#Zelink fanfic

[syndxlla]

best friends don’t look at each other the way we do

A low stakes, high reward, and self-indulgent Zelink fan fiction. Canon-compliant. Takes place between BOTW and TOTK.

Heavily inspired by my Zelink thoughts

I wanted to dig into the dirty, grimly reality of being the saviors of the world and not knowing how to be the savior of yourself. But you can find that safety in another person.

Fan fiction warnings: Canon-typical violence, eventual smut (in later chapters, characters are consenting adults), references to self-harm, eating-disorders, and a lot of angst. Each chapter will have chapter-specific warnings.

Chapter one: I used to tie your shoes

Song: We’ll never have sex by Leith Ross

Summary: Fresh off Hyrule Field, Link and Zelda have to face life after the Calamity, and come to terms with the long road to physical, emotional, and mental recovery.

Warnings: Vomiting, trauma, canon-typical violence, eating-sensitivity

Word count: 3.7k words

Author’s Note: I am so excited to share this. Please share and support this in anyway. I drew this art for the cover :) chapter begins after the page break. I love you guys. Also, these chapters won’t be heavily edited. Ignore any grammatical/spelling errors pls

Time. We never seem to have enough time. Green grass burns soft red embers into the field, a horse’s mane is rebraided at the nearest stable, and the stars shine as if nothing changed. Because it hadn’t, not really. The sun will still rise in the east and set in the west. The birds will still sing their songs at daybreak and the fireflies will still flicker at dusk. Nothing changed, but everything did. The air feels lighter, the sun feels warmer and yet Zelda’s fingers still shake as if she was in the snowy Hebra peaks.

The Princess by nature, is very gentle. She’s soft and patient at heart, but was placed under such strenuous situations all through her youth that caused her to often snap or lash out. But not now. Currently she is silent, stone-cold and confused. She was in shock. And Link could tell.

“Here.” He pulls out a baked apple from his pack, handing it to her. He has to get her attention twice before she finally takes it, their hands brushing for a moment. Her awareness returns to her gaze then, her bright-green eyes meeting his.

“I-I’m so sorry.” She sighs, her voice weak. “I’m just… so tired.” Link tries not to show his distress, but she notices his demeanor change as well. “How much further?” She says, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

“Probably another hour and a half. It’s just through those mountains.” He points.

“Dueling peaks. I remember.” She nods. “I remember everything.”

“Everything?” He asks as he starts to dig around a pack on the rear end of Epona, searching for his rito attire. It was starting to get dark, and she hadn’t stopped shaking since they left Castle Town almost three hours ago.

Zelda nods once.

Her silence speaks volumes.

He yanks out his snowquill armor, finally. “Do you remember anything from the last hundred years?” She doesn’t answer right away, she instead takes a smaller than small bite out of the apple. “Zel? Can I put this on you? You’re still shivering.” He asks, looking at her blank, traumatized stare. “It’s from the Rito, it’s soft as a cloud and will keep you warm for the rest of the way.”

“The Rito.” She sighs. “Revali…”

Link realizes that she hasn’t had any time to process what she just went through. She had spent the last one hundred years deeply focused, probably in a trance-like state. He places a hand on her cheek. “Look at me.” His voice is gentle and welcoming, not forcing her at all. She looks at him, their eyes locking. “Breathe with me.”

They take two deep, heavy breaths. They sync their inhales, exhaling together.

“It’s over. It’s all over, okay?” He reassures her. “It’s not coming back. It’s just us now, alright?”

She swallows, still emotionless. “You’ve changed.” She says.

“So have you.” Link smiles in an attempt to comfort her. “Can I put this shirt on you?” He asks again. She answers faster than she usually had, nodding twice this time. Link bunches up the excess fabric before pulling the head-opening over her hair. He then guides each one of her hands through the arm-holes. Link takes a moment to adjust the garb around her torso until it was probably positioned around her shaking body. She immediately sighs in relief.

“You talk more.” She mumbles, looking at him as he gently wraps his fingers around her long, golden hair and softly pulls it out of the shirt, knowing how much it irritates him when his hair is loose underneath a shirt.

He smiles again, “I do. Some people say I don’t shut up.” He tries to lighten the mood.

“Like who?”

“Impa.” He sighs.

Zelda’s eyes light up with that name. “Impa?”

He hums and nods. “We can go visit her when you’re feeling stronger, okay?”

“Okay…” Zelda looked down into her lap, the skirt of her goddess dress was barely white anymore. “I am going to get stronger, right?” She asks, her voice tender and broken.

Link’s heart sinks. Not because he’s worried she won’t, but rather because he feels responsible for putting her in this state.

“Of course.” He reassures. He believed it. He wanted to believe it.

“I’m… just so tired.” She repeats herself.

“I know, come on, let's get you a bed.” He then picks her up bridal style from the ground. They had stopped in the first place to get that rito armor for her. She rests her head against his chest as he lifts her onto Epona. She smells like burnt oil and exhaustion. He probably isn’t smelling any better.

They wouldn’t get to Hateno until noon at the earliest tomorrow, and traveling wasn’t doing anything for her recovery. He gets on Epona behind her, letting her weak body rest against his chest as they make their way to Dueling Peaks Stable. The road is quiet, so much quieter than it ever has been. The pair of lizalfos always swimming in the river aren’t there, and even the crickets suppress their chirps.

It’s post-apocalyptic. Literally. Link isn’t sure how to feel.

