#⌜corferox –––– do not go far from me⌝

[luxdea]

( tradition! | @corferox​ )

HAPPY NEW YEAR !! he's just gonna fuckin' dip kiss her.

     KISSING AT THE turn of the year was a tradition that far outlasted her memory. she could remember the grand celebrations in castle town, with couples kissing each other the moment midnight struck. she had never participated in such a way, but she could remember being lifted into her father’s arms as he & her mother pressed a simultaneous kiss to each of her cheeks, their gazes fond even as they announced that it was time for little princesses to be off to bed mere moments after. though the tradition ended with her mother’s passing, zelda knew it would be a memory that she would treasure, & it had come to the forefront of her mind several times during the celebration.

     HATENO��S FESTIVAL FOR the turn of the year was quite small in comparison to their other ceremonies, but she found she preferred their quieter method of commemoration. the food was still delicious, & the music lovely, but it felt closer to a gathering than any sort of grand party.

     ZELDA HAD ASSUMED that she would be able to take a moment to people watch during the midnight hour, as she had done in years past, & she had prepared for it. but, she had overlooked the recent change in one of her own relationships–––– or, perhaps, simply overlooked the tradition–––– & perhaps that was why the evening’s outcome turned out to be such a surprise to her.

     SHE HADN’T EVEN looked to ensure it was link who stood so close as midnight approached. she hadn’t needed to. she knew his presence just like he knew hers & she was relaxed in his company.

     SO RELAXED, IN fact, that it was startlingly easy for him to catch her off guard.

     AS MIDNIGHT STRUCK, the cheer that everyone let out didn’t have to opportunity to leave her as she was suddenly swept up in link’s arms. he dipped her, keeping them separated for just long enough that she could see the smile on his face ( smug, silly, & just the slightest bit cocky, all rolled into one ) before he leaned forward to capture her lips in a kiss. it could have been a moment or it could have been a century, she would have believed either as she was righted onto her feet their kiss finally ( & yet somehow still too soon ) ending.

     THERE WAS NO hiding the smile on her face or the blush on her cheeks, though the expression was masked slightly by confusion as she watched link rush to take off his cloak & wrap it around her shoulders–––– pulling up the hood as quickly as he could seem to manage. it took her several moments to realize that the flickering light reflecting around them hadn’t been the lanterns set up for the night’s events at all. it had been her ––––  & the cloak had been link’s attempt to snuff her out like a candle. he was already laughing by the time it had all occurred to her, & she couldn’t help but join him even as she rose up on her toes to pull him towards her for another kiss.

     ❝ happy new year! ❞

[luxdea]

     THERE WAS A heavy, nervous feeling stirring in her stomach as she watched link finish the preparation for their journey. she had agreed to a trip back to the castle. she knew it was best they go sooner rather than later.. she had helped plan for it, written & re––––written lists of supplies they would need for both the journey there & the potentially still hazardous trek through her former home. she wanted to go. & yet, there she stood, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth & wringing her hands as the preparations finished. she did her best to let her expression settle into neutrality at link’s statement. the last thing she wanted to do was worry him.

     ❝ why wouldn’t we go? ❞

HER HAND REACHED up to absently pet storm's mane, though she didn't even turn her head to look at the stallion. she hoped it would be enough to calm him.

     ❝ now that ganon is gone, it's only a matter of time before others become brave enough to venture towards the castle. there are things that i would prefer not fall into the hands of others. ❞

❝ THIS ... SHOULD BE ... THE LAST OF IT, ❞ link announces through a grunt of effort, hoisting the last of his and zelda's travel supplies onto epona's back. as he fastens the bag securely into place, his gaze shifts towards his travel companion and the anxious energy he's pretended not to notice since the two of them began planning this trip. it permeates off her now in a constant wash, more noxious than the fumes of a hinox. he frowns. ❝ we don't have to go, you know. ❞ / @luxdea

[unblot]

@corferox​ :    📝 from mawweus mayhaps ?

87 FARORE, 100 AC

The hero of Hyrule has proved worthy of his title. Admittedly when it comes to Hylia’s chosen ones, I do not have high expectations. But at the very least the child has failed to disappoint me further. This may very well change in the future, but he has so far proved capable. Perhaps i would go as far as to say Hyrule is in good hands with him as their hero. Though they would be in safer hands with one less foolhardy & witless. But i doubt such a fated hero would come to pass. That would imply the goddess is did more than blindly pick her choice of heroes. What success Link has had i will not attribute to her. She was merely lucky this time.

