#Noble canteen

[kurolini909]

* Recall Naboris' Champion of Sand,

Before she was lost to the land...

Urbosa terrifies me. I love her.

<- Previous: Champion Revali.

-> Next: Champion Mipha.

[daeyumi]

Noble Pursuit 🌅✨

[noirandchocolate]

Related to my silliness in the tags of this post today in which I said Kohga “did drag as Urbosa” during AoC timeline, I wanted to share a small headcanon that “my” Kohga does have a couple of go-to female disguises he uses sometimes to get around in Gerudo territory.

Most of the time when the Clan wants or needs intel (or to steal stuff) straight from Gerudo Town, they send in women to get it. But occasionally (while he was Heir and now as Master), Kohga’s wanted to get in there or into other Gerudo settlements* himself. Maybe to knock back some noble pursuits, maybe for the thrill and amusement of getting oh so close to Urbosa (or before that, ‘bosa’s mother) without her being the wiser…. And y’know maybe for work purposes. Or all those things at once.

The disguises are achieved mostly through magic like any other Yiga disguise but part through the more practical effects of adding padding to the chest in case anybody bumps into it and actually learning to move and speak in non-Kohga ways. Koh’s also an excellent vocal mimic (he got Urbosa just right after all) and does have different voices associated with these Looks. PS he knows how to actually do makeup too, and how to make his disguise look fashionable clothing-wise.

Anyway one of Koh’s ladysonas is a Gerudo named Onah, which he thinks is funny (it sounds like “onna” which just means “woman” in old Yiga/Sheikah dialect**). She’s tall and full-figured and has the usual red hair in a high but short ponytail. Kohga knows that the best way to walk in spiky gold heels in the desert sands is to float slightly via magic and pretend, haha. Onah is pretty much meant to blend into the crowd among Gerudo but her backstory is that she was born in a remote desert village, lost her Hylian husband young and will never love again, and is just in town (whichever town) to pick up supplies and learn of current events. This is a Business disguise, although sometimes Onah might sit down for a bite to eat or a cocktail.

Kohga’s other persona, that he uses more sparingly but has more fun with in Gerudo Town, is a Hylian named Kohkoh. She has black coily hair (just like his own) that he’ll style in various cute ways, brown skin, big brown eyes, lovely pouty lips, same body type as him but with a breast augmentation, yep. She’s a stunner.

Kohkoh was created when Kohga was much younger and his rowdy friend group all wanted to try getting into Town. Some Gerudo girls around the same age befriended this funny, boisterous Hylian vai who was really bad at the game of chance going on at the canteen right up until she surprisingly won big, and Kohkoh’s been going back occasionally (like, with plausible frequency for a non-Gerudo) to hang out ever since. Kohga’s aged her like a Hylian would age, over that time, so at 50+ she’s now got some gray streaks and lines on her face, but she’s still down to party and trade gossip and give advice to the younger vai.

A running theme was “her” search for her “fated voe,” which the Gerudo ladies she met always encouraged her on while many of them eventually found husbands, took on jobs, and started families. Poor Kohkoh, every time she came back to Town, she had another sob story about some voe (or sometimes vai) who broke her heart. Aaaaand also she’s always here to go “oh I can’t believe I won again!” and hear about the town’s latest woes and Urbosa’s goals and plans etc etc and if some jewelry or other goods go missing from some shop or another around the same time noooobody would ever suspect big adorable bouncy Kohkoh who calls everyone sweetheart and has known you since you were all in your 20s…

Kohga doesn’t think of himself as anything but a man, but he is pretty dang good at acting. The fact that even though the new post-Calamity political situation has thrown the Gerudo and Yiga openly together for various projects, nobody suspects Kohkoh of being anyone other than who she says she is, is a strong testament to that.

PS Kohkoh did recently get to announce she found her voe. And there was much toasting. <3

*In line with my general headcanon that the Wilds era map is “bigger and fuller in ‘real life,’” the Gerudo have other towns, villages, and outposts across the desert. Two of the other larger towns are presided over by Urbosa’s younger sisters. Riju is descended from the middle sis, Suburi, who in BotW timeline took over leadership of the Gerudo after Urbosa’s death. I’m getting off track oh my god!!

**Japanese. It’s just Japanese. The Yiga are Japanese-culture-influenced and particularly kabuki theater-influenced and onnagata are male actors who play female roles. That’s it that’s the joke.

[smileythirteen]

thinking about link post-calamity finding comfort in hanging out in gerudo town in his disguise because nobody knows who he is there. instead of being Link, the Hero of Hyrule, he’s just Link, the quirky little hylian vai who runs around buying all the fruit and arrows and keeps trying to convince furosa to finally let her order a noble pursuit from the canteen. but he also surprisingly finds comfort in wearing his lil outfit for other reasons…

[wouldyoustilllovemeifiwasawyrm]

Character Development Questions

Sometimes filling out character questions can be exhausting. You mean I have to come up with answers to all of these myself? What if I'm mentally exhausted? Say no more, friend. Behold: multiple choice questions. Originally made for my Dungeons and Dragons players, but feel free to use in any fantasy-adjacent context.

The tavern keeper asks if you can fetch a pail of water for him from the well. What do you do? 

Help them

Ask what’s in it for you

Tell him that you don’t do servant’s work

Pretend you don’t know what a bucket is

Your party asks you to stay on watch, but you’re exhausted and really want to sleep. What do you do? 

Tough it out and stay awake

Ask someone to trade watches with you

Take a little nap

A traveler starts speaking to you in a language you don’t know. How do you react? 

Ask them to repeat themselves

Awkwardly gesture to communicate

Stare at them in confusion

Walk away

Be honest. Do you think you’re cool?

Obviously

I have my moments

Cool is overrated

Absolutely not

You hear a shout in the woods. Sounds like someone is in trouble! What do you do? 

Rush into action to save them

Scout out the area

That’s unfortunate but not my problem 

You took a quest posting from the job board to clear out some rats from the farmer’s warehouse. When you get there, you find that these are giant rats! How do you react? 

Fight them with all my strength

Use a trap to avoid the fight

Lure them away from the warehouse

Leave because the quest is harder than you thought 

Ah great. That amateur alchemy kit you bought didn’t say that the difference between a health potion and a stink bomb is half a teaspoon of eye of newt. Now the whole room stinks! What do you do? 

Open a window

Discretely leave and pretend it wasn’t you

Throw the whole kit away

Blame it on your party

Your friend hands you something that you’d accidentally forgotten. How do you react? 

Thank them for bringing it to you

Make a joke about your forgetfulness

Act like you left it on purpose. 

Uh-oh, someone dropped their coin purse in the market. It’s got the seal of a house you don’t recognize on the side of it. What do you do? 

Take it to the guards

Try to find the owner

Have a little peek inside

Slip it into your traveling bags

Do you like pranks? 

Yes

No

Only if I’m doing the pranking.

Your friend is being clearly cheated by a merchant. What do you do? 

Let the merchant cheat them

Quietly tell your friend to walk away

Declare the merchant a thief 

Magical darkness falls over you. How do you react? 