She throws up a few hundred feet from the stable. She gags and lurches over the side of the horse, somehow managing to keep it off of anyone. Not much comes out, she hasn’t eaten in over a century, but Link frowns when he realizes the apple probably triggered it. He silently curses himself out for causing her any form of distress. She dry heaves violently, and Link tries to hold her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. When she finishes, she holds her breath.

She can’t decide if she feels like she lost a bit of dignity or not. She holds back the tears that well in her eyes. Link breathes in to say something, but she raises her hand in protest. She would rather they act like it never happened. Neither of them say anything from there on, they just keep riding the final minute of the journey.

Everyone at the stable was asleep except for an attendant… who was also treading precariously between consciousness and a deep rest behind the counter.

“Excuse me?” Link asks to wake him up, hopping off of Epona after making sure Zelda would still be comfortable in his absence. She would never admit she wasn’t.

The man stirs awake with a jolt. He yawns, slightly startled, “So sorry, young man.” Link wouldn’t necessarily call himself young. He smirks softly.

“I’d like to board this horse till the morning, and we’d like one soft bed, please.” Link nods before setting down the required rupees. The man squints his eyes, taking the money in hand.

“Ah! It’s you! Link, was it?” He asks when Link turns his back to help Zelda down from the horse. “Jeez, you haven’t passed through here in at least six months! We were holding onto that old mare for you!” He gestures to their stables where a small gray spotted horse sleeps. Link’s first horse since he woke up from his century-long slumber. He only rode her in the beginning, when he was doing chores between Hateno, Kakariko and one time a longer trip to Zora’s Domain. But she’s old and weak, which is why she was easy to catch when Link was still regaining his strength. He stopped taking her out when he found Epona in the western part of Central Hyrule.

“Yeah… you guys can let her free.” He says as he sets Zelda down on the ground. She holds her cold hands together.

“Well uhh.. we tried. You see, after four months at a stable we let go of any forgotten pony’s, but she kept coming back.” He chuckled, his voice exhibiting a distinctive nasality.

“Here,” Link hands him a red rupee, not wanting to discuss an old horse any longer when he literally has the closest thing to a God in this world resting her head on his back. “Keep her for another month, I’ll come take care of her then. Okay?” Link asks. “Can I get that bed now?” Not impolite or forceful, he never was. He’s assertive but has a comforting cadence to his tone. For being such a talented swordsman, guard and easily the most deadly hylian in the entire kingdom, he was never rude or condescending. He was welcoming, and little kids often looked up at him with intimidation when they first met him, but it didn’t ever take long until they were chasing him with tree-branches while he fled and begged for mercy, letting them take him down with ease. The kids at the stables loved him, knew him by name, and would play as him in their silly pretend games.

The stable-man replies, “Of course! But you only asked for one bed, it’s not big enough to fit both of you.”

“I know, it’s for her not me.” Link then starts to guide her into the stable, where it’s much warmer and safer. Just because it’s quiet doesn’t mean it's safe. Hyrule is a dangerous place by nature, especially if you’re two century-old Gods being hunted for sport with the faces of children.

“You won’t sleep?” Zelda asks quietly behind him.

He doesn’t directly answer, and instead guides her to the bed. She’s weary, and he’s terrified of her not waking up. He wouldn’t be able to sleep even if he wanted to. He helps the Princess sit in the bed, and kneels before her to untie her sandals. When he touches the leather, he immediately gets transported into another memory.

It rips through him, just like the memories he had images of. Suddenly, he’s kneeling in the same position, but instead he was outside of the spring of courage. He looks up to see the clear sky, it’s sunset, and then his eyes meet Zeldas. Her face is rosy, and her eyes don’t have the blank stare they possess in the current time. He looks down at his fingers, tying the straps around her ankle.

“Really, you don’t have to do that.” She hums. He doesn’t respond. He never did back then. He finishes wrapping the leather around itself and then stands up. His face is emotionless. She looks at him, they’re about the same height. “I won’t be long this time.” She says. “I’m not expecting much anyways.” She sighs and then walks past him, but before she can get very far, he gently grabs onto her arm, holding her back. He doesn’t say anything but she can read his expression. He’s trying to tell her to have faith this time, just one more time.

Surely the Goddess would commune with her.

She shakes her head, and wades into the warm waters of the spring. Link turns to watch her, how her hair cascaded down her back, how her hands balled into fists. She turns around to look at him, their eyes meet. She smiles.

He comes back as fast as the scene played in his memory. He blinks a few times, and looks up at her. She doesn’t look any different, very little—if any—time seemed to pass. He doesn’t usually experience memories with someone, he wonders if she realized anything happened. Link didn’t even consider the fact he would keep receiving memories after the fact. His stomach turns, he feels like he’s lived two completely different lives and is forced to remember things from one that he doesn’t even relate to anymore. He doesn’t feel like the same person, the boy he was a hundred years ago is a complete stranger to him.

Link much preferred this life.

And that scares Zelda.

“I just remembered something.” He says. Zelda hums in response, a light-hearted noise that implies an inquiry. He elaborates, “I used to tie your sandals for you at the springs, didn’t I?” He asks.

Zelda smiles for the first time since they defeated Ganon. It’s a small pull of her lips, not showing any teeth but her eyes finally light back up. After she had asked if he remembered her on the field, she collapsed, not even aware of her own exhaustion until that moment. He ran to her aid, and ever since then she felt woozy, it only got worse the further from the castle they got.