While I recuperated following my defeat, the child had prepared some sort of dish. I had not anticipated Link would share his meal with me, but perhaps I had looked particularly pitiable in his eyes after being so thoroughly defeated. Truth be told I found myself to be quite pitiable in those hours. Even now that my body has recovered, I fear my pride never will. But I suppose my hubris is a suitable sacrifice for the sake of Hyrule. 

For a fated hero, this Link is a rather particular character. I would daresay he’s even amusing. I might be so inclined to keep him. It’s been a long time since a Hylian piqued my interest as he does.

journal entries  //  accepting

[luxdea]

(   𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒  𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄  𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄  𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒  | @corferox​​​ )

❛  are you trying to trick me ?  ❜

     THE GASP SHE let out was clearly for little other than dramatics, & her free hand reached up to press against her chest in mock offense. even with her theatrics, she kept her guard up–––– knowing that if she didn’t, there was a nonzero chance that he would use the moment to gain the upper hand.

      ❝ me? attempt to trick you? never. ❞

     AS SOON AS the words left her lips, she was smiling again, spinning the traveler’s sword around in her hand. she had been improving a lot since link had begun teaching her how to use the sword. she was confident that, should the need arise, she could face down any bokoblin or moblin without fear, even a lizalfos’ speed didn’t scare her the way it once did. it felt different to be confident with her abilities. a different she liked. a different that she had only managed with link’s help, & she would be grateful for it for the rest of their days.

     BUT HER TEACHER was her toughest opponent. not only did he have legendary skill, but he had more cunning & wit than any enemy she might ever face. he knew how to use the environment to his advantage & knew how to take even a moment of her distraction & use it to gain the upper hand. zelda was confident that she could do the same, but she’d never gotten the chance. as soon as there was a weapon in his hand, link’s focused matched that of a guardian with an enemy in sight. waiting for him to look away or drop his guard was a futile effort.

     SO ZELDA HAD attempted to get him to do it herself. 

     CONVERSATION WHILE THEY sparred wasn’t unusual, but this time she chose their topics very carefully. as they shuffled around the yard of their home, she mentioned the current goings on of hateno, hoping that a new piece of gossip might catch his attention, or he might turn his head to try to catch the subject of their conversation in his sights. she must have been acting in some pattern she couldn’t see, because he quickly became suspicious & she was content to feign playful innocence. 

     ❝ & to trick the hero of hyrule––––.  ❞

    SHE TESTED HIS focus with a lunge, but it was quickly deflected & she moved to maintain her distance, even as she began to laugh.

    ❝ is such a thing even possible? surely he’s far too bright–––– too strong–––– too valiant for such tactics. ❞

     & IF SHE lost the spar because she was far too endeared by the blush forming at the tip of his ears, she felt no regret.

[luxdea]

(   𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒  𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄  𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄  𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒  | @corferox​​ )

❛  why didn’t you wait for me ?  ❜

     HER EYES WERE still fluttering open at the sound of link’s voice, & despite her attempt to stifle a yawn, it slipped out anyways. the sheikah slate was sitting in her lap, still open to the camera, & she brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up properly to face him.

     ❝ my apologies. i didn’t mean to stay out for so long. i woke up early  & you were sleeping so soundly, i didn’t want to wake you. ❞

     IT WAS A partial truth. she had woken up early–––– startled out of her sleep by a nightmare of her time with the calamity so frightening that it was a wonder she hadn’t screamed upon her waking. luckily, most of the others in the stable had still been asleep, & those who were awake were too focused on their own affairs to notice her deep, shaking breathing & trembling form. she could have just waited for him to wake up, but she didn’t want him seeing her that way, so she grabbed something warm for the morning chill, clipped the slate to her belt & decided to take a walk.

     THE PLACE WHERE she had settled hadn’t been far, but she had probably been difficult to spot within the trees of the forest just across the path from the stable.

     ❝ i thought it would be a good time to add a few things to the compendium. we were missing a few different mushrooms, & i managed to get some of the animals in the forest as well! ❞

     SHE HAD EVEN managed to stay quiet enough to finally get a deer registered. though it had noticed her shortly after, she considered the mission a success.

     ❝ i was only going to sit for a moment before i came back! but, i suppose i was still a bit tired. ❞

     WHICH EXPLAINED THE state he found her in–––– having just woken up, roused by the sound of his approaching footsteps. she was still blinking sleep from her eyes, & most of her weight was still pressed against the tree she had fallen asleep against. it was clear, if given the chance, she could easily go right back to sleep.

     ❝ i’m sorry. i didn’t mean to worry you. ❞

     PERHAPS IT WAS a bit presumptive of her to think that he had been concerned, but in her still tired state, it didn’t concern her.

