#I'll also be posting something special in celebration of finally completing Courage after so many years in a few days yay

[haste-waste]

Preview: Courage, Ch. 8

Here's an extremely short preview of the final chapter of Courage. I hope to have the full chapter available on AO3 tomorrow or, worst-case scenario, the day after. Life's been busy, and chapter 8 was very hard to write for multiple reasons. Thanks for your patience, and enjoy!

"You look awful," Impa said bluntly. "Didn't sleep?"

"Somewhat," Zelda replied. 

"Tea," Paya offered at her remark. "You need it."

Impa appraised her as she took a grateful sip. “What happened?”

…How did she always know when something significant occurred?

“I had a terrible nightmare last night, enough for Link to wake,” Zelda said morosely.

She felt two sets of eyes on her. She stared at her cup, losing her appetite, and set it down on the table.

"In my distress, I…" she gulped. "I embraced him without consent," she admitted guiltily. “I still feel awful about my lack of composure and restraint, even though he didn’t comment on it.”

Paya and Impa didn't seem to care. "And?"

The night before came to mind in a flash of emotions. Her absolute terror. His gentleness. His unwavering strength. His heartbeat. His head, resting beside her own as she wept herself dry. 

Him, sighing and holding her closer.

<<He…was a comfort,>> she said silently, and felt herself flush.

Paya raised her eyebrows at that. Impa seemed relieved, much to Zelda’s confusion.

<<He was so gentle with me,>> she said in pure disbelief.

Paya muttered something about gentle and sparring under her breath as Zelda continued aloud: "I had a silly nightmare. He stayed without even asking what was wrong."