“You did, yes.” She says. “I never asked you to, but since I was in the dress, you insisted.” She sighs. Link grunts in response. “It was very chivalrous.” Zelda adds.

They look at each other for a minute. Not saying anything. It was late, and two beds down there was a set of kid brothers sleeping. Link remembered them from their last visit. One of them wanted nothing to do with him, trying to act mature and ‘cool’. Link eventually won him over, though. They don’t speak out of fear of waking anyone. Zelda’s smile slowly fades away, and Link swallows thickly. They will never be the same.

He pulls her sandals off, her feet are filthy with century-old mud. He silently smiles about that. The closest thing to a Goddess in the entire world has dirty feet. How human of her.

Then, after pulling down the heavy rito-down blanket so she can slide in, he helps Zelda swing her legs into the bed. He pulls the blanket up to her neck, she lays on her side facing him. Her hands find their way up to her face, resting her cheek against them. Link pulls a short stool over to the bed, sitting on it and looking at her, bending at the waist.

“You’re not going to leave me, are you?” She asks in a timid, sleepy voice.

Link’s heart just about breaks when she asks. “Never.” He shakes his head. He takes his gloved hand and tucks a piece of her loose hair behind her pointed-ears. He lets his fingers linger a little bit longer than they should. “I will never ever leave you again.”

“Promise?” She asks, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.

“Promise.” He whispers, “Just as long as you promise to never leave me, okay?” He asks, ignoring the lump in this throat.

“Promise.” She says, taking her pinky finger and sticking it out for him. He wraps his finger with hers, which is far daintier and softer than he's ever been. She is a Princess, after all.

“Wake up in the morning, okay?” He whispers.

“Mhm.” She hums as her eyes slowly close. He tries to disconnect their pinky fingers, but she holds onto his. He leaves his hand in that position, letting her hold it until she falls fast asleep.

Link doesn’t move his hand until he’s certain it won’t wake her up from her much needed rest. He looks at her gentle, soft face. No one even understands what she just went through, no one ever will. He’s worried sick that she won’t make it through the night, and he keeps leaning his head down to listen to her breathing, or places a few fingers against her forehead to check her temperature.

He does his best to stay vigilant the entire night, not once even looking away from her. But just before the sun rises, his body suddenly catches up with his mind. He also just had the most demanding battle of his life. His muscles started to ache, and he developed a headache. He was just a boy, after all. More than anything, his sword arm was weak, and fire-hot pain shot up and down through it. He probably overused it fightin the calamity.

He keeps telling himself that he’s fine. He has to be fine, for Zelda. His arm isn’t that bad, what really hurts was his heart. Usually he’d just down a fairy tonic and maybe go to the hot springs if he was in the area but this pain was different. A twisting and contracting ache in his chest pulled and tugged on his lungs and pulse. It’s the same pain he felt when he remembered Mipha, and more specifically, the pain he felt when he dreamed about his family before the resurrection.

The dream that gave him the memories of a little sister with blonde hair like his collecting fireflies in her pockets. Her laugh echoing, the call of an older man, the image of a royal guards sword leaned up against the dinner table. The touch of his father’s hand as he rubs Link’s back to sleep.

Link’s first sword.

He wakes up like a fire, standing up and almost toppling over. He didn’t even realize he had fallen asleep. He could hear the soft tune of the penny whistle playing the standard stable theme, and the two little brothers played tag outside. He curses and looks down at Zelda.

Her bed is empty, and his heart completely stops. He starts breathing hard and heavy, his entire nervous system feels as though it’s pulled into stasis. How could he make such a foolish mistake? He swings his sword over his back, strapping his shield to his leathers and turns around in a wild-hunt to see the Princess sitting at the round stable table, drinking out of a mug and speaking gently with an older man.

Link takes a breath of relief, and approaches the two.

“Good Morning.” She smiles up at him. Her voice sounded much better, and her eyes finally had life back into them, but she still wasn’t herself. Her skin still looked sickly, her face hollowed out and eyes droopy. Any progress is good progress, Link decides then and there.

“I… didn’t mean to fall asleep.” Link sighs. “I’m so sorry. When did you wake up?”

“Oh not long ago, maybe twenty minutes? I didn’t want to disturb you-”

“You should have.” He interrupts her and her words get swallowed out of surprise. Link realizes that he snapped at her a little, and immediately becomes apologetic. “I’m sorry, again. I just…”

“You’re worried about me. I understand.” She takes his hand, her bones frail. In many ways, she physically looked worse today than last night. But at least she could hold a conversation. He nods. Zelda notices the tension, and changes the subject, “This kind gentleman was telling me about when you saved the stable from a horde of lizalfos about a year ago.”

Link looks over at the man, Giahzo. “Oh that was nothing, it was just two green lizalfos and a blue one who wandered too close to the stable.” Link hums. Their hands were still held together by Zelda.

“Don’t be so modest!” The old man chuckled, “Without you, it would have been a disaster! The number of monsters means nothing, especially when you don’t know how to fight!”

“That’s very kind of you.” Link smiles and then realizes he and Zeldas hands, he’s the one to pull it away. ���What are you drinking?”

“I’m not sure…” Zelda begins and Link immediately snatches the mug from her hand. “Hey!”

“You can’t just drink something mysterious.” Link scolds.

“Oh it’s just a bit of Hateno Milk.” The man assures. Link looks at him, then Zelda, and then into the mug to see the creamy liquid. He brings it to his nose and smells it, and then takes a sip of it. Sure enough, it was just milk.