[luxdea]

( 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 | @corferox​​ )

‘  can  you  stop  interrupting  me?  ’

    ❝ i’m trying to ensure that you don’t do anything stupid! ❞

    THIS WAS IT. any semblance of her composure had finally snapped. link had seemed to excel in every part of his journey so far–––– traveling, fighting, cooking especially ( & quite frankly, she had expected nothing less ). the shrines, however, seemed to give him a difficult time. he struggled with them more than anything else. she had just been offering her assistance, & he’d begun ignoring her quieter hints, so she had begun to speak up. his insistence upon arguing with her was frustrating beyond belief, & she was finally allowing her irritation to show.

     IT WASN’T JUST about the shrines, & she knew it. he had been so adamant that there was nothing she could do to help him. despite her polite & cheery demeanor, he treated her with indifference. at best. despite it not being that long since he’d awoken from the shrine, his ability in combat had already surpassed hers, & the sheikah slate was a much better navigation tool than anything she could suggest. this was the one thing she could help with. the one place where she was useful. she was offering good advice & yet his response was to ignore her until he couldn’t anymore, just to turn around & get angry?

     THE ABSOLUTE NERVE of him!

     ❝ if you would just listen to me, you’d be finished a lot sooner! you could finish the puzzle, get your orb & we could move on! ❞

     NOT THAT SHE wanted to leave so quickly. the shrines were fascinating, from the layout to the puzzles to the monks & spirit orbs. she could have stayed in each one for hours, chronicling their differences & the various solutions to the problems they laid out before them. but, that wasn’t what she was there for. not entirely anyways.

    ❝ i don’t understand why you’re so incredibly insistent upon arguing with me when i am simply trying to help you! ❞

[luxdea]

( 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 ♡ | @corferox​ )

[grabbing wrist, pulling person behind them, sensing danger]

     HAVING THE SHEIKAH slate back in her hand felt like something out of a dream. if it hadn’t been so long since she’d left the castle, she might have thought that this was another one of ganon’s tricks to get her to let down her guard. but, she’d spent so much time out & about in hyrule again that there was no denying the truth–––– this was real. she was traveling with link once again, & he finally trusted her enough to handle the ancient technology he‘d been carrying with him since his awakening.

     THERE WAS NO acting in the way she had started swiping through the screens, testing out functions that certainly hadn’t been there a century ago. she was every bit the curious researcher that she had claimed herself to be. zelda had spent the first few days experimenting with the new runes, splitting her down time between practical tests & note taking on her discoveries. since then, most of her focus had been on the map under the guise of navigation. in truth, her eyes were scanning the screen for differences in the map from a century prior. though she couldn’t remember every detail of the old map, the lack of larger settlements, particular closer to the castle–––– the area that had once been the most populated–––– was clear. & a particular type of landmark appeared much more commonly than she had ever remembered seeing before–––– ruins.

     THE REALIZATION PUT a lump in her throat & made her eyes sting, but she refused to let the tears fall, not when link was so close beside her that their arms brushed with every other step. how would she even begin to explain the spontaneous tears? she wouldn’t have been able to say it was because of the ruins, not when he was under the impression that she was used to areas of destruction from a century ago.

     A HUM RUMBLED in the back of her throat, & she decided to take a break from the map & see what was missing from their compendium when she felt link suddenly tense beside her. he moved before she could question his sudden change in composure. his hand wrapped around her wrist, & he pulled her behind him in one swift movement. she clipped the slate to her hip, her hand resting on his shoulder.

     ❝ link? ❞

     SHE KEPT HER voice to a whisper, staying close.

     ❝ what is it? what’s wrong? ❞

     HIS SILENCE, WHICH had become unusual, spoke volumes. his eyes were darting around to give him as much of a view of the area that he could take in–––– searching for something.

     THOUGH ZELDA SAW nothing in their path, she didn’t doubt him for a second, & she reached for her bow, ready to pull it from her back in an instant. for a moment, the only sound was the wind whistling by their ears. & then smoke filled their vision, laughter drowning out the sound of the wind, & it was only by link’s quick thinking in nudging her to the side that ensured she wasn’t caught off guard by the vicious sickle that suddenly cut a path towards them. she pulled the bow from her back, grabbing an arrow as she saw link do the same with his sword. a nod from the both of them, & she was drawing her bow as he rushed in.

     THIS WOULD BE a quick fight, of that she had no doubt.

[luxdea]

(  𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 ♡ | @corferox​​ )

“If you go, I go too.”