Use magic to dispel it

Cry

Wander around to find the edge of it

Who cares about darkness? 

You receive a gift! What do you do with it? 

Open it right away

Set it aside for when you get home

Ask what it is

Tell the other person to open it first 

You just found a treasure chest! What do you do with the spoils? 

Spend it immediately

Save it

It could be a trap

It will probably be empty. 

Your party is set to appear in front of a noble to give a quest report, but one of your friends is late! How do you stall? 

Tell jokes

Start talking about the quest without them

Flatter the noble

Tell an unrelated story

When was the last time you sincerely thanked someone? 

Just this morning

Probably days ago

It’s been a while

I genuinely can’t recall 

Your party has been walking all day and you finally find a clearing with a cool, crystal clear pond. What do you do first? 

Put up a tent

Fill my canteen

Splash in the water

Check for traps

Do you often feel lonely when you’re alone? 

No way, solitude is awesome

Sometimes

Doesn’t everybody?

If I’m left alone for a minute I will start crying

That person across the tavern is really cute, but you don’t know who they are. What do you do? 

Boldly approach and introduce yourself

Slyly ask around for their name

Buy them a drink

Ignore them 

The town is having a festival! Where do you go first? 

To the merchants

To the dance floor

To the food stalls

I don’t do crowds 

You’re talking to some acquaintances when you realize you accidentally told a secret you weren’t supposed to share. What do you do? 

Tell them not to repeat it to anyone

Threaten them to keep the secret

Bribe them to keep the secret

Dead men tell no tales

A soothsayer reads your fortune. What are you hoping is in store for you? 

Fame

Wealth

Peace

A really delicious snack 

Rumor has it that some famous treasure hunters buried their biggest haul right outside town, but it’s guarded by a riddle-telling dragon. What do you do? 

March straight in and answer the riddles

Fight the dragon

Bring someone more clever than you

Shrug and cut your losses 

You’re joking around with a friend and they suddenly look really upset by what you said. How do you handle it?

Apologize immediately 

Say it was just a joke 

Deflect and change the subject 

Tell them to stop being so sensitive 

Your party put you in charge of buying rations for the journey ahead. What do you buy? 

Only the essentials 

A couple little snacks thrown in never hurt anybody 

Whatever you like, regardless of what the party likes 

Mostly sweets

[smashy-headcanons]

I thought it was just the Chateau Romani that was alcoholic

You can buy regular Lon Lon Milk (which Young Link has in Ultimate) in Minish Cap and I'm pretty sure MC Link is even younger

Also BOTW Link could always buy Fresh Milk but couldn't buy from the Gerudo mixologist until his age up in TOTK

I didn't know what The Noble Canteen said, I basically went there for the side quest in BotW and nothing else, so that's good to know.

Makes Young Link's taunt less concerning, but that still leaves Toon Link. Maybe the milk bar on Mercay Island specialized specifically in Chauteau Romani or some similar fermented milk and didn't sell regular milk? Either that or the World of the Ocean King has stricter laws about milk.

[silvereyedowl]

What We Know About Series 14

Doctor Who series 14 is coming up next year. This is a roundup of advance information and leaks about the season and the preceding Christmas special. Sources are at the very bottom below the cut.

CAST

Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor. Unlike his predecessors, this Doctor changes his outfit a lot.

Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday. Like her actress, Ruby is a native of Manchester.

Returning characters:

Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, head of UNIT.

Bonnie Langford as former companion Mel Bush.

Villains:

Jinkx Monsoon as a villain favouring piano-themed attire, described as "the Doctor's most powerful enemy yet". Not everyone survives the encounter...

Indira Varma as the Duchess. RTD: "a whole new audience will be hiding behind the settee when the Duchess unleashes her terror." Varma previously played Suzie Costello on 2 episodes of Torchwood.

Other characters:

Aneurin Barnard as Roger ap Gwilliam.

Jonathan Groff as a "mysterious key" character.

Lenny Rush as Morris, in time for the Doctor's "greatest nightmare". RTD: "But what secrets does he hold? What's secreted in the Segway?! And will his terrifying probabilities be proved true..?"

Jack Forsyth-Noble as Will.

Gemma Arrowsmith and Mary Malone will appear in the Christmas special, while Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy and Billy Brayshaw will appear in separate episodes.

Also announced to be appearing: Sophie Ablett, Anita Dobson, Michelle Greenidge, Bhav Joshi, Millie Kent, Eilidh Loan, Pete MacHale, Miles Yekinni, Hemi Yeroham. Dobson previously appeared in the audio play "Blood of the Daleks".

EPISODES

There will be a Christmas special in December 2023, followed by an eight-episode season. (The BBC posted that the season would air in spring, but then removed the information.) Russell T Davies is the showrunner.

A guest star from 2005 returned for the special.

Episode 1's title was coincidentally spoken aloud in a third-season episode of Star Trek: Picard. It includes the words roar, Glastonbury, and conquistador.

Episode 2 contains the words Liverpool, legions, and non-diegetic. Scene 10 begins "INT. CANTEEN. DAY."

RTD thinks episode 4 is one of the best things he's ever written. The line "I once went to the top of the Shard" was cut from it.

The script for episode 7 begins with the line "INT. COFFEE BAR, USA — DAY, 1947".

Episode 8 will contain the words kingdom, gold, and Tigella. Scene 73, featuring the Doctor and Ruby in the TARDIS while "enemies are being fought", was the last scene filmed for the season.

There's a 1960s episode, featuring the Doctor and Ruby in snazzy period outfits.

The episode guest-starring both Varma and Groff will be set in the Regency era. "Dress to impress, and beware the Duchess."

CREATOR RAMBLINGS

According to RTD, we will be "staggered" by the 2023 festive season surprises.

There are monsters which are "impossible to describe" without referencing Fourth and Seventh Doctor adventures.

RTD promises that there are "plans still unfurling" which have yet to be made public.

Production designer Philip Sims said he was excited about "designing a new Dalek".

Davies has hinted that the blue doors Michelle Greenidge and Anita Dobson were photographed with are significant.

Script editor Scott Handcock mentioned filming which required nine babies, as well as Ncuti and Millie.

Monsoon's first day on set "teams her with an unexpected name from the Tom Baker era".

Anita Dobson has said she's playing Ruby's neighbour, whose name is either Mrs. Flood or Blood.

RTD used a potato emoji while commenting on publicity photos from the Regency episode (Sontarans?). Davies was also very coy about the identity of Groff's character.

RTD mentioned one episode having gone through three titles with no decision having yet been made. Another episode had "sixpence" in the title for a while, until the coin was cut.

RTD teased a famous guest star appearing in a scene with a giant statue head in the finale.

While writing about the final days of filming, RTD said that "Yasmin Finney wrapped a few days ago".

OTHER

Filming began on December 7, 2022 and wrapped on July 14, 2023.

Block One was directed by Dylan Holmes Williams. Block Two was directed by Mark Tonderai. It included the Christmas special. Block Three was directed by Julie Anne Robinson. It contains "two wildly different episodes, by two different writers". Block Four was directed by Ben Chessell. Block Five was directed by Jamie Donoghue.