“I’m sorry, Giahzo.” He apologizes and places the mug back down. “I’m just on high alert.”

“Do not apologize to me, apologize to this lovely young lady you’ve graced us with.” The elderly man smiles with a chuckle, his eyes wrinkling up with his age. Zelda smiles, blushing a little, “Tell me, dear, where are you from? We don’t get many new faces at this stable these days.”

Zelda looks at him, her eyes sad. A hundred years ago every person in Hyrule knew her face. She looks at Link, unsure how to answer.

“She’s from the Outskirts stable.” Link covers for her. “Her family used to reside in Central Hyrule before the Calamity.”

“Yes.” Zelda immediately chirps, “We’re headed to Hateno for…”

“A honeymoon!?” Giahzo smiles brightly. Both Link and Zelda freeze in their tracks, and Link hopes he doesn’t look as embarrassed as he feels. “Hateno is a great Honeymoon destination! Although I’ve heard Lureline is even more splendid!” He clasps his hands together.

“Research.” Zelda clarifies, “so sorry to disappoint.” She chuckles politely, making a conscious effort not to look at Link. “I’m researching… population dynamics in Hyrule.” She makes something up that sounds completely believable.

“Of course.” Link then says, “I’m just escorting her there, we are total strangers.”

That breaks Zelda’s heart.

She knows he’s just trying to be extra careful, pushing her anonymity as much as possible. And in a way, it wasn’t a total lie. But it cut her like a knife.

“I see…” Giahzo doesn’t seem convinced. “Well, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to stop by. Hopefully the monsters will start to die down.” He smiles and stands up, moving outside.

Zelda is still afraid to look at Link, and he’s a little bit shaken up by the entire interaction. He knows the Yiga are still out there, he knows that there are people who will try to take advantage of her for power or money. He has no reason to suspect anything from the old man, but he can’t help himself from being deliberate. He senses her tension and walks back to the bed to gather their things.

“You should have woken me up.” Link says as he picks up a satchel full of food and readjusts his gloves.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was timid and tired. He turns around to see her, her green eyes looking up at him apologetically. “I didn’t know it would worry you so.” He approaches her.

“Of course it worries me.” He sighs. “I spent three years trying to get you out of that castle, I’m not gonna lose you on the first night.” He holds his hand out for her to trade, helping her up. She must not have rested as well as he thought, because as soon as she gets on her feet, she almost topples right over him. He catches her, holding her up before she collapses. “Woah there.” He mutters. “You alright?”

She nods, “Let’s just get to that house you told me about.”

—

chapter two

[demiboydemon]

Suddenly I very urgently need to write smut where Zelda is a dragon-hybrid dom. I don’t know the plot yet but I hope I find it along the way.

I am open to suggestions

[athena-theunicorn]

Who wants to bet Link has an intense fear of robots after the guardians and has a mini heart attack every time a construct moves because they make similar machine noises.

[dragongirlie56]

03- Crying in the Rain

Ship: Zelink

Modern AU!

I started to write this YEARS and i mean years ago. I decided to continue where my younger self left off and fix up a lot of things! :)

Warnings: Zelda gets in a verbal fight with her father Right at the get go. So that might be triggering! But it’s very short!

Not a warning: lots of zelink fluff and hugging because I love hugs. And the both of them need hugs.

(Also… I apologize if there are random ‘I’ and ‘my’’s in there. I changed the perspective from first person to third halfway through but I hope I got everything!)

If you liked this one-shot here’s more ———> Zelink Master list

////////////////////////

“Well I’m not my mother!” Zelda’s clenched fists shook at her sides. “She wasn’t a failure! She. She-“

“That’s enough Zelda!” Her fathers words cut through her own, automatically making her eyes fill with unwanted tears. “You will continue your studies. That. Is. Final. Do I make myself clear?”

Zelda clenched her jaw until her teeth hurt. She swallowed a forceful sob and nodded once.

“You may go.”

His tone was light but the words were cruel. Zelda turned her back on him and grasped the golden knob. The door clicked behind her and she wasted no time breaking into a sprint. She weaved through the vast, tiled hallways of her father’s abode. Her blue converse squeaked against the slick flooring as she avoided cleaning staff members and potted plants. A bubbling need to escape the confines of the house nearly ate her alive.

She ripped the front door open and slammed it behind her. Cool air rushed through her nose and a shudder tore through her chest. Her emerald eyes landed on the cloudy sky. It mirrored exactly what she felt at the moment: a gloomy storm cloud with a chance of rain at any second.

She needed someone to talk to. She needed a safe place.

Link. Her shaky fingers grasped her phone from her jean pocket. Only a few taps away. He’s only a few taps away. His name popped onto the black screen and Zelda raised her phone to her pointed ear as she walked away from the annoyingly perfect grass, the disgustingly perfect flower beds, the outrageously perfect image her father created. All of it made her want to cry.

It was too much. His expectations were drowning her.

“Please pick up. Please pick up.” Zelda’s short breaths were dangerously close to falling into sobs. She stared at the sidewalk, distracting herself with the lines and cracks as she walked.

Voicemail.

The blonde girl’s stomach sank.

“No. No. No.” He always picks up, always. Unless he’s at work or in the middle of a soccer/football game… or he’s sleeping.

Zelda shook her head. “It’s okay. It’s okay. Just call… Urbosa.”

Voicemail.

“Mipha.”

Voicemail.

“Aunt Sonia.”