     SHE’D PRACTICED HER speech for days. with the way she spent time writing & revising, one would have thought that she was working on an official royal proclamation. her first draft had come out nearly as stern & commanding & it was swiftly vetoed in favor of a version with more emotion–––– which was replaced with a version with a bit less emotion, as she didn’t want link feeling swayed by something so troublesome as her feelings. 

     IN THE END, the moment was nearly as grand as she had imagined as she wrote. instead of early in the morning, it happened during one of his evening visits. though she had imagined something of a prim & proper audience, the truth had her sitting sat in bed after another day of recovery with her hair slightly still disheveled from sleep as he stood at the foot of the bed, clearly having just returned from a day among the village & it’s people. &, though she was grateful she’d had the forethought to memorize most of her speech, she wished she’d been more oblivious–––– if only because it was more difficult to hide her own thoughts on the subject while looking him in the eye.

     ❝ ––––your presence is always welcome.  ❞

      & IT WAS most certainly wanted.

     ❝ but you have done more than enough in your service to hyrule & –––– & to me. ❞

     THE VERY LAST thing she wanted was for link to leave, but to request that he remain with her after all he had already done for the kingdom–––– for her–––– was selfish. if he wanted to forget his duty to hyrule, vanish into obscurity & live a life he never would have had the chance to a century ago, he would absolutely deserve to. if it was what he wished for, then he could go with her blessing. 

     ❝ should you wish it, you may leave my service & your knighthood & live a life free of the duties that were assigned to you by the crown. ❞

     IT FELT ODD to say. with the king gone for a century & herself hardly still a princess, it was very possible he already felt free. but, she still wanted him to know that would support such a decision. that, if he was worried about her reaction, he needn’t be. silence settled over them like a heavy blanket, & it took all zelda’s strength not to wring the blanket in her hands.

     ❝ okay. ❞

     HIS ANSWER GAVE her nothing of substance. okay he would be leaving? okay he understood? okay he would be thinking about it? zelda found herself leaning forward, struggling to gather her thoughts. when she was finally able to speak, all she could do was repeat his single word answer.

     ❝ okay? ❞

     EVEN WITH THE confusion in her voice, all he did was nod & repeat himself.

     ❝ okay. ❞

     DESPITE THE FACT that she was still puzzled, she couldn’t help but feel hopeful. he still stood before her, relaxed & steady, as if nothing she said had changed anything in his mind despite the fact it felt as though her world had just shifted. after another moment, she cleared her throat, intent on searching for her answer in another way.

     ❝ i’ve been thinking...i’ve regained most of my strength, & i’ve been beginning to feel a bit restless. kakariko & impa’s home are lovely, but i would like to see...more. ❞

     ZELDA FELT A bit like she was asking some kind of permission. but, in truth, it was a sort of an invitation. should he decline, she knew it was time for them to go their separate ways &, though they would always be bound by more than just duty, she would accept whatever path he wished to take. she was prepared for that decision. she knew he deserved to make it.

     ❝ if you go, i do too. ❞

      & YET, IT was not what he chose. she hoped that the room was dark enough that he couldn’t see the flush on her face. she could feel the sudden warmth spreading across her cheeks, & she fought to keep her smile modest, though she wanted nothing more but to beam.

     ❝ well, i suppose we should begin to make arrangements four our departure tomorrow. ❞

     IT WAS FAR too late for them to make any preparations–––– especially knowing they would have to discuss it all with impa, who had already retired to bed. but, there was one thing that they could decide.

     ❝ now then, ❞

     HER GRIN COULD no longer be hidden. her smile grew, & she found herself leaning even further towards link. her excitement was palpable. life after the calamity–––– a real life, more than just recovery–––– was something she had only dreamed of until now.

     ❝ where should we go? ❞

[luxdea]

     SHE TRIED TO keep her head held high as she approached, but she still wore an expression that was far too similar to a scolded child. she refused to be caught pouting, & yet her nose wrinkled & there was clear pink in her cheeks as she made her way through kakariko in search of link.

     ❝ impa has...banned me from restoration work for the rest of the day. ❞

     TO IMPA’S CREDIT, zelda didn’t particularly disagree with her decision. she knew she had been working hard–––– with support from the leaders of the other races finally achieved there was so much to do. if she was not reading correspondence then she was writing some, if she was not studying potential construction plans then she was coming up with ones of her own, if she was not discussing ruins then she was visiting them herself. everyone everywhere wanted to be the first candidate for restoration, &, while they were still far off from anything too major, she had to consider them all.

     KAKARIKO’S MATRIARCH HAD finally seemed to have enough of her working. apparently the last straw was going to bed after impa & rising long before her. she had been reprimanded as if she were a child, & a day with absent of work was her punishment. 