Posters of the Doctor and Ruby.

Fifteen will be getting a brand-new sonic screwdriver.

previous

Leaks and sources below the cut!

LEAKS

Michelle Greenidge appears to be playing Ruby Sunday's mother. Since Greenidge and Millie Gibson are different ethnicities, she is presumably an adoptive, foster, or step mother.

Campaign posters for the "Albion Party", with Roger ap Gwilliam as the "Space Saviour", were spotted on location filming.

Jinkx Monsoon is in the '60s episode.

Millie Kent is playing Valerie, and Sophie Ablett is Marti Bridges.

Mel Bush will be appearing in the season finale.

Reports from finale location filming, albeit second-hand, of someone on set saying, "This is where the Daleks come in".

According to his CV, Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy will be playing Carson in an episode directed by Julie Anne Robinson.

Davina McCall may be the returning 2005 guest star. She will apparently host a genealogy show on which Ruby appears, and will be crushed by a falling Christmas tree.

RUMOURS

UNIT may be getting its own spinoff. (SOURCE)

The DWM production journal has led some fans to theorize Steven Moffat will be returning as a writer.

SOURCES

Doctor Who filming begins with new director

Doctor Who filming in Penarth as Doctor and companion costumes revealed

Doctor Who filming at Capitol Shopping Center in Cardiff

Doctor Who filming with new monster at Swansea Bay Campus

Doctor Who filming in Newport with UNIT, Space Saviour and companion

Doctor Who filming in Swansea: new monster details

Doctor Who filming with Aneurin Barnard at Cardiff City Stadium

Doctor Who filming with Millie Gibson on a moving train from Cardiff

Doctor Who filming at Loudoun Square flats

Doctor Who Filming in Bristol With Millie Gibson, Michelle Greenidge and Anita Dobson

Doctor Who filming in Pembrokeshire with Millie Gibson

Doctor Who filming: new photos of Millie Gibson in Pembrokeshire

Photos snapped of Millie Gibson filming Doctor Who

Doctor Who filming: Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson in Pembrokeshire

Doctor Who filming in Bristol with Millie Gibson and Anita Dobson

Russell T Davies talks “exciting” Doctor Who scenes as programme films in Bristol

Doctor Who filming with Ncuti Gatwa at two venues in Cardiff

Doctor Who filming: Block Three begins

Doctor Who filming: clue found for secret location filming

Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson film 1960s Doctor Who scenes

Doctor Who films in Bristol with Ncuti Gatwa and Jinkx Monsoon

Doctor Who filming in Cardiff with Beatles connection

New Doctor Who photos of Jonathan Groff alongside Nucti Gatwa and Millie Gibson

Doctor Who filming at Margam Park

Doctor Who films more scenes with a Beatles connection

Doctor Who films in Cardiff theatre

Doctor Who films in Cardiff with Ncuti Gatwa and Bonnie Langford

Michelle Greenidge films Doctor Who in Cardiff

Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson and Bonnie Langford film Doctor Who in Cardiff

Millie Gibson and Ncuti Gatwa film Doctor Who at Cardiff City Hall

Doctor Who films scooter stunt on Cardiff streets

Bonnie Langford and Ncuti Gatwa film Doctor Who scenes on a scooter

Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson film Doctor Who in Barry

[marimbles]

A gift for @gathos! This is my first Zelda fic so I hope it's OK 👉👈 Thanks for the inspo<3 I had fun writing this!

Word count: 2.9k

Summary: Riju and Zelda drink Noble Pursuits and talk about a certain noble someone.

A Noble Pursuit

The desert shimmers in the setting sun.

It’s a beauty she can never quite get used to, despite countless hours spent on the back of Vah Naboris with Urbosa, watching the sand shift like water far below them. The desert’s gold seems boundless, stretched out like an open palm to call to the horizon. She used to dream of answering that call—of sailing on the sand-sea to the edge of the world, to discover just what secrets lay beyond it. (Link says he’s been there, and there isn’t much to tell. But still, she wants to see it for herself.)

“Zelda!” Riju joins her at the window, taking her elbow. “Come. Sit. Our drinks have arrived.”

She steers Zelda to the cushioned seats at the end of her bed, where a giant plush sand seal takes up most of the space.

“We have a guest, Nabooru,” Riju informs the seal. “I’m afraid you’ll have to surrender your seat.” She tosses it unceremoniously onto the bed.

“Er, sorry, Nabooru,” Zelda says.

“Oh, she’s honored to make room for the princess of Hyrule.” Riju gently pushes Zelda onto the cushions and presses a cold glass into her hands. “Try it. It’s a crowd favorite. We’ve just got ice again, and the whole town is vying for a taste before we run out.”

Zelda raises the glass to her lips. The drink is fresh and fruity—sweet, but well balanced. “Mmm. What’s it called?”

“The Noble Pursuit. Palm fruit, hydromelon, voltfruit, and a touch of something apparently even the chief of the Gerudo isn’t allowed to know, unless she takes a part-time job at the canteen.” Riju grins. “Refreshing, right?”

“Absolutely.” Zelda takes another sip.

“Oh, don’t be so princess-y about it. There’s plenty. Go on, drink up.” Riju drains her own glass and reaches for the pitcher on the table.

“Do you think we could deliver one outside the gate to Link?” Zelda asks. “I hate to think of him pacing around the city walls in this heat.”

Riju waves a dismissive hand as she tops off both their glasses. “I convinced him to rest at Kara Kara. I’m sure he can find his own refreshment there.” She sets the pitcher down again. “Don’t worry. He’ll be back to collect you in the morning. But until then, it’s just us.”

Riju raises her glass, eyes bright, and Zelda taps her own against it with a giggle and a clink.

“Ah.” Riju sighs, settling back on her cushion. “Speaking of noble pursuits, I think it’s time for you to spill about yours.”

“Oh, you mean the schoolhouse?” Zelda sits up, eager. “It’s coming along splendidly! Bolson says it should be ready by the end of the month. All the children are so excited. And I think I might be able to persuade Link to help me teach there sometimes. He knows every corner of Hyrule, after all. And while he’s rather modest about it, he is a key point of our history.”

“Undoubtedly,” Riju says. “And that sounds wonderful. But it’s also not what I meant.”

“Oh, then are you talking about the Sheikah technology project? We have almost all of it dismantled and repurposed. Link has been working at it tirelessly. He has just a few more shrines to deactivate, over in Faron.”

“Oh?” Riju fishes a piece of fruit from her glass and pops it into her mouth.

“Yes. We’re going there next week so he can take care of it while I do some research on some local fauna that may have an interesting connection to luminous stones. Anyway, I know it might seem like a waste—the Sheikah tech, I mean, not the luminous stones—although, they do, potentially … well, they produce the waste, supposedly—quite a remarkable kind of waste, in fact. But—but as for the Sheikah parts, we’re trying to be as resourceful as possible. Reuse what we can and safely dispose of what we can’t. We just can’t risk another Calamity, you see. There’s no telling when Ganon might return, and the abundance of ancient machinery leaves us vulnerable. It just seemed like it was tempting fate again. Don’t you think?”

