be some discussions that you feel you can only share with a close friend. It is my understanding that even Princesses are vulnerable to this.”

Link slowly nodded. Thinking back to his childhood, he supposed there were certain things that he felt he could only ever talk to Ilia about. The loss of his parents, for example. But he soon shook his head. He had other things to focus on.

“Well, I’d like to find Zelda and talk to her about it, just to make sure she’s okay. But, to be honest, I’m still not entirely sure what took place. I mean, I heard the details of the Bulblin attack, but what happened after that is a mystery to me…” Link frowned a bit and looked to the floor. “Forgive me. I know it’s none of my business, but-”

The King quickly raised a hand in order to silence him. When he cast his gaze to Link, his eyes were surprisingly fierce. “Zelda’s wellbeing will always be your business, lad. I think we both know that.”

Link was stunned by how much conviction was contained in the monarch’s tone. Nevertheless, he nodded.

Noting his approval, Caius continued. “You wish to know why Zelda and Shad have separated, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir. I’d be grateful for any details you could share.”

“And your reason for wanting to know this is not simply to partake in the latest castle gossip, is it?”

“Of course not, sir. It’s only for Zelda’s sake.”

The King grinned, showing his playful side for a moment before appearing proud and trusting. “Tell me, Link. You have witnessed Zelda fight before, have you not?”

“I have,” Link said with a nod. Even now, he could recall her every battle with him. How she fired light arrows at Ganondorf while they chased him on horseback. The way she dismembered ReDeads at the Arbiter’s Grounds. And of course, he could still recall the duel that was shared between them in Ordon. How her eyes lit up like fire and her expression was nothing but fierce and determined.

The look on Link’s face must have been enough to convey his understanding, for Caius soon nodded in return before continuing. “That ferocity with which she fights was witnessed firsthand by Shad. From what I can gather, Zelda mercilessly tore the Bulblins to shreds right in front of the scholar. Not that she can be blamed for her actions. It was a life and death situation, and her first priority was the safety of her companions. If anything, I commend her bravery and readiness in the face of danger.”

“Of course,” Link replied, absolutely agreeing.

“However, it seems the poor scholar was not prepared for such a sight. Such a dangerous side to what he believed was a perfectly innocent Princess. Again, don’t mistake my words. I’m certain that the lad was thankful to have his life spared on that day. Unfortunately, it seems he realized that Zelda was not quite who he believed she was. And once Zelda realized this in turn, she felt that it would be best if they went their separate ways.”

The Hero was silent for a while, trying to take all of this in. It was strange, he thought, to hear that Shad would be so rattled by such an encounter. After all, he was a hardened member of the Resistance. Someone who had even helped storm the castle at the end of the Twilight Invasion. And despite all of the fighting and killing committed by both Hero and Resistance alike, the young scholar had never seemed intimidated by any of them. So what was the issue here?

Caius smiled softly as he watched Link’s expression. Being the wise ruler that he was, he easily managed to surmise the boy’s thoughts. “I hope you don’t think less of Shad for this. Zelda and I certainly don’t. It’s only natural that you carry certain expectations when you pursue a romantic partner. And perhaps for Shad, the thought of being with someone who could behave so cold and merciless at any given moment was simply unbearable. Which is a perfectly respectable response when such a thing comes about unexpectedly. But alas, Zelda will not settle for anyone who doesn’t accept her for who she is.”

Link frowned some more. Okay, perhaps he did understand Shad’s side of things a bit better. He too could very well have been stunned by Zelda’s actions if he hadn’t known her well enough ahead of time. But if this were the case, then he had to wonder, was Zelda making the right choice here?

“Forgive me if I’m misunderstanding,” Link began carefully, “but I thought that Zelda and Shad were very happy together. Was she certain that she wanted to separate from him? I mean, Shad has always been a pretty understanding guy. I’m sure he could have come around, if given the chance.”

Caius smiled a bit, as if amused by his words. “You are nothing if not merciful, Link, and I appreciate that about you. Nevertheless, I trust my daughter wholeheartedly. If she believed that she was better off breaking away from Shad, then I fully support her decision. She may be young, but she is wise and of sound mind. I know that she wouldn’t have decided such things if they weren’t for the best.”

“I trust and support her too,” Link tried to clarify. “I just…hope that she isn’t making a mistake.”

There was silence for a moment after this. The King eyed the Hero carefully, as if lost in thought. Eventually he sighed and shook his head. “Perhaps I spoke too soon. Earlier, I claimed that you know our family rather well, but it seems that you still have a lot to learn.”

Link blinked, feeling a little lost. “I’m not sure I understand…”

“No, you don’t,” the King agreed. “Not that you can be faulted for such a thing. There is hardly anyone in the world who can truly understand the hardships that come with a life of royalty.”

“Then help me understand,” Link insisted. “Please, sir.”

“Always so earnest, aren’t you?” Caius asked with an amused smile. “Very well. Do you recall what I said a moment ago? About how we carry certain expectations when pursuing romance? Well, I’m afraid to say that no one is cursed by this more than my own daughter.”

Link deeply frowned, his expression almost turning grim. “What do you mean?”

It wasn’t long before the King’s expression mirrored his own. “Link, you must understand. When Zelda chooses to pursue a partner, she is not simply looking for a husband. She is also searching for a leader. A King. Someone who is brave. Someone who is wise. Someone who will support her throughout all her years as this Kingdom’s matriarch. Her title and responsibilities will never allow her to select someone who is unfit for the role, and because of this, it can be incredibly difficult for her to find the love that she deserves.”

Link was silent. He honestly didn’t know what to say.

“Now do you understand her choices a little better? In Shad, she saw someone who did not have what it took to be a leader. To support her through all the hardships she is sure to endure as Queen. It would not have been right to string him along any further if the end result was destined to be unfavorable.”

“So…she chose to put her duties before her own desires?” Link asked quietly.

“In a way, yes. That certainly seems to be the leading reason for her decision, although I wouldn’t exclude it as the only one. As I said earlier, Zelda will not settle for someone who does not accept her completely. She deserves to find someone who loves her unconditionally, just as everyone else does. But again, because of the criteria with which she has been burdened, it can be a tremendously difficult task to accomplish.”

“She wants to find love while also bearing the weight of her Kingdom,” Link surmised.

“Yes. Not exactly easy, is it?” Caius asked with a frown. “Occasionally, a royal might strike fortune, and find themselves a perfect partner that meets all of the requirements of their responsibilities. But it is not often so, and thus, we are usually forced to turn to suitors. Actively seeking out partners who could be capable of leading a Kingdom alongside us, where the question of love is completely undetermined.” At this, the monarch sighed, appearing tired once more. “Forgive me. I always find this to be a difficult topic to approach. I consider it a shame that we have to resort to such things, and I hate speaking of it. But I understand that this is the duty of royalty, and Zelda understands this too.”

Link slowly nodded. For the first time, he felt like he could understand as well. At the very least, he could sympathize with everything that Zelda had to endure on top of being a leader. To know that all of her life decisions would forever and always be tied to her title was…well, it was honestly a little heartbreaking.

“Has she tried searching for love first and allowing the qualities of a King to come later?”

The monarch was silent, apparently stunned by such a query. Link didn’t feel like he could blame him. He had honestly surprised himself with that question too. He didn’t know what had compelled him to say it, but now that he had, he eagerly awaited an answer.

“Yes, she considered attempting that once, but I’m afraid it did not work in her favor,” Caius replied vaguely. Link wished to question him about this, but it seemed that the King was insistent on carrying on. “And anyway, things are rarely as simple and straightforward as you are making them out to be. Both love and the qualities of leadership are not easy to attain. In fact, I daresay that this could be the greatest hurdle of Zelda’s career.”

Link swallowed, his expression as grim as ever. He hated hearing this. That Zelda might never get the chance to be happy. That she might never find a love she deserved while also satisfying the duties that had been instilled on her at birth. Was it really so impossible? Was this really something that was worthy of standing in the way of Zelda’s happiness? Standing in the way of the rest of her life?

His tone ringing hollow, Link dared to voice his thoughts aloud.

“Is it really so difficult to be a King?”

Again, there was silence. A painful, awkward, terrifying silence. Link wondered if he had gone too far. If he had insulted the King’s very position, even if he had no intention of doing so.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the monarch spoke up, using perhaps the gentlest voice the Hero had ever heard from him. “Link, answer me honestly. What would you do if you were asked to step up and become a King?”

The silence returned, just as terrible as ever. No, this time it was worse, because Link was the one fueling it by struggling to provide an answer. What would he do? If he were asked to be King?

Never in his life did he expect such a question to be posed.

“I don’t know,” he finally admitted. “I’d…have to really think about it. I mean, I’ve been raised as a ranch hand all my life. I’m not sure if I’d be fit for the role.”

The monarch raised his eyebrows. “Ah, so it is not as easy as you expected, hmm?”

Link shut his mouth, feeling both stumped and tricked. Gathering his courage, he went to speak up again. “Maybe I’m not the best choice for the role…but I would do it if I had to. If Hyrule turned to me and asked for a leader. I’d honestly do whatever it takes to fulfill that position, even if I’m not qualified.”

“You would readily take on such a hefty responsibility?” Caius asked with raised eyebrows.

Link gave a firm nod, letting all of his doubts wash away. “I would do anything if it meant that Hyrule could be safe. If it meant that I could be useful. If it meant that…”

The Hero paused, his voice trailing off. The words that had been conjured in his mind halted before they escaped his throat. And the reason for this was simple. He was utterly stunned by the truth of them.

If it meant that Zelda could be happy…

Link shut his jaw as his cheeks turned a little red. He meant those words, of course, but he was still surprised by how far he was willing to go for her. And yet, at the same time, he felt like he shouldn’t have been surprised in the slightest. The thought had formed naturally, after all.

Caius soon chuckled. Whether it was at his expression or at his passionate words, Link didn’t know.

“Don’t sell yourself too short, Link” the King said encouragingly. “You are still the Hero who saved this Kingdom, after all. You know what it’s like to hold the fate of an entire country in your hands, and because of this, I have a feeling that you’d make a better King than most.”

Link blushed some more, growing embarrassed. This felt like praise that he did not deserve, and as always, it was so much harder to receive it when it came from a person of great importance.

“Thank you, sir,” Link answered humbly. “Although, I have no desire to ever become a monarch. I think that you and Zelda are the only leaders that this Kingdom will ever require.”

“How flattering,” Caius replied, looking as charmed as ever. “I always appreciate your support. You’ve done more for my family and Kingdom than you can ever know.”

“I give my support freely, sir.”

“I know you do, lad,” the King replied with another chuckle and shake of his head. It soon deteriorated into a cough, but it was stifled just as quickly. “Nevertheless, perhaps it is time to send your support to the person who needs it most. We can sit here and talk for hours, but I’m afraid it won’t do Zelda any good.”

“You’re saying that I should go and talk to her now?” Link asked.

“I think we both know that would be best. It’s as I said earlier. The thing she needs most right now is a friend. And I’m sure she has very few friends who are as kind and understanding as you, Link.”

Again, the Hero felt like blushing, but he tried to steel himself and remain strong. “I just hope that I’m actually able to help…By the way, do you know where I can find her? I’m afraid that the infirmary was my only lead.”

“Of course,” Caius said with a nod. “I suggest trying the balcony up near the royal living chambers. She sometimes retreats there when she wishes to lose herself in thought.”

“Got it,” Link said, nodding back. “I’ll see what I can do for her.”

“You have my utmost gratitude, Hero,” Caius said before bowing his head. “At times, I believe that the only position more difficult than being a King, is being a father. It can be rather frustrating, to wish nothing but the best for your daughter and yet not knowing how to provide it for her. So I truly am grateful that I can rely on people like you. You shall forever hold my respect.”

“You are far too kind,” Link insisted with a small smile. “And thank you for sharing so much with me. I promise to not let your words of wisdom go to waste.”

“I pray that they don't,” Caius said with a grin. “Now, be off. Whether she realizes it or not, I’m certain that Zelda awaits your company.”

“Then time is of the essence,” Link agreed, his smile turning into a grin of his own. He soon stood and prepared to take his leave. However, as he reached the curtain that partitioned the rooms, the King called out to him one last time.

“Link.” The Hero stopped and glanced back. “One final thing that you should know before you depart. There’s an old Hylian saying that Zelda believes wholeheartedly. It claims that a true King is the first to charge and the last to retreat. He is a man of great courage, and the people’s faith in him never wavers. He is loyal, honorable, and true. That is what makes a King of Hyrule.”

Link frowned a bit, wondering why the monarch had chosen to share this with him at the last second. The man himself merely smirked before waving him off.

“Perhaps you could aid Zelda in finding someone that meets these criteria. In time, of course.”

“Oh, of course,” Link happily agreed, finally realizing what he was getting at. “I promise to take these words to heart.”

The King gratefully bowed his head again and Link did the same in turn, properly sealing their farewell like a signature. The Hero then set off into the depths of the castle once more, hoping to find the Princess. The only difference was that this time, the world, and his understanding of it, felt like it had shifted just ever so slightly.

Notes:

Fun fact: Rita was a maid that I mentioned back in chapter 6 of this story, and since then she has not appeared even once until now, in chapter 60. At one point, I thought she might become a more prominent character. Someone who would appear by Zelda’s side from time to time. But as the story progressed, I realized that I simply didn’t need her lol. But rest assured, she’s still around and she’ll happily poke her head into the story every once in a while :)

Chapter 61: Collapse

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 61 – Collapse

“Ah, so that’s how it is…” Ashei mumbled, her gaze trailing off into the far distance.

“That’s how it is,” Zelda agreed plainly. She allowed her shoulders to fall a bit as she sighed. She soon rested her hand on the balustrade of the balcony.

After entering her “most recent fit of depression” (as Ashei had so eloquently put it), the Princess had invited the Knight up to the balcony to discuss the troubles that recently plagued her. This time around, the greatest topics of discussion were the recent Bulblin encounter and her fallout with Shad. Fortunately, despite being a bit blunt and dismissive at times, Ashei was a good listener. And if there were two things she claimed to know well, it was handling Bulblins and handling Shad.

“It’s not surprising that you spooked him like that,” Ashei mused with a shrug. “Shad’s been keeping his nose down in books for too long. He must have forgotten the intensity of battle somewhere along the way.”

“I don’t blame him,” Zelda responded, her voice ringing hollow. “If anything, he simply saw me for who I was.”

“A brave warrior who steps up and saves lives?”

“No, someone who was far too eager to get blood on her hands.”

“If you ask me, there’s not much of a difference there,” Ashei said with another shrug. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, Zelda. You did the right thing.”

“I don’t regret my choices,” Zelda clarified. “And if a similar situation arose again, I would gladly repeat them. It’s just a shame that he did not feel the same way.”

“I get it,” the Knight responded sympathetically. “It can be hard when someone you're close to looks at you like that, yeah? It almost feels like a betrayal.”

Zelda pursed her lips before giving a slight nod. Ashei may have been rather reserved when it came to sharing her empathy, but in this moment, it felt like she understood Zelda perfectly. Even now, the Princess could still recall the scholar’s terrified expression as he gazed upon her. It was enough to give her shivers.

“Has anyone ever looked at you like that, Ashei?”

The Knight glanced up as she thought about it. “A handful of times, but never from someone terribly close to me. Most people see me for who I am before they dare to get close, and by that point, they know better,” she finished with a laugh.

Zelda frowned once more. She wished that she had someone who could understand her. Someone who could approach her without losing their nerve. But maybe Zelda was wishing for fantasies. Maybe she just needed to realize that this was who she was. A fire which burned bright for Hyrule’s sake, but it burned all those who drew close to her too.

What a pitiable existence I lead, Zelda thought miserably.

She lived for her people. Her Kingdom. Her father and everything that their family valued. And Zelda was certain that this would never change. She only wished that her life wasn’t so difficult because of it.

Noticing the solemn expression on the Princess’s face, Ashei soon grew somber as well. “Anyway, I’m sorry to hear about that, Zelda. I really am.”

“It’s fine,” Zelda dismissed her, all while bottling her emotions as best she could. “If it wasn’t meant to be, then it is best to let it go and move on.”

“Brave words,” Ashei noted with raised eyebrows. “It’s still a shame though. Feels like this sort of thing has been happening to you a lot recently. I guess romance just ain’t your thing, yeah?”

Zelda scowled a bit, noting the innocent playfulness in the Knight’s words. “You’re one to talk,” she teased her back.

“I’m wise enough to know when it’s better to just leave well-enough alone,” Ashei corrected her. “Men are trouble, yeah? I say why bother with them.”

“A sentiment I wish I could share, but alas, my title keeps it from me,” Zelda said with a sigh. “Although, it is not entirely my duty that compels me. Personally, I do wish to marry someday. To find love and love in return. I do not want to be alone, after all. Don’t you feel the same?”

Ashei quickly frowned, just as she always did whenever the topic of romance was thrust onto her. She soon began to blush before forcing her eyes away. “I mean…I wouldn’t mind…someday…finding a man who can stand me…”

Zelda nearly giggled at the reticence of both her expression and words. For the first time since their conversation started, she lightly smiled. “I’m sure there are plenty of men out there who can fit that criteria. Believe it or not, Ashei, you really aren’t as cold or intimidating as you like to suggest.”

Ashei blushed even more as she scowled. She had not expected the conversation to become so fully focused on herself, and it clearly tortured her. “I’m capable of being as rough, intimidating, and unapproachable as I need to be at any given moment. Do not forget that.”

“Of course,” Zelda replied innocently. “But you’re kind-hearted and friendly too. Believe me, after all of these years spent in your company, I would know.”

More blushes and scowls followed the first. Ashei was desperate for a retort, and she soon found one. “You’ll see. Perhaps I should consider pursuing Shad myself. I’ll happily show him a woman that he should truly be afraid of.”

Zelda raised her brow in mild surprise, but her expression soon settled into a pleasant smile. “If that is what you wish, then go with my blessing.”

By this point, Ashei was nearly gnashing her teeth. “No, that’s not—I didn’t mean to—Ugh! You’re impossible…”

“Forgive me,” Zelda teased. “I’m just trying to lighten my heart a bit. And your sour expressions are always so amusing.”

“I need to consider applying for work at another castle,” Ashei mumbled before glaring at the setting sun. Zelda lightly giggled.

The two of them stood in silence, content to stare at the orange sky for a moment. However, the peace didn’t last for long. Ashei’s metallic ensemble of armor clanged together as she whipped her head behind them.

“Someone approaches,” she revealed quietly. “Come out and show yourself already!”

Zelda glanced back as well, only to find a Hero with a guilty expression walking towards them. He smiled as he raised his hands into the air.

“It’s just me,” he announced humbly. “Always so hostile, aren’t you, Ashei?”

The Knight grinned before giving the Princess a look, as if to say “See? Men do find me dangerous.” Zelda merely rolled her eyes before greeting the Hero properly.

“Good evening, Link. To what do we owe the pleasure?”

Link seemed a bit surprised by her welcoming tone, but he answered her regardless. “I just wanted to stop in and talk. I heard about the recent Bulblin attack, and, well, what happened afterwards…”

“Ah,” Zelda realized, her smile faltering. “I see.”

Before Link had a chance to ask if she had time to see him, and before Zelda had the chance to even consider his company, it seemed that Ashei was insistent on using this moment to make her escape.

“Perfect timing!” she exclaimed, her grin growing wide. “We were just discussing that, but perhaps your company would be better than my own. After all, you’re far more comforting than I am, yeah? I’ll happily take my leave.”

Link felt confused and looked like he wanted to argue, but the next thing he knew the Knight strode towards him. She paused once she reached him and playfully punched him in the shoulder.

“You deal with her for a while,” she hissed into his ear.

And just like that, Ashei took her departure. Link could only stare after her and wonder what had riled her into such a mood. Although, knowing Ashei, he figured it could be anyone’s guess.

“Well, that was abrupt, but not unexpected,” Zelda mused to herself. Link turned back to find her smiling. Before long, he felt himself smiling too.

“What did you say to her?”

“Such things that if I were to relay them now, I am certain that she would have both of our heads. So perhaps I shall just keep them to myself.”

Link chuckled. It was always nice to have an innocent laugh at the Knight’s expense, if only because she enjoyed teasing everyone around her.

“Is it okay if I join you out here?” he asked humbly.

“Of course, Link. You will always be welcome to share my company.”

Noting her gracious smile, Link happily joined her by the balustrade. He casually leaned against it, admiring the view as he tried to think of what to say.

“Um-”

They both paused before turning to each other. Apparently, the two of them had tried to speak up at the exact same time.

Link looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry-”

“No, please, go ahead,” Zelda insisted, looking a little shy as well.

Link swallowed and nodded. “Well, like I said, I just wanted to talk to you and make sure you’re okay after everything that happened. Um…but is it true that you’ve already talked to Ashei about it?”

“I have,” she answered simply.

“Oh.” Link looked down, feeling even more embarrassed. Sometimes he forgot that Zelda already had a close friend in Ashei, and that she was always in proximity to the castle. “I guess that I didn’t need to come then.”

“Nonsense,” Zelda said with a quick shake of her head. “The fact that you chose to come at all speaks volumes. And it sets my heart at ease, too.”

Link smiled as he felt overwhelmed with guilt. He had come here in order to comfort her, so why was she the one comforting him? Despite Ashei’s faith in him, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was actually terrible at this sort of thing.

The Hero soon shook his head. No, now wasn’t the time for self-doubt. He had come here in order to help Zelda, darn it, and that was all he needed to focus on.

“I’m sorry to hear about what happened,” he said softly. “Bulblins have been scarce ever since the Twilight Invasion ended, so it’s rather surprising to hear that they appeared so suddenly like that.”

“Surprising, but not impossible,” Zelda agreed with a solemn nod. “Fortunately, I was prepared, and while I wouldn’t consider it an effortless battle, I was grateful to know that no one was harmed.”

“Including you?” Link inquired.

“Not a scratch,” she assured him.

“Thank goodness,” Link breathed, looking a little relieved. “It truly is fortunate that you were there.”

“That’s what everyone seems to agree upon.” And it was here that Zelda started to show the first signs of the sorrow which plagued her heart. Her light smile casually collapsed into a frown, and her tone lost just a touch of its mirth. Small signs that would have been imperceptible to someone who didn’t know the Princess well.

Naturally, Link noticed them both.

“I’m sorry to hear about what happened with Shad as well,” he continued. “I honestly thought that you two were happy together…but, I get it.”

Zelda cast him a curious look. “You ‘get it’?” she repeated.

Link was quick to clarify. “I understand why you separated. The two of you just weren’t right for each other.”

Zelda nodded before looking away. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“But…it was more than that too,” Link continued bravely. “It’s difficult to be a Princess, isn’t it? I don’t think I ever truly understood that, but…I understand it now.” The Hero paused, sighing a bit. Sometimes he felt so clumsy with his words. “Zelda, just know that I…I’m sorry if there’s ever a time where I don’t understand you as well as I should.”

Zelda quickly turned back to him, feeling stunned by his words. She never expected him to pick up on something like this. The troubles of her title. Thoughts that had been plaguing her mind not even ten minutes prior. How did he know? How did he always seem to know what was weighing on her mind? Weighing on her heart? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that his words strongly resonated with her. They always did.

It wasn’t long before her stunned expression turned into one of pure gratitude. “Believe me, Link. I feel that you understand me better than most.”

The Hero smiled bashfully, turning his gaze to the sky during the hour of twilight. He fell silent for a moment, as if he was lost in thought. Fortunately, he was willing to share what was on his mind.

“I’m sure Midna would have been better though. She was a Princess too, after all. She would probably understand your duties and troubles far better than I ever could. Far better than anyone could.”

Zelda took a moment to entertain the thought. “Perhaps, but I wouldn’t say it with absolute certainty. Midna may have been a Princess, but in my opinion, she seemed far from a traditional one.”

Link’s lips cracked into a smile. “That’s true.”

“And I’m not sure how much help she would be at times like this. She wasn’t exactly the most comforting presence in the world.”

“Also true.”

The two of them shared a glance at each other and laughed. Even though months had passed, the memory of their long-departed friend was still fresh in their minds. She likely always would be.

“I wish I could find a way to let the two of you talk again,” Link said with a small smile. “If nothing else, she could potentially serve as a distraction from any troubles you’re experiencing.”

Like an unwelcome prick on her shoulder, Zelda was suddenly reminded of her promise to aid the Hero in his quest to reunite with the Twilight Princess. “I’m sure I will. You and I both, after we set aside some time at the library again.”

Link produced a warm smile. “You’re a good friend.”

Zelda went to smile back, but winced a bit as she felt the prick on her left shoulder again. She then paused. Wait, hadn’t she imagined that first prick? What was going on?

“Do you think that Midna ever has trouble with courtship?” Link continued, unaware of her plight. “Personally, I think it’s difficult to imagine her settling down.”

Zelda winced again, and this time reached for her shoulder. This wasn’t just her imagination. She was truly experiencing an unpleasant pain there. She soon glanced down, pulling her dress away from her collar so she could see her skin.

The color quickly drained from her face. For there, clear as day, rested a black mark. No, it was more than a mark. It was an ancient magical symbol, intricately inked into her very skin. She recognized it instantly. It was the same mark that had been placed upon her by the Bulblin witch before she fled, and it was now flaring to life as if it had never faded to begin with…

Suddenly, Zelda felt a little lightheaded. With one hand on her shoulder and one on her temple, she started to sway while her legs went numb.

“Zelda?” Link called out, clearly noticing her uneasiness by now. “Zelda, what’s wrong?”

“The witch,” she murmured as she felt her thoughts turn to mush. “Black…symbol…”

It was here that the Princess’s legs finally gave out and she collapsed. Fortunately, the Hero was already on top of it, pulling her into his arms before she even had the slightest chance of hitting the floor. Once she was secure, Link merely stared at her limp body, feeling stunned and frightened.

“Zelda?” he asked timidly. “Zelda…?”

It was no use. She was completely unconscious.

Link cursed, trying to make sense of this situation. Why had the Princess suddenly collapsed like that? Was she possibly feeling ill? He soon reached out and checked her forehead for a temperature, but he found no heat there. If anything, she almost felt cold to the touch.

No, there had to be more to it than that. Link was sure of it. Illness never worked that fast, and besides, Zelda had seemed completely fine right up until the moment she closed her eyes.

No, wait…Zelda had mumbled something, hadn’t she? Something about a witch and a…

A black symbol…

With wide eyes, Link caught a glimpse of it. Something dark poking out of the Princess’s dress near her collar bone. Swallowing, Link pulled the fabric back, only to curse again. He immediately recognized it as magical in nature. Not only did it exude a surprising amount of malice through its appearance, but its design was so intricate that it almost seemed to shimmer as he stared at it. It was as if the tiny strokes which made up the symbol slithered like serpents, dancing for his amusement. Within seconds, he could feel himself becoming lost in such a mesmerizing illusion…

With a defiant shake of his head, Link forced his gaze away. He was unversed in magic and studying such a mark would do him no good. What he really needed to do was make sure that Zelda was okay and get her some help.

Clenching his teeth, Link properly scooped the sleeping Princess into his arms. Once he was certain that he had a firm hold on her, he made a mad dash through the halls. All the while, he desperately prayed that she was all right.

Notes:

Oh, weird. That strange black mark that the Bulblin witch placed on Zelda seems to be affecting her somehow. Huh. How odd. Well, I’m sure it’s nothing :)

In other news, I have a small announcement! Starting with this chapter, this story will once again be returning to a weekly release format! That means that I should be able to upload a new chapter once a week, from here all the way up until when the fic is finished! Here’s to hoping I can keep this schedule and actually finish this fic by the end of the year :)

Chapter 62: Urgent

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 62 – Urgent

Link barged into the infirmary, feeling wild, and probably looking the part too. He wasted no time calling for assistance.

“Doctor Roswald! Are you here?”

Link felt a little anxious since he hadn’t spotted the doctor anywhere in sight when he had visited the infirmary just a half-hour earlier. Fortunately, his concerns were unnecessary, for the man in question quickly appeared from behind the curtain in the back.

“Sir Link, what seems to be the-” He froze, his words dying in his throat as soon as he caught sight of him, and more specifically, the unconscious individual in his arms. “G-Good heavens,” he managed to sputter before springing to action. “Quickly, get her into a bed.”

The Hero didn’t need to be told twice. He found the nearest cot and gently lay Zelda down on her back. She honestly looked a mess after his desperate sprint through the halls. Her hair was in her face and her long dress hardly covered her legs. Feeling guilty, Link took a moment to brush her hair aside and adjust her hem. He wasn’t sure what good it did, but it at least helped him relax.

Not that the feeling was meant to last, for the doctor was soon upon him with endless questions.

“What exactly happened? How did she lose consciousness?”

“I…I don’t know,” Link answered honestly. “We were having a discussion and she just collapsed out of nowhere. She seemed a little faint beforehand, but it was still so sudden.”

The doctor nodded, noting his words as he began a quick and thorough inspection. He felt the Princess’s pulse, marking it as perfectly normal. He then pulled an eyelid open, but Zelda’s sapphires gave no response. It was around this point that an agitated cough started up from the back of the room, followed by a demanding tone.

“Roswald, what’s going on over there?”

“Nothing you need concern yourself with, Your Majesty,” came Roswald’s blunt reply. “Just stay in bed while I work.”

If the situation weren’t so serious, Link might have felt compelled to roll his eyes. As if a simple excuse like that would halt the King’s curiosity.

“I heard Link’s voice over there. Who’s the patient?”

Silence. The doctor was preoccupied with feeling Zelda's forehead.

The monarch’s tone only grew more frustrated. “Damn it, Roswald, tell me who the patient is!”

“You’re distracting me! Just stay in bed!” the doctor snapped. He then cursed as he withdrew his hand. “Cold to the touch…”

“Doctor,” Link interrupted. “Before she passed out, she mentioned something about a witch and a black mark. And, well, I found this…” Wasting no time, the Hero gently pulled on Zelda’s collar, revealing just enough skin for the dark symbol to reveal its presence.

Roswald nearly gasped before cursing again. He reached for a magnifying glass. “What the hell is that?”

“Magic, by my guess,” Link supplied quietly.

“Magic. It’s always magic that’s plaguing this family,” the doctor replied with a shake of his head. “How the hell am I supposed to treat this!?”

If his outburst wasn’t enough, it was soon joined by another. The curtain snapped back, and a tired, hunched over King stood glaring in their direction, although his anger quickly dissipated once he caught sight of his daughter.

“No…No, no, no,” he begged in a worried tone. He rushed to Zelda’s bedside as fast as his fragile self could allow. “Zelda, my dear daughter, no…”

Roswald sighed. It was clear that he had been trying to avoid this outcome, at least while he was still working. “She is fine, Your Majesty. Her Highness is merely unconscious.”

Caius glared at him, his concern replaced only with bitterness. “You lying cur! You said this was nothing that concerned me! My own daughter in such a state!”

“You need to remember your own state and not get so worked up!” the doctor barked back. “I have this under control!”

“More lies! I heard you cursing about magic!”

“Please!” Link suddenly shouted, cutting them both off. Ordinarily, he might have been stunned by his own actions, but there was far too much chaos for him to care at the moment. “Zelda needs help and your arguments aren’t getting us anywhere.”

Silence fell between the three of them, but it only lasted for a second before they composed themselves.

“The boy’s right, Your Majesty,” Roswald admitted. “I can look through my medicines, but I can’t help if I don’t know what ails her. You know far more about magic than I, and you’re already up, so you might as well inspect the mark.”

“Gladly,” Caius huffed, and Link imagined that if the King had the energy to shove the doctor out of the way, he would have done so. Instead, he contented to hobble closer to his daughter’s side before inspecting the symbol that marked her skin. It wasn’t long before his expression turned grave.

“I don’t recognize this symbol,” he muttered. “It’s certainly magical in nature, and I can discern a few components of the spell that spawned it, but it is not something that I have ever witnessed before.”

“Zelda mentioned something about a witch just before she collapsed” Link supplied again, hoping it might help in some way. Any way.

“Did you see a witch around, lad? Did you notice any spells being cast upon Zelda?”

Link almost felt taken aback by this query. “No sir. We were completely alone on the castle balcony. There’s no way that someone could have attacked her without my notice.”

“That’s what I feared,” the King said with a small nod. “In that case, she must have been referring to the Bulblin attack a few days ago.”

“The Bulblins?” Link repeated, feeling more than a little confused.

“Yes, Zelda mentioned that they had a witch among their number. One who escaped after striking Zelda with a spell. I fear that this may be the result of that curse.” Caius paused, making sure to turn away from his daughter as he coughed a bit. “I’m almost sure of it. This mark here in the corner denotes slumber and would surely explain Zelda’s current state. And here, towards the bottom, are lines that suggest a duration of one hour.”

“So, Her Highness was forced to fall asleep for one hour?” Roswald surmised.

“That is all I can gather. The rest of the symbol is foreign to me.”

“So…it’s relatively harmless then?”

“More or less,” Caius agreed.

“And she’ll simply awaken within an hour’s time?”

“It would seem so.”

“What an absolute mystery,” Roswald mumbled, sounding both exasperated and confused. “Why submit our Princess to slumber for one hour? If anything, the witch did her a favor.”

“Well, it would have been very useful in battle,” Link chimed in. “To have Zelda fall unconscious and be at the Bulblins’ complete mercy…But that’s not what happened, is it?”

“No, Zelda drove off the witch and slayed the rest,” Caius confirmed. “She never fell in battle.”

“In that case, I also have to question the meaning of this,” Link continued. “Why would the Bulblins–or in this case, the witch–have cast a spell that wouldn’t activate until days later? Was it possibly misspoken?”

Caius shook his head. “Not likely. While it is possible to delay the effects of a spell, it takes a well-trained magician to pull off such a skill. It is not something that could merely be performed by accident. I guarantee that the Bulblin witch knew exactly what she was doing when she cast this spell, and that she did it deliberately.”

“But again, why?” Link stressed the question. “Why now, days after the danger has already passed?”

“Perhaps it’s the Bulblins’ idea of a laugh?” Roswald suggested with crossed arms. “A harmless trick to mess with their opponents?”

Link frowned. He had faced the Bulblins time after time in numerous skirmishes, and yet they had never been known for their wisecracks or sense of humor. Especially not in the middle of a battle. This entire scenario just didn’t sit right with him. Not at all…

“Well, whatever their reasoning, it seems that the Princess isn’t in any mortal peril,” the doctor concluded. “Let’s give her an hour and see if she wakes. In the meantime, I’ll start a fire to at least keep her warm. And you,” he pointed a finger at his King, “need to return to bed and get your own rest. You’ve already spent far too much energy today and your fatigue is evident.”

“I won’t leave her side,” Caius declared adamantly. “I won’t rest until she’s returned to us and assures me she’s fine. You’re mad if you believe that I’ll settle for anything less.”

Roswald sighed. “Need I remind you of your health and your promise to the Princess?”

Caius scowled before offering only the smallest of compromises. “I’ll take the next bed over. Will that satisfy you?”

Roswald scowled in return, realizing that this was all he could really hope for. “Very well. Get yourself situated and I’ll see to the fire.”

And with that, the men set to work. Caius helped himself into a cot while Roswald fetched some dry logs. Meanwhile, Link remained by the Princess’s side. Still studying her. Still watching over her. He just couldn’t bring himself to move. Not when this entire situation still had him feeling so unsettled.

That black mark. Even now it appeared to shimmer in front of his eyes. It was almost as if it was taunting him with its subtle, imaginary movements. He glared down at it.

For the second time that day, he thought of Midna. He had a feeling that if she were here, she might be able to figure out what was going on. To discover what the witch had been attempting. To reveal what exactly he was missing to have any of this make sense. The Twili imp had always been clever, after all.

“Pardon the interruption,” a soft voice came from behind, pulling Link out of his thoughts. He soon turned to find Rita, the maid he encountered earlier, standing by the doorway. She promptly curtsied to everyone in the room. “Your Majesty. Sir Link. Doctor.” However, she paused once she spotted Zelda’s body.

Fortunately, Caius was quick to speak up. “Ah, pay my daughter no mind. She merely desired a brief respite from her day.”

It was a harmless lie, one that Link realized would probably keep Rita and the rest of the castle from panicking. The maid softly smiled. “Of course, Your Majesty. I promise not to linger so Her Highness can receive her rest.”

“Is there anything I can help you with, dear?” Roswald asked as he approached her. Being the head doctor, it was only natural that he assumed she was looking for him.

“Thank you, doctor, but I’m afraid not. I actually have a summons for Sir Link.”

The Hero simply blinked. “Me?”

Rita nodded. “Yes. The Postman requests your presence at the Castle Gate. He claimed to have an urgent message for you.”

Link could only frown. He recalled that the Kingdom’s most diligent Postman always had a knack for making things sound more pressing than they needed to be. He wondered if this was really worth bothering with, especially when Zelda still lay comatose behind him.

“Why didn’t the Postman just have you deliver the letter to me?”

“He claimed not to have a letter. Only a vocal message from Ordon Village.”

Okay, now this caught Link’s attention. He hadn’t been away from home for more than a day. Who could possibly be contacting him, and for what reason? He could already feel his curiosity growing as the unsettling feeling inside of him worsened considerably.

Something was off here…

“Not to rush you, Sir Link, but the Postman did mention that he has a schedule to keep…”

Link frowned before glancing back at Zelda. He felt compelled to go and see what all of this was about, but could he really leave the Princess behind like this?

Fortunately, Caius seemed to notice his dilemma, and soon spoke up. “Go on, Link. She’s in good hands here.”

Link felt like it was difficult to accept this, but he knew that the King was right. Zelda was relatively safe at the moment, and even if he did stick around, there wasn’t really anything he could do for her. Still, he wished that he could shake this uneasy feeling that had taken hold of him. Even now, he could still feel a slight prickling sensation on the back of his left hand. It was a surefire sign of trouble, as far as he was aware.

Nevertheless, he turned to face Rita. He may have been a legendary Hero, but he was still only a man, and he could only solve one problem at a time.

“Let’s go.”

 

---

 

It only took a few minutes for Link to reach the front gate. Upon arriving, he found the notorious Postman jogging in place, clearly eager to hit the road again as soon as his job here was finished. As expected, he was decked out in all his usual gear. A white outfit which clung to his skin and allowed for swift movement. A red cap which openly marked his profession. A large makeshift sign strapped to his back that truly ensured his profession was evident. And, last but not least, a small backpack in which he stored all of his valuable postage.

He was an odd sight for sure, but usually a welcome one. Although, Link felt compelled to disagree in this instance. At least so long as Zelda remained in such a vulnerable state.

“Greetings, Mr. Link!” the Postman cheered as soon as he spotted the Hero in green. He did not cease his jogging though. If anything, his feet may have picked up their pace.

Link rolled his eyes. “Hello. I believe you have a message from Ordon Village?”

“Yes, I stopped there just this morning and received an urgent message from Ilia. The poor girl didn’t have any time to commit her words to post, but I assured her that I would happily pass the message along regardless.”

The knot in Link’s stomach tightened at this. Ilia was the one reaching out to him? With every passing second, Link could feel his concern growing. Surely she wouldn’t have done this unless something was wrong…

“What’s the message?” he finally asked.

For this, the Postman ceased his jogging, if only so he could clear his throat and steady his voice. “For the humble Hero of Twilight, Mr. Link: Please return to Ordon as soon as possible. We need your help.”

Link remained still, waiting for more to come, but eventually he blinked once he realized that this was all there was. “That…That’s it?”

“I’m afraid so,” the Postman confirmed as he picked up his jogging once more. “She only caught me as I was leaving, but she made sure to stress that it was urgent before running back to the village. Speaking of which, I must now be off! I have a schedule to keep, after all!”

And with that, the carrier took his departure, zipping right out of the gate without a single glance back. All Link could do was watch him go, feeling more confused than ever before.

Ilia wanted him to come home? Ordon needed him?

What was that supposed to mean?

Link hated being left in the dark like this. Just this morning, he had been unaware of Zelda’s recent woes, and now after being gone for only a day, he had apparently lost all knowledge of what was happening back in Ordon too. After all, while Ilia’s message was vague and brief, it seemed obvious to him that something was amiss there. Surely, she wouldn’t have bothered sending for him if it wasn’t of the utmost importance?

Then again, Ilia did have a tendency to overreact on occasion. And she had also become more vocal about how little she enjoyed his time away from Ordon. Was this just a selfish and desperate attempt to get him to return sooner? So she wouldn’t have to bear his absence?

Link soon shook his head, feeling ashamed of himself. No, Ilia was one of his closest friends, as well as his partner. He shouldn’t be doubting her like this. Especially if there really was something urgent in Ordon that required his attention. The answer should have been simple and immediate. If his people needed him, he would go.

The Hero nodded his head resolutely. Yes, he would go. He soon began arranging the necessary plans in his head. He’d journey through the night so that he could arrive at the village by dawn. He’d have to fetch Epona from the stable and it probably wouldn’t hurt to prepare some food for his travels.

Ah, but first, I should probably let them know that I’m leaving, Link realized. Once again, he felt consumed by guilt. It honestly felt wrong to just leave the castle like this, while Zelda was still unconscious and it was unclear if she was truly okay. But then again, the doctor had assured him that she was perfectly fine and would simply awaken after an hour. So it was certainly possible that she would be okay without him. In fact, it was probable that she would be fine whether he stayed or not.

But if that was the case, then why did he still feel so torn?

The knot within him constricted once more. Link could feel his fingers curling into fists while his teeth scraped against each other. Something was seriously wrong. No, more than wrong. It felt like his entire world was threatening to collapse around him, and yet he didn’t have the slightest idea why.

It wasn’t until he decided to march back into the castle that he managed to gather an inkling. Making his way to the infirmary, Link intended to apologize to the King and doctor for his sudden departure, hoping that they could forgive him for abandoning Zelda in her hour of need. But it was only as he was mulling over this thought that he heard the shouting from down the hall.

“YOU!” a voice bellowed. So terrible and powerful it was, that the halls themselves seemed to reverberate under its echo. Another sign that Link’s world was only holding together at the seams. “YOU VILE CREATURE. KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER-”

It only took a second for Link to realize that a voice as powerful as this could only belong to a man who stood at the top of nations, commanding all those beneath him. And it only took half a second more for Link to register who that person’s daughter was.

“Zelda.”

As the name escaped his lips, the Hero chose to abandon all thought and focus solely on his destination. For a moment, he personified the wolf within, bounding across the marble floors in pursuit of his prey. The next thing he knew, he was at the infirmary’s entrance, glaring at the sight he was met with.

The doctor was slumped over in a bed, likely unconscious. The King was rising from his own, looking downright furious. And Zelda…

Zelda had company. A lone Bulblin, with dark robes, a pierced face, and violet eyes that felt like they could see right through whomever they pleased. A single hand, sickly green in color with nails sharpened like claws, grasped the sleeping Princess by the chin.

Swifter than even his instinct dictated, Link reached for the sword on his back. However, by the time his fingers grasped the pommel, it was already too late. The Bulblin and Zelda were gone, leaving an empty cot in their wake.

Caius roared, more furious than ever. Link almost had half a mind to join him, but somewhere deep down, he knew that now wasn’t the time for such things. There was work to be done, and he needed to start now.

First came the doctor. Link rushed to his side, using as little time as possible to check for a pulse and confirm he was alive. He then turned his attention to the monarch, who was desperately clutching the bedsheets where Zelda had rested only moments before. He slumped forward, either too fatigued or distraught to stand.

“That little Bulblin wench!” Caius cursed, still lost in his fury. “It was the witch! That same witch who put Zelda to sleep, I’m sure of it! She used magic to teleport in here, attacked Roswald, and then once she had Zelda in her grasp, she teleported again!”

“I know,” Link told him, his voice sounding both hollow and serious. Even though he had only caught a glimpse of the she-Bulblin, he felt like he was finally in a position to start piecing together her plan. The same one that had stumped him not even ten minutes prior. “She kidnapped Zelda. That was her plan all along. That’s why she used a delayed spell that put Zelda to sleep, so she could take her while she was vulnerable.”

“Of course!” Caius steamed, his voice still loud enough to echo into the halls. By this point, a handful of guards had arrived at the infirmary as well, but they were ignored by both King and Hero alike. “It all makes sense now. They were waiting for an opportunity to steal her away. We underestimated how crafty they could be. We should have been more alert!”

Link clenched his teeth, feeling overwhelmed by his own fury and shame. He agreed. He should have never left Zelda’s side. If he had chosen to stay, then he could have prevented this kidnapping from taking place at all. Oh, he was such a fool…

But he didn’t bother to waste time wallowing in pity. No, what he needed to do was find a solution, and the sooner, the better.

“Your Majesty,” Link said before placing a firm hand on his shoulder. Another forward action that should have stunned the Hero but was easily lost in the moment. “Do you know where they could have gone? Where the witch might have taken Zelda?”

Caius coughed terribly, nearly hacking up a lung before he quelled his airways. When he did, he turned to Link with eyes like stone. So serious was his expression that he could have easily been mistaken for a statue. And yet he did not appear cold or lifeless. If anything, he was a fire raging to life, and it was in those same eyes that Link found confidence, pride, and trust.

“I managed to catch part of the witch’s spell just before you arrived. She spoke in a language I do not understand, but fortunately, I still managed to recognize a few of her chants and hand motions. She took Zelda and fled east to Hyrule Field. I’m certain of it.”

Link gave a single nod. Eastern Hyrule Field. A place where the Bulblins were well-known for ambushing travelers. It wasn’t much, but it was all he needed to get moving. The Hero soon placed a fist to his chest. His voice was rich with conviction.

“Your Majesty, I promise to rescue Zelda from her captors and see her safely home.”

The King nodded back, his faithful eyes never leaving the Hero’s own. “I’m entrusting her to you. Now go forth, Hero of Twilight!”

Link didn’t need to be told twice. He pushed his way past the confused soldiers and began bounding down the halls once more. Racing towards the stable where he could jump on Epona and ride out into the setting sun.

Not even five minutes ago, he had felt so torn. So conflicted. So guilty and worried and unsure of what he should be doing as his world grew more unstable. But it was different now. Everything suddenly seemed so clear.

Zelda was in danger. And he was going to save her.

Notes:

I love the thought that Link will drop everything in order to run to Zelda’s rescue. Even if his circumstances say that he really shouldn’t…

Chapter 63: King Bulblin

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 63 – King Bulblin

Zelda slowly lifted her eyelids, feeling her wits return to her at a similar pace. She felt so groggy and out of sorts, in addition to downright uncomfortable. She found herself standing up straight, her back resting against something hard and wooden, with her arms raised overhead. What an odd position, she mused.

Unfortunately, her dreamlike tranquility was interrupted as soon as she fully opened her eyes and found a violet pair staring back at her.

Zelda nearly gasped, but instead her breath caught in her throat. She would’ve taken a defensive step back if there wasn’t something blocking her path. “You!”

The witch cackled, as if amused by such startled behavior. It was a haunting sound, wicked and unsettling. The she-Bulblin then relaxed, happily baring her fangs.

Zelda tried to turn away from the devil, hoping to collect her bearings instead. Unfortunately, her surroundings proved to be an equally unwelcome sight. The sun had finished setting, the sky now shifting into shades of navy blue while the stars announced their presence. Because of this, the landscape had grown dark, but Zelda spotted numerous bonfires and ruined buildings scattered throughout her peripheral vision. Each bright flame contained the silhouette of a Bulblin resting nearby. Their numbers were great, and certainly a cause for concern, but Zelda was more preoccupied with her immediate situation. She found that her back was pressed to a wooden post, one with a chain dangling from the top. At the end of the chain were iron manacles that had been clamped on her wrists and kept her arms overhead at all times. She tried to tug on them, but while her feet were firmly planted on the ground, she could barely move an inch. She was completely and utterly bound.

Zelda didn’t have the slightest idea of how she had ended up in such a place, but she was at least able to determine the where and why. She was in a Bulblin camp, and she was their captive.

At times like these, she supposed that nothing else really mattered.

Clenching her teeth, Zelda went to make her move. She called upon the Goddesses, humbly asking them to bless her with their light as she prepared to cast a spell that would free her of her bindings. Once she accomplished that, she’d swiftly attack the witch before fleeing. If she was lucky, she might be able to acquire one of the Bulblin’s mounts and make a clean escape before they caught her—

Her strategy promptly died there, for Zelda soon realized that while she had called for the Goddesses’ blessing more than a few seconds ago, nothing had happened. She was still tightly bound, the iron chain as sturdy as ever.

Zelda felt confused but attempted to recite her prayer. All she needed was a small bit of magic to shatter these manacles. It should have been a simple task. One that was more than manageable.

And yet, once again, nothing happened. This time, Zelda frowned. Something was seriously wrong here. Another cackle from the witch was all she needed to confirm it.

The Princess glared down at the wretch. The Bulblin taunted her by waving a finger in the air, while also muttering something in a language which Zelda did not understand. Nevertheless, the message was perfectly clear. Zelda was incapable of casting spells at this moment. Perhaps the witch had done something to her. Marked her with a curse that would prevent her from accessing magic. It was a logical conclusion, especially since there was no other way to confine someone as capable as Zelda.

The Princess released a heavy sigh as she allowed her arms to hang limp against the chains. If she was stuck, then she supposed that her time was best spent thinking through her current roadblocks. Assuming that she was truly cursed, then she had no way of accessing magic, and no way of removing said curse. Not to mention that an escape would be out of the question too. With that dismal fact established, Zelda returned to her earlier queries. How had she come to be here, and what did her captors desire?

It was no surprise that royalty often made for valuable hostages. Their very lives could be exchanged for just about anything their captors sought. Riches. Power. Favors awarded through threats and demands. It was a wretched outcome, but certainly a plausible one, considering the circumstances. Still, Zelda hesitated a bit as she considered how well such a strategy matched her particular captors. Did the Bulblins desire power? Did they desire wealth? Honestly, she had a hard time believing it, especially since the Bulblins were usually known for being simple at heart. Creatures who only ambushed and stole because it would mean filling their bellies for the night, and nothing more.

But if that was the case, then why would the Bulblins have kidnapped one of the most important figures in the Kingdom? Surely they would demand something more than mere food, yes? She’d at least like to believe that her life was worth more than that…

“You have awoken,” a deep, gruff voice demanded her attention. Zelda nearly froze as she tried to determine its source. Not only did it sound terribly imposing, but it immediately caught her curiosity as well.

Hylian speech? In a Bulblin camp?

While trying to wrap her mind around something that she believed to be an impossibility, the owner of the voice revealed himself. Stepping out from the shadow of nearby ruins was a great, masculine figure, one who was far larger than any Bulblin Zelda had ever witnessed. He stood as tall as she did, if not taller, and his muscular body was both heavy and stout. Zelda might not have assumed him a Bulblin at all, if she hadn’t recognized his green skin, piercing red eyes, and horns which curved out and then up, far over his head. His mouth was ajar, revealing an uneven row of teeth. And his weapon of choice? A massive axe that was somehow even longer than he was tall, horns included.

Zelda nearly shivered as she continued to take him in. He was just so menacing, even at a glance. It wasn’t long before his large figure lumbered closer to her, his beady red eyes looking her over in return. She wasn’t sure, but for a moment, it almost seemed like they studied the golden circlet that rested on her brow.

“You are the monarch,” he said in his gruff voice.

Again, Zelda had to pause and realize that this creature was actually speaking to her. The Bulblins were known to have spoken their own, primitive language, but it had never been studied by the scholars of this era or translated into Hylian speech. Which is why it was an even greater shock to discover a Bulblin who freely spoke the Hylians’ common language. This was entirely unprecedented.

“Do you have no words?” the large one demanded, seeming impatient.

“I…I was not aware that you spoke in our tongue,” Zelda finally answered back. “How have you come to learn our words?”

The Bulblin merely scowled. “I have known it from birth, in addition to many other tongues. But that is not of importance.”

Zelda vehemently disagreed. As a history buff and someone who loved to study culture, this sounded like a monumental discovery! One that needed to be explored and expanded upon. But she wisely chose to hold her tongue. She knew that this dire situation was not the time or place for such things.

“You are the monarch?” he repeated, this time stressing the fact that it was a question and that he very much expected an answer.

Zelda boldly stared at him. “I am Princess Zelda of Hyrule, yes. Now, may I question who is asking?”

He scowled again. He did not seem pleased to have the Princess directing any queries back upon himself. Nevertheless, he chose to answer. “King Bulblin, the one who leads this Hunt.”

A Hunt, Zelda reminded herself, was the term often used to describe a Bulblin’s traveling party. So this was who she was speaking with. A rather important figure, considering the circumstances. “And what does the leader of the horned devils want with me?”

“Bait.”

It was an answer so blunt and unexpected, Zelda needed a moment to process it. “Bait? I’m not sure that I follow…”

“You don’t need to,” he asserted.

This time, Zelda was the one who scowled. She felt that if she was going to be forced into a hostage negotiation, then she at least deserved to know what was going on. And besides, this “King Bulblin” wasn’t really threatening her in any manner, so she found him far from intimidating at the moment.

“Please, what is it that you desire?” Zelda coaxed him. “Wealth? Land?”

“We have no use for such things,” Bulblin replied, being as blunt as ever.

Zelda rolled her eyes. “Food, then?”

“No.”

A bit of a surprising answer, but a relieving one too. At least her life was worth more than mere consumables. “Then explain. What do you want? I’m sure that as long as it’s feasible, I can assist in the negotiations.”

Bulblin shook his head. “You have nothing that I want.”

Another answer that left Zelda stumped. The Bulblins had planned and successfully pulled off a royal kidnapping. It was by no means an easy feat, and one that was sure to be handsomely rewarded if they played their cards right. And yet, despite their favorable position, the King was saying that he desired nothing from her. Nothing at all. What a conundrum this was turning out to be.

“I don’t understand,” Zelda said with a shake of her head. “If that is the case, then why have you gone to the trouble of bringing me here?”

“Reshka assured me that it was no trouble at all.”

“Reshka?”

“Our Hunt’s finest witch,” he said with a jerk of his head. Zelda followed the motion only to be met with the short little she-Bulblin. She bared her fangs in a wide grin which continued to frustrate the Princess to no end. “She claimed that it was a simple matter to strike you unawares and steal you away from your home. And so it was.”

Zelda clenched her teeth, only growing more irritated. They were practically insulting her. Stating that the Princess and her castle were incapable of defending her from one measly witch. Although, based on her current situation, she couldn’t exactly disagree with them…

“She used a delayed sleeping spell,” Zelda surmised as she finally put the pieces together. “That’s what the black mark was. And once I was vulnerable, I’m sure that a quick teleportation in and out of the castle was enough to do the job.”

“I don’t claim to know her methods,” Bulblin answered. It wasn’t clear if he was withholding the satisfaction of being correct from the Princess, or if he just truly didn’t know. Reshka cackled all the same, earning her a glare from Zelda. This little witch really was a thorn in her side.

“Well then, surely there is some reason why I’ve been dragged out here and chained to a post?” Zelda continued, drawing upon an untapped stream of sarcasm. “Or should I try my luck and kindly ask you to unbind me? I know that it’s late, but I still would very much like to go home.”

“Enough,” the King growled. His tone made it evident that he was not in the mood for any games. “The only thing I require from you is to remain here. As long as you do, he will come.”

Zelda frowned at this. It was her first inkling as to what Bulblin was up to, and yet he was still being as vague and blunt as ever. “He?” she finally repeated.

“The one in green,” Bulblin muttered. “The Hero.”

“Link?” Zelda then froze, wishing that she could clamp a hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to utter his name like that. It had been pure instinct.

Fortunately, Bulblin didn’t seem to think anything of it. In fact, he barely even shrugged before lowering himself to the ground, resting his back against the pillar of an abandoned building. He seemed content to sit for a while.

Amidst the calm and quiet, Zelda gathered her courage to speak once more. “What do you want with the Hero?”

He eyed her lazily, almost as if her existence didn’t matter to him in the slightest. Nevertheless, he continued to answer her queries.

“Battle.”

“A battle? You…wish to fight with the Hero?”

“Aye.”

Zelda paused, recalling how Link had shared stories of a large Bulblin who rode atop a boar, and had battled him on many occasions throughout his adventure. She could only assume that this was that same Bulblin. Who else could possibly fit the description? And if this was the case, then it was certain that both Hero and King shared a connection…

“Why do you wish to fight the Hero?” she continued. “Is it for revenge? To settle an old rivalry?”

Bulblin grunted, looking displeased. “You think so little of our people. Offering us riches. Knowing not why we battle. Your ignorance insults us.”

Zelda went silent at this. She never intended to offend her captors with what she believed to be a fairly innocent question. But she couldn’t deny that there was truth in his words. She knew so little about the Bulblins aside from secondhand accounts. And even then, who could say whether or not those accounts had any truth to them? For the first time in her life, Zelda realized that this band of green-skinned, horned ambushers was almost a complete mystery to her. A mystery to all of Hyrule.

“Forgive me,” she said, bowing her head. “I do not intend to insult; I merely intend to understand. Why do you seek a battle with the Hero?”

Bulblin scowled once more. “Will your questions ever cease?”

“How am I to understand if I do not ask?”

“Tch.” He looked away, staring at the nearest bonfire. Around it sat the slim figures of his Bulblin brethren, happily helping themselves to the meat of some creature they had slaughtered that day. Zelda glanced over and watched them for a while too.

“The Hero is the only one who has ever bested me in combat and still lives,” Bulblin mumbled. “There was once another, but his life was snuffed out by the Hero’s hand. Now it is he and he alone who I consider the strong.”

Zelda felt shivers run along her skin. She was startled to know that such a gruff, grotesque, and seemingly primitive creature could speak with such heart. Such conviction.

“I follow the strongest side. That is all I have ever known. The first man to best me took advantage of this. He commanded me and my brethren to serve him, and we did, committing many atrocities in his name. But it was also through this servitude that I encountered the Hero, challenging him time and again. He was strong, and he continued to grow in strength until he eventually slayed the only man who stood above me.”

“And that man’s name…was Zant, wasn’t it?” Zelda asked quietly.

Bulblin only returned the smallest of nods. “After this, I encountered the Hero in one final battle, and it was here that he bested me with a strength so absolute, I dare not question it. So I retreated. The Hero in green would become my new goal. The only one who stood above me, and the only one I follow.

“However, in the time since that final battle, the Hero has not once sought me out. Has not once given me or my brethren instructions. Has not once challenged others, or displayed his strength to prove his dominance. He has become complacent. He whittles his time away in his village of goats and pumpkins. This…is not who I follow. This is not the warrior who bested me. I refuse to accept it.”

Zelda frowned at this. “You seek a conqueror?”

“I seek direction,” the King clarified. “The man of Twilight and the Hero are both strong. The man of Twilight provided us with direction and purpose. The Hero has not. Now we are aimless. My strength is questionable. What am I to do but continue the only thing I have ever known? Ram my horns against all who stand above me.”

“I see…” Zelda mumbled, finally feeling like she was beginning to understand just who King Bulblin was, and why this entire scenario had been concocted in the first place. “You wish to battle with Link–I mean, the Hero, in order to find out if he still has the right to stand above you? To see if his strength still exceeds yours, and if he is worthy of your allegiance.”

“Aye,” the King replied simply.

The Princess soon sighed, letting her arms hang loose in their cuffs. Never in her life would she have imagined that a Bulblin could hold such sophisticated ideals. To constantly seek strength as a source of guidance. To submit to strength in order to attain it. It sounded barbaric, but also passionate. She imagined that it took a great deal of pride and trust to follow these foundations wholeheartedly, and her respect for the monster who had kidnapped her was slowly but steadily rising.

“Thank you,” she eventually whispered. “I appreciate that you were willing to be so open and honest with me, King Bulblin. Considering the circumstances, you really had no obligation to share this information with me, and for that, I will treasure it.”

The King stared at her, slack-jawed as always. Perhaps this was his way of frowning. “Do as you please,” he muttered.

“It is strange,” Zelda continued. “You have committed terrible deeds, but you do not seem like a terrible person.”

A grunt came from the hulking figure. Zelda almost felt compelled to smile.

“Is it safe to presume that you mean me no harm?”

“I only want the Hero.”

“In that case, can you clarify one final thing for me? For what reason have you brought me here?”

“Bait.”

Ah, yes, bait. Now it all made sense. To put it in fishing terms, the Princess would be the disgusting worm who lured Link into Bulblin’s trap. Zelda almost felt ashamed for not putting it together before now, but then again, the King’s blunt answers hadn’t made the connection very clear…

Zelda suddenly frowned. On second thought, things still didn’t quite add up here. What was the connection?

“You…believe that keeping me here will lure in the Hero, yes?” Zelda asked slowly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To fight.”

Zelda sighed again. “No, I understand that. I mean to say, why would you use me as your hostage? Surely there were easier targets you could have acquired?”

Bulblin seemed confused by the question. “I already told you that Reshka stole you easily enough-”

“No,” Zelda said, feeling daring enough to cut him off. “You’re strong, aren’t you? Surely you could have stolen anyone to lure the Hero in. A child from his village, perhaps? It certainly wouldn’t have been the first time you did such things…So, why go to the trouble of kidnapping me?”

Bulblin was silent for a moment, but he eventually shrugged. “The Hero is at his strongest when he fights for you.”

Zelda was equally quiet as her lips fell into a frown. “What do you mean?”

“I have seen the Hero fight to save a child. I have seen the Hero fight to save a sick Zora. I have seen the Hero fight when a monster simply stands in the way of his path. But the only time I have ever fully submitted to him, was when I stood in the way of the Hero saving you.”

Again, Zelda felt chills flow through her while she shivered. Was that really true? Did Link truly become stronger whenever he believed that Zelda was in peril? She then recalled the final battle against Ganondorf, and how bravely and ferociously Link had stood his ground. Staring daggers at the tyrant as if he were no more than a goat who had escaped its pen. Stepping forward to challenge him while Zelda and Epona remained safely behind.

Perhaps she could see it after all…

“The Hero draws strength from his monarch,” said Bulblin, “and it is that strength which I seek to combat. Let us both hope that he will not disappoint.”

Zelda slowly nodded before glancing up at the stars. “Aye, let us hope,” she agreed.

There was more silence, save for some soft background noise. The howling of wind. The crackling of the bonfires. The distant cackles of the Bulblins that sat around them. For some, this scene might have been a nightmare. But for someone as brave as Zelda, she almost found it tranquil.

She chose to softly speak up once more. “King Bulblin.”

Unfortunately, his response was less than welcoming. “Quiet. I’ve had enough of your queries.”

Zelda frowned at his rudeness, but she continued without faltering. “I’ve never encountered a Bulblin who could speak my language. And if you can speak, and I can understand, then the two of us should talk. I’m ashamed to admit that my people know very little about yours.”

His red eyes narrowed, as if being cautious. “Perhaps it is best left that way.”

“I disagree,” she replied with a shake of her head. “I believe that we both could have something to gain by knowing each other better. There seems to be a great hostility between our people, but perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. Perhaps we could come to an agreement.”

The King sat there for a while, appearing lost in thought while he casually tapped his axe against his shoulder. Eventually, he shook his head back. “I have no need for understandings or hostilities. I only follow the strong.”

Zelda frowned some more. “But don’t you see? This could be a wonderful opportunity for-”

“Enough,” Bulblin growled for the second time that evening. “I’ve already said that I've heard enough of your words. Reshka.”

The Bulblin witch perked up before answering back in a foreign tongue.

“Put the monarch to sleep. We have no need of her until the Hero arrives.”

“King Bulblin, please-” Zelda tried to begin, but it was no use. Reshka was quick to obey her orders, weaving a spell that promptly lured the Princess off into the land of dreams. The last thing she saw before entering that darkness was a pair of red eyes. Red eyes that were hostile, but also held the smallest spark of curiosity within them.

Notes:

I have big plans for the Bulblins! It’s actually a lot of fun to be able to explore their characters. It’s also kind of the reason why this story ended up being 100 chapters long lol. Hopefully it will all be worth it in the end :)

Chapter 64: Rescue

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 64 – Rescue

In the realm between conscious and unconscious, amidst the fragments of dreams and nothingness, Zelda stumbled upon a distant memory. It was winter, and she was a young girl, likely no older than five. She found herself in the courtyard of her family’s manor in Snowpeak, where fluffy white crystals continuously showered upon her.

Before long, a youthful woman ran up from behind and snatched Zelda into her arms. She had long brunette hair and a beautiful smile. She held Zelda close as her voice chimed with laughter.

“Ah, I’ve got you now, Princess. You’ll never escape this witch’s grasp!”

Zelda’s face brightened. She recognized this game of “Rescue”, which she so often loved to play with her parents. Of course, her mother always insisted on being the witch. She thought it was charming.

“Now that I’ve got you in my grasp, I’ll cast a spell of one thousand kisses!” the Queen teased. She soon made good on this threat, pulling the girl close and kissing everywhere from her head to her neck to her cheek.

Zelda promptly squealed before giggling. She spotted her father on the other side of the courtyard and called for him. “Someone help!” her youthful voice squeaked. “I need (hehe) a Prince to save me!”

A younger, livelier Caius stopped what he was doing and grinned. As if he needed to be told twice. He soon rushed to his daughter’s aid with a hearty chuckle. “Don’t worry, Princess! I will rescue you!”

What ensued was a playful back and forth, Athena swinging her daughter through the air to keep her out of Caius’s reach. Zelda eventually escaped and the situation dissolved into her parents happily tossing snow at one another and laughing. Once they had their fun, Athena graciously surrendered.

“You’ve bested me, sweet Prince,” she said, as dramatically as ever. “But I’ll be sure to capture that Princess again, just you wait.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Caius replied confidently. He then scooped his prize up into his arms, holding Zelda close. As always, he expected a small thank you kiss. It was only fair after he had so courageously come to her rescue, after all.

Zelda gladly complied, kissing her father’s cheek. After this, the family retreated to the den, content to relax and warm up after their time of play was finished.

Separating from the memory, Zelda’s present self reflected on this. The simple games that she had experienced with her parents so often. She supposed that this is where it all began. That distant, youthful, innocent dream of hers that she had wished for ever since she was a child. A dream that was almost forgotten at times, and yet had always lingered within her heart. A dream that even now, still made her feel equally giddy and breathless just from thinking about it.

The dream of a brave man riding to her rescue, should she ever find herself in danger…

 

---

 

With a start, Zelda awoke. A loud horn rang out, waking the rest of the camp as well. It was currently dawn, and the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon. The nearby ruins—now revealed to be abandoned and run-down homes in the light of morning—cast long shadows on the fields before them.

Zelda glanced around, trying to gather her senses as well as her bearings. She was chained to a post. In a Bulblin camp. A horn was blaring.

Why was a horn blaring?

The sight of several Bulblins rising to their feet and grasping their weapons answered that query soon enough. The sound of the horn was a warning. It meant that someone approached their camp, and they were all expected to prepare for battle.

Similarly, King Bulblin rose from his place on the ground, large axe firmly held in hand. He turned, facing away from the sun and following the shadows that trailed across the open plain before them. Zelda glanced in the same direction, and there, in the very far distance, she spotted a lone horse and rider approaching them.

Bulblin soon began issuing orders in his native tongue. The Bulblins ran to and fro, their archers taking positions on top of the deteriorated homes, while the axemen stationed themselves around the sides. Before long, they stood in what appeared to be some sort of bottleneck formation, their lines leaving an open pathway directly to the King, as well as Zelda’s post.

The Princess also noticed that Reshka remained by her side throughout the commotion, her expression blank and eyes disinterested. Feeling daring, Zelda attempted once again to ask the Goddesses to bless her with magic so that she could free herself, but it proved just as fruitless as before. The gifts of magic were still beyond her. She wondered if her proximity to the witch had something to do with it. Perhaps her presence alone intensified whatever curse had been placed upon the Princess.

Either way, it appeared that Zelda was stuck, and this person riding fearlessly into the Bulblin camp would be her new ray of hope. Her light in the darkness which would rescue her from her imprisonment. She soon smiled at the thought. She had the utmost faith in him. After all, he had done it once before.

The Hero clad in green reached the outskirts of the ruined buildings. His chestnut horse moved swiftly, and it would be mere moments before he encountered the first of the Bulblins. However, just as the horned creatures atop the buildings began to raise their bows and take steady aim, the King called out in their tongue. He was loud and stern, and seemed to be issuing careful instructions. A second later, the bows fell, and those brandishing axes and swords lowered their weapons as well.

It was clear that the King had ordered them to stand down. Link seemed to have taken notice of this and simply scowled. He gladly ignored the peons so he could focus on his true opponent and the woman who was chained up behind him. Even at this distance, Zelda felt like she could see a bright flame ignite behind his beautiful blue eyes.

Epona dashed all the way into the heart of the camp, where Link gracefully slipped off from her back and landed in a crouch. He then smacked Epona’s rear, silently instructing her to leave him. She obeyed, dashing straight out of the camp and into the open fields. At first glance, it almost seemed like a foolish decision. The Hero had clearly just cut off his path of escape, and any chance of fleeing from the Bulblins would certainly prove fruitless. But Zelda understood his decision perfectly. The Hero only wanted to ensure that his beloved horse would be safe once the inevitable battle broke out. In instances like this, it was better to keep her far rather than near.

With that matter out of the way, Link slowly turned to face his opponent. There was still a good amount of distance between them, so the Hero kept his arms at his sides, far from the sword and shield at his back.

“So,” he said, sounding unexpectedly calm, “you’re the one behind all of this?”

Bulblin briefly nodded. “Aye.”

Link frowned and shook his head. “Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me. And I assume it’s a battle you want?”

“Aye.”

The Hero was silent for a moment, but soon gave a firm nod. “Very well.”

Zelda almost felt herself go breathless at this brief yet efficient exchange. Somehow, it seemed that Link had managed to surmise all of King Bulblin’s goals in an instant. He knew that the beast wanted battle. He knew that Zelda wouldn’t be released until he agreed. Honestly, the Hero might have been wiser than most people tended to give him credit for. At the very least, he had managed to reach an understanding with Bulblin far sooner than the Princess had.

It was around this point that Link’s fierce eyes flickered to Zelda’s location, and promptly softened a bit.

“Zelda, are you okay?” he asked, his voice remaining as calm as undisturbed waters.

She soon smiled back, trying to reassure him. “I’m a little stiff and uncomfortable, but otherwise fine.”

His expression softened some more, now appearing a little guilty. “Can you hold on for a little bit? I promise I’ll get you out of here.”

“Of course,” she responded sweetly. “Take your time.”

A simple but appreciative nod was all she received in return, and yet this small gesture was still enough to send her heart into a frenzy. Enough to remind her of her silly little dream that she had held ever since she was a girl. She looked upon him. Her friend. Her Hero. Her savior. The man who would always defend her and make sure that she was free from harm.

For months, she had been plagued with conflicting emotions. Affection and admiration. Trepidation and reservation. A desire to pursue. A desire to let him go. Endless weeks caught up in the torment of her own heartbreak.

But it was here, in this one moment, with the light of the morning sun falling on Link’s face as he confidently drew sword and shield alike, that her feelings for the Hero became unquestionably clear.

Zelda loved him with all her heart.

“Ready?” Link asked his opponent.

A single grunt was all that followed as the King grasped his large axe with both hands. He even cracked his neck for good measure.

And without another word, the battle for the fate of the Princess began.

Link rushed forward, fire in eyes and sword and shield in hand. He swiped horizontally, but Bulblin casually blocked it with the handle of his axe. Apparently, it was sturdy enough to accept such blows without trouble. But the Hero was relentless, raining heavy strike after heavy strike, looking for an opening. Bulblin’s mouth fell ajar as he continued to block every attack.

Eventually, the King caught Link’s blade in the hollow of his axe where the head met handle. Seizing this opportunity, the beast swung hard, sending Link stumbling back a couple of steps. Now free of the close combat, Bulblin raised his axe high overhead, ready to bring it vertically upon his opponent.

It was fated to be a deadly strike. One which would cleave the Hero in two if he wasn’t careful.

Fortunately, he was, stepping to the side quickly enough to avoid losing an arm. The massive axe sunk into the earth, and Link did not waste this opening. Shield in hand, he bashed the metal right into Bulblin’s unsuspecting face. The beast recoiled from the bluntness of the blow. This led to a split-second window of opportunity, which the Hero capitalized on with actions that appeared as natural as breathing.

Leaping into the air, Link performed a brief front flip while slashing Bulblin in the shoulder. The beast snarled as Link landed safely behind him. The edge of the Hero’s sword was now red with blood.

Bulblin recovered swiftly, making his fresh wound seem like a trifle. Zelda anxiously bit her lip as she watched the two of them square off once more. She was impressed by Link’s flawless performance so far, but it seemed that the battle was far from over, and she feared whatever came next.

Link closed the distance again, slamming his sword against the handle of the axe. He may not have been able to land any significant blows, but as long as he was in close quarters, Bulblin wouldn’t have the time or room to properly swing that axe of his. All the Hero had to do was wait for an opening.

It came far sooner than he could have prayed for.

Link thrust his Ordonian sword forward, successfully plunging it into the upper arm of the beast. His piercing red eyes winced as he growled some more. Feeling satisfied, Link withdrew the blade, leaving a spurt of blood to follow in its wake. At the same time, the Bulblin’s grip on his axe loosened until he was only wielding it with one hand.

Another opening! Link realized. Hoping to once again capitalize on a new vulnerability, he swung his sword towards the undefended side.

Or so he thought.

With a fierce glare, Bulblin raised his bleeding arm up and caught the sword with his bare hand. The sharp steel sunk into his palm, drawing more blood as he clenched his fist tight.

Zelda winced. That had to have been excruciatingly painful, but the beast didn’t seem to care. At least not when he had the Hero stuck in his grasp.

Link’s wide-eyed expression revealed that he understood the gravity of his situation too. Before he even had a chance to withdraw his sword, he could already see Bulblin raising his axe into a thrusting position. He intended to impale Link’s arm just as he had been impaled. The only difference was that the axe was so broad and girthy, it would leave more than a minor flesh wound. It would likely tear the Hero’s arm off.

Bulblin roared as he thrust forward, while Link responded in the only way he could. He raised his shield while clenching his sword tight.

Time seemed to slow. Bulblin released the sword, his blood falling to the ground. After this, not even half a second passed before the wide head of the axe crashed into Link’s shield with a metallic sound ringing as loud as a bell. The force of the blow was so powerful, Link was pushed back again, this time being lifted off of his feet. He stumbled a bit when his boots fell back on the hard ground, but he at least kept sword and shield in hand, and while he was a little breathless, he was relatively unharmed.

Unfortunately, the good news promptly stopped there. Bulblin wasn’t giving the Hero an inch. Not when his blood was boiling in the heat of battle. With his mouth still ajar and eyes still glaring, he took his axe in both hands and wound up for the mightiest swing yet. It was all Link could do to plant his feet firmly on the earth and raise both sword and shield into a defensive position. 

The blow was swifter than a guillotine. The massive axe collided with the Hero’s weapons, and Link barely had time to let out a yelp before he was knocked away. His airtime was so brief, you could have blinked and missed it, but Zelda managed to catch every horrifying moment of it. The Hero flew back-first into a ruined home, smashing through a rotting door frame as if it were hay.

From there, the Hero vanished from sight, but there were just as many disturbing sounds to be heard regardless. The sound of wood snapping and beams breaking and a man grunting while some glass shattered. The snapping of old wood then became a symphony of noise as the entire home began to quiver. A few seconds later, a portion of the roof collapsed inward, burying whoever remained inside.