Voicemail.

“Revail? No, he wouldn’t be great for this… and Daruk is on a cruise. Yona and Sidon are on their honeymoon.”

Zelda scrolled through her limited contacts, finding no one. She let her screen turn black. She was alone, she couldn’t talk to anyone, and she didn’t feel safe. Link was her safe space.

Her legs seemed to move on their own, trailing a familiar path as she started to run. Her pace lined up with the beats of her thundering heart. He didn’t live that far away right? She didn’t stop running. Not when her lungs gasped for air or when her knees started to hurt. Raindrops fell from the clouds, batting her forehead and peppering her clothes.

Normally, she drove to Link’s. But it was just her luck that her car broke down yesterday. Something about the engine.

Zelda skidded to a stop, nearly slipping on the slick sidewalk, when she felt a repetitive buzz in her back pocket. She fumbled for her phone and her eyes snapped to the caller.

White lettering glowed against the new water droplets on her screen. Link. Oh thank Hylia.

She pressed the green icon and held the phone to her ear. “H-hello?”

”Zelda?” Aryll’s voice rang through the speaker. Zelda’s eyes blinked in surprise, she was not expecting to hear from her boyfriend's younger sister.

“A-Aryll! Hello.” Zelda swallowed a lump in her throat, attempting to sound happy.

”What’s up?”

”Nothing. Everything’s fine.”

“Oh Zelda what’s wrong? You sound sad. Wait, Wait. Let me grab Link. The idiot fell asleep on his math papers.”

”Okay, okay.” She nodded along as she felt her breath hitch in her throat. Everything was going to be fine.

”Ew and he’s drooling. Your professor is not going to want your work now, Big Brother.” That caused Zelda to chuckle a bit. Leave it up to Aryll to calm the growing pit in my stomach.

“Link. Liiiiiiink. Wake up. For the love of- he sleeps like a rock. Link-“ Zelda’s ears picked up on a low groan. “Oh thank Hylia! Link, now that you're out of what seemed like a 100 year nap… the love of your life is on the phone! This is urgent and you can resume your beauty sleep later….. which you definitely need.”

Oh she really had no filter sometimes.

“Thanks Aryll.” Zelda heard her boyfriend mumble. To which Aryll responded with a ‘Duh’.

“Zel? Hey, what’s up?”

The sound of his voice made her throat close up and brought tears to her eyes. “Link, hey,” Zelda managed to croak out.

“Zelda.“ She could picture the immediate crease of his eyebrows. “What’s wrong?”

No, I don’t want to say it now. I can’t.

“Is it… is it okay if I come over?” Zelda replied instead, barely able to voice her words.

“What? Of course, you’re always welcome over-“ A truck siren blew over his sentence and she whipped her head towards it. A small red car decided it was a smart idea to swerve in front of a huge truck… while it was raining. Some people really shouldn’t have licenses.

”Zelda? Are you outside?” Her eyes snapped back to her phone. “Where are you?”

“Hyrule Park. I’m at Hyrule Park.” A gust of wind shot past her, ruffling her long golden hair and sending a shiver up her arms. She couldn’t tell if her sniffles were caused by the freezing rain or her own tears.

“Hyrule Park?! That’s far from your house and it’s going to… it is raining! You’re going to get sick.” He paused. “….Zelda, did something happen with your dad?”

She sucked in a sharp breath, the sting stabbing at her lungs. “Yeah.”

She could hear the wooden creak of his old stairs and the jingle of car keys. “Stay where you are, Zel. I’m coming to get you.”

“Link you don’t-“ she started to say. “I’m not too far from your house-“

“It’s a 15 minute walk. I’m not letting you do that.”

“I-“ Zelda stop it. she chided herself. “Okay.” A sniffle escaped her reddening nose. “Thank you, Link.”

“Always.”

“Can… can you stay on the phone too?”

“Of course.”

———————-

“I’m just around the corner.”

“Okay.” Zelda leaned against a tree trunk. Rain pattered onto her skin and into her hair, every drop sent prickles of cold into her veins. She had found a nice spot under the tree but it didn't stop the rain from finding its way to her. Her damp clothes made her tremble slightly, it probably wasn’t good for her to stay outside.

The rumble of Link’s truck made Zelda’s head turn. Wow. That was fast… Almost too fast. She pushed herself off of the tree trunk and waved at him.

His truck came to a stop and he immediately hopped out of the driver's side.

Zelda knew she was lucky. Of course Link was handsome with his beautiful ocean eyes, his dirty blonde hair, and his light smiles. She knew, everyone knew. (they did not hesitate to tell her and she couldn’t help but agree.) But she really loved his soul and his heart. He was a sweet, genuine, selfless guy who had loyalty and compassion for his friends and loved ones. She just couldn’t fathom how someone like him could exist.

“Hey,” he breathed out once he reached her. He hugged her against him and she wrapped her arms around his waist. ”Zel, you’re shivering.”

She sniffled and hid her face in his chest, leaning into his warmth. ”And you’re warm.” Yeah, I’m so lucky.

”C’mon, I already have your seat heater on.”

“Oh you’re the best. Thank you.” Zelda smiled at him as she allowed him to lead her away.

“You got here pretty fast…”

He shrugged.

“Link, did you speed?”

“What? Zel. Of course not.” His eyes crinkled in mirth and an easygoing smirk tilted his lips.

“Liar.” Zelda rubbed her eyes and let out a laugh. He squeezed her shoulder and let out a chuckle as he led her to the passenger side of his truck.