“I think that sounds both wise and noble.” Riju tips her head back to finish off her second glass. “Although I don’t know if I can say the same of luminous droppings.”

“It’s—the droppings aren’t luminous,” Zelda replies with a blush. “Just the stones that produce them. The droppings are gem deposits. At least, that’s what I’ve been told.”

“Interesting. Are you planning on making any jewelry with them, then? We have a fine jeweler here in Gerudo Town.”

Zelda blinks. “Well, no. I wasn’t planning on taking the research materials. And to be honest, I’m not very interested in jewelry.”

“But isn’t it Hylian custom to offer your betrothed a piece of jewelry?” Riju asks, filling her glass yet again. “A ring, I thought.”

“Well … yes, that is the custom,” Zelda says hesitantly. “But I don’t see quite see how that relates to what you’re asking.”

“No?” Riju peers at Zelda over the top of her glass, a smile half hidden behind it. “You don’t see any connection?”

The room suddenly feels rather stuffy, despite Zelda’s heat-resistant outfit and the fact that it is nearly nightfall. The breeze drifting through the windows is pleasantly cool, but not enough to soothe her burning cheeks. She buries her face in her glass and doesn’t resurface until the drink is gone.

“Another?” Riju offers politely.

She really shouldn’t have more. She rarely drinks, on principle—partly because she prefers to be in full possession of her faculties, and partly because she is an embarrassing lightweight.

But Riju has already filled her glass again, and the Noble Pursuit is delicious. So she gulps the whole thing down, trying not to worry about how it will affect her half an hour from now.

“Ha! Now we’re getting somewhere.” Riju seems far too delighted—suspiciously delighted, honestly—and she is quick to pour yet another drink.

“I’m glad you are properly enjoying the tastes of our fine town,” Riju declares. “Although, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were avoiding my question.”

That sly smile is driving Zelda mad. She sucks in a breath, fighting back another blush. “I can’t avoid the question if I don’t know what it is, can I?”

“Oh, come on,” Riju teases. “The princess of Hyrule is famously wise. Legendary in her wisdom, one could say. Surely she can figure out this simple riddle.”

“I’m not in the mood for riddles,” she replies, a bit sourly.

But Riju just laughs. “You, objecting to a riddle? There’s one I’ve never heard before. I’ve never known another person to be so fond of puzzles. Except maybe … Link.”

She’s got Zelda now, and she knows it. Riju’s smile grows practically devilish while Zelda takes another humiliating drink, her cheeks no doubt rivaling than the sinking sun outside the window.

“Let’s seeeee …” Riju props her elbow on the sofa, threading her fingers through the fresh crop of her scarlet hair. “A noble pursuit, hmm? What could that refer to? Is there anything in Hyrule that we might consider noble? Or perhaps … anyone?”

Zelda pointedly looks away from Riju’s grin. “There—there are many noble citizens of Hyrule. Of every race, in every region.”

“To be sure,” Riju agreed. “But wouldn’t you say there is someone who is the most noble? Someone with a very noble heart, and a noble mind, and noble sword upon his noble, and strong, and sculpted back?”

Zelda chokes on a bit of hydromelon, falling into a coughing fit. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh yes, you do. You were ogling him in that voe outfit all afternoon when we went sand surfing.”

“I was not ogling!” Zelda insists. “I was just admiring his form! He’s a very skilled surfer.”

“You were admiring his physical form,” Riju says. “Personally, I don’t see what’s so impressive. For how strong he is, you’d think he’d have more muscle. And height. Goddesses, he’s short.”

“He’s—he’s not that short. You’re just used to all these great, big Gerudo women. We can’t all be nine feet tall.”

“Please. Even for a Hylian, he’s tiny.”

Zelda sits back with a huff. “Did you really invite me here just to make fun of my knight?”

“Oh, calm down. You know I think very highly of Link. I meant it when I said that he was noble.” Riju pauses. “I admit I haven’t had the chance to meet many voe, but I’m positive that he’s the most noble one there is.”

The spirits are already making Zelda feel slightly fuzzy at the edges. “You … you think he’s that noble? The most … worthy voe?”

“I do.”

“So then …” Her head is swimming, and something twists deep in her stomach. “Does that mean you want him as your husband? To rule by your side?”

Riju breaks into a laugh. “Truly, all your royal wisdom is no match for Gerudo liquor, is it?”

“Huh?”

“Zelda, I’m not the one in love with Link. You are.”

Something jolts through her, and Zelda thinks, suddenly, of Urbosa, summoning lightning with just a snap of her fingers. She’s frozen in place, heart pounding in her chest, and the breath feels trapped in her lungs.

“Aren’t you?” Riju asks, softly this time.

Zelda’s eyes fall closed, and in the black he’s there, like always. On the backs of her eyelids, in the cage of her ribs, in the very map of her flowing veins. In every heartbeat, every breath, every silent thought—it’s him, him, him.

For a moment, there’s silence. The last rays of the dying sun slip out the open window. Then Riju sets her glass down with a sigh. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t pry. You don’t have to talk about this.”

“No, I want to,” Zelda whispers. “Because you’re right. I do love him. I …” She swallows. “I have loved him for a hundred years.”

She looks up, and every trace of mirth is gone from Riju’s face. She’s solemn. Gentle. Waiting. Zelda lets her eyes fall to the floor.

“While he slept,” she says quietly, “it was the memory of his face that gave me the strength to keep on fighting. Time passed so strangely in that place … sometimes, it felt like only minutes ago that I had held him in my arms and watched him die. But at the same time, I felt the ache of every hour we were apart. I was determined to be by his side again. And I believed, more than anything, that he would come for me. He always did. He always would.”

There’s a smile in Riju’s voice. “You have so much faith in him.”

“It’s easy to have faith in Link. He has never let me down.” She bows her head, staring into the contents of her half-empty cup. “Though I have failed him every moment since.”

“What do you mean?”

Zelda releases a breath, deep and slow. “I made a promise, before I sealed myself away. I promised that when I saw Link again, I would tell him.”

“Tell him what?”

She traces a finger around the rim of the glass. “That I love him.”

“Why don’t you?”

Zelda smiles weakly. “Courage is Link’s virtue, not mine.”

“But what exactly are you afraid of?” Riju leans forward, gaze earnest. “Do you really think he doesn’t love you back?”

Zelda’s cheeks warm. “Link is … reserved. Of course, he speaks more freely now than he did before he lost his memories, but even still, he doesn’t easily express the way he feels.”

“He does to you,” Riju points out.

“Some feelings, yes.” Her blush deepens. “But not … other feelings.”

Riju rolls her eyes. “He doesn’t have to say it. Anyone with eyes can tell.”

“He’s just—he’s noble, like you said. His heart is good, and his loyalty runs deep. But to an outside eye, the line between duty and affection may seem blurred.”

“Are you kidding me?” Riju shakes her head. “He would follow you to the ends of the earth. He is always at your side. In fact, it’s so impossible to separate you that I had to lure you out here to the desert, to the single place in Hyrule where he can’t follow, just to have a private conversation.”