     ❝ in her words, she had relinquished me into your care, & she has given you the ask of ensuring that i take a proper break. ❞

     ON ONE HAND, it was a bit frustrating to feel as though she was being treated like a child instead of one of hyrule’s leaders. but, on the other, she knew impa was concerned for her, & this was just her way of showing that she cared. 

     &, OF COURSE, she would never say no to getting to spend more time with link.

     ❝ so, it would seem that i am at your disposal, hero. ❞

                                                                                        ( starter call! | @corferox​ )

[luxdea]

( breath of the wild sentence starters | @corferox​ )

❝  you certainly are cute when you’re blushing.  ❞  

     HIS COMMENT ONLY served to worsen the red in her face. though she tried to look as though the comment didn’t affect her, the change was obvious in her cheeks as she pouted. the urge to cross her arms almost overtook her, but she was determined not to look more petulant than she already did.

     ❝ i am not cute. & i am not blushing! ❞

      & YET, SHE knew that he meant it. he was never one for wasting words –––– even less so, it seemed, when the words had a high possibility of getting a reaction out of her. she had known him long enough to know that him saying so meant that he thought it was true, & that realization did nothing to help her will away the already prominent flush on her face.

    ❝ &, if i was, it would be because you––––! ❞

     SHE PAUSED LONG enough to reach forward & prod him right in his shoulder. his over––––dramatic stumble was almost enough to break through her playful frustration. for a moment, she couldn’t help but smile, & the rest of her sentence came out on the end of a laugh.

     ❝ are an incorrigible flirt. ❞

     HER SMILE FINALLY won over, & she found herself leaning on her sword. she would not lament a delay on their training, especially if it meant she had a bti more time to turn things around & gain the upper hand in what had originally seemed to be a losing battle of a conversation.

    ❝ perhaps i should tell impa of your true nature. surely she deserves to know just what sort of man she’s promised her army to. perhaps she ought to be concerned for some of her soldiers! ❞

     ANY OF THE remaining blush on her face would surely work in her favor as she asked her final question. zelda’s head tilted as she regarded him. her smile was steady & her eyes bright–––– though, admittedly, also curious. her question may have been intended to tease, but there was a part of her that wanted to know ( &, perhaps, hoped the answer was in her favor ).

     ❝ or is that a side of you reserved for only me? ❞

     checkmate.

[luxdea]

(  breath of the wild sentence starters | @corferox​​​ )

❝  i’m sorry you had to see me like that.  ❞

     ❝ it’s alright. ❞

     THIS WAS NOT the ideal way to speak about the ordeal they had been through. she couldn’t look him in the eye without distracting from her current focus, & that most certainly would not do. she kept her touch as gentle as possible as she applied the salve to the cut on his cheek. the one on his arm had already been treated, as has the one on his shoulder–––– she was almost finished with the one on his cheek, & she would take her time with the one on his forehead.

   ❝ if you think you scared me, you are certainly mistaken. i don’t know what would have happened had you not leapt into action. ❞

     IT HAD NOT been the first time they had run into yiga. they had seemed to appear in every region that they traveled since they had first appeared when they were leaving kakariko. until now, they had been more than a pest than any sort of threat–––– particularly when it came to herself, who was very clearly not their target. she never minded, because it meant that she could attack with her bow without distraction ( not that link had ever truly needed her help with them ) & whatever assassin was sent out to harm them was dispatched quickly.

     BUT THIS TIME had been... different. for starters, they had come in a group of four: an archer, a blade master & two foot soldiers ( at most zelda had seen two a blade master & an archer, & that was still quite rare ). & secondly, they had turned their sights on her.

     ZELDA WAS ASHAMED to say that they had scared her, reminding her far too much of the situation she had been in a century prior, & she had hesitated because of it. by the time she had snapped herself out of it, the foot soldiers were too close for arrows, the blade master had engaged in battle with link & the fact that the archer was out of sight was making her panic more than she wanted to admit. between her inexperience with the sword & the way they had caught her off guard, it took them no time at all to knock the weapon from her hand.

     THE SIGHT OF their sickles swiping at her would be ingrained in her memory for a long time. But, she held her own, making use of the slate as a weapon & dodging what she could. & then, the archer had reappeared. their arrow met it’s mark.

      SHE REMEMBERED THE pain, she remembered falling to the ground & crying out–––– & she remembered link.

     THE WAY HE ended the fight with the blade master without so much as a blink. the way he rushed over, moving faster than she’d ever seen him ( except, maybe, once before, but she wasn’t supposed to know about this & didn’t know if he even remembered ). the way he’d rushed in to turn the foot soldiers’ attention to him instead of her, standing in front of her in a similar way he’d had once before, but not before she caught sight of his face.