Zelda didn’t realize how cold she actually was until she found herself sinking into the heat of the chair. Bless Link and his thoughtfulness.

“Here, I brought you a blanket.” Seriously bless him. Zelda would fight anyone who tried to hurt him.

Link signaled to pull away from the curb and they were on their way. Zelda watched the trees zip by as they drove and snuggled into the soft fabric of his green blanket.

“Aryll put some hot cider on the stove.” He glanced in the rear view mirror before switching lanes.

Zelda perked up at this. “Aw really? You guys are too good to me.”

“She insisted.” He shrugged.

“She’s so sweet.”

“Yeah. To you.” A smirk tilted his lips.

Zelda laughed. “She loves you a lot, you know.”

“Deep down.”

“No, I can see it plain as day.” She placed her elbow on the center console and rested her head in her palm.

Link chuckled and shook his head.

He held out his hand and she placed hers in his.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Zelda sighed, her conversation with her father left a bitter taste in her mouth. “…I told him I didn’t want to go to school for a business degree any longer and instead I wanted to pursue a degree in engineering. Which I argue is just as good! I get to create things and research! I wanted to even take a minor in biology! But he blew up at me. I’m the one supposed to inherit the company. To be the CEO… I sound so ungrateful. I know. Anyone would love to inherit such a thing but I just… I don’t have a choice and that makes me angry.” Her eyes dropped to the keys lightly rattling in the cup holder. “I know my mothers death was hard on him and raising a young child alone is no easy feat. Especially one so strong willed as I am. I get it. But her death was hard on me too. I had to grow up without a mother for Hylia’s sake. But I know she would have wanted me to pursue anything I want. I just wish she were here to tell him.”

Link squeezed her hand.

“It’s so… it’s so silly. I’m an adult yet I’m still afraid to stand up for my father.”

“I don’t think it’s silly. It can be scary to stand up for yourself.”

Zelda nodded as he turned into his neighborhood. She didn’t know how else to ‘stand up’ to her father. She could get another job and tell him she’ll pay for her schooling instead. It would be a lot but she didn’t shy away from hard work.

Link pulled into his driveway and turned off the engine. He hopped out of the truck and walked around the front to her side. He opened her door and she met his eyes, water droplets glittered on his blonde bangs though he didn’t seem to care. His eyebrows were creased and a light frown tugged down at his lips.

“You can do anything you want to do, Zel.” He placed his hand on her cheek and she covered it with one of her own. “It’s your life you should be able to pursue anything…But, that being said, I know that has to be hard when you don’t have his support.”

Her breath hitched in her throat and she nodded as tears clouded her vision. He said it perfectly. She covered her face with her free hand and let out a sob.

Link’s hand fell from her face. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her out of the seat. Once he set her on the ground, she hugged him around his neck and hid her face in his collarbone.

The only thing that filled the silence was Zelda’s muffled sobs and the rain pattering against the cement.

“I’ll support whatever you decide to do. I’m here.” His hand slid into her wet hair as he pulled her closer.

She nodded.

“C’mon, let’s get you dried off and into warmer clothes, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Zelda wiped her nose with her sleeve.

She let him guide her away from the truck and her shoulders relaxed as she turned her attention to his house. The familiar clinking melody of the wind chime reached Zelda’s ears. The chime had metal silent princesses dangling from the chains, her favorite flower. Potted plants with various flowers lined the walkway.

Warmth and cinnamon hit her nose when Link opened the front door.

“Aryll?” Link called out. “I’m back.”

“Coming!” Aryll yelled. “Zelda!” Zelda watched as she raced down the stairs and crashed into her.

“Woah! Hey Aryll!” She returned Aryll’s bone crushing hug.

Aryll pulled back and grinned up at her. Her blonde hair was up in her signature pigtails and she wore a blue shirt that made her sea blue eyes pop. She looked so much like Link it still baffled Zelda.

“I’m so glad you’re here! Aw, I knew you were sad.” Aryll pointed at Zelda’s eyes and frowned, her eyebrows falling. “Wait here.”

Zelda raised her eyebrows at Link and he shrugged before taking off his shoes. Zelda followed suit.

Aryll sprinted down the hall with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. “This is my favorite blanket.” The fabric had mini seagulls and pirate ships scattered around the blue fluffy sea. “You can use it while you’re here. I hope it makes you feel better.”

”Thank you Aryll. I feel better already.” Zelda accepted the gift with a warm smile.

“Oh! And the cider! Come.” Aryll ran down the tiled hallway and slid with her socks at the last second, almost tripping.

“Be careful, Aryll!” Link’s eyes widened.

“Ah!” She caught herself on the doorframe and looked back with a thumbs up. “I’m okay!”

Link let out a sigh and laughed lightly, tugging Zelda down the hall and into the kitchen.

They didn’t even make it through the doorway before Aryll was shoving a steaming mug in Zelda’s hands.

“Oh! Thank you!” The warmth of the mug immediately combated the ice of Zelda’s fingertips.

“You bet! I hope you like it!” Aryll’s giddy smile made Zelda grin back. She took a sip of the honey-colored liquid and her mouth dropped.

“Wow! What did you put in here? This is amazing!” It really was, there was just enough cinnamon and apple and it was sweet but not too sweet.

Aryll puffed out her chest and put her hands on her hips. “Secret recipe. You can know it when you’re officially part of the family.” She winked.