Zelda sighs impatiently. “He follows me because he is my knight. A duty which I have attempted, more than once, to relieve him of—but he refuses every time.”

“Because he loves you!”

Zelda hesitates. “If he loves me, why hasn’t he said it?”

“Why haven’t you?”

She buries her face in her hands. The effects of the alcohol are beginning to come back again, pressure mounting at her temples. (The familiar ache in her chest, she’s sure, has an entirely separate origin.)

“Zelda,” Riju says gently. “You said yourself that Link has never let you down. Why would you lose your faith in him now?”

“This—this is different.” She roughly wipes away a tear. “This isn’t something I can—can ask of him. I can’t expect him to love me. Because—because it’s not a duty to fulfill. Or a service to be rendered. It’s not a feat of heroism. Or an act of courage.”

Riju is quiet for a moment, considering. “Isn’t it, though?”

“What?”

“It is an act of courage, isn’t it? To love someone? And tell them so?” Riju tilts her head. “Maybe this time, you need to be the brave one.”

Zelda’s voice breaks around a sob. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Listen.” Riju straightens in her seat. “Link follows you. Always. But he can only follow where you lead. I think the reason he hasn’t said it is that he’s waiting for you.”

Zelda lets out a sad, desperate sort of laugh. “He can lead the way this once, can’t he?”

“Well, he’s never been a voe of many words.” Riju shrugs. “I think he’s already said it in every way he can. Apart from, well, saying it.”

Zelda bites her lip. “Are you sure?”

Riju snorts. “I’m sure. Honestly, we should bring you both into a ‘Voe and You’ class. So all the vai can see how a voe’s face looks when he’s in love.”

Zelda looks down at her lap, tugging at the end of her long hair. A bubble of warmth swells inside her chest, and she can’t fight back a smile.

“Trust me,” Riju says firmly. “When he comes tomorrow, watch his face. It’ll be there, as soon as he sees you.”

Zelda lifts her head. “And then?”

“And then you’ll know. And you can tell him.”

“What if …” Zelda takes a shaking breath. “What if I’m still not ready?”

A smile tugs at Riju’s lips. “Then I guess a noble pursuit that has waited for a hundred years can wait a little longer.”

————

The desert shimmers in the morning sun.

Link waits by the entrance to Gerudo Town in his blue tunic, quiet and gentle and patient—a golden boy more gilded by the dawn.

(It’s a beauty she can never quite get used to, no matter how many times she sees him.)

His face is smooth and calm, like usual. But when he spots them, it breaks into a smile—something rare and radiant, like a desert bloom, or a diamond geode, or a shining, pearl-sheen shell.

“Sav’otta!” Riju greets him. “How was the trip from the bazaar?”

“Fine,” he says. “It’s still early. Not too hot.”

His gaze shifts to Zelda, and his eyes are bright and soft—smooth-edged sea glass catching sunlight in its hands.

“Right,” Riju says. “Well, thanks for letting me steal Zelda for the night. It was nice to catch up. Good luck with the school and the shrines and the poop.”

Link’s eyebrows rise. “The poop?”

“Never mind about that!” Zelda says quickly, neck burning under her collar. “Um, thank you, Riju. You’re always a lovely host.”

“Any time.” Riju slips a bottle into Zelda’s hand with a wink. “For the road. Safe travels to you both!”

They wave goodbye, and then together, Zelda and Link turn to face the golden stretch of desert sea.

(If he would follow her to the ends of the earth, where else would he follow?)

She swallows, squinting against the glint of the shining sand. Her heart feels caught in her throat.

“Did you sleep well?” she ventures.

Link shrugs.

“No?”

He wets his lips, gaze darting downward for a moment before meeting hers again. “I just rest better when I know you’re near.”

She searches his face. It’s earnest and open—strong beneath its softness, soft beneath its strength. He looks sun-gold and moon-silver and every beautiful thing in between. (And with the way his features soften when they’re turned toward her, she must look much the same.)

How a voe’s face looks when he’s in love.

“Me too,” she says.

He nods toward the bottle in her hand. “What’s that?”

“Oh.” She lifts it to read the label. “It’s the drink Riju and I had last night. I think you’d like it.”

“What’s in it?”

“Fruit. And other things we’re probably better off not knowing.”

A laugh slips free from his lips, and her heart soars. She has loved him for a hundred years, and she would love him for a hundred more. As long as she has heartbeats left, he will live between each one.

“Um …” Zelda keeps her eyes on the bottle, tracing the label with a finger. “I know it’s too early now, but maybe later …” She takes a steadying breath and looks up with a smile. “Link, would you share a Noble Pursuit with me?”

He smiles back, sun-golden. “I’d love to.”

[askthegerudochampion]

Oof, sounds like you're not much of an art person. Do you have any creative hobbies outside of combat?

I can enjoy admiring a good piece of art. However, my skills in that area are severely lacking and my attempts to improve have been frustrating.

But I do enjoy other hobbies, yes, particularly writing and mixology. More than once I've worked behind the counter at the Noble Canteen, much to many people's amusement.

[somesuperhero-forrest]

Simon looked around The Noble Canteen, his whip dripping Bokoblin blood onto the floor.

"Which one of you is the Hero of Hyrule?"

Everyone froze but remained silent. The boy with pink hair held a pot above his head and threw it at Simon, but Simon was quicker. He pulled out his whip and with a crack in the air, the pot smashed and dropped tiny crystal diamonds on the floor. The pink-haired boy ran around to pocket them. He ran out of the canteen, and Simon stood there in confusion. The woman behind the counter spoke.

"That was him."

Simon raised an eyebrow and pointed out the door. "Him? Of all, that pink- boy?"

The woman behind the counter nodded. "Absolutely. Everyone knows him. He is quite the legend."

"Is he sane?"

"He is no Zelda. He does not talk if that is what you mean. Too many secrets, too much trauma."

Simon holstered his whip and followed. The pink-haired boy, Link, was standing outside, staring at a piece of stone that glowed blue.

His head jerked up to Simon, as he clipped it to his belt that held up his pants and tightened his green tunic.

Simon tried to speak calmly. "I am Simon Belmont, and I need your help."

Link adjusted his green cap with a golden band on the edge and nodded just once.

"You are going to trust me? Just like that?"

Link nodded a simple jerk once more and pulled out his sword. It was a sleek steal with a blue handle. A yellow triangle shape above the hilt. He raised it skyward, and if asked Simon could have sworn Link glowed yellow. "HIYAHH."

Simon put his hand to his eyes and sighed. It was going to be a long journey back to Wallachia.

[askganon]

Have you ever tried a Noble Pursuit from the canteen on Gerudo?

Often. The Noble Pursuit has been a staple refreshment of the Gerudo for a millenia.

[princess-of-the-corner]

Eh maybe Hylians just handle alcohol better than humans? They are human equivalents, not exact matches.

Although now I'm curious what's the general alcohol tolerance between the races? Gorons are likely the best at handling it while Rito are probably the worst. Then again each race likely has different alcohols that effect others heavily. Imagine a Goron getting wasted after 1 bottle of Rito mead or something like that.