Zelda clenched her teeth, trying to step forward while the manacles around her wrists held her back. She was terrified. Breathless. Speechless. She couldn’t even bring herself to scream, for she couldn’t see what good it would do. 

The only thing she could even think to do was pray, so she poured her entire heart into it.

Oh, Goddesses, please protect him. I’m begging you. Oh, please, please, please, let him walk out of here alive…

Meanwhile, the Bulblin camp erupted into enthusiastic cheers and yips and other celebratory noises. Even the wretched witch next to Zelda contented to share one of her haunting cackles. As for King Bulblin, his expression remained unfazed, his mouth lazily hanging open just like always. He kept his eyes glued on the collapsed structure, as if waiting for something. Something inevitable.

Clunk.

The camp fell silent. Zelda opened her eyes and forced them on the wreckage, just as everyone else did. A few wooden boards slid loose before a Hylian shield appeared amidst the rubble. It was soon followed by a sword and a body clothed in green.

Scratched and bruised, the Hero pushed himself to his feet before walking between the few walls that remained. His lip was cracked, and a stream of red trickled out from its side. He soon spit and blood hit the ground. He brushed at his mouth with the back of his hand.

His eyes never left the King.

Zelda wasn’t sure, as she did not consider herself an expert on reading Bulblin’s expressions, but she could’ve sworn she witnessed his mouth curve upwards into a slight grin.

Link, on the other hand, seemed less than amused. He simply raised his sword and shield up once more, as if nothing was amiss. He was all business.

It wasn’t long before Bulblin responded in kind.

Without a word, the two collided. Link tried to draw near while Bulblin used wide sweeps to keep him back. The Hero knew that the blows were too heavy to withstand, so he chose to dodge, duck, and weave. But this strategy was of little help to him. In order to fight, he needed to get in close.

Throwing caution to the wind, Link fell into a roll, just narrowly dodging Bulblin’s latest swipe. He masterfully circled around behind the brute, leaping up into a spin. His sword sparkled red as it drew blood from Bulblin’s back.

“Grah!” the beast roared. He whipped around, ready to sink his axe into the scrawny man that dared to strike him.

But the Hero was gone. Having rolled further around the brute, he now crouched next to Bulblin’s short but sturdy legs. Wasting no time, he plunged his blade into the nearest thigh.

Another roar escaped the victim’s maw. He couldn’t take it, he fell to one knee, snarling as the blood escaped his veins. He swung his axe at his opponent once more, and this time Link didn’t flee.

There was no need. Not when faced with such a weak, desperate attack. Clenching his teeth, he swung his own weapon and met the attack head-on. The pieces of steel collided, and yet Link remained standing. If anything, it was the King who sank deeper into his crouch.

Link dropped his shield, and took his sword in both hands, just as his opponent did. Raising the blade overhead, he prepared to bring it down without mercy.

Wham!

The blade met the handle of the axe. It was all Bulblin could do to protect himself while in this vulnerable position.

Wham!

Another blow. This time it was so powerful, the wood began to splinter.

Crack!

It was over. The once sturdy handle completely shattered under the might of Link’s blade. The hefty axe-head fell to the ground with a thud, leaving a splintered log as the only remaining tool in Bulblin’s grasp.

Which wasn’t much use now that Link had his blade to the King’s throat.

The Hero breathed, slowly and heavily, the exhaustion from his actions catching up to him. His cracked lip continued to bleed, but he paid it no mind. His eyes were still solely focused on his foe.

“It’s over.” He said it with such finality, Zelda almost felt shivers rush across her skin.

Bulblin breathed in equal measure before letting his shoulders fully sag. He soon tossed the remainder of his axe away before grasping at his bleeding arm. He bowed his head, but only enough to avoid the tip of Link’s blade.

“It’s over,” he agreed. “Once again, I submit to the strongest side.”

Link gave a small nod before gesturing to the post where Zelda remained. “Have her released. Now.”

Bulblin kept his head down, but barked out orders in his native tongue. The Bulblins seemed agitated, some of them raising their weapons as if to retaliate, but an even louder, sterner sound came from Bulblin’s throat, and his people soon fell silent and still. Reshka scowled a bit, her purple eyes appearing as no more as pinpricks for a moment, before muttering a spell.

A few seconds later, Zelda’s cuffs opened, and for the first time in the last twelve hours, her arms were allowed to fall to her sides. They felt extremely stiff and sore after having hung in the air for so long, but Zelda just breathed a small sigh of relief. It was good to be free.

However, it wasn’t long before Reshka clamped her sharp fingers tightly around Zelda’s wrist and began pulling her forward. Zelda lacked any arm strength to fight back, and her legs were also rather sore from supporting her all night, so she was left with little choice but to comply.

Fortunately, there was nothing to fear, for the short witch led Zelda straight to where Link awaited her. Once they were close, the she-Bulblin released the Princess, nearly tugging her forward as she did. Zelda stumbled a bit, but she recovered easily enough. She then looked up to find Link extending a hand to her.

“You still okay?” he asked with a soft smile.

Zelda could feel her face flood with even more relief than she thought was possible. “Never better,” she assured him. She soon took his hand, and he pulled her close.

“I’m glad,” he told her. His expression then turned serious once more as he faced his foe. The Bulblin in question stared back at him without fear.

It was strange, actually. As Zelda gazed upon him, she couldn’t sense any malice in the brute’s eyes. Any hatred or contempt for the wounds that had been inflicted upon him. If anything, it almost seemed as if there was something positive in those beady red orbs of his. Something akin to…admiration.

It seemed that the King of the Bulblins truly did follow the strong. In this moment, Zelda realized that this creature was as simple and honest as they came. And she respected that.

“I’ll spare you this time,” Link muttered. “But know this. If you ever lay a finger on Zelda again, I’ll kill you.”

King Bulblin blinked, his mouth hanging open like always. “You are very protective of your leader,” was all he said.

“Never forget it,” Link stressed with a nod. “And would you please stay out of trouble from now on? I’d rather not have to do this again. Ever.”

“If that is your wish,” Bulblin replied with another bow of his head.

“Good,” Link said, using the same amount of finality as earlier. He then sheathed his sword and collected his shield as well. Still keeping a tight grasp on Zelda’s arm (perhaps for the sake of keeping her close and safe), he soon pulled out a small whistle and blew into it. Its high-pitched melody echoed out into the air for a moment.

“Epona is on her way,” Link assured Zelda. “Come on, let’s start heading back to the castle and leave this whole mess behind us.”

Link gently tugged on her arm, encouraging Zelda to follow him out to the plains where Epona would greet them. However, the Princess found herself feeling hesitant and reluctant. She dared a glance back at the Bulblin camp. At the Hunt that collectively stood motionless, appearing defeated and silent. She soon felt conflicted. As if it would be wrong to simply leave like this.

“Link, wait,” she suddenly said, surprising herself nearly as much as the Hero. She pulled her arm free of his. Then, before she had time for any regrets, she retraced her steps back to where Bulblin kneeled. By this point, he was practically sitting in a pool of his own blood, but just like everything else, he hardly seemed concerned about it.

Mustering her courage, the Princess soon spoke up in her stern, majestic tone. “King Bulblin, I come to you with a humble request.” She paused, placing a gloved hand over her heart. “I ask that you pledge yourself to me, and officially establish your people as one of Hyrule’s own.”

The camp fell silent. The Bulblins remained motionless in their positions. As for the King, he simply stared at the Princess for a while before slightly tilting his head, as if confused. Although his confusion was nothing compared to Link’s.

“Wait, what?” he interrupted, quickly stumbling over to the Princess’s side. “Zelda, what did you just say? You can’t be serious.”

She merely raised a hand, calling for silence. The Hero complied, although he still looked rather concerned about whatever was happening here.

“Pledge your allegiance to me, and the Kingdom of Hyrule,” Zelda repeated again. “If you agree to work with us, we will gladly welcome you as proper citizens.”

Unfortunately, Bulblin seemed as disinterested as ever. The Princess’s words barely managed to affect him at all. “I will not follow you. I only follow-”

“The strongest side,” Zelda finished with a smirk. “Trust me, I understand that now. You are saying that you will only swear fealty to the Hero, correct?”

“Aye.”

“And what if the Hero already swore fealty to me and my Kingdom? Would you not then become subjects of Hyrule by extension?”

The King paused, closing his mouth for a moment only to have it fall open again. “I suppose...”

Zelda’s smirk grew wider. “Then there shouldn’t be any issue. By your own choice, you will follow Link, the Hero of Twilight. And Link,” she turned to the Hero, “you will always be loyal to me, will you not?”

Link appeared stumped. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and he felt even more caught off guard once the Princess started involving him in the conversation. “What? Well, I mean, yes, I will always be loyal to you, Zelda, but-”

“But nothing,” she quickly interjected. “Your loyalty to me shines through. I’m sure that everyone here can acknowledge that. And since this is the case, our path forward becomes clear and obvious.”

Link frowned. He wished to say something. To interrupt this fiasco once more, but Zelda was already moving on without missing a beat. The Princess crouched so that her eyes were perfectly level with Bulblin’s own. Even from the side, Link could spot those sapphires of hers burning as bright as ever.

“King Bulblin, you will swear fealty to this Kingdom. You will swear fealty to the monarchy that governs it. You will live and abide by our laws with the utmost integrity. Additionally, you shall take your place amongst the leaders and Kings of Hyrule by joining the Hyrule United Roundtable. From this day forward, you will work together with us, and your people will strive to make our Kingdom a better place to live. Not just for yourselves, but for all peoples. That is your future. That is your direction. And it will be through the Hero’s will that you shall carry this out.”

There was silence. Not a soul dared to move. King Bulblin continued to eye the Princess before him, as if curious and lost in thought. Link felt similarly stunned. He couldn’t believe how much passion was invoked in her speeches. How she easily conveyed the beliefs of her own heart, as if they were a hard truth that simply needed to be accepted by all those around her. She was offering to instate the Bulblins as one of Hyrule’s domesticated peoples, an idea that sounded absolutely absurd on paper, and yet she said it without fear. As if this future she envisioned was the most natural course of action. He truly admired her wisdom and courage.

Amidst the silence, Zelda eventually extended her hand forward. “Are we in agreement?”

Bulblin remained still for a while, likely thinking everything through. Eventually he glanced at the Hero for a brief moment before sighing. “I agree.”

The brute accepted the Princess’s hand, swallowing it up in his massive fingers. They shook as drops of blood stained Zelda’s pristine glove. But she didn’t mind. She was practically grinning from ear to ear.

“I look forward to working with your people,” she said with the utmost sincerity. “The Hero and I will be in contact with you again soon, so in the meantime, please refrain from ambushing any travelers, or harming any of this Kingdom’s settlements or citizens. I’m sure that you can promise me that, can’t you?”

“If the Hero wills it,” the beast replied bluntly.

They both turned to Link with an expectant gaze. Bulblin’s expression seemed lost, as if looking for an answer, while Zelda’s appeared bold and beseeching. He knew that she was relying on him in order for any of this to have even the smallest chance of success. Let alone making a lick of sense.

But of course, Link had a weakness for Zelda’s soft, pleading eyes, and he soon felt the answer tumbling from his mouth without any effort on his part.

“That is my will.”

“Then it shall be done,” Bulblin replied simply. “Our future shall align with yours, Monarch of Hyrule.”

“Please, ‘Princess Zelda’ will do for now,” she clarified with a smile. “I eagerly look forward to working with you, King Bulblin.” She then broke free of their clasped hands before fully returning to the Hero’s side. Her expression was one of pure triumph.

“There, now we can be off,” she decided.

Notes:

I used to lack confidence in my ability to write fight scenes, but nowadays I feel like I at least enjoy writing them to an extent :) Similar to when I put Zelda in battle, I love giving Link the chance to be badass too!

Also, remember when I said I had big plans for the Bulblins in this story? Well, guess what? I meant it ;)

Chapter 65: Where Were You?

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 65 – Where Were You?

Link and Zelda rode in silence on their journey back to Castle Town. The Princess kept her arms wrapped loosely around Link’s waist for the sake of keeping herself steady. She was still rather sore after being chained in place for so long, but she insisted that she was okay to ride.

And so they did, casually galloping across the fields as the sun reached its peak in the sky. However, it didn’t take long for Zelda to grow uncomfortable within the prolonged silence, and soon decided to steal a glance at Link’s expression. What she found there was a concerned frown amongst pursed lips. He was clearly displeased.

The Princess sighed. “Link?” she called quietly.

“Yes?” came his blunt reply.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

His silence persisted for only a second more. “Fine.”

The Hero pulled on Epona’s reins a touch and the mare soon slowed to a trot. Now free of the constant galloping and wind rushing into their faces, it was much easier to converse.

“What’s on your mind?” Link asked, his tone still sounding a bit short with her. All she could do was cast him a disappointed look.

“You’re upset with me.”

She hadn’t really phrased it as a question, but she seemed to be waiting for an answer. All Link could think to do was shrug in response. “Maybe.”

Zelda furrowed her brow, now appearing as displeased as he was. “Link, please don’t be so short with me. If you have something to say, then I invite you to say it.”

Link frowned even more. He had been hoping to avoid being so forthright with her, but if that was what she wished…

“I seriously hope you know what you’re doing, Zelda. Inviting the Bulblins to join the Kingdom… It just doesn't seem like a very wise idea.”

“I see,” Zelda responded patiently. “Would you be willing to share your reservations so that I may learn where I have stumbled?”

Link clenched his fists around the reins. He hated when Zelda spoke like this. Like she was so far above him and her ideas were not meant to be challenged. But he was nothing if not brave. “The Bulblins are monsters, Zelda. Monsters. They don’t deserve to live alongside the Hylians and other races.”

“Are they truly monsters or is that just what they’ve been painted as for centuries?” Zelda pondered aloud.

“They’re monsters,” Link insisted. “They’ve burned villages. Destroyed homes. Slaughtered innocents. They’ve kidnapped children. Even the children from my very own village, Zelda. Colin and Beth and Talo and Malo and the Goddesses only know how many others-”

“Were not all of those terrible deeds done in the name of Zant?” Zelda interjected. “The Bulblins were simply following orders.”

“So?” Link replied bitterly. “Does it matter whose orders they were following? They still wreaked havoc and destruction across the Kingdom. They’re still responsible for their actions. And that’s not even counting the number of times they’ve tried to kill me.”

Zelda was silent for a moment before she eventually released a heavy breath. “I tried to kill you too,” she reminded him. “Should your hatred for your enemies not include me as well?”

Link felt his breath catch in his throat. He instantly thought back to that terrible final battle. When Ganondorf had possessed the Princess’s body, shifting her skin into a pale tint of blue while her eyes turned a sickly shade of yellow. When the Princess’s mouth fell open to cackle, and it was Ganondorf’s malicious voice that rang out. He soon felt shivers run across his skin.

“No, Zelda, I…I don’t blame you for any of that… It was all Ganondorf’s doing, after all.”

“It was my body that followed Ganondorf’s command. Should I not be held responsible? In the same way you believe that the Bulblins should be held accountable for following Zant’s command?”

“It…It’s different,” Link tried to argue.

“I wonder, is it really?” she asked solemnly.

“Yes. They had a choice. You didn’t.”

“Again, I wonder about that. The Bulblins lead a very simple life, you know. They know nothing other than following the strongest side, whatever that entails. They would have just as soon begun planting flower beds instead of burning homes if Zant had commanded it.”

Link could only frown some more. He soon thought back to his previous encounters with King Bulblin. How the brute had fully submitted to the Hero, citing him as strong, and how following such persons was the only life he had ever known. Even back at the Bulblin camp, the King had only been willing to submit to Zelda if Link had willed him to. Perhaps these creatures really were simple at heart…

“That…still doesn’t absolve them of their crimes,” Link argued.

“No, it doesn’t,” Zelda agreed. “But Link, if given the chance, how would you have them atone for their sins? Imprisonment? A death sentence?”

He took a second to think about it. “Banishment, maybe?”

Zelda’s lips curved into a slight smile. “An interesting choice, but tell me, Hero, would it really help anything? If you remove the Bulblins from Hyrule, won’t they just become someone else’s problem?”

“I…I guess so,” he admitted quietly.

“Then it would be best if we reformed them ourselves, don’t you think? Accepted them into our Kingdom. Teach them right from wrong. Make them atone for their sins by putting them to work and encouraging them to rebuild what they have broken. After all, if they are coming to us and asking for instructions, should we not make good use of them?”

Link soon found himself nodding. For the first time, he could look past his resentment and start to see what Zelda was getting at. “You wish to domesticate them.”

“If such a thing can be done, then I believe that we should attempt it,” Zelda stated adamantly. “It would be foolish not to. This could potentially eliminate the threat that the Bulblins pose altogether, and turn them into one of Hyrule’s greatest strengths instead.”

“But how do you know that this can even be done?” Link complained. “I mean, you make it all sound so simple.”

“King Bulblin has already sworn his loyalty to us-”

“Yes, but that doesn’t solve everything. After all of the issues the Bulblins have caused, a lot of people will feel the same way as me. They’ll never accept the Bulblins. They’ll always be seen as dangerous brutes that need to be kept at bay rather than a friendly group of people striving for peace.”

Zelda frowned for a moment, but soon spoke up with conviction. “Then we will find a way to encourage the people of Hyrule to accept them. I know it may not be easy, but I still believe it would be the height of foolishness not to try. The peace of this Kingdom is my highest priority, Link, and I promise you that I will fight for it with all that I am.”

The Hero sighed. “I know you will, Zelda. And I appreciate that, but…I just really hope that you know what you’re doing.”

Zelda pursed her own lips and stared at the Hero’s neck for a while. Eventually, she decided to untangle one of her hands from his waist so she could gently rest it on his arm.

“Link, at the end of the day, the Bulblins will only follow your commands. That means that in order for any of this to work, I need your support. So please, answer me honestly… Do you trust me?”

Link stiffened under both her words and touch. It wasn’t the first time she had asked him that. He soon felt sorry that she even had the need to question such a thing. After all, the answer should have been simple. Obvious even. Why was he even hesitating to begin with?

If anyone could turn this ridiculous dream into a reality, surely it would be Zelda.

“I trust you,” he said before reaching up and placing his hand on top of her own. “I really do. You’ll always have my support.”

Zelda’s lips curved into a soft smile as she felt her heart begin to melt. “I am forever grateful.”

They held this position for a moment before Zelda returned her arm to his waist and Link returned his hand to Epona’s reins. From there, they rode in silence once more.

 

---

 

It was early afternoon when Link and Zelda spotted Castle Town’s eastern gate. The Hero simply snapped Epona’s reins and encouraged her to quicken the pace.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to stick around after dropping you off,” he explained to the Princess. “I need to immediately set out again.”

Zelda pursed her lips, her expression growing concerned. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m not sure,” he answered honestly. “Just before you were kidnapped, I received a message from Ordon saying that they need me back home. I still don’t know the details, but I really ought to set off as soon as I can. I’m late enough as it is.”

Zelda’s frown only deepened. “My apologies. This is all my fault. I never intended to keep you from your home.”

“Oh please. Like you can be blamed for what happened. Nobody could have predicted that the Bulblins would kidnap you.”

“I suppose,” she agreed halfheartedly. “But still, knowing that I inconvenienced you-”

“Zelda,” Link said sternly. “Ensuring your safety will never be an inconvenience. Not to me.”

“I…” The Princess paused, her words faltering in her throat. She couldn’t help but slowly smile at the affection that was evident in his words. She soon bowed her head. “Thank you, Link. I honestly don’t deserve you.”

The Hero snorted. “Says who?”

“My heart,” she replied softly. She then continued on, before the Hero had a chance to ponder such words. “Link, go ahead and drop me off at the town gate. There’s no need to take me all the way to the castle.”

He glanced back at her. “You sure?”

“Yes. If you truly need to depart so soon, it’s better to separate yourself from me. I guarantee that as soon as the ‘missing Princess’ is returned home, there’ll be quite the commotion. Guards with questions. Fost ushering me inside. Someone might even call for a formal dinner to celebrate my safe return. And I assure that all of this will be quite a hassle, and not helpful in the slightest considering you are in a hurry.”

“I see,” Link said quietly as he thought it through. Admittedly, it would feel kind of wrong to just leave her on her own at the edge of town, but as things stood, he truly was short on time. “If it’s really okay with you…”

“It’s no trouble,” she assured him with a smile.

Link nodded his appreciation. As they neared the gate, the Hero veered off to the side, where the Princess could safely dismount without catching anyone’s attention. With any luck, he would be back on the road before the guards noticed her return.

Link swung down before extending a hand to Zelda, which she gratefully accepted. Once they were standing on equal footing, Zelda smiled once more before pulling him into a hug.

“Thank you,” she whispered into his ear. “For saving me.”

Link laughed as she pulled away. “Of course. I’ll come to your rescue anytime, Princess.”

Zelda watched him for a moment and took notice of his eyes, which honestly appeared very tired. She could hardly blame him though. The Hero had ridden all through the night to save her before riding all the way back here, and that wasn’t even mentioning the adrenaline-pumping battle where his life was on the line. She felt so sorry for him.

“You have another long ride ahead of you,” she reminded him. “Will you be all right?”

“Yeah, I’m used to it,” he said confidently. “I’ll make a short stop by Faron Spring if Epona or I need a rest.”

“Okay… Just don’t push yourself too hard, all right? I’ll be counting on you to help domesticate the Bulblins when the time comes.”

“Of course,” he answered with another smile. “Oh, and will you let your father know that I fulfilled my promise?”

Zelda tilted her head a bit. “Promise?”

“I promised him that I would rescue you… It sounds kind of embarrassing now that I say it out loud though,” he admitted with red cheeks.

Zelda merely smirked before shaking her head. “Nonsense. You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished. I know that I am.”

“You’re too kind,” was all he said in return.

“And you should be on your way,” she insisted. She even gave him a playful yet encouraging push towards Epona. The Hero smiled once more.

“Right.”

Hoisting himself into the saddle, Link directed Epona to turn around, now facing the open fields.

“Farewell, Link. May the Goddesses bless your journey,” the Princess said with one final bow.

“See you later, Zelda,” he replied with a grin.

And with that, the Hero tore across the green fields of Hyrule once more.

 

---

 

It would have been wise to heed the Princess’s warning. As the sun began to set on a darkening forest, Link felt more exhausted than ever. His sword and shield felt heavy on his back. His legs were sore from riding. Even his eyelids ached at the thought of staying open.

Epona was in a similar state. By this point, she had settled into a casual trot and Link didn’t have the heart to force her to go any faster. Besides, based on their current surroundings, he knew that they had to be close to home.

Sure enough, Epona soon clip-clopped her way over that old, rickety bridge, and Link directed her into Ordona’s spring off to the side. Here, he slid off and removed her saddle so that she could finally rest. The mare gratefully snorted before helping herself to a nice long drink from the spring.

Link smiled and stroked her neck. “Thanks for always being such a hard worker. Enjoy your rest.”

She simply ignored him, too enamored with her drink to notice anything else. Link produced a weary chuckle before taking his leave. He trusted Epona to find her way back home once she was satisfied.

The Hero made his way into town, passing his own house in the process. At this hour, there was nobody around, but he was soon met with a familiar and comforting sight. The rustic, wooden residences of Ordon were aglow with lamplight in their windows. It was a sign that all of the families had tucked themselves away for the evening in the safety and comfort of their homes.

It was a sign that things were at peace.

But…if this were the case, then why had Link been so urgently summoned here?

Growing curious, he proceeded onwards to the other side of town where the Mayor’s house stood. He figured that if anyone had answers, it would be Ilia.

However, Link would be lying if he said he couldn’t sense that something was amiss in his hometown. A wagon had been stationed outside of the Mayor’s house, and it seemed to be stocked with various supplies, almost as if someone was preparing to travel. Additionally, as Link reached the front door, he happened to catch the sound of numerous hushed voices speaking from inside. This struck him as odd, considering that Bo and Ilia were the only ones who lived in this residence. Did they possibly have company?

Frowning a bit, Link proceeded to knock on the door. The voices fell silent for a moment before quickly picking back up. Link then heard footsteps approach the door.

When it finally swung open, Link found Ilia standing there, appearing breathless. She eyed him for a moment before her breath promptly returned and she pulled him into a hug. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, almost as if holding on for dear life. Amidst his surprise, Link couldn’t help but notice that her hands were wet.

“You’re back,” she whispered into his tunic.

Link smiled before wrapping his arms around her. He still felt rather tired, but he had to admit, accepting her embrace did help energize him a bit. “Yeah, I got your message. Is everything okay?”

Ilia shook her head before sniffling loudly. Link suddenly realized that she was crying. “N-No, not quite. I just… Oh, shoot,” she cursed as she quickly pulled away from him. “I’m sorry, Link. I wasn’t thinking…”

Link flashed her a puzzled look before glancing down and nearly gasping. Ilia’s hands were coated in crimson. The same crimson that she had just unintentionally smeared on his tunic. The Hero’s expression quickly turned grim.

“Blood?” he mumbled. “Ilia, what’s happened? Why are you-”

“No,” she whispered back with a shake of her head. She sniffed again as she attempted to dry her tears with the back of her arm. She was only semi-successful. “N-Not here. Let’s move over to the pond.”

Link’s frown deepened. It was obvious that something was seriously wrong here. Otherwise, Ilia would never have been this distraught.

“Okay,” he agreed.

She nodded a bit before fully stepping outside and pulling the door shut behind her. As she did, Link couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of Rusl, Uli, and Pergie, all wearing equally distraught expressions on their faces. He soon felt his stomach clench up as he grew nervous. What was going on? Why were they all visiting the Mayor’s house? Why did they all seem so upset?

And where had all of that blood come from…?

Link felt his heart sink in his chest as he followed Ilia to the pond at the south end of town. He finally felt like he was starting to piece together what had happened. Nevertheless, he remained silent as he watched Ilia dip her bloodied hands into the stream, slowly washing them clean. Eventually, she removed an apron that was covered in bloodstains as well and set it off to the side. Link felt guilty for not having noticed it sooner. She then took a seat on the bank and he sat next to her.

“What happened to Bo?” he finally asked.

Ilia choked, immediately starting to cry again. She leaned over and allowed her face to fall into Link’s shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and held her close.

“Wolves,” she whispered with a shiver. “They got his leg. Sunk their teeth all the way down to the bone. It…It’s really bad…”

Link almost felt himself shiver at the mention of his spirit animal. To think that he was so similar to such ferocious creatures. That he had even transformed and become one of their number for a time. It felt so surreal; there were moments where he still had a hard time believing it.

“I don’t understand,” Link replied quietly. “How did the wolves get to him? Did they start hunting in the village?”

Ilia shook her head. “It happened the other day, after you departed. Fado had trouble with the goats and a few of them escaped from the ranch. They ended up wandering into the woods, but my father didn’t want Fado to go alone, so he volunteered to go with him. They managed to recover two of them, but the last one scampered away. Father insisted on tracking it down while Fado brought the other two safely back to the ranch. And then…that’s when it happened…”

“He entered the wolves’ territory,” Link surmised. He knew firsthand that wolves tended to be skittish and avoided civilization. However, if you were unfortunate enough to wander into their den in the woods…

“They’d already begun preying on the goat when father found them,” Ilia continued. “They still snarled and attacked him though. It was all he could do to hold them off with his bare hands. Eventually, one clamped down hard on his leg. H-He honestly feared that the creature might t-tear it off…” She shuddered as more tears fell down her face. “Thankfully, he beat it until it let go and he continued to flee with a hobble. He lost so much blood though and ended up collapsing. It was a miracle that Fado found him right then and there. His booming voice scared the creatures away and he was able to help father get back home… But, it’s been chaos ever since.”

Link silently nodded, trying to process everything she was telling him. “Is he going to be okay?”

“I…I honestly don’t know,” she admitted, her voice cracking. “L-Link, I’m so worried. His leg looks awful and has started turning black around the wound. We…We’re not sure if we can even salvage it or not…”

Things slowly fell into place and became much clearer for the Hero. Ilia’s bloodied hands. The villagers gathered in Bo’s home. They had probably been trying to treat the Mayor for days, and by the sound of things, it appeared to be a losing battle.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asked hopelessly.

“There’s nothing anyone can do,” Ilia mumbled, sounding defeated. “Our village doesn’t have a designated doctor or shaman. Rusl and I know a little bit, but neither one of us knows how to…how to treat that…”

Link gulped. “But…surely something can be done? I mean, we can’t just let Bo-”

“I know,” she cut him off, taking a second to wipe her tears. “We’re planning to do everything in our power to help him, and that’s why we’re leaving for Kakariko Village first thing in the morning. We’re hoping that Renado can treat what we cannot.” She paused before gesturing to the wagon outside of her home. “We’ll use that to ferry father. Rusl will be our driver. And I’m going too so I can learn a few things from Renado while we’re there. And…And so that I can stay by my father’s side.”

“I see,” Link said with a small nod. “In that case, I’m coming too.”

To his surprise, Ilia frowned at him, appearing deeply disappointed. She soon buried her face in his tunic again.

“Link,” she breathed. “No.”

The Hero felt taken aback by this reaction. “I’m serious. I’ll come with you guys to make sure that-”

Ilia interrupted him by suddenly slamming a fist into his chest. Link merely winced, surprised at how much it hurt. “Where were you?” she demanded.

Link blinked, feeling sad and confused. “Wh-What?”

“Where were you?” she repeated through clenched teeth. She soon pulled back far enough to leave his embrace, glaring at him with frustrated eyes. “Link, we needed you, and you weren’t here. Where were you?”

Link could only frown under that piercing gaze of hers. “You know where I was. I journeyed to Castle Town in order to-”

“Castle Town,” she suddenly snapped, her voice full of disdain. “Of course. You’re always in Castle Town. Always off to the big city. It’s like you’re barely ever around anymore.”

Link furrowed his brow as he felt himself growing defensive. He didn’t exactly want to argue with Ilia, but he loathed whenever she started criticizing him for this. “Ilia, I have to go there. That’s where I work. People are relying on me-”

“And what about us?” Ilia asked as she began to raise her voice. “Do you think that we don’t rely on you? That we don’t need you?”

“What? No, I’m not saying that-”

“Just think about it!” she continued with a huff. “Link, if you had been here, then you could have helped Fado with the goats, and they probably never would have escaped. And even if they had escaped, you could have helped my father search for them. And even if you encountered the wolves, you could have driven them off. Don’t you get it, Hero? My father would not be injured right now if you had just stayed home!”

Link promptly shut his mouth as an overwhelming feeling of guilt settled over him. Her words stung him like a lethal stab. “You…You don’t know that,” he argued quietly.

“I believe it with all my heart,” Ilia declared as a single tear rolled down her cheek. “You could have helped us if you had only been here. But you weren’t here, Link. And even when I summoned you, it still took days before you found your way back here.”

Link swallowed as his feelings of guilt only intensified. He hated this. Her accusations. The way she looked so heartbroken. So betrayed.

“There was trouble at the castle,” he said, his voice barely audible above the babbling of the creek.

“We had trouble here,” Ilia reiterated.

“No, you don’t understand,” Link tried to clarify. “Zelda was kidnapped by Bulblins. It was an emergency and I had to ride to her rescue.”

Ilia fell silent, taking a moment to consider this turn of events. However, it wasn’t long before her bitterness returned. “You had to? I don’t understand. Doesn’t the Princess keep an entire battalion of guards in her castle? Why did they have to rely on you?”

“They didn’t,” Link snapped, surprising himself with just how bitter he sounded in return. “I happily volunteered to rescue Zelda from her captors. I rushed to her side as soon as I could.”

“Why?” the girl demanded once again. “You could have just let someone else handle it.”

Link could feel his own frustration rising to match hers. “No, I couldn’t! Time was short and Zelda’s life was on the line! She–no, the Kingdom needed me to save her!”

Ilia gawked for a moment before scowling. “The Kingdom, huh?”

“Yes!”

“Right…because that’s what the Hero does. Always goes out and saves his Kingdom…”

“Of course!”

Ilia paused for a moment before turning to face the pond. She soon eyed the Hero with a sidelong glance.

“But Link, if you’re out there saving the Kingdom, then who’s going to save us?”

Link felt his mouth fall open while his heart plummeted. Her words cut deep into him like a dagger, revealing a harsh reality that he wasn’t prepared to acknowledge. The reality that he hadn’t been there for Ilia when she truly needed him.

“Ordon is a part of the Kingdom,” he said, trying his best to sound confident. “I’ll always be its Hero too.”

“Not this time,” she answered coldly.

Her words hung in the air like a tangible chill. It was all Link could do not to shudder under its icy grasp. Eventually, Ilia sighed as her eyes fell on the water again.

“Link, I’m going to be honest,” she stated quietly. “I know you’re a Hero, and I know there are many people out there who could use your help. But Ordon Village is your home. We are your family. Your first priority should be to come to our rescue, each and every time.”

Link honestly didn’t know what to say to this. He felt so conflicted as his hands naturally clenched into fists. He never expected himself to be in a situation like this. Torn between being a Hero and being…well, just being Link…

He closed his eyes and sighed. He had never asked for this. Never wished to take up a sword and become a courageous warrior chosen by the Goddesses themselves. But he’d be lying if he said that he hadn’t found fulfillment in such things. Throughout his adventures, he had helped so many people and saved so many lives. And he had also forged incredible friendships with people like Midna and Zelda and so many others. He truly treasured that experience, and to this day, he never once regretted anything that had happened to him.

However, it was here, as Link stared at the brokenhearted girl by the water, that he felt his own heart begin to crack.

“I…I know…” he finally answered. “Ordon is my home, and I…I never intended to abandon this place…”

“Then stay,” Ilia replied quietly. She turned to him, staring straight into his eyes. “I mean it. My father and Rusl are going to be away in Kakariko for a while, and I’ll be with them. This means that I’ll be counting on you to look after this place in our absence.”

This time, Link was quick to agree. “Of course. I’ll happily stay here and keep an eye on the village until you guys get back.”

To his surprise, Ilia reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Link, I’m serious,” she stressed. “The villagers will be relying on you to help them through the winter. So you can’t just abandon this place. Not when your family needs you. Not when I need you. Do you understand?”

Link swallowed but nodded once more. “Of course I understand.”

She squeezed his wrist. “Promise me.” Her voice almost sounded desperate.

“I promise,” he assured her. “I won’t leave this village. Not until you return and everything goes back to normal.”

For the first time since their argument began, Ilia allowed her eyes to soften. She soon leaned in and pecked the Hero on the cheek. With her permission, he proceeded to wrap an arm around her once more, holding her close as the night turned to silence.

Notes:

DRAMAAAAAAA!!! The cracks between Link and Ilia are becoming a lot more visible, wouldn’t you say? ;)

Moving forward, we’re about to enter a mini-arc here in Ordon. It actually ends up getting a little dark and depressing, but I promise it doesn’t last for long, and it will result in a happy ending. And rest assured, there are more Zelink moments to come! Zelink moments that are stronger than ever before! I honestly can’t wait to show you all the upcoming developments, hehehe…

As always, thanks for reading! :)

Chapter 66: Winter

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 66 – Winter

It was a brisk dawn in Ordon. Link rubbed his hands together as he watched his breath escape his lips. Once he was properly warmed, he finished tying down the last of the supplies to the wagon. The wooden vehicle was now properly stocked and prepared for travel.

“All good!” he called to Rusl.

The man nodded as he finished strapping the horse into the wagon’s harness. He then gestured to the mayor’s home. “Come on, let’s go ahead and get Bo loaded up.”

Link nodded back and he and the other village men gathered around. Bo was currently placed on a makeshift stretcher, wrapped in warm blankets save for his leg, which was covered in fresh yet bloody bandages. Even now, there was still so little that Ilia and the villagers could do for him. They only hoped and prayed that he would be able to get to Renado before the situation became unsalvageable.

The men hoisted the stretcher up to their soldiers while the Mayor grunted in discomfort. They soon ushered him outside and into the back of the wagon without a word. Once there, the families gathered around to see him off. Bo, being their ever-confident leader, simply smiled and assured them that he’d be back in no time.

Rusl took a moment to say farewell to his own family, while Ilia grabbed Link and pulled him off to the side. The two of them stared at each other in silence for a moment.

“I’m counting on you,” she reminded him.

“I won’t let you down,” he promised her.

Her lips cracked into a sad smile before she embraced him. Link just held her close, cherishing her warmth. If he’d be staying in Ordon for the foreseeable future, then he had no idea when he might see her again. He had a feeling that he was going to miss her terribly.

“Stay safe on the roads,” he told her. “And learn as much as you can from Renado. Maybe by the time you come back, you’ll be able to become Ordon’s first official doctor.”

Ilia persisted in smiling. “I’ll try my best.”

Link nodded. He knew she would.

They soon parted, Ilia stepping into the wagon where she settled down next to Bo. She planned to treat him and keep him as comfortable as possible throughout the journey. Meanwhile, Rusl situated himself in the driver's seat and took the reins in hand. After a final wave goodbye, he snapped said reins and the horse promptly took off, pulling the wagon out of the village as the sun finished rising.

Link ended up rubbing his hands together, struggling for warmth once more. Winter was settling in and it was already so cold. Perhaps far colder than its usual introduction. He soon recalled how Renado had warned the members of the Roundtable that a harsh winter would be visiting them this year. If the bitter chill of this morning was anything to go by, then it seemed that the Shaman’s prediction was accurate.

The villagers of Ordon would have a lot of work to do. But Link swore to see them through it.

 

---

 

The first few days were simple enough. The villagers resumed their daily lives, although they were obviously a little saddened by the departure of their neighbors. Ordon Village was so small and tight-knit that it was honestly hard not to notice when someone wasn’t around. But Link gladly stepped up and tried to keep everyone on task. He helped work in the pumpkin patches in preparation for the year-end harvest. He made sure that Fado was handling the ranch and offered assistance when needed. He found small jobs for the kids to work on so they could be useful, and more importantly, stay out of trouble. After all, the last thing he needed was for one of them to wander out into the forest when he wasn’t looking.

Additionally, Link also checked in on Uli with greater frequency than usual. With Rusl gone, the small family was left without their breadwinner, so Link took it upon himself to make sure that they were well cared for. He stopped by each evening to share the bread, fish, and goat cheese that he had accumulated throughout the day. Naturally, Uli was very reluctant to accept these gifts, citing them as completely unnecessary, but Link always insisted. She had provided him with hundreds of free meals during his youth. Returning the favor in any capacity was the least he could do.

And so things proceeded in Ordon: happy, safe, and peaceful. That is, until the first snowstorm struck in the night…

It came, heavier and colder than anyone could have predicted. The wind howled like a ghostly wail all throughout the evening. Link’s teeth began to chatter as he stared out his window, watching the thick white crystals pour endlessly from the sky. He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as it accumulated on the frozen ground.

It wasn’t uncommon for Ordon to endure heavy snowfall during the winter months. The villagers had grown to expect at least a few bad storms every year. But this one in particular felt somewhat unprecedented. The temperature was already so frigid, and the storm had arrived early in the season too. Link couldn’t help but think that this weather would not bode well for the coming days, as the village still had its year-end harvest to complete. A necessary task before they would be prepared for the cold months ahead.

Nevertheless, the Hero convinced himself that it was time to retire for the night. There was little he could do to combat the effects of the storm until after it fully passed and the sun began to rise. He soon buried himself in his blankets, desperately praying for warmth as he shivered himself to sleep.

However, the thing that truly made him shudder was the sight he was met with the next morning. The entire village had practically been buried in snow. More importantly, the fields of crops had been completely frosted over…

Link hated the look on his neighbors’ faces. The biting of lips. The concerned eyes. The expressions that only exuded doubt. Although, the Hero supposed that he could hardly blame them. He likely wore the same expression.

The state of the crops was…devastating, to say the least. There were pumpkins that had prematurely snapped from their stems. Wheat which had withered beneath the weight of the snow. Sadly, the losses even extended to livestock, as Jaggle reported that a handful of cuccos hadn’t survived the cold. 

Link was stunned. It was honestly incredible just how much had been lost in a single night to something as simple as an unexpected snowstorm. Nevertheless, he found the villagers turning to him, as if looking for answers, and he soon recalled why he was here.

They needed him. And he would be there for them.

“Light torches and grab shovels,” he said, suddenly taking charge. “We’ll thaw out the fields and salvage whatever we can.”

The villagers nodded and set to work. At this point, they understood that it was their best option. They spent the afternoon working together, shoveling snow and melting the frost that clung to their crops. After that, they performed a full sweep of the plots, carefully determining what could be salvaged and what had already been lost. It was a bleak, somber process. One which only became all the more heartbreaking with each discarded fruit.

The villagers managed to finish by sunset, and everyone congregated in the Mayor’s home. Not only was his house the most spacious and comfortable, but it was where all town meetings were held. And it was here that Link stood, acting as interim leader for his friends and neighbors. With Bo and Rusl away, someone had to step up, and so Link figured it might as well be himself.

Besides, Ilia was counting on him.

“How much of the harvest was spared?” he asked.

Jaggle, the one who was most familiar with working the fields, spoke up. “A quarter of our total harvest is still firmly rooted in the ground, and it should be ripe in about a week or so.”

Link simply frowned. That number sounded much lower than he was expecting. “And how much was salvaged?”

“Another quarter. Maybe not even that.”

“So, in total…we’ve lost half of our year-end yield.”

“I’m afraid so,” Jaggle admitted sadly.

Link bit his lip as he felt his fingers curl into fists. He honestly wanted to curse. Ordon Village had never exactly been well off. The people here lived simple lives and typically relied on every ounce of food in order to get by. To lose half of their yield would mean that, realistically, they would only make it about halfway through the winter. It was obvious to everyone in the room that the food reserves were about to become tight.

“We should have harvested sooner,” Hanch lamented, staring at the floor. “Before the storm struck.”

“No, it wouldn’t have done us any good,” Jaggle said with a shake of his head. “The crops simply weren’t ready yet. Half of it would have been inedible regardless.”

“He’s right,” his wife, Pergie, agreed. “We harvest at the same time every year because it always yields the most nutritious produce. We were simply unfortunate to have our first snowstorm so soon.”

“And so harshly too,” Fado added. “I’ve never seen it so bad so quick.”

The room was silent for a while, everyone content to solemnly nod their agreement. There was little that could have been done about this in hindsight. It was simply unfortunate circumstances.

“Um…are we going to be okay?” Colin asked as he glanced around at the adults.

Link stared at the boy. He didn’t appear to be frightened, but the subtle tone of his voice suggested otherwise. The Hero soon produced an encouraging smile.

“Yeah, we’ll be fine. We’re just going to have to work hard to make up for this loss. Isn’t that right, Jaggle?”

“Yeah,” the man replied, mirroring Link’s confidence. “As long as we continue to keep the snow off of the crops, the remaining yield should be good to harvest.”

“And we still have the goats,” Fado added.

Uli smiled a bit as she reached down and rubbed her son’s head. “All this means is that we might have to go a little light on our meals from now on. But that shouldn’t be a problem, should it?”

Colin smiled back. “No.”

Link managed to flash a playful grin. “Let’s not forget that Bo was capable of eating for ten. Without him around, the task of making sure that everyone gets fed should be much more manageable.”

Everyone in the room laughed, finally loosening up for a change. Link simply beamed with pride. It was clear that they all needed a good joke after surviving such a rough day.

“Hey dad!” Talo spoke up. “Can I help protect the fields from the snow?”

Jaggle chuckled before tousling the boy’s hair. “Of course. I’d love to add a scarecrow to my pumpkin patch.”

“You mean a scare-snow?” Malo mumbled. He then smirked, as if amused with himself.

“I was thinking more like a guard!” Talo corrected them. He soon raised a fist, which likely held an imaginary sword. “No snow will destroy our crops as long as I have anything to say about it!”

Pergie giggled at her son. “Well, with a fiery spirit like that, I doubt we’ll have to worry about the frost.”

Everyone laughed again. It seemed that their spirits were lifting, having been reinforced by something as simple as jokes and positive attitudes. Link grinned at his neighbors.

“We’ll get through this,” he told them confidently. “Let’s just hope and pray that we don’t get any more storms.”

 

---

 

Either the Goddesses were cruel, or they simply didn’t care about the tiny village in the forest to the south. At least, that’s what Link thought as he witnessed the thick gray clouds rolling in, and felt a piercing gale tear right through him.

Not even a few days had passed, and yet another snowstorm was already upon them. Even worse, the sun was just beginning to set, which meant that the storm would strike in the night once again. Link dreaded the thought of what he would awaken to at dawn. It seemed that everyone else shared a similar thought, for they soon gathered in the fields, despite the approaching storm.

“It’s going to be bad,” Hanch said, shivering amongst the winds. “It'll be just as awful as the last, if not worse.”

“The fields won’t survive,” Jaggle replied, his expression grim. “They were lucky to have been spared once…”

The men fell silent as the gravity of the situation sunk in. How they could very well lose their entire year-end harvest in one fell swoop. In the moment, it seemed that Link was the only one brave enough to speak up.

“Jaggle, can we harvest them now?”

“Tonight?” Link nodded. Jaggle just turned away, appearing lost in thought. “It’s not ideal… There’s a handful of crops that still won’t be ripe for another few days… But if we start now, we might be able to harvest some that are acceptable.”

“It’ll have to do,” Link said, making the final call. “Everyone, get to work. We have to harvest as much as we can before the storm sets in.”

And so they did. They used what little daylight was left to reap the fields. More than once they encountered a pumpkin that still contained splotches of green, or wheat that was pale in color, and each time Jaggle was forced to consider whether it was worth saving or not. As the night dragged on, and the attempts to gather grew more desperate, the farmhand became much more lenient in what he considered “ripe”. So much so that his typical standards were like night and day. Link felt a pang of sympathy as he watched the man’s pride slowly wither away. But he fully understood. At this point, they were too desperate to demand his best work. They had to settle for whatever they could get.

And settle they did, for the harsh storm was soon upon them. Snow fell in sheets while the wind screeched its ghostly shriek. The conditions were unbearable, and the villagers struggled to wheel their produce into the storage sheds under the blind cover of night. The second they managed it, they all scampered back to their homes to find shelter. It was going to be another frigid night, and there was little more that could be done to save their fields.

Nevertheless, Link stayed behind.

He clenched his teeth, ignoring every instinct of his body that told him to shiver and seek warmth. He couldn’t run for shelter. Not yet. Not when there was still work to be done. He glared down at the fields before him. The same ones that Jaggle said wouldn’t be ready for at least a few more days. Link wondered if there was anything he could do to salvage them. To protect them from the storm and prolong their life until the time of harvest arrived…

He fought against the freezing gale while snow showered upon him. It took nearly all of his strength to gather a handful of logs and rush back to the fields. He soon piled them up and pulled out a tinderbox. If he could just start a fire, he could potentially ward off the snow and chill from killing these crops overnight. This meant that he would likely have to stay awake until dawn, tending to the fire to ensure it wouldn’t go out. But he took solace in the fact that if he could weather the storm, then surely the crops could too.

But it seemed that starting a fire was already asking too much of him. Link struggled to light a match that wasn’t instantly snuffed out by the storm. And even when he did get a small flame going, it was an even greater struggle to get the logs to accept it. It didn’t help that his hands were so cold he could barely feel them, or that the wood was so damn wet, or-

“Link!”

Someone cried out his name, but he could barely hear it above the howl of the wind. Nevertheless, he turned around, only to find a bundled-up Uli approaching from behind. He soon cursed as he stood up.

“What are you doing out here?” he yelled. “Go back inside!”

The warm, motherly figure stopped in her tracks, and simply stared at him. “Come with me,” she urged him.

“I can’t,” he replied. “I have to stay out here. If I don’t, the fields will-”

“Link.” By this point, Uli’s voice was as soft as her eyes. “Let it go.”

Link clenched his fists as another flurry of wind screeched between them. It was all he could do not to collapse into a ball on the ground, huddling for warmth. He watched Uli shiver with a similar intensity, but she soon smiled despite that.

“I’m not going inside until you agree to come with me,” she threatened him.

Link closed his eyes as a chilly sigh escaped his lips. He soon kicked the pile of logs and they scattered amongst the rising snowbanks. There was a good chance they would be lost until spring. He then marched over to Uli and linked arms with her.

“Let’s go,” he agreed, feeling utterly defeated.

They trudged back through the snow, pausing whenever the merciless wind threatened to tear them to pieces. Eventually, they made it up the hill and into the safety of Uli’s home. The sound of the door slamming shut must have startled the young baby, Hope, for she soon started bawling her eyes out. Colin was awake as well and asked what was going on. Fortunately, Uli was a tried and true mother, and she was quickly on top of it all.

She instructed Link to remove his coat and boots, told Colin to go back to bed, and instantly scooped up her baby. As she managed to quiet the infant’s cries, she gently pushed Link until he found himself seated in a chair in front of a meager fire. Within minutes, he could start to feel warmth return to his fingers and toes.

Uli settled in a chair opposite him, gently rocking Hope to sleep. An hour must have passed before Link felt brave enough to speak up.

“I’m failing this village,” was all he said.

Uli softly smiled. “You’re doing your best,” she said in a soothing voice. “Nobody expects you to battle a storm, Link.”

Link couldn’t help but think that Ilia might have, but he managed to catch himself before he uttered such awful words. Instead, he allowed his shoulders to fall as he watched the newborn sleeping peacefully in Uli’s arms. For some reason, he felt sorry for her.

“We’ll be all right, won’t we?” he asked in a whisper.

Uli nodded. “We’ve survived many winters. We’ll survive this one too.”

Link brought his hands together as he gazed into the fireplace. “I…hope that you’re right.”

“Have faith. The Goddesses haven’t abandoned us yet.”

He merely frowned, not quite sure if he believed that. But there was one thing he knew for certain. Even if the Spirits, Goddesses, and the entire world abandoned this humble little village in the forest, he would never do the same.

Not as long as he was needed.

 

---

 

Across the Kingdom, Zelda shivered as she went to close the curtains. She then pulled her evening shawl tighter around her shoulders before returning to her father’s bedside.

“Brrrrr, it’s getting awful out there. I suppose that Renado wasn’t kidding when he said that this year’s winter would be a harsh one.”

Caius croaked out a few painful coughs before resting on his pillow. “Aye. And I must be getting old, for this chill is enough to make my bones ache.”

Zelda gave him a sympathetic smile. “Well, you are still sick and afflicted by that twilit toxin. I’m sure you’ll feel much better come spring. Perhaps much younger too.”

“Perhaps,” he agreed with a halfhearted smile. He then sighed before shivering.

“You are staying warm, aren’t you?” Zelda asked softly. She soon began tucking in the sides of his thick blanket.

“As much as I can,” he promised. “Unfortunately, I don’t feel strong enough to leave my bed much these days.”

“You never should have been leaving your bed in the first place,” Zelda reminded him sharply.

Caius let out a hearty laugh, although, in his current condition, it honestly sounded more like a painful wheeze. Zelda felt her eyes grow round with concern as she listened.

“Oh father, you really aren’t doing well, are you? You’re sounding worse than ever before.”

“N-No, I’m fine,” he insisted between light coughs. “I’m probably coming down with something new, but it’ll pass. It always does.”

Zelda continued to eye him for a moment, but soon settled down in her chair once more. “I hope so. I don’t know how much longer I can go on seeing you like this.”

He lightly smiled. “Zelda, you are brave and wise. I know that you’re enduring my sickness far better than I am.”

“I disagree. It breaks my heart to see you in such agony.”

A small chuckle, followed by another hacking fit. “Don’t worry about me so much. I’d like for you to just focus on your duties for now. Especially when you’re planning to make deals with the Bulblins…”

Zelda sighed at her father’s change in tone. Similar to everyone else on the Hyrule Council, Caius had shown a great amount of reluctance when the Princess declared her intentions to instate the Bulblins as official citizens of Hyrule. While he had listened to her arguments and could certainly see the benefits of such a thing, he still held doubts about whether this was the right course of action to take. The Bulblins had always seemed impulsive and untrustworthy. Not to mention, they had just kidnapped his precious daughter only a few weeks prior without any remorse. And that was nothing short of a national crime.

“I know that you have your reservations about this, but I believe that it will truly be beneficial for Hyrule in the long term,” Zelda stated bravely. “And besides, Link has already pledged his support. With his help, I think we can make some significant strides forward in not only understanding the Bulblin race, but also living peacefully alongside them.”

“I understand,” Caius mumbled, having already heard her passionate tirade more than once. “Nevertheless, I urge you to be cautious. It would be unwise to rush into a pact with such barbaric creatures who could very well betray you at a moment’s notice.”

Zelda nodded. “I believe that the risk of betrayal is minimal at best, but you can rest easy. I will not be implementing any plans until winter has passed and spring has blossomed. King Bulblin has promised that his people will not be causing any trouble for our Kingdom from this point forward, and this will give us time to see if he keeps his word. Assuming he does, we can proceed with welcoming the Bulblins into our Kingdom as an official people.”

Upon hearing this, Caius managed a small smile. “My daughter, you truly are wise beyond your years, and you have made me incredibly proud. I hope and pray that you will find success.”

Zelda sincerely smiled back. “As do I, father.”

She soon beamed with confidence as she glanced at the fireplace opposite of Caius’s bed. Her thoughts turned to Link, the Hero who had not only saved her, but would also aid her in building a better and brighter Hyrule.

As always, she longed for the day when she would see him again.

Notes:

Personally, I hate winter 😂 The cold and snow are both such pains to deal with…

Anyway, it seems that things are not so fun in Ordon at the moment. Link is also showing some self-destructive tendencies, so that’s a little concerning… I do enjoy getting to show moments of “Ordon villagers stand together” though. I love this tight-knit community that the hero calls home :)

Chapter 67: Hopeless

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 67 – Hopeless

It was exactly as Link had feared. With no fire to keep the fields warm and dry throughout the night, they had been completely frosted over once again. The once thick, green vines now lay curled up on the ground, cold and lifeless. Anything that hadn’t been harvested before the storm was clearly beyond saving.

“How long will our supply last?” Link was terrified to hear the answer, but he knew the question had to be posed.

Jaggle sighed. “Probably a few weeks at most. I’m sorry, Link. It’s my job to keep an eye on the crops and look at what happened.”

“It’s not your fault,” Link told him. “We did the best we could with what we had. It’s not like we can control the weather.”

The villagers mumbled their agreement. No one blamed Jaggle for this. They didn’t blame anyone for this. It was just their current lot in life, and like always, the villagers would simply have to find a way to deal with it.

Nevertheless, Link couldn’t help but feel like this entire situation was incredibly unfair. Cruel, even. What was happening in the heavens above? Had the Goddesses truly forsaken them, as Link was beginning to fear?

He didn’t think he wanted to know the answer.

“What do we do now?” Fado asked, sounding more hopeless than he probably intended to.

“We’ll focus on other ways of finding food,” Link said with a tired shrug. “We still have our goats and cuccos to rely on. And we can go hunting and fishing too.”

“All the animals are hibernating though,” Jaggle reminded him. “They won’t be easy to spot.”

“And the pond is frozen over,” Hanch mumbled. “We’ll have to cut our way in.”

“Well, we at least have to try,” Link argued. “I know that the animals are scarce and the pond isn’t the most bountiful fishing spot either, but we just need to scrounge up enough to get by. Come spring, we can forage and continue hunting until we can raise more crops.”

Many of the villagers frowned and crossed their arms. It wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t like there was anything better that could be done. The time for harvesting was over. The time for foraging had begun.

The villagers set to work on cutting a hole in the frozen pond. Fortunately, the ice was sturdy enough to walk on, but this also meant that they had to cut rather deep in order to pierce the surface. Meanwhile, Link fetched his bow and quiver and prepared to set out into the woods. No one knew the forest like he did, so he was the most reliable when it came to hunting and tracking. Colin bravely volunteered to accompany him, but Link shook his head and told the boy to help Fado with the goats instead. It was still so cold out, and he didn’t think that Colin could withstand the frigid temperatures for such long periods of time. Link wasn’t even sure if he could endure it himself, but he swore to try.

Yes, he had to keep trying. The villagers were counting on him. Ilia was counting on him.

The Hero spent the following days trudging through snowbank after snowbank, doing his best to stay quiet and out of sight. It was such a miserable experience. His feet were always soaked and freezing. His hands and ears grew numb. The only prizes he ever found were a few scant tracks in the snow, which became impossible to follow every time the wind blew and buried them under a fresh white canvas.

Weeks passed, and the situation only grew more dismal. The food supply was slowly but surely depleting, and the villagers had accomplished so little to make up for it. Fado was producing plenty of goat cheese, but the goats themselves were reaching their limits. The attempts at fishing were producing pitiful results. The villagers feared that most of the aquatic life had moved on to warmer lake beds. And Link, despite countless hours spent traversing the forest, had only succeeded in snaring a single rabbit.

One rabbit. He had spent weeks hunting, and he had only reaped one single, pitiful little hare. Link groaned as he carried it back to the village. The creature was so small, it would barely keep a family fed for a day, let alone the entire village.

The sun was beginning to set. Link was grateful. Now he could finally be rid of this awful day and move on to another. Although, he supposed there were no guarantees that tomorrow would be any better.

Suddenly, a howl echoed out into the dimming sky. Link froze in place as he listened to the eerie, haunting sound. He recognized its origin in an instant.

It was the cry of a wolf. The very creature that had started this whole disaster by attacking Bo.

Feeling unsettled, Link forged onward, traversing the deep, frozen slush as best he could. The last time there was wolf trouble, Link had been absent. He had been accused of abandoning his neighbors. His family. But not this time. Tonight, the Hero would be there. He would save the day. He had to. Ilia needed him to.

His soul was crushed when he realized he was too late.

“Four goats,” Fado lamented with the most solemn expression Link had ever seen on him. “They chased four goats out into the woods.”

Link exhaled, trying to catch his breath after such a frantic run. He took a moment to examine the ranch, specifically the broken section of fence that had been smashed to pieces after the goats had stampeded over it. He could hardly blame the animals though. They had been desperate to escape the predators that had hopped into their enclosure.

Uli was there too, hugging Colin close. Thankfully, the wolves hadn’t taken any interest in the humans. Only the bleating foods which scurried away from them. “I don’t understand,” she whispered, sounding level-headed but also a little shaken. “The wolves usually avoid the village. Why would they do something as daring as sneak into the ranch?”

“Food must be as scarce for them as it is for us,” Hanch said with a shrug. “It’s been a harsh winter so far.”

“Or maybe they acquired a taste for goat after they snagged the one that got away from me and the Mayor,” Fado suggested. He cast his head down in sorrow. “Oh, it’s all my darn fault! If I had just kept a better eye on the goats that day-”

Link cut him off. “Stop it, Fado. It’s not your fault,” was what he said.

It’s mine, is what he wanted to say.

“Our situation just grew worse though,” Malo spoke up. As always, it seemed that he was the critical thinker, despite his age. “We were relying on those goats. Without them, our food supply just grew smaller.”

The villagers fell silent. Nobody had the heart to agree, even though they all knew it was true. The thought of receiving even smaller portions at mealtimes was incredibly disheartening, especially when their stomachs were already on the verge of growling.

But Link growled first, his face turning into a snarl. “I’ll bring the goats back,” he declared adamantly. He soon handed his pitiful little rabbit over to Pergie, before pulling his cloak tight around him. “You guys repair the fence.”

Everyone was quick to argue.

“Link, don’t be silly!” Uli scolded him.

“It’s already nightfall!” Sera agreed. “And so frigid too! You’ll freeze to death out there!”

Fado frowned. “Link, what would you even do if you found the goats? You’d have to fight off the wolves if you want to save them, and that’s assuming they’re even still alive…”

Link halted, clenching his fists. “In that case, I’ll bring back their carcasses. They’ll still serve as food.”

“Four goats?” Hanch inquired. “By yourself?”

“He’s right, Link,” Jaggle said with a shake of his head. “This is basically a lost cause. The risk isn’t worth the reward.”

Uli nodded. “Exactly. Just let it go. It’s unfortunate, of course, but it’s better if you stay here. We’ll figure something out.”

Link could feel his fists begin to shake. They didn’t understand. None of them did.

“No, I…I have to do this. I’m the only one who can. Bo is gone. Rusl is gone. And Ilia…she made me promise to look after this village in their absence. And I’ll do it by any means necessary.”

Again, there was silence. The only thing colder than the weather was the unsettling atmosphere his words had summoned. He soon grew uncomfortable beneath their stares. The adults looked upon him with sympathy. The children, with concern.

“Link, you don’t have to do this alone.”

“Yeah, we’re all in this together.”

“We still have some options available to us. And hey, we’re not dead yet! Ha ha.”

“Link.” The Hero froze as Uli’s hand fell gently on his arm. She gave him a soft look, just as she always did. “We love you, and we appreciate everything you do around here, but you don’t have to do everything for us. And I know that you’re used to saving people, but you don’t have to run yourself ragged in order to save us either. We’ll be fine, sweetheart. We always are.”

Link felt so ashamed. So guilty. This wasn’t right. They weren’t supposed to defend him or protect him. It was supposed to be the other way around! Didn’t they understand? Didn’t they realize that they needed someone to fight for them, and that person would always, without question, be Link?

He could barely look at Uli when he finally pulled his arm out of her grasp. “You’re wrong,” he muttered.

Without looking back, he ran off into the pitch-black forest, following whatever pawprints and hoofprints he could find. In the distance, he heard his neighbors shout his name, begging for him to come back. But it was too late. By his choice, he was gone.

 

---

 

It was the middle of the night when he encountered the pack. They were stark white, naturally blending in with snow and moonlight alike. They might have eluded his gaze if they weren’t such vicious, snarling beasts. Or if their mouths weren’t covered in crimson.

The situation was as they had feared. Four goats lay in a puddle of ruby-stained snow. The wolves had slaughtered them without mercy.

Link was certain they intended to do the same to him.

The ensuing fight was brief yet wild. Link’s movements felt inhuman. Almost animalistic in nature. Sure, he fought with his sword, but in this pale moonlight, it felt more like a fang which he sank deep into his enemy’s flesh. And when the first wolf fell and the rest decided to scatter, Link nearly howled his victory, just as they would have were it his own corpse resting on the forest floor.

But the victory didn’t feel good. Not in the slightest. If anything, it felt hollow. Empty. Lonely.

He frowned as he wiped his sword clean. He knew that the wolves would return once they mustered their courage. They couldn’t just leave a banquet like this lying out in the open. His gaze fell upon the corpses of the goats. He thought them poor, innocent, pitiable things. He had been hoping to save all four and lead them back to the village, but he was clearly too late.

He was always too late.

At this point, the best he could manage was to secure one creature and haul it back to the village. They desperately needed the meat if they intended to survive this hellish winter. Steeling himself, Link scooped the wolf onto his shoulders. It was the only corpse that wasn’t already ravaged by fangs. It would make for the cleanest meal.

With that decided, the Hero journeyed alone, back through the cold, dismal forest. Eventually, he heard howling in the distance, and he realized that the pack had returned to finish their supper. The goats would never be seen again.

As night broke into dawn, Link stumbled his way to the edge of town. By this point, he was exhausted, and nearly frozen to the bone. He couldn’t feel his hands. He couldn’t feel his toes. He could barely feel his legs. The wolf was heavy on his shoulders, but that wasn’t the only burden he carried. The weight of the village’s safety weighed far more.

It was a weight he could barely stand.

By the time his legs gave out and he face-planted in the snow, he thought he heard Colin shouting his name…

 

---

 

The Hero awoke to find himself bundled in blankets before a warm fireplace. He might have felt compelled to shoot up in alarm if he wasn’t still having trouble feeling his toes.

“Oh, thank the Goddesses, you’re awake,” a voice said from behind. A second later, Uli was upon him, looking every part of the disappointed mother that she was. “For goodness’ sake, Link, you had us worried sick.”

He felt so guilty, he could barely look at her. He preferred watching the fire instead. “What happened?”

She shot him a glare. “You collapsed at the edge of town, either from exhaustion or frost. Possibly both. You’re incredibly lucky that Colin spotted you.”

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled.

“I don’t want an apology. I want you to stop being so reckless,” she said sternly. She then took a moment to sigh, exhibiting all of her stress in a single motion. “Just take it easy today, would you? Please.”

His initial reaction was reluctance, but upon realizing that he still felt quite chilled despite his current circumstances, he allowed himself to surrender. “Fine…” he agreed.

Uli merely sighed again. “I swear, Link. Lately you’ve been causing me more trouble than Rusl, Colin, and Hope combined. And that’s really saying something.”

“I’m trying to help,” he insisted, hoping in vain that he could get his feelings across. But he soon relaxed, believing that it might very well be a pointless endeavor. “Did someone collect the wolf, at least?”

“Pergie has it now. She thinks she can make it last a week if we’re careful.”

“Only a week,” he lamented quietly.

“It’s better than nothing,” she reminded him. “And while we’re on the subject of food, I have a question, and I expect you to answer me honestly. You‘ve been skipping meals, haven’t you?”

Link stiffened beneath his blankets. He didn’t think that anyone would notice. “I…eat enough to get by.”

Again, Link had to force his gaze away from Uli. The look on her face was so sad, she almost appeared hurt.

“It’s no wonder you collapsed. Link, you have to feed yourself-”

“I know,” he cut her off. “And I will. I just…I need to make sure that we’re gathering more than we’re devouring.”

“We?” Uli questioned, knowing very well that he wasn’t referring to the collective. Link was too ashamed to answer her, so he simply sat in silence. The crackling of the fire became their only accompaniment.

Eventually, Uli went and fetched him a modest meal. A single leg from the rabbit he had brought back yesterday. Nothing more.

“Eat,” she insisted.

“Uli, I can’t-”

“If you insist on providing for this village, you need your strength. Now eat.”

Her tone made it clear that she would not accept anything less. After having betrayed and hurt her so much within the last twenty-four hours, Link didn’t think he had it in him to refuse her. Not this time. He soon took the leg into his trembling fingers, and slowly began to dine. He did his best to savor every bite.

Uli finally allowed herself to relax. “You know, you might not need to worry so much about our food troubles,” she announced as she began to knit. “We had a discussion after you left last night, and we think we might have found a solution to our problems.”

Link swallowed before giving her a curious look. “Oh? And what’s that?”

She grinned a bit, pleased to see him lighten up for once. “Jaggle prepared a wagon. He’s taking Malo and Sera up to Castle Town. Malo apparently has a lot of savings from his Malo Mart business, and Sera said she thinks she can sell her wares there. Together, they’re hoping to buy enough food to help us get through the winter. Oh, and they also borrowed Epona. Hope you don’t mind.”

Link felt his eyes go wide. This solution…it was so simple. And yet he had never once thought of it. He had been far too focused on the village itself. Trying to think of solutions that could only be implemented here, without the possibility of seeking outside help. He suddenly felt so foolish. So ashamed. Maybe if he hadn’t been so focused on staying put in Ordon, he could have actually gone to fetch help. And more importantly, maybe the people of his village wouldn’t be starving themselves right now.

He couldn’t help but wonder one thing: why? Why was he like this? Why was he such a failure who couldn’t do a single damn thing to help his village?

 

---

 

It wasn’t until sunset that he got his answer, and he absolutely loathed it.

The villagers cautiously stepped out of their homes, one by one, at the sound of the wagon. Their spirits slowly began to break. It was far too soon. It should’ve taken Jaggle and the others a couple of days to reach Castle Town and make the return trip home. And yet, here they were, driving back into town before the sun had even fallen.

Everyone gathered around to hear the bad news.

“We can’t get through,” Jaggle announced sadly. “There’s been an avalanche near Faron’s Spring. I’m guessing that too much snow accumulated there and now it’s collapsed on the trail. And it’s been so cold lately that the entire thing is frozen solid. There’s…nothing we can do.”

His crestfallen expression spread through the crowd. Their best hope had just been dashed against the rocks. Shattered like glass and scattered to the wind.

“What if we climbed over it?” Fado asked, sounding desperate. “You know, send someone on foot with the money?”

Malo shook his head. “Without a horse, it’d take far longer to complete the journey to Castle Town. And in this weather, you’d freeze to death long before you got there.”

“And even if you did, you’d have no way of ferrying any supplies back,” Sera added. “We’d need to have enough room for the wagon to get through.”

“Can we tunnel through the avalanche?” Hanch asked.

“Unlikely,” Jaggle responded. “That stuff is as tough as rock. It would take us days to break through it. Maybe even weeks. And that’s assuming we don’t suffer another snowstorm in the meantime.”

The villagers fell silent once more. Nobody wanted to accept this outcome. To accept such bleak hopelessness as reality. In the end, Pergie went to rest a hand on her husband’s shoulder. She was the only one brave enough to acknowledge the truth.

“So…we’re stuck here, then.”

“Yes, we’re on our own,” he answered.

A memory flooded Link’s mind like a tsunami. Words spoken weeks before haunted him like a poe.

“The villagers will be relying on you to help them through the winter. So you can’t just abandon this place.”

Ilia. That was the answer. That was the reason why he was bound to this village. By duty. By oath. He had promised not to leave. Promised not to abandon Ordon until the day she returned. It was a binding vow, one that was completely sincere, and made only with the best of intentions.

But in this moment, Link realized the truth. That vow was actually a curse.

They were stuck, all of them, in this winter hellscape. Trapped like rats. Doomed to starve. Their only path to freedom now lay buried in ice and snow, the same as everything else. It was ironic. Almost comical. It was as if the Goddesses themselves were employing Ilia’s demand for Link to remain in Ordon.

Perhaps those golden gods really are cruel, Link thought as he felt himself fully sink into the depths of despair.

Notes:

It’s not looking very good, is it… :(

I love that all of the villagers try their best to look after Link. Even if he isn’t willing to look after himself 😭

Chapter 68: Angel

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 68 – Angel

Zelda sat warm and cozy in front of the fireplace in her office, casually looking over her documents. With the weather so cold and miserable outside, she now spent much of her time indoors, focused on her duties. It made for a quiet winter here at the castle, but a peaceful one as well.

Still, the Princess would be lying if she claimed that there wasn’t something bothering her. She casually glanced at the letter which rested on the corner of her desk before sighing and taking the parchment in hand. She had read it numerous times already, but she figured that once more wouldn’t hurt.

It was a brief message from Renado, detailing that he would unfortunately be absent from the most recent Roundtable meeting, as would Mayor Bo of Ordon. Apparently, the good Mayor had suffered a serious leg injury at the fangs of a wolf, and was now seeking medical attention from the experienced Shaman. Because of this, neither felt fit to make the trip to Castle Town, and the Shaman hoped that the Princess would excuse their absence.

Which, of course, Zelda forgave in a heartbeat. She would never want to inconvenience her fellow leaders, especially during such trying times. She sincerely hoped and prayed that the Mayor would experience a swift recovery.

Nevertheless, this simple letter left her feeling a little unsettled for reasons that weren’t entirely clear. It wasn’t until the day of the Roundtable meeting officially arrived that she began to suspect what the issue was.

With Hyrule covered in so much snow and ice, it was honestly a miracle that anyone had shown up for the meeting at all. Fortunately, Darbus claimed to have no trouble rolling across the fields of slush, and Ralis was still able to traverse the rivers, despite the layer of ice that covered them. Even Kanora went to the effort of making the journey on horseback, although she was very vocal about how much she loathed wearing clothes that covered her from head to toe (“How am I supposed to show off my skin in such garments!?”, she had said). However, there was one member, aside from Renado and Bo, who was noticeably absent from the proceedings this time around.

Link.

Zelda frowned as she set the letter aside. She had received no word from him in weeks. No letters. No visits to the castle. It was noticeably odd, to say the least. She supposed that she couldn’t blame him for his absence though. With the snowfall so heavy and constant, she imagined it would be a real chore to make the journey all the way up to the castle for a single meeting. Perhaps he thought it would be better to spare himself the effort and simply stay at home.

Still, she wished that he would have at least said something. His absence and lack of explanations honestly left her feeling more than a little nervous. She hoped that he was doing all right. That he hadn’t collapsed on the side of the road from exposure to the cold, or been ambushed by monsters…

She soon sighed. She knew that she was needlessly worrying, but…surely it wouldn’t hurt to write to him, would it?

Gathering her resolve, Zelda asked one of her maids to fetch the Postman when he stopped by the castle. She then scrawled a quick letter for the Hero, inquiring as to how he was getting along and making sure that he hadn’t simply forgotten the date of the Roundtable meeting (she wouldn’t have put it past him). She wrote about herself as well, but chose to keep it brief. She was far more interested in hearing about his affairs.

By the time the Postman was escorted into her office, she had the letter sealed and ready to go. “Here. Please make sure that this gets to Link in Ordon Village, if you would be so kind.”

The Postman happily accepted the parcel, but his trademark smile soon faltered. “Ordon Village? Ah, I’m afraid we have trouble there. I’m not currently able to deliver anything to Ordon.”

Zelda blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“Forgive me, Princess,” the Postman replied with a quick bow. “The heavy snowfall has made getting around the Kingdom much more difficult. The south has had it especially rough. There’s even been a small avalanche of ice that blocked off the road to the village! I unfortunately haven’t been able to visit in weeks.”

Zelda gawked. “Weeks? You’re telling me that the villagers have been stuck behind that blockade for so long?”

The Postman frowned a bit, but soon laughed. “Ha ha, not to worry, Your Highness! The villagers of Ordon are hardy and self-sufficient. They’re used to spending entire seasons cooped up in their town. I’m certain they’ll be fine until the snow thaws in spring.”

Zelda bit her lip. She supposed that this explained Link’s absence, but it didn’t do anything to help set her heart at ease. In fact, she only felt even more unsettled. To not know what was going on in that village. To have part of her Kingdom become isolated during such a harsh season… It honestly set her on edge.

And yet, perhaps the most unbearable part of all, was the thought of being isolated from Link…

“Anyways!” the Postman continued in his chipper voice. “I’ll store this letter for you along with the other postage for Ordon. I promise to deliver it once the snow melts and I can find a safe path into the village. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a schedule to keep!”

The Postman turned to leave, but Zelda was quick to stop him. “No, wait a moment!” she said, almost pleading. “I have another message I’d like for you to deliver. A vocal one, if you would.”

He frowned a bit but soon shrugged. “It’s a bit unorthodox, but I can’t refuse a request from you, Your Highness. What’s the message?”

“It’s for Chief Darbus of the Goron Tribe,” she stated clearly. “Tell him to bring as many able-bodied Gorons as he can down to Faron Woods. I’ll assemble a crew of Hylians to meet him there. I want him and his brothers to clear the avalanche away and restore the road. And of course, I’ll make sure that they’re compensated accordingly.”

The Postman nodded, happily committing all of this to memory. “Well, this ought to make my work easier! I’ll pass along your message at once!”

“Thank you,” Zelda told him. She even curtsied, showing just how grateful she truly was. The Postman then dashed from the room, off to make his next delivery.

Zelda was left alone once more, feeling anxious, conflicted, and guilty. She soon began to pace the room, hoping to expend some of her nervous energy. How could this have happened? An entire village trapped behind a wall of ice? Her dear friend stuck and unable to contact anyone? It sounded like a disaster, and as one of the Kingdom’s leaders, she should have been privy to this knowledge long before it was shared with her. She still couldn’t fathom that weekshad passed without anything having been done.

Once again, Zelda found herself sighing, and sincerely hoping that Link and his village were okay. If only she had a way of contacting them…

The Princess then paused, halting her steps as well as her thoughts. Perhaps she did have a method of reaching out to Ordon. Not directly through pen and paper, of course, but she could always contact them through spiritual means.