Zelda choked on her cider and coughed. She didn’t oppose the idea of her and Link getting married, she knew there was no one else for her, but they were both too young. Though she was happy to have the young girl’s approval.

“A-Aryll!” Link stuttered out. His ears were tinged red.

“What? Did I say something?” She tilted her head and gave him an innocent smile. Zelda knew it was far from innocent.

“N-nothing. Nothing. Zel, I left some of my clothes on my bed that you can use. Did you want to get changed?”

Zelda nodded, her face still hot. She set the mug on the counter and briskly walked away from the siblings.

—————

After Zelda dried out her soaked hair with a towel she tied it into a loose braid. She placed her hands on the counter as she observed herself in the mirror. Link’s green hoodie looked as comfortable as it felt (she really needed to know where he bought his sweatshirts.) Her eyes were still puffy and her cheeks were still pink. I’m okay.

And she would be. Eventually. Once she set a plan for her future and stood up for herself she would be. But that was for another day. Today she wanted to spend the rest of it with her favorite person.

She nodded at herself and grasped the door handle. Her footsteps were light as she ambled down the hall. She turned into the kitchen and grabbed her abandoned cider. Her eyes flicked to Link—-who sat at the counter with his phone in hand. She walked toward him and he glanced up at her and smiled, pocketing the device.

“Hey. Nice hoodie, where’d you get it?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Zelda chuckled, stopping beside him, and shook her head. “It’s my boyfriend’s.”

“No.” His jaw dropped. “You’re taken?!”

“Happily taken.” She grinned and sipped at her cider.

Link sighed. “Just when I was about to profess my undying love for you.”

“I fear you’re too late. My heart belongs to another.” She rested her hand against her forehead.

They stared at each other before erupting into giggles.

“That. Right there,” Link said suddenly.

“What?”

“That’s my favorite smile of yours.”

She looked between his eyes and raised her eyebrows. “What smile?”

“When you’re just being you.” He rested his head in his palm as he stared at her.

“Well…” Heat crept up her cheeks and she placed her mug on the counter. “…it’s easy to be myself with you.

“I’m happy to hear that.”

Zelda smiled again and moved to wrap her arms around his neck. He hugged her waist and pulled her close.

“Thank you, Link.”

He hugged her tighter. “I’d do anything for you, Zel… I love you.”

Her heart never failed to speed up at those three words. “I love you more.”

“No way.”

She shook her head and a chuckle escaped her. “Yes way.”

“I definitely love you more.” His breath tickled her ear.

The blonde laughed again and rolled her eyes. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He pulled away and swiftly kissed her lips to which she smiled in response. “Want to watch a show?”

“I’d love that… wait where’s Aryll?”

“She’s playing her game she’s been talking about. Something about a hero and a princess? I need to ask her about it.” He grasped her hand and walked toward the couch. Zelda noticed there was a stack of neatly folded blankets sitting on top of the ottoman.

Link picked up two of the blankets and tossed them on the cushions before grabbing a few pillows and creating—-what Zelda could describe it as—-a makeshift pillow throne.

Link hopped into the mountain of blankets and held out both of his arms toward her. He raised his eyebrows as if to say, ‘What are you waiting for?’ “Snuggles await, Your Highness.”

“Oh my Hylia. Link, you didn’t just say that.” Zelda giggled into her hand.

“What?” He grinned.

Zelda shook her head and laid on top of him. She nestled into his warmth and rested her head on his chest. His heartbeat softly thumped against her ear and she slowly dozed off into a peaceful slumber.

——————

Link lightly massaged Zelda’s back as he flipped through the TV channels. Her breathing evened and she passed out. It didn’t surprise him that she did, especially with all the stress her dad put her through.

He didn’t hate the guy. He was just frustrated with him. Very frustrated. She clearly had a passion for something else so let her do it. It wasn’t that hard of a concept, at least that’s what Link thought.

“Well excuuuuuuuuuse me princess.” He flinched at the sudden voice. He had completely forgotten about this show. He also forgot that he and the protagonist shared the same name. Nope, he did not want to remember anything else. The whole series felt like a fever dream.

He flipped to a baking channel. The contestants each had to create a dessert based on the different regions of Hyrule. I could get behind this.

The front door opened and Link flicked his eyes away from the dimmed TV screen. His mom was hanging up her keys.

“Hey honey! Oh!” She glanced at the sleeping blonde in his arms. “Zelda’s here!” she whispered excitedly.

Link returned her smile. “Hey Ma. How was work?”

”It was great.” His mom motioned toward Zelda. ”Is she okay?” She tilted her head, worry lacing her frown.

“I think she’s okay now.” Link ran a hand up and down Zelda’s back. “She’s had a long day. I’m just trying to make it better.”

”Aw. Poor girl.” She shook her head and placed her bag on the counter. “Do you think she’d like it if I made fruitcake? I thought I heard you mention something about that.”

“Yes, that's her favorite. I think she’d love it if you did that, Mom.”

”Alright, I’ll hop to it.”

“Thank you.” Link heard the oven beep behind him

”You know…” He looked over his shoulder to meet his mom’s gaze. “I’m proud of the man you’ve turned out to be Link. You’re just like your father.”

His eyes softened. ”Thanks Ma. That means a lot coming from you.“

She sent him a smile and dropped her gaze to the worn out recipe on the counter. “Just so you know, Zelda’s welcome to stay the night, anytime. For as long as she needs. Don’t let her forget that. She’s basically family.”