What I meant re: the milk bar thing was that in most games the bars serve milk instead of alcohol because Zelda is a kids game.

While Majora's Mask kinda was the first to really imply an inebreating effect instead of 'ah yes everyone goes out and drinks milk', BOTW is the first one that really implies alcohol via Gerudo Town's Noble Canteen.

I will say that this unfortunately doesn't say anything about the drinking age. The bartender kinda side-eyes Link and says she's not sure if he's old enough and she's not really gonna mix up a strong drink for someone so young.

Anyway!

Yeah I think different groups have different tolerances but also different ways to make their alcohol because ultimately all alchohol is just fermentation via sugar and yeast. So every group is going to have their own types based on their own diets and even lifespans.

Like the Zoras live for hundreds of years so the stuff they make is likely very aged. But a Goron would likely make some 'toxic rock water' type of drink.

In terms of tolerance I think size certainly plays a difference! So the more Human-esque races have a same theoretical tolerance, but the size difference between a Hylian and a Gerudo means on average the latter has a higher tolerance.

Though personally in worlds that have a Magic System I do often include that Magic adds onto tolerance because of the high metabolism so someone powerful will process alcohol faster

ofc 'tolerance' doesn't mean jack when it's straight up poisonous. Like I said earlier: Gorons making toxic rock water. I can imagine the Triforce Trio running into that. Link tries it(and immediately gets sick), Zelda knows better but is observing him for the effects, Gan is baffled by these two but starting to realize why his past selves had a hard time killing them)

Also I'm not even going to approach the subject of hard drugs because I am still not over totk and Yunobo being a drug dealer just. What the fuck were they thinking?

[triforce-of-mischief]

Hi Fable! So why exactly are the Yiga looking for blupee blood?? (And why is it Legend’s problem he looks nothing like a blupee) (unless bunlegend just happens to be hanging out with the blupee s when the plot unfolds and decides to show the yiga exactly why smart people are Terrified of angry rabbits)

“Both of you shut up,” the one holding Legend snapped. “If this is a blupee, the color of its fur won’t matter. It’s the inside that counts.” “Yeah!” the first one nodded along. “Blupee blood… rumored to be one of the most magically potent liquids in Hyrule! Imagine what Master Kohga could do with a store of the stuff!”

an absolutely tragic-funny idea i had is that blupee blood isn't actually magical at all. the yiga overheard a couple gerudo talking about the "wonderful properties of blupee blood" and were completely unaware that they were referring to a drink at the noble canteen. this just means that all of the pain and horror legend is about to go through is for nothing :)

while in wild's hyrule, legend decides to take a quick walk for some fresh air and marches into a puddle of gloom, which transforms him into a bunny. he's about to go back to camp for his moon pearl when some yiga capture him and bring him to their base to harvest his blood.

this is set adjacent to overcome, meaning that i don't feel like squishing this into canon but legend sadly will be the opposite of an intimidating angry rabbit.

*tw needle*

They carried Legend back to the table, firm hands keeping his head and legs in place. His attempts to kick, twist and bite were easily quashed. The realization that he might not be able to escape set in, along with a looming sense of panic. He had forgotten how his rabbit form intensified fear; his heartbeat increased to an unnaturally fast staccato and his senses were more oversensitive than ever. The not-Sheikah arranged Legend on the table, keeping him restrained with pressure on his head, back, and legs. “Hold it still. I don’t want the needle coming out just because you can’t handle a ‘slippery banana peel.’” Legend skipped a breath, a heartbeat. He had to have heard that wrong, there was no way- He managed to turn his head enough to see the third kidnapper, and everything came crashing down.

[sunset-peril]

Guilty as Ganon

She couldn't figure it out fast enough to save her own face, or Link's for that matter.

Rhoam wanted her to confess, in front of all these people, what she had done. He wanted her to submit herself for a public condemnation provided by her own father.

And what a father he had been to her. 

Had Rhoam actually been what he needed to be, Zelda determined after her witch trial was all over, none of this wouldn't have happened. 

She was upset. Okay, upset was an understatement. 

She was downright, undeniably, worthy of all the Gerudo profanity she knew, furious. And in her mind, she had every right to be. She knew what she had done, and the Goddess whom she had gotten ill for time and time again (yet still had somehow ignored her dedication) egged her on to do such a thing as if it was the last piece to finally unlocking the power that she'd lost everything for. And if it were that last step, then condemn the Golden Goddesses above she was going to do it! 

Did Father seek to gain anything by making me look more unworthy for the throne that no one else is able to inherit? By Naryu's name, what could it ever be? By defacing her, a descendant of Hylia and Link, Hylia's hero chosen over and over again, Rhoam was only asking for his kingdom to burn. 

The armor grabbed tight at her waist, worse than that cursed formal dress, but she feared about as much as she fumed.

"And why is that?" Zelda's fists grew tense as the sound of his voice in her mind. "What is more important than training to awaken the power to save all of Hyrule? Do you, Zelda, want Hyrule to burn to ashes along with all its people?"

She wanted to bash that head in over and over again, screaming profanities that matched or exceeded the ones he and the court used to describe her. 

These feelings weren't hers, she tried to convince herself at the beginning. But they were, oh so real, as real as the persistent enduring ache deep in her stomach, belonging solely to her scarred and tattered soul.

It had been so long, if ever, since she had smoldered with such fury. She wanted to let it all out on the person who had deserved it most over these past ten years.

Urbosa had taught her ways to cope with such turbulent emotions, but the one that worked the best was unusable. Whenever she got debilitated by the feelings harbored in her soul, she would always head down to the Noble Canteen for a drink known as a Valiant Cause, which was the exact same thing as the famous Noble Pursuit but minus the alcohol. It didn't exist on the menu, but the bartender began to serve it when Urbosa took Zelda in following her mother's untimely death. Now, with the small but undeniable round in her stomach, she was instantly denied access from the bar without a second glance or eloquent argument. 

"Gerudo law prohibits pregnant vai from any form of access to adult beverages or establishments." That same bartender nearly snapped at her, not even rising from the main desk. "I think of all vai, you should know that, hmm? Come back after you've finished nursing."

The words didn't frustrate her as much as the fact that Zelda's coping mechanisms were vanishing into thin air. She needed something material to work through, whether that was an ancient robot or a nearly frozen fruit punch. She used these material things because she felt like it was unfair that Link was always having to fix her problems, and without them it seemed like he was having to stop more meltdowns than ever before. Most were from her raging hormones, which caused mood swings so bizarre that the emotions came and went before she could even realize their presence. 

She missed Link… 

The poor boy was in the Lockup until Hylia-knows-when. 

Rhoam had sentenced him there until proof of his legal marriage to Zelda was provided. If it became clear that Zelda was pregnant outside of a marriage bond, he'd be sent to the Castle Town Prison for the rest of his days. If the records showed that he was married to her, then no punishment could be done. A member of the Royal Family is above the law after all. 

Sweet Hylia, Zelda wanted a hug. She was balancing on a fence of unbridled violence, but she wanted a hug so badly. 