As the idea festered in her mind, it quickly became too enticing to resist. She shut the door to her study and seated herself at the desk once more. Here, she closed her eyes and brought her hands together, and an overwhelming sense of peace washed over her. The room quickly fell silent. Even the crackling of the fireplace sounded as if it were far off in the distance.

“Spirit of Light, Ordona,” she prayed softly. “It is I, Princess Zelda of Hyrule. Please, I humbly ask that you answer my call.”

The reaction to her words was immediate. Zelda soon felt herself shift. She was no longer sitting in a warm office surrounded by stacks of documents. She was now standing in a dark landscape, with a golden floor that shimmered like running water. Zelda recognized it at once. It was a holy, sacred place where the Spirits of Light typically resided.

Sure enough, the goat-like Spirit known as Ordona appeared before her, radiating its golden shine. “Princess Zelda,” it spoke in a pleasant, yet slow voice. “It is a pleasure to greet you again. For what purpose have I been called?”

Zelda bowed low and curtsied, showing complete reverence for the Spirit. “I have a humble favor to ask. Can you please tell me what the current situation is in your Province? How is Ordon Village? Are the people there safe? Are they enduring the winter?”

Zelda felt her heart sink as she watched the Spirit frown and lower its head. “I wish that I had good news to share, but the people of my Province currently suffer under the harsh weather. In the past few weeks, their crops have withered and food has become scarce. The villagers have done their best to procure new sources of nourishment, but their attempts are rarely successful. I fear that famine has truly begun to settle in.”

“Famine?” Zelda nearly gasped as the word escaped her lips. “No…”

The Spirit solemnly nodded its head. “I wish I could do more for them, but my own power grows weaker as the temperature drops. I can only bless the soils in which they plant their seeds and harvest their crops. I cannot spare them from the weather.”

Zelda bowed again. “No, please, Ordona. I trust that you’ve done more than enough, and I’m so grateful for your blessing.”

“My blessing will always be available to those with kind hearts,” the Spirit assured her.

Zelda smiled, but only for a moment before it faltered. “Ordona, if I may ask another question…”

“Please, child.”

“The Hero, Link… He remains in the village as well, yes? Tell me…is he okay?”

The Spirit sadly shook its head. “The Hero is understandably troubled. He works relentlessly to fill the shoes of their absent leader. But his efforts are the same as all others: so rarely rewarded. I fear that if he continues this path of persistent labor, he will completely exhaust himself. But I understand his feelings, for he is desperate and protective. He lives for his people.”

“Aye, he does,” Zelda agreed as she felt her heart slowly shatter within her. She had no idea that the situation had gotten this bad. That Link’s suffering was so extreme. She once again felt overwhelmed by guilt, but she forced herself to push such feelings aside. Now wasn’t the time to lament. It was the time to take action.

Zelda curtsied one last time. “Thank you for sharing all of this with me, Ordona. I promise to do everything in my power to help the villagers of Ordon. I refuse to let them perish.”

“You are very wise and kind, Princess,” Ordona replied, returning Zelda’s reverence in full. “You have my blessing in all endeavors.”

“I’m grateful,” Zelda reiterated. As the conversation came to a close, she watched as the dark landscape melted away before her, and she soon found herself sitting in her study once more.

Without wasting a single second, she rose to her feet and made for the door. There, she caught the attention of the maid who was on duty, and began issuing clear and concise instructions.

“Summon every chef that we have on staff to me at once. We have a lot of preparations to make and time is of the essence.”

 

---

 

Countless days. Endless weeks. And yet, this cruel winter had only run half its course.

Today had been the worst day by far, for the villager’s food supply finally ran out. All of those crops that had been spared, unceremoniously devoured. Their last supper was nothing more than a few mouthfuls of unripe pumpkin.

From this day forward, if the villagers wanted dinner, they would have to procure it. Sadly, their options were limited. The goats were exhausted and hardly producing cheese. The cuccos could only lay so many eggs. The pond barely had any fish left. And the hunting…well, that was just about as miserable as always. If Link was lucky, he would occasionally catch a rabbit or fox, but even that would only last for a pitiful amount of time before their stomachs rumbled once more.

The village felt like it was facing its final hour.

Link shivered as he watched the snow accumulate outside of his window. Thankfully, it was only a light snowfall, but it still didn’t make things any easier. He cursed a bit as he ran his hands over his arms. It was always so cold these days. Nothing but ice and frost and bitter chills. He was absolutely sick of it, and he longed to see the sun.

Link sat there for a long time, struggling to find warmth, and struggling even more to find peace. He wondered, how had the situation grown so dire? He had done his best, hadn’t he? Kept a close eye on the villagers. Dealt with each difficult trial as it arose. Fought a long, desperate, uphill battle against the weather and forces of nature.

And all for what? To just sit here, freezing and starving? To not protect the people who had been placed in his care? To let Ilia and the others return to a village full of corpses?

His teeth chattered together as he clenched them. No, he was not about to let this village die out. He was a Hero, and that meant that he would fight tooth and nail to save the people who needed his help. Whether it was with a sword, or by being a competent leader. Whatever they required, he would be there for them.

But he wasn’t foolish enough to think that he could do it alone. Not after everything they had endured.

“Please,” Link begged, as he bowed his head and clasped his hands together. “I’m asking for your blessing. For salvation. Please don’t let these innocent villagers continue to freeze. Continue to starve. Deliver us from this icy hell. Provide us with hope. Provide us with a miracle… Please.”

As the Hero finished his prayer, his hands broke apart and collapsed into his lap. He continued to eye the snowfall through his window, before eventually realizing that he couldn’t watch anymore. He crawled into bed, burying himself in blankets and darkness alike.

He hated to admit it, but he had grown to fear the dawn…

 

---

 

Link awoke at sunrise and quickly set to work. He pulled on his thick coat. His winter boots. Grabbed his bow, his sword, and a fresh quiver of arrows. He planned to spend the entire day hunting, and he told himself that he wouldn't return until he had snagged at least three beasts. He’d do whatever it took, even journey to unexplored parts of the forest if he must. Sure, he was tired. Sure, he was hungry. But he didn’t care. He figured it would be better to collapse from exhaustion rather than return empty-handed. At least then he wouldn’t be another mouth to feed.

His stomach growled as he stumbled his way to the door. He wasn’t used to being this low on energy, and it didn’t help that the cold felt like it was constantly sucking the life out of him. He descended the ladder, tripping as he trudged his way through a fresh layer of snow. He considered stopping by the village first, to let Uli know where he would be all day. He then shook his head, thinking better of it. They already knew what he was doing. Hunting was practically the only thing he did nowadays. And besides, he didn’t think he could bear to look at Uli right now. Not after he had noticed that she was growing skinnier from the early stages of malnutrition. It honestly made him feel sick.

Another stumble as he forged his way through the snow. Link felt like he was really off his game today. It seemed that he could barely even walk, and it didn’t help that he felt kind of lightheaded too. But that didn’t matter. The villagers mattered. Their dinner mattered. He had to keep fighting.

So great was the Hero’s conviction and focus, that he almost didn’t notice the white horse and rider approaching until they stopped right in front of him. He then registered a gasp, followed by his name.

“Link! Oh thank the Goddesses.”

Link squinted as the rider slipped off of her horse. He managed to recognize her as she approached, although he could hardly believe it.

“Zelda?” he croaked with a surprisingly dry voice. “Is…Is it really you?”

She produced a warm smile that only she could, and Link realized in an instant that this was no illusion. The Princess was truly standing before him.

“Of course,” she replied. “Has it been so long that you no longer recognize me?”

Link managed to smile back. She was teasing him, just like always. “Wh-What are you doing here? How did…”

“I heard that you’ve been having trouble down here. We’ve been working tirelessly the last few days to get to you.”

Link blinked, feeling confused. It didn’t help that his mind felt so sluggish at the moment. “We?”

“Yes, my entourage is just behind me. They’re taking their time traversing that old bridge, but they’ll be here soon enough. I hope that we aren’t too late.”

Again, Link didn’t understand. “Too late for what?”

Zelda’s smile softened a bit. “Ordon is short on food, yes? I’ve come to remedy that. Unfortunately, it took longer than expected to clear the avalanche from the road, but we’re here now, and hopefully that’s what counts.”

“You…You cleared away the avalanche?” Link asked, almost in disbelief.

She nodded. “Yes, with help from Darbus and his brothers. I’m sorry it took so long. If I had only known sooner-”

“Wait,” Link insisted, cutting her off. His head was still hazy, but he felt like he was finally managing to piece together what was happening. “Are you…here to rescue us?”

She almost giggled as she watched his confused expression. “Oh, my apologies. Have I not already made that clear?”

Link stood there, unsure of what to say. As if on cue, he then watched as a horse-drawn carriage crested the hill beyond them, only to barrel down the path towards the village. It was soon followed by a second, as well as a third and a fourth and a fifth. Link lost count after that.

“Those wagons…” he muttered. “They’re…”

“Full of provisions,” Zelda supplied. “We’ve brought some warm clothes and blankets as well. I heard that the situation was dire, so I insisted on bringing anything that you might find useful.”

“How…How did you know? That we were…”

She smirked, but in a gentle manner. “I prayed to Ordona. He filled me in on the situation, so I quickly organized everything and we came as soon as we could.”

“This…This is…” Link’s words escaped him. He honestly didn’t know what to say. Never in his life did he expect the Princess to show up with such gracious gifts. Gifts that would not only aid his village, but would actually save them. Deliver them from this harsh winter of inevitable death and starvation. His thoughts soon turned to the prayer he had cast the night before.

He had asked for a miracle. And now it was staring him in the eye.

Link felt himself sway a bit, feeling overwhelmed by the moment. Zelda was quick to notice.

“Link? Are you all right?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I’m just…I’m so thankful, Zelda. I…don’t even know how to express my gratitude. You…You saved us-”

Zelda smiled before placing a hand on his arm, signaling him to stop. “Hey,” she said softly. “It was my pleasure, okay? You don’t have to thank me for looking after my subjects. It’s my duty, after all.”

Link ended up laughing. He wasn’t sure what he found funny though. Maybe it was just the fact that he and Zelda had both shared the same goal, but the difference between them was that Zelda was successful, while he was a failure. He wondered, why had he not just gone to the Princess for help in the first place? Oh, he was such a fool…

Zelda soon gestured towards the village with a nod of her head. “Come on. By this point, the carriages will have parked and the chefs will have begun preparing breakfast. And I’m sure that you could use some food.”

Link smiled at her kindness, but sadly shook his head. “No, please, just make sure everyone else is taken care of first.”

Zelda’s soft gaze quickly turned curious and concerned. It was rather typical of her character to be so skeptical. “You should eat too, Link. Aren’t you starving?”

“N-No,” he muttered, trying his hardest not to sway as his mind turned hazy once more. “I’m fine…really.”

Zelda wouldn’t buy this piss-poor act of his for a second. Instead, her frown deepened. “When was the last time you ate?”

Amidst his delirium, Link tried to think. How many days had it been since he last allowed himself a proper meal? He had been working so hard, and had been avoiding them at every opportunity, passing on his share to the children when the adults weren’t looking. Even the night before, he had split his portion of unripe pumpkin equally among the kids. He soon swayed again, his legs growing weak.

“I…I don’t know…”

Zelda was starting to appear alarmed. It was obvious that something was off. “Link? What’s wrong?”

Link wasn’t sure himself. He could feel a strength as strong as steel begin to abandon him. It was a willpower that had encouraged him to keep fighting, day after day, and week after week. He suddenly felt so exhausted, as if all of his spent energy was finally catching up with him. Perhaps it was due to the overwhelming relief at no longer having to survive the winter. No longer having to fear his family and neighbors’ demise. It was a burden that he had shouldered for far too long. One that had always kept him going, despite his hunger and exhaustion.

But now that burden had finally been lifted. Zelda had erased it from his weary shoulders as if it were nothing more than a trifle. And once Link understood that everyone he knew and loved would be safe, he allowed himself to relax. And it was as he relaxed that he promptly collapsed into the snow, barely catching himself with his hands.

“Link!” Zelda shrieked. She was immediately kneeling next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I…I’m fine,” he tried to insist again.

“Oh, like hell you are,” Zelda seethed. “You’ve been pushing yourself too far, haven’t you? Please, come along. You really need to eat something.”

As if on cue, Link’s stomach growled, and Zelda just gave him a knowing look. Link allowed his shoulders to fall, feeling so ashamed.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he finally admitted.

She sighed, but her expression softened once more. “Here.” She extended her hand and Link accepted it begrudgingly. They then rose to their feet together, Link still feeling a little shaky, but Zelda refused to let him go. She soon linked arms with him, pulling his body close to her own so she could help support him if necessary. She then escorted him towards the village.

“Reina, come,” she called behind her. The white mare snorted before following her master’s orders.

Fortunately for the fatigued Hero, the walk to Ordon was brief. Upon arriving, he spotted numerous bonfires that had been lit, each one attended by an experienced chef. Servants unpacked the carriages, passing along fresh ingredients that quickly fell into pots and pans atop the flames. Again, Link was overwhelmed by the sight before him, but the one thing that nearly brought him to tears was the aroma that sifted through the air.

Warm food…

With a single glance around, he noticed that the villagers wore similar expressions. They were equal parts relief, joy, and disbelief, but the one thing that they all had in common was a genuine smile planted on their lips.

Zelda helped Link over to a log where he carefully took a seat. She then told him to wait there before she approached the carriages, issuing instructions to unpack more supplies and pass them out while the food was prepared. The next thing he knew, the Princess was personally handing out blankets, coats, and scarves to the village families. By this point, many of them were actually overwhelmed with tears.

“Your Highness,” Jaggle said with a bow and grateful smile. “I…I don’t know how we could ever repay you.”

Zelda returned his smile with full sincerity. “And you never shall. This is my gift to you, and nothing more.”

Smiles, tears, and sobs followed, in addition to numerous bows and other formalities which Zelda insisted were entirely unnecessary. But no one could stop themself. Not when they were overflowing with such immense gratitude for their matriarch.

Before long, the food was served. Warm stew. Fresh bread. Delicious meat. They were passed out in generously large portions until everyone possessed a tray full of food. Meanwhile, Link watched from his log as the Princess prepared her own plate. She then approached him while Beth accompanied her. The young girl seemed thrilled to see the Princess again, and Zelda was happily smiling and nodding as they conversed.

Eventually, they reached his log, and Beth took a seat next to him with her tray sitting in her lap. Zelda then forced her own tray into Link’s hands.

“Here, eat up,” she told him.

Link tried to shake his head. “No, I can get my own-”

“No, you won’t,” she insisted sternly. “You’re going to sit here and eat. And that is a direct order from the Royal Family, the highest authority in all of Hyrule.”

Link managed to conjure a meager smile before finally giving in. “Okay… Thank you, Zelda.”

Zelda simply smiled back at him before turning to his companion. “Beth, can you do me a favor and make sure that Link eats every bite of this? Don’t let him leave until he does.”

Beth beamed at the thought of performing such an important task. “Of course, Your Highness!”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

With a subtle wink, Zelda whisked herself away, returning to the carriages so she could assist with whatever was needed. Link merely sat there, feeling content to do nothing but watch her for a while. Eventually, Beth nudged him in the side.

“You’re going to eat, aren’t you? You’ll make the Princess mad if you don’t.”

Link chuckled. “Yeah, you’re right.”

Gathering his resolve, Link slowly but surely shoveled the food into his mouth. Once again, he was almost brought to tears. It was so warm and delicious. A far cry from the cold, miserable meals he had grown accustomed to. And the best part? He didn’t have to hold back. He was free to eat until his stomach was satisfied.

Beth finished her meal first, and soon set her tray aside. She then released a frosty sigh before clasping her hands together by her face. Link merely glanced over to find that she was staring in Zelda’s direction with a look of pure admiration, just as she always did.

“Ah, even in that winter garment, the Princess still looks so beautiful…” she mused. “Don’t you agree, Link?”

Link turned, also looking towards Zelda. There she stood, donned in a warm winter cloak, with her lovely brunette hair tied in a simple braid at her back. She politely thanked her chefs and servants for all their hard work before encouraging them to sit and eat as well. As always, she was so kind and selfless.

Thump.

Link froze. Something was off. Something was…different.

For the first time, the Hero gazed upon Zelda, and he felt as if he were staring at someone other than the friend he had known for so long. He didn’t quite know how to put it, but as he sat there, watching her continue to greet everyone she passed with a warm, dazzling smile, he couldn’t help but feel like she appeared a little brighter in his eyes.

No, it was more than that. He was certain that she was glowing. Brilliant. Radiant. She was far more than a girl. Far more than a Princess.

She was, simply put, an angel.

“Link?” Beth called, trying to pull him out of his sudden daze. “Did you even hear me?”

“Hmm?” he mumbled back.

She scoffed before crossing her arms. “Geez, you never listen. I said that the Princess is really beautiful today.”

Link stared at Zelda once more, drinking up her shining image with his unworthy eyes. After a second, he felt a soft smile appear on his lips.

“Yeah, she really is.”

Notes:

I love when Zelda gets so stern with Link. It kind of feels like she goes “wife mode” on him lol.

Anyway, yay, Zelda has saved the day! And she may have earned herself a new admirer in the process, hehehe… Can you believe it only took 68 chapters for Link to realize that his feelings towards Zelda may not be entirely platonic? 😂

Chapter 69: Fracture

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 69 – Fracture

A few weeks had passed since the Princess rescued Ordon from their food shortage. To everyone’s immense relief, things had quickly quieted down and their way of life returned to normalcy. No more famine. No more isolation. No more fear of wondering if the next day might be their last. And it was all thanks to the wonderfully compassionate Princess who watched over them.

Upon departing, Zelda had graciously left behind numerous wagons full of provisions. There was enough food to easily sustain the villagers through the rest of the season, and even the start of spring too. And the most astounding part? Zelda insisted that it was all a gift, never to be paid back in any fashion. The villagers simply reeled from her kindness and generosity. They humbly offered her funds or possessions in return for her favors, but she naturally refused them all. She insisted that if their debt must be paid, that they pay it forward onto others when the time came. She even suggested donating a portion of their future harvests to the less fortunate in Castle Town and Kakariko Village.

In the end, the people of Ordon bowed their heads and promised they would.

Link also managed to pull the Princess aside before she departed, hoping to express his own gratitude for her actions. However, once he had her alone, he found himself speechless. He simply froze stiff beneath that sapphire gaze of hers.

It wasn’t until she tilted her head to the side, calling his name and appearing slightly concerned, that he found the courage to act. He pulled her into a warm hug, holding her close as if he never wished to let go.

“Thank you,” he had said. “For everything.”

He eventually pulled away, only to find her looking stunned and a little flustered, but she graced him with her beautiful smile all the same. “Of course, Link. I’ll always be here for you.”

Her words were so kind, and so sincere, that even after weeks, Link still found himself dwelling on them. Still found himself enraptured by them. Zelda was not only an incredible person, she was also an incredible friend. And Link felt so blessed for knowing her.

The winter continued to bring heavy snowfall, although the storms appeared with less frequency than they did at the beginning of the season. Since the villagers no longer had to worry about food, they were free to focus on other tasks. Most of the men dedicated their time to clearing the roads of snow in order to prevent another avalanche from taking place. Meanwhile, Link resumed his daily hunting, but it was a much more casual experience compared to before. Alone in the woods, without the threat of starvation hanging over him, Link managed to find peace. And whenever he found himself in a particularly tranquil grove, he would always take a moment to stop and bow his head, offering prayers of gratitude to the Goddesses above.

He would never forget their miracle.

And so things continued, until a day finally arrived where an old wagon pulled into town. The villagers recognized it at once, and everyone quickly set aside what they were doing so they could rush over to greet the new arrivals. Rusl was the first to dismount, hugging and kissing his wife before saluting the others. The back of the wagon soon opened up, and Ilia stepped out, offering a hand to Bo who hobbled behind her. His injured leg was still bandaged from bottom to top, but he produced a proud grin all the same.

“I’m back,” he announced.

The villagers swarmed their mayor, patting his arms and back and welcoming him home. Bo simply chuckled, swaying on his good leg while Ilia tried to tell everyone to settle down. The last thing her father needed was to suffer anotherinjury just from being overwhelmed. But it was no use. The villagers were far too raucous and rowdy to heed her warnings, and it certainly didn’t help that Bo was encouraging them with his own excessive enthusiasm.

At one point, she glanced over and Link managed to catch her eyes. She greeted him with a small smile before turning her attention back to the crowd. She ordered them to escort Bo back to their home so he could sit and get some proper rest. The villagers happily obliged, ferrying their damaged leader into the warmth of his house, where they could continue to celebrate his return in earnest.

As the noise droned off into the distance, Ilia sighed a bit before running to Link and crashing into his arms. She clung to him tightly, and he soon returned the favor.

“Hey,” she spoke into his chest.

“Hey,” he replied.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

Ilia soon pulled back, looking at Link with her beautiful eyes of green. The Hero took a moment to appreciate them. To appreciate all of her. It had been nearly two months since they had last seen each other, and it felt so refreshing to finally be reunited.

Link ended up laughing a bit. “You’re cold,” he noted.

She shivered under his touch before laughing a little herself. “And you’re warm.”

“Well then it’s a good thing you found your way back to me. How about we go to your place and warm up together? It’s certain to get toasty in there once everyone settles in.”

Ilia smiled, but soon shook her head. “Actually, could we go to your place instead? I feel like you and I have a lot of catching up to do.”

As she finished, Link couldn’t help but notice her eyes subtly drift over to the wagons parked at the edge of town. The same wagons that the Princess had left for them. He felt himself grow a little curious, but he pushed such thoughts away. He figured he’d get his answers soon enough.

“Sure,” he answered. “I’ll start a fire and make us some tea.”

 

---

 

A short while later, Ilia was seated in front of a cozy fire in Link’s den. The Hero took his time concocting a pair of warm beverages while she filled him in on everything that had transpired in Kakariko. Fortunately, their wagon had arrived before the first snowstorm hit, and Renado was able to treat Bo immediately. The Shaman had apparently spent weeks applying certain healing salves to the Mayor’s leg, on top of administering various plants and herbs to fight off fever and infection. By the sound of things, it was a rather turbulent experience.

On the bright side, Ilia successfully managed to study under Renado during her time away, and had accumulated a wealth of medical knowledge. The girl couldn’t help but grin as she began describing technique after technique, as well as the endless potions and medicines she had learned to mix. And of course, she knew all of this by heart.

Link smiled with pride. She had been away for so long, but it seemed that she had used that time wisely. And while there was still a good deal more for her to learn, the likelihood of Ilia becoming Ordon’s first official doctor had just grown exponentially.

“I feel so relieved now,” she admitted with a small sigh. “Should someone ever suffer a serious injury like my father’s, we won’t need to seek outside help. I’ll be able to treat it myself, right here in Ordon.”

“That’s wonderful, Ilia,” Link complimented her. “I’m sure that people will be turning to you for medical help before long.”

“I hope so,” she agreed. She then laughed a little. “Although, I really hope that no one gets hurt in the first place.”

Link laughed as well before finishing his brew. He soon handed her a cup and sat down opposite of her so he could warm himself by the fire too. Ilia thanked him before taking a sip, but she ended up frowning and lowering her cup.

“This isn’t Ordonian tea,” she said in mild surprise.

Link shook his head. “No, we ran out. This is a different brand that’s common in Castle Town.”

Ilia smirked. “Reminds me of the stuff that Telma serves.”

“It’s the very same,” he replied, enjoying the taste that had long since grown on him. “So Bo’s all right then?”

“Yes, he’s actually been in recovery for weeks now. We had to wait for the weather to calm down before we could make the trip home. But now that we’re here, father just needs to take it easy for a while. Renado said that his leg should be fully healed come spring.”

“Thank goodness,” Link said with a smile. “I don’t know what we’d do without him around. I doubt that Ordon would ever feel the same.”

She nodded her agreement, but soon frowned. “Well, you had to manage well enough without us for a few months. Tell me, how did it go?”

Link’s expression soured as well. He decided to hide behind his cup as he took another sip. He had not been looking forward to this conversation, although he knew it needed to be held.

“We heard rumors,” Ilia continued. “They said that Ordon was short on food and the road was blocked by snow.”

“The rumors were right,” Link confessed. “It was awful, Ilia. Perhaps the worst and most terrifying winter we’ve ever experienced. The weather has been so unforgiving. It killed our crops. Forced all of the fish and animals into hiding. I swear, each storm felt like another nail in our collective coffin. We were honestly on the verge of starvation.”

Ilia gasped, her eyes going wide. “It…It was that bad?”

He nodded solemnly. “Our food supply ran dry. The wolves returned and stole a few goats. We had to scavenge for resources just to get by. And even then, we were teetering on destruction…”

“Stop it,” she insisted, shaking her head. “Surely you’re exaggerating.”

He shook his head back before staring directly into her eyes. He was completely serious. “Ask anyone, Ilia. It was miserable.”

“Oh my goodness,” she said quietly. “I’m…so sorry to hear that, Link. It makes my father’s recovery in Kakariko sound trivial by comparison.”

“It’s okay,” he said, returning to his tea. “We held out until help arrived.”

“Ah, the Princess,” Ilia realized with raised eyebrows. “We heard rumors about that too. That she visited our town.”

“She did more than that. She saved us from starvation. She organized the clearing of the roads and arrived with countless wagons just to feed us. She was, quite literally, a lifesaver.”

“Hmm,” Ilia hummed, turning to glance into the fire. She seemed distracted for a moment, as if lost in thought, but she eventually smiled. “Well, I suppose we ought to be thankful to her.”

“Oh, I am,” Link stressed. “I’ll be eternally grateful for what she did. Without her help, there’s a good chance that you might not have had a village to come back to.”

Ilia flat-out frowned at this, and soon turned to Link with eyes that almost appeared…disappointed? “I’m sure that’s not true,” she argued. “I know you, Link. You would have done whatever it took to ensure the safety of this village, with or without the Princess’s help.”

Link shook his head, suddenly feeling his own sense of disappointment rise up from within. The countless weeks of shame and guilt that, even now, still weighed on him. “You’re wrong. I didn’t do a damn thing.”

Ilia blinked, surprised at this comment, as well as his language. Link rarely ever cursed. “Wh-What do you mean? You promised that you would stay here and look after everyone in our absence, didn’t you?”

“I did, but it was useless,” Link muttered. “I tried to save the crops, but they died anyway. I tried to hunt for food, but found nothing. I tried to save the missing goats, but the wolves had already slaughtered them. It felt like I was constantly banging my head against a wall, accomplishing nothing.”

By this point, Ilia’s expression turned grim. She could barely believe what she was hearing. “You…You’re lying. I know you, Link, and I know what you’re capable of. I know that you watched over this village and kept everyone safe and fed for as long as you could. And that has to count for something.”

“Not in the end,” Link insisted. “In the end, we were on our last legs, doomed to die. And I was useless. I had to learn the hard way that no one can battle a storm. Not alone, at least.”

Ilia bit her lip for a moment. “You’ve battled forces that are as fierce as storms and that’s never stopped you before.”

Link scowled, frustrated with how she had completely missed his point. “There’s a time to fight and a time to retreat. I chose to fight with all I had and it nearly killed us. It was such a foolish decision… Probably the worst I could have made.”

“That’s not true,” Ilia tried to argue, sounding defensive. “Link, you were needed here. I needed you here.”

But the Hero shook his head. “Ilia, if I’m being completely honest, I wish I had never forced myself to stay here. If I had any wits at all, I should have run to ask for Zelda’s help at the first sign of trouble. Then none of us would have had to suffer.”

The room fell silent, save for the soft crackling of the fire in the background. Ilia turned away again, furrowing her brow as she stared deep into the flames.

“So…you just wanted to do what you always do,” she said, her voice as quiet as a mouse, yet as cold as ice. “Run off to her side.”

Link blinked, his eyes growing round and large. “Wh-What?”

“You heard me,” she said, just as softly as before. “It’s what you always do, isn’t it? Abandon this village so you can run off to be with the Princess. So you can do her bidding and win her affection.”

“Do her bidding?” Link repeated, feeling his voice rise. “Win her affection?”

Ilia refused to look at him. Her eyes were fixed on the blaze in the hearth. “How else would you describe it? Always putting yourself in danger for her. Following her every command. Sacrificing yourself for her. Why, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that she’s using you.”

“Using me!?” Link exclaimed, hardly believing his ears. “Ilia, what are you talking about? Zelda and I are friends. Of course I listen to her commands and aid her wherever possible. I want to do that. How can I not, after everything she’s done? Not only for me, but for our village too?”

Ilia scowled some more, her voice dropping even lower. “Did she really do that?”

“What?” Link demanded.

“Did she save this village?”

“Yes, haven’t I stressed this enough? I couldn’t do a thing to help our village. But Zelda did.”

“Truly?” Ilia challenged him. It was here that she faced the Hero, her eyes now burning bright like the fire they had been boring into. “Did she truly save everyone’s lives, or did she just command someone else to do it for her?”

Link froze. He hadn’t expected such a question, let alone for it to sound so rude and accusatory. “Well, of course, she brought help but-”

“Aha,” the girl interrupted him. “That’s exactly it. Everyone follows her. Everyone dances to her tune. But that’s to be expected, isn’t it? It’s simply the life she leads, being royalty and all. It must be nice, never having to work for anything a day in your life, and then be celebrated for it at every conceivable moment.”

Were it capable of doing so, Link’s jaw surely would have hit the floor. He sat there, gasping in utter shock for a moment before he felt a protective flame ignite within him. “Ilia,” he breathed. “I can’t believe you. How can you make such heartless comments? Where is all of this hostility coming from?”

Ilia’s expression softened a touch, as if she only just now realized what she had said. She did not, however, appear the least bit regretful. “It’s not hostility,” she stated quietly. “I’m only saying that she’s not as amazing as you think she is, Link. And you don’t have to defend every decision she makes. Especially when all she does is place you in peril.”

Link took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. In the back of his mind, he recalled that Ilia had always been less than thrilled whenever it came to Link fulfilling his duties as a Hero. And she was especially distraught whenever he wound up getting hurt.

“Is that what this is all about?” he asked, becoming just as quiet as she. “You’re upset with me, so you’re taking it out on her?”

Ilia furrowed her brow again, appearing incredibly displeased. “That’s not what’s happening at all.”

“Oh really?” Link challenged her. “It seems like all of your issues can be traced back to one particular source.”

“You’re wrong,” Ilia insisted. Her bottom lip quivered for a moment before she fixed him with a glare. “I’ll admit that I don’t like how she uses you, but…it’s more than that too. There’s been rumors, Link. These awful, horrible rumors going around about what the Princess has planned moving forward. They say that she wants to introduce the Bulblins to Hyrule. Bulblins, Link. Can you believe that?”

For the second time that day, Link felt himself freeze stiff. When it came to making peace with the green-skinned race, this was everything he had feared. How the general populace would react to such news…

And yet, all the same, Link gladly chose to speak in defense of his Princess. “And what’s wrong with that?”

This time, it was Ilia’s turn to gawk. She stared at her partner, appearing absolutely horrified. “So…it’s true then?”

Link nodded fearlessly. “I’ve already pledged my help to her. Zelda intends to make peace with the Bulblins and establish them as Hyrulean citizens.”

“Then…Then she is a fool and a traitor to her Kingdom,” Ilia replied bitterly. “How could she desire this, after everything her people have been through? After everything we’ve been through!?”

“She’s trying to build a better and brighter future for our Kingdom-”

“By betraying us? By assisting our oppressors? By turning monsters into neighbors?” At this point, Ilia looked genuinely hurt, and her eyes were threatening to tear up. “And you’re helping her? Link…have you forgotten so soon what those beasts did to us? They kidnapped us. Kidnapped me. Stole us away and forced us into the Twilight and made me lose my memory, and I…I…”

It was here that she choked, too emotional to continue. Upon hearing the noise, as well as witnessing her grief, Link found himself substituting anger for sympathy.

“Ilia,” he whispered, his voice gentle and sweet. He soon stood up, hoping to reach out to her…

But it was too late. Ilia was shaking her head as she also stood and pulled on her coat. She then made for the door, only turning back to reveal a face that was stained with tears. “I…I can’t. Not right now. I…I think I’d like to be alone for a while.”

And with a shaky breath, she turned and exited the home, letting the wind slam the door shut behind her.

Link simply stood there. His arm still outstretched. Her name lingering on his lips. But eventually he closed fist and jaw alike and turned his gaze to the floor. He clenched his teeth before kicking an old bucket across the room.

“Damn it,” he cursed, placing a hand to his temple.

He hated this. Feeling so conflicted. Feeling concerned for Ilia yet protective of Zelda. He didn’t understand. Why had such a conflict arisen between two of his closest friends?

Well, on second thought, maybe he could understand. Ilia had always been rather vocal about how little she enjoyed his Hero work. And of course, said Hero work was almost always tied to Zelda and her plans for restoring and improving Hyrule, so he could see why the Princess might have captured the girl’s ire.

And then there were the Bulblins to consider, and once again, Link could understand where Ilia was coming from. Those beasts had attacked their home. Kidnapped their children. Stood against the Kingdom’s forces during the Twilight Invasion. By all means, they were monsters, brutes, and savages, and Link knew best how difficult it would be for most to forgive their sins.

But to Link, these concerns honestly seemed minor at best. He knew that Zelda would never intentionally place him in danger or wish him harm. Or, heaven forbid, use him for her own benefit. She sought the betterment of Hyrule for the sake of all people, not just herself. And of course, Link wholeheartedly trusted her and everything she believed in, and it was for this reason that he felt no concern about the Bulblins. He reiterated to himself that if anyone could succeed in domesticating those beasts and welcoming them as friends of Hyrule, it would be her.

He wished that Ilia could understand that, the way that he understood it…

The Hero sighed, letting his shoulders fall as he collected the used dishes and placed them in his sink. He spent a few minutes washing them before cleaning up around the rest of his home. The entire time, his mind was lost in thought.

He was happy to have Ilia and the others back home in the village. Truly, he was. He only wished that their reunion hadn’t been so…stressful.

A sudden knock at his door jolted the Hero out of his thoughts. He sighed again before dropping whatever was in his hands and going to answer the summons. To his surprise, he found the Postman standing there.

“Greetings, Mr. Link!” he said with a bright smile.

Link managed to smile back. Although, at the same time, he nearly winced once he noticed that the Postman was still wearing his incredibly light outfit. How was he not freezing to death in this weather?

“Letter for you!” the Postman continued. “Courtesy of Hyrule Castle.”

“The castle?” Link questioned before taking the letter in hand.

“Yes sir. They insisted it was urgent. Needs addressed immediately.”

Link frowned. He hated hearing about matters that were “urgent”. He had quickly come to learn that it usually meant that something was seriously wrong.

“I understand,” he replied. “Thank you for the swift delivery.”

“Anytime!” the Postman said before hopping off the Hero’s landing and dashing away. “I’ll be making my rounds, so if you have a response to send, please come find me!”

The Hero waved him goodbye before shutting the door. He shivered a bit as he made his way back to his fireplace. He took a seat before tearing the envelope open. Good news or bad news, he hoped that this message could at least take his mind off of his current troubles.

Upon opening the parchment, Link found his name written in a familiar script. It was clearly Zelda’s handwriting, but there was something off about it too. The cursive was not nearly as neat as he was accustomed to. In fact, the letters were wavy and sloppy, as if they had been scrawled by a shaky hand, or by someone who was in a rush. Perhaps the reason for this letter truly was urgent. Setting all further reservations aside, Link dove into the message.

Link,

I’m sorry to bother you, especially when you’re still occupied with the matters of your village, but I’m afraid that I must summon you to our castle at once. It’s my father. His health is…waning. Roswald fears he may not live to see the end of the week.

My father has asked to speak to you. He has things he would like to say, should the worst come to pass. And I…I would also appreciate your company at this time, if you would be so kind as to share it with me.

I pray to see you soon — Zelda.

Link felt his hands fall, the letter loosening in his fingers. He…He couldn’t believe this. The King was…dying? What was going on? Had the poison stricken the poor man further? Was Caius finally at the end of his rope? And why did he wish to speak to Link? Was he planning on sharing his…his final words?

But the Hero soon discarded all of these thoughts in an instant. None of that seemed to matter. Not in the face of what he held in his hands, and what it truly communicated to him.

He swallowed as he looked the letter over again. He noticed the scribbled-out words. The splotches of ink that suggested the Princess had taken too long to finish her thought. The palpable fear and sadness that radiated from every sentence. But the thing that truly broke his heart, were the two dried tear stains that rested at the bottom of the page. In an instant, Link realized what this meant.

Zelda was crying. And she needed him.

Casting the letter aside, Link doused his fire and went to fetch his coat. As he pulled it on, he grabbed a spare piece of parchment and scribbled a quick explanation for his absence. He set it on his dining table, hoping that Ilia or someone would find it. He didn’t have time to explain in person. He needed to go.

Racing outside, Link saddled Epona before swinging onto her back. The mare seemed surprised at his suddenness, but she understood his intentions perfectly. Matching his urgency, she dashed forward, barreling down the road.

The Hero’s eyes narrowed with determination as he set his sights far ahead. He thought of nothing but the castle, and the Princess who dwelled within it.

He would be there for her.

Notes:

And once again, Link drops everything to rush to Zelda’s aid. It really says a lot, doesn’t it? ;)

Also, it seems that Link and Ilia’s relationship is enduring more stress than ever before. To be honest, with the way I’ve written things, I feel like Ilia has been Not Too Thrilled with the Princess for a while now, and this is finally all of her growing resentment getting a chance to rear its ugly head. Between the shady rumors, constant praise, and Link being placed in danger all the time, I like to think it’s at least a little understandable that Ilia is not too happy with Zelda at the moment. But who knows, maybe she’ll come around and see the Princess in a different light…eventually :)

Chapter 70: Lullaby

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 70 – Lullaby

The entire mood of the castle seemed to have shifted. The guards at the gate greeted Link with smiles, but the gesture seemed hollow. The hallways felt dismal and gloomy. And Link caught more than a few maids hunched over in corners, whispering rumors in each other’s ears, but they didn’t bother to share any news with him.

Not that he minded. His entire self was currently focused on finding one person, and one person only. Thankfully, he had an idea of where to look for her, and his instincts did not let him down.

He didn’t bother to knock or announce his presence as he entered her study. He noticed a large stack of paperwork piled on the tiny desk at the back, but there was no Princess attending to it. Instead, she stood by her window, gazing out into an endless sky that was hidden behind silver clouds. She had one hand clamped around her own arm, pulling it tight to her side. He assumed it was an act of comfort, as pitiful as it appeared.

Heaving a sigh, Link chose to approach. “Zelda,” he whispered.

She nearly jumped before turning to him, eyes wide and fearful. She appeared so stunned, but after a moment she relaxed. Link found himself unable to do the same. Not when he noticed the puffy, red marks on her cheeks. Tracks that were indicative of endless tears.

“L-Link,” she stammered, her voice unsteady. “You…You actually came.”

The Hero felt his heart break for her. Without thinking, he moved forward, pulling her into a tight hug which she gratefully returned. The next thing he knew, she was crying into his shoulder and sniffling uncontrollably. His heart shattered once again. He had almost never witnessed Zelda cry. She was always too tough to succumb to such things. Too composed. Too mature. But this time, the circumstances were different. She was like a thread that was threatening to snap. And Link knew that she could hardly be faulted.

“How is he?” he eventually asked, his own voice sounding grave and serious.

Zelda sniffed again before pulling away and shaking her head. “It…It’s not good, Link. The last few weeks, he’s been growing sickly and pale. His coughing is incessant. He’s constantly overwhelmed with chills. He’s even suffered a few more heart attacks. And Roswald… H-He says that father might not…he might not…”

Link followed his instincts, running a hand through her hair while producing a soft, shushing sound. He hated seeing her like this, and he wanted to do whatever it took to comfort her in this time of anguish.

“I’m sorry, Zelda,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s that damned poison,” she muttered, letting her emotions run rampant. “He’ll never be free of it. It’s always been choking the life out of him, and I’m certain that Zant is laughing from beyond the grave. That horrible, wretched-”

She stopped herself, as if suddenly realizing what she was saying. She soon went to wipe her tears as her expression turned apologetic. “Forgive me, this behavior is not…not becoming of me.”

Link offered the deepest, saddest, most sympathetic frown he could produce. “Zelda…it’s okay to feel this way. He’s your father.”

Zelda blinked, appearing surprised by something that should have been obvious. Her expression softened as she looked upon him with eyes full of gratitude. She hugged him once again. “Thank you, Link, for being so understanding. You’re right. He’s my father and I just…I don’t know what I would do without him.”

“I know,” he replied. “It’s always hard. Having to lose someone so close to you.”

“That’s right,” she agreed before allowing herself the smallest of smiles. “I guess you would understand better than most, wouldn’t you?”

Link nodded, knowing exactly what she was referring to. His deceased parents, whom he had lost at a young age. It was not a similarity that he wished to share with her (or with anyone, for that matter), but yes, he could very easily sympathize.

Link continued to hold her for a few minutes, allowing her to find comfort in the warmth of his embrace. Eventually, she had her fill, and managed to pull away from him. She then softly smiled as she fetched a handkerchief from her desk, which she used to dry her face.

“I am truly grateful that you’re here,” she told him. “And on such short notice too.”

“It wasn’t any trouble,” he assured her.

“But surely you’ve been busy in Ordon? What with the recovery after the famine, and all.”

“Not really,” he replied with a grin. “Thanks to your aid, things have been quieter and more peaceful than ever before.”

Her smile grew. “So everyone is okay then?

“Better than okay. Bo finally returned home and everyone was so excited to welcome him back. And Rusl was reunited with his family. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Uli and Colin so relieved to see him before. And-”

The Hero paused, stopping himself short. He then cast his gaze downward, appearing remorseful. “Er, sorry.”

Zelda gave him a blank stare. “Whatever for?”

“I didn’t mean to be insensitive,” he mumbled. “I’m sure you have a lot on your mind right now. The last thing you need is to dwell on all of these petty details.”

The Princess gave him a look of pure disbelief before releasing an unexpected giggle. “Insensitive? Petty details? Please, you are jumping to some terribly misinformed conclusions. I, for one, would love nothing more than to hear you continue.”

Link raised his eyebrows. “You…You would?”

“Of course,” she said sincerely. “I may have a lot on my mind, but that doesn’t mean that I wish to dwell on such thoughts during every moment of the day. On the contrary, I gladly welcome the distractions.”

Link soon smiled back. He could see how desperately she needed to hear tales of joy and peace for a change, and he was nothing if not happy to oblige.

He filled her in on every little detail that had transpired in Ordon in the weeks following her departure. How the joy and warmth quickly returned to the villagers’ expressions whenever they filled their bellies. How they carried on with their daily activities, grateful to no longer have the threat of starvation hanging over them. He went on to tell her about the village children. How they roped Link into their games. How they had spent an entire afternoon crafting a goat-shaped creature out of snow. How Beth never seemed to shut up whenever someone mentioned the Princess. He told her of how the young infant, Hope, was slowly learning to crawl. He told her of the beautiful sunsets he had witnessed whenever he went to chop firewood. Of the sky that transformed into breathtaking shades of purple and red right before his very eyes.

By the end, Zelda was smiling with an expression of absolute longing. “No matter the season, and no matter the weather, Ordon Village always sounds so lovely. I wish I could visit more often.”

“I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that you’re welcome anytime,” he assured her. “Never forget, the people of Ordon owe you their lives.”

“They owe me nothing,” she corrected him. She then faced her window with another longing stare. “Once things settle down, perhaps I’ll be able to schedule some casual visits there. I’m sure it would be a helpful way to destress.”

“I can all but guarantee it,” Link promised with a grin. “Fishing. Goat-herding. Archery practice. We’ve got all of your favorite activities.”

Zelda giggled as she shook her head and closed her eyes. Clearly, referring to some of those activities as her “favorites” was an exaggeration, but she couldn’t deny that they sounded so enticing. Especially if she would have the Hero by her side.

“Thank you, Link,” she said softly. “You always know how to cheer me up.”

Link returned her smile before bowing his head. “It’s my pleasure, Zelda.”

The two of them stood there, content to bask in each other’s warmth and kindness for as long as they pleased. But it seemed that the moment wasn’t meant to last. There was a rush of sound at the door, and a servant soon stumbled into the study, completely out of breath.

“Your Highness, Doctor Roswald has-”

He froze, his eyes falling on Link. It seemed that whatever message he had been trying to pass along had been trumped by the Hero’s presence.

“Sir Link,” he greeted him, fumbling into a bow. “You’ve arrived! Please, would you consider coming along? His Majesty has been eagerly waiting on you.”

Link glanced at Zelda for a second, his expression turning grim once more. He firmly nodded. “Of course.”

The servant bowed again before facing the Princess. “Your Highness, Doctor Roswald mentioned that you…may want to come along as well.”

Link watched Zelda stiffen and nervously swallow. Her words soon spilled out of her lips in a steady, yet fearful tone.

“Has he…taken a turn for the worse?”

The servant kept his eyes glued on the floor. He remained silent for so long, Link wondered if he was declining to answer. But in the end, all he said was, “It’s…best not to linger.”

Zelda inhaled, drawing in a slow, deep, stress-filled breath. She tensed up as she held it trapped within her lungs, but she soon exhaled and nodded her understanding.

“Let’s be off.”

 

---

 

The environment in the infirmary was somehow even more somber than the surrounding castle. Link spotted a number of nobles in attendance. Some, he recognized. Most, he didn’t. Many of them were overwhelmed by tears, drowning in their grief and sorrow. It was a terrible sign for what lay ahead.

Upon noticing their arrival, the crowd shifted, parting so that the Hero and Princess could make the dreadful journey to the bed in the partitioned room. It felt haunting. Having to listen to the weeping and muffled sobs of those around them. Watching their tears fall to the floor. Witnessing Roswald’s crestfallen expression, as well as a sorrowful shake of his head.

Link felt his heart sink into his stomach. He fully understood what they were about to walk in on. This meeting with the King of Hyrule would very likely be his last.

He glanced at Zelda, who silently walked at his side. Her expression was like stone. Resolute. Knowing. Determined to see herself to the end of this miserable path. But there were cracks there too. They were so minor, so well-conceived beneath her iron exterior, but the Hero could spot them all the same. Fear. Dread. Woe. A lip that wished to quiver. Eyes that wished to bawl. And a broken heart that was barely holding itself together.

Link wanted to hug her again. To hold her close and tell her that everything would be okay. But even he knew that those words would be nothing but empty lies.

They arrived at the bed, and all of the background noise fell eerily silent. No sound seemed to matter when compared to the soft, rasping breaths that escaped the King’s throat. Link merely swallowed as he looked upon him. His skin was so pale, he appeared as a ghost. His eyes were so cloudy, he could barely see straight. His fingers were so cold, they trembled at his sides.

It was a horrible image. Link no longer felt like he was looking upon a great and magnificent King. No, that man was long gone, and had been replaced with this pitiful specter. In an instant, the Hero’s expression reflected all the sympathy he could muster.

He couldn’t see Zelda’s face as she bravely stepped forward, but he wondered if she appeared much the same. Caius slowly turned to her, blinking a bit as he wheezed. His eyes still appeared so unfocused.

“Zelda…” he croaked in a painfully weak voice.

She slowly reached down and took his trembling hand into her own, causing its movement to cease. “Yes, father, I’m here,” she said in a voice that was as calm as still water.

Caius violently coughed, hacking so excessively that it became abundantly clear he was fighting for his very life. “I’m glad,” he eventually managed to reply.

Zelda was silent for a moment. Link imagined that her lip likely quivered and she was on the verge of tears, but when she spoke again, her voice was still as steady as ever.

“Father, Link is here as well. He’s come to see you.”

“Link!” he exclaimed, nearly sitting up before another hacking fit forced him back down. “I would…like to speak with him.”

“Of course,” she told him. She then turned around, facing the Hero. Her expression was as resolute as before, and yet Link still managed to spot the cracks. Among them was a new fissure. A subtle, desperate look of hope. The hope that Link would be kind enough to entertain her father’s dying wish.

With a single nod, Link approached the bed. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

Caius’s tired eyes fell on the Hero, and upon recognizing him, proudly clasped the boy on the shoulder. Link immediately felt his skin run cold. The man’s fingers were like ice.

“Link…the Hero of Twilight. The savior of Hyrule.” He paused, turning away to cough, but he was quick to return with words of passion. “My Kingdom owes you so much. I owe you so much. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Hero, for your countless services.”

“It was my pleasure, Sir,” Link said, respectfully bowing his head.

Caius managed a weak smile. “Link, you are a good man. Kind. Selfless. Filled with endless courage and strength in the face of adversity. Hyrule needs men like you. I pray that you continue to be an inspiration to us all. And may the Goddesses themselves ensure that no one ever forgets your adventures and acts of heroism. Especially not yourself.”

Link could almost feel himself tearing up at these incredibly kind and sincere words. To think that they were coming from a King’s own mouth. To think that these would be some of the final words the monarch ever spoke. It was a gift that was far too good for the likes of him, but he knew that he must accept them all the same.

“Thank you, King Caius,” Link replied with another bow. “I shall take your words to heart and never forget them.”

The dying man smiled once more before pulling Link closer. He then looked straight into the Hero’s eyes with a surprising fierceness. For a moment, his familiar sapphire gaze was completely unclouded.

“Link, will you promise me something?”

The Hero swallowed. “Anything, Sir.”

“Please look after my daughter,” he requested with the utmost sincerity. “You’re one of her closest friends. I know that as long as she has you standing by her side, she will be safe and content.”

Link was stunned by the weight of what was being asked of him, but at the same time, he found the answer to be nothing short of simple.

“I promise. I’ll always take care of her.”

“I can ask for nothing more,” Caius replied with a small grin. “Thank you, Hero of Twilight.”

The King released him, and Link slowly rose to his feet. He stood there for a moment, not sure what to say or do. He ended up glancing around the room. He soon spotted Fost, who was dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief. He recalled that the good Minister had apparently known the monarch since birth. It seemed that the impending demise was about to be even more heartbreaking than anyone could imagine. And despite the farewells, Link doubted that anyone was prepared for it.

Caius wheezed again, his chest drastically rising and falling as he tried to inhale a deep breath. Eventually, he managed to croak again.

“Zelda…”

Link turned to find the Princess standing behind him. A single tear was currently trailing down her cheek, but she swiftly wiped it away. She then gathered her courage and produced a warm expression before taking a seat by her father’s bed. Link could only frown as he watched her. He knew that she was hiding behind a mask and bottling up her emotions.

“Yes, father?” she asked, taking his cold hand into hers once more. For the first time that day, Link noticed that she wasn’t wearing her white gloves.

Caius gazed upon her with a look that was so sincere, so compassionate, and so loving, that Link almost had to wonder if some of the color had returned to his cheeks. He soon reached up with his free hand, gently cupping her face in his touch.

“Zelda, my dear daughter,” he spoke softly. “You must promise to govern these lands just as our ancestors have done for generations. Keep Hyrule safe, and treat the people kindly. Be wise and fair in all judgments. Lead and serve our people with a selfless heart. Always speak as the voice of reason. And above all else, maintain a foundation built on peace and love.”

Zelda sniffled a bit, but gave him a strong, firm nod. “I shall, father.”

“Do not be afraid,” he continued. “You are capable of so much. I have seen it time and time again. You already possess so much wisdom and kindness. I know that you will make an excellent Queen.”

Link spotted it from the side. Her quivering lip. “Th-Thank you, father.”

Caius coughed before taking another deep breath. “Zelda…I am so proud of you. You are everything that your mother and I ever hoped you would be, and yet so much more. We both love you so dearly. Never forget that.”

“I…I love you too, daddy…”

Caius smiled before finally releasing her cheek. He settled back into his bed, taking another deep breath.

“I wish your mother were still with us… I’m sorry that you’ve had to make it through life without her.”

“That’s okay, father. You always took such good care of me, even in mother’s absence.”

More coughing. “I’ve…been longing to see her again.”

“I promise that you’ll be with her soon.”

“That’s very comforting, Zelda… May I ask you…for a small favor?”

“Anything, father.”

The King took another deep breath. “I feel…like I ought to rest my eyes…just for a moment. Would you be so kind…as to sing…our old family lullaby?”

Zelda remained silent and still for a moment, but she soon leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his brow. “Of course I will. Now please, close your eyes.”

Caius did as he was told, lightly inhaling as his eyelids fell shut. His breathing suddenly sounded so much softer. So much more…peaceful.

A second later, Zelda’s melodious voice rose to join his gentle breaths. She hummed a tune that felt equal parts beautiful and familiar. It was so simple, and yet so comforting. The perfect lullaby to soothe the soul.

“Hmm, hm-hmmm…hm-hm-hmm, hm-hmmm…”

Her melody continued for an entire minute. During that time, the tears flowed freely from the onlookers. Sobs and gasps escaped them. Faces fell in dismay. And eventually, the King of Hyrule breathed his last.

As Zelda’s lullaby came to a close, she slowly returned her father’s hand back to his side. And there it remained, resting for eternity.

It was here that Zelda finally broke.

She rose out of her chair, turned upon Link with an expression that he could only think to compare to shattered glass, and fell into his arms. She sobbed uncontrollably, soaking his tunic without remorse.

But Link didn’t care. He held her close as she clung to him, hoping to provide as much warmth and comfort as he was able to give. He patted her back and ran his fingers through her hair, all while she continued to mourn the greatest loss she had ever suffered.

It would be a long time before he eventually let her go.

Notes:

RIP to Caius Vesperi Hyrule. One of my favorite OCs, and a character who was always so fun and wholesome to write. I shall miss him dearly. It’s sad to say this, but I always intended for him to die. I wanted him to be loving and caring presence in Zelda’s life and he has fulfilled that purpose wonderfully. But now it is time for him to move on and rest in peace, and in time, hopefully the characters who mourn him will move on as well :)

I tried my best to show it, but in case you couldn’t tell, the song that Zelda sings is supposed to be Zelda’s Lullaby from OOT. I like to think it was passed down through all the generations in the Legend of Zelda series, so every member of the Royal Family has some familiarity with it. It’s just wholesome to think about :)

As always, thanks for reading, everyone.

Chapter 71: Grieving

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 71 – Grieving

The following weeks were some of the most somber that Link had ever experienced. The news of King Caius’s passing spread quickly throughout the land, and it wasn’t long before the entirety of Hyrule entered a state of prolonged mourning. Many agreed that Caius had been a good man. Wise. Responsible. Personable. A King who served his people well. It was incredibly tragic to hear that he had died long before reaching his twilight years. And to think that he had been poisoned by an enemy and suffered under its effects for so long? The people lamented his passing all the more.

Many visitors flooded Castle Town on the day of the funeral. Travelers from Hyrule’s various towns. Dignitaries from foreign nations. All gathered in the streets to watch as the monarch’s open casket was ferried through. Everyone had one last chance to view their mighty King before he would be buried in the castle’s private graveyard. For most, this would be their final opportunity to pay their respects.

Among the crowds were many familiar faces. Ralis bowed low for the fallen leader. Kanora appeared surprisingly distraught. Telma openly wept, although nobody bellowed as loudly as Darbus did.

Naturally, Link was in attendance as well, as was Ilia and many other Ordonians who had been willing to make the journey. The Hero silently admired the coffin from afar, taking one final, longing look at a man who had always treated him with kindness. He was truly sad to see him go, and he had a feeling that the castle wouldn’t be the same without him. The entire Kingdom would likely feel different too.

As the casket passed, Link’s attention fell on the next individual in the proceeding. Princess Zelda, donned in a dark dress and veil, slowly trailed behind her father. She walked alone—the only thing to comfort her was a single white flower in her clasped hands. She kept her gaze low, focused on the stone path. It was hard to see her expression behind her veil, but Link didn’t need to in order to know how she was feeling.

Zelda was heartbroken.

It came as no surprise. Caius had been her sole remaining family member. A loving father. A cheerful presence. A wise advisor. Knowing that he would never speak to her again. Never laugh or smile or hug her again. Link knew that had to be devastating.

And it made his heart break too.

A hand soon found its way into his. He glanced over to find Ilia softly smiling at him. He could tell that she was trying to be encouraging. Trying to cheer him up. He sadly smiled back, squeezing her hand in an attempt to find comfort there, but it ended up proving difficult. The Hero couldn’t focus on his own peace of mind. Not when Zelda still appeared so sad and lonely.

He wondered…who was there to comfort her during these moments of intense grief?

In the days leading up to the funeral, Link had tried to be there for her, but it hadn’t been easy. So many plans went into effect after the King’s passing and Zelda was naturally swept up in all of them. She had to prepare for the funeral as well as her now urgent coronation, in addition to handling all of the paperwork and duties that normally fell to the Princess on any given week. Because of this, the matriarch had made herself incredibly scarce, with Link only catching brief glimpses of her around the halls or courtyards. But she was almost always with someone, and she was certainly always busy.

Fortunately, Link was clever enough to know where he could find her alone. In the evenings, he would sneak up to that familiar balcony that she liked to frequent during times of distress. And it was here that he finally managed to check up on her and make sure that she was doing okay.

However, Zelda made accomplishing such a thing very difficult. Whenever she greeted Link, she always did so with a warm smile, and she always insisted that she was getting along just fine, no matter how much he questioned otherwise. She admitted to still feeling a little sad, of course, but she appreciated being distracted by all of the work that had fallen into her lap. The constant productivity and usefulness to her Kingdom had easily kept her going strong. She was tough as nails, that Princess.

Or at least, that’s what she wanted him to believe.

Link felt like he witnessed a different story. Despite her warm smile, he thought that she always looked so pitiful. As if she were still hiding her emotions. As if she were barely holding herself together.

The Hero wanted to inquire further. To question her. To comfort her. To hug her again if that’s what she needed. But in all of their encounters, the Princess would simply excuse herself long before he even had the chance. It always felt so abrupt and forced too, as if she was running away.

To where and for what purpose…he wished that he knew.

 

---

 

The day following the funeral was Zelda’s coronation. Since so many outsiders had already made the journey to Castle Town, it was only practical to induct the new Queen while they were still in attendance. And so, the crowds gathered once more in Castle Town’s square, where many watched with bated breath as the young Princess Zelda stepped forward.

Today, she donned a magnificent dress of white and gold. Jewels that bore the colors of the three Goddesses. Her expression was nothing but regal. Resolute. Poised. She was the image of beauty itself.

And yet, Link couldn’t help but sense the sadness that lingered within her sapphire orbs. He knew that she wasn’t doing okay. How could she be? Her father had just departed from this world for good and now she had to inherit his crown and carry the entire weight of a Kingdom on her shoulders too? This was hardly a cause for celebration.

It seemed that many agreed with the Hero’s sentiments. All he had to do was glance at their crestfallen expressions to know that they were still lost in their grief. It certainly didn’t help that the sky was a sea of gray clouds, as if the heavens themselves were in mourning.

But Zelda remained strong. She was a golden ray of light in an otherwise dismal setting. A holy priest led her through the ancient rites of passage required for Queenship, and she repeated them clearly and dutifully. By the end, she bowed and a crown was placed upon her head.

Zelda was a Princess no longer. She was now the Queen of all Hyrule.

Despite their reservations, the crowds managed to produce a satisfactory applause. They all bowed as Zelda rose to stand before them. She gave a quick speech talking about how she would do everything in her power to serve Hyrule as a fair and just Queen, and that she was eternally grateful for all of their support. She graciously invited everyone to partake in a small celebration that would be held in Castle Town, with plenty of food and wine and fun. As her speech came to a close, she then pardoned herself before departing for her castle.

Link merely watched in disbelief as she vanished behind the stone walls, not even bothering to partake in a celebration that was being thrown in her honor. Once again, it seemed she was running away, and for the first time, he felt like he understood why. She wasn’t fleeing from her people, or her duties, or her title or him or the comfort he wished to provide.

She was fleeing from her grief.

And knowing this…killed him.

“Link?” a voice called from his side. The Hero turned to find Ilia gazing at him with soft eyes.

Despite the turmoil that was in his heart, he managed to smile. “Yeah?”

“A few of the villagers are planning to head back to Ordon,” she said, gesturing to where Rusl and the others were congregated. “I think I’m planning to go with them. I’d like to get back and check up on father as soon as possible. What about you? Are you coming with us, or were you planning to stay for the celebration?”

If Link was being honest, he really couldn’t care less about the celebration. Nevertheless, he still felt like he had every reason to stay. “I’m not leaving yet. And I probably won’t be back for a few days either. What with the King’s passing and Zelda’s coronation, I feel like…like I might be needed around here.”

Ilia gave him a hard, almost disappointed look. Her lips pursed together, as if she were biting back words she wished to express. However, her features soon softened, and she released a sigh.

“All right,” she relented. “If you’re needed, then you’d best do your duty, and do it well.”

“You’re okay with it?” he asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yes. It’s a time of great change for our Kingdom, so I understand…” She then paused, before grabbing his arm and looking straight into his eyes. “Please, just remember to come home safely. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Link couldn’t help but crack a smile. “I won’t be doing anything dangerous, you know.”

She smirked back, appearing a little playful for the first time in recent memory. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell with you.”

He simply shook his head. “I’ll see you later,” he said, leaning close to kiss her.

“Yeah, see you later.”

 

---

 

From that day forward, Link made it his personal mission to find Zelda and support her. Truth be told, he did not care much for the politics or shifting of duties that came with the Queen’s coronation, despite what Ilia might have believed. No, the sole reason he chose to stay behind, was because he could sense that Zelda genuinely needed him. She needed a friend.

Besides, the Hero had promised the late King Caius that he would always look after Zelda, and this was a promise that would never be broken.

As expected, it was difficult. Zelda had apparently made herself more elusive than ever. She stopped making appearances in the garden. She dined privately. She locked herself in her study for hours on end and requested not to be disturbed. Even when Link visited her favorite balcony which overlooked Castle Town, she was nowhere to be seen. The Hero bit his lip while his heart sank. If he didn’t know any better, he’d believe that Zelda was cutting herself off from everyone she knew. And after struggling through such a harsh winter in Ordon, Link knew best how dangerous and unhealthy that could be.

He needed to find her…but how?

Fortunately, Link was nothing if not resourceful, and he quickly set to work. Throughout his time at the castle, he had gotten quite good at sneaking around the halls, and he had gotten even better at playing the “rumor game”. That is to say, he had learned to pick up on gossip, even if it was never meant for his ears. He overheard servants around corners. Chefs in the kitchen. Soldiers at their posts. When accessed properly, it turned out that the castle was a wealth of information.

Needless to say, most of their talk was the usual drivel. Mentions of who started seeing who and the latest fashion in Castle Town and a (particularly false) rumor about how Gorons slept with their eyes open. Link could only roll his eyes in response. Did the staff in this castle ever discuss anything useful?

As a matter of fact, they did. You just had to find the right people, and Link did exactly that one day when he stumbled upon two maids, whispering as they folded laundry.

“Her Majesty seems to be settling into her new role quite nicely,” said one.

“Hmm, I’m not so sure about that,” said the other. “Personally, I think she’s struggling.”

Link stiffened as he neared the doorway he was hiding around. He strained his ears, making sure to catch every word. This is the type of gossip he had been waiting for, and who better to receive it from than someone who interacted with Zelda on a daily basis?

“Struggling?” the first continued, unaware of the Hero’s hidden presence. “What do you mean? Our new Queen has been handling all of the work that’s been forced upon her without missing a beat. And even in the absence of His Majesty, Goddesses rest his soul.”

“Well of course she’s handling all of the work!” the second scoffed. “You’ve never known Her Majesty to be irresponsible, have you?”

“Then what’s the issue?”

“It’s the other thing you’ve just pointed out. The death of her dear father. I know it’s still hitting her hard.”

“Sure it is. His Majesty meant the world to her. It’s only natural that she’d be a little heartbroken. But she seems to be getting by just fine in spite of that, wouldn’t you say? Our Queen always stays strong and keeps her head held high.”

“Ah, but you’re mistaken there. Her Majesty is strong, of course, but she’s still just a young girl. And a surprisingly vulnerable one at that.”

Link felt himself tense up. He imagined the first maid did the same.

“What do you mean?”

“The poor girl has been putting on a brave face,” the second revealed with a sad shake of her head. “She’s only pretending to be composed for the sake of meeting expectations. Inside, she’s still torn up about His Majesty’s passing.”

“Hmph,” the first maid grunted. “And how would you know that? It sounds like you’re just spinning yarns.”

“Not at all!” the second exclaimed. “I’ve heard it, every night, when I visit the royal chambers to deliver the linens.”

“Heard what?” Link leaned in closer, hoping to catch every word.

The second maid sighed. “The sound of our Queen bawling her eyes out behind locked doors.”

The first maid gasped. “What? No.”

“It’s true, although I wish it weren’t. I can hear the poor girl weeping when she thinks no one else is around. It’s probably the only time she ever allows herself to be vulnerable.”

“That’s just awful! The poor dear… Oh, I wish there was something we could do for her.”

“I can’t imagine there is,” the second lamented. “She just needs time to process her grief and move on. She’s strong and she’ll get through this eventually. In the meantime, let’s do our best to make life easier for her. She’s still getting used to her new role as Queen and I’m sure the last thing she needs is any stains on her dress.”

“Aye, well said.”

As the conversation came to a close, Link snuck away from the door, his benefactors none the wiser. He felt like he had a lot to process. First off, his fears had been confirmed. Despite all of her efforts, it was clear that Zelda was still completely torn up over the loss of her father. The Hero knew that her grief had to be especially terrible if even the maids were picking up on it. So much for seclusion and bottled-up emotions.

On the bright side, Link now knew exactly where he could find her, and reaching her would be nothing short of simple. All he had to do was display a bit of his resourcefulness once more.

 

---

 

It was evening. The sun was finally willing to set on another tumultuous day—a signal that the Queen was free to set her quill down and finally give her eyes a well-deserved rest away from parchment. She promptly rose from her seat and exited her study. She then dismissed the staff on hand, insisting that she would retire early for tonight. When questioned about dinner, she brushed them off, claiming that she would sneak something from the kitchen and dine in her bedchamber.

Her maids turned to each other and exchanged looks of doubt, but they soon bowed and took their leave. They knew better than to disobey a Queen’s orders.

Yes, a Queen. That is what she had become. It still didn’t feel real. In many ways, the transition was seamless. Her father had been confined in the infirmary for such an extensive amount of time, that Zelda had long since taken over most of his obligations for him. Managing the Kingdom was now as simple as ever.

Now if only everything else could come easy to her…

Feeling her heart lurch, Zelda took her leave, whisking herself away to her bedchamber. There she slammed her door shut and locked it behind her. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself. Trying not to let her emotions run loose. Trying her best not to drown in her grief.

But it was difficult.

Caius was gone. As was his warmth. And his grin. And his love for her. And without these things, the world seemed so much colder. So much darker. So much lonelier.

A few tears threatened to escape Zelda’s eyes. She frowned as she took a seat on her furniture. “No,” she told herself adamantly. “Not again. I’m stronger than this. I am…”

But the tears didn’t stop. Memories continued to resurface. Her childhood spent playing silly games with her parents. The way she and her father comforted each other during times of sadness. All the instances where he had ever given her wonderful and sagely advice.

But she could never go to him for advice again. Now, the only words left of him were the ones she had committed to memory. And for a young woman who was still trying to make her way in the world, it certainly wasn’t enough.

Her brief time with him would never be enough.

The first tear broke free of her spherical prisons, tumbling down her cheek. She sniffed loudly, trying to control herself. Trying to put an end to this silly and irrational behavior. She was a Queen now, and Queens were meant to be pillars of strength! They did not simply crumble over the loss of one life!

But she supposed that ordinary people did. And she was still human, after all. Sometimes she found it sad that she even had to remind herself of such things.

Tap, tap.

Zelda gasped, sitting up straight at the unexpected noise. She soon glanced over to her window, only to find a familiar shape perched outside. Green tunic. Blue eyes. Warm grin. Link lightly tapped on her window once more.

She grabbed a handkerchief and hastily wiped her tears away. She had not been expecting this sudden company at all, but now that he was here, she certainly didn’t want to reveal that she had been crying. No, she just needed to bottle everything up, as she always did.

Finally feeling composed enough, Zelda moved to greet the Hero. She undid the latch on the window before pulling it open. She then welcomed her friend with a warm smile.

“Hello, Link.”

He simply grinned some more. “Good evening, Your Majesty.”

Zelda blinked, a bit surprised by such formality. She wondered, was he toying with her, or was he being genuine? “Link, I thought you understood that there is no need for titles between us. Even if I am a crowned Queen now.”

He laughed and shook his head. “I just thought that you would appreciate such sentiments from a stranger, seeing as how we barely see each other these days.”

Zelda quickly frowned. Ah, so he was toying with her. “And this is how you greet strangers?” she challenged him. “Sneaking into their bedchambers through their windows?”

“No, this is how I rescue people,” he clarified. “I’m pretty sure that I’ve gone over this before.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, I suppose you have. In that case, won’t you come in?”

“Gladly.”

Zelda stepped back and Link entered the room, planting his boots firmly on the floor before closing the window behind him. They then turned and stared at each other for a moment as an awkward silence seemed to settle in.

“Um, you’ll have to forgive me,” Zelda said bashfully. “I regret not being able to see you or meet with you during the past week. I’ve just been so terribly busy.”

Link nodded a bit. “Too busy to see me? I understand.”

Zelda nearly gawked. “What? No, of course not! It’s just…it’s been so difficult, trying to juggle everything.”

Link gave her a sad smile. “Relax, Zelda, I’m only messing with you.”

She blinked. “You are?”

“Of course. Has becoming a Queen made you so rigid? What happened to that playful Princess who always loved to tease me?”

Zelda couldn’t help but smile a bit at his gall. “She’s still here. She’s just grown up a little bit.”

“Well good,” Link replied with a smirk. “The world would be a lot less fun without her.”

Zelda sighed before shaking her head. For some reason, his playful demeanor was contagious. She soon took a seat and gestured for him to do the same. “Would you care to sit?”

He shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t have time to sit. I came here to rescue you, after all.”

The Queen furrowed her brow, growing curious. “That’s the second time you’ve mentioned that. At first, I thought that this was your pitiful attempt at being facetious, but now I’m questioning what exactly you’re implying.”

“Spoken like a true Queen,” Link said, awkwardly rubbing the side of his head. Some of the words she used were a little too big for his liking. Nevertheless, he produced another bright smile. “I mean exactly what I say. I’m here to rescue you, Zelda. And this isn’t like the last time either. Instead of going to the library, I promise to take you somewhere fun.”

Zelda gave him a long, hard stare while her lips curled upwards, almost as if she was amused with him. “Well,” she said awkwardly, “I must say, this is rather unexpected, and I have many questions.”

“Shoot,” he dared her.

She shrugged, feeling content to entertain his game. “What exactly are you rescuing me from?”

“Your loneliness,” he replied, without missing a beat. Zelda, on the other hand, nearly felt all of the color drain from her face.

“I…I beg your pardon? What makes you think that I am suffering from such a thing?”

This time, he raised his brow. “I feel like that should be obvious.”

“Then go on,” she insisted. “Explain it to me.”

Link merely sighed. Despite becoming a Queen, it seemed that Zelda had managed to retain her stubbornness. “Locking yourself in your study. Locking yourself in your room. Never taking visitors. Never visiting the dining hall, or the courtyard, or the balcony you love so much. And never seeing me, unless I go out of my way to barge in through your window.”

Zelda opened her mouth, prepared to argue, but her mind went blank. She honestly didn’t know what to say. Link had actually managed to put together a fairly good case against her, and his observations were entirely accurate. She soon sighed.

“Very well. I will admit that I have been feeling a little…isolated these last few days.”

“That’s an understatement,” he agreed as he crossed his arms.

“However,” she continued, “who's to say that I have suffered in my solitude? Have you ever considered that I simply find the peace and quiet to be relaxing?”

“I don’t doubt that,” he replied with a frown. He soon sighed as well. “It’s just that…I can’t help but worry about you, Zelda. It’s sad to see you isolate yourself like that when you’re still dealing with such a heavy loss.”

“I see,” Zelda mumbled, her throat suddenly clenching up. She was stunned at how accurately Link had her pinned. It was as if he could read her like a book. He knew exactly what she was doing, and he knew exactly how much she was suffering. He could see the things that Zelda didn’t even want to admit to herself.

He truly was her dearest friend.

“And so you felt the need to rescue me?” she asked quietly.

He smiled. “Rescue you. Cheer you up. Give you a shoulder to cry on. Whatever you needed, really.”

She shook her head. “There shall be no tears tonight.” No more, at least, she thought to herself. “But that is very sweet of you to offer.”

“Of course,” he answered, appearing a little bashful. “I just want to make sure that you’re okay.”

She smiled back, feeling equally sheepish. “Back to my questions then. You mentioned that you had something fun planned. Where exactly were you planning to whisk me away to?”

“Well, it’s nothing too special,” he admitted. “I was just thinking that it might be nice if we took a trip to Castle Town tonight. Just get away from these stone walls and have some fun in the streets for a change. I mean, only if you’re up for it, of course.”

“So, a night out, then?” she asked, thinking it over. “With you?”

“If you’ll have me,” he offered humbly.

“Of course, Link. I’m always happy to share your company. It’s just…” her voice trailed off, her expression turning uncertain.

“I don’t want to force you,” Link insisted. “I just really want to be there for you if you need me. And…if there’s anything I can do for you during these difficult times, just say the word and I’ll do it in a heartbeat.”

Zelda’s eyes went wide as she started to blush a bit. She could hardly believe the sincerity of his words. “Again, that is very kind of you to say. You, um…think about me a lot, do you?”

Link ended up blushing a little as well. “Is that really so surprising?”

“No, I suppose not,” she admitted. She soon found a way to transfer the warmth from her cheeks to her smile. “You truly are such a good friend to me. Thank you, Link.”

Silence fell between them once more. Both seemed to be mulling over their thoughts. Either that, or they were too afraid to speak. Nevertheless, Link eventually found the courage.

“Look, if you don’t want to go, then don’t feel like you have to-”

“Oh, no,” she quickly cut him off. “I think that you’re right, actually. Some fresh air and an evening away from the castle might do me some good. And besides, I do feel a little guilty for avoiding you these last few days.”

Link blinked before raising his brow. “Er…so you were avoiding me?”

Zelda froze in response, catching her words and feeling incredibly foolish. “Oh, no! I didn’t mean to say avoiding. I meant more…more like eluding you. Unintentionally, of course.”

“Right…” Link agreed, somehow raising his brow even higher. “Well, anyway, if you’re truly up for it, then we should hurry up and get going. The city awaits.”

“So it does,” she agreed with a smile. She soon rose to her feet and moved to unlock her door. Once it was open, she graciously gestured out into the hall. “Why don’t you go ahead and wait out here? I’ll join you in a moment.”

Link eyed her for a second, suddenly appearing skeptical. “Wait, this isn’t a trick to get me to leave, is it? You’re not just going to lock the door behind me, are you?”

Zelda produced a soft, compassionate smile. “Now what makes you think that I would do a thing like that?”

“Well, for starters, you once said that rescues that result in the Hero casually exiting through the door were hardly interesting,” he pointed out. “Or fitting or daring or brave or something along those lines.”