     A CENTURY AGO he’d handled the situation with the mask of the hero. the same careful neutrality that he handled almost everything. this time, he’d looked angry. focused & yet furious. she’d missed most of his fight, as while he took on the foot soldiers, she grabbed her bow, despite the pain in her arm, & kept the archer off of him until her own arrow struck true & they made the decision to vanish in a puff of smoke. but, when he’d turned to her, she could clearly see that he hadn’t made it out of the fight unscathed either.

     HER OWN WOUND had been taken care of first, at his insistence, but it was his turn now.

     ZELDA ROSE UP on her knees. one hand brushed his bangs from his face, while the other applied the salve. both touches were as gentle as she could make them. her own expression was focused, her eyes on the wound.

     ❝ had you not done what you had, i’m certain that i would not be here with you right now. ❞

     PERHAPS IT WOULD have been him placing her in the shrine of resurrection. though her own thoughts intended for it to be something of a joke, the image made her shudder. she ignored link’s questioning gaze, because azalea certainly wouldn’t know enough about the shrine to say anything about it, & so she pretended she hadn’t noticed–––– that her only focus was treating his wounds.

      ❝ i have no healing abilities from the champions, & we have no more healing elixirs. just a brave, reckless, wonderful hero as a travel companion. ❞

     THE OINTMENT HAD been applied, but she didn’t move. her hands pushed his hair back just a little further, & she pressed a kiss to his head, just to the side of his injury. her focused expression was gone, & a smile had spread across her face. she settled back, letting his hair fall back where it wanted.

      ❝ thank you, link. ❞

[luxdea]

( 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 | @corferox​ )

‘  is  that  mine?  ’

     HER FIRST INSTINCT was to hide it. she wanted to pull it close & tuck it away. it was far from perfect–––– it wasn’t even finished–––– & the thought of eyes on it when it was any less than perfect made her want to turn around & rush back into the lab without explaining what was in her arms. but she knew he needed to see it. she held out her hands, displaying her latest project for him to see.

     THE ARM WAS little more than formed pieces of sheikah tech. wires were still exposed, & there was a notably missing power source, but there was no doubt what it was supposed to be.

     ❝ i’ve been working on this since we returned. ❞

     THOUGH THE IDEA had been hers, in truth, it was more her & purah’s project. but she had started it in a fury of energy & emotion when they had first come out of the castle catacombs. while link rested, she had pushed aside anything else that she had been working on to put together the prosthetic. parts that she had been saving for a few of her other ideas had been repurposed for what was undoubtedly her most important design.

     SHE HAD STAYED awake for days attempting to put the pieces together like a puzzle–––– attaching & unattaching scrap metals & wiring until her hands shook & her vision was blurry & purah had finally had enough & sent her to bed. from then on they fell into something of a routine. 

     ZELDA & PURAH worked, link trained, & symin made sure they all remembered that they were only human.

     IT HADN’T BEEN the plan to keep the prosthetic as secret as possible, but zelda had resolved not to work on it in link’s presence. she didn’t want him to think she was looking at the incident–––– at him–––– as a problem in need of fixing. but, she could do nothing to help him adjust to his new situation ( she had even hoped to use her power to heal him, but it hadn’t worked ). it was this or nothing, & she had never been good at sitting around & doing nothing.

    ❝ i was afraid to show it to you. i don’t exactly have a proper plan. i don’t know if it will work. & i was afraid of giving you hope just for it to end in failure. ❞

     BUT, THEN SHE had seen him train with a similar focused drive as she’d had when she’d begun to work on it. she couldn’t do anything to help him learn to use a sword with his left hand. she couldn’t do anything to bring back his right. but she could show him what she was doing. she could remind him that he wasn’t alone.

     ❝ but, purah’s been helping me. & i’m confident that we can at least provide you with something to help make the adjustment easier when it’s finished. ❞

     HER SUDDEN REALIZATION that it may not be what he wanted was very clear in the way her face suddenly shifted to a wide eyed almost panicked expression.

     ❝ only if you want it, of course! ❞

     FORCING HIM TO use it was certainly not what she had in mind, but neither was letting him work through this on his own.

      ❝ i just... want to make sure you know that i’m here for you. ❞

      IN A MOVEMENT that was more instinct than thought, she placed the prosthetic aside, reaching out to take his hand in both of her own. though her eyes stayed trained on his, she lifted his hand to press a kiss to his knuckles, giving what she hoped was a reassuring squeeze before she spoke again.