She couldn't take it any longer. She nearly flew into a standing position, checking to make sure the armor still adequately protected her growing baby from any conflict she might encounter, and headed towards the Lockup.

"Link!" She softly called into the cell, three heads turned. 

"Zelda?!" Link cried, stumbling to his knees. "You're not supposed to be here!"

"Hey, it's the Princess!" Another voice called. 

"How are you?"

Link reached through the bars to stroke her face. "I'm fine. You've gotta get out of here. You're not supposed to be down here."

"I'm not leaving. Not yet. I miss you." 

"I miss you too. But it will be okay, Urbosa will provide everything His Majesty wants." 

Zelda aggressively kissed his lips, the others in the cell jumped back in surprise. 

They had known Link was in the Lockup for an improper relationship with the Princess, but seeing her return such ways sent them reeling. Did she initiate the relationship? Was it all her idea? Why was she so upset that he was down there? 

Link tore back for air, Zelda's face seemed like her heart was about to break. "Zelda… please, it's alright. I'll be out soon… But this, this isn't healthy for you."

"Neither of us are alright! We need you!" 

"I can't stop anyone if they react to you being down here. Please… go back to where you're supposed to be… it's safer that way… just for a little while…" He held onto her hand, brushing over her knuckles. 

"I-I can't…" Zelda's voice swung in and out of her controllable range. Her body flopped down onto its side. 

Link's breath caught in his throat as his eyes failed to find the bulge in her stomach. Where was his child? 

She wasn't breathing deep, all her breaths were quick and shallow. He snuck a hand down onto the metal covering her stomach, only then did he find her trapped bump. 

"It hurts… but it's the only thing that feels safe… with this… they can't hurt me as much."

This was enough to put him over. He wanted to rip the bars of the Lockup open and pull her close. He wanted to rip that tight armor off her and replace it with a loose, comforting dress. "Urbosa said she'd be back within forty-eight hours." His voice had become stale. "This will all be over soon…" 

“But…”

“Go. Now.” He rubbed her stomach for a few seconds before pulling away. “Stay with Impa, or Urbosa once she gets back. You don’t have to be alone, you just can't be here.” 

She nearly threw herself against the bars. "Link!" Tears began to pour down her face. "Don't leave me alone… please." 

Link ripped off his white undershirt, lovingly crafted by his late mother, and slipped it to Zelda. "Here… Tide yourself over with this…"

She brought it up to her nose and verified that it smelled like him. "But, Link…"

"You're my wife… what's mine is yours. And besides, you need it more than I do right now. You can give it back when this is all over. Now please go. I trust Impa to take care of you."

"Okay… just promise me you'll come back."

"I have, several times… but I promise again. I'm coming back." 

Zelda clutched his shirt to her chest and jogged back out of the Lockup. 

His cellmates crept up to where he was. "What was all that about?" 

Link slipped the Champion's Tunic back on. "Just doing what I need to do."

"Why would you promise her that you're getting out of here? How could you?" 

"Because we're married." He waited for the gasps to die down. "Once Gerudo Chief Urbosa brings all the proof of our legal marriage before the King, he'll have no choice but to set me free." He looked down at his anklet. 

"So… we're locked up in here with… our prince?"

"Pretty much."

"B-But how did you legally marry Princess Zelda? If King Rhoam had already banned such a relationship, how could you be so confident that it will stand binding in front of him?"

Link chuckled. "Oh, that's a long, convoluted story. But we have time, so let me tell you."

~~~~

"Princess! There you are!" Impa ran up to Zelda in the hallways of the castle. Where on Hylia's blessed land have you been?" 

Zelda began to cry again, snuggling her face into Link's shirt. 

"Princess, it's okay… it's okay…" She smelled Link on the fabric. "Wait. Where did you get this?" She tried to touch it, but Zelda stubbornly protected it. Impa's voice firmed accusingly. "You went and saw him!"

Her sobs became louder, she held one hand on her stomach and the other held the fabric to her chest. "I had to! I need him!"

Impa's anger dropped away. "Princess Zelda…" She stroked her shoulder gently. "It will be okay… Here, let's get you to your room; it's nice and quiet there, and I'll stay with you until Urbosa returns." She led her back to the room, then convinced her to change out of the armor into a loose silk dress. "If anyone tries to hurt you or the little descendant of Hylia, I will defend you. Please make yourself comfortable, you probably haven't been since the last time you trained at the Spring of Courage." 

"Okay… thank you, Impa."

"Of course, Your Highness. I'm always here for you." 

Zelda chose a long blue nightgown, completely lacking of a corset or any tight shapers, and slipped in. As she did so, her hands brushed the new curves of her stomach. The feeling made her weak in the knees, she grabbed onto the nearby dresser. "Impa! My knees have given out." 

"Oh!" She rushed over, helping Zelda over to her bed and laying her down. "Rest, Princess. You've had a stressful few days." 

"...Impa? Would you… mind?" She rolled over towards Impa and carefully showed off her tender bump. 

"You want a massage?"

"Yes… please."

Impa stepped closer to the bed and put her hands on Zelda's stomach, massaging carefully. "Oh… I can definitely feel the baby… They're a lot bigger than when we first scanned you…" She felt Zelda stiffen up. "Hey, Princess Zelda, relax."

"Father won't overturn Mother's pact to keep Link and I apart, will he?"

Massages changed to long strokes down Zelda's stomach. "In all honesty, I cannot see how he could. Your mother was a descendant of Hylia, a mere Hylian like your father cannot overturn her words. Besides, even if he could, we could definitely prove that his actions are intentionally causing harm to you, the last descendant. But I believe he will accept all of this after Urbosa returns. He does not need three more wars to fight.

"Will my baby get to meet their father?" 

"I believe he will be with you for the rest of this journey."

Zelda nuzzled into the mattress next to her head, ready for her husband to be with her again. "I long for him."

"Already? You couldn't have been apart for more than ten minutes."

"I need him to be here, Impa. You don't understand…" 

She felt something twist in Zelda's stomach. "I think I do. I'm going to call a doctor, just to make sure you're doing alright. Please try and sleep." Impa stepped outside, closing the door to keep threats out, spoke quickly with a nearby guard to request medical attention for the pregnant princess, and then returned.

Zelda was blinking slowly, beginning to drift to sleep. Impa repositioned Link's shirt in front of her nose; she snuggled up, sighed, and closed her eyes almost instantly. 

"Sleep well, Princess." Impa wished softly, laying a blanket over her. She sat down on the stool near Zelda's bed until the doctor arrived. 

She was an older, sweet-looking Sheikah woman, a healer badge on her arm and a few instruments in her possession. "Lady Impa, I'm here."

"Wonderful. Would you please check the princess over? She's not looking entirely well." 

"Of course." She walked over to the bed, looking at Zelda with her nose snuggled in Link's shirt. "I must have you know, I am not allowed to refer to Champion Link as her husband until the King has been given satisfactory evidence." 

"Of course. She was asking me earlier, and I would like another perspective, do you think His Majesty will find the evidence satisfactory? I attended their wedding, so I fear a little bias on my part."

"I believe that His Majesty will have no choice but to accept it if even a simple marriage license shows up. The pact between the queens was quite clear that Her Highness could receive any Gerudo ceremony Urbosa or her wished. Although a bit of a loophole, the Gerudo marriage ceremony is permitted under that pact. Because the ceremony was part of Gerudo law and not Hyrulean law, Urbosa had the authority to marry Zelda to whatever man she wished, no matter the tribe or occupation. If a Gerudo marriage document appears before him, that is proof enough." 

"I am glad to hear that. She will be too." 

"I must move his shirt to examine her. Do you think she'll react badly?" 

"Yes. She's incredibly stressed. Her Highness wouldn't settle until she had the Champion's undershirt. I fear removing it will cause her to lash out."

"I'm going to wake her then, so she won't panic as much." She shook Zelda softly, a pair of emerald eyes fluttered open. 

"I am truly sorry to wake you, Princess. I've been summoned to examine you, and I must move this shirt to do so." 

A heartbreaking whimper sounded before Zelda picked up the fabric, smelled it once more and slipped it under her pillow for later retrieval.

"Thank you… You can have it back in a little." She pulled out a stethoscope and slipped it under Zelda's dress. "Little heartbeat…" She stopped to feel Zelda's stomach. "Oh, I feel the womb. You are one hundred percent, without a doubt, pregnant, Your Highness. Do you have any idea how far along you are?" 

Zelda took a few gasping breaths. "Three months… I am three months."

"Well then, you feel normal; carrying pretty large though." 

"In your professional opinion, how big does she look?"

"About two months ahead. She really looks about five right now." She took the stethoscope off her stomach and moved to her back. "Your heart sounds good, is that baby putting pressure on your chest? Your breathing sounds a little strained." 

"It does?" Zelda took a few more deep breaths. "I would guess so then. I noticed I was always feeling out of breath, but I thought it was just because of the baby."

"It is, your body's so tiny, your growing baby's body is pressing against the rest of your organs. If you rest on your side, you'll be able to breathe easier." 

Zelda rolled over carefully. "Oh! Yes, this is much better!" She stretched herself out. 

"You already sound better." She turned to Impa. "Make sure she's eating well, and she doesn't need to be up and working unless she has to. I will tell His Majesty what we've found here. Congratulations, Princess Zelda. I would suggest meeting with a midwife now to discuss a special care plan." 

"Thank you so much." 

The doctor waved goodbye. 

"Well, now the little one is official." Impa looked at Zelda's bump. "I'm quite impressed with your ability to hide this. For you to look five months… and just now getting discovered, that's quite a feat."

"It was tiring…" Zelda pulled Link's shirt out from under the pillow and went back to sleep. 