Zelda giggled. It was the first time she had laughed that night. Perhaps the first time she had laughed in weeks even. And this simple melody was enough to make Link’s heart flutter in his chest.

“While that is a standard I hold for heroic rescues, that is not a standard I hold for my closest friends who are simply looking out for me,” she answered with perhaps the brightest smile he had ever witnessed.

“Oh…” he mumbled, suddenly feeling a little starstruck. “Lucky me, I guess, ha ha.”

“Indeed,” Zelda said with a nod. She then gestured to the open doorway once more, appearing a little impatient. “Plus, if you would be so kind, I would like to get changed before we depart.”

Link stood there for a moment before his cheeks slowly turned red. Oh… He hadn’t realized that his presence was preventing her from disrobing in privacy. He suddenly felt very out of place in her bedchamber at this hour.

“Um…yeah, on second thought, the door sounds lovely.”

Notes:

Hmm…a possible date night incoming, perhaps? Ah, no, what am I saying. They’re just friends, they’re just friends…

Or are they? ;)

Chapter 72: Fortune

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 72 – Fortune

When Zelda finally exited from her room, Link was surprised to see that she now donned her dark cloak, the one that covered her from head to toe. She even had her hood up, obscuring her entire face save her nose and mouth. The Hero could only shake his head.

“Could you have chosen anything gloomier?”

Zelda pursed her lips. “Keeping my identity a secret is important to me. I don’t exactly want the attention that comes along with being Queen tonight.” She paused before smirking a bit. “And relax, would you? This is only for the sake of sneaking out of the castle. Once we’re outside, the hood will come down.”

Link couldn’t help but laugh. The Queen of Hyrule, still somber and lost in her grief, was telling him to relax? He suddenly realized that he was likely in for a very surprising evening. And perhaps a very fun one too.

“Come on,” he encouraged her. “The night isn’t getting any younger.”

She nodded her agreement and fell in line next to him. Link then led the way, sneaking through the castle corridors and courtyards to ensure that no guards would spot them or question the Queen’s disguise. Fortunately, their escape went off without a hitch, and the next thing they knew, they stood at the gates of Castle Town.

“Oh my,” Zelda murmured as they entered the town square. Sitting before them was the magnificent fountain, its waters bathed in the soft glow of surrounding torchlight, all of which rested under a beautiful canvas of stars. “Sometimes I forget just how breathtaking this simple sight can be.”

“It sure is pretty, isn’t it?” Link agreed.

“It’s enough to set my heart at ease. If only for a moment.”

Link laughed. “If you’re truly at peace, then how about dropping the hood? We’re outside of the castle now, aren’t we?”

She smirked. “Yes, you are correct.” She paused, reaching up to pull her hood all the way back. She then rearranged the positioning of her cloak, letting it rest further back on her shoulders so the front opened up. She was now much more visible.

And Link was stunned at what he witnessed.

He had never seen Zelda looking like this. So unexpected. So…casual. Her hair was free of any crown or decor, save for a single red ribbon which tied it into a loose ponytail. She wore no earrings. No necklaces or rings or jewelry of any sort. Gone were her white gloves and exposed were her bare forearms and fingers. And her dress was about as simple as it could possibly be. Light green in color, loosely fitting to her figure, and only falling to her ankles where her brown boots were exposed.

Link was beyond impressed. He was certain that no one would discover the Queen’s identity. All they would see was a beautiful, innocent young woman strolling the streets at night. That’s certainly all that he saw…

“Um, Link?” Zelda called to him.

“Yeah?”

“You’re staring.”

“Oh,” he mumbled. He quickly averted his eyes, and upon realizing that his mouth was agape, forced it closed. Such actions did not stop his cheeks from turning red though. “F-Forgive me,” he stammered. “I’ve just…never seen you like this before.”

She smiled softly, appearing a little bashful herself. “It’s not a disguise I don often, but it is comfortable, and it tends to get the job done.”

“I think it looks good,” Link managed to choke out. He then averted his gaze again as he began to blush some more, followed quickly by a silent curse. What was wrong with him? Why did he suddenly feel so nervous in front of Zelda? And this wasn’t the first time, either. He had actually been experiencing this awkward feeling for weeks now. Ever since that day in winter when she had ridden to Ordon’s rescue…

The Hero shook his head, suppressing such thoughts and emotions. He figured those troublesome feelings would best be explored at another time, when he had a clear head and a tranquil heart. Besides, he was supposed to be focused on comforting Zelda right now, not himself!

“So,” he began casually, glancing around the square, “the town is completely ours tonight. Is there anywhere you’d like to visit?”

Zelda sadly smiled as she glanced around too. “I’m afraid I don’t have anything in mind. I used to frequent this town more when I was younger, but I’m afraid that my duties don’t allow me such luxuries these days. At this point, you probably know the streets better than I do.”

“Perhaps,” Link agreed with a shrug.

“In that case, you should be the one choosing our destinations,” Zelda encouraged him. “After all, you planned this evening in advance, didn’t you?”

“Fair enough,” Link agreed with a laugh. “In that case, how about we go and get dinner first? I’m guessing you haven’t eaten tonight?”

Zelda furrowed her brow, her expression growing curious. “And why would you assume such a thing?”

Link gave her a doubtful look. “I feel like that should be pretty obvious, Zelda. You’ve clearly been skipping meals.”

She gawked, quickly turning away in shame. “H-How can you tell?”

“Because I’ve been there myself, silly,” Link said with a laugh. “It wasn’t that long ago that we were all starving in Ordon, you know.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her gaze falling to the cobblestone beneath them. “It’s just that lately, my appetite has been…”

“A low priority?” Link supplied.

She nodded shamefully. “I suppose I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

Link laughed again before shaking his head. “No, but you shouldn't have to. If we’re truly friends, then it’s okay to be open with me, you know?”

Zelda felt her remorse dissipate as she raised her eyes to greet Link’s warm smile. As always, he was being far too kind to her, and she truly appreciated him. “Thank you, Link. You’re always so sweet.”

“Anything for you,” he said with a grin. “Now, where would you like to eat? For starters, I know a friendly barmaid who is always happy to serve a warm meal.”

Zelda smiled back before politely declining. “I’d rather not go to Telma’s. That place is always so rowdy, and I’m certain that she’ll give away my identity at first glance.”

“Ah, probably true,” Link agreed as a sweat drop slid down his forehead. “In that case, how about we visit the Castle Town Cafe? It’s just off to the side over there, and many people frequent it, so no one will pay us any mind.”

“That sounds lovely,” she replied.

“Then come along, My Lady,” he offered.

She smiled some more, delighted with the simple fact that Link had remembered her preferred disguise title from so long ago. He truly was a thoughtful man.

 

---

 

The two of them enjoyed a quiet, peaceful dinner at the cafe. The meal itself was meager, only consisting of some broth and a loaf of bread, but Zelda didn’t mind in the slightest. She still claimed to not have much of an appetite, so the humble dinner was more than enough to satisfy her.

When the bill finally came around, Link offered to cover it, and naturally, Zelda was quick to protest.

“Link, that is completely unnecessary—”

“I insist, My Lady,” he interrupted with a stern shake of his head.

“But I have plenty of—”

“Do I need to remind you of how many free meals I’ve been treated to in your home?” he asked with a roll of his eyes. “Or how you literally saved my entire village from starvation? Please, let me cover this one.”

Zelda felt conflicted, but soon relented. “Very well. Thank you, Link.”

“Of course,” he answered with an ever-bright smile.

From there, the two of them wandered the streets, content to enjoy the cool night air and quiet atmosphere of the town. They passed by children who played fetch with a dog, a young couple who held hands, and two buddies who stumbled drunkenly, arm-in-arm all while singing old folk songs (which only made Link and Zelda laugh as they passed). The young Queen appreciated the unexpected sights and the sounds and found it to be a nice change of pace from all the dignified company within the castle.

At one point, they turned down a street where a man in a silly outfit (complete with a green pointed hood) was cheerfully calling for everyone’s attention. “Come one, come all, and attempt your hand at the STAR Game! Collect all of the light orbs within the time limit and you’ll win big prizes! Only ten rupees are required to play!”

Zelda raised her brow at this, quickly growing curious. She had heard mention of this “STAR Game” before, although she had never actually frequented this grand tent where it was located. Link, on the other hand, simply chuckled.

“The STAR Game, huh? That brings back memories.”

“You are familiar with it?” Zelda inquired.

The Hero nodded. “Yeah, I visited here a few times during my journey. It was pretty fun, and I managed to win a bigger quiver for my arrows.”

“What does the game entail?”

“It’s simple. You get placed in an arena and have to collect a bunch of scattered light orbs. Do it fast enough and you win.”

“That sounds rather fun indeed.”

“Would you like to try?” Link asked, his face lighting up.

She shook her head. “No, I don’t think I’d like to draw such attention to myself.” She paused before softly smiling. “However, I wouldn’t mind watching you attempt it.”

“Oh yeah?”

“If you feel up for it.”

“Say no more, My Lady,” Link replied with a grin. “Your wish is my command.”

The Hero dashed forward, and Zelda simply smiled before following behind. However, upon noticing the approaching patrons, the game-runner’s expression quickly soured.

“You!” he seethed, pointing an accusatory finger at Link, who immediately stopped in his tracks. “Not you again!”

Link blinked at the sudden change in tone, but soon grinned. “Good evening, Purlo.”

“Good evening my foot!” the man known as Purlo spat back. “I don’t welcome cheaters here!”

“Cheaters?” Zelda asked, stepping forward.

“Exactly! Don’t be fooled by this young delinquent! He always uses some dreadful contraption to cheat his way through my games!”

Zelda turned to Link, who merely laughed. “You mean my clawshots?” He soon reached into his bag and pulled said item out.

Purlo looked as if he had seen a ghost. He soon backed away, all while continuing to point. “Yes, that’s the dreaded device. Using it to swing all around my arena and collect the light orbs. It’s entirely against the rules!”

Link scowled at this. “You never said it was against the rules. And besides, how do you expect me to compete without it? Trying to collect all of the light orbs normally is impossible—”

“AH!” Purlo shouted, cutting the Hero off. He turned to the bystanders which had slowly started to glance in their direction. “It is not impossible! Not at all! The STAR Game is completely fair and completely fun! And it is for that reason that I shall not allow cheaters to make a mockery of my business.”

“Those are quite the accusations,” Zelda noted from beside Link. “How can you expect your business to be treated fairly if you don’t extend the same kindness to your patrons?”

Purlo scowled, turning to Zelda with unkind eyes. “And what would you know of business, young lady? I think I’ll run my establishment however I please, thank you very much.”

Zelda mirrored his glare with one of her own. She very much did not enjoy being talked down to. “I happen to know a fair amount about business. I at least know enough to spot a scam when I see one.”

Purlo expressed pure terror once more. “Why, such nerve! I’ll have you know that this is a perfectly respectable establishment!”

“I wonder what the Hyrule Council would have to say about that. Perhaps an inspection is in order? We wouldn’t want corrupt businesses overrunning our lovely streets here in Castle Town, now would we?”

“The Hyrule Council!” Purlo scoffed. “And how exactly would you go about contacting them, young lady?” The game-runner then paused, his expression growing curious. “Wait a moment. You look rather familiar. Have we met before?”

This time, Zelda was the one who felt all of the color drain from her face. She froze stiff, only just now realizing that she might have taken things too far, especially considering that she was not supposed to be “Queen Zelda” in this moment. She averted her gaze, only to be even more mortified by the fact that the bystanders were all looking at her with equally curious expressions. Zelda gulped and struggled to find her voice.

“I, um…”

Fortunately, Link was quick to notice her predicament, and immediately came to her rescue. “Let’s move on, My Lady. There’s no point in wasting our time on a scam anyway.”

Purlo’s face twisted with rage. “It is not a scam!” he insisted desperately.

But Zelda had no intention of arguing further. The next thing she knew, Link had secured her arm in his grasp and was escorting her down the street. She happily followed along, thankful to leave her mistake and the crowds behind her.

Once they were out of range of Purlo loudly calling for patrons, Link finally released Zelda’s arm and she relaxed. “Thank you, Link. I was forgetting my place there for a moment.”

“No worries,” Link said with a laugh. “I figured that you would regret causing a scene there. Although I would have given anything to see Purlo swallow his words once he realized who he was talking to.”

Zelda smirked, amused with such a thought. “Perhaps I’ll have to visit again when I’m wearing my more regal persona. I might just be able to scare him into running an honest business.”

“Either that, or he’ll see it as an opportunity to extort royalty.”

Zelda snorted and shook her head. She made a mental note to put that scammer in his place later. Truth be told, she had not been joking in the slightest about mentioning his business practices to the Hyrule Council. There would be no unfair contests being run in her town if she had anything to say about it!

“Well, where to next?” Link asked, continuing his stroll down the lane.

“Somewhere quiet would be nice,” Zelda suggested. “Especially after all of that commotion.”

Link grinned. “I think I know a place. Come on.”

Without missing a beat, the Hero led her down a side-street before arriving at an inconspicuous building. Outside sat a small sign painted with grand letters that read "The Fortune-Telling Mansion, Fanadi’s Palace". Zelda flashed an inquisitive glance at the Hero.

“Fortune-telling?”

“Yeah. You ever tried it?”

Zelda shook her head. “I’m afraid not. And if I’m being honest, my instincts are telling me that this might be a bigger scam than the STAR Game.”

Link chuckled and shook his head. “No, this is the real deal. I’ve gone to Fanadi for a few predictions before and she’s always been one hundred percent accurate. And besides, the place is usually empty, so it’s a good spot to lay low.”

“Well, I can’t deny that I’m curious,” Zelda admitted with a smile. “The future does feel like an absolute mystery to me at the moment.”

“So, what do you say?” Link asked, walking towards the door. “Care to have your fortune read?”

She nodded before following behind him. “Very well. But only if you agree to have your fortune read too.”

“Fine, but you’ll go first,” he teased.

With the agreement settled upon, Link opened the door and ushered Zelda inside. What she found waiting for her could hardly be described as a “palace”, although it was impressively decorated. Large curtains of cobalt and violet hung from the ceiling. Sitting before them was a round table covered in a similarly patterned tablecloth. Upon it rested a large clear orb which contained a shining light within. The atmosphere felt very fantastical. It was certainly fitting for a fortune teller.

Beyond that, Zelda’s eyes soon fell upon the room’s sole occupant. A middle-aged woman who was decorated in only the most lavish of jewelry. Big, bright earrings. Pearls that made up her necklace and hair accessory. Three shiny rings on each hand. She honestly complemented the mystique that the rest of her room provided. Upon noticing the two guests, her face immediately lit up with a smirk.

“Ah, a new patron! Welcome darling.”

“Thank you,” Zelda answered with a polite nod.

“Ah, and the Hero of Twilight, making a return! It’s always a pleasure to see you.”

“Likewise, Madame,” Link greeted her with a smile.

“Who is this companion of yours, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“She’s a close friend of mine who would prefer to keep her identity a secret. I assume that won’t be any trouble?”

The woman known as Fanadi graciously shook her head. “Of course not. No fortunes that I read here ever pass through that door. Keeping your identity a secret should prove to be a simple task.”

“You have my thanks,” Zelda said with another grateful nod.

Fanadi gave her a curious glance, as if she were already putting the girl’s true identity together, but she soon turned away without sharing her thoughts. “So, I take it you’re here for a reading?”

“One for each of us, if it’s not any trouble,” Link requested before handing over some rupees.

Fanadi happily accepted them. “Of course, dear. Now, who is to be first? Don’t be shy now.”

Link turned to Zelda and she smiled bashfully. She took a seat across from Fanadi so the crystal ball rested between them.

“Welcome, dearie. I’m Madame Fanadi, by the way. Is this your first time receiving a reading?”

“Yes,” Zelda admitted quietly.

“And are you possibly a little nervous?”

“Perhaps. To be honest, I’m not sure what to expect.”

Fanadi laughed. “Not to worry, dearie. The Goddesses have gifted me with the ability to see all, and they rarely steer me wrong. I guarantee that you’ll understand your future better after tonight. Now please, relax, and place a hand on top of the ball.”

Zelda nodded and placed her right hand over the orb between them. With a confident smile and closed eyes, Fanadi moved her arms around the orb, almost as if casting a spell. Before long, the light within the orb began to grow brighter.

“Ah, I see,” she mumbled. “I see…”

Zelda gave a doubtful glance back to Link, but he simply flashed an encouraging smile. Smiling herself, she faced the fortune-teller once more.

“I sense a great sadness,” Fanadi announced. “A great heaviness that lingers over your heart. You poor thing… You have recently lost someone dear to you, have you not?”

Zelda immediately frowned, her eyes growing surprised, yet sad. “Yes, I have…”

“Oh, my condolences, dear. I can tell how torn up you are. But worry not! All tragedies pass in due time. And I can tell that you are strong of heart and mind. You will not wallow in despair forever. Rather, this trial shall only make you stronger, and you’ll be all the better off because of it.”

Zelda began to smile again. Despite all of her grief, this truly was comforting to hear. She would still continue to mourn the loss of her father for some time, of course, but it helped to know that it wouldn’t last forever. That she would eventually move on, and proudly lead this Kingdom as its Queen, just as her father had always expected her to. She did not intend to let him down.

“And take heart! There is more good news to be had!” Fanadi continued. “Yes, I see a great romance in your future. Very passionate and warm. A relationship that shall bring you endless peace and happiness. Ah, but you’ll only find it if you are brave enough to seize the opportunities presented before you.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda nearly stumbled in place. She had not expected this fortune to touch upon her love life! Especially when such a thing was basically nonexistent! She soon composed herself, producing a look of doubt.

“Um, are you certain that you have the correct fortune this time? I find it hard to imagine such things in my future.”

“Of course I am certain! My visions never lie,” Fanadi declared confidently. “If you cannot imagine it, then you are simply being narrow-minded.”

Zelda frowned again, hardly amused. She certainly didn’t feel like she was being pessimistic here. If anything, she was being realistic. She hoped that Fanadi would expand a bit further on this topic, but to her dismay, the orb soon dimmed and she opened her eyes, finishing the reading.

“And there you have it,” Fanadi said simply.

“That’s it?” Zelda asked, appearing disappointed.

Fanadi merely smirked. “You wish for more?”

“If there is more to be had, then yes.”

The fortune-teller chuckled. “I’m afraid the readings are not that simple. They never are. I like to believe that the Goddesses only share with me what they believe my patrons need to hear. Thus, you have received your fortune. It is now up to you to decide what to do with it.”

Zelda pursed her lips, frowning further, but soon nodded her head. “I understand. Thank you for the words of wisdom.”

“Anytime, my dear. Now, I believe it is the Hero’s turn.”

Zelda rose from the seat, still contemplating her fortune while Link happily took her place. As instructed, he soon placed a hand on the orb, and Fanadi couldn’t help but smile.

“Ah, I forgot that you lead with the left hand. It always reveals such interesting fortunes.”

“Or maybe I’m just an interesting person?” Link suggested.

“Ha ha, that you are, dear. Now, please relax.”

Fanadi closed her eyes and went through the hand motions once more. Before long, the orb began to shine brightly. Zelda merely watched with bated breath, curious to see what kind of fortune Link would receive. Would it be similar in subject to hers, or something completely different?

“Aha,” Fanadi announced, “I can see it…”

“Yes?” Link asked, waiting for her to continue.

“A conflict, growing within you. Confusion and unrest. Uncertainty and doubt.”

The room fell silent, but Link soon chuckled. “Well, the confusion part sounds accurate. I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Fanadi smirked once more. “You will soon, Hero. You shall end up facing a very difficult choice. One that may very well tear you asunder. But once that choice is made, your heart shall be at peace, and you shall know nothing but bliss for the rest of your days…”

Again, there was silence. Link frowned a bit but soon shrugged his shoulders. “Well…that sounds ominous. But I appreciate the happy ending, at least.”

Fanadi opened her eyes as the reading came to a close. “You find this humorous?”

“Not at all,” the Hero answered with a shake of his head. “I just figure it’s better to get a negative reading with a happy ending as opposed to a positive reading with a tragic ending.”

“Very wise,” Fanadi mused. “Well, as always, the fortune is yours to do with as you please. Be careful not to squander it. And that goes for you as well, young lady.”

Zelda nearly jumped, having been lost in her thoughts and concern, but she quickly nodded her head. “Yes, Madame.”

“We’ll be careful,” Link promised.

“Wonderful,” Fanadi answered with a final smirk. “Have a pleasant evening then. Until the next reading.”

And with that, Link stood and led the way outside while Zelda thoughtlessly followed behind him. It wasn’t until they were back in the cool streets of Castle Town that she finally managed to turn to him.

“Link, your reading…”

“Yeah?” he asked innocently.

“Well, quite frankly, it sounds miserable.”

“I suppose,” he said with another shrug.

This only caused Zelda to scowl at him, not in frustration, but rather concern. “Aren’t you worried? It sounds like you’re going to have a rough time. ‘A choice that will tear you asunder’...” She paused, shivering.

Link, on the other hand, was nothing but his bright, positive, uplifting self. “I’m sure it’s nothing I can’t handle when the time comes. And besides, Fanadi promised me bliss for the rest of my days. How bad can it be when I have that to look forward to?”

Zelda could only frown, hesitant to see his point-of-view. “But still…”

“Don’t worry too much, Zelda—er, My Lady, it’s as Fanadi said. The fortunes are ours to do with as we please, and I don’t intend to let mine weigh me down.”

“Well, your optimism is appreciated, but…” Zelda sighed. “I hope that you aren’t ignoring a serious warning. I want to know you’ll be okay, regardless of what the future holds.”

Link scoffed. “Have you ever known me to not be okay?”

“Many times, yes,” Zelda deadpanned. “Getting stabbed in the Arbiter’s Grounds. Pummeled by Darbus in sumo. Starving in Ordon.”

Link produced a guilty expression and chuckled awkwardly. “I, uh…didn’t realize that you were keeping count.”

“Someone has to,” Zelda insisted sternly. She then sighed, dropping her hardy expression for a softer one. “Just promise me that you’ll be careful, okay? Whatever may come?”

Link turned to her, eyes and smile completely sincere. “I promise.”

Notes:

Zelda: (casually) This is a lovely first date, by the way.

Link: (starts choking on food) This is a what!?

Chapter 73: Confession

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 73 – Confession

On the night went. Link and Zelda continued to peruse the endless streets of Castle Town at their leisure. They visited some of the market stands that were still open but refrained from making any purchases. They also passed by Telma’s bar, only stopping long enough to confirm that it was indeed as rowdy as ever. Zelda soon felt the desire for quiet once again, and Link was happy to lead her down another side alley without pause.

“Thank you for accompanying me tonight, Link,” she spoke up softly. “This evening has been very pleasant.”

“You think?” Link asked with a grin. “Even with all the shouting and accusations and ominous premonitions?”

She smiled back. “I told you before that I appreciate the distractions during times of stress, did I not? And that’s not all I appreciate either. The fresh air. This beautiful sky. And above all else, the company.” Upon saying this, Zelda’s eyes fell on her companion, lingering for a moment.

Link simply glanced at her before laughing. “Are you referring to me?”

Zelda blinked, surprised by his query. “Why, yes, of course. Who else would I be referring to?”

The Hero laughed some more before pointing behind her. “Well, it seems that we’ve managed to pick up a few more friends tonight.”

Zelda turned, feeling even more confused, only to be stunned by what she found following her. Over a dozen cats, ranging in size and color, were happily congregating behind the duo. They all glanced up with bright eyes and blank expressions. Some of them soon began to meow, as if saying “hello”.

“K-Kittens?” Zelda stammered, still very much surprised.

“There’s a pack that lingers around these parts,” Link explained with a smile.

“Why are they following us?”

“They’re very friendly. I think they just want to greet us.”

“Oh,” Zelda said, allowing some of her anxiety to wash away. “Well isn’t that sweet?”

“The sweetest,” Link agreed. He soon reached down and scooped one into his arms. Without hesitation, the Hero began running his fingers through the feline’s fur, causing it to purr in total ecstasy. He turned to Zelda. “Would you like to hold one?”

The Queen blinked again before leaning back. “Oh…p-perhaps. Are they docile?”

“Of course!” Link answered with another laugh. “Can’t you see how friendly they are?”

“In your arms, yes,” Zelda said doubtfully.

Link smiled before shaking his head. “They’ll be the same with you. Just be warm and friendly with them in return, okay?”

“Okay,” she mumbled back. The next thing she knew, Link was handing the cat over to her. She awkwardly accepted it into her arms, holding it at bay for only a moment before summoning her courage and pulling it close. It wasn’t long before she felt the cat grow soft and comfortable in her embrace.

Zelda sighed with a bit of relief. This feline truly was friendly. She took a moment to admire it. It was a beautiful bundle of orange fur, with an innocent face and innocent eyes. It soon mewed and Zelda nearly felt her heart melt within her. Before she knew it, she instinctively began stroking its fur, causing the cat to hum with joy.

Zelda giggled, enamored with this incredibly soft sensation she was experiencing. “This is nice,” she admitted after a moment. “So warm and comforting, just as you said.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” came Link’s reply.

Zelda turned to face the Hero, only to nearly gawk at what she witnessed. Somehow, Link had managed to scoop three cats into his arms, and even had a fourth climbing on his shoulders. She immediately exclaimed her surprise. “Oh my goodness, Link! What are you—”

“What? They really like me!” he replied with an innocent laugh.

“It’s more like they’re infatuated with you,” Zelda noted as her lips curled upwards.

“Well, we did speak a lot back when I was a wolf,” he explained. “It’s a shame that I can’t talk to them anymore. Although I think they can still understand us just fine.”

“Is that so?” Zelda smiled once more as she turned down to the pack of cats which had only grown in number. “In that case, thank you all for supporting our Hero. I truly appreciate it.”

“This is the new Queen of Hyrule, by the way,” Link whispered to the felines. “But I’m guessing you guys probably already knew that. You’ve always been clever, after all.”

Many of the cats meowed their agreement. Link and Zelda simply turned to each other and laughed. Hyrule was a Kingdom that was full of talented and interesting peoples, and in this moment, it seemed that even the pets could be counted among their number.

Eventually, Link and Zelda released the cats from their arms and the pack scampered away, likely off to hunt for mice. Zelda smiled as she watched them go.

“They really were sweet, those kittens,” she mused. “Perhaps I’ll have to visit them again the next time I’m feeling down.”

“You should consider adopting one,” Link suggested. “I’m sure that any one of them would be thrilled to experience castle life.”

“Adopt?” Zelda repeated. “I don’t know about that…”

Link gave her a curious look. “Have you ever had a pet before?”

“Does Reina count?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Then no,” she admitted sadly. “I’ve never really thought myself good with animals, no matter how cute and cuddly they might appear.”

“That’s not true,” Link said with a shake of his head. “The goats listened to you when you herded them that one time, remember?”

Zelda shook her head back. “I think they were scared of Reina and I.”

“Hey, that’s more than Fado can say, and he runs the ranch!”

Zelda couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing with an unrestrained bark. She soon placed a hand over her mouth, doing her best to contain it. “Yes, I suppose that is true. And it does make me feel better.”

Link smiled at her genuine expression of joy. It seemed so fitting alongside her casual attire. “You really should give yourself some more credit,” he encouraged her. “You’re warmer than you realize.”

She ceased her giggles, her cheeks turning rosy as she looked away. “You…You really think so?”

“Of course. You’re one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met.”

Zelda tried to keep to the shadows as she blushed even more. Why did this man always have to be so sweet with her? “I feel the same way about you,” she mumbled back.

Link simply laughed. “That must be why we get along so well.” With a confident grin, he turned away. “Come on, let’s keep moving.”

“Very well,” she replied, surprisingly breathless.

 

---

 

With the tour of Castle Town completed, Link and Zelda returned to the main square where the beautiful fountain’s waters continued to flow beneath torchlight. The hours were beginning to grow late and the streets seemed to be winding down, so the two of them contented to find a solitary bench and sit in silence. Zelda smiled as she absorbed the peaceful sight before her. She loved this town, and the Kingdom at large, so dearly.

At some point, the Queen glanced down, and happened to notice that her hand was resting beside the Hero’s own. In fact, they were uncomfortably close. Close enough to hold each other…

Growing flustered, Zelda shifted positions, bringing her hands up to rest in her lap. The last thing she needed right now were any temptations from these troublesome feelings of hers. She wondered, why was she still plagued by such affection? It had been months and months, hadn’t it? And she had sworn to let him go at least a dozen times now, yes?

And yet, the truth of the matter remained as constant as ever. No matter how much she denied it. No matter how much she wished it wasn’t true. No matter how desperately she tried to move on.

Zelda adored the man next to her with all her heart…

“Excuse me, lady!” a young voice called for her attention. “Excuse me!”

She blinked, immediately snapping out of her lovestruck daze, only to find a young boy standing before her. By her estimate, he was no older than twelve at the most. “Oh, um, yes?”

The boy produced a wide, toothy grin as he held up a rag and a bottle of clear liquid. “Can I interest you in a shoe-shining? Only one rupee.”

Zelda raised her brow before turning to Link for help. He shrugged. Clearly, he didn’t see anything wrong with this. Zelda merely scowled as she turned back to the child.

“Excuse me, son, but isn’t it a bit late to be conducting such business? I imagine it’s past your bedtime.”

The boy’s expression immediately soured. “Who are you, my mother? Come on, a guy has to make a living!”

“And what would a child such as yourself know about ‘making a living’?”

He scoffed in protest. “Geez, nosy, aren’t you? I’ll have you know that I’ve got younger siblings that I need to support! Now come on, lady, are you interested or not?”

Zelda glanced at Link again, only to catch him looking amused at how much lip this child was giving her. She rolled her eyes at him. “Well, I appreciate the offer, but I don’t believe I need a shoe-shining at this time.”

Naturally, the kid was persistent. “You sure? Your boots are covered in cat hair.”

With wide eyes, Zelda glanced down to find that this was indeed the case. Long hairs of orange, white, and black clung to her boots as if they belonged there. When it came to the proper decorum expected of royal footwear, it was practically the height of disorderly. With a small sigh, Zelda chose to relent.

“Very well. If you can make them shine as they should, I’ll give you more than your fair share. How does two rupees sound?”

“Awesome!” the boy exclaimed before dropping to the ground and immediately setting to work. He took Zelda’s boot in hand and began using the polish and rag in tandem to wipe the brown leather clean. Within minutes, the boy had the footwear glistening under the light of the moon, just like the fountain’s waters.

Once he finished, Zelda took a second to admire her boots. “My, that’s quite an impressive job.”

The boy didn’t seem interested in compliments. Instead, he stuck out his hand with another toothy grin. “Payment, please!”

Zelda smiled. Children, always so impatient. Amused by this thought, she reached into her cloak and grasped her rupee pouch. She then brought it before her, preparing to open it—

And just like that, it was gone.

And so was the kid.

Zelda snapped her head up just in time to spot the kid sprinting away as fast as his legs could carry him. Zelda’s rupee pouch was secured in his tiny fist. With a gasp, she realized what was happening.

Thievery!

Zelda rose to her feet, prepared to give chase, but it seemed that her companion was already far ahead of her. Without a second thought, Link sprinted forward and descended upon the boy. He was far too swift and far too strong for the thief to resist. The next thing Zelda knew, Link had the boy hoisted into the air, hanging by the collar of his shirt.

Naturally, the kid was all fists and gusto. He desperately swung and kicked at Link, who simply extended the kid out far enough that it was impossible for him to reach.

“Let go of me, Mister! I’ll call for the guards!”

“I’ll call for them first,” Link challenged him. “Fortunately, I don’t need the guards in order to deal with a runt like you.”

The child froze, his expression growing wary. He clutched the stolen goods closer to his chest, but Link wasn’t having any of it.

“Come on,” he said, extending his other hand. “That’s not yours and you know it. Now, hand it over.”

It was at this point that Zelda caught up to them, her ponytail swinging wildly behind her. As she settled into place next to Link, she pursed her lips, giving the boy a hard, disappointed frown. It broke her heart to see such a young soul resorting to crime.

Somewhere within that piercing gaze of hers, the boy seemed to soften. Between that and Link’s demanding expression, he soon gave in. “Fine, take your stupid rupees,” he sneered before tossing the pouch at Zelda.

She caught it and glanced inside. It seemed that all of her funds were still accounted for. “It’s all here,” she confirmed.

“Of course it is! Now would you let go of me already, Mister?” 

Link scowled some more. He was not one to allow an injustice to go unpunished. “Oh no, I don’t think you’re off the hook just yet. Scamming people and stealing their rupees? Talk about a dishonorable business.”

“Hey, it wasn’t a scam!” the child argued back. “I polished the boots, didn’t I?”

“All so you could secure a bigger prize than what you originally asked for,” Link continued with a roll of his eyes. “That doesn’t justify your actions, kid.”

The child sneered again. “Oh, who cares? I already gave you the money back. Now let me go!” He soon began to struggle, kicking and flailing once again.

“As if,” Link scoffed. “You clearly haven’t learned your lesson. How about you point me in the direction of your home? I’m sure your parents would love to know what you’ve been up to tonight.”

“Pfft, yeah right! Why don’t you mind your own business already?”

Link opened his mouth, prepared to deliver another fierce retort to this snot-nosed brat, but a single hand on his arm caused him to fall silent instead. He soon turned to find Zelda staring at him with soft eyes.

“Link, would you allow me to handle this? I am the one who was wronged, after all.”

Link frowned, but soon nodded his agreement. He couldn’t deny a request from those lovely eyes of hers. “Fine.”

“Set him down, please,” the Queen requested.

The Hero complied, lowering the boy until his feet touched earth once more. However, Link made sure to keep a fierce grip on the kid’s shoulders. He would not be escaping whatever Zelda had in store for him.

The Queen soon knelt down so that she was eye-level with the boy. Her cloak pooled around her legs on the cobblestone beneath her. She then sadly smiled, as if offering the boy her deepest sympathies.

“Young man,” she greeted him softly. “Please tell me, why are you running about the streets at night, and stealing from innocents what is rightfully theirs?”

The child frowned heavily in return. He was not in the mood for a lecture. “I already told you that earlier, lady. I need the money to support my younger siblings. Were you not listening or something!?”

“Hey,” Link interjected, tightening his grip on the lad’s shoulder. “Be polite when speaking to her.”

However, to his surprise, Zelda merely waved her hand in dismissal. “It’s all right, Link,” she assured him. “Tell me, son, where are your parents? Do they know where you are right now?”

“Pfft, no,” the kid replied as he crossed his arms. “My mom’s back at home, too busy trying to take care of my brothers and sisters to care about where I am.”

“And your father?”

“Gone. He died during the Twilight Invasion.”

Link watched as Zelda visibly stiffened, her expression faltering into a look of guilt. She soon lowered her gaze to the ground.

“I see... I’m very sorry to hear that.”

“Whatever,” the boy snapped. “It’s none of your business, so can you just leave it alone?”

“But I truly am sorry for you,” Zelda insisted, meeting his gaze once more. “That you’ve been struggling to make ends meet. That you felt the need to turn to thievery just to get by.”

“You can spare me your pity! It doesn't help anything!” the boy snapped again. Link nearly lost his nerve at his rudeness, but Zelda remained as tranquil as ever.

“Now that’s not true. A little sympathy and compassion can mean the world to someone when they’re at their lowest point. Trust me, I would know. I’ve struggled through my fair share of hardships too.”

The scene fell silent. The only noise that was present was the soft babbling of the fountain. It seemed that the boy didn’t know what to say to something so incredibly heartfelt and sincere. Zelda merely smiled at him.

“Can you answer another question for me? Why haven’t you sought help instead of resorting to thievery? If you’re truly desperate for rupees, I’m sure someone would’ve lent their aid.”

This time, the boy turned his gaze downwards, looking a little bitter. “It’s no use. Nobody cares about poor people like us.”

Zelda patiently shook her head. “Again, that’s not true.”

“No, it is!” the boy insisted. “And the only people who do care are as poor as we are! There’s no help to give.”

“I’m sure that Queen Zelda cares about you,” she said, her eyes sparkling with confidence. “She cares about all of her subjects.”

“Oh yeah?” the boy scoffed. “Then why hasn’t she helped us? We’ve needed it for a while now! I’m sure she’s just like everyone else. Not caring a lick about the people beneath her.”

Despite his harsh words, Zelda’s expression refused to falter. She retained her soft and sincere demeanor with perfect transparency.

“Trust me, the Queen cares about you more than you realize. Now please, hold out your hands.”

The kid raised his brow, reluctant to comply. It took a sharp squeeze from Link before he decided to listen. “Fine,” he said, unfolding his arms and raising his palms upward.

With one fluid motion, Zelda dropped her rupee pouch into his grasp. She then cupped his hands in her own, forcing them closed over the pouch.

“Give this to your mother,” Zelda instructed him. “She’ll know how to spend it responsibly.”

The boy gawked, shocked beyond belief. Link mirrored his sentiment, his own eyes growing wide in surprise. Neither of them had expected this.

“You…You’re serious?” the kid asked.

Zelda released his small hands, leaving the pouch behind. “Of course. Consider it a gift.”

Eyes still curious and confused, the boy quickly pulled the pouch open and glanced inside. He wanted to make sure that he wasn’t being fooled. However, what he found nearly left him speechless. Countless rupees of only the richest of colors. There was more wealth than he could have possibly imagined in this one little pouch.

Link sympathized with the kid, all while smiling in amusement. The boy had never realized that he had been attempting to steal from the Royal Queen herself.

“Holy cow,” the kid mumbled, staring at the rupees with eyes as wide as dinner plates. “Um…th-this is way more than what we need…”

“Then share it with your neighbors, or anyone else who is struggling,” Zelda replied without missing a beat. “You have more need of it than I, so please, use it wisely.”

“I…I don’t know what to say,” the kid stammered, still hardly believing this fortunate turn of events. “This is so…so nice! Thanks a lot, lady!”

“You’re very welcome,” Zelda replied with a warm smirk. “And please, let this be a lesson to you. That sharing your struggle and asking for assistance might be more rewarding than you think.”

“Yeah!” the kid agreed cheerfully. “No doubt! This is awesome!”

Zelda giggled, amused by his enthusiasm. She soon rose to her full height and addressed Link. “You can release him now.”

Link smiled back at her before nodding his approval. There was practically nothing left to be said. “Go home, kid. And stay safe.”

As if he needed to be told twice. With his prize secured safely in his hands, the boy dashed away, only turning around to offer one final wave goodbye. “Thanks again, lady!”

Zelda returned his wave as he disappeared down the nearest alleyway. Once he was gone, and the square was silent once more, Zelda merely turned to Link with a soft smile. He greeted her much the same, refusing to speak.

“Is there something you’d like to say?” she eventually asked.

He shook his head, turning away. He only had one single thought on his mind: that the woman standing before him was incredibly and unbelievably kind of heart. And he saw no reason to speak such a thought aloud.

Because he knew that Zelda was simply being herself.

 

---

 

The clock struck midnight. All of the townsfolk retired to their homes for the evening, leaving completely empty streets in their absence. To Link and Zelda, it was a sign that they should do the same. The Hero escorted the Queen through the castle gates. The guards gladly welcomed him and his “guest” not even aware of her identity under the darkness of night. It was fortunate that everyone around here knew that the Hero was trustworthy.

The two of them walked towards the castle’s front doors, but Zelda soon pivoted, wandering off into the nearest garden instead. Link stepped in place beside her, happy to follow wherever she led. Eventually, she turned around, producing a shy but sincere smile.

“Thank you for the wonderful evening, Link.”

The Hero smiled back, exuding nothing but warmth. “Of course. And, uh, sorry for keeping you out so late.”

She shook her head. “Nonsense. This truly was a lovely evening, and I enjoyed every moment of it. This really helped take my mind off of things, and helped me destress…” She paused, before looking him straight in the eye. “I always feel that way, whenever I’m with you.”

“Well, I’m always happy to help,” Link promised with a grin. “I know that things have been hard for you lately, Zelda. But if there’s ever anything I can do to aid you, please, don’t be afraid to ask.”

“You’re so kind,” she mumbled. “Always so kind.”

“Takes one to know one,” Link teased her. “I imagine you helped a lot of lives tonight just by giving up your wallet.”

Zelda smiled bashfully, appearing embarrassed in the face of his praise. She soon gazed down, running her hand over a potted flower that had just begun to bloom. “I’ll admit that I’ve been a little nervous about inheriting my father’s role. Becoming this Kingdom’s sole leader and benefactor… But tonight has helped me feel so much more confident about the future. I understand that I have the power to help people, and I’m capable of earning my people’s trust and support. And as long as I have this, then I’m sure I’ll do well.”

“Of course you will,” Link assured her. He then took a deep breath, before summoning his courage and speaking straight from the heart. “Zelda, your father was a truly great man. A wonderful King. But I want you to know that even though he isn’t here with us anymore, the people of Hyrule will continue supporting you. And I’ll continue supporting you. And things are going to be okay. I promise they will.”

Zelda glanced up, her sapphire eyes glistening in the moonlight. “I believe you.”

“Then please, promise to stop hiding and bottling up your grief,” he encouraged her. “It’s important to let your feelings out. And if you ever need someone to comfort you, I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

She smiled, her eyes glistening even more. She soon sniffed before wiping at them, all while laughing. “I…I don’t even know what to say…”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Link replied softly. “It’s my pleasure.”

Zelda was overwhelmed. She could barely contain all of the emotions that were welling up within her. Gratitude. Joy. Relief. Bliss. Comfort. All of them flowing from one single source—the Hero who stood across from her. Driven to action, Zelda soon crossed the short distance between them, and hugged him dearly. Her arms wrapped around his middle, and he did the same to her. She held him close, basking in the warmth of his embrace. The greatest warmth that she had ever known.

“Link, I’m so, so grateful that I have you in my life.”

He laughed, squeezing her closer. “And I’m happy to have you in mine.”

Zelda laughed in return, shaking her head against his chest. Her smile was uncontrollable. Her heart was as light as the clouds. In this moment, she honestly could’ve died happy. To feel Link’s touch. To experience his love. It was all she ever wanted. And it felt so perfect.

Eventually, she pulled back, but kept her arms around the Hero. She wanted to enjoy this moment. To enjoy this closeness. She gazed into Link’s eyes, which were as blue as the sky, and he gazed back into hers. Once again, she felt overwhelmed. It was too much. She could feel herself breaking. Her barriers were crumbling down. But it wasn’t scary. No, if anything, it was liberating. Relieving. She had been unknowingly wishing for this moment for ages. And it was finally here before her.

“Link…” she whispered, her voice no more than a breath amongst the breeze.

“Yes?” he replied innocently.

Zelda gazed deeper into his eyes, growing lost in thought. She recalled every moment that she had ever spent with this man. Trusting him. Smiling with him. Laughing with him. Even saving each other’s lives. She recalled every kindness. Every encouraging word spoken from his lips. Especially his desire that she no longer bottle up her emotions and simply be open with him. She recalled the undeniable feelings she felt for him. Her love. Her compassion. Her gratitude. Her admiration, devotion, sympathy, and her understanding. She recalled her fortune, spoken earlier that very same night. How it told of a passionate romance in her future. How she would know endless peace and happiness the rest of her days. How life seemed so fleeting when such a wonderful reward was at stake.

And yet, all of those reasons paled in comparison to the one that truly mattered.

The love that she felt for Link.

Accepting her feelings, and strengthening her resolve, Zelda reached up—slowly, delicately, and cupped the Hero’s face in her hand. And then, before she even had a chance to consider what she was doing, the Queen leaned forward and softly planted her lips against his cheek.

The kiss was brief, lasting only a second before Zelda pulled away. Her eyes returned to his. There, she found surprise and confusion in equal measure, but she refused to waver. Her heart was directing her every action, and she was fully prepared to follow it. With no regrets, the truth naturally spilled from her lips.

“I’m in love with you.”

Notes:

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I can’t believe it took us 73 chapters to get here lol.

But also, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Chapter 74: Surrender

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 74 – Surrender

“I’m in love with you.”

Time stopped. The night fell dead silent. Link felt himself tumbling down a rapid river of confusion. He was lost in the moment—overwhelmed by what he was experiencing. Zelda’s embrace. Her touch. Her gaze. The lingering sensation of her kiss on his cheek.

Yes, she had actually kissed him.

But the most shocking thing of all were her words. They echoed around in Link’s ears, promptly melting his mind into liquid. He could not focus. He could not comprehend.

“What…?” he eventually asked in return.

“I’m in love with you, Link,” Zelda repeated, appearing a little bashful. “I have been for some time now.”

Again, his mind went blank. Zelda’s sensations and words were drowning him once more. Suffocating him. “I…I don’t understand…” he mumbled, pulling away from her embrace.

She let him go, bringing her arms back to her side and stepping back herself. “I mean it in the sincerest sense.”

“You love me?” Link repeated, still trying to collect his scattered thoughts. “As in…”

“More than friends,” she clarified bravely. She stared at him with bright eyes, completely unabashed as she spoke from her heart. “We’ve grown so close to each other since we first met, and I’ve come to appreciate and admire you more than I ever could have imagined. You make me smile. You make me laugh. You comfort me and give me hope when I need it the most. You are so dear to my heart. So yes, I love you, Link. And I’m no longer afraid to admit it.”

Link fell silent. Bit his lip. Tried to sort out thoughts and feelings that were currently buzzing within him like a swarm of flies. He had no idea what to say. How to react. He felt like his entire world was crumbling around him, and it was all because of the innocent and warm girl standing before him, dressed in all her casual glory.

Eventually, she blushed a touch and looked away. “Forgive me. I know that this must be very sudden and unexpected for you. And that kiss was rather forward of me—”

“Um, no,” Link surprised himself by choking out the words. “It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize. It’s just…I’m just…” Again, he didn’t know what to say.

Zelda softly smiled. “I am truly sorry though. I’ve felt this way for a while now and I just…I needed to let you know. For my own sake. I never expected you to reciprocate.”

“No, Zelda, that’s not…”

He bit his tongue. His words were failing him, and at such a pivotal moment too. A storm of emotions was flaring to life within. The ever-present desire to comfort Zelda. To protect her from harm and turmoil, even if it was of her own making. All originating from a place of sincere affection.

But what fueled this affection? Was it their friendship? Their history? Or was it something more? Was it possible that the Hero did, in fact, in some way, no matter how miniscule and insignificant, actually reciprocate how she felt!?

His mind a haze, a scene soon played out before his eyes. The beautiful Princess, standing in a snow-covered village, kindly handing out food and warm blankets to the families that needed them. She was an angel who surely had a grasp on his heart. Of that, there was no doubt…

Link merely gulped. “I…I think I might…I mean, there’s a chance that I…I have feelings for you too…” He cursed himself. Why did he have to sound so awkward and hesitant? Although he supposed it was accurate for how he currently felt.

Zelda retained her gentle smile. “There is?” she asked quietly.

“Maybe,” he replied before cursing himself again. Why was it so hard to give her an answer? To just be honest with her. To be honest with himself. Throwing caution to the wind, the Hero gathered whatever courage he had within him and began to speak from the heart. “Zelda, listen. You…You mean so much to me too. I treasure our friendship, as well as your company. And you’ve done so many favors for me that I could never even begin to pay back. And I admire your wisdom and kindness and selflessness… You’re one of the most incredible women I’ve ever met. And believe me, I want to reciprocate your feelings” — What was going on? What was his heart saying right now? — “but I…I just…”

His courage was faltering. His words were failing him again. He soon sighed as he let his shoulders fall. He placed a hand to his forehead as he turned away, too ashamed to face her. “I’m sorry. I just…I don’t know… I feel so conflicted right now.”

“I know, Link.” Zelda’s voice was as soft and sincere as her smile surely was. “And I think we both understand why.”

Link finally dared to look at her, and she offered an expression of sympathy in return. They both knew what the biggest barrier was. Neither of them had to speak the name aloud for it to pass between them.

Ilia…

Yes, suddenly it all made sense. This was why things were so complicated. Because it was true. Link did love Zelda. He had all but declared it aloud. But he loved Ilia too. She was his childhood friend. Another kind soul who always took care of him. The girl he had called his own for months now. The girl who was supposed to be more important than any other.

But Zelda was important to him too…

What a mess, he cursed, frowning harder than ever. It seemed that acknowledging the issue hadn’t helped in the slightest. At the very least, it hadn’t made his complicated feelings on the matter any clearer.

But Zelda was there. Standing before him. Smiling sadly and innocently. When she spoke, her voice was as gentle as ever.

“Link, I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t want to make you choose. It wouldn’t be fair, not to you or her. That’s why…you should be with Ilia. She’s known you far longer than I have, and I know that she’ll always take care of you. She deserves your love far more than I do.”

Link stared at her, feeling his heart being torn in half for this selfless woman before him. How could she possibly say something like that? What was he even supposed to say in return? Eventually, he confessed his turmoil.

“Zelda, I…I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” she encouraged him. “Just go where your heart belongs, Link. Go back home, to Ilia.”

He bit his lip again, his expression turning grim. “I can’t.”

“Of course you can—”

“But Zelda, this isn’t fair to you either,” he insisted. He paused, shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I wish I could reciprocate. I really do. But I just…I can’t, and I’m so, so sorry…”

There was silence for a bit. Link felt like he could cry at this moment. It killed him that he had to be in this situation. That he had to force Zelda into an even worse situation. One in which she was rejected and alone.

But the Queen was as kindhearted and understanding as ever. With quiet, tranquil steps, she moved closer and affectionately placed a hand on his arm.

“Don’t tear yourself up over this. I assure you that I’m strong. I shall survive and, in time, move on from this. I’ve come to learn that broken hearts don’t stay broken forever. You showed me that tonight.”

Link tried to smile, but it was terribly difficult. “Hearts can still ache though,” he pointed out.

“Then let’s pray that yours doesn’t. No more than mine will, at least,” she said with the smallest hint of playfulness in her tone.

Link gulped, trying to swallow all of his guilt and conflict, only to fail miserably. This didn’t sit right with him. Not at all. “So…that’s it then?” he asked hesitantly. “It’s just…not meant to be?”

“I think we both know that you have your answer,” she said softly. “It’s sad to admit it, but no. It simply wasn’t meant to be.”

Link nearly choked under his grief. He could feel himself physically holding back the tears now. This truly wasn’t fair. Not to Zelda: the girl he wanted to provide endless peace and happiness for. His desires soon spilled from his lips.

“I wish I could give you more. You deserve more. I would give you everything I am if only it were mine to give.”

Zelda placed a single finger to his lips, effectively shushing him. “You’ve given me plenty,” she assured him. She then took a moment to trace his cheek, the very spot where she had planted her lips just moments before. “I was able to gift you a kiss. It’s the only display of affection that I will ever steal from you. That alone will suffice.”

When she was certain that the Hero wouldn’t say anything further, she pulled away, retreating a single step as she went to encourage him once more. “Besides, it’s not like we’ll be losing each other. We’re friends, Link. We’ll always be friends. Never forget that.”

We’ll always be friends, Link thought to himself. Always…

Never more and never less.

Always.

The words were enough to torment his bloody and beaten heart. He wondered, how would Zelda ever recover from this, if he wasn’t sure that he could do it himself?

She must have been far stronger and braver than he, for she shivered a bit before smiling for the final time. “It’s probably best if we part ways here. I think we’ve said all that we need to.”

Link disagreed. He felt like he had more to say. One million confessions. One million apologies. One million promises to do better because that’s what she deserved—

But Zelda never gave him the chance. “Farewell, my Hero. Until our paths cross again.”

And with that, she drew her cloak tightly around her shoulders, and dismissed herself. The Hero was now left all alone, with nothing but his thoughts and feelings to accompany him.

And it was torture.

 

---

 

It was the middle of the night. Link adamantly drove Epona along the forest path. His surroundings would be pitch black if it weren’t for the subtle light of the moon and stars above.

His pace was reckless. He was moving far too fast to watch where he was riding. Too fast to note the footing and prevent any accidents. It didn’t take long before Epona snorted loudly, showing her anxiety at how she was being driven forward.

Link sighed, trying to relax. He was foolishly putting the both of them in danger and he knew it. Finally relenting, he pulled on Epona’s reins and slowed her to a trot. If something ever happened to his mare because of his own recklessness, he would never forgive himself.

Besides, hadn’t he done enough damage tonight?

It wasn’t long before the Hero directed Epona off to the side, where Faron’s spring rested amongst the groves. He couldn’t keep going like this. He was tired, frustrated, and conflicted. He needed to rest. He soon slid out of the saddle and left Epona to wander the brush as she pleased. He then sat himself down at the edge of the spring, trying to collect his thoughts.

After Zelda had left Link alone in that garden, he decided to fetch Epona and return to Ordon. He couldn’t bear to stay at the castle overnight. Not when he knew how Zelda truly felt about him, and how badly he was hurting her because of it.

He cursed before tossing a rock into the spring. He hated feeling like this. His guilt was consuming him. He was a Hero, damn it. A kind and helpful guy whom everyone could trust and rely upon. He was not supposed to hurt others. He was not supposed to break their hearts.

But what other choice did he have? He was in such a rough situation…

Link stared into the clear waters of the spring, praying for answers. Maybe if anyone out there was listening, be it the Goddesses or the Light Spirits, one of them might pity him enough to provide some advice? Or at least assure him that he had done the right thing.

But if he had done the right thing, then why did it all feel so wrong?

His heart ached, his stomach twisted, and his face grimaced. No, he was still being eaten alive by his own guilt. It would certainly take some time before he could get over this. Or even forgive himself for this.

“Grrrrr…”

Link froze, forgetting his conflict for a moment as his ears picked up the sound of a subtle snarl. He recognized it instantly. It was the growl of a wolf…

Glancing down, Link nearly jumped in surprise at the reflection staring back at him beneath the surface of the water. A brilliant, golden wolf watched him with a single ruby-red eye. The Hero then blinked before drawing closer. He stared at the water, wondering if this was real or if his tired mind was simply playing tricks on him in the middle of the night.

“It’s you,” was all he said.

The muzzle of the golden wolf twitched, as if he was smirking, only to then howl loud and clear at the reflection of the moon. The wolf’s form began to shift, soon replaced by a tall skeletal figure who donned armor covered in moss. The Hero’s Shade. Like before, he gazed upon Link with a single ruby eye.

“Well met, Hero,” was all he said in his deep, haunting voice.

Link blinked again. It looked like him. It sounded like him. But was it really the same specter he had encountered during his adventure? The same one who had taught him various sword skills from the past and turned him into the excellent swordsman he was today? He honestly wasn’t sure. The Hero’s Shade had all but disappeared after his journey reached its conclusion. Link was starting to think he would never see the man again.

And yet, here he was before him, as if nothing was amiss.

“What are you doing here?” Link finally asked.

Shade casually took a seat, so that his face was closer to the water’s surface. To Link, it looked like he was sitting upside down, as if they were two sides of a mirror. “I sensed that you needed me, so here I am.”

Link frowned. “That’s all?”

“Would you prefer that I wasn’t here?” Shade shot back.

“I don’t exactly remember calling for you.”

“You prayed for help from someone, did you not?”

Link fell silent and turned away. He supposed that was true, but he never actually thought that anyone would answer him. Now he felt rather ashamed about the whole thing.

Shade was wise though, and quick to pick up on his feelings. “Something troubles you. Care to share it?”

“No, it’s nothing,” Link insisted.

“It must certainly be more than nothing if it has you looking so pained,” Shade noted.

“Then it’s something you wouldn’t understand. It’s not the type of thing you can deal with using sword techniques.”

“Is that all you think I am? Let me remind you that I was once a Hero made of blood and flesh, just as you are. I understand more than you might believe.”

Link sighed. “Well then maybe it’s just something I don’t want to talk about.”

“Are you certain?” Shade prodded him once again. “Talking it out may help. And you shouldn’t have to worry about secrets either. I’ve never been one for gossip.”

Okay, Link couldn’t help but crack a smile at that. The way Shade said it was so monotone and serious, it almost sounded comical. Any doubts on whether this was truly the Hero’s Shade quickly fled from his mind. As if anyone else could be this unintentionally droll.

“Fine,” Link relented. “I’ll share what’s plaguing me at the moment.”

“I’m listening,” Shade answered back.

Link took a deep breath, trying to get settled on the dirt beneath him. Once he was ready, he spilled everything. The recent challenges he had faced in Ordon. How Zelda came to their rescue. How the King passed away and he did his best to comfort Zelda, only to earn an unexpected love confession from her. One which he wished to return but couldn’t because of his current circumstances with Ilia. And now he was left all alone, feeling torn and conflicted.

Shade listened to all of this in silence, slowly taking it in. His expression never changed, although Link supposed his face didn’t have a lot of expressions to begin with. When he refused to comment, Link continued his speech.

“It’s complicated,” he mumbled. “I love Ilia so dearly. She’s always been one of my closest friends and she means the world to me. And I love being with her and holding her and kissing her. But…”

The Hero paused, placing a hand to his forehead as his guilt reared its ugly head.

“I know I’m a terrible person. I’m together with Ilia. I should only have eyes for her. My heart should only beat for her. I should be satisfied with her…”

He paused again, his eyes glistening as he looked skyward.

“But then there’s Zelda… She’s always been so kind, and she’s done so much for me… And she really brightens my days, and we trust and rely on each other. And she’s beautiful and she honestly means the world to me too. And I…I just…I don’t know…”

Silence fell over him. The only sound present was the soft babbling of the waterfall pouring into the spring. Shade shifted a bit, and finally spoke up.

“You love them both.” 

Link sighed before repeating himself. “I don’t know. It’s complicated.”

“It’s complicated because you love them both.”

Link fell silent again. He was at a loss for words.

“Love is a fickle thing,” Shade mused. “It can build someone up. Give them courage. Turn them into something so much greater and stronger than what they are without it. But it can ruin someone too. Break their heart, corrupt them, drive them to commit horrible acts. To commit murder and start wars.”

“I definitely feel like the latter right now,” Link admitted. “I feel lost. I feel guilty. I feel like a failure.”

“And why is that?” Shade asked simply.

“Because I’m failing her,” Link said adamantly, raising his voice a bit. “She loves me. She needs me. And yet I can’t be there for her. I feel like I’m abandoning her. Hurting her. And that…that thought is unbearable…” He sighed, letting his shoulders fall. “I don’t care what happens to me. I’d gladly endure any grief, pain, or torture if it meant that Ilia and Zelda could both be happy. Both be spared from this…this tragedy.”

There was more silence as Shade absorbed his words. “Your willingness to sacrifice yourself is admirable, but I think we both know that it’s not a solution. In the end, your heart can belong to one, and only one. And the other will inevitably be hurt.”

“And that’s why it’s killing me,” Link stressed. “I can’t bear to hurt either of them.”

“Perhaps you won’t. Your Princess seemed capable of accepting this outcome.”

“But she’ll still be torn up over this rejection. I know she will. And she’s already dealing with the grief of losing her father…”

“Then would you rather reject your village girl? Separate from her to pursue another woman?”

Link’s face went pale. He could barely stomach that thought. “No…that would hurt Ilia far more… And it would hurt me far more too.”

“Then it seems your path forward is clear,” Shade said decisively. “You will save what you can and only abandon what you must.”

“So…do nothing?” Link replied miserably. “Reject Zelda, and return to Ilia?”

“Is that not what you had already decided?” the skeleton challenged him.

Link sighed. “It doesn’t make coming to terms with it any easier.” 

“It never is, lad,” Shade lamented. “In my years of life, I experienced my own share of troubles regarding romance, and had to turn away from innocent hearts that sought my companionship.”

The Hero blinked, growing curious. “You were in a situation like this too?”

For the first time in perhaps ever, the Hero’s Shade appeared rather uncomfortable. “I’m afraid it is not a story worth sharing. It would only confuse your already troubled mind further.”

Link scowled. He severely doubted that. Shade was clearly making excuses so he didn’t have to share any awkward stories. And all of this after Link had spilled his own drama! Talk about a hypocrite!

“Anyway,” Shade said, clearing his throat. “The only advice I have left for you is simple. Follow your heart, child. If nothing else, it shall never fail you, and it will surely lead you to a peaceful resolution that you can live with.”

Link sighed for the umpteenth time, letting his negative thoughts return to him. “And if my heart is torn in half?” he asked sadly.

Shade smiled as best he was able. “Then decide on the best way to piece it back together. You may be young but you are not foolish. You will figure it out. I am certain of it.”

“I’m glad that one of us is,” Link replied, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

“Take heart,” Shade said sincerely. “You will get through this, in time.”

Link stared down at the skeleton’s reflection, doing his best to find comfort there. “I hope and pray that you are right.”

Shade merely smiled again before bowing his head. “Live well, my child.”

And with that, he faded away, leaving nothing but the clear spring water in his wake.

Alone once more, Link released a heavy breath before falling backwards. He lay flat on his back, arms and legs outstretched as he stared up at the stars. He supposed that his talk with the Hero’s Shade had helped. He had at least managed to sort out his feelings a bit and accept some hard truths, even if they were painful. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder…was he doing the right thing?

“I don’t even know what the right thing is anymore,” he admitted sadly. “So much for being a righteous Hero.”

He heard hooves clopping towards him, and the next thing he knew, Epona was gently nudging her muzzle into his chest. He promptly smiled at the playful sign of affection before petting her.

“Thanks, girl. That’s very sweet of you.”

The mare closed her eyes, continuing to rub his chest. He continued to stroke her in return.

“Hey Epona, what do you think about all of this? I mean, you love Ilia, don’t you? You and I have known her from about as far back as we can remember.”

Epona whinnied, loudly. She always recognized that name and was happy to show her enthusiasm for the girl.

Link laughed before posing his next question. “And what do you think about Zelda? You and I have gotten rather familiar with her too, haven’t we?”

She whinnied again, just as loudly as before. Link was a bit surprised to hear that his mare was so taken with the Queen. Perhaps she recalled all of the times that Zelda and Link had been in battle together. How many times they had saved each other’s lives. How many times they simply enjoyed each other’s casual company.

Link frowned, closing his eyes. This was starting to get complicated again. And it certainly didn’t help that he could feel his exhaustion overtaking him.

“Hey Epona, how do you feel about going to sleep for the night?”

An incredible whinny, the loudest by far. Link merely chuckled before nodding his agreement. “Okay, I hear you. Let’s rest here and continue at dawn.”

The Hero managed to settle down in a soft patch of grass. Epona happily lay next to him, providing warmth to combat the chilly night air. Link snuggled up next to her, doing his best to find peace as the night dragged on.

 

---

 

Link continued his journey at dawn. His mind was still a haze. His heart, an absolute mess. Conflict and guilt clawed at him in equal measure, but he managed to ride into Ordon Village all the same. For above all else, Link had insisted that he was resolved.

The Hero rode up to his house before stepping down from Epona and removing her saddle. Once she was comfortable and free, he made for the door. To his surprise, he could hear someone moving around inside. He had a guess as to who.

He threw open his door, and there she was. Ilia, standing in an apron, doing some light cleaning around his home. At the sound of his entrance, she turned to him and nearly gasped.

“Link,” she said with a smile. “You’re back.”

She rushed to him and he stepped forward to greet her, pulling her into a hug. He then gave her a kiss, which made her positively giddy. She beamed before holding him close again.

“Sorry, I was just stopping by to do some tidying up around here. I didn’t expect to see you, but I’m so glad that you’re back.”

“Yeah,” Link replied, nearly forcing himself to smile. “I’m home.”

Notes:

Let the Link suffering begin :)

Chapter 75: Contention

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 75 – Contention

A few weeks passed, and Zelda was amazed by how well she was doing. These days, she tended to feel rather happy. Upbeat. Content. She no longer locked herself in her chambers and wept for the loss of her father (although she did still sadly reminisce about him from time to time). And despite her heartfelt confession to Link and subsequent rejection, she still felt…fine?

It was honestly surprising, just how fine she felt.

Zelda smiled to herself as she worked on her papers. Yes, it had been a little heartbreaking to be rejected after finally telling Link how she truly felt, but it had also been relieving in a way. Freeing. Liberating. No longer did she have to bottle up her emotions. No longer did she have to keep her affection a secret. No longer would she be left wondering. Hoping. Wishing for a chance to be with the Hero.

Because her chances were zero.

Again, it was rather sad, but Zelda didn’t terribly mind the rejection. She had mostly expected it. You couldn’t just reveal your affection to a man in a committed relationship and expect him to go along with it. If anything, this was the easiest resolution. Zelda confessing her feelings so that he could acknowledge them and then they both could move on. After all, if it wasn’t meant to be, why bother wishing for it?

But, as always, it seemed that moving on was easier said than done. Even though Zelda had weeks to come to terms with what had transpired, she still retained her feelings for the Hero. She still loved him dearly, and longed to be together with him. She sighed as she finished signing her name on a document. For what felt like the hundredth time, the Queen wondered if she would ever be able to move on from these troublesome feelings of hers. If Link’s rejection and absence hadn’t quelled her affection in the slightest, then what possibly could?

It seemed it would remain an unsolved riddle for the time being, as there was suddenly a knock at her study door. “Come in,” Zelda answered.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” Fost greeted her as he pushed open the door. “How do you fare today?”

“I’m doing well, thank you,” she replied before setting another document on her “finished” pile. She then offered the short Minister her full attention. “Is there something I can do for you?”

To her surprise, the man timidly smiled, appearing very anxious. He soon strode forward, revealing an envelope in his hands. “This letter was delivered to the front gate. We were a bit confused as to whom exactly it was addressing, but after a bit of, erm…investigating, we believe that it belongs to you.”

Zelda raised her brow before extending her hand. Once the envelope was in her fingers, she looked it over, quickly noticing that the seal had been broken. “You read this?”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” Fost said with an apologetic bow. “It was nearly impossible to determine the receiver without reading the contents.”

The princess grew even more curious, although her question was answered as soon as she glanced at the name that had been inscribed on the parchment. It read simply, “To My Love”.

Zelda spent a prolonged moment staring at those words before her expression fell into a frown. She turned to Fost. “What’s this rubbish?”

“It is a letter, addressed to you, from a suitor in a neighboring Kingdom,” Fost explained patiently. “If you actually read the contents, you would see that—”

“You must be joking,” Zelda cut him off with a deadpan look. “You’re telling me that a suitor sent this? And had the gall to address it to ‘his love’? Talk about forward.”

Fost nodded, understanding her concerns. “Yes, it is rather unorthodox, but—”

“And he didn’t even get my title right!” Zelda scoffed, now glancing at the letter proper. “It’s addressed to PrincessZelda instead of Queen Zelda. Not exactly off to a good start, is he?”

“Well, Your Majesty, there is a chance that this was sent before your father’s untimely passing.”

Zelda ignored him, too preoccupied with being appalled by the contents she was skimming. “Half of this is just mushy affections and compliments. There’s hardly any substance to it. I get the feeling that he’s trying to flatter me, but it almost sounds insulting.”

Fost sighed, trying to be patient with her. “I understand your reservations, my Queen. Truly, I do. But I’m certain you realize that a message from a potential suitor is something that should be taken very seriously.”

Zelda sighed as well. She made it to the end of the letter, not even bothering to memorize the name which signed it. All she knew was that it wasn’t a name she recognized. “Well, I hate to inform you of this, but whoever sent this letter really missed their mark. I was searching for suitors months ago. That search has since been postponed indefinitely.”

“Perhaps it is worth considering though?” Fost suggested quietly. “Now that His Majesty has passed, the necessity of you finding a partner has only increased. Let’s not soon forget that you are expected to marry at some point, and the sooner you begin, the better.”

Zelda scowled as she set the letter aside. She did not want to accept his claims, although she couldn’t deny that there was truth in them. Greeting suitors and searching for a husband was one of her duties after all, and it had only become more pressing now that she was the sole living member of the Royal Family.

“Very well,” she agreed. “If it will satisfy you, I’ll write back to him once I have a spare moment. For now, I have more urgent matters that I would like to focus on.”

Fost glanced at her with curious eyes from behind his spectacles. “Oh? And would you care to share what is so important?”

Zelda smiled, more than happy to discuss a topic which she was actually passionate about. “Yes. Spring has finally arrived, and thus the time has come to move forward with our plans to induct the Bulblins as official citizens of Hyrule.”

Zelda couldn’t help but notice that the Minister paled at the mention of such creatures. Most of her council and staff did the same. It had almost become an expected reaction.

“Ah, is it really that time?” Fost questioned timidly.

“Yes,” Zelda replied resolutely. “If anything, it is long overdue. I promised the Bulblins that if they behaved themselves for a few months, I would happily welcome them into our Kingdom. Now, it is time for me to fulfill that promise. Assuming that they have kept their end of the deal, of course.”

Fost drummed his fingers together, appearing all the more anxious. “Er, Your Majesty, are you certain that this is what you wish to do? Those beasts—er, Bulblins—don’t exactly have the best…reputation.”

“Which is exactly why we need to move forward with this plan,” Zelda insisted. “The Bulblins are a tad misunderstood. They’ve shown that they can follow orders and live peacefully if necessary. I’m hoping to show all of Hyrule that this is the case. That the Bulblins need not be feared, but embraced.”

Fost looked at her like she was a maniac. “My Queen, need I remind you that these are the very same creatures best known for ambushing, thievery, and kidnapping? And that you yourself were one of their most recent victims.”

Zelda smiled, not intimidated in the slightest. “Those will soon be matters which can simply be left in the past. What matters most is the future, and the Bulblins have already agreed to live under my rule, and by our laws. Assuming they continue to comply, there is no need to antagonize them further.”

This time, Fost gave her a look of doubt. It was obvious that he did not agree with her ideals at all. “And do you have any plans for inducting them into our Kingdom? How exactly will you go about establishing relations between them and your other subjects?”

“As a matter of fact, I do have plans in mind,” she assured him with a confident smirk. “But don’t worry, I intend to initiate them slowly, one step at a time. And the first step will be quite simple.”

“And that is?”

“I’ll politely ask Link if he will serve as my messenger. We know that the Bulblins adore the Hero and follow his every word. I’ll send Link to them to have him see if they’ve truly been behaving themselves. And if they have, we’ll invite their King to visit the castle. This is only if Link agrees to this, of course.”

Fost frowned. “Do you have reason to believe he won’t?”

She shook her head, lightly smiling. “No, I’m all but certain he will, but there’s no harm in requesting his assistance rather than demanding it. I will never force him into anything he doesn’t want.” She paused, feeling a bit of grief well up within her. This wouldn’t be the first time she had allowed the Hero to walk away freely…

Zelda shook her head, dispelling such thoughts. She soon fetched a fresh sheet of parchment and began to write her summons. She would allow Link to decide how she proceeded from here.

 

---

 

Link tensed up as he looked over the letter in his hands. It had been weeks since he had last seen her or had any contact at all. And yet here were her words. The Queen of Hyrule herself wrote him a brief message, politely asking if he would visit her so they could proceed with their plans to establish relations with the Bulblins. Her missive was purely professional. Nothing but kind and friendly.

And to Link, that felt…strange.

The Hero sighed as he scratched his head. He didn’t expect their first contact in weeks to be so…so ordinary. There was no mention of their last meeting, where she had confessed her feelings for him. No bitterness or sorrow at his rejection of her. No hesitation or awkwardness at reaching out to him again. It was just…business as usual. One friend writing casually to another. Nothing was amiss.

He frowned, heavily. How could Zelda behave like this? How could she act like she had easily moved on from his rejection? How could she act as if she wasn’t torn up over it? Surely she was, wasn’t she?

Link knew that he was torn up, at least.

It was true. Even after weeks had passed, he still felt incredibly guilty over how that evening had concluded. He just couldn’t come to terms with it. Abandoning Zelda. Hurting Zelda. Both were sins which could never be forgiven, and they weighed heavily on his soul. His choice still didn’t sit right with him. Perhaps it never would.

Link soon cursed himself, as he was wont to do these days. He kept telling himself over and over that he just needed to move on. To stop experiencing so much regret and accept that the choice he had made was the only one available to him. That he should be satisfied with his current life. That he was happy. That he belonged to Ilia, and only Ilia, forever.

Besides, if Zelda could move on, then why couldn’t he?

Link didn’t know the answer, or how to even go about finding one. All he knew was that his heart ached constantly.

Tap tap tap. A gentle knock on his door. Link instantly knew who it was.

“Good morning,” Ilia said as she stepped inside. As per usual, she walked over and greeted Link with a small kiss on the cheek, which he accepted with a meager smile.

“Morning,” he replied.

She proceeded to the kitchen, where she set her basket down on the table. “Fado asked me to deliver this goat cheese to you. He said it was thanks for helping him out the other day. And I’ve brought a few other foods too.”

“That’s nice,” Link noted. He then swallowed a bit, staring down at the parchment in his hands. He knew that he needed to tell her, but he wasn’t exactly looking forward to having this conversation. He wondered why that was.

“So what are you doing today?” Ilia asked as she began unpacking the contents of her basket. “Jaggle mentioned that he could use some help in the fields if anyone has time. He needs to start planting soon.”

“Right,” Link said with a small nod. “Um…I’m afraid I can’t though. I’m actually needed at the castle today.”

Ilia paused for a moment. It was honestly subtle, but to Link, it seemed incredibly noticeable. She soon resumed her activity.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Zelda needs my help with…” He was reluctant to mention the Bulblins. “...making a deal.”

Ilia frowned, and when she spoke, she failed to hide her disappointment. “And you have to go?”

Link frowned in return. He could already sense a bit of tension rising between them and he absolutely loathed it. “The Queen needs me. What else am I supposed to do?”

“You could say no. You don’t have to answer her call if you don’t want to.”

“I want to, though,” Link insisted. “I want to be useful and help others whenever they need me.”

Ilia cracked a smile, albeit a small one. “Yes…well that is very admirable, isn’t it?”

Silence. Link didn’t know what to say, and the tension was honestly growing worse by the second. It was unbearable. He hated this. This subtlety. Dancing around the problem. He soon decided to speak the truth, plain and simple.

“You don’t want me to go.”

Ilia refused to look at him. “What do you mean? Of course I want you to—”

“Ilia,” Link interjected. “Be honest with me.”

This time, she froze, halting her activity completely. She finally managed to glance up at him, and when she did, her eyes appeared…sorrowful.

“I prefer it when you stay here,” she whispered. “I never want you to leave.”

Link gave her a long, hard stare. “You don’t want me to help others? To assist those who need it?”

“I don’t want you to be in danger,” Ilia clarified. “I don’t want you to waste your time with foolish tasks. Not when you could be here, safe and sound, helping your friends and neighbors.”

“There’s other people who need my help, Ilia. I won’t deny it to them.”

She studied him for a moment, her emerald eyes falling on the parchment in his hands. “Why are you going to the castle?” she asked bluntly.

“I already told you, because I—”

“Link.” This time, she cut him off. “Be honest with me.”

The Hero scowled, completely frustrated. He knew what she was fishing for, all while he had been trying to hide it. It shouldn’t have been a surprise though. This topic had been incredibly contentious the last time they had discussed it.

“I’m going to help Zelda make peace with the Bulblins.”

Ilia pursed her lips, her expression turning grim. “And is this what you want? To help her bring those beasts to our doorsteps?”

“If anyone can make peace with them, it’s Zelda,” Link said confidently. “And if she needs my help, I’ll give it to her. That’s all there is to it.”

Ilia continued to hold the Hero in her piercing emerald gaze as she shook her head. “You’re reckless,” she breathed. “Always so reckless. Do you ever stop and think about your actions? The consequences of following her brash orders?”