      ❝ you’re not alone. ❞

[luxdea]

( * don’t starters | @corferox​ )

‘ don’t listen to them. ’

     ❝ i’m not. ❞

     SHE DEFINITELY WAS. it certainly showed in the way she pushed her food around her plate instead of eating it. part of the problem with staying at a stable was close proximity to the other travelers. though they kept their distance, she could still hear the voice of the one who told her off. he’d had a right to be upset. it was true, she shouldn’t have been walking with her head in her research notes–––– their collision could have been avoided had she been paying more attention–––– but the tirade he had unleashed was rude & entirely uncalled for.

     THE EMBARRASSMENT SHE felt from tearing up at the things he said still hadn’t subsided & there was still a lingering shame burning somewhere within her ( & she tried to ignore the way that it reminded her of the days when her father had been critical of her decisions ). 

     ❝ okay, i am. maybe just a little. ❞

     MORE THAN THAT, though, she was thinking about what had happened afterwards. link, stepping in between them defending her from the harshness of his words before leading her away. she’d seen many heroic moments of his during their journey, but she knew that this one would linger in her mind for quite some time yet.

     ❝ but, i’m also thinking about you. i don’t think i ever thanked you...for what you said. ❞

     THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAD improved, but she had never expected him to stand up for her like that. it had set something in her further at ease, a reminder that their relationship had truly mended from their early disagreements.

    ❝ so, thank you for standing up for me. i appreciate it more than i can say. ❞

    I APPRECIATE YOU went unspoken, but she hoped he knew it from the way she smiled.

[luxdea]

( 「   RP MEME :       CARING FOR SICK MUSES .   」+ 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 ♡  | @corferox )

bedside.​ actually make that bedside + [holds the other’s hand when they think the other won’t notice] 🤭

     ZELDA HAD COME up with many theories regarding recovering after her century in stasis. after spending so long in kakariko hardly able to keep her eyes open, it had been something of a necessity so she would know what to expect in the coming weeks–––– although she hypothesized that some side effects would take months, & a few even years to subside. still, for all her notes & theories, she didn’t think her immune system would be much affected. after all an illness was an illness.

     OR SO SHE thought.

     ONE EVENING, EARLY in the winter after the defeat of calamity ganon, zelda had been forced to linger outside of purah’s lab for just a bit too long as the scientist had recited some very important instructions about a book she was borrowing. though zelda had promised to bring in back in perfect condition, it seemed that every time she reassured her, purah had a new rule for her. when she was finally able to leave, the cold had begun to worm it’s way through her tunic, & she hadn’t had the foresight to bring a hat or proper gloves with her in the warmth of the afternoon. still, even in her rush home, she though the worst that would ail her would be a minor cold. 

     WELL, EVERY SCIENTIST was incorrect at some point or another. & this was her moment. she hadn’t even made it through the night before she awoke with coughs that rattled her chest & a chill to her body but a heat to her face that made it flush. when she was finally able to call for link, her voice sounded more like the croak of a hot footed frog than her usual tone.

     AFTER A BRIEF overview of her symptoms & an absolutely vile elixir to assist her in easing back to sleep, it quickly became clear that her illness was much more similar to ones she used to get after her long hours in a freezing spring than something she would have expected from a few extra minutes standing outside.

     LUCKILY, HER FAMILIARITY with the illness reassured her that she would be just fine with some rest & assistance with a few herbs that were already stored in the slate. 

     THOUGH SHE WAS concerned about link catching her illness, he was rarely far from her, & their routine of doing separate things in each other’s company was the most enjoyable part of the entire ordeal. & it was also one of those very moments where link caught her off guard.      AFTER SEVERAL DAYS of little else other than rest ( & several bowls of link’s warm, wonderful, hearty soup ), she finally felt well enough to begin to peruse the book that purah had lent her. she had begun flipping through the book with her left hand & taking notes with her right, but that had proved a bit too taxing at that point in her recovery, & decided to devote her focus to the book alone. link had pulled the desk chair close enough to the bed that she could reach him if she’d wanted & was perusing through the slate, flipping through the screens at his leisure.

     THE HOUSE WAS quiet & the entirety of her focus was on the book, so she nearly jumped when she felt link’s hand slip into hers. she glanced at him from her peripheral vision, only for a moment, but his own eyes were still on the slate. she couldn’t tell if he was making a point not to look at her or if he simply just didn’t feel the need. her own gaze quickly turned back to her book, & she laced their fingers together at the same time she turned the page, as if she didn’t realize she was doing it.

     HE DIDN’T NEED to know just how purposeful the act was.