~~~~

"Champion Link?" The doctor walked into the Lockup.

He had pressed himself up against the door of the cell, laying down but wide awake. "Yes? Who are you?"

"I'm a healer. I just came from examining Princess Zelda."

Link perked up, so did the other prisoners. "You did? How is she? Is she alright?" He grabbed her sleeve and yanked her towards him, concern and fear sparkling in his eyes. "How's our baby? Are they okay?"

She blinked in confusion. "You already know she's pregnant?"

"Yes! I've known for about two months now. Are they both okay?"

"I've asked Her Highness to meet with a midwife for a more reliable evaluation of her pregnancy, but she is doing alright. She's very stressed, however, and her body is already feeling pressure from the child. Her womb seems to be pushing up against her lungs."

His tears started falling down. "Will she be alright?" 

"All of Hyrule knows how much we need this child. We will take care of the Princess and ensure she delivers a healthy infant safely." She dried his tears. "You're sweet and tender-hearted… I can see why she fell in love with you." She unlatched the lock. "Now will you come here? His Majesty has demanded a health check on you." 

He approached slowly, looking around for anyone who would attack him. 

"You're both nervous wrecks aren't you?" She slid the door closed behind him before any of the other prisoners could get out. "Come up here, I won't bite." She chuckled a little at his uncharacteristic nervousness. 

They arrived at a private room where she examined him, finding him to be in perfect health aside from his nervousness and his few scratches. She took him back, then returned to King Rhoam. 

"You say both of them are in perfect health?"

"Perfect physical health, yes, Your Majesty. Her Highness needs a midwife to examine her overall health, as her pregnancy is confirmed. Champion Link is still shaken from his imprisonment." 

Rhoam sighed in displeasure. "This is a mess… and why is he so shaken? He knew of the consequences for pursuing an inappropriate relationship with my daughter!"

"He truly believed himself married to her, and he might be able to sense her unease." 

"But in even pursuing that marriage, he violated the highest laws of Hyrule!" 

"If Her Highness spoke the truth, then she believed she legally could marry any man she desired. By association, she believed she could pursue any of the steps needed to make that decision. Regardless of reason, all we can do is wait for Chief Urbosa's return." 

~~~~

Upon Urbosa’s return, she delivered all records to His Majesty, then made a beeline to the Lockup and Zelda’s bedroom. 

“I’m here, little bird…” She ran her hand up and down Zelda’s side, feeling her bump. “I’m here… It will be okay…” 

She cooed sleepily, responding more as Urbosa leaned towards her ear. 

“He wants you to know how much he loves you.” 

"Tell him I love him too… so much… and that I miss him…" 

"Of course, vehvi." She played with Zelda's long hair. "How are you feeling?"

"Stressed… kind of sick."

She pulled another blanket over. "Rest."

A maid knocked.  

"Enter!" Zelda called out, she stepped in. 

"Your Highness, His Majesty has announced that yours and Champion Link's trial will occur in two days. You have been asked to complete an evaluation with a midwife prior to then." 

Her voice shook under her breath. "Without him?" She glanced towards Urbosa.

"Thank you." Urbosa replied, watching the maid walk out. 

"I have to do that… without him?"

"Little bird… We'll do what we must in order to make your father happy… he is the one on the throne." 

She sighed, rubbing her stomach. "Okay…"

"We'll get it done tomorrow. For the rest of today, Impa and I will make sure you are not bothered. Please rest, and we are here to talk if you need us." Urbosa put a few pillows underneath Zelda to prop her up comfortably.

~~~~

Hyrule's Final Stand

[voices-of-hyrule]

The noble pursuit is a well-beloved beverage originating in Gerudo bar culture but popular throughout Hyrule. It is believed to have been invented at the Canteen in Gerudo Town, where it is still made by Furosa to the original recipe; one can still order it there by its original Gerudo name, voë-yelgeti (literally "she meets [a] boy"). It is typically garnished with an assortment of fresh fruits and traditionally served with ice, making it a cool respite from the heat.

[miadearden]

A Cold and Brittle Hand

Chapter 09: Shaken Brain, Stirred Heart

The Noble Canteen was full; bustling with warm bodies and good moods. The strings of coloured lanterns were lit, the drinks were cold, the conversations were loud.  And Link’s head ached. While recovering from the events in the desert, Link considers his next steps.

Whoops! Been a while since the last update! Winding down a bit after the previous chapter - aaaaaaand spiraling down a little bit in terms of Links mood, too.

Read from the beginning