“They’re not orders,” he murmured back. “It’s a request. Zelda doesn’t force me to do anything. She always gives me the choice. My choice. And I honestly wish that you could do the same.”

This comment only seemed to piss her off. It wasn’t often that Ilia showed her temper, but when she did, it was something to be feared. “Fine!” she snapped. “If that’s what you want, then go right ahead. Run off and play with the Queen and her Bulblins for all I care! If that’s what a Hero is supposed to be, then you better live up to it.”

She hastily dumped the remainder of her basket on the table—foodstuffs that were supposed to be a warm and thoughtful gift for him now rolling all over the place. She then darted for the door.

Link sighed, hating himself. This wasn’t what he wanted! “Ilia, wait—”

But she refused, tossing the door open before giving him one last, cold glare. “I’ll see you when you get back. If the Bulblins haven’t ripped you apart, that is.”

And with that, she slammed the door shut, leaving the Hero by his lonesome.

Link groaned as he gently rammed his head against a wooden beam. Why was Ilia like this? Why couldn’t she support him? Couldn’t she tell that his work as a Hero was important to him? Meaningful? Necessary? Couldn’t she understand that her fears were misguided? That Link wasn’t in any danger and he wasn’t abandoning this village and that Zelda was truly trying to do something beneficial for all of Hyrule?

Why was she so damn stubborn?

Link was upset. So much so that he could feel a fire rising within him, burning bright and fierce. For the first time ever, Link felt like he was in full support of the Bulblin peace negotiations. Not because he desired such a thing or because he wanted to prove useful to Zelda. No, the true reason was that he honestly just wanted to prove Ilia wrong.

Link was a Hero who helped others. Zelda was his close friend. Zelda needed Link’s help.

Link would do everything in his power to help her succeed.

It was as simple as that.

 

---

 

By the end of the day, there was a knock on the door of Zelda’s study. “Yes?” she called.

The door cracked open, and a maid stuck her head inside. “Greetings, Your Majesty. The Hero of Twilight has arrived to see you.”

Zelda’s lips curved into a delighted grin. She set aside her quill and papers. “Wonderful. Please show him in.”

The maid complied and a few seconds later, there he was. Link, the Hero of Hyrule, entering her study and appearing a little apprehensive. She granted him a warm smile.

“Ah, good evening, Link,” she greeted him. “It’s nice to see you again. Have you been well?”

He just stared at her, like he could hardly believe what she was saying. Eventually, he managed to awkwardly clear his throat. “Um…I’ve been fine, I guess… And you?”

“I am well,” she assured him. “Would you care to sit?”

Link seemed hesitant but soon sank into the chair across from her desk. He continued to stare at her with curious eyes, almost as if he was studying her. Zelda simply raised her brow in response.

“Is something the matter?”

He blinked, surprised at having been noticed. He frowned as he looked away. “No, it’s nothing. I just…I didn’t really expect to be summoned out of the blue like this…”

Zelda frowned in return. “My apologies. Was this a bad time?”

He froze, looking shocked and honestly a little upset. “N-No!” he quickly stammered. “No, it’s not that. I was happy to come. It’s just…well, after our last meeting…I didn’t really think that you would, uh…” He paused, swallowing. Why was it so difficult to get the words out?

Fortunately, Zelda managed to assume what ailed him. She produced a soft smile once more. “Did you think that I would never wish to see you again?”

“I…well…I don’t know,” he answered with slumped shoulders.

Her lips curved into a smirk. “It seems that you have been rather presumptuous in your time away. I did remind you that we would always be friends, didn’t I?”

Link fought back a wince. There was that loathsome word again. Always…

“Yes, you did say that,” he answered, sounding a bit hollow.

“Then you have nothing to be concerned over.”

As if, Link’s mind immediately snapped. If that were true, then why was he still feeling so guilty? So torn up? So devastated? Surely, he needed to apologize again? A thousand times more, if necessary?

He opened his mouth to do exactly that. “Zelda?”

She seemed a bit startled at being addressed so suddenly. “Yes?”

“About that night…and my decision…I’m terribly sorry. I feel—”

The Queen was quick to raise her hand—her most useful method of demanding silence. The Hero soon complied, feeling defeated as she smiled once more. “Link, you have nothing to apologize for, and I see no reason to dwell on what transpired. Let’s just move on and leave this behind us. Don’t you think that would be best?”

Link swallowed again. But what if I can’t move on?

Nevertheless, he nodded. He would not drag her down this path if she did not wish to traverse it alongside him. He had caused her enough harm already.

“Are you certain you’re all right?” Zelda inquired, suddenly studying him just as he had studied her.

Link was quick to hide his negative emotions behind a mask of calmness. “Yeah, I’m just…thinking.” He paused, awkwardly clearing his throat a bit. He did not like having all of this attention on himself. “And what about you? Are you still getting along well after your father passed away?”

Her concern melted away only to be replaced by her incredibly warm and soft expression once again. “As a matter of fact, I have. Time has helped and I’ve certainly started to heal. I do still miss him terribly, though.”

“Understandably,” Link replied with a nod. “Well, um…like I said, if there’s ever anything I can do for you, don’t be afraid to ask.”

“That is very kind of you, as always,” Zelda said with a grateful smile. “However, I’m afraid that I won’t be needing you for personal reasons today. Rather, I have a favor I’d like to ask on behalf of the Kingdom. I assume you recall what I wrote to you?”

“You want me to meet with the Bulblins.”

“Yes, if you are still willing to support my goals.”

“I am,” he answered, both quickly and adamantly. Zelda was a bit surprised by his determination, but appreciated it all the same.

“Excellent. Then my task for you is simple.” Zelda reached into her desk drawer and retrieved a sealed envelope. She proceeded to hand it to the Hero. “I’ve written this brief message for King Bulblin, explaining some of my plans for him and his people moving forward. Ideally, I would like to invite him to attend our next Roundtable meeting where he can be introduced to the other members, and we can solidify our plans.”

“So I just need to deliver this?” Link asked.

“Please. Oh, and if it isn’t too much trouble, would you mind speaking to Bulblin and asking what he’s been up to throughout the last few months? I haven’t heard any news of recent Bulblin attacks, but it would be reassuring to hear from their own lips that the Bulblins have kept their word.”

“And if they haven’t been behaving themselves?”

“Then I would kindly ask you to scold them and correct their behavior. They do seem insistent on fully listening to you, after all.”

“True enough,” he agreed.

Zelda then watched him, almost as if waiting for him to speak up and make his reservations known. When he failed to do so, she proceeded. “Will you do me this favor, Link?”

“Of course, Zelda,” he answered back with a smile. “I’d be happy to.”

“You have my utmost gratitude,” she expressed with a slight bow of her head. “That’s all I’ll be needing of you, so you are free to go.”

However, to her surprise, Link remained seated in his chair, looking uncomfortable. “Oh, um…”

She paused, frowning in return. “Unless there was something else you wished to discuss?”

He smiled sheepishly. “Well, I was just thinking it might be nice to catch up a bit since we haven’t seen each other in a while. That is, if you’re not too busy…”

She smiled brightly. “That sounds lovely, Link. Please, stay and keep me company.”

He smiled in return.

The two of them talked casually, discussing light topics. Zelda worked on some of her documents while Link spoke of recent events in Ordon and how everyone was getting along. Zelda in-turn spoke of her duties and recent trips to the garden where Ernest had planted a new bed of colorful tulips. They both smiled and occasionally laughed at the lighthearted tales being shared.

Not once did either of them speak of their last encounter, or the lingering effects of it. And not once did Link mention Ilia or their recent argument. He didn’t want to sully the conversation with his troubles.

Eventually, the sun set, and Link and Zelda felt their dialogue naturally reach its end. The Hero then politely dismissed himself, while the Queen bade him a fond farewell. They both separated while sharing the same, singular thought.

That their time together was nothing short of pleasant.

Notes:

I think it’s nice that they can still be close friends even if they’ve rejected the idea of a romantic relationship :)

…for now, that is >:)

Chapter 76: Vain

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 76 – Vain

The next day, Link rode towards the Bulblin encampment in Hyrule’s eastern field. It hadn’t taken long to discover their location. All he had to do was find their most recent boar tracks and follow them to the source. It was basically child’s play for an experienced Hero such as himself.

Upon arriving at the camp, the Bulblins on guard seemed to recognize him and promptly lowered their weapons. Link scowled as he moved past them. Even though they were supposed to be on good terms, the green-skinned race still seemed so hostile.

Eventually, he spotted his target and made his way over to him. King Bulblin sat in front of a large fire, devouring some sort of meat. The brute barely glanced up as the Hero dismounted. A moment later, he continued enjoying his meal.

Link merely sighed. He had expected at least some sort of reaction to his presence. “You look well. I take it you survived the harsh winter?”

Bulblin swallowed and shrugged. “It wasn’t much trouble. We moved to the warmer areas until the storms passed over. The desert proved acceptable.”

Link raised his brow. “You lived in the desert? What did you eat to get by?”

“Leevers.”

The Hero sighed in disgust. “You guys eat Leevers?”

“Flesh is food, isn’t it?”

In this moment, Link was once again reminded of why the entirety of Hyrule seemed to reserve judgment against these creatures. They were truly barbaric at heart.

“Besides,” Bulblin continued as he tossed away a clean bone, “we were told not to ambush or steal, yes? So we hunted what we could from the wild.”

This time, Link blinked, letting his frown dissolve into an expression of surprise. He was genuinely impressed to hear that. “So you upheld your end of the deal, then? No crimes have been committed since we last met?”

“No, our weapons have remained free of human blood,” Bulblin confirmed. He then gave the Hero a confused look. “Is that not what you desired?”

“No, no, it is!” Link assured him. “I’m just surprised is all. I didn’t expect you to change your ways so easily.”

“We will do whatever the strongest side asks of us,” Bulblin said as he grabbed a fresh piece of meat. “That is all we have ever known.”

“Right,” Link noted, reminding himself of their odd lifestyle once again. He supposed that he should just be thankful that their simple ideals forced them to listen to him now instead of some power-hungry warmonger.

“Would you care to eat?” Bulblin asked, suddenly gesturing to an open spot by the fire.

Link eyed it warily. He wasn’t opposed to eating, but he certainly had some reservations about this. “What are you eating?”

“Deer.”

Link breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn’t some grotesque monster, he supposed he could try it. “Very well. Thank you.”

Link took a seat next to the fire. A she-Bulblin soon handed him a warm and juicy meat chop. He winced when he discovered that it was the witch known as Reshka sitting next to him. She grinned with pointed teeth as she bore into him with her violet eyes. He soon turned away, trying to enjoy his meal.

“Anyway, Zelda asked me to come here so I could deliver a letter to you,” Link explained while he chewed.

“The monarch?” Bulblin questioned.

“Technically it’s ‘matriarch’, but yes. She’s planning to invite you to the castle in the near future. After that, she’ll work on establishing relations between your people and the rest of Hyrule.”

“Okay,” was all Bulblin said, almost as if he didn’t care.

Link rolled his eyes as he retrieved the letter and went to hand it over. He winced as he watched the King accept it with greasy fingers.

“Everything you need to know is in there,” Link clarified. “Zelda expects you to arrive at a certain date and time. I assume that won’t be a problem?”

“No,” he replied bluntly.

Link merely scowled. He was starting to have severe doubts about this. “Just to be sure, you do know what a date is, right? And how calendars work?”

“Of course. We are not animals, Hero,” Bulblin replied as he tore a huge chunk of meat away from the bone using only his jaw.

The eyes of the Hero rolled once more. “Right…”

 

---

 

Link managed to return to the castle by the end of the day. Naturally, he wished to report the results of his trip to Zelda. After politely requesting her time, he found himself seated in her study once more.

“Well, how did it go?” she asked, appearing eager.

“It went fine,” he said with a smile. “King Bulblin is kind of hard to talk to since he’s always so blunt and disinterested with anything that isn’t meat. But I managed to deliver the letter and he seemed to understand what was expected of him moving forward.”

“Excellent. And did they reaffirm their promise to behave themselves and follow the law?”

“Yes. Bulblin claimed that they spent the winter in the desert, eating Leevers,” Link shared with a shake of his head. “Ordinarily, I’d be a little skeptical, but coming from them it’s honestly not all that surprising.”

“I suppose not,” Zelda agreed with a smile. “But as long as they aren’t committing any crimes, I can live with it.”

“It’s strange though,” Link mused. “I never imagined that the Bulblins could be so tame and peaceful, and yet they are. And it turns out that all you had to do was ask them nicely.”

Zelda laughed at this. “It’s a sign that Hyrule is making steady progress towards a better future. And Link, don’t forget that you’re the only one they listen to. If you didn’t have their respect, this would surely be a different story.”

“You’re right,” he agreed. “I guess it’s pretty fortunate that things have turned out the way they have.”

“We are incredibly fortunate, if only because we have you working alongside us,” Zelda said brightly. Link merely blushed at her praise, causing her to laugh more. “Thanks again for pledging your help in this matter, Link. You have my utmost gratitude.”

“It’s my pleasure. After all, I want to make Hyrule a better place too.”

Link and Zelda smiled as they looked into one another’s eyes. For a moment, the Hero felt that he had managed to put his conflicted feelings behind him. Long gone was the weight of his guilt and regret, and standing in its place was affirmation and appreciation shared equally between two close friends. The moment felt so warm. So natural. So right.

A ray of light from the setting sun filtered in through the window, suddenly casting Zelda into a golden glow. She appeared ethereal, as if she truly was the beautiful angel that he believed her to be. He felt his heartbeat quicken as his mouth began to dry. His mind was telling him that something was off, but his heart insisted that everything was perfect.

On second thought, perhaps there was some conflict still brewing within him…

“Is everything all right?”

Zelda’s concerned voice and curious gaze tore him out of his reverie. “Huh? Um, yeah, why?”

“It looked like you were staring,” she noted with a bemused smirk.

Maybe I was, Link wanted to answer back. But he forcefully held his tongue. How could he possibly make such comments after rejecting her? Surely it would’ve been wrong to toy with her like that!

The silence dragged on, slowly growing more uncomfortable for the Hero. Zelda continued to watch him curiously. Fortunately, just as she opened her mouth to ask another question, Link was saved by the sound of the door slamming open.

“Your Majesty!” a breathless maid cried, catching both of their attention. “Pardon the interruption, but I’m afraid there’s an urgent matter at the castle gate which requires your immediate attention!”

Zelda blinked before her expression turned grim. She instantly rose to her feet. “Of course, what seems to be the trouble?”

“An important dignitary from a neighboring Kingdom has just arrived and is asking for you. His appearance is unexpected and the guards weren’t sure what to tell him, but he insisted that he meet with you at once.”

“That does sound like trouble,” Zelda agreed. Pursing her lips, she quickly moved for the door, only halting for long enough to address the Hero. “Forgive me, Link. I’m afraid I’ll have to cut our meeting short.”

“Hold on,” Link said, hopping to his own feet. “I’ll go with you.”

Zelda studied him for a moment, as if weighing the benefits of bringing him along. Eventually she nodded. “Very well. It might help to have your presence at hand. Now, let’s be swift.”

Link nodded and began racing down the halls behind Zelda and the maid. He didn’t fully understand what was going on, but it certainly sounded urgent. As far as he knew, foreign dignitaries rarely showed up at the castle unannounced. Their visit typically would have been planned far ahead of time, especially if it was an amicable one. To show up without announcing your intentions could mean any number of things. The best possibility was rudeness and a lack of manners. The worst was assassination or the intent to declare war.

Link swallowed. He prayed that it wouldn’t be anything too serious…

Upon arriving at the courtyard, the Hero and Queen found that a commotion was already well underway. Soldiers and servants loosely congregated around a luxurious carriage, where Minister Fost seemed to be anxiously speaking to someone. It was hard to get a look at the unexpected visitor from this distance, but Zelda didn’t let that stop her. Displaying great courage, she marched forth, parting the crowds.

“Excuse me!” she called above the current discussion between Fost and the visitor. “Excuse me. I have been informed that an unexpected guest has arrived at my castle. May I ask who has come, and what exactly is the meaning of this?”

Fost turned, quickly going to explain. “Your Majesty. Thank goodness you’re—”

“Ahhhh!” he was suddenly cut off. “Is it truly you, my love? The fair and beautiful Princess Zelda of Hyrule? Why, you are even more marvelous than I imagined!”

The entire courtyard fell silent. Link felt his mouth fall open. Fost looked appalled. Zelda merely froze, appearing torn between utter confusion and utter disbelief.

It was hard to decide what was the most ridiculous part of this scene. Was it the visitor’s words, which were so unbelievably forward and off-putting? Was it his voice, which sounded so boisterous, pretentious, and quite frankly, exaggerated? Or was it possibly his wardrobe, which appeared so outdated and comical, it could surely only have originated in a circus performer’s closet?

Link took a minute (yes, a full minute) to eye the man from head to toe. He was around Link’s height, but broader and stockier. His face was surprisingly large (almost comically so) and was home to green eyes, sandy hair which was properly curled at the ends (it did not look natural in the slightest), and a petite mustache and thin beard. His clothes were even more eye-catching, but for all the wrong reasons. A bright green suit with even brighter blue pinstripes. It “poofed” out into rounder shapes near his shoulders and legs, nearly making him look inflated. A red half-cape half-vest which only covered his back, not his front or his shoulders. White sleeves that ended in silly looking frills. A ridiculously large collar which somehow contained even sillier looking frills. And finally, the only piece which seemed at least somewhat respectable: a simple golden circlet which rested on his brow.

The silence continued unabated.

“My love, Princess Zelda of Hyrule!” the man repeated in his boisterous voice. He placed one hand over his heart and cast the other out into the air. “How lovely you are!”

Zelda blinked. Once. Twice. After the third time, she finally managed to shake her head a bit and conjure some words of her own. “I…I beg your pardon. Who are you, exactly?”

Fost cleared his throat, stepping forward. “That was what I was just about to explain, Your Majesty. You see—”

“I am Prince Vaen of Hytopia!” the man called out with no sense of shame or humility whatsoever. “And I have come to win your heart, my fair Princess.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Were Link’s jaw capable of doing so, he was certain it would've plummeted into the earth.

“Prince Vaen of Hytopia?” Zelda repeated, as if she could only fathom one piece of information at a time. “You are a Prince from our neighboring land?”

“Exactly so, my Princess!”

“And you have arrived at our doorstep unannounced in order to…”

“Win your heart!”

“So…you intend to become my suitor, then?”

“Of course, my love! Did my letter not make my intentions clear?”

“Letter?” Zelda repeated. “What letter?”

It was at this point that Fost rushed to her side, and after a bit of encouragement, convinced the Princess to lean down so he could whisper in her ear. “Your Majesty, this is the suitor who sent you that letter the other day. The one specifically addressed to ‘My Love’...”

Zelda’s face immediately paled. She had only skimmed that ridiculous letter, but now that she thought about it, the name “Vaen” did sound somewhat familiar. “This is him?” she whispered quietly.

“The very same.”

“Why is he here unannounced?”

“Are you to tell me that you didn’t invite him here?”

“No, I didn’t even take the time to respond to his letter. It sort of slipped my mind…”

Fost scoffed. “Your Majesty! Did I not warn you of how important it was to reply—”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Zelda hastily cut him off. “I was preoccupied with other things and made an honest mistake. I never expected this suitor to be so persistent though…” Her voice trailed off, sounding uncertain.

Just then, a short woman (one who rivaled Fost when it came to height, or lack thereof) stepped forward to stand by the Prince. She had apparently been present the entire time, although no one had paid her any mind until this moment. Probably because of her incredibly noticeable attention-seeking companion.

“What’s with all the whispering? That’s hardly a warm way to welcome your guests,” she remarked in a dissatisfied tone. She soon turned to the Prince beside her. “Such ungracious hosts, wouldn’t you say, My Lord?”

“Now, now, Drabby, let’s not be rude,” replied the man who up until now had been incredibly rude. “They surely are still wrapping their heads around our stylish entrance.”

Zelda ceased her whispering as she faced the tiny woman. She refused to be insulted in such a way when she was hardly in the wrong. “Excuse me, madame, but who might you be?”

The short woman smugly grinned as if expecting this. She seemed older in age, perhaps in her fifties or sixties. She donned a slim, stylish dress which fell to her knees, white boots, white floral hat, and glasses which were tinted darker than usual. To Zelda, she seemed like a woman who was hopelessly trying to capture youth and class alike, but failed to attain either. The older woman soon bowed and went to introduce herself, but it seemed that the Prince was happy to cut her off.

“Ah, this is Drabby. My attendant.”

The woman scowled a bit while Zelda felt her brow rise. “Drabby?”

“It’s short for ‘the Drablands Witch’,” the older woman explained.

“You’re a witch?” Zelda asked calmly.

“I am indeed.”

“And you serve the Royal Family of Hytopia?”

“It beats living in those awful Drablands back home.”

“Everyone calls her Drabby, since that’s where she came from,” the Prince explained, his expression completely serious.

“What are the Drablands?” Link asked, speaking up for the first time.

Everyone immediately turned to him, and he merely gulped. He was barely following along with the situation at hand. He figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask for some clarification before things got even more confusing.

“The Drablands are the wild, untamed areas of Hytopia,” the woman known as “Drabby” supplied. “It is home to many dangerous beasts.”

“And this was your home as well, before being taken in by the Royal Family?” Zelda inquired.

“That is correct,” she answered with a slight sneer.

Zelda turned to Vaen. “And your family was content with accepting a witch into their household?”

“Oh, very much so,” the Prince answered without missing a beat. “Mother and Father were simply taken with Drabby and her silly magic tricks. And she’s proven to be so reliable over the years too.”

Drabby blushed a bit, exaggerating her embarrassment as she placed both hands to her cheeks. “Oh, you flatter me, Prince.”

Zelda sighed, already growing weary of the antics provided by this duo. “Yes, well Miss Drabby, you’ll have to forgive us for failing to provide you a warm welcome, for you see that the two of you failed to announce your arrival in the first place. This encounter was completely unprecedented.”

“I thought my letter should have made it obvious, my lovely Princess Zelda,” Vaen answered with arms enthusiastically outstretched. “That nothing would separate our love for one another. Not even distance or formalities.”

Zelda stared at the man as if he was a lunatic. As far as Link was concerned, he very well could’ve been.

“Prince Vaen, was it?” the Queen asked in a stern, frustrated tone. “I’m afraid that there are a number of things which you desperately need to understand, so please, listen closely. First off, there is no love shared between us. I hardly know you and I will not be falling for your ‘charm’ so easily. And even if there were such an affection between us, it would not give you the right to completely dismiss all of your manners.

“Second, you are referring to me with the wrong title and you have done so a number of times already. My official title is Queen Zelda, and you would do well to remember it. As long as you remain within the walls of my castle, and the boundaries of my Kingdom, I expect you to treat me with the respect I am owed.

“Lastly, I am afraid that the time in which I was attempting to find a suitor has long since passed. You are far too late, and my hand, which you seem to so desperately desire, is no longer available.”

Vaen had kept a blank face throughout the Queen’s scolding, but it was only this last bit of information that seemed to pique his interest. “Ah, so you have already taken a husband?”

At this, Zelda froze, promptly frowning. “Er…well, no.”

Vaen produced a bright grin, thrusting his hands into the air once more. “Ah, then there is no issue!”

“Now hold on a moment,” Zelda tried to quiet him. “Just because I am unmarried does not mean that I intend to pursue a courtship with you.”

“Do you have better prospects then our dashing Prince here?” Drabby interjected. “If not, it is only fair that you give My Lord a chance to prove the legitimacy of his affection, Your Majesty.”

Zelda went to protest once more, but halted as Fost began to whisper. “She has a point, My Queen. We can’t simply turn him away without good reason. It would stain Hyrule’s reputation.”

“They’re incredibly rude and arrogant!” Zelda seethed back. “Is that not reason enough?”

The Minister sighed. “I understand, but our relationship with Hytopia has always been healthy and friendly. It would be unwise to trample upon it over an unannounced arrival.”

“Fost, he’s vying for my hand,” Zelda hissed. “This is not a light matter!”

“I know it’s not, but we can’t simply throw our own formalities out the door!”

Meanwhile, Link scowled as he continued to eye the foreign Prince. What had initially started as stunned surprise soon boiled into a righteous rage. The Hero could feel his patience wearing thin for this dignitary. Not only was he unpleasant, rude, forward, and shameless, but he also seemed to be upsetting Zelda! And if there was one thing he truly hated, it was anyone that caused trouble for his Queen.

As he listened to the frantic whispering between Queen and Minister, Link felt his patience reach its limit. He soon stepped forward, gently grabbing her by the arm and pulling her close. She seemed surprised but went still as he whispered his own suggestion in her ear.

“Zelda, if you don’t want this guy here, or if he’s making you uncomfortable, just say the word and I’ll drive him off.”

She turned to look at him like he was crazy. “Link, you can’t do that—”

“Yes, I can,” he said with a small grin. “It would be easy. Like chasing off an annoying fly. Or herding goats.” He smirked at his own joke. “And you wouldn’t have to take any of the blame. You could just say I went rogue or something and acted out of my own accord. Then your reputation with Hytopia won’t be ruined.”

Zelda studied him for a moment. “But yours will,” she whispered back.

“I’ve never cared much about my reputation,” he said with a small laugh. “You should know that.”

Zelda sadly smiled at him. She didn’t fully believe those words. Link did care about his image in this society, at least a little bit. But she could easily believe that Link didn’t care about Vaen’s opinion in the slightest. He was willing to burn that bridge in a heartbeat, all for her sake.

Still, she would never wish for him to be so self-destructive. She soon shook her head. “No, that’s all right. I appreciate your offer, but this is a Queen’s trouble and I assure you that I am more than capable of handling it.”

Link furrowed his brow and was about to argue back when the Prince’s annoying voice interrupted them. “Ah, how much longer will your whisperings go on, My Love? I hate to say it, but this is truly becoming rather rude.”

Link had half a mind to snap and tell the Prince to shut up, but thankfully Zelda was calmly addressing him long before he got the chance. “Forgive me, Prince Vaen. We do not mean to offend you in any manner.”

“And that is not all!” Vaen continued. “Who is this man in green who stands so close to you and treats you so casually? He even placed a hand on your arm! Rather forward of him, no?”

Link gave the Prince a deadpan stare. So you do know what it means to be forward with someone? Are you actually serious? Take a look in a mirror sometime!

Again, Zelda spared Link from voicing his thoughts by cordially addressing the other party. “Perhaps some introductions are in order then? This is Link, the Hero of Twilight and a close friend of mine.”

Vaen scowled a bit, looking displeased. “Hero of Twilight? Is that some sort of title?”

“It is indeed.”

“It is not a title which I have ever heard of before. It hardly impresses my ears.”

“Well, to be perfectly frank, Prince Vaen, I have little interest in what you do and do not find impressive. That is a personal matter for you to consider. That being said, I would be happy to give you a short history lesson. You would do well to remember the customs of the land you inhabit. Here in Hyrule, the title of Hero is reserved for only the most brave and well-renowned individuals who have performed an exceptional service for our Kingdom.”

Vaen scowled some more before crossing his arms. “Oh? And what service did he perform, exactly?”

At this, Zelda nearly rolled her eyes. Her own patience was wearing thin. “How much time have you got?” she asked sarcastically.

Naturally, the Prince completely missed the hinted sarcasm, and addressed her with complete seriousness. “Why, for you, My Love, I have all the time in the world!”

Zelda’s confidence faltered at this. “In that case, I’ll spare myself some trouble and give you the short version. He saved our entire Kingdom when it was under attack from the Twilight Realm. You would do well to remember that. I expect you to treat our Hero with the utmost respect.”

Vaen’s expression soured again, clearly not pleased with these instructions. His companion, on the other hand, seemed ecstatic.

“Oho, the Twilight Realm, you say?” Drabby murmured as she rubbed her chin. “We heard reports that Hyrule experienced such a thing in the previous year.”

“Well, the reports were correct. It was a very dire and tragic time for our Kingdom.”

“I’ve always considered the outer realms to be such a fascinating topic,” Drabby continued, not appearing sorrowful in the slightest. “I’ve never had the chance to study the Twilight. It is rather fortunate that I now find myself in Hyrule, which has such a strong connection to their realm. I’m sure that there is much that can be discovered here.”

Zelda frowned. “You wish to study the Twilight Realm?”

“As a witch, I am naturally curious,” she said with a snicker. “I would love being able to make use of whatever materials your library has on the subject.”

Zelda’s frown grew heavier. She did not like this woman who seemed selfish, careless, and above all else, untrustworthy. “Well, your fascination with our land and its lore is doubtlessly appreciated, but I’m not sure that I am willing to accept you into our halls at this point in time. We are still so freshly met, after all.”

“Now, now, let’s not be hasty, Your Majesty!” Drabby quickly argued. She soon rushed forward, beckoning Zelda to come closer. She then began to whisper. “You wouldn’t want to disregard formalities and ruin your Kingdom’s kinship with Hytopia, now would you? Of course not. So let’s strike a deal. If you provide rooms for My Lord and myself, and allow me to visit your esteemed library, I’ll convince the Prince to relax and not be so forward with his actions. His pursuit will not be an issue to you, and you won’t have to worry about sending him crying to mommy and daddy. You can simply deny his advances at a more formal and polite pace. Unless, of course, you end up falling for our dashing Prince,” she finished with another snicker.

Zelda stopped herself from rolling her eyes at the last comment and considered the proposal at hand. It certainly had its benefits. If she humored the Prince for now—placated him by offering a room and some of her attention—she would easily be able to deny his advances later. The Royal Family of Hytopia could hardly complain if Zelda gave him a fair chance at winning her hand, after all. The only thing she would have to do in return would be to simply put up with him for a while, which was certainly doable.

The only other concern was the Drablands Witch herself. Zelda wasn’t sure what her goal here was, or why she seemed so obsessed with the Twilight Realm, but it honestly set her on edge. It wouldn’t surprise her if the witch were up to some sort of mischief, and the Queen knew firsthand just how dangerous it could be to meddle with the Twilight. Her eyes narrowed.

“What are you after?”

“Just a chance to study the unknown,” Drabby replied innocently. “You can’t blame a magician for being curious, can you?”

Zelda scowled some more. No, she supposed she couldn’t fault anyone for pursuing knowledge. If anything, she understood that sentiment quite well. But there was still a fine line between being understanding and being downright foolish. Information, no matter how innocent, could prove dangerous in the wrong hands. 

“I’ll grant you limited access to the library,” Zelda murmured under her breath. “And you’d best make sure that this Prince of yours behaves.”

Drabby grinned. “Oh, I can guarantee it.”

It was around this point that the Prince in question scoffed. “Come now, Drabby, you are whispering too? When will it be my turn to whisper sweet comments into My Love’s ear?”

“All in good time, My Lord!” Drabby remarked as she made her way back to him. “Remember, a maiden appreciates a man who is patient and delicate above all else.”

“Ah, I see,” Vaen responded, nodding his large head a bit.

Zelda frowned as she watched them. It seemed that the little witch was manipulative as well. She didn’t really want to offer her access to all the ancient tomes in the library, but she had basically provided the best solution to Zelda’s current predicament. The Queen hardly felt like she had a choice. She would simply have to keep an eye on the witch and send her away at the earliest opportunity.

But for now, Zelda needed to relent. Sighing a bit, she addressed the nearest maid. “Would you kindly prepare two rooms for our guests? We’ll allow them a temporary stay here at the castle, so as to get better acquainted with them.”

Many of the spectators seemed surprised at this news, as this encounter had been nothing short of a disaster by normal standards. Then again, their Queen had always been patient and forgiving of others, so it wasn’t too surprising to see that she was offering these strangers some hospitality. They soon began bustling around the courtyard. The servants were ready to get to work, while the soldiers were eager to return to their posts.

“Fost, would you please escort our guests inside and show them around a bit? I’m afraid I still have other matters to attend to before the day is through.”

Fost sighed, appearing apprehensive about this decision, although he supposed that he couldn’t deny the results. He was definitely not interested in starting any political scandals here in Hyrule, so if he was required to entertain these guests in order to avoid such an outcome, he would do exactly that. “Very well. Follow me, young Prince and Miss Drabby.”

“Hold on a moment, Sir,” Vaen requested. He then approached Zelda before extending a hand, palm upwards. “I have yet to say farewell to My Love.”

Zelda sighed, realizing what he wanted. Considering their positions and his intent, she supposed it would be rude to refuse him. Reluctantly, she placed her hand atop his own, and allowed him to press a kiss to her knuckles.

“Until tomorrow, My Love,” Vaen whispered as sweetly as he could.

Zelda fought hard not to cringe.

The trio of Minister, Prince, and witch soon walked away, entering the castle proper. With the additional scattering of servants, Zelda was now left alone with only the Hero by her side. She slowly glanced at him, only to find him watching her with an expression that read of concern and frustration. He frowned at her.

“Zelda, are you sure about this?” he asked quietly. “Inviting that annoying jerk in here and letting him…letting him pursue you?”

She smiled a bit, appreciative of his concern. “Yes, I am sure. This will be the simplest way to deal with him for now. I can send the Prince away once he feels heard and it is clear that I have no interest in him.”

Link continued to study her, almost as if looking for a sign of deceit. He soon sighed and dropped it. “And how long will you have to put up with him?”

“A few weeks. Perhaps a few days if he continues to behave so foolishly.”

Link swallowed, already feeling uncomfortable about this. “Will you survive?”

Zelda smiled and gave him a brave nod. “So long as the Goddesses grant me patience. I have the feeling I’m certainly going to need it.”

Link offered a sad smile in return. “Is there anything else you’ll need? Because if there’s anything I could do to help make his expulsion—I mean, stay—go a little quicker…”

Zelda considered this, appearing lost in thought for a moment. She soon smirked. “As a matter of fact, there is a small favor you could do for me…”

Notes:

Everyone welcome Prince Vaen, a character who borders on being cartoonishly annoying. He hails from Hytopia, a land that I think most Zelda fans tend to forget about 😂 Shoutout to anyone who suffered through Tri Force Heroes, one of my least favorite Zelda games by a wide margin lol.

Vaen can be pronounced any way you please. In my mind, it is one-syllable, like vane (Or, you know, vain. Yes, I am very funny and witty, thanks for noticing lol), but you could also pronounce it as Vay-enn if you like. To me, the latter definitely sounds more royal.

To be honest, this is one of the plotlines that I feel least confident about, as I feel it might border on being cliché. However, I feel that this plot thread is necessary to achieve the conclusion I desire, so I committed to it. Hopefully the story will continue to entertain until the very end!

As always, thanks for reading :)

Chapter 77: Progress

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 77 – Progress

Link walked along the aisles of the castle library, casually perusing the bookshelves. He reached for a book, flipping it open and scanning the contents. Or at least, that’s what he appeared to be doing. In actuality, the Hero was staring past the pages of the book, through an empty space in the bookshelf before him, towards a small table where a short witch was seated. Drabby, also known as the “Drablands Witch”, was reading through some old tome. Link’s eyes narrowed as he watched her.

The Hero was not one to typically be suspicious of others, nor did he typically go out of his way to spy on them from behind bookshelves, but this was a special case. Zelda had voiced her doubts about the witch’s intentions, and humbly asked if Link would be willing to keep an eye on her for a few days while she studied in the library. The Queen didn’t want to believe that the older woman was up to no good, considering the peaceful relationship between their respective Kingdoms, but she knew best just how dangerous the Twilight could be, and anyone wishing to study it could be equally as dangerous. On top of this, it certainly didn’t help that Drabby was a witch who hailed from a dangerous wildland. The woman was about as dubious as one could possibly be.

And so, here Link was, spying on the witch and trying to make sure that she wasn’t doing anything unlawful or suspicious. It was mundane work, but he gladly agreed to it. He would do anything for the sake of upholding justice and keeping his Kingdom safe. And of course, he would always be willing to assist Zelda with whatever she needed.

The only issue was…Link didn’t feel like he was particularly good at this sort of thing. He could barely see the witch from his current position, and he couldn’t even make out the title of the book she was reading either. He supposed he could move somewhere else to try and get a better view, but it was here that the library proved troublesome. Drabby was in an open area and there were barely any places to hide! She’d surely spot him in an instant if he moved closer. And it certainly didn’t help that the Hero rarely frequented the library as it was. He looked terribly out of place here.

Just then, an idea struck him. His hawkeye mask! If he had that, he could easily zoom in and spot her tome—

As he pursued this line of thought, the witch suddenly sighed, lowering her book. “How long are you going to eye me from afar, Hero of Twilight?”

Link froze, only raising his book so he could hide behind it. What was going on? Had she spotted him?

“I can sense you hiding back there,” she called with a sneer. “Why don’t you come over here and talk? I’m sure it will be easier to get your answers that way.”

Link sighed, realizing that he had truly been caught. He returned his book to the shelf before stepping around and presenting himself. “I was that noticeable, huh?”

Drabby smirked. “It’s very difficult to spy on an experienced witch. You would do well to remember that. Now come. Sit.”

She gestured to an empty seat opposite of her and Link obliged. Now finally within eyeshot, the Hero took a moment to inspect her tome. It seemed to be focused on the outer realms, of which the Twilight Realm was doubtlessly included. Link had a feeling that Zelda had consulted that book the last time they had visited the library together.

“Your Queen sent you to spy on me, did she?” Drabby asked bluntly.

Link frowned, looking a little guilty. “You knew?”

“Of course. It’s only natural that she finds a foreign witch to be at least a little untrustworthy.” She cackled a bit.

“Sorry,” Link apologized. “We’re not trying to be rude or anything.”

“Pfft, it’s hardly any trouble,” the witch scoffed. “Feel free to run yourselves ragged keeping an eye on me. It’s no skin off my bones.”

Link could only eye the woman warily. It was strange how casual and relaxed she was about all of this. Almost as if she had nothing to hide. At the very least, Link didn’t really find her suspicious.

Drabby soon snapped her tome shut and set it aside. She then turned to the Hero, gazing at him from behind her tinted glasses. “If anything, having you here is a stroke of good fortune. I’m sure that you know much more about the Twilight Realm than most of these old books. How about you and I have a little chat? I’d love to ask you some questions.”

Link leaned back, feeling uncomfortable. “Um…I’m not so sure about that…”

“Why not?” Drabby challenged him. “That Queen of yours wanted to know what I was studying, didn’t she? And what better chance will you have then for me to ask my questions directly?”

Link took a second to think it over. She did have a point. If she was going to be completely open about her interest in the Twilight, Link would end up with all the answers they needed. Besides, if she was asking him the questions, he could withhold any information he pleased. This was basically the best outcome possible.

“Fine,” he agreed. “But I wouldn’t exactly consider myself an expert. All I know is what I dealt with during the Twilight Invasion.”

“That will do well enough,” she replied with a smug grin.

“What do you want to know?”

The short witch proceeded to spend the next half hour asking question after question, inquiring about the Hero’s adventure to save his Kingdom from the threat of Twilight. Link did his best to explain his journey as best he understood it, only withholding details whenever he felt it would be best not to say too much. Drabby listened to each answer with great interest before pressing him for more. They discussed the Twilight Realm. What it was. The inhabitants who lived there. What the Twilight was capable of. What Midna and Zant were capable of. Link’s transformation into a wolf. The Shadow Beasts.

“They sound like feral creatures,” Drabby noted, taking particular interest in the final topic. “Tell me, did they originate in the Twilight Realm?”

“Presumably,” Link answered with a shrug. “Zant always summoned them through portals in the sky.”

“How interesting. And you managed to fight them off single-handedly?”

“More or less. Sometimes Midna helped.”

Drabby grinned, baring her surprisingly bright teeth. “It sounds like you went on quite the adventure, Hero. You now carry tales of battle and bloodshed with you.”

“I guess so,” he said with another shrug. To be honest, he never really dwelt on such things.

“And it is my understanding that you hail from a small farming village in the forest?”

Link nodded. “Ordon Village, to the south. It’s a quiet place, but it’s home.”

“Such humble origins, and yet you worked your way into a position at the castle,” she mused. “I suppose you and I have that in common, boy.”

Link blinked a bit. “I suppose we do.”

“Perhaps you and I should meet here more often,” Drabby suggested. “It seems we both have something to gain from having friendly discussions, after all.”

“I don’t know. Maybe,” Link agreed halfheartedly. Truth be told, he wasn’t exactly keen to get close to this witch and her Prince. Especially when Link was looking forward to the day when Zelda would reject his advances and send them on their way. The sooner the Queen could relax, the sooner he could too.

“Tell me,” the witch suddenly continued, “this dear friend of yours, Midna… You haven’t had any contact with her since the day she shattered that mirror, have you?”

Link frowned. “No, I haven’t.”

Drabby smirked before reaching for her tome and opening it once more. “Would you like to?” she offered.

Link blinked before leaning forward. “What? Don’t tell me…do you have a way to contact her? Or contact the Twilight Realm?”

She cackled like the witch that she was. “Excited, are you, boy? Well, I’m afraid to say that I don’t have anything substantial yet. But as I continue to study the Twilight and its properties, there’s always the chance that I could find something useful. And if I should, I would gladly pass it along.”

“You’d do that for me?” Link asked in disbelief.

“Of course. My Prince and I are here on friendly terms, no? The least I could do is share the fruits of my research with those who appreciate it.”

“Wow, that would be great,” Link said with a wide grin. “Thank you.”

“Save your thanks for after I find it,” she insisted. “I won’t promise anything, by the way.”

“Right,” Link said with a nod. He would do his best not to get his hopes up, but he appreciated this witch’s effort all the same. He then paused, wondering if he should truly be indulging her in this research of hers. He frowned, growing wary once more. “Wait, why are you so interested in studying the Twilight in the first place?”

The woman smiled, trying to appear innocent. “Chalk it up to curiosity’s sake. The Twili were well-known as adept spellcasters. I have much to learn from studying their culture.”

Link nodded. He supposed he couldn’t blame her for being curious. Zelda was the same way when it came to the topic of history.

“Does that answer satisfy you?” she asked, as if waiting for confirmation to proceed with her reading.

“Yes,” he answered back. “But…I’ll be checking up on you again sometime. Just to make sure you’re not up to anything sinister.”

“I look forward to it,” she replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “It means you and I will have more useful discussions.”

Link simply smiled, happy to entertain the thought. Perhaps this old witch wasn’t as bad as she seemed. At the very least, she was much better company than her companion.

As if on cue, a loud, pretentious voice called out to them. “Ah, Drabby, there you are. Buried in books again, are you?”

Speak of the devil, Link thought as he glumly looked over and spotted Vaen. Naturally, the Prince was decorated in ridiculously bright pinstripes, and looked like he belonged working the counter at the STAR Game rather than standing in a castle library. He soon approached, much to Link’s displeasure.

“Good morning, My Lord,” Drabby greeted him with a smile. “I was just doing a little research. Hyrule is a fascinating place, you know.”

“Indeed!” Vaen agreed. “Why just this morning, I encountered My Love, the fair Princess Zelda, in her garden. She looked heavenly beneath the golden rays of the sun.”

“It’s Queen Zelda, My Lord,” Drabby reminded him.

“Ah, yes,” Vaen replied, as if just now remembering something that should have been obvious.

Link had to fight hard not to roll his eyes.

To his horror, the Prince soon noticed him. “Ah, Hero, well met. Rink, was it?”

“Well met,” Link lied through his teeth. “And it’s Link.”

“Ah, my apologies. Hylian names can be hard to recall at times.”

It’s four letters, one syllable, Link wished to argue back. Instead, he held his tongue. He had no intention of causing a scene, no matter how irritating this man was. Nevertheless, that wouldn’t stop him from putting distance between them.

“That’s all right,” Link forgave him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, there is something I need to take care of.” He went to rise from his seat.

“Off to help the Queen with something?” Drabby asked with an amused grin.

Link scowled at her. It was like she could see right through his poor attempt to dismiss himself. “Yes, something like that.”

“Good day then, Hero,” Drabby said with a lazy wave of her hand.

“Yes, good day, Link,” Vaen added.

Link walked away, trying not to be bothered by his obvious lack of title and the Prince’s even more obvious lack of manners. The day when that man finally left the castle couldn’t come soon enough…

In Link’s absence, Vaen merely frowned, watching him leave the library. Drabby eventually glanced up at him.

“Is something amiss, My Lord?”

“That Hero,” the Prince mumbled with a shake of his head, “I’m not fond of him.”

“And why ever not?”

“He always seems so dismissive and off-putting. And not to mention, he seems to be far too friendly with My Love! Even now, he is off to do her bidding!”

Drabby cracked a smirk. “Are you jealous of that meek man, My Lord?”

Vaen scoffed at the thought. “Of course not! My affection for My Love is so powerful that I could never doubt its legitimacy! But all the same, that Hero truly does irritate me…”

The witch smirked some more, casually turning the page of her tome. “Well, you can rest easy, My Lord. Should that lowly Hero ever prove troublesome, I am certain that I can find a means to do away with him.”

Vaen raised his comically large eyebrows. “And what do you mean by that?”

“Don’t you worry about it,” she answered with a wink. “Just leave all your problems to me, my dear, and focus on pursuing your love.”

The Prince beamed at this suggestion, immediately dropping all of his concerns. “Of course I shall! And thank you, Drabby. You are the best.”

The witch snickered. “I really am, aren’t I?”

 

---

 

A few days passed before another new arrival showed up at the castle. This time, however, the company was expected and even directly escorted by the Hero. Link led the way through the front gate, only to be followed by a large boar and its rider. Some of the guards lifted their spears as they passed by, prepared for any sort of attack or ambush. Given the circumstances, they were understandably nervous, for today was the day that King Bulblin arrived.

Link dismounted Epona and directed Bulblin off to the side of the courtyard where his boar could be properly tethered to a post. The beast was so large that the stables simply weren’t an option for housing it. The King didn’t seem to mind though, happily dismounting and tying his ride to the beam. He then turned to the Hero, as if awaiting instructions.

Link smiled a bit as he eyed him. The King seemed as expressionless as ever, and he looked so out of place standing here in the castle’s sunny courtyard.

“Welcome to the castle,” Link told him. “As I recall, this isn’t your first time visiting.”

Bulblin shook his head. “No. My previous master occupied this place and called it home.”

Link crossed his arms, smirking some more. “Well, now your current master calls this place home too. Don’t forget that.”

Bulblin raised his brow, appearing confused. “You live here as well?”

Link sighed. “I was talking about Zelda, but yes, I do stay here from time to time.”

“Hmm,” was all the King said in response. Link just rolled his eyes. This brute was as hard to talk to as ever.

Link led the way to the castle’s front doors, where Zelda and a handful of anxious guards stood ready to greet them. The Queen produced a warm smile.

“Welcome, King Bulblin. It is an honor to finally have you joining us today.”

Bulblin didn’t say anything in response, content to stare at her with his blank red eyes. Link had half a mind to tell him to answer when spoken to, but Zelda didn’t seem to mind his lack of manners.

“Please, follow me. The rest of our Roundtable party awaits your presence.”

As the Queen turned to walk away, Bulblin simply looked to Link. The Hero sighed before gesturing for him to follow her. “Just to be clear, whatever she says, goes,” he whispered to him.

“Fine,” Bulblin muttered back.

The two of them followed Zelda through the halls. She talked a bit about some of the places they were passing, as well as some of the history of the paintings and architecture. Bulblin remained expressionless throughout, and Link had to fight hard not to smirk. He couldn’t imagine that the brute could care less about these sorts of things, but Zelda carried on as if they were the most fascinating topics in the world. He nearly laughed out loud when Zelda promised to give Bulblin a full tour later. Perhaps he had discovered a way for the Bulblins to be punished for their crimes after all…

Unfortunately, the Hero’s amusement was soon cut short as trouble decided to rear its ugly head. Just as the three of them rounded a corner into a new hallway, they encountered an unsightly Prince.

“Ah, good day, My Love!” Vaen bellowed with arms opened wide, as if ready for an embrace. “What fortune that our paths should cross once again.”

Link watched as a visible vein of annoyance appeared on Zelda’s brow. She balled her hands into fists while she addressed him as formally as she could. “Prince Vaen, I believe I asked you to stop referring to me in such a casual and friendly manner. I don’t recall professing my love for you.”

“Ah, but it is my love for you which constantly pushes me forward and breathes life into my heart. I simply can’t help but refer to you with such affection!”

Zelda promptly scowled. “You can help it and you will. At least if you wish to remain here in my castle for another moment longer.”

Her sharp words quickly cut through all pretenses. Even someone as oblivious as the Hytopian Prince seemed to catch her warning. “Er…I see. Yes. My apologies, fair Princess Zelda.”

“It’s Queen Zelda.”

“Ah, yes. I always seem to forget…”

Zelda scowled some more, looking like she had half a mind to bite the fool’s head off and be done with him for good, but she soon sighed and restrained herself. She wasn’t exactly eager to cause a scene now. Not when she had more important matters to attend to. “Anyways, good day to you, Prince Vaen. If you’ll excuse us, the three of us have a meeting to attend.”

Vaen looked the party over, as if he was only now noticing her companions. He soon raised his comically large eyebrows in surprise. “Oh? A meeting with Sir Link and…” He paused, giving the Bulblin a long stare. “Oh my. What is an ogre doing in the castle halls?”

“This is the King of the Bulblins,” Zelda clarified in a stern voice. “He is my very esteemed guest for the day, and you would do well to treat him as such.”

“A King? This beast?” Vaen immediately earned a sharp glare from Zelda and held his tongue. He appeared as if he had more rude comments to make but had somehow managed to think better of them. “And why’s he so important? That he gets to share your wonderful presence, My L—er, My Pr—My Queen?”

“He is here to speak on behalf of his people. Hyrule will be experiencing some big changes moving forward, and his assistance in the matter will be instrumental.”

“And the Hero?”

“His assistance has been a great aid to me as well. I couldn’t pursue my ambitions without him.” She paused, eyeing the Prince with a frown. “Will that be all, Prince Vaen? We really must be off to our meeting.”

“Ah, wait,” the Prince stammered, looking displeased. “Perhaps I should attend the meeting, since there is a good chance that I shall be beneficial to Hyrule’s future as well.”

Link rolled his eyes, and he assumed that Zelda did much the same. “I’m afraid that I can’t imagine such a thing at this current moment in time,” she dismissed him. “Seeing as how you’re a foreign guest with little to no current stake in our Kingdom, it would be wildly inappropriate to allow you to partake in our private discussions.”

Vaen appeared crestfallen. “You won’t allow me to join you?”

“No,” she said sharply.

“But, My Lo—er, Lady, what am I to do while you are occupied for so long? I’ll be terribly lonely without your company.”

“That is not my concern,” she said with a huff of frustration. “Why don’t you find something else to occupy you for the rest of the day? If you can be patient, I might have time to see you tonight. Is this acceptable?”

Vaen’s face immediately lit up, thrilled at her offer. “Oh, yes, My Lady! I will gladly see you tonight if that is what you desire! Ooh, now how shall I prepare? Surely, I need to offer you an extravagant experience!”

Zelda pinched the bridge of her nose, already having reached the limits of her patience long, long ago. “Very well. Now please, excuse us so we may be on our way.”

“Of course, my fair Queen Zelda.” He then extended his hand, awaiting her own. Zelda hesitated before she obliged purely out of formality, allowing the Prince to kiss her knuckles. He then skipped away, clearly giddy with the small amount of attention she had blessed him with.

It was all Zelda could do not to groan aloud as she turned to face her guest. “Pardon the interruption, King Bulblin. Let’s be off once more.” She soon began leading the way down the hall, as if nothing was amiss.

Meanwhile, Bulblin had remained completely stone-faced throughout the entire encounter. Even now, he turned to the Hero with a blank expression, as if utterly uninterested by today’s events.

“Your people have strange tastes in jesters,” was all he said.

Despite Link’s previous irritation, he managed to crack a smile. He couldn’t tell if the King had a sense of humor, or if he was honestly just clueless. Either way, it amused Link to no end. “If only that were so,” he agreed.

They continued following the Queen until they finally reached the Roundtable meeting room. Upon stepping inside, they found that all of the other members were present and seated. Many of them greeted the new arrivals with fond smiles, although some cast concerned looks at the newcomer among them.

“Greetings, everyone,” Zelda addressed them as warmly as ever. “I would like you all to welcome our newest member to these discussions: King Bulblin.”

The reactions were…mixed, to say the least. Some seemed welcoming, such as Darbus and Auru. Ralis seemed surprised. Kanora simply laughed. Ashei smirked, as if amused by all of this. And last but not least, there were many who expressed hints of concern, including Bo (who had recently returned to these meetings following his recovery), Renado, Fost, and Enzo.

Zelda took all of their expressions in with a tinge of doubt, but she smiled all the same. She soon turned to her guest. “Bulblin, go ahead and take a seat. Then we can properly begin our discussion.”

Bulblin eyed her for a moment before glancing at the table. It wasn’t long before Ashei flashed a wide grin and called out to him. “Why don’t you come over here and sit between me and Link, big guy? That way we can keep an eye on you, yeah?”

Zelda immediately glared at the Knight. “Ashei, don’t be rude.”

“What? I’m only joking…mostly.”

Joke or not, Bulblin didn’t seem the least bit bothered. Instead, he lumbered over to Ashei and took a seat on a large stone stool, not unlike the one which Darbus sat on. Link soon went to join him, sitting at his right.

Once everyone was settled, Zelda took her place at the head of the table, where she properly addressed everyone. “All right. Without further ado, let’s commence this meeting of the Hyrule United Roundtable.”

However, before she had a chance to continue, a hand was raised, calling for her attention. She gave it freely. “Yes, Mayor Bo?”

The Mayor in question slowly lowered his hand, appearing a bit timid, yet resolute. “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but before we begin, I would like to address some…concerns that we have with the King of Bulblins joining these discussions.”

Zelda furrowed her brow, but did not falter in the slightest. “Then let’s hear them. This will actually be our main topic of discussion today. Addressing any doubts over the instatement of the Bulblins as official Hyrulean citizens.”

Bo bowed a bit, appearing shameful. “Well, you see, my village has a rather tragic history of dealing with these creatures.”

“As does mine,” Renado agreed.

Bo nodded. “And many of my citizens have shared their reservations about moving forward with this plan to accept them. Even my own daughter has voiced some strong concerns.”

“There are many in Castle Town who hold similar opinions,” Enzo added. “It is very difficult to trust the Bulblins when they have repeatedly wronged us in the past.”

“Attacking travelers,” Renado mumbled.

“Kidnapping children,” Bo added.

“Kidnapping our Queen,” Fost finished with a scoff.

Zelda closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. She knew that she would face this opposition sooner or later. “I understand and acknowledge all of these transgressions, but I would kindly ask you all to remember that these are incidents of the past and not indicative of the future we are building towards.”

The table was silent for a moment before Bo sadly shook his head. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I do not find it as easy to forgive them as you do.”

Zelda pursed her lips, attempting to ready a response, but was soon interrupted by the sound of Darbus’s bellowing laughter. “Oh, come now, Bo! Don’t be so rigid! If the Bulblin wants to make peace, we should welcome him, no? And just look at his build! Surely he would make for good sumo.”

Bo couldn’t help but crack a smile at his old friend’s comments, but he retained his serious disposition. “Yes, well, as good a wrestler as he may be, that is not enough to excuse his past sins. The Bulblins kidnapped our children, including my own daughter. We were separated for months. This is not a light matter!”

“And let’s not forget how many times they ran rampant in Kakariko Village during the Twilight Invasion,” Renado reminded them. “It is difficult to make peace with someone who is known to be so aggressive.”

“A moment, please,” Auru suddenly interjected with a raised hand. He then smiled before turning to the Bulblin in question. “I would be interested in hearing what King Bulblin has to say for himself.”

“As would I,” Kanora said, bridging her fingers together.

Bulblin merely sat there, appearing as blank faced as ever. Just when Link was starting to wonder if he needed to order the King to answer, he spoke up in his gruff voice.

“We followed the orders of our master. We stole the children in order to use them as hostages while the man of Twilight negotiated your Kingdom’s surrender. He wished for Ordon and many other villages to yield without a fight. Unfortunately, the kids ended up escaping so the whole plot was pointless. But the man of Twilight conquered this land all the same.”

The entire table fell silent. No one knew what to say. No one seemed to have expected such an open and unapologetic confession from the brute.

Zelda cleared her throat, quickly attempting to salvage the situation. “You were only following Zant’s orders, yes? And you have since ceased such activities and agreed to follow Hyrulean law.”

“If that is what the Hero desires,” Bulblin said as he turned to Link.

“Yes, please continue to follow our laws,” Link answered, trying his best not to sigh. It seemed that trying to convince others to trust the Bulblins was truly an uphill battle…

Ashei snickered before leaning over and playfully elbowing Bulblin in the side. “I guess you never expected to be such an exciting topic of discussion, huh, big guy?”

“Ashei,” Zelda breathed. “Would you please?”

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

The Queen merely sighed before attempting to restore order to the discussion. “Hear me. I understand all of your concerns. Truly, I do. But we simply must consider the benefits of establishing peace with the Bulblins before all else. We have a once in a life opportunity to take our enemies and transform them into allies. King Bulblin has already agreed to work with us, and it has been months since his people have caused an incident. They have proven that they can be trusted to keep their word, live by our laws, and follow all of our instructions. Frankly, it would be foolish to disregard such an opportunity.”

“But how do we know?” Bo argued back. “How do we know that the Bulblins can keep their word? That they'll continue to follow our laws? If these brutes have displayed a history of violence and bloodshed, who’s to say that they won’t resort to such a lifestyle in the future?”

“That won’t happen,” Zelda declared adamantly. “Not as long as we have Link working with us. You see, the Bulblins recognize him as the strongest individual in all the land, and have thus agreed to follow all of his commands without question. Isn’t that correct, King Bulblin?”

The King barely nodded. “Aye.”

“You follow the command of whoever you believe to be the strongest?” Auru asked with raised eyebrows.

“Following the strongest side is all we have ever known.”

“Fascinating,” the scholar breathed. He soon began jotting some notes down in his journal, excited as ever to learn more about foreign culture.

“This still raises some serious concerns,” Renado said with a frown. “What’s to stop the Bulblins from betraying us should someone stronger come along and begin issuing orders?”

At this, Zelda smirked. She had anticipated this question in advance. “The answer to that is quite simple. We shall provide the Bulblins with something so enticing that betrayal will be completely off the table. We’ll offer a lifestyle so practical and useful that the Bulblins would loathe the thought of giving it up, regardless of who requests it. That is the relationship I wish to establish with their people, and the future I wish to build for Hyrule.”

“And what sort of ‘enticing lifestyle’ did you have in mind?” Enzo asked curiously.

“The life we already lead,” the Queen answered simply. “One that is comfortable and cozy, and relies on community and trade to get by. We’ll show them the joy of peace.”

“You’ll teach the Bulblins how to live alongside us, and that should deter them from wanting to resort to thievery and violence?” Auru surmised.

“Exactly. We’ll take it in small steps. Introduce the Bulblins to the civilizations across Hyrule. Establish trade between them. Show them that working in tandem with others is more beneficial than surviving on their own. And once we accept them, they are sure to accept us back. I’m certain that we’ll forge a bond that shall not be easily broken.”

The table was silent, marveling at her words, dreams, and passion. It was obvious that Zelda had the utmost faith in this future of hers, and they could start to believe in it too. As always, her arguments were incredibly practical.

Bo, however, remained skeptical. “But who’s to say that the Bulblins will even want such a thing? They’ve never sought companionship from us before.”

“Well, why don’t we ask the big guy?” Ashei suggested. “He’s still here with us, you know.”

The table turned to Bulblin, who shrugged his shoulders. “We are open to following whatever plans the Queen has for us.”

Zelda beamed at him. She appreciated his support and willingness to work alongside her, even if she knew that it all stemmed from a primitive desire to follow Link’s instructions. She sincerely hoped to show them the benefits of working together, and perhaps one day, the Bulblins could learn to live a life free of following others. It probably wouldn’t be easy, since such values were so deeply ingrained in their culture, but she believed it to be an attainable goal all the same.

“Is there anything that your people produce?” Ralis questioned the King. “Anything valuable that we would have an interest in?”

Bulblin thought about it for a moment. “Weapons.”

Bo and Renado turned to each other with looks of concern. Zelda was quick to speak up.

“Your people can also make saddles, yes? And you raise boars?”

Bulblin nodded. “Correct.”

“I’m sure some of the workmen around here would prefer the boars’ natural strength to that of a horse. Especially when they’re working on bigger projects. Wouldn’t you agree, Enzo?”

The Minister frowned but still nodded. “Yes…there could be some use for them, assuming we knew how to control and discipline such animals.”

“I’m sure the Bulblins could show us,” Zelda said positively. “As long as we are all willing to work together.”

Again, the table fell silent, each member seeming to stew on the Queen’s encouraging words. Many of them had to admit that she had a point. If the people of Hyrule were willing to set aside their reservations and work together with the Bulblins, there was surely something to be gained for all parties involved. Nevertheless, making that commitment was still a huge first step. Zelda could tell by the expressions of her more skeptical peers.

“I’m not asking anyone to blindly follow in this plan,” she clarified. “As I said, we’ll take things slow and ease the Bulblins into our society. We’ll get more people involved as they’re comfortable with the idea of it, and we’ll only ever proceed if we witness successful results. Is this acceptable?”

There was still some hesitation among the members, but eventually, every single head nodded in agreement. Nobody intended to contend with the Queen on this matter. Not until they had a more practical argument against her and her potentially harmless ambitions.

Zelda merely smiled. It wasn’t the most ideal conclusion, but she could at least work with this for now. When she glanced over to Link, she found that he was smiling back. It was enough to truly set her heart at ease.

Come what may, she knew that she would always have his support.

Notes:

Justice for the Bulblins!!! I really do love including King Bulblin in this story and allowing him to interact with TP’s cast of characters. I feel like he is such an underutilized character in fanfiction. And I’ve found that his interactions with characters like Link, Zelda, and Ashei are always so fun to write. I enjoy his presence immensely lol.

Chapter 78: Excessive

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 78 – Excessive

The Roundtable meeting came to a close, with all of the members heading off in their separate directions. Zelda insisted that King Bulblin hang back though, and together with Link, they completed a full tour of the castle. Throughout the afternoon, Zelda made every effort to converse with Bulblin as they walked. Asking him questions and trying to learn more about him, in addition to sharing more about herself.

As time went on, Link was surprised to see the King start to open up. He still spoke bluntly and infrequently, but he at least seemed more comfortable with the idea of holding discussions with someone who wasn’t the Hero of Twilight. Link found himself smiling as he witnessed the effort being made on both sides.

Once evening arrived, the time came for Bulblin to depart. Link and Zelda escorted the King to the courtyard where his boar awaited him. He then saddled up before turning to them once more.

“Thank you again for joining us today, King Bulblin,” Zelda said with a respectful curtsy.

“Hmph,” the brute grunted a bit before eyeing the looming castle behind them. “It was nice to visit.”

Link had to fight the urge to laugh. He was pretty sure that this was the first time the King had ever used a word as positive as “nice”. Perhaps the warmonger truly was coming around and warming up to the idea of working towards peace. Or perhaps his new companions had started rubbing off on him.

“I hope to introduce you and your people to Castle Town very soon,” Zelda continued with a hopeful smile. “Expect to hear from me again in the next few days.”

“Fine,” Bulblin agreed. He then turned his attention towards Link. “Hero, when shall our paths cross again?”

Link felt a bit surprised by the query, but soon smirked and crossed his arms. “I imagine we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other, assuming you continue to stay out of trouble.”

“Hmph,” he grunted again. Link wondered if this is how the brute responded whenever he was lost in thought.

Zelda soon spoke up, this time sounding curious. “King Bulblin, would you be willing to answer one final question before you depart?”

His blank red eyes fell on her. “Go on.”

“You once mentioned that you know not only Hylian speech, but numerous other languages as well. And you have apparently known all of this since birth. Tell me, is this true?”

The King was silent for a moment but nodded anyway. “It is all I have ever known. Hylian tongue. Goron tongue. Ancient tongue. I have always understood it perfectly, even though my brethren don’t recognize such words.”

At this, Zelda grinned, appearing amused. “It sounds as if you have been blessed with the gift of tongues.”

Bulblin tilted his head in confusion. Link turned to the Queen, feeling equally lost. “The gift of tongues?”

She nodded earnestly as a spark of passion flashed across her eyes. “It is a rare phenomenon that has been recorded throughout Hyrule’s history. Children who are born and can instinctively understand any form of speech with perfect clarity. There are legends that say the golden Goddesses themselves choose to provide this blessing to individuals with promising futures. It’s usually recognized as a sign that the gifted individual is destined to do great things.”

Link stared at the King, feeling impressed. “And you think that Mr. Bulblin is one of them?”

“Of course,” she assured them both. “I can already see it as our discussions unfold. King Bulblin was destined to be the one who leads his people to peace and prosperity by aligning with Hyrule. The Goddesses must have ordained it, and thus gifted him the ability to speak with us. That’s how I’d like to interpret this blessing, at the very least.”

Link smiled and shook his head. As always, the Queen was being incredibly hopeful and positive. It was honestly inspiring; to see the world as she did.

“Maybe you are right,” Bulblin eventually replied. He appeared thoughtful as he looked away once more. “Perhaps I was given this speech for a reason. I guess only time will tell.”

“That it shall,” Zelda promised him. “I look forward to working with you in all future endeavors, King Bulblin.”

“Hmph,” the brute grunted for the final time. He soon pulled his boar’s reins, directing the beast towards the gate. “I follow the strongest side,” he said with a slight nod.

And just like that, he was off. Link could only crack a smirk as he turned to his remaining companion. “Is it just me, or does he say that a lot? It’s like his mantra.”

Zelda couldn’t resist mirroring his expression. “Perhaps he simply doesn’t want us to forget it. He is only here because he’s following your orders, after all. But there’s no need to fear. I’m sure he’ll start to change his tune as time goes on.”

“That would be nice,” Link agreed.

Zelda then nodded towards the castle. Link nodded back as they began to walk together. It wasn’t long before the Queen sighed.

“I sincerely hope that everything works out with the Bulblins. Even my father had doubts about these plans.”

“I think a lot of people have doubts, but that’s to be expected,” Link encouraged her. “I know that if anyone can assuage those doubts and form a peaceful pact with the Bulblins, it’s you, Zelda.”

She glanced at him with her soft sapphire eyes. Link felt his heart begin to beat a little quicker as he returned her gaze.

“Thank you, Link. I’m grateful to know that I’ll always have your support.”

Zelda then looked away as quickly as she had turned to him, and yet, the side of her profile did nothing to lessen her beauty. She still appeared as the brilliant angel she truly was. The Hero’s eyes soon came to rest on her hand, which lingered at her side. In the moment, he wished for nothing more than to reach out and hold it as they walked.

No, Link’s mind snapped at him. You can’t do that. You already rejected her, didn’t you? You have no right to show interest in her. You’d only be teasing the poor girl and fooling yourself!

“Link?”

Zelda’s concerned voice was sharp, cutting through his muddled thoughts and forcing him to focus. “Oh, yes?”

“Are you all right? You seemed rather dazed for a moment there.”

“Er, yeah, I’m fine,” he tried to assure her.

Her concern was still evident in her tone. “Is something troubling you?”

Yes, many things, Link wanted to say. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. It wouldn’t be fair to lay his burdens before her. Not after he had hurt her by refusing to accept her feelings. Feelings that he would’ve given anything to hold on to, if only such a thing were possible.

“Really, I’m fine,” he lied before turning the conversation back on her. “What about you? Are you still getting along okay?”

She seemed surprised at the query, but soon smiled. “I am. It feels like every day since my father’s passing has gotten a little easier, and I’m grateful to have the strength to move on.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Link said sincerely. “I’m sure if your father could see you now, he’d be very proud.”

Zelda beamed at his words, causing Link’s heart to melt within him. “Thank you, Link. That truly means the world to me.”

Somehow, he managed to laugh like it was nothing. “Anytime, Zelda.”

As the two of them finally crossed the threshold and entered the castle’s halls, the Queen was quickly stopped by a servant who seemed frantic and out of breath. He fell into a bow and began to huff out his words.

“Your Majesty, I have a message from our esteemed guest, Prince Vaen of Hytopia.”

Link watched as Zelda’s expression visibly soured before him. Even mentioning the name of that irritating Prince seemed to ruin her otherwise good mood.

“Very well,” she said, completely stoic. “Let’s hear it.”

“He kindly asked that you meet him in the private dining chamber. He has prepared a surprise for you.”

“Is that so?” Zelda asked with raised eyebrows. Link then watched as she stifled a sigh, no doubt dreading whatever lay before her. “I suppose I did promise that I would share his company tonight. Very well, I’ll be off at once. You are dismissed.”

The servant bowed once more before making himself scarce. To Link, he seemed a little too eager to wash his hands of this situation. The Hero’s eyes narrowed a bit. He wondered what exactly the Prince had in store for the Queen…

As if on cue, she suddenly turned to him. “Link, by any chance, would you care to accompany me to the dining room?” she asked with a somewhat shy smile. “I’m admittedly a little fearful of what lies ahead of me, and I feel it would be nice if I had some pleasant company by my side to help me endure…er, whatever this ‘surprise’ may be.”

Link merely smiled. “As if you even have to ask. Come on, let’s go see what the ‘lovestruck fool’ has prepared.”

Zelda playfully swatted his arm. “Link, please be polite! He is still a Prince, after all.” But despite her words, she was grinning at the Hero.

He grinned back before happily escorting her up the nearest staircase.

 

---

 

Zelda’s jaw nearly hit the floor as she entered the room. Link also froze in the doorway, taken aback by what he was witnessing before him. The long dining table had been covered from front to back with only the richest of delicacies. Steam rose into the air while grease sizzled on the plates. A marvelous feast had been displayed before their very eyes, and it was honestly overwhelming.

Especially since Zelda had only been expecting a dinner for two at the most…

It wasn’t long before a certain Prince swung into view, eager to greet the Queen with a brilliant smile. “Ah, My Lady! You have arrived just in time!”

Zelda blinked a few times before finally casting her eyes to him. “Pr-Prince Vaen, what is all of this?”

“Why, it is exactly as it appears! A feast prepared in your honor, My Lo–er, Lady.”

Zelda forced her gaze back to the table, glancing from one end to the other. The assortment was beyond impressive. There were numerous meat dishes and trays of fruit stacked in neat piles and at least four varieties of soup and twenty loaves of warm bread and eight flavors of pie and—

Zelda had to stop here. Looking it over any further would be sure to give her a headache. She soon pinched her nose as she sighed in frustration. “But Prince Vaen, this is absurdly excessive. Why, this is enough food to feed an entire village!”

Vaen clasped his hands together and bowed, as if proud of his work rather than ashamed. “Anything for you, My Lady. Now, would you care to have a seat—”

“No,” she snapped, both quick and blunt. “No, I would not. Where did you acquire all of this food?”

Vaen raised his head a bit, looking surprised upon finally catching the irritation in her tone. “Ah, well it was truly rather simple. I just went to your chefs in the kitchen and ordered them to prepare a feast in your honor.”

“And they complied?”

“They prepared whatever I told them to! And as you can see, I listed a great many things.”

Zelda frowned heavily at this. She made a mental note to talk to her staff later and issue strict instructions that they were not to follow any guests’ orders without her explicit permission. Not even if they were a Prince of a neighboring Kingdom!

“Prince Vaen,” she sighed, “do I need to remind you that the castle chefs are not yours to command? And why did you have them prepare all this food? Surely you understand that I will not be able to eat more than a fraction of it. Much of this feast will go to waste.”

Again, Vaen seemed surprised, but soon grinned and waved off her concerns. “Ah, worry not, fair Princess Zelda. Being royalty, we have access to all the food we could ever want! It does not matter if some should go to waste.”

From the sidelines, Link watched as Zelda’s fingers curled into fists and her shoulders started to quiver. He had a feeling that her blood was boiling within her. And for good reason too. This Prince was a careless fool.

“I will not tolerate wastefulness,” Zelda said in a very strict tone. “And I will not share dinner with someone who boldly thinks of himself as superior to others. I insist that you leave me be for the evening, and instead find a suitable use for this food at once.”

Vaen appeared taken aback, as if he couldn’t believe this outcome. “You…You do not wish to dine?”

“No. I’ll settle for a casual dinner in the dining hall, the same as all of my subjects.”

“B-But I went to all of this trouble to prepare this!”

“You went to all the trouble of ordering it to be prepared,” she reminded him. “I doubt you did any of the work yourself.”

“W-Well…” The Prince glanced down, actually appearing shameful for the first time that night. “I just figured that you might appreciate this…”

“Take note, Prince Vaen,” Zelda said coldly. “The key to my heart is not through extravagance. I actually find little value in such trifles. Now please, forget me and put all of your effort into finding a use for this food.”

“I-I see…” Vaen stammered. He then glanced back at the excessive meal which had just fallen into his lap. “Er, but what am I to do with it all?”

“I’m glad you asked,” Zelda replied, smirking for the first time since her arrival. “How about I have some of my servants come by to help you collect all of this onto a cart, and then you can take it down to Castle Town and distribute it out to the citizens for free.”

Vaen’s eyes widened. “For free?”

“It will be your gift to them,” Zelda insisted. “Or rather, my gift to them, since I’m assuming you acquired all of this food from my own castle’s pantries.”

“But to distribute it all without payment—”

“Will be an admirable display of selflessness. Besides, weren’t you going to let it all go to waste regardless? At least this way it can be put to good use. Filling the stomachs of my subjects.”

The Prince finally hung his shoulders in defeat. He could tell that this meant a lot to Zelda, and he didn’t seem to have the heart to argue against his “Love” any further. “As you wish, fair Princess Zelda.”

“It’s Queen,” she reiterated for what was perhaps the tenth instance. She then let her own shoulders sag a bit as she turned to her companion who had been silent up to this point. “Link, would you be willing to accompany the Prince to Castle Town and aid him in distributing the food?”

Link nearly lost his composure at this, and proceeded to give his friend the most incredulous expression he could muster. “You can’t be serious.”

Her expression softened in return as she stepped closer. She also lowered her voice, so as not to be overheard. “Would you please consider it? I would prefer if someone kept an eye on him and prevented him from performing any further foolish actions.”

Link furrowed his brow. “Why can’t you do it?”

“I’m afraid I have other matters to take care of at the moment.” Zelda then looked away, appearing annoyed for only an instant before facing him once more. “Now, would you be willing to do me this small favor? Please?”

As she pleaded, she made sure to make excessive use of her eyes. Naturally, Link crumpled like paper beneath her precious sapphires. They were ever his weakness.

“Fine,” he agreed in a hushed voice. “But just this once.”

“You have my sincerest gratitude,” Zelda said with a wink. She then faced the Prince once more. “Prince Vaen, follow Link’s lead tonight, would you? He’ll assist you in getting a cart prepared and distributing the food.”

“Sir Link?” Vaen questioned. He then turned to the Hero, only now taking note of his presence. “Oh! How long have you been here, Hero?”

“Er…the entire time,” Link deadpanned. How had he not noticed until now? Was he truly so infatuated with Zelda that he couldn’t pay attention to anything else in the room?

Vaen seemed to view things differently. “Hmph. You always have a knack for sneaking into a room undetected. Why is that?”