[luxdea]

( 𝐚𝐬𝐤  𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐞 :    𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒐𝒖𝒔  𝒒𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 | @corferox​ )

‘  i’ll  find  you  again ,  wherever  we  end  up  next .  ’ :)

     THE SUDDEN ARRIVAL of her power had dismantled the many guardians around them, leaving them powerless, motionless & silent. still, zelda’s ears rang, almost drowning out the beating of her heart & link’s own labored breathing. she had rushed her question, worried that she didn’t have much time, & he had agreed without many details. reincarnation was a tricky thing but she knew–––– she knew–––– that it wouldn’t fail them, & they would meet again to stop ganon themselves after she locked him away herself. his confidence in her decision had almost been enough to warm her from the chill that came with the realization of what that meant for them both.

     THEY COULD DO nothing but wait. the injuries he had sustained thus far were grave, & all they could do was wait. she held him close & let him lean against her shoulder, brushing aside his hair to press kisses to his head. she whispered reassurances against his skin. some part of her was always touching him, ensuring that he knew he wasn’t alone, even when his eyes were closed. the thought of what she knew she had to do next, her own looming fate, was secondary compared to this moment.

     THERE THEY STAYED until link’s head suddenly turned, his eyes on her. they roamed her face as if committing it to memory before his lips trembled, forming words that were soft & breathless, & yet, in that instant, it was all that she could hear.

      ❝ i’ll find you again, wherever we end up next. ❞

      INITIALLY, SHE HAD vowed to keep strong. at least, until she knew he wouldn’t be able to see her. but, she couldn’t help the way her voice broke & the tears began, even as she smiled. her thumb brushed gently over his cheek.

     ❝ i know you will. ❞

     SHE PRESSED ANOTHER kiss to his head, & it was her turn to let her gaze travel across his face. she didn’t know how much she would remember, or what she would know the next time they met. but she would keep his face in her memory for as long as she could–––– she swore it.

    ❝ we’ll see each other again. ❞

[luxdea]

( 𝐚𝐬𝐤  𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐞 :    𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒐𝒖𝒔  𝒒𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 | @corferox​ )

‘  you  already  are  something .  you  always  were .  and  you  still  have  time  to  be .  ’ next time you say? :)

    ❝ then why does he so easily make me feel like i’m nothing? ❞

     HER VOICE BROKE at the end of her query, & she knew that he knew she was crying even though she refused to face him. she was meant to be the strong, unshakeable knight, & while link had certainly seen her in a variety of states ( & this was certainly far from the first time he had sought her out after she had been berated by her father ), she hadn’t wanted him to see her like this. she hadn’t wanted anyone to see her like this, but something about this particular scolding had cut her to the quick–––– had hurt her at her very core–––– & it had taken all of her strength to wait until her father had turned his back to let the tears run.

     BY THE TIME link arrived, there was truly nothing more that she could do to hide her tears than to keep her back to him. her arms wrapped around herself, her head bowed, & she was grateful that he kept his distance.

     ❝ why is it so easy for so many to treat me that way? ❞

     HER FATHER WAS not the only culprit, just the most frequent. the king was high on that list, as well. though his grievances clearly lay with the sword, she was the catalyst for him to unleash his frustration. whenever she stood before him, she felt less than nothing. there were soldiers who would forever look down upon her, denizens of the kingdom who could speak the harshest words when they thought she wasn’t listening–––– &, if she was being honest, she had not been the kindest to herself, either. there were days where link was the only positive voice.

     BUT, EVEN THAT wasn’t enough.

    ❝ why is it that even standing beside you–––– ? ❞

     FOR THE FIRST time since his arrival, she turned to face him, finally allowing him to bear witness to her red eyes & puffy cheeks, to the tears leaving trails down her face. but, her breath hitched & her voice stopped as she realized just what she was about to say.

     HOW COULD SHE tell him that being with him could make her feel like nothing? that watching him earn praise after praise as she suffered beside him could make her feel so far beneath him that she wondered if she deserved a place by his side. she couldn’t. not without making it sound like it was his fault–––– & it wasn’t.

     HE WAS DOING his part. he believed in the prophecy. he was working hard, not only to push himself to unlock his power, but to do so without his intentions being noticed by his father. he was working hard & deserved praise for his efforts.

     HOWEVER, KNOWING THAT didn’t change the way that it made her feel.

     ❝ nevermind. ❞

     THE SOFTNESS OF her voice surprised even herself, & she managed to turn away again before another sob slipped from her lips. her grip on her arms grew tighter & her eyes squeezed shut.

      ❝ i’m sorry. ❞