I didn’t sneak anywhere! Link wished to snap at him. Instead, he sighed and allowed his shoulders to drop. There was little point in arguing with someone so oblivious.

“Ahem,” Zelda interrupted with the clearing of her throat. “The two of you had best get started. You’ll need to preserve all of this food if you want to keep its warmth. I’ll go and fetch some servants to assist you. Have a pleasant evening, Prince Vaen.”

“And you as well, Madam,” Vaen answered before reaching for her hand. Zelda begrudgingly compiled and allowed him to plant a kiss upon it. She then turned to leave, but not before whispering in the Hero’s ear one final time.

“Best of luck.”

Link shook his head at her but smiled all the same. Zelda knew that he would forgive her for whatever foolish endeavors he would endure that night. It’s why he was so reliable. And so respectable too.

But Zelda supposed that was enough thinking about the Hero for now. Instead, another individual began to occupy her thoughts, turning Zelda’s lighthearted smile into a frustrated grimace. She soon stormed off down the halls, intending to seek a chat with one of her “esteemed” guests…

 

---

 

Zelda burst into the library like a typhoon, instantly seeking out her target. It didn’t take long to spot her, curled up in one of the comfy library chairs and casually perusing an old tome. Even when Zelda stomped her way over to her, the witch hardly paid her any mind.

“Good evening, Your Majesty,” Drabby mumbled without lifting her eyes from her book.

“Good evening my foot,” Zelda snapped in a rather un-Queen-like manner. “That Prince of yours is running rampant.”

At this, Drabby lowered her tome, her eyes sparkling with interest. “Oh?”

“Yes. Vaen is constantly being so excessive, constantly seeking my attention, and is barely containing his affections in the slightest, even though you promised he would.”

The witch smirked before offering a guilty shrug. “What can I say? My Lord is a man of intense passion. He simply follows his heart.”

Zelda merely scowled at these excuses. “Well, his heart is leading him down a path of destruction. This deal of ours hardly seems like it is worth continuing.”

This comment seemed to snap the witch out of her relaxed mood. She soon sat up straight, closing her book and setting it aside. “Now, now, Queen Zelda, let’s not be hasty in our decision making here.”

“And why not?” Zelda asked as she crossed her arms. “I’ve allowed you to study in our library all you like and yet you’ve hardly done anything to rein in your Prince.”

“Oh, please. Why must you be a rose with thorns? Are you not flattered by My Lord’s affection for you?”

“It feels more like harassment than affection. And my patience is reaching its limits…”

Drabby was quick to catch her tone and even quicker to readjust her attitude. “Fine, fine. I’ll have a word with him and insist that he eases up for a while,” she relented with a sigh. “But you know, My Lord is simply trying his best to be kind to you, and that really should warrant at least a little appreciation in return, don’t you think?”

“I have little appreciation for fools,” Zelda stated adamantly. “If he wishes to win my affection in return, he’ll have to find something much more meaningful than grand gestures and empty words.”

Drabby scowled from behind her tinted glasses, but soon nodded her head. “Noted… I’ll advise that he spends some time rethinking his approach.”

“I should hope he does. For his next transgression could easily lead to his departure from my castle for good. I have many other important matters to attend to at the moment and little time for nonsense. Do I make myself clear?”

The witch’s face snarled into a grin. “Perfectly clear, Your Majesty.”

“Good,” Zelda replied, stressing the finality of her tone, and thus the end of their conversation.

Notes:

Zelda has some CDI Zelda vibes in the final sentence of this chapter, if you know what I mean lol ;)

Chapter 79: The Hard Truth

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 79 – The Hard Truth

It was exhausting work, having to babysit—or rather, chaperone—a Prince from a foreign land for an entire evening. Or at least, it certainly felt exhausting.

Link had done exactly as he was asked. He aided Prince Vaen in ferrying all of the food down to the square of Castle Town, while a handful of servants set up a stand where they could serve the people. With Link’s help, they were quickly able to gather the attention of those nearby. All he had to do was loudly offer “free food courtesy of the Queen” and the hungry citizens instantly began lining up.

Empty bowls and plates were quickly filled and dispersed. Fresh fruit. Warm stew. Delicious bread. It was all given freely to the hungry and poor who were not above accepting such kind gifts. At one point, Link even spotted the young boy who had tried to pickpocket Zelda a while back. He was in attendance alongside his tired-looking mother, as well as numerous younger siblings. The boy recognized the Hero in return and seemed surprised to see him there, but Link merely gave him a wink and gestured for him to keep moving. There was no need to discuss what had transpired between them. It was all in the past.

Naturally, Link offered to help serve the food, and smiled brightly as he did so. It felt nice, being able to provide for a community which honestly needed it. It reminded him of the time when Zelda had come to his rescue, offering provisions to the good people of Ordon. It was an image he would never forget, and a kindness he would never stop being grateful for.

Vaen helped too, of course, although he seemed far less thrilled about it than Link was. He constantly furrowed his brow in confusion, as if he didn’t fully understand the purpose of this charity, or the joy that should have come from such things. He was also rather poor at filling the soup bowls, occasionally spilling some onto the table and pavement beneath him. It was honestly a pitiful display. One might think the Prince had never handled a ladle in all his life (which, Link supposed, was a very real possibility).

But, with time and patience, the line of people eventually dissolved until none remained. At that point, the remaining food was offered to any guards who stood on duty nearby. Once they were served, the servants and maids were fed next, leaving Link and Vaen to pick through what little remained by the end. Link was satisfied with scraping a small plate together for himself, but Vaen merely grumbled something about how his magnificent feast had been reduced to a miserable pittance.

Link rolled his eyes. If this ridiculous Prince couldn’t see the benefits of his own charity tonight, then he truly was a fool.

After dining, the tables and dishes were packed up and loaded into the cart. The servants then started the journey back to the castle where they could give their dishware a proper cleaning. Once that was settled, Link finally granted permission for Vaen to return as well. The Prince merely grunted in response before falling in line next to the Hero.

“Hmph, what a poor evening this has turned out to be,” he lamented.  “Forced to abandon My Love and perform the work of a servant! Why must the Goddesses be so cruel?”

Link rolled his eyes again. He had been hoping to avoid having any casual discussions with this buffoon, but it seemed that he was not so fortunate. With a silent groan, Link reminded himself of how far of a walk it was before they reached the castle. It was going to be a long stroll.

“Cheer up, Prince,” Link tried to say encouragingly (although, he honestly didn’t care to encourage this man in the slightest). “You’ve performed a very charitable service tonight, and you should be proud of that.”

Vaen was hardly consolable. “Oh, but what is there to be proud of when I have failed my own heart?”

Link had to fight hard not to roll his eyes once more. He found Vaen to be incredibly dramatic. And annoying. “Relax, would you? The fact that you came down here means more than you know. Zelda honestly appreciates this sort of thing.”

The Prince’s head snapped up at this, appearing hopeful. “Hmm? You truly think so?”

Link managed a smile. “Yeah. She treasures acts of kindness and selflessness. And she definitely appreciates being listened to,” he added, making sure to stress the final words.

“And you are absolutely certain of this?”

“Of course. I know Zelda pretty well.”

Vaen raised a hand to his comically large chin and rubbed it a bit. His eyes narrowed as he became lost in thought. “Sir Link, may I ask you something?”

Link frowned. He was hoping that the conversation would cease if he lifted the Prince’s mood, but the fool was so darn talkative. “Sure, go ahead.”

“You seem to know a lot about My Love,” Vaen began, his voice growing suspicious as he rubbed his chin. “Tell me, what is your relationship with the Princess?”

“It’s Queen,” Link corrected him. He allowed his shoulders to fall as he sighed. Even he was growing tired of having to make this distinction so often. “And Zelda and I are friends.”

Vaen seemed stunned by this. “Friends?”

“Yes. I believe that Zelda mentioned this when she first introduced us?”

“Perhaps, but it’s entirely absurd,” Vaen scoffed. “You can’t be friends with a woman.”

This time, Link was stunned. Or perhaps bewildered was a better term. “Er…and why not?”

“Because! Women are for courting, my good man.”

Link immediately found himself growing frustrated. And men are for clocking, he wished to retort. Instead, he restrained himself and chose his next words carefully.

“I believe that women are more than just pretty things for men to pine after. Zelda certainly is.”

Vaen blinked a bit before backtracking. “Oh, why of course! The fair Queen Zelda is beautiful and wise and gentle in all that she does.”

Link grimaced as he felt his heart twist within him. As if he needed to hear someone else tell him this. He already knew it firsthand. In fact, he loathed hearing this information come from another man's mouth. It filled him with nothing short of the most bitter rage.

Vaen placed a hand to his chest. “I, for one, shall never take Her Majesty’s presence for granted.”

You already do, the wolf within Link snarled. Constantly.

“Her image is like the light of the dawn, blessing my eyes with her beauty.”

You have no right to look upon her.

“And her voice is melodious, like the strum of a harp.

Then listen to what she says for once!

“Sir Link?”

“What?” the Hero snapped. He then froze, realizing he had allowed his frustrations to boil until they inevitably leaked out of him. He hadn’t intended to be so rude.

Vaen seemed a bit taken aback by his tone, but soon shrugged it off. Link breathed a sigh of relief. The fool was as oblivious as ever!

“May I ask you another question?”

“Sure, anything,” Link answered, hoping to move on.

“You claim to be good friends with Her Majesty, yes?” Vaen inquired. “In that case, could you advise on how I should go about wooing her?”

Link did a double take, hardly daring to believe his ears. The Prince wanted advice? On how to woo Zelda? And of all people, he was asking Link?

The Prince would have to pry it from his cold, dead lips.

“I’m not sure I would know anything about that…” Link answered with a look of doubt.

Now Vaen appeared taken aback. “What? But I thought the two of you were good friends, and rather close at that. Surely you know the way into her heart.”

Yeah, I do, his inner wolf growled. I found my way into her heart before I shattered it!

Link winced again before shaking his head. Now wasn’t the time for such thoughts. Such desires. He reminded himself that he needed to move on. He had rejected Zelda. Denied her affection. He had no right to be jealous of anyone else. Zelda was free to pursue whomever she pleased.

But Link would rather die than let this fool get anywhere near her.

“Personally, I think that overbearing confidence could be the key to capturing a lady’s heart,” Vaen continued with a slight swell of his chest. “But what do you think?”

I think it makes you look like an ass!

Link took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm once more. This Prince aggravated him to no end, and the thought of him pursuing Zelda was simply unbearable. Before long, a sinister thought popped into Link’s head. If the Prince wanted to know how to catch Zelda’s fancy, then he would relay the exact truth. And above all else, he would be sure to stress the hard truth that the Prince was not who Zelda desired.

Grinning mischievously, Link spoke with the utmost confidence. “I believe that Zelda fancies men who are lowly and humble. Those who refuse to parade around their achievements or make fancy gestures. She appreciates kindness and generosity above all else.”

“Seriously?” Vaen asked incredulously. He appeared as if he could hardly believe such words. “But I am always sure to gift her only the kindest of praises, and yet she never seems to be taken with me.”

Perhaps if you weren’t such an overbearing ass! the wolf within snarled.

Once again, Link restrained himself from uttering the words aloud. There was no need for bitter retorts so long as he had the truth as his weapon. “And tell me, Prince Vaen, are you any good with a blade?”

“You mean like a sword?” Vaen scoffed. “Of course not. Why would I have need of such a thing?”

Link could have burst out laughing if he wasn't insistent on controlling himself. This Prince truly was clueless. “What if you need to defend yourself? Or your Kingdom? Or your subjects?”

In the end, it was Vaen who chuckled. He threw his comically large head back as he placed a hand to his heaving chest. “Oh, my foolish Link, you simply have it backwards. A Kingdom is meant to protect its King, not the other way around. And the same goes for the King’s subjects. I’m sure that Queen Zelda understands this.”

The smirk quickly fell from Link’s lips. His argument was lost. He could barely believe what he was hearing.

“Are…Are you serious?” the Hero mumbled.

Vaen simply raised his brow. “What? Is a Kingdom’s purpose not to serve its King?”

Link forgot the arguments. Forgot his petty games. What were those trifles compared to the frustration boiling within him? This Prince was no mere fool. No, he was a special case. His idiocy and insolence knew no limits. He was not proper royalty. He was scum. A mere shadow of the true leaders which Link had witnessed during his lifetime.

Zelda was his idol. His ideal angel. The perfect matriarch. She was warm and kind. Incredibly selfless. The needs of her people always came before her own. She was wise and passionate. She always sought ways to improve Hyrule and build a better future for her subjects. She was a fighter. She would draw a sword to defend her Kingdom. Sacrifice herself in order to spare it.

King Caius was of similar quality. A man who stood above nations, and yet was always humble and friendly. Always looking out for his only daughter. Encouraging her to be a strong leader for their people, because that is who they were at their very core. Servants. Those who were devoted to providing the best for all those beneath them.

Yes, they were the true monarchs, and Link would never allow a cheap imitation to be counted among their number.

“I think you’re quite wrong,” Link murmured in a low voice. “I don’t think Zelda would agree with you at all. If anything, she would despise you for saying those words.”

The stroll grew uncomfortably silent as the Prince cast a double-take at his companion. “I…I beg your pardon?”

“Zelda doesn’t think like you,” Link growled, not even bothering to hide his disdain. “In fact, there’s an old Hylian saying which Zelda believes wholeheartedly. It claims that a true King is the first to charge and the last to retreat. He is a man of great courage, and the people’s faith in him never wavers. He is loyal, honorable, and true. This is the type of man that Zelda desires.”

As the words left his mouth, he could hardly believe that he had recalled them so perfectly. But then again, he supposed that they had been ingrained in his soul from the very moment when King Caius first shared them, for Link believed them as wholeheartedly as Zelda did. More righteous words had surely never been spoken.

Once again, Vaen appeared stunned by the Hero’s claims. Link couldn’t help but wonder if anyone had ever spoken to him so brazenly before. If not, it certainly wasn’t for lack of deserving it.

“Sir Link,” the Prince began cautiously. “Are…Are you suggesting that I do not fulfill these requirements? That I am…unsuitable to pursue Her Majesty?”

Meanwhile, Link was throwing caution to the wind. “That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.”

Vaen’s eyes flew open, wide like saucers. He was completely taken aback. “H-How rude! To say such disrespectful things to someone who stands above you—”

“Forgive me, Prince Vaen,” Link interjected. “But I will only offer my respect to those who have earned it. And once again, I imagine that Zelda would agree with me on this. A position is only as valuable as the one who holds it.”

The Prince’s face turned a shade of red. Whether it was due to embarrassment or rage, Link wasn’t certain, for the man seemed insistent on holding his tongue. A part of him wanted to retreat. To become the lowly goat herder he had always claimed to be and apologize for speaking so rashly to a foreign dignitary. But he swallowed his fears and held his ground. What good was a Hero who couldn’t courageously speak from the heart?

Their walk continued in silence. Vaen refused to utter a word. In the end, it was the Hero who felt compelled to speak up again, if only because they had finally reached the castle’s front door.

“Perhaps we should leave the discussion here for tonight,” Link said, slowly drifting off in another direction. He was hoping to slip away down one of the castle’s corridors before things could get any worse.

“Sir Link, wait.”

The Hero froze in place before facing the noble. His tone was commanding, yet free of emotion. It was honestly rather surprising since Link expected that he would be livid by this point.

Instead, the Prince sighed, letting his shoulders fall ever so slightly. “Do you truly believe that I am unworthy of the Queen?”

Link felt his own shoulders fall in return. For some reason, he almost felt sympathetic for the guy. Had he gone too far with his insults and hard truths?

Well, if he had, then there was no point in being dishonest now.

“I think that Zelda deserves someone who suits her,” Link declared confidently. “That is all.”

“I see,” Vaen replied solemnly. He cast his gaze to the floor, appearing deep in thought. “Then I suppose I’ll just have to find a way to become her most suitable match.”

At this point, Link could only sigh. The poor fool still wasn’t getting it. “Prince Vaen, if I could offer one final piece of advice for tonight, it would be this. Zelda appreciates wisdom. And sometimes wisdom is the ability to admit our own faults and shortcomings.”

The Prince stared at him, appearing lost, confused, and incredibly disappointed. In the end, he scowled a bit before waving a hand. “Duly noted, Hero.”

The way with which he uttered Link’s title was enough to make him roll his eyes. It was clear that a hint of contempt lingered in his tone. Link merely shook his head before turning away and accepting his dismissal. By this point, he couldn’t care less what the Prince thought of him. All he knew was that Zelda's safety and happiness would always come first. And if he had to occasionally tell off a foreign Prince for the sake of protecting his friend, then so be it.

Meanwhile, Vaen remained rooted to the spot, pondering the Hero’s words and actions long after he disappeared…

 

---

 

The next few days were quiet and peaceful around the castle, for which Zelda was nothing short of grateful. Her talk with Drabby had apparently worked in her favor, for she had not caught sight of Prince Vaen even once since the night of his ridiculous feast. She could now enjoy her walks through the garden in peace. Her breakfast in peace. Her work in peace.

Which she did readily. Free of distractions, Zelda poured herself into her latest and most ambitious project: establishing relations between Castle Town and the Bulblins. She intended to start slow. She would invite the green-skinned race to visit a banquet held in Castle Town square, where she could introduce King Bulblin to all of the local shop owners and other persons of interest. Here, she hoped to show that the Bulblins weren’t as menacing or dangerous as one might expect. They were just as capable of being friendly as anyone else, and they deserved to be treated amicably.

Zelda grinned with delight as she finished reviewing her plans. She was so excited about moving forward and carving a new future for Hyrule. Establishing a peace which had never before been witnessed. Leaving her mark on history. It was everything that an aspiring Queen could ever dream of, and now the opportunity was right here before her.

In fact, so great was her enthusiasm that she had already sent Link out the day before. As her reliable go-between for the Bulblins, he would relay all of the details of her invitation to them before returning with their answer. Admittedly, Zelda felt a little guilty about having to rely on him so often, but to her relief the Hero was always ready and willing to aid her.

The Queen smiled as she thought of her friend clad in green. He was truly too kind to her…

No, Zelda thought, immediately snuffing out the daydreams as soon as they were conceived. She refused to dwell on such undesirable pleasantries. She had already forced herself to move on. They both had.

Besides, the Hero was needed elsewhere, in lands far happier and comforting than anything she could ever provide. She eyed the lone letter that sat by the edge of her desk. It was addressed to the Hero—sent from Ordon Village. Zelda could only guess as to who had penned it, but she refused to pry. Since the letter had arrived in Link’s absence, she agreed to hold onto it for him, intending to deliver it personally upon his return.

She hoped that wasn’t too forward of her…

No, she insisted, allowing the pendulum that was her heart to swing in the other direction for a change. We’re friends. Link and I will always be friends. And friends do each other small favors from time to time. If I won’t allow myself to perform a kindness as meager as this for him, then I might as well never see him again.

Smiling and feeling foolish, Zelda shook her head as she returned to her paperwork. One day, she would finally be successful in wrangling her troublesome heart and conflicting emotions. It would only take a little more time…

Unfortunately, it seemed that she had little time available to her, for a new distraction soon arrived in the form of the Hero himself. Zelda recognized his polite knock on her door and happily invited him inside. Link entered, greeting the Queen with his ever-warm smile.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Link,” she replied before gesturing to a chair. He gladly took a seat. “Did you manage to relay the message?”

Link nodded. “Yeah, King Bulblin agreed to bring his entire Hunt to Castle Town on the promised evening.”

“Wonderful,” Zelda cheered. “Hyrule is now primed to take another step forward.”

“It’s only natural when we have such a wise captain setting our course,” Link complimented her.

Zelda promptly blushed, appearing a little bashful. “Thank you, Link. Your support, as always, is immensely appreciated. And thank you for continuing to be our messenger for the Bulblins as well. Hopefully, we can one day transfer these duties over to our reliable postman.”

“Eh, it’s probably better to just keep relying on me for now,” Link insisted. “I want to trust the Bulblins, but it’s difficult to know how they’ll react should a stranger start issuing orders.”

“Very well,” the Queen agreed. “So long as you are willing to offer your aid, I will always be willing to accept it.”

“As you should,” Link finished proudly.

Silence fell over them as they gazed into each other’s eyes. The stare lasted only for a moment before they both felt compelled to look away. Even if they had agreed to not reciprocate any affection, it certainly didn’t stop them from experiencing a bit of awkward romantic tension from time to time.

Perhaps it would always linger over them…

Zelda soon cleared her throat as she reached for the postage on her desk. “Ahem. Speaking of messages, this came for you yesterday. I held onto it until you returned.”

“Ah, thanks,” Link said as he accepted it. However, his face fell as soon as he noticed the return address, and even more so when he noticed the penmanship.

“Is something wrong?” Zelda inquired.

“Oh, no,” Link answered with a curt shake of his head. “It’s just…I haven’t been home in a while, and I think some of the villagers might have started to worry.”

The villagers, he had said. Ilia, was what he meant.

“Forgive me,” Zelda replied with a guilty expression. “It seems that I’ve been keeping you too busy around here—”

“No, Zelda, it’s fine,” he interjected. “I was only here because I wanted to be. Trust me, if I wanted to return home, I would have.”

She sighed but smiled all the same. Why did he always have to be so nice to her? She truly hoped that he wasn’t just covering for her sake…

“Is it okay if I read it here?” he asked.

“Of course. Your presence could never be a bother.”

Link nodded his gratitude and tore into the envelope. Zelda watched him for only a brief moment before allowing him his privacy. She returned to her work, reviewing the latest legislation that had been submitted for approval. However, she didn’t even make it halfway through the first paragraph before Link released a heavy sigh, causing her to glance up in concern.

“What’s wrong?” This time, she expected a response.

“It’s nothing,” he non-answered, frustrating her ever so slightly. “I just…I have to go.”

“You must return to Ordon?”

“Yes.”

She smiled softly, just as she always did whenever the time came for them to part. The separation was only natural. They belonged to different worlds, after all.

“Very well. Go where you are needed, Link. And go with my blessing too.”

This time, he was the one burdened with guilt. His smile was grateful, but it appeared shameful as well. “Thanks for always being so understanding, Zelda,” he said with a slight bow. “I promise I’ll be back. I’ll always come back.”

“Of course. And when you return, be sure to bring some exciting stories from Ordon back with you. I always adore hearing about your home.”

Link could only grin. Would the angel which sat before him ever stop being so radiant? So warm? So friendly and gracious and kind?

No, Link realized as his heart began to pound. She will never stop being herself.

“Farewell, Zelda.”

“Farewell, Link. Until our paths cross again.”

Notes:

Prince Vaen is such an ass 😂 Honestly though, I do feel some sympathy for the guy. He doesn’t have ill intentions; he really doesn’t! He is just so misguided and goes about things in all the wrong ways. And he is so out of his league trying to capture Zelda’s heart lol. But maybe he’ll wake up and come to his senses someday…

Next chapter is going to be a BIG chapter. And it ain’t gonna be pretty :(

Chapter 80: Severance

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 80 – Severance

With a heavy heart, Link rode south, through the large and familiar trees of Faron Woods. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to returning home at the moment. Not only had he been enjoying his time away at the castle, aiding Zelda and meeting with the Bulblins and bad-mouthing a foolish Prince, but he had also been content to put some distance between himself and the drama he had left behind.

He could still recall the last conversation he held with Ilia. The tension and the arguing and the bitterness. He hadn’t missed it one bit in his time away from Ordon. If anything, it had been relieving to be free of it for a time. To simply leave it all behind.

But the Hero honestly should’ve known better. If a wound isn’t treated, it only begins to fester.

Link frowned as he recalled the letter that had arrived for him at the castle. Penned by Ilia, the missive had been brief, blunt, and frighteningly to the point. 

“Please return home. We need to talk.”

Even though it was nothing more than calligraphy—mere ink on a piece of parchment—it was still enough to convey the sender’s tone, and fill Link with a terrifying sense of dread.

Ilia was not pleased with him, and they were bound to have another fight.

The Hero had fought numerous battles before. With sword and shield. Bow and arrow. Ball and chain. On horseback. Underwater. In the sky. In outer realms. He fought men and monsters and beasts and dragons and even evil devils incarnate. And not once, during any of the bloodshed or peril provided by these battles, had Link ever loathed the thought of performing his duty as a Hero.

But he was sick of fighting with Ilia.

The sun finished setting as Link and Epona arrived at the glade in front of his home. He dismounted and removed her saddle, only to turn and find the soft glow of firelight shining through his windows. It was a sign that his house was occupied.

She was waiting for him.

With a heavy sigh, Link swallowed his dread and forced himself forward. Regardless of what lay ahead of him, he would have to confront it.

The door opened with a slight creak, and he stepped inside. The home was dark save for his fireplace. A lone silhouette sat in front of it, casting him in shadow. With short, silent steps, Link found his way into a chair next to her.

“You’re back,” Ilia said. Her voice was completely free of emotion. There was no affection. No disappointment. She was simply stating a fact.

“I’m back,” he agreed.

Link dared to glance at her out of the corner of his eye. She bit her lip as her hands nervously twisted in her lap. He could tell that she was holding herself back from expressing whatever was weighing on her. Whether it was sadness or frustration or anger, it was eating her alive.

“Where have you been all this time?”

“Where do you think?”

“The castle?”

“Yes.”

“And you’ve been staying busy there? This entire time?”

“Are you surprised?”

There was a slight pause. “I…thought that you would’ve returned at some point. Why didn’t you?”

Link allowed his shoulders to fall as he stared into the fireplace. He had no excuse. None that would satisfy her, anyway.

Ilia soon spoke up again, and this time, the emotion she was trying so hard to restrain leaked into her tone. Her voice sounded desperate. Almost heartbroken. “Link, you’ve been gone for weeks without any updates. I’ve been worried sick. Honestly, the fact that I had to send you a letter just to speak with you… It’s…It’s not right…”

Link could only nod before bowing his head. “I know. I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say.

Ilia was becoming restless. Becoming undone right before his very eyes. The dam that was her pent-up frustration was on the brink of bursting. “Why?” she demanded, the tears glistening in her emerald eyes. “Why can’t you just come home? Why can’t you just stay put?”

Link brought his hands together and stared long and hard at his rickety old floorboards. He knew what she wanted. What she expected from him. And it was only now, for the first time in his entire life, that he felt like openly rejecting her.

“I have my responsibilities,” he murmured seriously. “To Hyrule, and all of its people.”

“To the Queen,” Ilia scoffed.

There it was. The spite. The bitterness. It oozed into her tone, like venom dripping from a fang. In retaliation, Link’s heart was set ablaze. He would not tolerate any such talk against her.

“Yes, to my Queen,” he insisted. “I am loyal to her and this Kingdom, and that shall never, ever change.”

It was as if Link had struck Ilia with an arrow; although he was certain his words hurt far worse than any piercing iron. Ilia promptly shut her maw and looked away. Her hands were still restless. Her eyes were still fighting back the tide of her tears.

“You’re supposed to be loyal to us,” she whispered back. “Loyal to your home. Your friends. Your neighbors.”

“Hyrule is my home,” he replied with swelling courage. “I have friends and neighbors across the entire Kingdom. Hylians, Gorons, Zoras, Gerudo, and yes even the Bulblins.” Ilia visibly stiffened upon hearing this name. “I am loyal to them all. I protect them all. I work alongside them all. That is my duty. That is who I am. Link, Hyrule’s Hero of Twilight.”

Ilia appeared stunned. Her eyes were wide, almost terrified. It was as if she could hardly believe what was coming out of his mouth.

“I don’t understand,” she whispered, mostly to herself. “What happened to you, Link?”

He turned his gaze to her and merely shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve grown.”

Ilia blinked. Somehow, she was still doing an admirable job of holding back her tears. But it didn’t help hide the expression of pure betrayal which settled across her features. He could only imagine what was going through her head. Countless memories. Conversations. Bonding. Their childhood… In this moment, she seemed to have suddenly realized just how much had been lost to her.

She shook her head. “This isn’t what I want. It’s not the life you should live, Link. It’s not what you deserve.”

“Then what do I deserve?” Link boldly challenged. “If you know what’s best for me, then tell me.”

He didn’t mean to sound so cold or cruel. And it was certainly not his intention to hurt her. And yet, the Hero of Twilight—the Hero of courage and justice and all things holy and righteous—couldn’t seem to stop himself from inflicting unimaginable pain upon his closest friend. Perhaps he truly was a monster, as Ilia’s eyes had so often accused him. There was certainly plenty of evidence. Colluding with Bulblins. Slaying devils just as easily as they would’ve liked to slay him. Growing frustrated and angry with his loved ones. Even loathing himself for being such a destructive force recently…

Then again, perhaps he had always been like this. Perhaps there had always been a beast howling from within. Telling him to fight. To push forward. To follow his heart, no matter the cost. Even now, he could feel the wolf begin to snarl as it bared its fangs.

He would not back down.

Ilia eyed him warily. It seemed as if she could see him for the beast he truly was, and it honestly terrified her. Nevertheless, she swallowed her fears and followed her own heart. It was the only thing she could do. A desperate attempt to salvage what was crumbling before her very eyes.

“I always wanted you to settle down here,” she said timidly. “To live a happy, peaceful life. Here, in Ordon Village. Your home. Our home, as we’ve always known it. I wanted you to be present. To put us first. To help us out with our daily lives, just as you always have. Playing games with the kids. Helping at the ranch. Fighting off any local dangers. Spending our quieter days in peaceful bliss, together…”

Despite her fears, Ilia’s voice remained steady throughout. It was as if her conviction was strengthening as she followed the ideals which resided in her very core. She may have been frightened, but she was not backing down either.

“I…I honestly thought that you might follow the footsteps of my father. That one day…you would become the Mayor of this village, and continue looking after it just as you always have.”

For the first time that evening, Link felt confused. He had not been expecting this in the slightest. “Mayor? Of Ordon Village?”

Ilia nodded, a little bashful, but sincere all the same. “I always believed that it would be the perfect role for you. The role where you would be…happiest.”

Link furrowed his brow as his lips collapsed into a frown. “I’ve honestly never considered it,” he admitted. “Not even once.”

Ilia appeared equally dismayed. “But Link, my father won’t be around forever. Someone will have to take his place eventually. And if anyone is to fulfill that role, don’t you think it should be you?”

Link could only shake his head. “No… Honestly, if I ever imagined someone succeeding Bo, I would’ve guessed it would be Rusl. He’s always looked after this village just as much as I have, and he’s older and more mature too.”

Ilia pursed her lips. Link assumed that she didn’t know what to say. She knew that he was right. If Rusl were to accept the position of Mayor, he would surely do an excellent job. Ilia couldn’t deny that. Nobody in Ordon could.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t what she wanted. It wasn’t what she dreamed of.

It was like they were on entirely different pages.

“Ilia, I’m sorry, but I think you’re being a little naive,” Link said with a shake of his head. “Things have changed, and everyone seems to have realized that except for you.”

Ilia placed a hand over her heart, appearing surprised, and even a little offended. “That’s not true,” she mumbled.

“Yes, it is. Things have been different for a while now. Ever since the Twilight Invasion happened and I decided to take up a sword to save my Kingdom and loved ones.” Link paused, sighing a bit. “I can’t give you what you want, Ilia. I’m not the young, clueless goat-herding boy that I used to be. I’m just not.”

Again, Ilia appeared betrayed. The look she gave him with those beautiful emeralds of hers… It was as if she barely recognized him.

“Then who are you?” she breathed. “What are you?”

“I’m a Hero,” he answered without hesitation. “That is all.”

It was over. Ilia had finally reached her breaking point. As she fell over the edge that she had been teetering on for far too long, a single tear slid down her cheek. When she spoke, her voice was low and shaky. The poor girl was heartbroken.

“I…I don’t need a Hero,” she whispered. “I need my friend. I need my partner. I need Link.”

Link’s gaze turned sad and sympathetic as he watched her. Why did she have to do this to herself? Why couldn’t she just put aside her silly notions and dreams? Why couldn’t she just accept him for who he truly was?

“Why can’t I be both?” was the question he eventually asked. “Both a Hero and your friend. Both a Hero and Link.”

Another tear cascaded to the floor as Ilia shook her head. “It…It just doesn’t work. You’re not Link. Not the one I knew. Not the one I fell for. You’re different… Far too different and I…I can’t accept that…”

Link found himself disagreeing. Sure, many things had changed, but he didn’t feel like a different person. Not at his core, at least. Even when he picked up a sword and met Midna and slayed monsters and saved the Kingdom and the Princess from Ganondorf, Link still didn’t feel like anyone special. Or anyone different. He was still just Link. He would always be Link, and if there was one truth that he believed with all his heart and soul, it was this one.

“I’m still here, Ilia,” he insisted with a sad smile. “I’m still me.”

“You’re wrong,” she argued, far too quickly for his liking. “You’ve gotten entangled in events that are too big for you to understand. You blindly follow orders without thinking things through. You recklessly charge forward to save strangers who don’t need your help. You abandon your loved ones, betray their trust, and forget about them for weeks on end, even when they’re the ones who need you the most!”

By the time she finished, she was practically shouting. Gone were her tears. Her nerves. Her anxious hands and quivering lip. Now, it was her long pent-up frustration that was taking command. And Link must have hated every second of it, for he could feel the furnace that was his heart begin to swell with heat while the wolf snarled maliciously. This attack on his character was not something he intended to let slide.

“Is this about the time before winter?” he asked, his voice barely audible above the crackling of the fire. “You think I abandoned this place.”

Ilia paused but retained her resolve. “You weren’t here,” she said bitterly. “We needed you, and you weren’t here.”

“The wolves’ attack on the ranch,” Link continued, just as quiet. “And the injury that Bo suffered… You blame me for what happened, don’t you?”

Ilia sniffed loudly. Her eyes fell somewhere between anger and heartbreak. “Why weren’t you here for us?” she demanded. “Why weren’t you here for me?”

Link could feel it. His own rage and frustration were reaching their boiling points, and he refused to take any more of this.

“Am I a shepherd?” he finally snapped. “Is that my purpose in life? To watch over these villagers like they’re cattle? To babysit them so they don’t get hurt when I’m not looking? Is that what you want from me, Ilia? To selfishly devote all of my attention to you, and turn my back on the rest of the Kingdom? In the same way that you accuse me of turning my back on this village!?”

By the end, Link was yelling. He didn’t care. He was livid and he was freely willing to let this raging inferno dictate his every word.

“It’s not fair,” Ilia snapped back, her own voice rising to meet his. “We rely on you, Link. We need you far more than anyone else does. And you don’t understand just how painful it is, to be desperate and in need, and yet the man you love most has simply abandoned you to chase far bigger and better opportunities halfway across the Kingdom!”

“How can you possibly accuse me of that?” Link demanded. “When you’re guilty of doing the exact same thing!?”

Ilia bared her own fangs, nearly growling as she did so. “What do you mean?”

“Ilia, I was only gone for a few days when the incident occurred. It was not something I could have foreseen. And when I heard you were in trouble, I came rushing right back. But you…” Link paused, taking a haggard breath. “What did you do, when you accused me of abandoning this village? Accused me of abandoning my home? You turned around and did the very same. Rushed off the Kakariko Village and left us alone to face the harshest winter this forest has ever seen. You weren’t here to experience the cold. The famine. The desperation. You abandoned this village too!”

This reveal was enough to make Ilia rise to her feet. Her eyes were like windows, reflecting her immense hurt, and yet, they continued to glare deadly daggers at him. “I was looking out for my father,” she insisted. “I had to treat him.”

“You were gone for months!” Link stressed, standing to meet her. “Months, with no contact! While we were starving to death!”

“I was learning medicine!” she shouted. “I was acquiring skills that would help us. Pursuing my passions!”

This comment in particular really pissed the Hero off. “Why is it okay for you to pursue what you’re passionate about, but not me?”

His words stung her. He knew they did. All the same, she continued to fight. “Link, the work I’ve been studying is incredibly important. I’m learning how to make a difference. I’m working to save lives!”

“Yeah, well guess what?” Link barked. “When I’m out there defending Hyrule, I’m saving lives too, Ilia!”

The girl stumbled backwards. Her lips refused to work. Her eyes were threatening to rain tears once again. The words had struck her so viciously, without any remorse. The only thing she could think to do in return was conjure her own sharp weapons.

“The only life I want you to worry about is your own,” she choked. “Forget about everyone else beyond the forest’s edge, and just come back where you can live safely and peacefully.”

Link clenched his teeth. He hated this. That she was always making decisions for him. Choosing what was best for him. Never, not even once, taking his own feelings into account.

“What if I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in Ordon?” the Hero demanded. “What then!?”

Ilia was not afraid. She was fighting with everything she had. “Is it wrong for me to wish you happiness? To want the best for you?”

“It’s wrong to want me for yourself,” he seethed. “It’s downright selfish.”

The tears returned like rivers after rain. The droplets were bitter little things. “And where would you rather spend all of your time? At the castle!?”

“Maybe I would! At least then I can be useful! At least then I can help others!”

“Why?” Ilia choked, her fists quaking at her sides. “Why are you like this? Why are you always running off to a woman who puts you in danger?”

Link saw red as soon as Zelda was mentioned. “Don’t talk about her like that!”

“Why is she so important to you!?” Ilia demanded. “Damn it, Link, just tell me already!”

“Because I care about her!” Link cried out. “She’s one of my closest friends and I would do anything for her. She’s an amazing woman. A selfless leader. One of the kindest and gentlest souls I’ve ever encountered. And I will not allow anyone to speak a word against her. No, Ilia, not even you.”

The silence that followed his outburst was deafening. Ilia went completely still. Her hands stopped shaking. Her lip ceased quivering. The only sign of movement was the pair of tears that rolled down her cheeks, perfectly symmetrical. When she spoke, her voice was the softest whisper he had ever heard.

“You love her…don’t you?”

Link was as still as a statue. He could feel himself freezing over as ice gripped his burning heart. A terrifying sense of dread settled over him. The words echoed around in his ears.

Ilia took a brave step forward, her eyes and tone turning accusatory. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

Link didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think. He was far too overwhelmed with guilt and pity and confusion and conflict. He was staring down a beast that couldn’t be slayed. An inferno which couldn’t be doused. A realization that had been buried deep within the darkness of his own heart, for days and weeks and months now.

But it wasn’t long before a single ray of light parted the clouds of his mind. A golden aura burst to life within him, warming his heart from the inside out. He recalled every moment. When Zelda sacrificed herself to save Midna. When she placed a steady hand on his furious one as Ganondorf rode towards them. When she bowed and humbly asked for his help in their final hour. Every time Zelda had ever thanked him. Comforted him. Bled for him. Touched him. Hugged him. Showed him kindness. Saved his village. Stared at him with those beautiful, sapphire eyes…

The results were as clear as the brightest of skies. As undeniable as the passage of time. With a deep breath, Link allowed himself to let go. He accepted the woman whom his heart truly beat for, even at this very moment.

“Yes,” he finally confessed, his eyes on the floor. “I’m in love with her.”

It was perhaps the hardest thing he had ever admitted. And yet, it felt so freeing as well. Relief washed over him as the weight lifted from his shoulders. The weight of denial and guilt and misery.

It was a burden he was never meant to carry.

Ilia was the opposite. She was a frightened animal—a foal—and she could only open her mouth and subtly shake her head as her entire world continued to crumble around her. She was in utter disbelief. Perhaps she never thought that he would admit it. Link certainly wouldn’t have blamed her. Ten seconds ago, he never would’ve thought that he would admit it either.

But it was true. Every word of it.

When Ilia finally spoke, her voice was little more than a gasp. “I…I always wondered. Ever since that night of the ball…when the two of you danced. I saw the way that you looked at her and I…I just…”

Her voice trailed off. Link could sense the hurt, sorrow, and anguish that lingered in her tone. In this moment, he couldn’t even bring himself to look at her. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, keeping his head low. “I…never wanted to fall in love with her. And I certainly never wanted to hurt you, Ilia.”

The girl sniffed, loudly. “It’s too late for that, Link,” she mumbled, her voice surprisingly steady, yet hollow. “I gave you my heart, and you just damn near shattered it.”

“Ilia,” Link breathed. He felt horrible for this. For betraying her. For making her believe that he was someone he wasn’t. For stringing her along, all these weeks and months and causing so much unnecessary pain to the both of them. He took a step forward, hoping to help in any way he could. Through comfort. Through touch. Anything, if only to keep her heart together for just a moment longer.

He slowly extended a hand towards her.

“Don’t,” she hissed, immediately withdrawing. She hugged herself tightly, and Link could see her nails digging into her skin. She wasn’t withholding her tears anymore. Whether by choice or by force, the droplets freely flowed down her cheeks. “Don’t you dare touch me right now.”

Link’s hand faltered. He didn’t know what to say. He only managed to choke out her name once more. “Ilia…”

“I can’t be with someone like you,” she said, nearly sobbing as she held herself tighter. “And clearly, you don’t want to be with someone like me.”

Link bit his lip. “No, Ilia, that’s not true—”

“It’s over, Link,” she declared. “Our relationship is over.”

The words echoed around the corners of his house. Around the corners of his ears and even his very soul. And yet, in all honesty, it was surprising how little the words stung the Hero. Somehow, his rejection of Zelda had hurt far worse than being rejected himself. What did pain him, however, was the image of his dear friend standing before him, appearing frightened and betrayed. Both were wounds that he had inflicted.

Some friend he was…

With a flurry of movement, Ilia finally tore herself away from the scene. She stomped her way to the door, openly bawling as she fled from this wretched man and his cursed house. Link merely watched her go. At this point, he was at a complete loss of what to do. He didn’t know how to console her. Heal her. Put her broken heart back together.

He may have been a Hero, but even Heroes bleed. And sometimes, their loved ones bled too.

The door slammed shut as Ilia charged into the night. The vacuum that followed swept the life out of the fireplace, dousing the flames and casting the old wooden home into shadow.

And the traitor who did nothing but break women’s hearts found himself completely alone…

Notes:

Something that I think is important to remember: Link is not a sheep dog. He’s a wolf.

Anyway, dramatic stuff. I wonder where the story will go from here…

Chapter 81: Burned to Ashes

Notes:

Uploading this early because I have Zelink Week plans for the following days :) Enjoy!

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 81 – Burned to Ashes

It was a cool evening in Castle Town as Zelda marched into the square, admiring the warm and inviting sight before her. Lanterns were strung on the sides of buildings, illuminating the central fountain with their soft glow. Long tables had been positioned in rows one after the other, and each was currently being set with dinnerware. All the while, numerous individuals moved to and fro, constantly working in order to complete the preparations in a timely manner.

The Queen merely smiled as she tucked some of her loose hair behind her ear. It warmed her heart to see this event coming together, and she was positively excited for what lay ahead. For tonight, King Bulblin and his Hunt would make the journey to Castle Town, where they would dine alongside their Hylian neighbors and make each other’s acquaintance. It would be their collective first step forward in building a new peace between parties who had always been enemies.

As if to emphasize this last point, Zelda’s gaze fell on the crowd of citizens that gathered on the square’s edge. Many of them seemed worried. Nervous. Hesitant. And she knew exactly why. Nobody had any idea what to expect from tonight. Despite the Queen’s every assurance that the Bulblins could be trusted, and that tonight would merely be an uneventful formality of greeting and dining, there were few who believed her. Many of the Hylians trusted their Queen, of course. The Royal Family had always looked out for their people and rarely made a bad judgment call. Nevertheless, this was a task that even the most faithful of followers would struggle to accept without some level of reluctance.

Zelda took a deep breath, forcing the heavy air out as she flashed a positive smile. Their reactions were to be expected. Even after months of insisting that they needed to make peace with the green-skinned barbarians, she knew that there were few who supported her goal. But she intended to change all of that. Tonight, she would show the world that the impossible was certainly attainable, as long as one was willing to take the necessary steps.

Still, Zelda couldn’t help but frown as she scanned the crowds as well as her servants. She hoped to spot Link among their number, but it seemed that the Hero was nowhere to be seen. This disheartened her a bit. She believed Link would join her for this momentous occasion; not only to celebrate but also to offer his assistance in handling the Bulblins. But alas, she had not seen him for a few days now. Not since he had made the urgent trip back home to Ordon Village.

He must be busy, Zelda thought with a shrug. Perhaps I was borrowing him for too long. He really ought to return home more often, so long as he’s needed there.

It saddened her to know that her friend would likely not be in attendance, but she supposed she could get by without him. She had already dealt with the Bulblins on several occasions, and Castle Town was her home turf. Not to mention, she had been planning the specifics of this event for weeks. The Queen was in her natural element here, and fear held no place in her heart. Her ambition alone was enough to carry her forward.

Zelda proceeded to oversee the remainder of the preparations. The chefs cooked the feast using large stone ovens and smaller folding tables. The servants and maids did a quick count to ensure that there would be ample seating for all who chose to attend (attendance wasn’t required for the residents of Castle Town, but all were invited). All the while, the sky began to dim, causing the surrounding lantern light to appear all the more brilliant.

As the preparations finally reached their conclusion, Zelda gave permission for the first of her guests to take a seat wherever they pleased. The maids spread the word to the crowds, inviting the skeptical onlookers inside. Those who were hungry and desired a free meal were the first to accept. Those who were curious and wanted to see if the Bulblins would really show up and dine like well-mannered folk came next. Finally, those of higher status (and those whom only attended because Zelda had insisted upon it) found their seats last. Before long, the tables were served as smiles flashed, laughs echoed, and stomachs were satisfied. It filled Zelda with such joy, whenever she had the chance to provide for her subjects like this.

The Queen herself refused to partake, however, preferring instead to wait for her esteemed guests to arrive. Which, thankfully, they did. The sound of roaring trumpets at the eastern gate signaled their approach. As the horns blared into the sunset sky, the people of Castle Town collectively stiffened while their chatter died out. Their smiles faded away, only to be replaced by their anxious expressions from earlier. The moment they had been dreading had arrived.

Zelda merely beamed, trying to lighten the mood and encouraging those around her not to fear. She quickly and gracefully moved to the edge of the square, where she could properly greet the approaching guests with only the greatest of decorum.

Within seconds, they appeared. Green skin. Beady red eyes. Sharp, curved horns. Jaws filled with even sharper teeth. They marched in utter silence, occasionally glancing around at the Hylian structures that surrounded them as if they had never seen such things before. Perhaps they hadn’t. Zelda smirked at the thought.

At their front stood their King, who approached Zelda without delay. Upon reaching her, he halted, and the rest of his company did the same. He then peered around the square, silently taking note of the festivities before his eyes fell on her once more. He eventually offered a half-bow of sorts.

“Chieftain Zelda,” he mumbled.

The Queen merely blinked, startled by both his impromptu greeting and unexpected title. “Chieftain?” she repeated.

“Is that not what you are?”

“Well, my official title is ‘Queen’,” Zelda clarified. “But I will admit that ‘Chieftain’ does have a charming ring to it.”

“Hmph,” the brute grunted, as if he honestly didn’t care one way or the other. Zelda grinned at his typical behavior.

“Never mind that. Please, come and sit. We’ve prepared numerous dishes and there’s plenty to go around. You and your Hunt are free to eat as much as you please. All I simply ask is that you make every effort to be friendly towards your newfound neighbors.”

Bulblin raised his head, staring at the crowds in question. His glowing red eyes narrowed for a second, and he soon shrugged. “Fine.”

Zelda knew that this was the best she was going to get. With a sigh of acceptance, she gladly ushered the Bulblins forward. It wasn’t long before they began filing into the rows of tables and chairs that had been offered to them. Some of the Bulblins seemed confused by such propriety, almost as if they had never been asked to sit at a table before. Nevertheless, all it took was a stern command from their leader in their native tongue to get them to find a seat and remain still.

Zelda then surprised everyone by taking a seat at Bulblin’s side. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed many of the onlookers gawking and whispering behind raised hands. She simply smirked, paying them no mind. Let them talk. She wanted to show that she wasn’t afraid of these “monsters”, and no one else should be either.

It wasn’t long before the servants arrived to supply dinner to the Bulblins. To Zelda’s dismay, she couldn’t help but notice that the workers always seemed a bit too keen to serve the food and immediately take their leave. Some nearly dropped the plates with a clatter. It was like they were desperate to get away from the creatures that sat before them; perhaps fearing that they might lose a finger if they kept their hands exposed in front of their hungry mouths. Zelda wished to speak up and argue that the Bulblins weren’t complete barbarians, and that they ought to be treated as civilly as anyone else. Unfortunately, what came next certainly seemed to slay her words before they even left her throat.

The Bulblins tore at their meal without relent. Silverware remained stationary on the table as their long green fingers bathed in meaty juices. They were like a pack of wild animals, tearing apart a carcass with their sharp, jagged teeth. It was perhaps one of the most uncivil and disgusting scenes the Queen had ever witnessed in her young life.

Zelda glanced around at her fellow Hylians, only to spot similar reactions. Clearly, many of them were disturbed by the Bulblin’s behavior. Zelda even watched in dismay as one mother hugged her children close to her side, as if protecting them from the sight.

Hoping to salvage the situation, Zelda turned to the Bulblins’ trusted leader. He too had forgone the silverware that had been set for him, choosing instead to lazily grasp a drumstick with his bare hands. He wasn’t nearly as bad as his brethren, but it still wasn’t ideal. She scowled as she cleared her throat.

“Ahem. King Bulblin, could you perhaps ask your people to settle down a touch? I think their voracious behavior is starting to frighten the other guests.”

Bulblin gave her a blank stare. Almost as if she were speaking nonsense, or perhaps he was just confused. “Are we not to eat?” he asked.

Zelda frowned. “No, you are still welcome to dine, of course. I was just hoping it wouldn’t be so…rowdy.”

Bulblin gave her another blank stare. He soon gestured to his brethren using his juicy drumstick. “This is simply how we eat, Chieftain. It is all we have ever known.”

Zelda could only sigh. “Couldn’t you at least be bothered to use the silverware?”

The King shook his head. “We have no use for your shiny tools, Chieftain. Our fingers and jaws shall always suffice.”

Zelda felt her shoulders slump in defeat as Bulblin proceeded to take a large bite out of his drumstick and chew with his mouth open. It seemed that there was little use in arguing against their inherent nature. Besides, it wasn’t like they were breaking any laws or anything, as unsightly as this was…

Thankfully, the Bulblins devoured their meal with such haste that the nervous onlookers didn’t have to endure the sight for long. The horned creatures soon relaxed in their seats, freely belching and snickering as they allowed their stomachs to do the rest of the work. Zelda could only wrinkle her nose at the disgusting stench that was currently rising into the air. Hoping to move things along, she turned to her companion once more.

“King Bulblin, would you kindly accompany me as I make my way around the square? I wish to introduce you to some of the local traders and business owners.”

He merely shrugged before rising to his feet. “Fine.”

Bulblin followed the Queen around, acting like a perfectly behaved steward, even though his true self was far from such. Zelda was nothing short of grateful for his compliance. She assumed that he was honoring Link’s commands rather than her own, but she was willing to accept his obedience all the same.

She soon began picking out familiar faces in the crowd and approached them without delay. Bulblin naturally accompanied her, and she happily introduced him to every head of commerce she could find. She explained what she knew of the Bulblins’ specialties, such as their saddle-making, boar-rearing, weapon-crafting, and even the wild animal skins and furs accumulated through their hunts. She tried her utmost to make the Bulblins’ trade and goods sound as appealing as possible.

Unfortunately, the results of such introductions were…mixed, to say the least. None of the businessmen seemed eager to have the hulking horned brute approaching them. In fact, Zelda had a feeling that they only humored the idea of a greeting because the Queen was present. They awkwardly shook hands and exchanged names. Being ever mute, Bulblin rarely spoke, only doing so whenever Zelda absolutely insisted on it by turning to him. It was honestly a shame that he was so blunt and antisocial. The amicable relationships she had hoped to spark to life were nowhere in sight. She wished that Bulblin would at least put some more effort into this. In fact, she wished that everyone would.

But perhaps such desires simply weren’t attainable.

Just as Zelda was hitting her stride with introducing Bulblin to the local leatherworker (someone who actually showed great interest in the Bulblins’ sturdy boar saddles), a frightened shriek pierced the air. The crowds immediately paused and turned to the source: a woman who was pulling a shivering child into her protective arms. When Zelda spotted the lone Bulblin standing next to them, she immediately rushed to the center of commotion.

“What is going on here?” she demanded. “Is everyone all right?”

“Th-This creature!” the startled mother gasped. “It stole food from my daughter’s plate when she wasn't looking. And when the poor girl turned around, it hissed at her! Frightened her something fierce!”

The young girl who was cradled in her mother’s arms whimpered a bit. Zelda eyed her with pity before turning to the instigator. The lone Bulblin watched her with an empty gaze, mindlessly chewing on its prize without remorse. Zelda had to hold back a sigh as she bowed her head to the woman.

“My apologies. I’ll make sure that he doesn’t repeat this transgression.”

“I should hope it doesn’t!” the woman snapped. She wasn’t necessarily angry, but she was certainly unsettled. She soon began pulling her daughter away, hoping to put some distance between themselves and the thief.

Zelda promptly frowned. As it turned out, forging relationships with the Bulblins was no simple task, especially when they behaved like this. She could hardly blame anyone for thinking them barbaric after such a display.

“King Bulblin?” she called.

“Yes?” the brute responded, still at her side.

“Would you kindly let your people know that thievery is strictly forbidden? If anyone is still hungry, we will happily serve them another plate.”

“Fine.”

“And would you also advise them not to hiss at others? That is not how one presents themselves if they wish to forge a friendship.”

King Bulblin looked as if he wanted to roll his eyes. Naturally, the importance of manners and decorum was all but lost on him. Regardless, he chose to comply. “Fine.”

Zelda and Bulblin then turned in unison, only to realize that the table where they had originally been seated was all but empty. With a small, horrified gasp, Zelda glanced out into the square and noticed that the Bulblins had scattered in just about every direction. Some of them were kicking rocks around the street (and quite violently, at that). Others had started scaling the walls and buildings while some watched from below. And some had even plunged right into the Castle Town fountain, enjoying the cool makeshift bath.

Zelda’s jaw fell open as she sputtered. “K-King Bulblin, what is…why are they…?”

“Hmm?” he mumbled, far calmer about the situation than she.

“Your people!” she finally exclaimed. “What are they doing?”

“Entertaining themselves, by the looks of it.”

Zelda shut her mouth, only so she could frown greatly. “Entertainment? This rowdy behavior is considered entertainment?”

“Yes,” Bulblin answered, as blunt as ever.

“Well, this is simply unacceptable! You may be guests, but that doesn’t mean that you are free to do as you please. The entertainment for the evening is supposed to be dinner and discussions.”

Bulblin scowled a bit as he turned to her. “It’s a bit hard to have discussions when none of my people speak your tongue.”

Zelda faltered at this, her resolve loosening. She couldn’t deny he had a point. It would be difficult for the majority of Bulblins to forge bonds when they couldn’t even be interpreted. Still, Zelda had wished to cling onto hope. Surely, ties could be made simply by sharing one another’s company, surrounded by good food?

Apparently not, since the Bulblins hadn’t even considered entertaining the thought…

Just as Zelda was about to insist that the King call all of his people back to his side and order them to remain seated and still, another interruption arrived in the form of Minister Enzo. He was overseeing tonight’s festivities alongside the Queen, which is why she found it alarming to see him looking so pale as he approached her.

“Your Majesty, things seem to be…getting out of hand,” he announced meekly.

As if I wasn’t aware, Zelda thought with a scowl. “I know. King Bulblin and I are working to get everything under control.”

“It’s not just the Bulblins,” Enzo quickly clarified. “The people of Castle Town are growing restless as well.”

Zelda hesitated once again, her eyes growing round with worry. Her own people? She quickly glanced over and noticed exactly what Enzo was referring to. The Hylians who had been enjoying themselves up until this moment were now reflecting the exact opposite expressions. They appeared nervous and uncomfortable. They rose from their tables and backed away from the commotion. Parents held their children close while cackling Bulblins ran past.

Zelda swallowed as she witnessed such a wretched sight. It was an image she knew all too well. The sight of innocent people being terrified…

“Some of them have begun raising complaints,” Enzo continued. “They want to know why you’ve brought these Bulblins here if they’re only going to terrorize the town.”

“This was not my intention,” Zelda answered sharply. “This was merely a diplomatic reception where we all could meet one another and establish friendly relations—”

“Please, My Lady,” Enzo politely cut her off. “I am well aware of your intentions. Regardless, the results of such actions are…well, far from what you envisioned.”

Zelda could hardly argue with that. The evening had completely slipped away from her. The Bulblins were wild. Her people were scared. She had made no progress in showing that the Bulblins were capable of being peaceful and friendly. If anything, she had accomplished the exact opposite! She was convincing her people that the Bulblins were the very devils they believed them to be.

In an instant, things suddenly went from bad to worse.

“Fire!” a guard shouted above the noise and commotion. “The cafe is on fire!”

With a look of pure dread, Zelda turned to confirm the terrible news. Sure enough, the cafe that sat on the edge of the square began to grow bright with flame. The tables and floorboards were already burning black. And the horrifying source of such a tragedy? Three Bulblins, armed with silverware from their long-abandoned table, who amused themselves by throwing said utensils at the decorative lanterns which were hung around the square. It wasn’t long before a butterknife whizzed through another thread, severing it and sending a fresh lantern down to the cafe’s patio. It exploded in a small shower of sparks, adding more flames to the inferno. The horned creatures merely cackled in delight.

Zelda felt her blood run cold. They were having fun.

“My cafe!” the owner cried out from the crowd. He hopelessly rushed forward, only for someone to hold him back. “What do those devils think they’re doing to my restaurant?”

“Hey, stay back! It’s dangerous!”

It wasn’t long before the guards were called to step in. Zelda merely shivered as she caught the sound of sharp metal being unsheathed. She instantly realized that she needed to intervene as well.

“Wait!” she cried, stepping in front of the leading captain. “Sheathe your weapons, immediately!”

The soldier merely eyed his Queen, appearing very unsure. “But ma’am,” he said, as respectfully as possible, “these monsters have just started a fire—”

“They’re not monsters,” Zelda seethed. They were so much more than that. Her new people. A grand opportunity. Hyrule’s prosperous future. Why couldn’t anyone else understand?

Or…was it possible that she was mistaken?

Biting her lip, Zelda didn’t dare to entertain the thought. She had more pressing issues on her mind than her precious ambition.

“Leave it to me and the King,” she insisted. “Just make sure that the citizens stay away from the flames.”

The captain simply hesitated. “Your Majesty, are you—”

“That’s an order,” she stressed. Then, fighting back her own hesitation, she turned in a rush only to point an accusatory finger at Bulblin. “You need to rein your people in at once. This behavior is beyond unacceptable. Laws are being broken and lives are now endangered. I will not tolerate such things, and if the Hero were here, he wouldn’t either.”

Bulblin frowned. It was obvious that he did not appreciate her tone or her gestures, but it seemed that he was not in the mood to argue. Without a word to her, he instantly began bellowing orders in a roar loud enough for the entire square to hear. The Hylians froze in fear, as did the Bulblins.

Zelda paid them no mind. Her efforts were fully focused on the growing inferno by the cafe. With her magic, she was certain that she could quickly douse the flames and minimize the damage. Not all was lost. Not yet. Not as long as she was willing to fight!

The next few minutes passed in a tense blur as Zelda effortlessly and efficiently worked to bring the flames under control. Calling upon the Goddesses’ favor, she smothered each flame one by one. A thick haze was all that was left in their wake.

By the time she finished, the situation in the square had hardly improved. Bulblin had succeeded in gathering his brethren to his side, but many of them seemed far from pleased. Having their fun halted so abruptly had doubtlessly irritated them. Even now, there were a few who vented their frustrations by playfully chucking their leftover silverware into the fountain. It was like everything was just a big game to them.

The Hylians weren’t faring much better. It seemed that many had fled the scene once the commotion had started getting out of hand. Those who remained were either brave or furious. Potentially both. Many of them stepped forth, yelling at the guards to do something about the devils already. The captain shouted back, claiming that the Queen herself had ordered them to stand down. Amidst the yelling, Zelda even caught murmurs of threats being raised. How if the guards didn’t take action soon, the civilians would be forced to do it themselves.

Zelda could feel her heart splitting in half. This is not what she had intended. Never what she had wished for. How could things have fallen apart so quickly? Had the Goddesses abandoned her and her heartfelt goal of bringing true peace to this Kingdom?

She supposed the answer hardly mattered. Not when she had a riot on her hands. Fearing that the situation could deteriorate further, she rushed back to Bulblin’s side, and was just as swift to issue orders. “King Bulblin, would you please escort your people out of town? I believe it would be best if you took your leave for the night.”

The King merely stared at her, his jaw hanging open as it so often did. “We are no longer welcome here?”

Zelda could only sigh, her frustration weighing heavily on her. Why was he making this more difficult than it had to be? “Please, King Bulblin, I kindly ask that you make your exit. I do not wish to exile you, but this evening has quickly fallen apart and my citizens are restless, no doubt due in part to your people’s raucous behavior.”

“I see,” the King hummed. “That is rather disheartening.”

“You have my apologies,” Zelda said with a slight bow, “but I’m afraid that making reparations will have to wait for another time. Now, would you kindly take your people and go?”

Bulblin snorted, a bit of steam flying from his nostrils. “So much for bringing our people together. Perhaps our blood was simply never meant to mix.”

Zelda could only frown at his comment. She could feel herself losing support and confidence at every turn. Was it true? Had this entire evening; her entire goal been one tremendous mistake?

The Bulblins shuffled out of town, some of them nicking food from the tables as they passed. No one cared to stop them. The Hylians simply wanted them gone. Nevertheless, the arguments continued even after the devils had vanished. The townspeople called for justice. For safety. For something as simple as answers. Why were the Bulblins here? Why must they become allies and friends? Couldn’t the Queen, in all of her wisdom, see that nobody desired this?

Zelda had no words. She simply turned, her gaze flickering from the crowd to the city and back again. Much like the cafe, it seemed that all the trust her people had placed in her was quickly burning to ashes.

 

---

 

The following day was somehow worse than the previous. The people of Castle Town seemed to have spent the night spreading the word of what had transpired at the “Queen’s Bulblin party”. Their comments were not pleasant, nor were they kind.

With the morning came new issues. Now, there were more concerns being expressed than ever before, and quite loudly at that. In fact, many dissenters marched right up to the castle’s gate and demanded answers.

Zelda was anxious when she stepped forward to greet them. It was obvious that her people were seriously upset, not only with the troublemaking Bulblins, but also herself. Their faith in her had been scarred, chipped, and shattered, and now it was up to Zelda to seal the wounds of her own making. With a deep breath, she resolved herself. She had every intention of setting things right.

Unfortunately, as Zelda was quick to discover, intentions and reality were two very different things…

The citizens were restless. They didn’t want the Queen’s excuses. They wanted solutions. They wanted safety. They didn’t wish to build some distant, dreamlike peace as she did. They desired to maintain the daily peace that was already established. They desired comfort and stability and a tranquility that was achievable.

If Zelda were truly wise, perhaps she would have listened to their pleas. Instead, she was foolish enough to double down. After apologizing for the disturbance that had taken place the night before, she reiterated that she still had every intention of making peace with the Bulblins. That she would not abandon her goal of welcoming them into Hyrule. And this mistake, Zelda later realized, was her complete undoing.

At these words, her people grew frustrated and disappointed and bitter, and they were not afraid to show it. Many cried out. Many shook their heads. Some even went so far as to boo her, which nearly broke Zelda’s heart on the spot. Never in her life had she been in a position where she was so unfavored by the people who had always adored her. It was a tragedy that was rapidly ripping her apart from the inside out.

However, the moment that stung the most was when a man shouted that her late father would have never betrayed the people of Hyrule like this.

It was all Zelda could do to keep her composure in that moment. To hide her pain and distress behind a stoic mask. It felt as if her entire world was shattering around her. As if all that she had built up was suddenly crashing down. As if Zant had wormed his way into her castle a second time, and demanded her surrender.

Was it true? Was she leading her Kingdom down a dangerous path? Was she unworthy of ruling over her lovely subjects? Was she betraying them? Would her father have been disappointed in her actions, just as everyone else was?

The weight of such questions was enough to crush the life out of her, leaving nothing more than a wrinkled doll in its wake.

When the people had their fill of criticizing their Queen, they slowly began to disperse. At that time, Zelda, with a face like stone and a heart like ice, had silently taken her leave as well. She now resided in her study—eyes closed and breaths shallow as she listened to Minister Enzo read off a list of the formal complaints he had compiled throughout the morning. With each sentence, Zelda could feel that crushing weight grow heavier, and she slowly fell further into darkness.

“Many parents have cited that their children were terrified by such unsightly behavior.”

The Queen heaved a sigh. “Give me a list of names and I’ll provide each of them with a handwritten apology. There’s little else I can do there.”

“It will have to suffice,” Enzo agreed sadly.

“What’s next?”

“The kitchen staff claim that numerous sets of dishware and utensils have gone missing. They believe that the Bulblins may have carried them off as they departed last night.”

“I’ll have it all replaced with funds from the treasury.”

“If you insist, Your Majesty.”

“Next?”

“The owner of the cafe is asking that we pay for the damages that have been inflicted on his property.”

Zelda slowly nodded. “Yes, please tell him we’ll pay to have everything completely fixed up.”

“He is also demanding money for the potential loss of business he will suffer as a result of his cafe having to temporarily close.”

Ordinarily, Zelda would have fought tooth and nail against such an excessive demand, but she simply didn’t have the energy today. Besides, who was she to deny favor to someone she had personally wronged?

“Very well,” she answered with a wave of her hand. “We’ll calculate a fair sum based on his daily earnings and provide that as well.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty,” Enzo said, ever compliant.

“Is there anything else?”

“No, that is all,” he said.

For now, she thought glumly. Zelda turned and glanced out her window. The sky was gray, adorned with heavy clouds. It seemed that the heavens were threatening to storm at any moment. She found that it perfectly reflected her mood. Miserable. Undesirable. Potentially harmful, even. It was exactly the sort of sight that a failure like herself deserved.

Heaving another sigh, Zelda soon went to stand. “Thank you, Enzo, for all of your hard work. If there is nothing else to review, then I would like to excuse myself.”

Enzo simply cast a wary glance in her direction as she began shuffling towards the door. “Your Majesty?”

She halted. “Yes?”

He frowned, gazing at her with eyes full of concern. She hated that look. She didn’t deserve such pity.

“Are…Are you doing well? You’ve seemed rather distraught since the event fell apart last night.”

“I am perfectly fine,” she insisted, her voice level and clear. “You need not worry yourself.”

This only made him worry further. “Forgive me, Queen Zelda. I just hope that you aren’t taking this misfortune too hard. Your intentions were noble and it’s only natural to encounter a few roadblocks along the way.”

“I am well aware,” she replied. This time, she was almost blunt, and yet she remained purely formal. “Your input is most appreciated, Minister, but I really must be off. I…would like to spend some time alone in the garden.”

“The garden?” Enzo repeated, hardly believing her. “But, Your Majesty, it is sure to start storming any minute now. To take a walk would not be—”

“I said that you needn’t worry yourself,” Zelda reminded him. Now her tone was sharp and icy, but she quickly reined it in. She refused to take her frustrations out on others.

She had no one to be upset with other than herself, after all.

A few minutes later, Zelda found herself gliding through the gloomy corridors of the castle. It was approaching evening and the sky was growing darker and more miserable by the minute. 

She couldn’t recall what she had said to finally convince Enzo to let her go. All she knew was that she was alone at last. Just as she deserved.

Eventually, she arrived at the castle’s esteemed garden. The grove was as empty and hollow as she was. Wind tore through her, and her braid threatened to come undone as it whipped behind her. As expected, the rain soon began to fall. It started off light and gentle. Just enough to dampen her hair and dress. It was not harsh, and the droplets didn’t sting as the wind nudged them into her face.

But she wished that they would.

Zelda closed her fists at her side. The grip was strong enough to crush steel. The brittle woman stepped forward, embracing the storm. She tried to admire the flowers, but it was no use. There was little peace and joy to be found in such mundane things. The dark sky and echoing thunder suited her far better.

The rain continued to softly assault the Queen, drenching her from head to toe. Her braid loosened further.

Her people deserved better. They deserved a competent and trustworthy leader. Someone who would not force them into a future which nobody desired. Someone who would live to serve them, and perfectly provide for all of their wants. Someone who would never betray them as she had.

The wind howled, covering Zelda’s sob as her tears mixed with rain.

She wasn’t sure how long this went on for. She wandered forward in solitude, the rain her only companion. The wind her only hug. The thunder her only conservation.

She was lonely.

And cold.

And heartbroken.

Zelda prepared to heave another sob, but promptly froze as soon as she spotted a lone shadow approaching her. It was hard to make out amongst the drizzle, but she recognized the shape of a man. And it was a rather familiar shape at that.

Perhaps she wasn’t alone after all.

A Hero, clad in an unmistakable green tunic, drifted towards her like a specter. The Queen could barely believe her eyes. His presence here was an impossibility, and yet she was praying for it all the same. He stopped once he was within reach of her fragile fingers. His expression was a mix of pity and heartbreak, not unlike herself. It was like looking at a reflection in a broken mirror.

“Link,” she nearly whimpered. “Wh-What are you doing here?”

The Hero frowned. He didn’t seem particularly concerned with offering a response. Instead, he took a step forward, closing what little distance stood between them. He then brought his hand up, finger and thumb spreading as he placed them beneath her eyes. Despite the rain, he found her tears.

“You’ve been crying…”

Those words, so full of compassion and kindness, were enough to shatter her to pieces. She released a final sob as she flung the fragments into his arms.

Notes:

This chapter. Man, this chapter. I don’t know what it was, but it fought me every step of the way. Every paragraph was like pulling teeth. I was constantly feeling dissatisfied with it and basically had to force myself to keep writing just for the sake of getting through it. I feel like it’s not terribly interesting and the end got really depressing. Maybe that’s my issue with it? I honestly have no idea lol.

Next chapter is the big one. The one you’ve all been waiting for since the very moment you first clicked on this story. Looking forward to it ;)

Chapter 82: Embers

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 82 – Embers

Zelda wasn’t sure how long the two of them stood in the storm, sharing warmth in the other’s tender embrace. All she knew was that Link eventually encouraged her to return inside where she could be dry and sheltered. With a shaky nod, she complied, but not before taking his hand and gently pulling him along.

“You’ll stay with me, won’t you?” she whispered.

His expression was as soft and sympathetic as ever. “Of course I will.”

With a heart full of gratitude, she led the Hero away from the cold and wet and misery. They entered the castle, leaving fresh footprints on the floor as they made their way through the halls. Zelda eventually caught a maid who offered towels to the drenched pair. After a halfhearted attempt to dry themselves off, Zelda then claimed that she was off to change, but she didn’t depart without one final request.

“Would you meet me at my chambers in ten minutes?” she asked, placing a gentle hand on Link’s arm. “So we can talk?”

The Hero merely smiled. “I’ll be there.”

 

---

 

It was pitch black outside by the time Link made it to Zelda’s door. The departure of the sun combined with the heavy storm clouds left the world in shadow. Rain continued to pummel the earth, drenching everything it touched.

Fortunately, the Hero was mostly dry by now. His hair was still damp, but he had at least changed into a spare set of clothes. He proceeded to politely knock on Zelda’s door and await her response. He didn’t know what she wished to discuss, or why she seemed so distraught earlier, but he fully intended to hear her out.

Besides, there were some things he needed to share too…

It wasn’t long before the door swung inward, and a small, innocent smile greeted him. “Would you like to come in?”

He watched her for a moment, wanting to take her in. Like him, her hair was damp and loose, completely free of the neat braid she typically confined it to. She had also donned a fresh dress of white and purple, but her apparel stopped there. She lacked her long white gloves and heavy shoulder pauldrons and the golden circlet which typically rested on her brow. She still appeared regal, and yet she seemed so casual as well. Or perhaps bare was a better term.

For a moment, he contemplated the morals of entering an unmarried Queen’s bedchamber at night. If any of the maids or servants caught word of this, he knew it would be the talk of the castle for weeks to come. And yet, standing there and silently staring at Zelda, he decided that he ultimately didn’t care.

“Thank you,” he said, entering the chamber as Zelda closed the door behind him. The room was dark, lit by only a single candle. It rested on a small table which was surrounded by comfortable furniture. Zelda soon settled down on a loveseat before facing her companion.

“Would you care to sit?”

The last time she had extended this courtesy, he had declined, insisting that he take her outside and explore Castle Town for an evening. This time, however, he complied without a sound. Ignoring every open seat but the one beside her, Link took his place at her side. The Queen found this to be a rather daring action, but she honestly didn’t mind. She appreciated his company. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she needed it.

The two of them sat in silence for a moment. They both seemed more interested in watching the candle’s dancing flame rather than each other. In the end, it was Link who tore his gaze away first.

“Why were you crying?” he asked, his voice as soft as the wind.

Zelda sunk into herself. She did not want to dwell on this. To expose the truth. To be vulnerable in front of him. But she soon sighed and relinquished her reservations. If she couldn’t trust Link, then could she honestly trust anyone?

A crooked smile cracked her perfect face. “Haven’t you heard the rumors around town?” she asked, almost in mock amusement. “I’m a fool, a traitor, and above all else, a failure.”

Link kept a perfectly straight face. He didn’t seem to find any humor in such words. “What are you talking about? What happened, Zelda?”

Zelda closed her eyes in shame. So the Hero truly hadn’t learned of the fiasco from the day before. With a heavy heart, she reluctantly filled him in. She shared all of the details of her friendly Bulblin dinner. How the event had fallen apart. How it had literally gone up in flames.

“They set fire to the buildings?” Link asked with wide eyes. “And they terrorized the townspeople?”

“It was all born out of several misunderstandings, but yes,” Zelda answered, another sigh escaping her lips.

Link clenched his teeth, nearly growling as frustration rose up within him. “That forked-tongue King. Just wait until I have a word with him. I’ll make him regret causing any trouble for Hyrule—”

Zelda rested a gentle hand on his shoulder, cutting him off. “Please, Link, don’t take your anger out on them. Like I said, it was mostly a misunderstanding. The Bulblins didn’t comprehend our customs or the purpose of the event, and things spiraled out of control faster than I could handle. So, in essence, the blame lies with me.”

Link felt his heart twinge with pain as he watched her expression turn guilty. “Zelda…”

The Queen shook her head and brought her hand back to her side. “No, it’s true,” she insisted. “I’ve made so many careless mistakes. I promised everyone that the Bulblins would be amicable, but nobody wanted to make their acquaintance. And I promised the Bulblins that Hyrule would happily accept them as one of our proud peoples, but in the end, I nearly had to run them out of town. And now, everyone is frustrated and bitter because of the pain I have inflicted and the promises I have broken.” She paused, her heart sinking lower than it likely ever had before. “They may call me a wise Queen, but I am anything but. Rather, I am a fool. A disappointment. A monster.”

Her words hung in the air like a tangible chill. Link could only stare at her for a moment before turning his gaze back to the sole candle before him. He felt his heart twinge again. This time, it wasn’t in pain, but rather in resonance.

“Yeah, well, you’re not the only one…”

Zelda sharply turned to him, dismissing her guilt if only so she could replace it with pity. “Link?” she whispered, almost sounding frightened. “What’s the matter? Did…Did something happen?”

Link nodded, and from that subtle motion, Zelda discerned a myriad of emotions. Regret. Shame. An overwhelming sorrow. Once again, Zelda felt as if she were admiring her own shattered reflection. Her heart ached with grief as she reached over and placed a comforting hand atop his own.

“Would you like to talk about it?”

Link shook his head. No, he didn’t want to talk about this. He didn’t want to admit his shortcomings. His cruelty. His sins. Zelda was an angel. Far too pure for the likes of him to sit near, let alone tarnish with his poison. He did not want to share his burdens with someone so selfless and kind.

And yet, before he knew it, the truth was naturally spilling out of his mouth.

“Ilia and I have broken up.”

Zelda sharply gasped, a hand hovering over her breath. “N-No…”

Another subtle nod was all he offered in order to confirm it.

Zelda’s lips settled into a frown as her eyes grew round with sympathy. Her mind was a haze of bewilderment. She had never expected to hear these words come from Link’s own mouth, and so abruptly at that.

“I don’t understand,” she said quietly, hand still resting on his. “I…I thought that you two were happy together…”

“We were.” His tone was laced with grief. “For the longest time, we were so happy. So innocent and loving and carefree. She brought a lot of joy into my life. She always has.”

Zelda nodded. This part, she understood perfectly. Ilia was his childhood friend. His closest companion. They had simply meant everything to one another.

“So what happened?” she dared to ask.

Link took in a sharp breath as his shoulders tensed. Zelda’s bare palm on the back of his hand was the only thing keeping him steady at the moment. “We had a fight,” he admitted. “Many fights. Over my responsibilities. My involvement with the Bulblins. My servitude to you.”

Zelda could feel ice coalescing in her veins. She swallowed in fear. “I…I created conflict between the two of you?”

At this, Link turned to face her. It was as if they kept trading guilt with sympathy. When one would swap, so would the other.

“It wasn’t your fault, Zelda,” he assured her in a hollow tone. “If anything, this was a long time coming. I…don’t think that I ever understood her as well as I thought I did. And I don’t think that she truly understood me either.”

The Queen’s eyes remained wide with fear as she urged him to go on. “What do you mean?”

Link turned back to the flickering flame. He almost appeared as if he wished to cast himself into it. A fitting punishment for a sinner so terrible.

“We wanted different things,” he explained slowly. “She wanted me to stay in Ordon. To give up being a Hero and become Mayor instead. To peacefully watch over Ordon for the rest of my days… And I guess I realized that I didn’t want that for myself.”

Zelda felt her heart churn within her. “You didn’t want to abandon Hyrule.”

“No. Not Hyrule. Not the people. Not my friends. And especially not you…”

Zelda’s lip trembled as she squeezed on his hand. This man. This sweet, innocent, and selfless man. He had risked the love of his life simply because he refused to leave her side?

“It slowly created division between us,” Link continued. “We shouted at each other. Voiced our frustrations. Made bitter remarks. It was such a fierce back and forth and I’m…I’m not proud of it…”

“I’m sorry,” Zelda mumbled. She didn’t know what else she could say. What else she could do. “I’m so sorry, Link. I know you loved her.”

“It’s not your fault,” he replied. “Most of the blame lies with me. I didn’t pay enough attention to her feelings. I couldn’t see how much I was hurting her. I couldn’t keep my cool when things started to get out of hand. And I wasn’t strong enough to stop myself from getting hurt in return. Her words stung me. They were sharp and bitter. They made me so angry that I wanted nothing more than to sting her back. The next thing I knew, the relationship had fallen apart.”

The Hero finally wrenched his hand free of the Queen’s, only so he could turn both palms upward and gaze down upon them. “You’re not a monster, Zelda,” he whispered, his voice ever hollow. “If anyone is a monster, it’s me. I’m a beast. A wolf, who snarls and growls and bites at anything that riles him up. Only a devil as cold and cruel as that could have sullied something so warm and wonderful.”

Zelda’s heart was breaking. Shattering for the gentle soul sitting beside her. With tears threatening to spill out of her eyes, she reached over and pulled Link into the most tender embrace she could provide.

“Stop it,” she breathed into his neck. “Stop it, please. You’re not a monster. You’re not a beast. You’re a man with a beating heart. You bleed and feel emotions just like the rest of us. And that’s okay. No one can fault you for that. So please, don’t apologize. Don’t you ever apologize for not being perfect.”

Link remained stiff in her grasp for what felt like an eternity, but he eventually softened and returned her embrace. Warm hands wrapped around her back, pulling her in close. At this proximity, it almost felt as if she could sense his heart beating beneath his tunic. It was gentle and slow and grateful for her comfort.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Zelda,” Link confessed, his lips by her ears.

“It’s okay,” she assured him. “We all make mistakes.”

“I have a lot of regrets too… But the one thing I don’t regret…is falling in love with you.”

Zelda promptly flinched. Lightning replaced the ice in her veins, nearly paralyzing her with bewilderment. She pulled away from his arms just in time to let her puzzled words tumble out of her mouth.

“Wh-What…?”

His eyes found hers, and once they locked together, they were inseparable. Only the warmest of smiles graced his lips as he repeated words poured straight out of his heart.

“I’m in love with you, Zelda. I think I have been for a long time now.”

The Queen honestly could have laughed if she wasn’t so petrified. Whether intentional or not, the Hero had just repeated the very same words that she had offered to him all those weeks ago. On the night where she had confessed her true feelings for him. She trembled as the reality of what was happening weighed upon her.

“If…If this is a joke,” she began, her voice shaking, “it isn’t funny.”

Link’s expression softened a bit, appearing all the more sincere. “Why would I ever joke about something like this?”

For Zelda, there were many answers that came to mind. The impossibility of such a thing. The belief that the Hero only had eyes for Ilia and would never love the Queen as anything more than a friend. The fact that Zelda had spent many months hardening her heart, forcing herself to accept that Link would never reciprocate her affection, no matter how much she pined for it. The two of them were simply never meant to be. Ever.

And yet, despite her reservations, Zelda chose to lose herself in the warmth of Link’s sincerity. Somewhere, deep down in the recesses of her rough and fractured heart, she could feel tiny embers flickering to life. Sparks that filled her with hope, and encouraged her to believe, if only for a moment.

“You… Are you serious?” Zelda whispered.

Link reached over and took both of her hands in his own. The action was so simple and obvious. In this moment, the Hero was fearless, acting without hesitation.

“I’m in love with you, Zelda. You are so kind. And selfless. And innocent and pure and compassionate and beautiful and wise. I’ve always admired you as a leader. Respected you as a fighter. Cherished you as a friend. And I’m so incredibly grateful for every little kindness you have ever offered me. Every sacrifice you’ve made. Every smile you gifted me. You’ve been supporting me and loving me for so long now, and I don’t think I ever fully realized it. I never truly appreciated it. But I do now. It all seems so clear to me. After you confessed your feelings to me, and after I had those fights with Ilia, I realized something earth-shattering. I realized that while I loved Ilia, and I was always happy with her, there was someone else who I truly loved. Someone else who consistently filled me with a happiness like no other. A joy that raises my spirits every time I admire her beauty and bathe in her smile. And that person, Zelda, is you.”

The Hero paused briefly, only so he could bring her hands together and clasp them in his own. His heavenly blue eyes remained solely focused on her sapphires. He was staring at her as if she were the only girl in the entire world.

“I’m in love with you, and I’ll say it as many times as I have to before you’re convinced.”

Zelda merely trembled beneath his gaze. Beneath his touch. His words were like the rain, assaulting her relentlessly. His sincerity was like a dagger, piercing her heart with its sweetness. The tiny embers within danced and swooned, causing her old iron heart to ache and groan. Tears began to prick at her eyes. This sensation…it was overwhelming. She couldn’t believe this. She had conditioned herself to never believe it. To never desire it. For days and weeks and months, Zelda had forced herself to hide from such emotions. And she would continue to hide, for fear of hurting worse than she already had time and time again.

And for fear of hurting Link, too…

“L-Link…” The Queen nearly cursed. Her voice was still so shaky and she absolutely loathed it. In this moment, she needed to be brave and honest. She forced herself to go on. “I…I’m incredibly flattered by your comments. Truly, I am. But I…I don’t…”

“I mean them,” Link whispered. “Every word is being poured straight from my heart, Zelda, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m in love with you.”

Zelda winced, his words striking her like a hammer on steel. Between his sincerity and the flames rising within her core, it was becoming more difficult to refuse him. Growing desperate and frightened, she tugged on her hands, and Link willingly let them go. She brought them back to her side, almost shivering as she continued to fight her tears.

Link’s own hands fell until they rested on the cushion below. His smile turned sad. “Have I missed my mark?” he asked quietly. “I know you confessed your feelings for me a while ago, but have things changed since then? Have you moved on?”

Zelda continued to eye him like a frightened child. “No,” she choked out, still struggling to control her voice. “No, Link, that’s not it.”

“Then what is it?” he asked kindly. “Please, I’ve never seen you so unsettled.”

Of course she was unsettled. No, it would be more accurate to say that she was completely falling apart. Here he was, the man she admired and longed for more than any other, confessing his genuine affection for her. It was everything she had ever wanted, and everything she never allowed herself to have. It was confusing, conflicting, and above all else, terrifying. The words that so often echoed in her mind assaulted her without relent. They were not meant to be. Link was happy without her. She needed to move on!

“I can’t be with you,” she finally muttered as her eyes fell to the floor. “I’m not supposed to be with you.”

Link raised his brow as he tried to maintain his comforting smile. “Says who?”

“I just know it,” she insisted, refusing to meet his gaze. “I’ve always known it, since the day I realized that you and Ilia loved each other. That I…I wasn’t right for you.”

Link’s smile finally faltered into a frown. “Hey,” he said, slowly reaching over and grazing her arm. “Don’t say things like that.”

“But it’s true.”

“No, it’s not,” Link said, a little sternly. “How can you possibly believe that after everything I’ve just told you? Zelda, you mean so much to me—”

She retreated a bit, tearing her arm away and cutting his words short. “Link, you deserve someone better than me. Someone who will always be there for you and take care of you. I can’t give you that. I…” She paused as several repressed memories flooded her mind. All of her insecurities unleashed a violent torture upon her soul.

“I can’t make you a home-cooked meal,” she stated adamantly. “And I don’t have time to take care of Epona for you. And I’m certainly no homemaker.”

Link blinked, stunned by these confessions. He had never imagined that something like this had plagued her heart. “Is that what you think I want?” he asked quietly. “What you think that I expect from you?”

“It’s what you deserve,” she repeated with a shake of her head. “It’s what makes you happy.”

Link softly sighed. “Zelda, I don’t care about any of that stuff. Sure, I’ve always appreciated what Ilia has done for me, but that’s not what’s important. What I truly admire is someone who is able to bring me joy and peace and comfort simply by being her kind and caring self. And I feel that with you, Zelda. I feel it every single time that we’re together. It’s a feeling that means more to me than anything else in this world, and I will never fail to appreciate its value.”

Zelda had to fight the urge to shudder as she glanced up at him. Her heart continued to melt. To fall apart as the flames burned brightly within. She watched as he flashed a loving smile for her, and only her.

“Besides, whoever said that you weren’t a good homemaker?” he asked lightly. “Hyrule is my home, and you’ve certainly helped make that.”

Zelda’s lips nearly cracked into a smirk. He was always so funny and sweet. Always lifting her up when she needed it the most. And it was because he was such a beautiful and compassionate soul, that fear refused to let her accept him.

“I feel like I’m still not good enough for you,” she confessed. “I’ll never be good enough to deserve you.”

“Stop saying things like that,” Link insisted. He gently reached over and wiped a fresh tear from her cheek. “The only one who can decide who I belong with is me, and in this moment, I happily and freely choose you, Zelda.”

She relished his touch, even though it pained her too. She was caught in the chokehold of doubt. Stubborn and scared, she refused to give in. “Link…I can’t. I’m unworthy…”

An amused smile graced his lips. It was fortunate that he was always so patient with her. “If you want to discuss worthiness, then I think you have it backwards. How could someone like me ever be good enough for a Queen?”

Zelda froze, her words caught in her throat. Her tears dangling from her eyes. The protective streak within her immediately flared to life. It always did whenever Link belittled himself. It was incredible how easy it was to discard her own troubles when Link’s were presented before her.

“No, Link, don’t say that,” she insisted as fast as she could. “You’re more than enough for me. I love and cherish you so dearly. And I…I’m not sure when it happened, but at some point, you became my closest friend.”

It was true. She admired and treasured this man like no other. He was perhaps the greatest thing that had ever happened to her. And she would never, ever think of him as beneath her over something as trivial as mere status. After all, what was a Queen compared to the sweetest soul she had ever encountered?

Worthless. She was worthless.

But Link disagreed. She could see it in his very eyes. The way they sparkled as he watched her. She knew, deep down in her heart, that she had become his greatest treasure just as he had become hers.

Without a hint of fear or hesitation, Link reached over, and gently brushed a lock of her beautiful hair behind her ear. His eyes betrayed his every emotion. He felt so sorry for her.

“Zelda,” he whispered into the space between them. “Why won’t you allow yourself to be loved?”

The Queen was speechless. She had no idea what to say. She knew he had a point. That fear had conquered her for far too long and it was finally time for her to let go. To release her reservations. To surrender to the undeniable truth that she loved this man, and that it was okay for him to love her in return.

But when she failed to provide an answer, Link merely sighed. “You make me worry, you know that?” he asked with a sad smile. “I worry that if I’m not by your side, you won’t have anyone around to comfort you when you’re grieving. To support you even when you fail. To be honest when you’re being foolish. You’re always so isolated. So afraid of confiding in others. And I just can’t stand the thought of you being so lonely.”

Zelda swallowed as her heart hammered within her. Again, his words were striking true, destroying the walls that had kept her imprisoned for far too long. “I always have Fost’s support,” she argued weakly.

Link smirked at her half-hearted answer. “The two of you butt heads more often than not. And you don’t exactly go to him for personal matters, do you?”

Zelda pursed her lips. “I often confide in Ashei as well.”

“Yeah, but she’s not exactly the most comforting personality, is she? She isn’t able to set your heart at ease.”

Zelda could feel her resolve weakening. The flames of her heart were melting the icy grip of fear that had plagued her for endless days. It was true. No one knew her like Link did. No one could understand her like he did. Comfort her like he did. Link was as warm and bright as the sun. No, he was light itself.

On the cusp of total surrender, Zelda offered her weakest argument yet. It was a sign that the battle was truly lost.

“I could always find companionship with Prince Vaen,” she mumbled, nearly smiling at how silly it sounded.

Link’s expression soured. “I hate that guy. And I’m pretty sure you do too. Now, would you please do me the kindness of never mentioning him again?”

Zelda couldn’t help it. She closed her eyes and smirked. Yes, it was a foolish thought, born of a foolish mind. Here and now, she needed to finally let go. To accept the incredible gift that was being offered to her.

Thankfully, Link knew how to make it easy for her. He gently reached out and grasped one of her hands with his own. The warm touch encouraged Zelda to open her eyes and face him. He shined with radiance as she took him in.

“Zelda, there’s one more thing that I wish for you,” he whispered with the utmost sincerity. “I want you to find someone that loves you in the way that you deserve to be loved. And I will gladly be that person, but only if you’ll have me.”

And there it was. His final confession. His final attempt to shatter her iron heart so he could reach the embers within. She knew he wanted nothing more than to cradle and nourish them. But he would only do so if Zelda offered herself willingly. If she trusted him enough to be vulnerable.

It was perhaps the most difficult decision she had ever made.

“Link…” Her voice cracked, as did her heart and the dam that was her eyes. Tears began to flow as the flames simmered. She desperately squeezed his hand, hoping in vain to convey her emotions.

Fortunately, Link was the most patient and understanding soul on the Goddesses’ green earth. With a benevolent smile, he reached for her cheeks, wiping away her tears as if he was dabbing at a bloody wound. He knew that it would only take a little more coaxing before she abandoned her terrors for good.

“Zelda, do you love me?”

The confession boiled up from within her. “I do.”

“Will you have me?”

Zelda released a shaky, disappointed gasp. He should have never had to ask. “Of course I will.”

What followed was Link inching closer to Zelda before pulling her into a tender embrace. She crumbled in his arms. Melted in his touch. With red cheeks and puffy eyes, she faced him. She then drew close as he sweetly placed a kiss on her lips. It was such a trivial gesture, and yet it meant the world to this broken girl.

They were in love, and Zelda would never again find the strength to deny it.

As the tears dried and Zelda’s breath became stable, she succumbed to him fully. Her head fell on his shoulder as she cuddled up to his chest. He contented to wrap one arm around her and used his free hand to interlock his fingers with her own. Together, they watched the sole candle in silence. Its flame, bright and lively, continued to dance amongst the dark. Zelda couldn’t stop herself from cracking a smile as she watched it. Something about this moment felt so right. So fulfilling and so perfect. In this moment, Zelda dared to believe that she would never ache again.

Time passed in silence. Within the safety of Link’s embrace, Zelda eventually felt her eyelids grow heavy. A humble request worked its way to her lips.

“Link?” she whispered into the darkness.

“Yes?”

“Will you keep holding me close, all through the night?”

He pressed a kiss to her temple before rubbing her shoulder. His hand squeezed her own one last time. She knew his answer before he even made a sound.

“Of course, Zelda. I’ll never leave your side.”

Notes:

AHHHHHHH it’s official! TP Zelink confirmed, baby! What did I tell you guys? I knew we’d make it here someday! I just knew it! AHHHHHHH!

I always knew that Zelda would be somewhat reluctant to accept Link’s confession here, but I never expected it to be so drastic until I actually started writing it. I realized that Zelda had been buried in misery and heartbreak for so long (this may or may not have been my fault lol), and that such things would not be easily overcome. It would take a lot of coaxing and reassurance from Link to show that yes, he does love her, and that yes, it’s okay for her to love him back. I hope that I was able to convey that at least somewhat coherently in my writing. I’m happy to finally make it to this moment :)

Chapter 83: Dawn

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 83 – Dawn

Zelda awoke to find soft rays of morning light filtering through her window. She blinked a few times before settling into a yawn. She wrapped her arms around herself, snuggling closer to Link’s chest.

The Hero stirred a bit but responded with his own modest action. He rubbed her shoulder ever so lightly, bringing a smile to her lips.

It was dawn. The sole candle had long since been extinguished, its soft glow now replaced with a brilliant sunrise. It greeted the couple as they greeted each other.

“Good morning,” Zelda whispered, so as not to disturb this heavenly quietude.

“Good morning,” Link replied. He soon placed a kiss on her temple, which nearly caused Zelda to sigh.

“So last night was real,” she said, almost in relief.

“Unbelievable, but real,” Link agreed, smirking in amusement.

Zelda took a moment to glance down at themselves. Fully clothed and barely covered beneath a blanket, they had apparently spent the night on the couch. It should have hardly been comfortable, and yet, Zelda wasn’t sure that she had ever felt so well-rested before. Perhaps it was due to the luxury of Link’s arms. Or his reassuring warmth. Or the soothing sound of his heartbeat, which had gradually lulled her to sleep.

The Queen soon smiled and shook her head. On second thought, she didn’t care to discern the reason. She only wanted to enjoy this wonderful moment for all it was worth.

“You meant everything you said last night, didn’t you?” she asked as she sunk further into his arms.

“Every word,” Link assured her.

“And you promise to stay with me?”

“Always.”

Zelda’s heart fluttered in her chest. Having discarded its heavy chains and anchors, the tiny blood-pumper was now soaring in elation.

“Thank you, Link,” she whispered. “For loving me.”

Link nearly laughed at this. “You don’t need to thank me for that. I do it freely, you know?”

“Regardless, I am beyond grateful. I never imagined that I would deserve someone as wonderful as you, but I…I think I may finally have been convinced otherwise.”

Link chuckled as he leaned his head down on hers. “Honestly, you still make me worry so much. You are an incredibly kind person, but you only ever extend that kindness to others, and never to yourself. I think we might have to do something about that.”

Zelda smirked at his playful teasing, although she knew that he had a point buried within. “Perhaps we will. After all, if there's anyone who knows how to treat me kindly, it’s you.”

“Well then you better start paying attention,” Link warned her. “Because I’m going to be showering you with affection.”

Zelda giggled as he promptly reached forward and squeezed one of her hands. As always, his touch was so gentle and sweet. She couldn’t believe this. The fact that she was able to hold this delightful man in her arms and be held in return. It was nothing short of bliss.

And yet, it would be dishonest to say that Zelda didn’t shelter doubts within her heart. Despite her joy and gratitude, a timid frown worked its way to her lips.

“Link?” she asked quietly.

“Yes, Zelda?”

“What are you going to do about Ilia?”

The silence which followed was deafening. Zelda could’ve sworn that Link’s chest grew a bit colder, and his embrace stiffened as well. He was clearly uncomfortable with this sudden change in topic.

“We’ve already agreed to go our separate ways,” Link responded dryly, as if the words meant nothing to him.

Zelda frowned some more before pushing out of his embrace. She gave him a troubled look. “And that’s it?”

Link raised his brow, a little confused as to what she was getting at. “I mean, I’m not intending to get back together with her, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Zelda sighed before scowling at him. “No, that’s not what I’m implying.”

Link rubbed his neck. “Er…then what is it?”

Zelda spoke sternly as she stared directly into the Hero’s eyes. “Link, she is your closest friend, and it sounds as if the two of you separated on rather harsh terms. Don’t you think that you should talk to her again? Reconcile and apologize before fully moving on?”

Link shut his mouth as guilt bubbled up within him. Zelda was right. Even though she had comforted him the night before, he was still so upset and ashamed by what had transpired back in Ordon. He never wanted to hurt Ilia, and yet he knew that he had shattered her heart regardless. He needed to take responsibility for that.

Zelda’s expression softened a touch as she witnessed a sense of comprehension wash over him. She supported him by gently holding his hand. “You and Ilia both deserve to have closure. So I want the two of you to talk and come to an understanding. To acknowledge your faults and apologize for them. This way, you can be free of any lingering guilt. And then, should you wish to pursue a relationship with me, you can do so without reservations.”

Link smiled before squeezing her hand. “You’re right,” he agreed. “You’re absolutely right. I promise I’ll go and talk to her soon, and hopefully we can agree that there are no hard feelings. That this breakup was probably for the best, all things considered.”

“That sounds wise,” Zelda noted. “I’m proud of you.”

He gave her a sweet, sincere smile. “I only have the strength to do this because of your encouragement. I appreciate you looking out for us.”

Zelda smiled in return, but she did so sadly. “Of course. I honestly feel sorry for the both of you.”

“I feel more sorry for Ilia than myself,” Link admitted. “She doesn’t have someone as amazing as you to comfort her.”

Zelda couldn’t help but blush at his comment. “That’s…very sweet of you,” she muttered shyly. The next thing she knew, Link was leaning in close, offering her a kiss which she gladly accepted. The Goddesses only knew how long she had been pining for such a thing. His affection was nothing short of the sweetest delight she had ever received.

Which is why it was such a shame that a knock on her door rudely interrupted them.

Zelda pulled away from his mouth, gasping for air before calling out. “Yes?”

“Your Majesty,” came the old, squeaky voice of Minister Fost from the other side. “May I enter?”

Link turned to Zelda with a look of terror, causing her to nearly burst into giggles. She knew he was worried about being caught in her bedchamber at an inappropriate hour, but one glance from her assured him that there was nothing to fear. “By all means, come in.”

The door opened and the short Minister walked inside. “Queen Zelda, thank goodness. One of the maids was saying that you got caught in the storm last night and I was worried that—”

The elderly gentleman froze, just now noticing the Queen’s unexpected companion. A companion who was rather close and comfortable with her as well. As the silence dragged on, the only thing that Link could think to do was offer an awkward smile.

“Your Majesty! Master Link!” Fost scoffed, at a complete loss for words. “What is—What have I—What exactly has—”

Zelda cheerfully laughed as she rose to her feet. His reaction was everything she had hoped it would be. “Fost, would you please keep your trousers on? It should be obvious that nothing untoward took place here last night.”

Fost scowled at the tone of his matriarch, before taking a second to look them both over. His face then turned red as he realized that he may have jumped to some rather…inappropriate conclusions.

“W-Well, be that as it may, it is still improper for an unwed lady and unwed man to share each other’s company in such an affectionate manner. And in such close proximity, no less!”

Link offered a guilty smile while Zelda continued to struggle with getting her laughter under control. He appreciated that she could find amusement in the Minister’s extreme display of chastity, but he wasn’t exactly eager to upset anyone. Especially those who worked alongside the Queen.

“Forgive me, Fost,” Link said, rising to his own feet before bowing. “I came to talk to Zelda last night and I overstayed my welcome. It seems that time got away from me.”

“Oh, please,” Zelda interjected. She stepped forward, happily coming to her Hero’s aid. “I invited him in last night, Fost. The fault is entirely my own, so if you must blame someone, then by all means, blame me.”

“I very well think I shall!” Fost huffed as he crossed his arms. “Your behavior is always so reckless, My Queen. I can only imagine what your father would have to say about this.”

“Father would have no qualms about it,” Zelda insisted with the utmost certainty. “He was rather fond of Link.”

“Hmph,” the Minister grunted. “Don’t think that this lets our young Hero off the hook. Master Link, you are free to enjoy a conversation with Her Majesty whenever your daring little heart desires, but what possessed you to cuddle up and spend the night alongside her? Do you not realize what such a thing implies? Your intentions at the present are rather unclear!”

“My intentions?” Link repeated, feeling dumbfounded. “You want to know why we’re being so affectionate?”

Zelda could only sigh. “Fost, shouldn’t it be obvious? Link and I have grown rather sweet towards one another lately.” She paused before smiling at the Hero. “And now we’re finally ready to take a step forward and explore these feelings which have been blossoming between us.”

Unfortunately, Fost didn’t seem the least bit charmed by such words. “Well, this is far too sudden. How was I supposed to have been prepared for such a sight? Neither of you has made your ‘supposedly obvious’ affections public.”

Link merely blinked, suddenly realizing what the issue was. “Oh,” he exclaimed before scratching the back of his head. “Well, now that you mention it, I guess this is as good a time as any to get it out of the way. We do have the Minister as our witness, after all.”

Zelda furrowed her brow, giving the Hero a curious look. “Hmm? What are you talking about?”

Link ignored her query. He wanted this to be as formal as possible. Wasting no time, he turned so that he was directly facing her. He then placed one hand behind his back and another to his chest before bowing low.

“Queen Zelda Athena Hyrule, I humbly ask for permission to court you.”

Zelda was stunned speechless. She had never expected such a heartfelt and sincere formality from her Hero, but she welcomed it all the same. Her lips curled into a smile as she placed a hand atop her heart and bowed her head in return.

“I happily accept, Link Ordona, Hero of Twilight.”

As the Hero rose from his bow, he extended a hand to Zelda, palm turned towards the sky. If Zelda was a woman of weaker will, she honestly would’ve swooned right then and there. She never imagined that the day might come when Link would be presenting himself as a suitor, and respectfully asking for her hand. Nevertheless, she offered it to him freely.

With eyes closed, Link gently placed a kiss to her bare knuckles. He then gifted Zelda a smile before patting her hand and releasing it. Once he was satisfied, he turned to the petrified Minister, who had just bore witness to it all.

“There, now it’s official,” Link declared. “Will that mitigate some of your complaints?”

Fost crossed his arms, scowling a bit. “Well, I do appreciate your propriety, Master Link, but I believe that such conformities would best be made before you enact ‘supposedly harmless’ transgressions.”

Link’s head was nearly spinning at the use of such vocabulary, but fortunately, Zelda stepped in to spare him a response. “Oh, let it go, Fost. Link is a perfect gentleman and his ‘offenses’ are minor at best.”

“Hmph… Well, I shall admit that Master Link has proven himself to be an admirable man on numerous occasions. And I suppose there have been worse candidates for suitors.”

You can say that again, Zelda thought as she nearly rolled her eyes. Even now, she still had one troublesome suitor loitering around her castle. She made a mental note to speak with him later.

“By the way,” Link spoke up, “Fost, would you be able to assign me a permanent residence here at the castle? Nothing fancy, of course. Just a small room where I can rest and relax.”

Both Queen and Minister turned to him with raised eyebrows. “You wish to live here, Master Link?”

“What’s brought this on?” asked Zelda.

The Hero merely grinned. “I’m planning to spend a lot more time here, so I figured it would be best if I had a place to call my own. This way, I won’t have to sleep on the Queen’s sofa every night.”

Fost scowled, not amused by such tomfoolery in the slightest. “You know, most men would be hanged for such trespasses.”

“By whose authority?” Zelda added, her expression as playful as ever.

Fost grumbled a bit, realizing that she had easily trumped him. The Queen’s orders naturally superseded all others. “Hmph, and what of Ordon Village?” he continued unabated. “Are you abandoning your residence there?”

“I’ll still visit Ordon, of course, but it won’t be as frequently as I used to.” Link paused, turning to his beautiful companion with a look of warmth. “I’d rather spend most of my time here, where I can be with Zelda.”

The girl placed a hand over her heart in a futile attempt to keep it from melting. “I’m overjoyed to hear that,” she said, mirroring his smile. “It sounds like we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other from now on.”

“Every day,” Link promised. “As long as I can spare the time.”

“You mean as long as I can?” Zelda asked with a smirk.

Link simply laughed. He knew best just how busy her schedule could be. “I’ll make time if you will.”

“Ahem,” Fost grunted, suddenly cutting them off. He seemed rather eager to bring this conversation to a close. Perhaps he was growing sick of witnessing the couple’s constant stares of affection, as well as listening to their cutesy comments. “Very well, Master Link, I’ll arrange a residence for you. Just promise me that you will actually use it. I don’t want to hear of any more late-night rendezvous in the Queen’s bedchamber.”

“Sure thing,” Link promised, his cheeks turning a little red. “We’ll, uh…keep to our separate beds from now on.”

“I should hope so,” Fost finished with all the air of a strict father. “Now, don’t you think it’s about time you took your leave? The dawn grows old, and Her Majesty really ought to start getting ready for the day.”

“Right,” the Hero answered with a nod. He turned to his newfound beloved one last time to bid her farewell. He gladly took both of her hands in his own, cherishing their final touch. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay,” she replied meagerly. She found it difficult to look at him when he was being so sweet, and her cheeks burned as red as his own. But she continued to smile, basking in his affection for all it was worth.

With that, Link took his leave, and Zelda’s breath along with him. The Queen simply stood there, silent and hopeless as she pined for his swift return. Fost could only click his tongue in disappointment.

“Goodness, just look at what that boy has reduced you to. Perhaps it would have been best if I forbade him from pursuing you.”

“Nonsense,” Zelda said, quickly regaining her composure. “I’m still perfectly functional. My heart just beats a little soft for him is all.”

“Hmm,” Fost hummed, looking ever displeased, as well as a little confused. “By the way, I was under the impression that Master Link was involved with Mayor Bo’s daughter. Miss Ilia, I believe? Whatever happened to her?”

Zelda merely smiled, treasuring her memories of the night before. Without missing a beat, she triumphantly strode past the elder man. “Come along. We can discuss it over breakfast.”

 

---

 

The following morning was bright and warm and magical. As Zelda buried herself in her paperwork, her spirits were soaring higher than ever before. She greeted all of her maids with a pearly smile. She lightly hummed as she signed her signature over and over. She couldn’t help herself. Her heart was overflowing with joy from how fortunate she was.

Naturally, Zelda’s blissful demeanor elicited no shortage of surprise from those around her. The servants raised their eyebrows, only guessing as to what had her in such a good mood. Minister Enzo even went so far as to question what had happened to the downtrodden Queen he had spoken to the day before.

“Today is a new day,” Zelda declared cheerfully. “Those troubles are best left in the past. It’s better to focus on the future, and all its wonders.”

The middle-aged man could only give her a look of doubt, not understanding in the slightest. “Right…”

Zelda merely smirked, ceasing her chatter and allowing the Minister to draw his own conclusions. She supposed she could reveal her newfound courtship seeing as it was entirely official, but she refrained. The situation was still so fresh and unexpected, that it almost didn’t seem real. She felt that she needed to fully come to terms with this reality before declaring it to the world.

And so she continued, smiling and humming in her own solitary delight. Eventually, those around her stopped questioning such behavior. Regardless of the reason, they were just happy for the sake of the Queen’s own happiness.

Around noon, Zelda heard a knock on her door. Based solely on the pattern, she instantly recognized who was on the other side. “Yes, come in,” she called.

The door swung open and Link entered, carrying two trays of food with a single arm. He closed the door behind him before smiling at his lovely companion. “I’ve brought lunch.”

Zelda’s heart swooned at his thoughtfulness. A part of her felt silly and embarrassed at succumbing to such flimsy emotions, but she ultimately discarded such thoughts. She was too happy to care. “Oh, Link, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to,” he insisted as he set a tray down before her. “I figured if I’m going to interrupt your work, I might as well make it productive. So why not share lunch together?”

“Nonsense,” Zelda quickly berated him. “You’re welcome to visit me at any time, Link. Honestly, by this point, I feel we’ve reached a closeness that demands I put you ahead of my work.”

“You flatter me, My Queen,” Link replied with a grin.

Zelda laughed at the mock use of her title. They both knew that if he used it with even a hint of sincerity, he would’ve been reprimanded immediately. Titles had no place between them. Not after everything they had been through, and especially not after what they had become.

Zelda proceeded to set aside her papers and picked up her utensils. “I have to ask, how did you manage to secure two servings of food?”

Link grinned as he sat across from her, the desk serving as their table. “It was simple. I just asked the staff for an extra helping so I could personally deliver it to a friend.”

“And they believed you?”

“Of course. I think that most of the staff here find me rather trustworthy.”

“Hmph,” she mused with a smirk. “As they should.”

The two of them proceeded to dine and enjoy light conversation, inquiring about the other’s day, even though they had only been apart for a short time. From there, they began discussing their plans for the afternoon, where Link promptly surprised Zelda with his goals.

“You’re leaving?” she asked. “But it feels like you just arrived!”

Link chuckled. “That’s because I have just arrived, but it can’t be helped. I have things to take care of, and the sooner I get to them, the better.”

Zelda lightly picked at her food, her mood already dampening at the thought of his departure. “Hmm? And what sorts of ‘things’ are you referring to?”

“Well, first, I need to go and speak with Ilia, which is something that you insisted upon,” Link reminded her.

Zelda smirked. “Yes, that’s true.”

“Aside from that, I need to go and have a word with King Bulblin.”

This name quickly caught Zelda’s attention, snapping her wide eyes away from her food and onto him. “What do you need to speak to him about?”

“The Bulblins’ behavior in Castle Town and their behavior moving forward.” Zelda went to speak up, but Link merely raised a hand, effectively silencing her. It was almost amusing for the Hero, since it was the same gesture that the Queen had always used to silence him. “I know you said that Bulblins weren't at fault for what transpired in Castle Town, but they should be held at least somewhat accountable. It honestly sounds like they need an attitude adjustment, and I’ll gladly give it to them.”

Zelda frowned a bit, appearing rather troubled. “Isn’t that a little excessive?”

“Not at all,” Link answered with a shake of his head. “If they are going to join Hyrule, then they need to follow Hyrule’s laws. And that also includes respecting my Queen—er, I mean, Hyrule’s Queen.”

Zelda couldn’t resist smiling at his small slipup, but she was still overwhelmed by memories of the disaster that took place the other night. “Are you certain that this is best, Link? I mean, the Bulblins and I parted on rather bitter terms. They may have decided that they simply don’t want to join Hyrule after all.”

Link frowned at this before speaking up in a sincere voice. “Don’t lose hope, Zelda. Peace between Hyrule and the Bulblins hasn’t been lost yet. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

Zelda was stunned into silence, but in the face of Link’s optimism, she allowed her smile to widen. His words and his positivity warmed her heart to no end. Despite all of her fears and doubts, she had faith that Link would deliver her from this awful mess she had sewn. She knew that if anyone could salvage this situation, it would be him.

“All right, I’m trusting you,” she answered sweetly. “If you think that you can get the Bulblins to cooperate, then perhaps we can make another attempt at introducing them to Castle Town.”

“Oh, they’ll cooperate,” Link assured her with a grin. “I’ll do whatever it takes to guarantee it. Even if I have to beat up their King again.”

Zelda smirked at his bravado. “Please don’t push yourself too hard though. I’ll be content as long as you come back safely.”

“Oh please. Have you ever known me to be reckless?”

The Queen merely sighed. “Link…”

He laughed in return. “I know, I know. I promise to stay safe and come back soon.”

“You’d best,” Zelda insisted with a serious glare, which only caused the Hero to snicker some more.

The two of them finished their lunch in peace. Link then rose to his feet, preparing to leave. “I’ll return the trays to the kitchen.”

Zelda shook her head. “Don’t bother. I’ll have a maid collect them later.”

“If you insist,” Link said with a shrug.

Zelda then rose to her own feet and walked around the desk in order to wish him farewell. However, she hesitated once she drew close. Despite their newfound relationship, she couldn’t help but feel a little shy around him. It was one thing to daydream about him in private, but it was another thing entirely to interact with him in person. Nevertheless, she quickly mustered up the courage to hug him.

“Stay safe and work hard, Link. I’m counting on you.”

He hugged her in return. “I won’t let you down.”

As they separated, Link followed through with the formality of asking for her hand. Zelda gladly offered it, and he placed his soft lips upon her white glove. Zelda smiled as the sensation sent shivers along her skin. It was just as lovely as the first time.

“I could get used to this,” she mused.

Link smirked at her playfulness before gifting her a wink. “Don’t worry. I promise to kiss you for real when I return.”

Zelda instantly flushed and she felt compelled to glance in any direction that wasn’t his own. “I-If that’s what you want,” she replied, trying to sound indifferent but failing miserably.

Link released one final chuckle at the flustered Queen’s expense. She was so easy to unsettle, and it amused him to no end. Feeling satisfied, he turned to leave. “See you later, Zelda.”

“Yes, see you soon.”

He departed, and after what felt like an eternity of standing there and longing hopelessly for his immediate return, Zelda blinked and found her way back into her chair. She then smiled and hummed as she continued reviewing her documents. However, despite her attempts to focus, it wasn’t long before her thoughts drifted towards her heart and the wonderful man who effortlessly held it in his grasp.

It was the dawn of their relationship, and it was nothing short of magical.

Notes:

I am just SO HAPPY that they are finally together. Writing and editing these scenes has been pure bliss. You have no idea lol.

In other news, this story is finally nearing its conclusion! I just need to stir up one last bit of drama before I can call it a day. I also have a rather lengthy epilogue planned out, so we’re not exactly close to being finished, but we are certainly getting there.

(This story will end someday, I promise lol.)

Chapter 84: Reconciliation

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 84 – Reconciliation

As Link traveled south along the familiar trail which led to his home in the forest, he was certainly not expecting to come across any company, but company is what he ultimately found. He spotted numerous tents which had been assembled along the forest’s edge. Warm bonfires that released gentle wisps of smoke into the air. A sounder of saddled boars who feasted on a pile of scraps off to the side.

Link pulled Epona to a halt as he smiled and shook his head. He hadn’t intended to visit the Bulblins until after his stop in Ordon, but it seemed that the Goddesses had other plans in store for him. Sometimes he wondered if those golden deities had a good sense of humor.

Wasting no time, Link dismounted and strode into the camp. The Bulblins all turned and glanced at the intruder, but upon recognizing his green tunic, they merely dismissed him. Link didn’t mind one bit. Their negligence allowed him to find the King within mere seconds.

“Hey,” Link said, immediately taking a seat on the ground next to the brute. “We need to talk.”

Bulblin didn’t even bother to greet the Hero in return, contenting instead to sharpen his heavy axe with a stone. “I’m listening.”

“I heard that you guys caused quite the commotion in Castle Town.”

“Hmph,” the King grunted, sounding indifferent.

Link sighed. “Look, you know that Zelda and I expect your people to behave themselves. We want to work towards peace. To build a relationship between Hyrule and your people. And we need your full cooperation in order to make that happen.”

“Okay,” Bulblin agreed simply.

“This means that you’ll have to control yourselves. No roughhousing or starting fires for your own amusement. Learn to be more considerate of others, especially when someone shows you hospitality.”

“If that is what you wish.”

Link frowned. The King was being as blunt as ever, and his carefree attitude was really starting to get beneath the Hero’s skin. Heaving another sigh, Link decided he would have to dig deeper.

“King Bulblin, is this not what you wish for?”

The brute paused, glancing over to the Hero with his soulless red eyes. He soon shrugged. “It matters little what I think. I only follow the strongest side. It is all I have—”

“All you have ever known, yeah, I got it,” Link finished hastily. “But I’m not asking for you to simply follow my orders. I want you to speak freely. What do you think about joining Hyrule?”

The brute set aside his axe, staring at the Hero as if he were some sort of bizarre creature. “You wish to hear my thoughts?”

“If you have any to share,” Link replied earnestly.

Bulblin turned away, casting his gaze into the nearest bonfire. He was silent for a moment before shrugging his heavy shoulders. “Honestly, I think the blood of our respective people mixes poorly. Bulblins and Hylians don’t belong in the same camp.”

Link frowned as he nodded. “So you’re against this movement for peace too, huh?

“Hmph,” Bulblin grunted, sounding more than a little displeased. “Don’t misunderstand, Hero. I am not for or against anything. I only observe what has transpired.”

“I see… And you think that a pact between my people and yours can’t be forged?”

“I was surprised that you and your Chieftain ever thought it could be. We are simply too different.”

“So it can never work out?”

“I think it would be better not to pursue it,” Bulblin clarified. “A skilled hunter knows when a beast is best left alone.”

Link produced a small smile. He was satisfied to see the King finally opening up a little, even if he wasn’t being very supportive. “Then tell me something, Bulblin. If you were in my position, what would you have me do?”

“Honestly?” the King spoke, gaze still trained on the fire. “I’d have you order us to flee from Hyrule, and then you and your Chieftain would be done with us for good.”

“No way,” Link answered quickly. “If I did that, then you guys would just become someone else’s problem. Besides, don’t you think that would be rather cowardly? What Zelda and I have in mind requires much more strength than simply sending you away.”

The King’s horned head snapped up at this. “Cowardly?” he breathed. “You are calling me cowardly?”

“Maybe,” Link answered with a shrug. “What else do you call it when someone chooses to run away from their problems rather than confront them?”

Bulblin promptly scowled as his jagged teeth grinded against each other. “You speak rashly. I am no coward.”

Link raised his brow, as if he was only lightly surprised by such a temper. “Really? Then prove your courage.”

“Fine!” the King barked, immediately taking his axe in hand and standing tall. “Draw your weapon.”

But Link remained as calm as ever. “No thanks. I think we both know how that battle would end.”

The King remained silent and still for a while. Link could only assume that he was thinking back to every encounter the two of them had shared, and how Link had always emerged victorious without question. Eventually, the brute lowered his weapon and took a seat on the ground once more. It seemed that he had no counter to Link’s argument, and no desire to fight either.

“Then what would you have us do, Hero?” Bulblin mumbled. “Our future is yours to decide.”

“I want to make peace with you,” Link replied simply. “And I don’t want to do it for you, or to force you into it. I want you to genuinely desire this too. To understand and appreciate what is being offered to you.”

Bulblin continued to stare at the dirt beneath him. “I am not ignorant of what the Chieftain is planning. But the ways of peace are foreign to my people.”

“So we’ll learn, together,” Link insisted. “We’ll take it slow if we have to, and we’ll show you why this is the best solution for everyone involved. After all, Zelda promised you a better future, didn’t she? Have some faith in her. She is not one to break her promises.”

The King was silent for a moment, but ultimately sighed. “Fine.”

Link smiled at his compliance. He felt like the brute was finally starting to understand what he was saying, even if it was only an inkling. He decided to press forward without fear. “And another thing. I want you to learn the meaning of true loyalty.”

The King merely eyed him. “True loyalty?”

“Yes. Not to me, but to Zelda and the Kingdom which welcomes you.”

Bulblin scowled. “Have we not already proven such things by obeying your every word?”

“Not even close,” Link replied with a shake of his head. “It’s completely different.”

“How?”

Link could only smirk as the brute tilted his horned head in confusion. “King Bulblin, are you loyal to me?”

“Of course.”

“And to Queen Zelda?”

“Yes, by extension.”

“There it is,” Link said, pointing his finger for dramatic effect. “That’s not true loyalty. It’s only obedience. You’re following orders that honestly mean nothing to you, and the only people you care about are yourselves.”

Bulblin remained silent, his gaze still trained on the earth. Link watched him for a while before eventually sighing.

“Look, I don’t want to lecture you too much about this. From now on, I just want you and your people to start taking this movement for peace seriously, and to genuinely pledge your allegiance to Hyrule. Be polite and cooperative. If you can learn to show others respect, I guarantee that they’ll show it to you too.”

Bulblin narrowed his eyes at this. Link could almost envision the gears turning in his head. “Hero…is this the ‘strength’ you were referring to earlier?”

“Exactly,” Link answered with a grin. “It’s cowardly to run away. But a true warrior stands and fights for what he believes in, no matter how difficult the battle may be. Don’t you agree?”

“I follow the strongest side,” Bulblin mumbled, more to himself than his companion. “Hmm… You have given me much to think about today.”

“Good. By all means, dwell on this.” Link then rose to his feet, dusting himself off a bit as he did. “In the meantime, I’ll take my leave. I think I’ve covered everything that needed to be said. Until next time, Bulblin.”

The Hero turned, walking away from the King who still had his red eyes fixed on the dirt. However, he halted once the brute spoke up once more.

“Hero, tell the Chieftain that we shall await her next summons.”

Link smiled and nodded before continuing on his way. This small step—this subtle declaration of the King’s intentions—simply spoke volumes to how much of an impact the Hero’s words had on him. Feeling bright and hopeful, Link soon bowed his head, offering his gratitude to whichever Goddess was surely looking out for him.

For now, the King’s trust was all he could ask for.

 

---

 

One tough conversation down. One to go.

Somehow, Link was looking forward to this one even less than the previous. But it was only to be expected. Bulblin may have been gruff and blunt, but he was simplistic and open too. And he certainly didn’t seem to hold any hostility towards Link.

Ilia’s attitude, on the other hand, was nothing short of a complete mystery at the moment. It had been days since they had last spoken to each other and aggressively decided to split up. Even now, Link could still hear the echoes of their conversation in his mind. All of the shouting and harsh accusations. He knew that Ilia could probably recall every word too, and he simply dreaded the thought of her stewing on it.

Link wondered, what would this terrible experience do to her? What would it turn her into? Someone bitter? Someone resentful? Would her innocence be tarnished? Her joy turned sorrowful? Her smile gone for good? And what would become of the close friend he had cherished since childhood? Would he even be able to call her a friend at this point?

He supposed he wouldn’t find out until he knocked on the door…

With a deep breath and a heavy heart, Link rapped on the wooden frame. After a few tense seconds, Bo answered the summons.

“Link!” he exclaimed in a hushed tone. He took a moment to look the boy up and down, almost as if he couldn’t believe he was real. “You…You’ve returned to the village.”

The Mayor hadn’t really phrased it as a question, but he seemed to be waiting for an answer. Link nervously rubbed his neck. “Yeah, um…I was wondering if Ilia is around, and if she’d be willing to talk.”

Bo frowned, his expression turning grim. Link felt his dread worsen as he watched him. He could only imagine what Bo had endured throughout the last few days. Having to listen to his heartbroken daughter’s grievances, and comfort her in the destructive wake of their breakup. The experience had surely been far from pleasant.

“I don’t know if that’s wise,” Bo said cautiously, keeping his voice low. “Ilia hasn’t been doing well since…” His voice trailed off, leaving his reference ambiguous. Not that it mattered. Link knew exactly what he was trying to say.

“Can you just ask her?” the Hero requested as politely as possible. “I…need to do this. We both do.”

Bo heaved a sigh, letting his shoulders slump a bit. Link could see that he was still very hesitant, but the Mayor was willing to acknowledge that the boy had a point. There was little significance in the two of them avoiding each other. Not while there was still so much pain and sorrow to work through.

“Wait here,” he said before closing the door. The passing of minutes was pure agony. Link could hear voices coming from the other side of the walls, but he didn’t catch what they were saying. Honestly, he wasn’t sure he even wanted to.

Eventually, the door creaked open, slowly and carefully. A pair of timid eyes peered through the crack. They wavered for a moment, as if threatening to shatter at the sight of him, but a sigh was soon released into the air and the door opened further.

Link took a second to inspect her in return. Her once beautiful eyes were now red and puffy. From tears that were fresh or tears that were long dried up, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he felt pity churning within him.

Eventually, she spoke. “You wanted to talk?” Her voice was numb and hollow.

“If you’re willing,” he answered, his own voice free of emotion.

She was silent for a moment, lost in thought. Link almost wondered if she was considering slamming the door in his face and being done with him right then and there. Honestly, he probably wouldn’t have blamed her.

But he could still see her true self shining from within. The innocent girl with bright emerald eyes. His close friend who still harbored some affection for him. She hadn’t broken completely. Not yet.

In the end, she gave him a subtle nod.

 

---

 

Link led Ilia to Ordona’s spring. It was the quietest glade in the forest, and the place which would offer them the most privacy too. Upon arriving, Link took a seat on an old log, and gestured for Ilia to do the same. They then sat in silence, admiring the water and sunlight and emerald leaves for far longer than was necessary.

When Link eventually spoke up, he was stunned by how dry his throat was. “Um…how are you doing?”

Ilia nervously twisted her fingers, just as she always did whenever he was painfully pulling on her heartstrings. At a glance, Link could tell that she was holding back a hurricane of emotions and thoughts. “I’ve been better…”

All things considered, her response was as innocent as possible. Link was grateful for that. “Listen, Ilia, I’m…really sorry…”

She eyed him ever so slightly. “For what?”

“For everything,” Link admitted. “For all the yelling and harsh words. For not being honest with you sooner. For not being honest with myself. If we had both been more open from the beginning, then we never would have hurt each other as much as we did.”

Ilia lowered her gaze. She kept her eyes focused on the water as she slowly folded her legs up into her arms. It was as if she were holding herself for comfort.

“I’m sorry too…” she whispered into the air. “That this…isn’t what you wanted…”

Link could only frown. Whether intentional or not, Ilia’s words sounded nothing short of spiteful in his ears. He wondered, did she even regret what had transpired between them? Did she even realize that she had wounded him in the same way that he had wounded her? He soon sighed. Perhaps she didn’t. Link had never been one to openly complain, after all.

“I think this is for the best,” he tried to continue bravely. “After everything we’ve been through, I think it’s better if we separate on peaceful terms and simply move on.”

Ilia visibly stiffened at his words. This was not at all the reaction he hoped to see. She eyed him again before going to speak, her voice growing low and cold.

“Are you sure that’s not just what’s best for you?”

Link took a deep breath, making every effort to steady himself. Ilia was not making this easy, but he refused to waver. Not when he knew the reality of their situation. 

“No, I truly believe that splitting up is what’s best for the both of us,” he answered, his demeanor completely calm. “I’ve come to learn that sometimes, people want different things, and they simply aren’t meant to be together. And sometimes, people realize this far later than they should, and the abrupt separation can be brutal and painful. But this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. This doesn’t mean that we can’t heal and grow and come out stronger because of it.”

Link managed to smile as he finished. He was honestly a little surprised with himself. He hadn’t expected his words to sound so wise and mature, or to resonate so deeply with him either. But he had the utmost faith in them. He knew, without a doubt, that these were the words that the two of them needed to hear. Needed to accept.

Unfortunately, Ilia was less receptive to their charm than he was. She forced her eyes shut, nearly wincing as she pulled her legs closer to her chest. “I…I don’t understand,” she mumbled, her voice wavering as it escaped her tight throat.

Link’s instincts told him to lay a comforting hand upon her shoulder, but he soon thought better of it. He didn’t want to overextend and hurt her any worse than he already had. Instead, he continued to trust his words. “What’s the matter, Ilia?”

“You,” she said, almost accusatory. Almost in disbelief at having to be asked. “How…How can you be so calm after everything that’s been lost between us? Aren’t you heartbroken? Aren’t you devastated?”

Link maintained a sorrowful frown as he listened. He felt so sorry for this broken girl. He truly did. But the Hero felt like he had little choice but to persist in his genuine honesty. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little hurt over this. It’s only natural. But…I’m not completely heartbroken, because there is so much that I still have. The greatest of which is you, Ilia.”

“You don’t have me,” she argued with a shake of her head. “You lost me. We lost each other.”

“Not necessarily,” Link replied with only the smallest of smiles. “Even if we can’t make things work in a relationship between us, that doesn't mean that we can’t still be friends, does it?”

Ilia was silent and still for a while, soaking in his words. When she finally turned to face the Hero, her eyes wavered like ripples in water. “And that’s enough for you?”

“Of course,” Link answered without hesitation. “I’ve always treasured our friendship, Ilia, and I always will.”

The Hero watched as a look of pure betrayal washed over her features. His heart ceased beating, frozen from terror. He realized far too late that this is not what she wanted to hear. His stomach began to churn as he watched small, crystal-like tears ebb out of her once beautiful eyes.

“I loved you, Link,” she said, as softly as possible. “I…honestly thought that we’d get married someday. Start a family and live happily ever after. I thought that we meant far more to each other than just friends…”

Link’s expression softened. He was trying to do everything in his power to stop himself from hurting her. From breaking her heart further. He understood her pain. Her regrets. The future that the two of them could never share together. Not in the way she wanted, at least.

“Ilia, you mean the world to me,” he said sincerely. “You’re one of my closest friends. Isn’t that enough?”

Ilia clamped her mouth shut, basking in her silent tears. She refused to speak for a long time and refused to look at him for even longer.

“The last few days…” she said, as quiet as a creek’s babble, “you’ve been staying at the castle, haven’t you?”

Link eyed her for a moment before shifting his own gaze off into the distance. “Yes,” he admitted.

“And you’ve been finding comfort in Zelda’s arms, haven’t you?”

Link swallowed. He was pretty sure that Ilia had never referred to the matriarch by name before. She had only ever mentioned her as “the Princess” or “the Queen” or “Her Majesty”. But not this time. In this instance, the title was forgotten, and the name was personal.

Still, the truth escaped from his lips.

“I have.”

Ilia stiffened. Her eyes grew round and haunted. It was almost as if she wasn’t looking at the beautiful spring sprawled out before her. No, she was gazing at something unseen yet terrible, and it was ripping her to pieces.

“Does she…make you happy?” she asked, her voice still little more than an echo in her throat.

Link closed his eyes, lamenting this awful situation. He wished that he had something more to say. Something more to offer other than the honest truth from his open heart. But he knew best that denying such claims would only make things far worse than they already were. He needed to do this. He needed to confess the truth.

“More than anything,” he whispered into the air. He then glanced down as his fingers slowly laced together. “Zelda means the world to me too…”

Those words, so true and sincere, were the final nail for Ilia’s coffin. She shuddered as a chill ran across her skin. Her eyes glazed over, appearing empty and lost. Fresh tears left red trails down her cheeks. It was over. She was broken. An overwhelming misery began to coil within her while an icy retort worked its way to the surface.

“Well…I hope the two of you deserve each other.”

Link winced at these spiteful words. He wished that she didn’t have to be like this. To be so reckless and malicious and resentful in her heartbreak. To be so unaware of how her forked tongue skewered him without remorse. Was this truly what she wanted? To hurt him as much as he hurt her? Even though Link had never desired to hurt anyone in the first place.

In this moment, he realized that this was perhaps the most striking difference between them…

“I’m sorry, Ilia,” Link eventually told her. “For everything you’re going through. And for shattering illusions and ruining romances. But I can’t give you what you want. No matter how much you beg and cry for it. That’s why I believe that splitting up is what’s best for both of us. And despite our differences, and everything we’ve been through, I sincerely hope that we can still be friends.”

Ilia choked on her breath. Her voice was becoming shaky as she rattled and hissed before him. 

“H-How can I be friends with someone I don’t even know?”

Link could feel his heart breaking in half. He didn’t want to lose her. Not like this. “Ilia, you do know me. We’ve always been close, ever since we were kids—”

“No,” she interjected with a swift shake of her head. “I…I thought I knew you, but not anymore. You’re as good as a stranger now.”

Link frowned, starting to grow upset himself. “Ilia, that’s not true. You’re exaggerating.”

“Your priorities have shifted, and so has your character,” she accused him. “You are not the same man I once knew. The same man I once loved.”

Link stared at her for a long moment before eventually dropping his shoulders in defeat. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Ilia. I’m a Hero.”

“Well, you’ll never be mine,” she hissed with the utmost hostility. The words were like shards of ice being driven into Link’s very soul. Why did she have to hurt him like this?

It wasn’t long before the girl sprang to her feet. Either she had nothing left to say, or she was terrified of spending another moment alone with him. Whatever the reason, she quickly ran off, clenching a hand over her mouth as she tried to choke back her sobs.

Link remained still as he watched her go. He stared at the ghost of her image for a while, hoping that she would return; that she would immediately come back and apologize and agree that they both needed to move on.

But the moment never came…

When Link turned back to face the pool of water before him, he was surprised to find that dusk was approaching. The day had managed to slip away without him noticing. He wondered, why did everything feel so fleeting at the moment? Was nothing meant to last in this world?

As he endured the terrible silence, a peculiar melancholy descended upon him. Months ago, he had lost a very dear friend during the hour of twilight.

Now, he had just lost another.

Notes:

Oof… Sometimes, things have to get worse before they get better :(

Chapter 85: Unbeknownst

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 85 – Unbeknownst

The day following Link’s departure saw the Queen as bright and cheerful as ever. She continued to hum and smile, still basking in the bliss of her newfound companionship. She didn’t even mind penning several handwritten apologies for the trouble caused by the Bulblins in Castle Town, nor did she mind organizing the funds necessary to pay for all the damages. She did so gladly and generously. It was as if the mistakes of the past were already long behind her, and she was now free to look towards the future.

Naturally, her maids continued to whisper and cast strange looks in her direction. Nobody could comprehend the Queen’s current behavior. What could have possibly granted her so much glee that a disaster as grand as the Bulblins’ visit was so easily forgotten? Why did she seem so celebratory over her own failure? Was there something lifting her mood that the rest of the castle was not privy to?

It was a mystery to everyone.

Zelda knew best that circumstances such as these would only prove useful for rumors to spread. It was merely a matter of time before the theories attempted to make sense of her unusual behavior, and there was no doubt that many of them would prove to be wild and untrue. But she didn’t seem to mind very much. Her subjects could gossip all they wished; she knew the reality of her situation, and that was more than enough to satisfy her.

Besides, her maid had collected two lunch trays from her study yesterday, so Zelda had a feeling that the truth rested somewhere amongst the whispers. If her servants were clever enough to pick up on such hints, that is.

Unfortunately, there soon came a point in the day where the pleasant smile was promptly wiped from Zelda’s face. And all it took was a few curt words from one of her maids to accomplish such a thing.

“Prince Vaen is requesting an audience with you.”

Zelda scowled, setting her quill aside as the joy drained from her expression. She had been meaning to talk to her foreign guest, but truth be told, she wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. The Prince’s presence had become nothing short of a miserable shadow on her otherwise pleasant life. He truly irritated her to no end.

Still, she figured granting him an audience would be for the best. She intended to finally dismiss him for good, and the sooner she did, the better off she would be.

“Send him in,” Zelda requested. She then adjusted her position, sitting up straight and clasping her hands together on the desk. This farewell would be perfectly formal, and nothing more.

It wasn’t long before the majestic fool graced the Queen with his presence. He grinned from ear to ear, placing a hand over his heart as he extended the other in her direction. “My Lady, as elegant and beautiful as ever on this fine day.”

Zelda had to stop herself from scowling further. She would feel so relieved when she finally sent this excessive oaf packing. “Good morning, Prince Vaen. Would you care to take a seat?”

“Gladly, My Lady,” Vaen answered with the utmost delight. He sat in the chair opposite her desk, his puffy clothes being compressed by the armrests at his side. He appeared as ridiculous as ever.

Despite her amusement, Zelda kept an even tone. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Vaen continued to smile. He attempted to get comfortable in his seat, but his clothes were still making it rather difficult. “I have a proposition for you, Queen Zelda, if you would be kind enough to entertain it.”

“I’m listening,” she answered with a raised brow.

“How would you like to take a walk through the garden with me at sunset?” the Prince asked as politely as possible. “And after that, we could share a modest meal.”

Zelda continued to eye him. She was being cautious and wanted to be sure of his intentions before making any strong statements. This situation could quickly fall apart if she wasn’t delicate. “To be clear, you ask this of me for the sole purpose of beginning a courtship, yes?”

Vaen’s face lit up with glee. “Yes, My Lady, of course! I’ve been patiently waiting to ask for your hand in courtship for some time now! I’m so pleased that you finally noticed. I truly had to work hard in order to get this far, you know? Why, I even went to all the trouble of asking your various maids and advisors about your tastes, just so I could come up with an offer suitable enough to capture your heart.”

Zelda couldn’t help but smirk at his arrogance. She might have been tempted to accept his humble proposal, if he hadn’t immediately sullied it by boasting of his short-lived accomplishments. Leave it to the Prince to ruin his own chances simply by not knowing when to shut up.

Not that it ever truly mattered though. Zelda’s heart already belonged to another.

Feeling confident, the Queen decided it was time to reveal the truth. Now that the Prince’s intentions were clear, there was little point in continuing this farce.

“In that case, I’m afraid I have some rather unfortunate news for you, Your Highness,” Zelda stated clearly and plainly. “Your proposition is very thoughtful, of course, but my circumstances have recently changed, and I am no longer in a position where I can accept such offers.”

Vaen raised his comically large eyebrows, appearing clueless. “What are you talking about?”

“You see, I am no longer available for courtship, as I have already pledged myself to another.”

The silence that followed was thick and heavy, but Zelda paid it no mind. She continued to stare at her would-be suitor, fearless and unashamed. Whether his mind or his lips began to move first, Zelda wasn’t sure, but he eventually managed to produce a dumbfounded response.

“I…I beg your pardon?”

“Shall I repeat myself?” Zelda asked without missing a beat.

Vaen promptly shook his head. “N-No, I just…I don’t understand! You…You are saying that you have already entered a courtship?”

“Yes,” Zelda answered with a nod. “It happened just the day prior, in fact.”

“By the Goddesses!” the man croaked, his face contorting with surprise. “With whom have you found companionship in such a swift manner?”

Zelda smiled, as fearless as ever as she allowed her heart to speak for her. “I have officially begun courting with Link, the Hero of Twilight.”

“S-Sir Link!?” he sputtered. “Y-You are telling me that he has secured your hand in courtship? Unbeknownst to myself?”

Zelda tried her best to hold back a smirk, but it was proving difficult. She was enjoying this far too much. “That is correct.”

“B-But…I thought that the two of you were mere friends?”

“Are you not aware that friendship is capable of blossoming into a romance? And our friendship has been kindling for quite some time now.”

Vaen continued to squirm, clearly unsettled by this news. “If…If it’s as official as you claim, then why have I not heard any word of it until now?”

“As I stated, the courtship is still rather fresh. I have yet to make a public announcement.”

“Well, what’s keeping you?” Vaen asked, starting to get defensive as he crossed his arms. “If your love for that Hero is true, then surely you’d want to proclaim it to the world?”

“Link had to depart on business,” she explained patiently. “I’ll make an official statement as soon as he returns.”

The Prince continued to fidget, his expression becoming one of sorrow and betrayal. He could hardly fathom this turn of events. “So…that’s it then? I have lost any chance at courting you, My Lady?”

“Forgive me,” Zelda said with closed eyes. “It seems that you and I were simply not meant to be.”

“But…But you’ve hardly given me a chance!” Vaen suddenly whined. “You’ve turned me away at every opportunity! Denied my every advance and refused to entertain any offers I made!”

Zelda raised her brow, a tad surprised at this outburst. Nevertheless, she kept a steady tone. “Am I not allowed to make my own decisions, and reject the offers that don’t suit me?”

“But it’s not fair,” the Prince insisted. “I was the one openly vying for your hand! I did my best to consider all of your preferences when I approached you! I’ve even been keeping my distance lately, just as you’ve asked. And I spent a lot of time brainstorming an activity that I thought you would enjoy. So tell me, why is a commoner like Sir Link allowed to pursue you while someone as considerate as myself is rejected?”

At this point, Zelda chose to drop her pleasant demeanor, replacing it instead with an openly disappointed frown. “Prince Vaen, you overstep your boundaries and speak disrespectfully. The details of my relationship are a private matter which only concerns Link and myself. The only thing you need to acknowledge is that he is the one whom I have chosen to stand by my side.”

“But he’s never shown you anywhere near as much attention as I have!”

A tremor worked its way through Zelda’s clasped hands. She was growing dangerously close to losing her patience. “Prince Vaen, you’d best watch your tongue, for you speak of things which you know little about.”

Her intimidating tone seemed to get through to him this time, for the Prince immediately shriveled up in his chair, appearing hurt and frightened. He soon bit his lip, likely holding back whatever words were better left unsaid.

Zelda could only sigh as she watched him. Truth be told, she didn’t hate this man. Sure, he was annoying and excessive and ridiculous in all things, and she would certainly never wish to marry him, but he wasn’t a harmful or malicious person. The Prince had always meant well (despite being a little misguided), and Zelda appreciated that about him. Because of this, the Queen couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity as she addressed him once again.

“I apologize, Your Highness,” she said with a slight bow of her head. “I understand that this revelation seems sudden and unfair, but I’m afraid that this is the decision which my heart has settled upon. And I shall not be changing my mind, so I believe it would be best if we agreed to go our separate ways.”

Vaen deeply frowned at this. “You’re asking me to leave?”

“Yes. The purpose of your visit has ultimately proven fruitless, so you have little reason to linger.” Zelda paused, producing a smile in the hopes of being as kind and polite as possible. “I'll offer sanctuary to you and your attendant for one more night, but after that, it’s back home where you belong.”

“I…I don’t believe this…” Vaen muttered. “Just like that, I’m being forced away? And Drabby too?”

“I think it would be wise to accept this rejection with grace, Your Highness,” Zelda suggested, her tone as even as ever. “We have every reason to part ways amicably.”

Vaen continued to frown, finding little comfort in her words. He soon shook his head and rose to his feet, his puffy clothes bursting to their proper roundness once he was free of the chair. Zelda might have had half a mind to laugh if his expression wasn’t so serious.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, Queen Zelda. Rejecting a Prince who showers you with affection so you can settle for a simple swordsman. You’ve offended me to an unnecessary degree, and your reckless scorn will not soon be forgotten. Nor will my broken heart.”

Vaen paused, sniffling a bit as his eyes glossed over. He then turned away. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

And just like that, with his lavish cape waving behind him, he was gone.

Zelda stared after him for a moment as guilt and pity swelled within her. It had never been her desire to offend him, let alone break his heart. Nevertheless, she soon sighed, allowing her shoulders to fall. She supposed that this was an inevitability. She never would have accepted his foolhardy and distasteful advances, so it was best to cut him loose here and keep the wounds as shallow as possible.

She only hoped that this wouldn’t spell trouble for her later down the road. For some reason, she already had an unsettling feeling in her stomach…

 

---

 

Link released a big yawn as he traversed the pathway from the stable to the castle. He had been planning to spend the night in Ordon, but after experiencing a restless night of sleep, he decided to depart before the crack of dawn. He now stood before the castle, weary and sluggish after a full morning of travel. In this moment, the thought of finding a bed and resting his eyes certainly sounded tempting, but he soon dismissed the notion. After all, the idea of seeing Zelda again was even more alluring.

Link smiled, pleased with the thought of reuniting with his newfound companion. It felt so good to know that he would soon be within arm’s reach of her. He treasured her so dearly. He always had, and he was honestly a fool for not realizing it sooner.

Bam!

As Link rounded the corner to enter the castle’s halls, he suddenly collided with someone before quickly stumbling backwards. The Hero held his head, feeling dazed as he shook it. He immediately went to apologize.

“Oh, sorry about that—”

Link froze, the words dying in his throat. He then raised his brow, partially in surprise but also in confusion. “Er, Prince Vaen?”

The large oaf frowned a bit, cradling his own head after the sudden collision. When his eyes finally focused, they lasered in on Link. His expression soon turned to one of contempt.

“You!” he exclaimed. “Always getting in my way, aren’t you?”

Upon hearing this accusation, Link felt even more confused. As far as he knew, the Prince was typically in a joyous and carefree mood, in addition to an oblivious state-of-mind. So it was honestly strange to see him acting so upset at the moment.

“Er…sorry?” Link offered again. “I didn’t see you there.”

“Hmph,” Vaen grunted. He crossed his arms as he eyed the Hero from top to bottom. “What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were away on business!”

Link eyed him in return. Why did he care? “I just got back.”

“You couldn’t stay away, could you?” Vaen asked in a tone that seemed more distraught than anything else. “I’ll never understand what she sees in you.”

By this point, Link was horribly lost. “Um…what are you talking about?”

But Vaen seemed insistent on offering as little clarification as possible. “Forget it,” he muttered before sweeping past the Hero. “Don’t you have someone else’s day to ruin?”

Link stared after the Prince as he took his leave, unable to fathom their brief encounter in the slightest. He soon sighed and shook his head though. He decided that some mysteries were better left unsolved. Especially those pertaining to arrogant and annoying Princes.

At the end of the day, he really only had a soft spot for one member of royalty…

In fact, so soft was his heart that it nearly leapt for joy when he spotted her in the halls by chance. A grin immediately flocked to his face, and it wasn’t long before a smile graced her lips as well. They approached each other without delay; their affection carrying them faster than their feet.

Upon reuniting, Link surprised Zelda by pulling her in and humbly planting a kiss on her lips. Her eyes merely widened as she forgot how to breathe for a moment.

“That might take some getting used to,” she confessed after Link pulled away. He merely laughed.

“You don’t like it?”

“No, I do!” she quickly clarified. “I was just surprised, is all.”

“Well, we can practice,” Link teased as he drew closer. “Until it feels perfectly natural.”

Zelda felt her face begin to steam at his suggestion, but she soon managed to produce a smirk despite that. “Perhaps I’ll take you up on that offer, since you seem so brave at the moment.”

Link visibly stiffened at her blatant acceptance, which only caused Zelda to laugh. It seemed that he was just as easily unnerved as she was. She soon pulled him into a hug.

“Humor aside, it’s nice to have you back so soon. How are you doing?”

Link smiled as he returned her embrace. “Tired from travel, but glad to be back.”

“Would you like to rest?” Zelda offered graciously. “We can always talk later.”

“No, that’s okay,” he assured her. “I’m just happy to be with you right now.”

“Always so sweet,” Zelda mused. She placed her hand on his cheek for a moment before slowly pulling away. “In that case, would you mind accompanying me for a minute?”

“Of course,” Link replied, gladly taking the palm that was offered to him. Hand in hand, Zelda gently led him down the halls. Link didn’t even bother to ask where they were going. He already knew that he would follow her anywhere.

“So, did you manage to talk to Ilia?” Zelda inquired as they traversed the corridors.

Link’s smile faltered a bit, but he managed to give a nod. “Yeah.”

“How did it go?”

Link sighed. He didn’t really want to dwell on this, but he knew that he needed to be honest with himself. “Poorly. I think I only ended up hurting her again, even though I shared what was on my heart.”

Zelda’s expression flooded with sympathy. “Oh dear… What happened?”

“She ran away in tears, again,” Link answered with a heavy heart. “I don’t understand. I said what I needed to say. I explained myself as delicately as possible. And yet she still looks at me like I’m some sort of monster.”

Zelda frowned before squeezing his hand in an attempt to comfort him. It was a small gesture, but she hoped that it could reassure him, even if it was only a little. “It’s not your fault, Link. You did the right thing by being honest with her. It sounds like she’s still heartbroken and it’s just going to take some time for her to come to terms with everything that’s happened.”

“I know,” Link admitted. “I just wish that there didn’t have to be this rift growing between us. It honestly feels like I’ve lost one of my closest friends, Zelda.”

“I’m truly sorry to hear that,” the Queen offered, giving his hand another squeeze. “But I’m sure it won’t last forever. Ilia is a clever girl with a kind heart. She’ll come around.”

“I just wish it was sooner rather than later. I can’t stand the thought of her being upset with me. Especially when I know this is what’s best for both of us.”

“I understand how you feel,” Zelda said with a sad smile. “Would it help if I talked to her?”

This made Link immediately snap out of his sorrow, if only so he could stare at Zelda as if she were insane. “You…You’re serious?”

“Of course. If there’s anything I could say that would help ease her heartbreak, I would gladly do so.”

Link winced as an intense feeling of doubt overwhelmed him. Somehow, he had a feeling that receiving advice from Zelda would be the last thing that Ilia wanted right now. Hell, the girl probably loathed the thought of even seeing the Queen, especially after Link had confessed to running off with her. He quickly decided that it would be best for everyone if the two were simply kept apart.

“Um…I don’t think that’s really necessary,” Link answered. “Ilia probably just needs some space right now. Knowing her, she’ll manage to cool off and accept the reality of things…in her own time, of course.”

“Are you certain?” Zelda asked innocently. “Because I truly don’t mind—”

“Yes,” Link interjected. “She’s better off being left alone. Really.”

Zelda frowned and glanced at him with a spark of curiosity in her eyes, but she soon shrugged. “Very well. As long as you don’t beat yourself up too hard over this.”

“I won’t,” Link promised. “I think I just need some time to come to terms with this too. That’s all.”

“All right,” Zelda finally relented with a small smile. “I just don’t want you to have any lingering regrets. Especially not when it pertains to us.”

Link couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course not. I’ll never regret being with you, Zelda.”

“Good,” she said with a giggle of her own. She affectionately swayed into him, allowing their shoulders to touch for a moment. “Because I don’t regret anything either.”

Link grinned, basking in the warmth of her hand, the light of her eyes, and the joy of her presence. As always, she was his angel, and he would gladly treasure her forever.

They soon turned a corner, and it was at this point that Link realized the two of them had been walking for quite some time. He glanced around for a moment. “By the way, where are we going?”

“Oh, I just need to make a quick announcement in the dining hall,” Zelda replied, as if it was a trivial matter.

“And you want me to be there for it?”

She merely laughed. “That would be ideal, yes.”

Link furrowed his brow a bit. It wasn’t often that Zelda made impromptu announcements in the dining hall of all places. And she didn’t usually request his presence for such things unless it involved him. So what was all of this about?

Link shrugged it off, figuring he would have his answer soon enough as they crossed the threshold into the dining hall. Here, numerous knights, soldiers, ministers, nobles, servants, and maids were seated around long wooden tables, enjoying their lunch. The Hero couldn’t help but shrink a bit as he and Zelda strode inside. He realized that the two of them were still holding hands, and they had never been this public with their affection before. Did Zelda realize what she was doing, or…?

“May I have your attention for a moment, please?” Zelda suddenly called out, her majestic voice loud enough to rise above the usual chatter. The room fell silent as all heads turned towards their Queen.

“Thank you. I would just like to make a quick announcement.” Zelda paused before gesturing to Link. “It is my great pleasure to announce that as of yesterday morning, the Hero of Twilight and I have officially begun courting. I humbly ask that you continue to lend us your support, and may the Goddesses bless our union.”

Link blinked a few times as he immediately froze stiff.

Huh?

It wasn’t long before every pair of eyes in the room fell on him. His face turned red with a similar swiftness.

This was the announcement that Zelda needed to make!? And she didn’t think it necessary to mention it before parading him in here like a prized horse!?

A small applause slowly rippled through the stunned audience. Link turned an even deeper shade of red as Zelda curtsied and thanked them.

He felt so embarrassed…

 

---

 

Prince Vaen strode into the castle library, his expression still a mess of frustration and disbelief. He blundered his way through the rows of bookshelves and tables, searching for his tiny companion. “Drabby!” he called impatiently. “Drabby!”

There was a short huff, followed by the sound of a tome snapping shut. “Over here, My Prince.”

Following her voice, Vaen wandered until he found the witch seated comfortably in a wingback chair. He hurried to her side. “Ah, there you are!”

She eyed him from behind her tinted frames. “My, my, you seem unnerved. What troubles you?”

“It’s Queen Zelda,” he barked out. “She’s been—she’s going to—and the Hero is—and now you and I—”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” the witch suddenly snapped. “Speak plainly, would you?”

Vaen swallowed his words, taking a moment to compose himself. “Er, right. It’s just been so startling! The Queen has rejected me, Drabby. She claims to have begun courting that silly Hero of hers! And now she’s sending the two of us back home!”

Drabby simply stared at him for a moment, processing everything he had just shared. “Hmm…so the two of them wound up together after all.”

Vaen went to continue venting, but immediately stopped himself in order to perform a double take. “Hmm? Drabby? What is the meaning of this? You knew that the Queen and Hero would get together?”

“Oh, calm yourself,” Drabby said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It was just a hunch, and a rather obvious one at that. The two of them clearly care for each other, so it’s little surprise that they’ve finally chosen to pursue a romance.”

The Prince stuck out his lip, effectively pouting. “Drabby, you’re supposed to be supporting my romantic pursuits. Not that lowly Hero’s…”

“I support you in all things, Your Highness. And I truly lament your lack of success in pursuing the Queen. It’s also a shame that we’ll be removed from this castle come tomorrow. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my time here in the library.”

“It’s not fair!” Vaen insisted. “We’re being kicked out, and all because that selfish Hero is stealing the Queen’s attention! If only he weren’t here, ruining everything…” The Prince paused before clenching his fists and puffing out his chest. “Drabby, I need you to find a way to deal with the Hero!”

Meanwhile, the witch remained still, her expression unamused. “And what would you have me do, My Lord?”

Vaen faltered for a moment. “Er, well can’t you get rid of him or something? I thought you said you had a way to deal with him if he kept being a problem!”

Drabby’s lips curled into a proud grin. “And is that what you want, My Lord? For me to do away with this problem of yours?”

“Of course!” Vaen huffed. “I think we’d all be a lot happier if he wasn’t around!”

“Very well,” the witch snickered. “Then I’d best put my research to good use. I haven’t just been twiddling my thumbs in here, you know.”

Vaen managed to calm down for a moment, if only so he could raise his comically large eyebrows at his companion. “Oh? Your studies are going to help us?”

“Yes, I think I have the exact solution you need,” she answered confidently. She soon opened the hefty tome in her lap, flipping through it with the utmost delight.

Vaen frowned a bit as he drew closer. Eventually, the witch arrived at her desired page and turned it to him, offering a detailed illustration.

“Well, what do you think?”

The Prince immediately shuddered as a chill ran down his spine. Goosebumps covered every inch of his skin. The illustration detailed a horrific creature, black as shadow with long limbs, strange markings, and an unsettling mask covering its face. Vaen could barely stutter his words out as he continued to shiver.

“Dr-Drabby, what is this…this loathsome creature?”

Her lips curled a bit more. “Shadow Beasts, My Lord. I discovered them while researching the darkest parts of the Twilight Realm. Apparently, they are very hostile, and the Hero claims to have fought many of them throughout his journey.”

Vaen nervously swallowed. “I…I see.”

“As soon as I heard about them, I knew that they’d be useful to have on hand,” Drabby continued, her grin turning malicious. “Whoever controls such powerful creatures would have quite the destructive force at their fingertips, so I’ve been studying them while also refining my personal summoning spells. Now, I believe that I have everything we need. All we have to do is wait until the hour of twilight, when our two worlds are close together. Then I’ll perform a simple spell with a pinch of magic, and these creatures will once again roam our realm.”

The color promptly drained from the Prince’s face. “Dr-Drabby!” he exclaimed.” You…You’re planning to bring them here? To this castle?

“If the spell is successful,” she replied with a small shrug.

“But…w-won’t that be dangerous?”

“No worries, Your Highness. I have another spell which I can use to control said beasts. It will be a simple matter for a witch as powerful as myself.”

“Are you sure?” Vaen asked, sounding doubtful as he took another glance at the horrifying image. “Because they seem pretty terrifying…”

This time, Drabby was the one who pouted. Clearly, the witch was not keen to have her magical prowess challenged. “Look, do you want to be rid of that pesky Hero or not?”

Vaen gulped, appearing more than a little anxious. “W-Well, of course I want him gone…”

“Then there’s nothing to think about!” Drabby insisted. “Just leave everything to me, and all of our problems will soon be solved.”

The Prince nervously rubbed his hands together. He trusted his friendly witch. He truly did. But he could not bear the thought of those dark creatures being anywhere near him, let alone on the same plane of existence.

“Drabby,” he said, trying his best to keep his voice even despite his fear, “tell me, what exactly are you planning to dowith these creatures?”

The witch grinned as she snapped her tome shut once more. “Oh, it’s all very simple. I’ll devise a scenario that will have the Hero running for home without a second thought, leaving the Queen long forgotten and unattended. Why, she might very well end up in the perfect position for you to sweep her off her feet, My Lord. Since she’ll be so lonely, and all.”

“I don’t understand,” Vaen mumbled. “Are you going to fight the Hero with these creatures? Won’t he just defeat them like he has before?”

At this, the witch released a mirthful cackle as she shook her head. “Oh please, you underestimate me, My Lord. Now come. Forget your troubles and allow us to get started.”

The short and elderly witch then hopped to her feet, the grin ever present on her lips. “If we only have one more night at this castle, then we might as well make it count.”

Notes:

Zelda: (casually) “So anyway, Link is my boyfriend now.”

Castle: (speechless)

Link: (speechless)

I love them so much 😂

Chapter 86: Shadows

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 86 – Shadows

At sunset, the Queen and her Hero reunited in the castle garden. Link had spent the afternoon taking a much-needed nap before being promptly summoned to Zelda’s side. He now approached her under the brilliant shine of the setting sun. The endless rows of flowers were also bathed in its orange hue, and together they exhibited a myriad of radiant colors. By all rights, it was a breathtaking image to behold. And yet, amidst all of this natural beauty, Link somehow found Zelda’s smile to be even more dazzling.

“I’m here. Where’s the fire?” he asked as he finally joined her side.

She laughed before quickly shaking her head. “No fire. I just thought it would be nice if the two of us could take a walk before dinner. But only if you want to, of course.”

“Yeah, that sounds lovely,” he answered, immediately reaching for her hand. To his delight, she happily accepted his touch.

“Wonderful,” Zelda replied. “I figured this would be a good way to wake you up. I’d hate for you to be too groggy at dinner, after all.”

At this, Link’s expression instantly soured. He flashed his beloved a deadpan look. “You know, Midna made fun of my sleeping habits enough for one lifetime. I don’t need you joining in too.”

“But it’s not fair,” she argued with an innocent laugh. “Why should Midna get to have all the fun?”

“I think you’ve had enough fun for one day,” Link insisted, his expression turning into a scowl. “Especially after that little incident you pulled in the dining hall.”

Zelda playfully rolled her eyes. “Are you still upset about that?”

“Maybe…”

“Oh, Link, be reasonable. I had to make our courtship public. You know I did.”

“I know,” he admitted. “But still, a little warning would have been nice!”

“Oh please,” Zelda huffed, as if she didn’t have a shred of sympathy for him at all. “What happened to the courageous Hero I knew? The one who returned today and immediately offered to practice kissing with me? He was certainly a far cry from the coward who shrunk as soon as his intentions were put on display.”

Despite his best efforts, Link promptly blushed. He couldn’t deny that she had a point. It was silly for him to be so embarrassed about declaring his love for the woman at his side. But he honestly couldn’t help it! Who wouldn’t be embarrassed about having their feelings revealed so casually and carelessly?

Zelda, apparently…

Link scowled some more. This woman of his was truly troublesome. He decided to get back at her in the best way possible. By teasing her in return.

“Will that make you happy?” he asked. “If we practice kissing here in the garden? Because I’ll gladly comply.”

To his surprise (and dismay), Zelda hardly seemed bothered by his suggestion. In fact, she ended up drawing closer, even going so far as to cling onto his arm with her free hand. “That’s kind of you,” she mused with a smirk. “But please, hold that thought. If you want to kiss, there’s somewhere far more romantic and well-suited than here.”

Link’s face burned several degrees hotter. Did Zelda even realize how forward she sounded? How seductive she sounded? Or was he imagining things? It honestly wouldn’t surprise him if he was potentially overreacting in the heat of the moment. Before her affection, he was little more than a puddle.

Zelda tugged on his arm, leading him further into the garden’s depths. They moved past hedges and budding plants—the castle growing distant and their privacy growing greater. Link could feel his anxiety rising before they suddenly came to a complete and utter halt. Zelda then smiled and gestured to a simple bed of dirt before them.

“Do you remember this place?”

Link furrowed his brow, glancing from her to the dirt and then back again. “Am I supposed to?”

She giggled as she patted his arm. She wasn’t surprised that he was clueless. “This is where you and I first reunited after your adventure ended. Don’t you recall? How I stumbled upon you while you were planting flowers in the dirt?”

For the second time that evening, Link deflated. He didn’t enjoy being reminded of his blunder in the castle garden all those months ago. How the Princess had discovered him covered in dirt, and how he had to explain what a klutz he was. Talk about a reunion unbefitting either of them.

“I remember thinking it was very sweet,” Zelda continued as she leaned a bit closer to him. “A well-renowned hero toiling around in the dirt as if he belonged there. I found his humility and generosity to be quite charming.”

Link frowned a bit as he cast her a look of doubt. “If I didn't know any better, I’d almost say that you’re making fun of me.”

“Not at all,” she assured him. “I’m completely sincere.”

“Then why bother dragging me to such an embarrassing spot?”

“I just love reliving all of our precious memories together. Is that so wrong?”

“I guess not,” Link admitted with a sigh. He glanced over to the bed of dirt once again, trying not to picture himself crawling around in it as he once did. “Er…but do you really find this sort of thing romantic?”

Upon hearing this, Zelda’s expression softened as she drew a bit closer. Her hands worked their way up behind his neck while their eyes locked together. “You don’t?”

Link swallowed before immediately abandoning all thought. The proximity of this heavenly angel was enough to eclipse every fear and every doubt. He smiled as he lost himself in the moment.

“I…guess I could wrap my mind around it.”

Zelda smirked, amused with his response. She soon closed her eyes as she leaned in close. Link chose to do the same.

“Queen Zelda!” an irritating and frantic voice suddenly called out amongst the hedges. “Queen Zelda, there is trouble!”

Eyes shot open and the couple quickly broke apart. Zelda seemed concerned with whomever was calling for her in such an urgent tone. Meanwhile, Link was sorely disappointed with the fact that they had been interrupted at such a pivotal moment.

“Why does it feel like we’ve been here before?” he muttered to himself.

The Hero’s frustration only grew stronger as the owner of the voice skidded onto the scene. He fumbled over his own feet, nearly tripping into the hedges as he rushed to stand before them.

“Prince Vaen?” Zelda inquired, looking the ridiculous man over from head to toe. She soon separated herself from Link, appearing formal as she addressed him. “What is the matter?”

As the Prince came to a halt before her, he hunched over, desperate to catch his breath. Link merely frowned as he also looked the fool over. Upon close inspection, Link found that he appeared more than a little frantic. He honestly seemed terrified. In fact, his face was white as a sheet.

“Queen Zelda,” Vaen choked out in between gasps. “Thank goodness. There’s trouble. Big trouble. Horrible trouble!”

Zelda furrowed her brow as her expression grew concerned. “Prince Vaen, please calm yourself, and tell me what’s going on.”

Vaen nodded to acknowledge the Queen’s words and tried to get his heaving chest under control. However, it was around this moment that the Prince finally noticed the Hero standing at her side, and his breath ultimately escaped him all over again.

“Sir Link! No, Hero!” Vaen stumbled forward, placing his meaty hands on Link’s shoulders. “Thank goodness you’re here too! We need your help! Things have gotten so out of hand and I just…I don’t…”

Link squirmed in his grasp. He did not appreciate such close contact, let alone the Prince’s hot breath on his face. And it certainly didn’t help that he was so confused at the moment. “You need my help?”

The Prince clumsily nodded.

Link raised his brow. “With what?”

“Yes, please explain,” Zelda added. “We can’t assist you until we understand what has made you so distraught.”

Vaen shivered for a moment before suddenly realizing how improper he was behaving. He quickly released the Hero and did his best to collect a huge, calming breath.

“It’s Drabby,” he revealed. “She’s done something horrible.”

“That witch of yours?” Link asked curiously.

Zelda’s eyes narrowed into a scowl. “Oh dear. What has she done?”

Vaen flinched at the Queen’s surprisingly serious tone, but he soon swallowed his nerves and forced himself to continue. “W-Well, she’s been researching this ‘Twilight Realm’, or whatever it is. A-And I guess she’s been practicing her summoning spells too, because she’s been awfully interested in these certain creatures that live there. They’re called the Shadow Beasts.”

Link froze. Even the mention of these grotesque monsters was enough to make his blood run cold. He could still recall their likeness perfectly in his mind. Their unnerving movements. Their intimidating markings. The blood-curdling shriek they unleashed to revive their fallen over and over again without relent. It was no surprise that the Prince seemed so unsettled at the moment.

“Don’t tell me…” Zelda said, her voice as low as the sudden chill in the air. “Is that witch of yours actually planning to summon those dangerous creatures into our realm?”

Vaen flinched once again. “A-Actually, she already did… Just moments ago…”

“Why that horrible little wretch!” Zelda cursed, her hands immediately curling into fists at her side. “I knew she wasn't to be trusted. I knew she was plotting something terrible. Ooh, I should’ve denied her access to our library from the very beginning! If only it wasn’t for such foolish formalities—”

“Zelda,” Link interjected as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Let’s try to stay calm, okay? I think we’ve got bigger issues than our own regrets right now.”

Zelda released a long breath through her nostrils, the hot air nearly hissing like steam. Nevertheless, she gave a nod. “Yes, of course.”

Sensing her calm, Link turned back to his other companion. He intended to find out more before making any hasty decisions. “So now there’s Shadow Beasts here? In our realm?”

Vaen gave a shaky nod. “I…I watched as Drabby performed the spell. She said some strange words in front of a giant mirror and then a portal opened. Those terrifying creatures crawled out of it, one by one. By the time she finished, there were over a dozen of them, and they were all under her command. Sh-She was cackling at her own success, but I cowered in fear. Being in the same space as those beasts is just…just unbearable. My legs nearly gave out when one of them so much as glanced at me.”

“Yeah, they’re not a very warm and friendly bunch,” Link agreed as he crossed his arms. “Why did Drabby do this?”

“W-Well, she wanted power. She thought it would be good if she had those dark creatures under her command.”

“For what purpose?” Zelda asked, her glare intensifying.

Vaen crumpled beneath her gaze and her tone. He nervously rubbed his hands together as his face flooded with guilt. “I…I’m afraid you’ll have to forgive me… I may have kind of…sort of…maybe mentioned that I would be happier if the Hero wasn’t in my way anymore.”

Zelda’s eyes blazed as her fury returned in an instant. “You were planning to attack Link!?”

Vaen waved his hands defensively. “I-It was just a suggestion! A simple wish! Made entirely without thought!”

“How dare you?” Zelda seethed without relent. “How dare you try to attack my Hero—”

Another hand immediately fell on her shoulder, silently pleading for her to stop. The Queen was quick to comply, although she was far from happy about it. She still had many choice words for this reckless fool.

Link, on the other hand, was perfectly calm like always. The only sign of his building frustration was a subtle sigh. “Prince Vaen, if I’m allowed to speak frankly, this honestly doesn’t surprise me. I know that you and I haven’t exactly been on the friendliest terms for some time now.”

Vaen seemed shocked by the Hero’s behavior, but he was quick to wave his hands once more. “I…I don’t want that anymore though! I mean, yes, I might have loathed you a bit, Sir Link, b-but I forgot all of that as soon as I witnessed those terrible creatures lumbering around. I don’t want those awful things anywhere near me, and I would certainly never wish their presence on anyone else! Drabby has honestly taken things too far this time. I don’t support her plans. Not anymore! So please, Hero, won’t you stop her? Won’t you slay those wicked beasts?”

Link stared at the Prince in silence before eventually sighing and shaking his head. “I hope you realize how shameful it is to beg for help in dealing with a mess that you started.”

Vaen hung his head as he clasped his hands together. “Of course. I regret all of my choices and I’m so, so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused. And I know it’s shameful to beg for your assistance, but I just don’t know who else to turn to.”

At this, Link smiled a bit. Seeing the Prince apologize and acknowledge what a nuisance he had been just felt so satisfying. “Well, you can relax now, because you came to the right person,” he said encouragingly.

Vaen snapped his comically large head up in desperate hope. “So you’ll do it? You’ll slay those awful beasts?”

“Of course, that’s what a Hero does,” Link answered as he reached for the sword that was always present at his back. “I shouldn’t have any trouble dispatching them on my own. Tell me, where have they been summoned? In one of the courtyards?”

Vaen blinked at this sudden query, only to resume the nervous rubbing of his hands. “Er, well, yes…but I’m afraid you won’t find them there anymore.”

“What? Why not?” Link asked.

“Don’t tell me,” Zelda cut in, seeming as frustrated as ever. “Did Drabby set them loose from these grounds?”

Vaen gulped. He was not particularly fond of the Queen’s demeanor tonight. In fact, she was almost as intimidating as the Shadow Beasts themselves! “Y-Yes and no,” he choked out. “Drabby ordered the beasts to charge forth from the castle, but they departed in a specific direction. Drabby even mounted herself on the back of one so that she could continue commanding them.”

Upon hearing this, Link and Zelda traded wary glances. “She sent them somewhere?” the Queen asked.

“Y-Yes. They’re heading for a small village to the south. Ordon Village, I believe?”

Once again, Link froze as ice ran through his veins. His hand loosened from the hilt of his sword, only to fall limp at his side. The seconds ticked away as his throat clenched up, making it difficult to force the next few words out.

“Ordon Village…?”

Zelda’s expression was a mix of sympathy and surprise, but both emotions were quickly buried beneath the weight of her fury. “Why is she going there with an army of Shadow Beasts? What is the witch’s goal?”

Upon seeing their distinct reactions, the color drained from the Prince’s face. “W-Well, she plans to attack the village. She wanted to make sure that Sir Link would flee the castle and come to the aid of his hometown. She’s aiming to start a commotion there…”

The garden fell dead silent. The sun was slowly slipping below the horizon, casting long, ghostly shadows across the earth.

“Please tell me that you’re not serious,” Zelda said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

“I…I wish I could,” Vaen mumbled. “But Drabby has already taken the Shadow Beasts and set off…”

Up to this point, Link had been perfectly calm. Not even slightly bothered by the Prince’s foolishness, or his companion’s wickedness. But it was here, as Link realized that everyone he knew and loved was potentially in danger, that something finally snapped within him.

Rushing forward, he seized Vaen by the collar, and promptly shoved his back against the nearest hedge. The Prince gasped in surprise before squirming as Link lifted him from the ground.

“You’re attacking Ordon!?” Link bellowed. “Do you even realize what you’ve done? There are innocent families living there! Women and children! And you just sent an army of Shadow Beasts to destroy them!”

Vaen choked, for both his words and air. “I…tried to stop Drabby… Told her I didn’t want this! But she insisted it was best for me and set off anyway… There was little I could do…so I came to seek your help…”

Link growled before slamming the man against the hedge once more. “I don’t want your excuses! I want to know how you could possibly be so reckless! So clueless! So heartless!”

The Prince merely whimpered as a few tears fell from his eyes. Link didn’t care though. He felt no pity for this fool who had just sentenced an entire village to its doom. If anything, Link had half a mind to knock his teeth out.

But gentle fingers soon fell upon his arm, and a soft voice called his name. “Link, put him down. Please.”

The Hero wavered for a second. A fierce battle raged within—his inner wolf snarling and calling for blood. But he soon took a deep breath and smothered his rage. Above all else, he trusted Zelda’s judgment. And just as he had been the one to calm her, she was the only one who could truly grant him peace.

In the end, Link lowered the Prince back to the ground before releasing his collar and taking a step back. Zelda offered him the smallest of sympathies with her smile. She then released his arm and turned her full attention to the miserable fool before her.

“Prince Vaen, I would like to thank you, for both your honesty and your trust. You truly did the right thing by coming to us and sharing what has transpired. Because of your haste, we might very well have a good chance at stopping this attack before any lives are lost.”

Vaen simply eyed her, stunned beyond words. He had not expected such a grateful response from the Queen after all of his confessions. But it seemed that his surprise was short-lived for Zelda’s tone and demeanor quickly shifted to something much harsher.

“That being said, your actions have been nothing short of reckless, selfish, and downright reprehensible. I implore you to think on what has transpired, and the weight of your involvement. You’d best think of an alibi as well, for I fully intend to prosecute you and your witch for every law that has been broken today. And I assure you, there are many.”

The Prince continued to blubber as he gave a tiny nod. His face and shoulders soon fell in utter shame. “Queen Zelda, Sir Link…I am very sorry. Truly, I am.”

Upon hearing this, Zelda allowed her expression to soften once more. Despite all of his flaws and mistakes, she could still recognize that his heart was not cruel. “I appreciate that. But I’m afraid we’ll have to spare the apologies for another time. One of my Kingdom’s precious settlements is in grave danger, and I must see to their aid at once.”

Vaen was baffled, and eyed her as if she were crazy. “Queen Zelda, are you planning to get involved?”

“Is that not what a good Queen does for her people?” Zelda asked as if it was the simplest matter in the entire world.

Again, Vaen was speechless. “B-But wouldn’t it be better to just leave everything to the Hero?”

“Oh, he’ll help too, of course.” Zelda turned to her beloved. “Won’t you?”

“As if you even have to ask,” Link said fiercely. “We have to ride to Ordon at once!”

Zelda smiled before nodding. “I agree, time is of the essence, so we really ought to cut our conversation short. Link, Vaen, please follow me.”

Without another word, the Queen was off, navigating the maze of hedges and plants with ease. Link and Vaen were so caught off guard by her abrupt departure that it took a moment before they scurried after her. 

“So what’s the plan?” Link asked as he caught up with her brisk stride. “Can you organize a battalion to ride south?”

Zelda pursed her lips and shook her head. “Not at this hour, I’m afraid. Most of the soldiers are likely resting after a day of drills. They’ll be in no condition to fight. And can you even imagine having them ride to their destination in the encroaching darkness? It’d be pure chaos.”

Link matched her frown with one of his own. He knew that she had a point. Not everyone was adept at traversing the forest paths like he was. If they rode through the night, there was a good chance that many soldiers would become horribly lost. And after a day of drills and a night of travel, would any of them really be useful in a fight against the Shadow Beasts?

Link cursed. “What about Ashei? Could she help us?”

Zelda shook her head once more. “She went to inspect a monster sighting up north. She won’t be back until tomorrow.”

Link released a frustrated sigh. “So that’s it then. I guess I’m on my own.”

“No, you’re not,” she was quick to clarify. “You and I will both ride south. The Shadow Beasts are fast, but our horses are faster. With any luck, we might very well overtake them long before they reach the village.”

Link nodded, hoping that she was right. While he felt confident that he could probably defeat the Shadow Beasts on his own, the thought of defending the villagers of Ordon from them was an additional burden. Link wasn’t sure that he could guarantee everyone’s safety by himself, especially if he had to face a dozen of the wretched beasts at once. Because of this, Link was beyond grateful to know that Zelda would accompany him. He knew that he could trust her to ease his burden, if only by sharing the battlefield with him.

As always, she was a woman of action, and he loved that about her.

They finally reached the end of the garden and moved into the nearest courtyard. From there, Zelda approached the castle walls where she found two soldiers standing guard. They promptly bowed to their Queen.

“Your Majesty.”

She addressed them immediately. “At ease. I have urgent orders for you both.”

Both men snapped upright, offering their rapt attention. It wasn’t often that the Queen issued direct orders!

Zelda pointed at the first soldier. “Please run to my quarters and retrieve my rapier, my bow, and my quiver. Bring them all to the stables at once.”

The man didn’t need to be told twice. With a wordless salute, he dashed into the halls. Zelda then turned to his forsaken partner. “As for you, please escort Prince Vaen to his quarters. Once he’s there, lock him up and allow him no leave.”

The scene fell silent as everyone blinked.

“Er…what?” Vaen mumbled, a little out of breath from his attempts to keep up with her.

The guard was equally confused. “Your Majesty?”

“Keep him contained in his quarters,” Zelda insisted in her most serious voice. “He’s committed treason against the Kingdom of Hyrule and its people. We’ll grant him a trial as soon as we are able, but in the meantime, we simply must keep him under lock and key.”

The soldier still seemed somewhat taken aback, but upon realizing that the Queen expected her commands to be followed, he was quick to comply. “Yes, Your Majesty,” he said as he clamped a tight grip around the Prince’s arm.

Meanwhile, Vaen looked lost beyond words. “B-But Queen Zelda, is…is this really necessary?”

Zelda offered him a sympathetic sigh. “My apologies, Your Highness, but you did confess all of your sins. It’s only right that I have you detained until we can settle this matter. Rest assured, you will be treated with the utmost hospitality until we return.”

Vaen fumbled for his words, but eventually released a sigh of his own. “I…I understand.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I am able,” Zelda promised. She then left the guard to his duties as she faced Link once more. “Are you ready?”

“Let’s saddle up,” he answered.

 

---

 

Not even five minutes had passed before Link and Zelda properly mounted atop of Epona and Reina respectively, and were now riding across the southern fields. They had lost no time in saddling their mares and setting off. The soldier from earlier had even delivered Zelda’s weapons right as they were ready to depart.

There was now nothing between them and their enemies other than earth and time.

The sun had finished setting, and the world became encompassed in the shadow of night. Link wasn’t worried though. He and Epona had traversed this path together many times before, and now knew the way by heart. As long as they led the charge, he was certain that Zelda and Reina could match their pace without issue. 

Still, despite their progress, Link couldn’t help but wish for a faster means of travel.

“Zelda?” he called across the rushing winds. Amidst the darkness, he watched her sapphires fall on him. “By any chance, can we teleport to Ordon? Using your magic?”

Her eyes dimmed a bit. “I’m sorry, Link,” came her reply. “I’ve never been able to perform such spells. Midna could, and I know a certain Bulblin witch who is capable as well, but I’m afraid it’s a magic that is beyond me.”

Link frowned as he felt his desperation intensify. “What about the Light Spirits? Can’t you call on them to warp us? Just as you did during our encounter with Ganondorf?”

“No, the Spirits can only harbor us in their light plane. They won’t be able to send us ahead to Ordon.”

Link cursed and allowed his shoulders to fall. He took a moment to listen to the constant gallop of the horses’ hooves before letting his frustrations slide through clenched teeth. “I’m sorry,” he said in the end. “I don’t mean to sound so demanding.”

Even though there was a fair bit of distance between them, Link could still feel the sympathy and warmth radiating from Zelda in waves. “It’s okay, Link,” she said softly. “I know that you’re just worried about saving your home. But try not to fret. We’ll make it there in time. Trust me.”

“I know,” he said resolutely. “We’ll make it there. We have to.”

“I hope you can forgive me,” Zelda continued with a troubled sigh. “This is truly all my fault. If I had only handled Vaen with a bit more diplomacy, perhaps he would not have acted so rashly. And I never should have trusted that witch either. Allowing her to access ancient secrets which were best left forgotten. It seems that I’ve made many foolish decisions.”

Link turned to her and gawked. “What? No, Zelda, please don’t say that. I don’t blame you for any of this.”

“Someone has to take the blame,” she said solemnly.

“Then blame that mischievous Drabby!” Link insisted. “She’s the one who’s taking things way too far, and now you’re the one rushing to stop her. I won’t allow you to fault yourself for this, Zelda. Not when you possess the kindest heart I’ve ever met.”

The Queen continued to eye his shadowy figure as he traversed a dark landscape, and soon graced him with a smile bright enough to shatter the night. “Thank you, Link, for always defending me. Even if I feel like I don’t deserve it.”

You will always deserve my protection, and so much more, Link thought to himself. He didn’t think it necessary to utter the words aloud. After everything he and Zelda had been through, he had a feeling that she understood him perfectly. Their hearts could speak just as easily as their mouths.

Feeling determined, Link faced forward and urged Epona onwards. “Come on,” he insisted as he picked up the pace. “Ordon awaits.”

Zelda answered with the utmost resolution in her tone. “Right.”

Notes:

Time for the final conflict. The resolution of every plot thread I’ve been spinning. Here’s to hoping you enjoy the show!

Chapter 87: Loyalty

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 87 – Loyalty

It was approaching dawn when the Hero and Queen began nearing the tree line of Faron Woods. With the first rays of morning light, Link slowed Epona’s pace and took a moment to inspect the dirt trail they followed. His heart nearly sank as he recognized several sets of tracks. Tracks which perfectly matched the long fingers and human-like feet of the Shadow Beasts.

“They’ve been through here recently,” Link announced. “They’re still ahead, but we’re gaining on them.”

“We’d best hurry then,” Zelda insisted. “It’s not much further to Ordon.”

Link nodded in agreement. “Are you good to continue?”

Zelda and Reina honestly appeared rather fatigued after a full night of travel. It was clear that neither of them were used to performing such a strenuous task without rest. Nevertheless, Zelda returned his nod. “I have little choice. Let’s ride on.”

Link couldn’t possibly bring himself to argue with her. The circumstances were so dire that neither of them could afford a respite. If they wanted to save the people of Ordon from suffering a Shadow Beast attack, they would have to forge onwards.

Link kicked Epona into a gallop, and Zelda followed close behind. They entered the forest, rushing past endless greenery as leaves fluttered in their wake. Link wondered, would they truly make it in time? Drabby and the beasts had quite the head start, and Link knew that those hideous creatures could easily travel for days without rest. There was every possibility that they would reach the village before its saviors could.

And even then, what would the resulting battle entail? Link was tired. Zelda was likely exhausted. Could the two of them truly take on a small army of demonic creatures? And a nasty little witch to boot? All while ensuring the safety of every innocent life in the humble little village?

Link suddenly bowed his head, and prayed to any Goddess who was listening. In this moment, it felt like a miracle was the only thing that could save him. The only hope that could save everything he knew and loved.

Not even a second passed before a loud horn blared across the forest. Birds took flight while squirrels scurried up the trees. Link simply turned to Zelda as they both flashed each other a look of surprise. That sound…was very familiar.

A large beast suddenly burst through the brush beside them. It was a boar, with eyes as red and piercing as its master’s. Within seconds, a second boar appeared, quickly followed by a third, a fourth, a fifth, and many more. Each one carried a horned creature on its back, and they all fell in line beside the Hero and Queen, traveling in the same direction.

The leader of this gang soon made himself present, riding directly by Link’s side. The Hero merely eyed the King who eyed him in return.

“Hero, there is trouble afoot,” the brute said bluntly.

Link nearly rolled his eyes. “Yes, I’m aware.”

“Twilight devils roamed through here a few minutes ago. I have not seen their kind since the man of Twilight occupied these lands.”

Again, Link felt the desire to brush him off. His impatience was outweighing every other thought. “Yes. That’s why I’m riding so fervently. Those beasts are moving to attack my village to the south.”

“Hmph,” Bulblin grunted. He seemed ever so slightly perturbed by this.

“Look, we don’t really have time to talk,” Link muttered, his patience finally reaching its limits. “I need to stop them before anyone gets hurt!” The Hero then snapped Epona’s reins, planning to dash far ahead and leave his newfound companions in the dust. However, it only took the call of a single voice to hold him back.

“Link, wait a moment!” Zelda shouted above the thunderous galloping. “Please, slow to a halt!”

Link turned, staring as if she were insane. “A halt!?” he cried.

“Just for a moment,” she yelled back. Then, as if to simply have her way, Zelda pulled on her own reins and her white mare immediately skidded to a stop.

Link cursed. The last thing he wanted to do right now was put a pause on his desperate advance to save his loved ones, but he loved Zelda too, and it would kill him to leave her behind. Besides, he knew that she wouldn’t be doing this unless she had a reason, and a good one at that. He reluctantly pulled Epona back, and she soon came to a stop as well.

As if on cue, every Bulblin in the vicinity followed suit. Their large boars which barreled across the earth now stood motionless, and countless red eyes fell on the Hero in green. Link ignored them though, directing Epona over to Zelda’s side.

“What is it?” he said, trying his best to keep the urgency out of his tone, although it still hovered in the air like a thin fog.

Zelda closed her eyes and slightly bowed her head. “Forgive me. I know we are short on time, but we suddenly have an incredible opportunity before us. Do you not see it?”

Link frowned. He loved Zelda. Truly, he did. But he was really not in the mood for riddles or secrets right now. “Zelda, please,” he begged.

“Oh, right,” she answered, appearing a little guilty. “To be brief, you and I are still in need of allies for the battle ahead. And it seems that we’ve just stumbled upon quite the useful force.”

Link blinked before quickly picking up on what she was suggesting. “You mean the Bulblins?”

“Who else?” she said with the smallest of smirks. She then fearlessly turned towards the King and placed a hand over her heart. “King Bulblin, our Kingdom currently faces a dark and desperate hour. Innocent lives are at stake, and there is little we can do to rescue them with our current numbers. So I ask you, humbly and kindly, would you be willing to ride into battle along with us? Would you lead your people to fight off the Twilight devils, in order to spare the Hero’s kin from a gruesome fate?”

Bulblin stared at the Queen with his piercing yet empty eyes. His jaw hung slack as heavy breaths ebbed in and out. Either he was ignoring the question, or he simply didn’t know what to say.

No, on second thought, Link had come to know him better than this. The reality was that he was lost in thought. The King was carefully considering his answer, just as he always did whenever the situation got complicated. Steeling his resolve, Link decided that he ought to steer the brute in the right direction.

“Bulblin,” he said, plainly and openly. “Do you remember what I told you about loyalty? Well, this is your chance. If you are truly loyal, you will ride to your Kingdom’s aid. And not because I’m asking you, or because Zelda is asking you. But because you know that deep down, this is the right thing to do.”

Bulblin closed his mouth. His red eyes narrowed a bit. He always looked so shrewd whenever Link challenged him.

“Is this what you want, Hero?” Bulblin eventually asked.

Link frowned, his patience wearing thin again. “What I want is to save my village. Now, are you coming along or not?”

 

---

 

Ilia heaved a sigh as she admired the old wooden home. All of the windows were closed. The chimney was free of smoke. And the alcove next to the house contained a noticeable lack of Epona.

Still gone, she thought glumly.

She soon turned and knelt down amongst the grass, harvesting medicinal plants and placing them in a basket. Ordinarily, she would have avoided this home and the Hero who lived in it, but she wanted to be productive today, and this glade was unfortunately the best place to find the herbs she needed. So she begrudgingly made the trip here, intending to carry on with her business whether that hurtful man was here or not.

And yet, at the first dawn following their latest argument, she had found his home deserted. It seemed that the Hero had saddled up and departed just as quickly as he arrived. And now, even a day later, she noticed that he was still absent.

Ilia frowned as she continued her dismal task. She supposed it wasn’t all that surprising. After enduring so many terrible arguments with each other, why would Link ever wish to stick around? Honestly, it only made sense that he would depart at the earliest opportunity. Just leave Ilia and all of her shouting and bitter tears behind him. After all, that’s what Ilia had done to him on numerous occasions. Walked away from their discussions before slamming far too many doors in his face…

Yes, it only made sense that Link would leave, and he probably wouldn’t come back for a very, very long time. In fact, Ilia was beginning to wonder if he would ever come back at all…

The girl released another sigh as she rose to her feet. Her breath was heavy, her grief was great, and her heart was a wreck, but she knew that she simply had to carry on. Holding her basket close to her side, she made her way back to the clearing where she could hear the excited shouts of the village children. It sounded as if they were playing with their slingshot at Link’s humble shooting range.

“Would you like to try, Beth?” Colin offered politely after finishing his latest shot.

The girl simply smirked before crossing her arms. “Hmph, I have no interest in slingshots. I’d much rather learn how to use the bow, like Her Majesty does.”

At this, Talo rolled his eyes. It seemed that he was sick of constantly hearing comments like these. “Oh, give it a rest, Beth. The Queen isn’t here, so you don’t have to keep kissing her butt.”

Beth looked absolutely appalled. “Ew, how gross.”

The children began to bicker while Ilia shook her head. It seemed like some things would never change around here, at least…

Ilia then paused as a curious sound reached her ears. She turned and glanced down the pathway which led to Ordona’s spring. She could’ve sworn that she had just heard the rumble of a galloping creature. For a moment, she dared to wonder…was Link returning?

But her curiosity was short-lived. For the galloping didn’t quite sound like a horse. And it didn’t quite sound like an individual either…

With a gasp of horror, Ilia dropped her basket to the ground. She watched as the first of the hideous beasts crested the hill and was promptly paralyzed by the sight of their distorted masks and their sharp, black hair. Ilia couldn’t believe it. She had desperately hoped to never encounter such devils again. And yet, she now watched as a horde of them barreled towards her in broad daylight.

It only took a second for her to scream.

“RUN!” she yelled at the kids. “Get to the village and get inside! Quickly!”

The children were understandably shocked. They had an even more difficult time processing this impossible turn of events than Ilia did. They just stood there, arms at their sides and feet planted on the ground, too stunned to move.

“It’s the…the shadow monsters,” Talo mumbled eventually.

“Shadow Beasts,” Malo corrected him. Although even his typically stoic voice sounded a bit unnerved at the moment.

Just as Ilia was about to rip her hair out and yell at them to run again, Colin finally found the courage to push the others forward. “Come on, we’ve gotta get out of here!”

Ilia silently thanked the Goddesses, and the boy’s common sense. She watched as they quickly scampered away and prayed that they would make it home. Prayed that Rusl and her father would be ready for battle. Prayed that she was only imagining things and that this wasn’t the end of the world all over again.

But that was simply wishful thinking. The earth almost began to quake as the black beasts approached Ilia. The sensation was far too terrifying to be anything short of reality. And yet, she courageously stood her ground. If she could only buy the village some time—time to be ready for battle—then this distraction would be entirely worth it. She raised her arms and slowly backed away while the creatures strode right up to her, twitching with curiosity.

“Well, looks like we finally made it,” said an old, feminine voice. “It took nearly all night, but at least we’re here. And would you look at that! Our first civilian, on the outskirts of town no less!”

Ilia timidly glanced around, wondering if the beasts were speaking for a moment, only to freeze as soon as she spotted an old crone seated on the back of a shadow. Despite her precarious position, she seemed quite comfortable, even crossing her legs as she leaned back a bit.

“Good morning, dearie,” the crone greeted her nonchalantly. “It’s a shame that we stumbled into each other on this lovely day.”

Ilia swallowed, trying her best to keep her composure as she only grew more unsettled by the second. “Wh-What’s going on? Who are you? Why are you with these…these creatures?”

The older woman sneered, clearly amused by the girl’s cluelessness, as well as her fear. “Oh please, you don’t need to worry your pretty little head about that. All you need to know is that I’ve come to subjugate this town. And once I’m done here, I’ll move on to the next. And the next and the next and the next. Hyrule be like putty in my hands, and the Hero will be exhausted and crushed in defeat, and then My Lord will have everything his heart has ever desired… Oh, but perhaps I’ve said a bit too much.”

Ilia blinked, horribly confused and overwhelmed by dread. She still couldn’t believe that this was happening. That she was surrounded by such awful monsters, all being commanded by a granny who acted like this was nothing more than a leisurely stroll through the forest. Who acted as if her cruel and maniacal words were simply a mild ambition. Subjugating towns? Defeating the Hero? Ilia nervously took a few steps back and continued to pray. She prayed for a miracle. For someone to help her and her village. For someone to save them all from this looming disaster!

If only Link was here…

“Ah ah ah, not so fast, dearie,” the crone said with another hideous sneer. “You’re not going anywhere. You two,” she pointed to the frontmost beasts, “get rid of the girl. The rest of you, on to the village!”

And just like that, the beasts lunged. Ilia shrieked as she took off, running for the trees behind Link’s home. She ran as fast as her bare feet could carry her, snapping twigs beneath her toes while branches whipped her face. She dismissed the damage to herself. She needed to get away. Run and get far away before these creatures could get their awful hands on her!

She could hear them. Barreling towards her from behind. Ripping up the dirt with their long fingers. Swiping at her every time they drew close. The next thing Ilia knew, she had tears falling from her eyes. She hated this. She hated having to live in fear. To experience such a hellish trauma she had already survived once. Why couldn’t her life go back to normal? Why couldn’t she just live out her days in peace?

The beasts’ long fingers finally reached Ilia, and they promptly knocked her to the ground. The girl cried out, struggling to rise to her feet, but it was too late. The nearest beast placed its hideous hand to her back and trapped her against the earth. There was no escape. She was pinned.

A few more tears slipped out of Ilia’s eyes as she forced them shut. This was it. Her final moments. Her only regret was that her last few days in this world had been some of the most miserable of her entire life…

Buh-bum, buh-bum, buh-bum!

Ilia’s eyes immediately snapped open. This sound. The pounding of hooves against dirt. She recognized it, and this time, there was simply no mistake.

“Hyah!”

The fierce cry pierced the very air, just as the blade pierced the beast’s back. The creature collapsed, and the hand holding Ilia down went limp. With a small whimper of hope, she desperately glanced up. There, amidst the sunlight and the beautiful leaves, she spotted a familiar figure.

“Link…?” she squeaked.

The Hero didn’t look at her. Instead, his wild blue eyes landed solely on his remaining foe: the standing Shadow Beast.

“Hey,” he breathed. “Hands off.”

The Shadow Beast snarled and writhed in discomfort. It was furious at the loss of its comrade, and instantly bellowed a terrible screech. One that pierced Ilia to her very core and forced her to clamp her hands over her ears and shudder.

Link remained still and resolute as he watched the fallen beast rise once more. Its wound remained, and yet it still jerked to life like a puppet. Frowning in disapproval, the Hero sheathed his sword and dismounted from the safety of Epona’s back.

Ilia eyed him as if he was crazy. What was he thinking, challenging two unkillable beasts without his sword in hand? Didn’t he realize that they outsized him? That they were horrible, dangerous devils that would rip him apart as soon as they drew close?

But she watched as Link breathed in through his nostrils and placed a gentle hand on the hilt by his shoulder. A fire blazed in his eyes as his two adversaries drew close. Swallowing nervously, Ilia realized that she needed to trust that fire.

The ensuing clash took only an instant. The Shadow Beasts simultaneously lunged at the Hero, and with one swift motion, he drew his sword and cut both creatures across the chest. The wounds were fatal, and both devils collapsed without a fight. A moment later, there was a small snap as their bodies burst into a flurry of black crystals, which immediately evaporated into the air around them.

With the threat destroyed, Link wordlessly sheathed his blade. He then turned to Ilia, and for the first time since his unexpected arrival, his expression softened.

“Hey… You okay?”

Ilia felt the tears falling from her eyes as she gasped. She slowly stood on shaky legs, hardly daring to believe the miracle that she was witnessing before her. “You…You came…” she whispered.

Link smiled before approaching and placing a warm hand on her shoulder. “Of course. I tend to never be far from danger.”

Ilia nearly sobbed as she embraced him. The relief she felt was beyond overwhelming. Even after all of their arguments. Her cruel remarks. Her bitter frustrations. Even when she thought that she might very well never see him again, Link had still chosen to ride to her rescue…

Her voice was as shaky as the rest of her when she went to speak. “H-How did you find me…?”

“I caught word that the beasts were coming to Ordon,” Link explained patiently. “I arrived only a moment after they did. I followed the sound of your screams and rode to you as fast as I could.” He waited for her to respond, but after a moment of pure silence, he glanced down at her. “You never answered my question. Are you okay? They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

Ilia forced back both her tears and her sobs as she gave him a subtle nod. “Yes, I’m fine, I just… Thank you, Link.”

Link smiled as he pulled her close again, patting her back for extra comfort. “Of course, Ilia.”

They lingered in the warmth of each other’s arms for only a moment longer before Link finally pulled away. He then led her by the hand over to Epona, where he gestured for her to saddle up. Ilia complied, but she flashed him a quizzical look as she did so.

“Sorry, there’s no time,” Link said as he pulled himself into the saddle too. “Ordon is still in danger, and I need to get back as soon as I can. Now, hold onto me.”

Ilia barely registered his words before the Hero snapped the reins and the chestnut mare took off into the trees. Ilia urgently wrapped her arms around Link’s waist as she clung on for dear life. She had never seen Epona sprint so fervently before!

“L-Link!” she cried into his backside. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to take on all of those beasts by yourself.”

“I’m not!” he shouted confidently. “Believe it or not, I’ve brought help with me.”

“You did?” Ilia asked, her eyes lighting up.

Meanwhile, Link’s own eyes fell in response. “Yes. Although, I get the feeling that you’re not going to be too thrilled to see them…”

Notes:

The Mortal Draw, my beloved ✨ It’s always so much fun incorporating Link’s hidden skills into the battles I write :)

Chapter 88: The Battle for Ordon

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 88 – The Battle for Ordon

The children of Ordon scurried as fast as their little legs could carry them. Talo rocketed forward, shouting loud warnings about the “shadow monsters” while Malo and Beth struggled to keep up. Meanwhile, Colin stayed behind, gently pushing and encouraging them to keep running. Eventually, he dared a glance back over his shoulder only to see the horde of monsters charging through the front gate. The boy merely swallowed and kept running.

“Come on!” Beth cried. “We can hide in my mom’s shop.”

“Better hurry though,” Malo mumbled.

“Don’t look back, just run,” Colin insisted, pushing their backs once more. They did, hurtling towards Sera’s Sundries. If they could just make it inside and slam the door shut…

But they were already out of time. With a horrified gasp, Colin realized that one of the beasts was breathing down his neck. Acting on nothing but instinct and reckless courage, he leapt forward and shoved his friends.

“Look out!”

Beth and Malo tumbled to the dirt, being spared a swift swipe which knocked Colin away. The poor child flew and landed on his back near the local pond. Coughing a bit, he tried to crawl backwards to get away from his assailant, but it was little use. The beast had already zeroed in on him, and he had nowhere left to run.

“Capture the little ones!” a wicked voice suddenly cackled into the air. “We’ll use them to force the parents to surrender, and then we’ll raze this village to the ground.”

Colin shuddered as he listened. He imagined that whoever owned that voice must have a heart as black and cold as the Shadow Beast that stood before him. Who would do this? Why was their village being attacked again? Would no one come to their rescue?

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his friends climbing to their feet. Malo looked shocked. Beth looked scared. Suddenly, Colin understood the reality of the situation. If no one was coming to their rescue, then he would have to stand up for himself. That’s what true courage was. It was the most valuable thing he had learned from simply watching Link.

Colin slowly rose to his feet, staring down the devil before him. He would not run. He would not cower. He would not be captured. Instead, he chose to fight. He soon rushed forward, fist raised and ready to strike. In response, the beast raised its own hand, fingers curled like claws…

Thunk!

Without warning, a mighty battle-axe fell on the creature from the side, severing the head from the neck in one brutal swing. The body immediately went limp, and Colin nearly did the same as he tripped. The creature was dead! Someone had just slain it, and without any trouble! The boy merely gawked as his eyes rose up, taking in the image of a ferocious boar and its powerful rider.

And here he thought that he couldn’t possibly have been more surprised than he already was…

“B-Bulblins?” Colin muttered, mostly to himself. If he wasn’t mistaken, this towering brute in particular was the King of the Bulblins, and the very same one who had kidnapped him during the Twilight Invasion…twice.

If there was any recognition from the King’s side, he didn’t show it. Rather, he turned and surveyed the area, watching with cold red eyes as the Shadow Beasts scattered across the village.

“Are…Are you here to help us?” Colin asked timidly. He was still trying to make sense of this chaotic situation.

Bulblin didn’t bother to respond. Scowling, he pointed to the nearest building.

It took Colin a second to understand. “Oh, right.” Scampering away from the fallen beast, he rejoined his friends and encouraged them to keep sprinting. “We need to get inside, quick!”

A second later, Reina thundered into the village, an army of boars right behind her. King Bulblin rode up next to the white mare and the stern matriarch who sat atop her.

“We need to find the witch!” Zelda declared, not slowing her pace in the slightest. “And take her alive, if you can!”

Bulblin merely nodded. The situation had already been explained to him ahead of time, and he knew exactly who to look for. “What if we can’t secure her life?”

“Then take her head,” Zelda nearly snarled. “By this point, she’s committed enough sins to have earned such a fate.”

“And the Twilight devils?”

“Slaughter them.”

Bulblin grinned, his pointed teeth thirsting for blood. “Gladly, Chieftain.” He then called out in his native tongue, relaying the Queen’s orders to every Bulblin who rode behind her.

Zelda tuned him out, her focus solely trained on the disaster unfolding before her. The Shadow Beasts had already scattered throughout the village, ripping into the wooden siding of homes and chasing livestock. It wasn’t long before the screams of innocent villagers haunted the air.

Zelda’s brow curled inward as she felt herself being overcome with fury. These were her people. This was her Kingdom. Her home. How dare these devils trample upon it!?

Wasting no time, she raised her bow and drew an arrow. She aimed at the nearest beast before striking its throat. Two more arrows, each coated in flame, pierced the beast’s torso. A gift courtesy of her Bulblin allies.

The beast’s body didn’t even have a chance to hit the ground before Zelda moved on, racing towards her next target. Again, she released a powerful arrow, avoiding the face mask and seeking whatever vulnerabilities lay below. All the while, she continued to scan the village. She needed to find that awful witch, Drabby, and put a stop to her. In Zelda’s mind, there were few sins more grave than a strategic assault on innocent lives. Once everything in Ordon was ultimately restored to order, Drabby would pay dearly.

The Bulblins continued to rain arrows upon their foes with the utmost precision, not relenting until the shadows eventually collapsed and remained still. Some Bulblins even jumped from their boars and charged the devils with axes and clubs. The Shadow Beasts were soon forced to abandon their assault on the village and focused on fighting off these green-skinned creatures instead. What had been a one-sided assault now completely shifted into a full-on battle.

It wasn’t long before the villagers joined in too. Rusl took sword in hand and met the nearest beast head-on. Bo grabbed one of the beasts from behind and forced it into submission. Even the battle-inept were doing all they could to guarantee the safety of their families. Jaggle was seen pulling Talo to safety while Hanch guarded his wife’s shop with nothing more than a broom.

Amidst the unfolding chaos, Zelda managed to spot the ranch hand, Fado, near the back of the village. He fumbled with a stubborn goat who refused to move, no matter how desperately the shepherd begged it to find refuge. There was no doubt that the man had been caught between the ranch and his home when the raid had initiated. And now, to make matters worse, a Shadow Beast was slinking up behind him, prepared to attack…

Zelda grit her teeth, preparing to ride to Fado’s rescue, only to immediately freeze as a sizzling sphere of fire streaked past her head. It had missed by mere inches, bursting harmlessly on the cliff face behind her. With wide, furious eyes, Zelda turned to her assailant.

“Drat, I missed,” the short and pompous witch mumbled from atop her Shadow Beast steed.

Zelda was beyond livid. “You,” she breathed, fully facing the witch. “Cease your assault at once before I am forced to subdue you.”

Drabby cackled, as if there wasn’t even a shred of fear in her cruel heart. “Oh please, Your Majesty. Why should I submit when I have all the power on my side? A power you are too timid and weak to fully utilize. Such wasted potential. Even at a glance, it should be obvious just how powerful these Shadow Beasts are. With their prowess, seizing your Kingdom by the throat will be no trouble at all! And then marrying our lovely Prince Vaen should become a rather simple matter to demand—”

An arrow sliced through the air, nearly catching the witch off guard. She managed to erect a magical barrier at the last second and watched as the projectile shattered into splinters. Drabby blinked for only a moment before continuing her cackle. “Hehehe, you’re going to need more than that to test a witch as experienced as me, dearie.”

“Oh?” Zelda muttered with a tongue wreathed in flame. “So you’d like to see some magic?”

“Ha! Know your limits, foolish Queen. There’s little chance that your magical proficiencies could ever compare to someone as experienced as myself.”

Zelda scowled, preparing to summon the full might of whatever the Goddesses were willing to bless her with. However, she halted as soon as she witnessed a bright beam of crimson light shoot up from directly beneath Drabby’s ride. It seemed that the duo was also taken by surprise, for the beast was maimed and Drabby’s barrier shattered effortlessly. Similarly, a lone crack appeared in the crone’s tinted lenses. For the first time, her eyes grew round with concern and confusion alike. Who had just struck her? Certainly not the Queen?

As if on cue, a lone she-Bulblin stepped forward, her clawed fingers outstretched and prepared to cast. She sneered as her bright purple eyes fell on the witch.

“You!” Zelda nearly gasped as she instantly recognized her. “Your name was Reshka, if I recall?”

The she-Bulblin glanced at the Queen and flashed her pointed fangs in a delighted grin. Without a word, she pointed past Zelda, over to the edge of town. It was at that moment that another scream echoed into the air.

“Fado!” Zelda suddenly remembered. She turned, only to find the ranch hand caught in the iron grip of his Shadow Beast. The devil was slowly squeezing the life out of him.

In an instant, Zelda realized what the she-Bulblin was telling her. To go on. To save Fado. And to simply leave the witch to her.

Zelda didn’t even glance back as she uttered words which were beyond the Bulblin’s understanding, but she meant them all the same.

“You have my thanks.”

Zelda abandoned the witches to their battle, drawing her bowstring back before striking the Shadow Beast’s arm. It screeched a horrible sound before dropping its victim. It turned to face Zelda, only for her next arrow to bury itself into the beast’s very heart. The corpse’s eerie cries fell silent as it collapsed.

Zelda allowed herself only the smallest sigh of relief as she finally arrived at Fado’s side. She glanced down from atop her mare, her expression a mix of sorrow and concern. “Are you all right, Fado?”

The man fumbled for his words, but soon nodded. He could hardly believe who was standing before him. “Y-Yes, Your Majesty. Um…th-thank you.”

“It was my pleasure,” she assured him. “You should go and seek shelter. The Bulblins and I can handle this battle on our—”

“Queen Zelda, b-behind you!” Fado suddenly yelped.

Whipping around, Zelda turned just in time to spot a Shadow Beast lunging for her. With reflexes as swift as her arrows, she pulled Reina back and drew her rapier from its sheath. She evaded the beast’s grasp and swiped in return, claiming two of its long black fingers.

Zelda steeled her resolve and prepared to battle with her blade. She would have to be careful—avoiding the creature’s durable face mask, while also defending Fado and keeping Reina out of harm’s way. A difficult task, but far from impossible.

Then, it all happened in an instant.

Epona burst forth from the nearest foliage and leapt at the Shadow Beast. Her rider gripped her reins, eyes fierce as he raised his sword high overhead. He soon brought it down, slicing the devil’s back open in one swift motion. The beast died before it even knew what had hit it.

“Link!” Zelda exclaimed, somewhat breathless due to his sudden entrance.

Link took a deep breath before turning to her and smiling. “Hope I’m not too late.”

“Nonsense, your timing is flawless,” Zelda commended him. “Did you manage to find Ilia?”

“Of course.” Link then gestured behind him, and Zelda quickly realized that he wasn't riding alone. Ilia was pressed up against the Hero, hands wrapped around his waist as if hanging on for dear life.

“Do you have to ride so recklessly?” she asked in a tired, fragile tone. She then seemed to notice her current company and shrunk behind Link’s shoulders. “Oh…hello, Your Majesty.”

Zelda softly smiled at her shyness. “It is good to see you safe, Ilia. I offer my sincerest apologies for the arrival of this unexpected imperilment.”

“Oh, it’s okay,” Ilia replied, her voice equally soft. “I’m just happy to see we have help.”

“You do indeed,” Zelda assured her. She then tugged on Reina’s reins, turning her back towards the village.

Meanwhile, Link smirked at his old buddy who cluelessly sat on the ground behind her. “You good, Fado?”

The man snapped to attention as soon as he realized he was being spoken to. “Er, yes! Her Majesty just saved my skin…and the rest of me too.”

Link chuckled before glancing back at the companion still attached to him. “Ilia, you should probably stay here with Fado. Zelda and I still have some cleanup to do.”

Ilia’s eyes fell to Link’s sword for only a moment before she nodded in understanding. She slid down from Epona’s saddle and watched him with her soft emerald eyes.

“Stay safe, Link,” she whispered.

“I will,” he promised.

Without another word, Link urged Epona forward until he stood shoulder to shoulder with Zelda. The two of them surveyed the village-turned-battlefield, analyzing the situation.

“Their numbers are dwindling,” Zelda noted. Less than five Shadow Beasts remained standing, and those that did were quickly being beaten to death by the Bulblins who flanked them. The fight was close to reaching its finale.

“And Drabby?” Link asked.

“Reshka’s got her number,” Zelda answered. She pointed, revealing that the Drablands Witch was currently struggling to put up a fight. Her steed had been slain, and she now hobbled on her own two feet, defending herself from the she-Bulblin who was effortlessly slinging spell after spell. It was painfully clear who would emerge the victor.

Backed into a corner, and growing desperate, Drabby suddenly realized that the fight was all but lost. Her plans and ambitions had quickly gone up in smoke in the face of this makeshift Bulblin army. And this powerful witch across from her was certainly not making things easier! With a piercing cry, her voice suddenly echoed across the clearing.

“All remaining beasts to me! Tear this Bulblin limb from limb!”

The command rang true, for every Shadow Beast who remained standing immediately turned and bounded in her direction. They would serve as Drabby’s last line of defense. Her only protection against a pitiful defeat. The Bulblins, momentarily stunned by the absences of their opponents, quickly moved to chase after them. Unfortunately, their speed was a poor match for their opponents’ swiftness.

It was at this point that Zelda tipped forward ever so slightly. “This ends here,” she breathed.

Link gave a nod. “Remember, we can’t leave a single one standing. We have to defeat the final two at the same time, or they’ll just revive.”

Zelda tightened her grip on her blade, her eyes burning bright. “I am aware.”

Link smiled at her eagerness and leaned forward alongside her. “Are you with me, Zelda?”

“Always.”

As soon as the words left her lips, they took off, making a mad dash for the witches at the center of the village. On horseback, their speed was practically unmatched. They reached the duel far sooner than the Shadow Beasts did, and they were more than ready to welcome them.

The ensuing battle passed in an instant.

Zelda slit the throat of one beast before it even had a chance to spot her. Link leapt from Epona’s back, tackling a beast and plunging his sword into its chest. A perfect finishing blow.

The next devil clawed its way forward, but Zelda stunned it for a moment by bouncing a harmless ray of light off of its durable mask. This short window was all Link needed to rise from his kill, roll clockwise, and strike the beast’s back with a spin attack. Like its brethren, it fell to the earth, lying cold and limp.

The remaining Shadow Beasts, already bloodied and bruised after battling the Bulblins, offered little resistance. All it took was one glance between Link and Zelda to coordinate their demise. Link charged forward, and Zelda rode at a pace to match him. With sharp blades brandished in gloved hands, they drew back, prepared to strike. The beasts desperately attempted to do the same, retracting their long limbs and claws.

But it was useless. After everything the Hero and Queen had faced together, this was nothing short of a trifle. With timing that rivaled perfection, Link and Zelda swung in unison. Sharp metal met shadowy flesh and both creatures collapsed into corpses. A moment later, the body of every slain beast in the village erupted into tiny black crystals, scattering to the winds.

It was over. The battle nearly won. Only a single foe remained.

“No!” Drabby cried, her desperation escalating as she struggled to maintain her forcefield. “My beasts. My army! H-How could you—”

Reshka unleashed a burst of fire. It pushed the limits of the opposing witch’s shield, threatening to shatter it.

“No, stop it, you hideous freak!” Drabby seethed. “You can’t do this to me! I’m too powerful. The victory will be mine and My Lord’s!”

With eyes like ice, Zelda dismounted from Reina. She took a number of prominent steps forward before waving her glowing palm through the air. The effect was immediate. Between the combined efforts of the Queen and she-Bulblin, the forcefield shattered.

Drabby fell to the ground. “N-No!” she muttered. “St-Stop, before I strike you! Before I summon more Shadow Beasts!”

Neither of her opponents bothered to listen to her drivel. The fight was as good as won, and everyone knew it. With a swift spell, Reshka proceeded to put the final nail in the witch’s coffin. Strong vines slithered up from the earth, binding her arms, legs, and even her mouth. Reshka then whispered a few more words in her native tongue before finally allowing her arms to fall to her side.

Link glanced from witch to witch, a bit stunned by the sudden silence which had descended on them. “Um…what did she say?” he eventually asked.

“She claims to have sealed the witch’s magic for now,” King Bulblin answered as he approached on his massive boar. “The ringleader of Twilight devils will not be casting any more spells.”

Link couldn’t help but breathe a small sigh of relief. He then smiled as he sheathed his blade. He scanned the village one final time, acknowledging that no foe remained to threaten his home and the loved ones who lived there. By the time he finished, his eyes landed on Zelda.

“Is it over?” he asked, hoping for confirmation.

Like him, she smiled and sheathed her blade. “It’s over.”

The witch had been captured. The devils had been slain. The people of Ordon were safe once more. Any feelings of fear or urgency quickly gave way to an overwhelming sense of relief. Link soon crossed what little distance remained between them, and embraced the most lovely, kind, and selfless woman in the world.

Zelda hugged him back.

Notes:

I feel like this might be some of my best action writing. It just feels like I was able to keep it all concise yet impactful. I’ve come so far as a writer :)

Chapter 89: Yours

To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 89 – Yours

Zelda smiled, delighted at having a chance to reunite with the children of Ordon. As always, they were so excited to see her in return, and even more excited to sing her praises.

“That was so cool how you rode in, shooting arrows like, fwing, fwing!” Talo said, while creating a poor imitation of her archery.

“Oh please,” Beth insisted with a roll of her eyes. “Her Majesty was much more graceful than that, doofus.”

Colin merely smiled and nodded. “I didn’t get the chance to see every shot, but I was amazed at how many hit their mark.”

“Truly noteworthy marksmanship,” Malo agreed, albeit quietly.

Zelda laughed, amused by their compliments as always. “You are all very kind. It fills my heart with warmth to know that you find my skill with the bow so admirable.”

“Yeah, it’s awesome!” Talo said dumbly. “By the way, Queen Zelda, you should’ve seen us at the shooting range earlier! I was hitting all the targets like it was nothing. I might even be as good of a shot as you are!”

“Oh my, that’s quite the declaration,” Zelda replied with a smirk. She then shook her head a bit. “Although, now that you mention it, I feel that there is something I ought to address.”

“Huh?” mumbled Talo, looking eager. “What’s that?”

“Beth informed me that you’ve been making some rather unkind remarks,” the Queen said without missing a beat. “What is this I hear about kissing my behind?”

The look on Talo’s face was priceless. His cheeks burned the brightest shade of red that Zelda had ever witnessed, and she had seen some truly flushed faces in her time. The boy, nearly dying of embarrassment, turned to the local tattletale. “You told her?”

Beth smirked before laughing a bit. “Serves you right for making such ignorant comments.”

The boy sputtered, attempting to explain and diffuse the situation while the girls giggled. Meanwhile, Link observed them from afar. He smiled as a gentle breeze touched his skin. For some reason, witnessing this tranquility was enough to fill his heart with warmth. 

He soon turned, surveying the rest of the village. Fortunately, there was little damage to report. Some of the siding and fences had been torn apart, but those could be easily repaired. In the way of injuries, only those who had rushed into battle had suffered. Uli bandaged up a cut on Rusl’s arm, while the Bulblins did the same for their own kind. Those who were unharmed made themselves useful by wandering the village and collecting the scattered arrows and dropped weapons. Amidst the relief of post-battle, nobody seemed to mind the foreign creatures’ presence.

The last of the wounded was Mayor Bo, who sat on his porch while Ilia placed a salve on his forehead. He seemed to have suffered some sort of bruise in his scuffle with the Shadow Beasts, but it was nothing serious. It didn’t take long before Ilia rubbed her father's shoulder and dismissed herself. She approached the nearby creek to wash her hands clean, and once she finished, she found her place by Link’s side.

They stood in silence, an air of awkwardness hanging over them for only a moment before Ilia released a tired sigh. “What a day…”

Link smiled, feeling inclined to agree. “What a day.”

“I used to think that Ordon was the most peaceful dwelling in all the world,” Ilia lamented. “But I suppose nothing is ever guaranteed, is it?”

“I suppose not,” Link answered with a shrug. “How’s Bo?”

“Fine, for the most part. It’s almost funny. The injury inflicted by the wolves in the woods was far worse than the one he suffered from a devil as tall as he is.”

Link felt compelled to chuckle. Once the danger was behind them, it always seemed so trivial in retrospect. The threats were never as intimidating. The struggles were never as traumatizing. No, all that ever remained were the relief and the victories, and the deeds that had wrought them.

It seemed that Ilia agreed with his silent observation, for she came to the same conclusion. “Link, I really need to thank you. You truly came to my…no, our rescue today. And I honestly don’t know what we would have done without you.”

Link softly smiled and closed his eyes. “Please, it was no trouble. I told you once before that I protect all of Hyrule, didn’t I? And Ordon is a part of Hyrule… But it’s more than that too. It’s the home where I can find so many people who I know and love. And I’d rather suffer before I ever let this place suffer.”

“You’re so selfless,” Ilia whispered, almost to herself. Her fingers nervously curled into fists. “Link, I owe you an apology too…”

His eyes opened at this, and he blinked. “Hmm? For what?”

“For being so darn awful to you.”

“What?” Link asked, truly surprised. “Ilia, you weren't—”

“No, just listen, please,” she insisted as he fell silent. “I…made some truly rude and careless comments. Insulted your position. Questioned your worth and your loyalty. Blamed you for everything that went wrong between us. And even when you tried to comfort me, I was too proud to listen to your words. And that…that wasn’t right. None of it was. Gosh, I should’ve treated you better than I did.”

Link flashed her a sad smile. “You’re overexaggerating.”

“I’m not so sure. You and I were always so close. Such good friends. I think it really took a lot to drive us apart…and yet somehow, I managed it.”

“We,” he corrected her. “We managed it. I won’t let you take all the blame.”

Ilia offered up a pitiful smile. “That’s kind of you. You’re always so kind…”

“Well, it’s true, isn’t it?” Link asked. “I could’ve treated you better too.”

Ilia gave a small nod, seemingly lost in thought. “I should’ve appreciated you more. All of you. Not just the parts I wanted to see…” Ilia turned away, her eyes falling on the creek again. “Link, I never should’ve criticized you for being a Hero, and I’m deeply sorry about that.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Link assured her. He then dropped his own gaze to the water. “We’re allowed to want different things. And even after everything that’s happened here today, me being a Hero…it isn’t what you want…”

Ilia shook her head. “No,” she admitted.

She then surprised the Hero by stepping closer, eyes locked onto his own as she placed a hand over his heart. “But even if it’s not what I want, I can accept that it’s who you are.”

Her words flooded him with warmth, starting from her palm and extending all the way up to his smile. It was true. She finally understood, and he understood too. That he was, and always would be, someone who carried a righteous and courageous heart. And the simple acceptance of such a fact seemed to brighten his world considerably, dispersing any shadows and doubts until only clarity remained.

Ilia glanced up, appearing a little timid, but she dared to ask her question all the same. “Are we still friends?”

Link merely laughed before pulling her into a hug. “Of course we are, Ilia. You and I will always be friends.”

Always. They would always be friends. And for the first time in recent memory, the phrase didn’t fill Link with dread.

The two continued to hold each other until there was no regret left to linger. Fully content and at peace, Ilia turned away, casting her gaze across the village.

“You have my blessing, by the way,” she mused.

Link raised his brow, only to follow her gaze and allow his eyes to land on Zelda as she crossed the center of town. The Hero chuckled. “I didn’t realize I was asking for it.”

“I suppose you weren’t,” Ilia replied. “But if such a thing can help settle your heart and ease any lingering guilt, then I give it gladly and freely.”

“Gee, and you said that I was kind,” Link teased her.

Ilia reproached him with a playful smile and a shake of her head. They continued to watch Zelda as she made her way over to King Bulblin and began speaking with him.

“You truly belong with her,” Ilia whispered, this time with sincerity. “I…think she was always able to see something inside of you that I never could. And it’s good for you to be with someone who can see you for who you truly are.”

“Yeah,” Link agreed, his attention completely stolen by the heavenly visage before him. “I think you’re absolutely right… But, are you sure about this? I mean, you don’t mind?”

“Well, truth be told, I’m still coming to terms with it,” Ilia admitted with a slight shrug. “But I don’t suppose my opinion matters much here. Not as long as you’re happy.”

“Nonsense, I always love hearing your thoughts,” Link insisted with a pat on her shoulder. He then grinned a bit. “By the way, is this a bad time to ask how you feel about the Bulblins?”

Ilia’s expression soured for a moment, but she soon crossed her arms and looked away. “I’m…willing to give them a chance. But you’re out of your mind if you expect anything more.”

Link laughed for the final time. It felt so wonderful to have his friend back again. And this time, for good.

With their reconciliation complete, Link released Ilia so she could make sure that no one else in the village needed her medical assistance. The Hero then found himself drifting across town, gravitating towards the fondest person in his heart. The most beautiful woman in the world. And the love of his life.

As for Zelda herself, she was still in the middle of discussion with the Bulblins. She faced the King and Reshka, while Drabby remained unconscious and bound on the dirt beside them. Link listened in as he drew close.

“You have my sincerest gratitude,” Zelda said, offering her most graceful curtsy. “You have proven your loyalty to Hyrule by riding to our aid during a desperate hour. And this kindness shall not soon be forgotten. I swear, this favor will be repaid.”

Bulblin merely stared at her while Reshka remained motionless. You’d almost think that the Queen was speaking to the cliff face behind them. But their stoic behavior was of little surprise to anyone at this point. This was simply how they behaved, and it would be foolish to expect otherwise.

Zelda lightly smiled. “Perhaps we could honor you and your people by having a portrait painted of you? I can safely say that there are currently none of your kind pictured in our castle’s halls. I’m sure it would make a fine addition.”

Again, Bulblin remained silent—either mulling the choice over or having no opinion whatsoever. Regardless, Link felt the need to finally intervene.

“Just so you know, having your portrait painted means that you’ll have to stand in place for a long time.”

The King quickly scowled at this. “Ugh. I refuse.”

Zelda’s lip twitched in slight irritation, but Link merely laughed. “I’m sure we can find another way to honor them. One that suits the Bulblins’ preferences a bit more. Perhaps we could host a feast for you, right here in Ordon?”

“A feast?” Bulblin repeated, his stoic expression softening. “That…could be favorable.”

“We’ll see what we can do,” Link promised with a bright smile. “Right?”

Zelda produced a scowl of her own but soon nodded. “Of course. I’ll see to scheduling it at once. In the meantime…” Her eyes fell on the villainous witch, still dozing in her bindings. “We’ll need to escort Drabby back to the castle before the day is through. A trial will be held to ensure that she is properly convicted and punished for her sins. We’ll have to deal with Prince Vaen as well, and discuss what manner of reparations the Kingdom of Hytopia is willing to offer us. Once that is settled, then we can finally put this incident behind us.”

Upon listening to this long and bothersome explanation, Bulblin appeared lost. “I do not follow.”

“You don’t need to,” Link assured him, acting as the bridge between Zelda’s propriety and Bulblin’s cluelessness. “Just help us take the witch back to the castle and we can handle the rest.”

“Hmph,” the King grunted. “That, I can do.” He then turned to Reshka and muttered some words in his native tongue. The she-Bulblin nodded before using magic to lift Drabby into the air. The two of them moved her to the nearest boar, where the King strapped her to the saddle.

The Queen watched this before casting her eyes to her beloved.

“Sorry,” Link apologized with a smile. “Sometimes it helps if you have an interpreter, don’t you think?”

“I am not that articulate.” Her lips soon cracked into a smirk. “But thank you. I always appreciate your assistance.”

“Anytime, my love.”

My love. Those words were like magic to Zelda’s ears. As a warmth spread through her chest and up to her cheeks, Zelda found that she couldn’t stop smiling. She soon laughed before releasing a small sigh. Without warning, she fell to the grass, landing on her bottom with arms crossed over her legs.

“I’m exhausted,” she admitted.

Link also laughed, loudly and freely, before collapsing next to her. He sat close. Close enough for their shoulders to touch. “Me too.”

The two of them gazed out over the recovering settlement. They took a moment to enjoy the silence. The peace. Eventually, Zelda’s head naturally leaned to the side, falling to rest on Link’s firm shoulder. Link ended up leaning his head against her own.

“Zelda?”

“Yes, Link?”

“Thank you.”

The Queen blinked but smiled all the same. “Whatever for?”

“Everything.” Zelda began to giggle, but Link was quick to cut her off. “No, seriously, I mean it. You’ve done so much for me. Saved me. Comforted me. Brought me joy and relief and…peace. Just, peace.”

Zelda giggled some more as she nuzzled his shoulder. “You’ve given me that too, you know. That and so much more.” She paused, lifting her head from his shoulder and turning to him with soft eyes. “Link, I want you to know that I’ll always be here for you. No matter what.”

“I know you will,” Link answered with the utmost sincerity. “You’re the kindest and most loving woman I’ve ever met. And I promise to never take you for granted. I honestly owe you so much, for all you’ve done.”

“Oh please,” she insisted. “You don’t owe me a thing.”

“I disagree. I feel like I’ve racked up quite the debt with you. I’d feel guilty if I didn’t do something about it.”

Zelda watched him for a moment, but soon smirked and returned to gazing at the tranquil village in the forest. “Very well then. If that’s the case, how do you plan to repay me?”

Link sat still and silent, before eventually reaching over and gracing her chin with his touch. He turned her with gentle fingers until their eyes met, where he proceeded to lean in close and share the softest kiss he could offer. Zelda closed her eyes, relishing in the warmth of his affection.

When the answer finally left Link’s lips, it was so simple. And yet so heartfelt too. The world nearly stopped as the words graced her ears.

“I’ll give you everything I am. My heart is yours.”

Notes:

And with that, I have now concluded what is technically the final chapter of this story. Yes, it took us freaking forever to get here. But we did it. The main story has officially reached its end. Hooray!

That being said, the entire story is not quite done yet. For you see, I actually have a somewhat extensive epilogue planned! That’s right, we still have a little further to go. There will be 11 epilogue chapters in total, showing us some brief side stories now that Link and Zelda have officially begun to settle down. I promise to do my best to wrap everything up in the most satisfying way possible!

I’ve made it this far. What’s a little farther, right? Haha, ha…ha… (collapses from exhaustion).