It made Link’s heart warm that his family loved being around Zelda. “I won’t.”

He returned his gaze to the tv. Apparently, he missed a lot since the contestants were already being judged.

The next round was based on the three goddesses, and halfway through Link felt Zelda stir.

She lifted her head and sniffed. “Is that fruitcake I smell?” she asked, her voice sleepy. Link laughed lightly.

“It is!” His mom’s voice rang through the kitchen.

“Oh! Ms. Hero! You’re home.” Zelda blinked in surprise.

“That’s Nayra to you, Zelda. I thought since Link mentioned it was your favorite and I do make a good fruitcake I wanted to make you some.”

Link watched as Zelda’s lips quirked upward.

“Oh! That’s so sweet, you didn’t have to.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

Zelda moved to get up but Link held her tighter.

“No.” He pouted and she rolled her eyes.

“Link, I'll cuddle more with you after.”

“But the cake needs to cool down… right?”

She raised an eyebrow and he sighed.

“You promise we will?”

“Yes. Of course.” She held out a pinky and he twisted theirs together.

“….fine.” He watched as she walked away from the living room and into the kitchen. She gave his mom a hug.

“Honey, are you okay?” His mom asked, holding the sides of her face.

“Yeah.” Zelda nodded once. “I’m okay now. I have your son to thank for that.”

Link pushed away from the couch and walked towards the two.

“Ah yes, he’s behaving I hope?” His mom asked behind her hand.

“Ma.” Link raised an eyebrow which made Zelda giggle.

“Oh honey I’m just teasing.” She reached up to ruffle his hair. His mom handed Zelda a plate with a slice of the fruit delicacy. “I hope you enjoy!”

“Thank you.” Zelda sat beside Link and took a bite of the colorful treat. “Mm! It’s very delicious, Nayra.”

“Glad to hear it! You two can have as much as you want.” Link didn’t need to be told twice.

He flicked his eyes between his cake and Zelda’s expression, his eyebrows creasing slightly. He studied the way she nudged her cake pieces around with her fork and the way she breathed in to speak but she never did. Something was either bothering her or she was working up the courage to ask something.

“Zelda. What’s up?” Link set down his fork and pivoted toward her.

She turned her head to him. “What?”

“I know you. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, it's just… Can I stay? I’m not… I’m not ready to go back there yet.”

Link raised his eyebrows. She didn’t even have to ask of course the answer was going to be yes. “Yes, Zel. You can stay as long as you want.”

“Longer than that,” his mom chimed in. “Just move in at this point!”

Link’s ears burned and Zelda giggled lightly. That was two comments from both Aryll and his mother. Hylia spare me.

“Thank you, Nayra,” Zelda responded.

“Of course, honey. You’re always welcome here. And I mean it.” She pointed a wooden spoon in their direction.

Link resumed eating and wolfed down his two pieces of cake before going for a third piece.

“I forget how fast you eat.” Zelda raised her eyebrows.

“It’s my talent.” He grinned.

Zelda snorted and finished off her last piece.

“Back to cuddles?” Link clasped his hands together.

Zelda laughed through her nose and placed her fork on her plate. She reached up to wipe the stray crumbs from his cheek. “Yes. Back to cuddles.”

[sun-aries]

Hands (totk zelink)

OK i cracked. TOTK has me in my feels right now and I needed to write. It's been a couple months so I'm rusty, but If you like it, send some prompts and I'll whip up some one-shots!

Zelda couldn’t help but notice it. It’d started subtly enough, with his hand weaving into hers as they walked through the meadows of Hyrule Field. She’d heard the sigh as it left his lips, unbidden and trembling, but the wordless sound mirrored how she felt so precisely that she didn’t question it. It’d felt so right to touch his skin again – to be in her own skin again – that she met his gaze with a fluttering laugh and squeezed his fingers.

Yet as they got back into the rhythm of their lives, the scholar couldn’t help but notice that he’d made quite a habit of it. When they returned to Lookout Landing for the first time since her return and he’d taken her hand to climb the short flight of stairs, she’d passed it off as his typical chivalry and shook her head with mirth. “I’m fine,” she insisted, and he nodded, but didn’t reply and certainly didn’t let go.

Days had passed and it happened more and more often. Finally back in Hateno, he’d reached for her hand as she reached for a truffle, darting his eyes away when she’d looked at him curiously and yet leaving his hand on hers. Or as she lifted the woven basket into her hand, he’d covered it over the handle, avoiding her eyes as he did so.

It wasn’t as if they’d never held hands before, of course. In fact, it wasn’t the first time she’d felt his hands at all, calloused and rough against the smoothness of her skin, early in the morning or late in the nights. She couldn’t count the times on her fingers, in fact. But it’d been something different entirely - something raw - since she returned, and she could feel it in the trembles.

It was almost as if he’d been trying to make up for letting her slip through his fingers.

Zelda didn’t hold it against him - she couldn’t. She’d been there after all, felt the gravel shift beneath her feet and watched him dive after her without thought into the pitch-black chasm.

But she knew him and she knew it was eating at him – that it had been since they parted. Zelda had seen the desperation as the pads of their fingers just barely brushed one another, seen the fear in his eyes just before falling to the abyss and disappearing in a sphere of light. And now, it was as if he needed to feel the weight of her hand and the touch of her skin, to know that she was real and tangible before him.

Golden light awoke Zelda the next day in their little cottage, filtering though the windowpanes. She could hear the pan sizzle on the fire and the careful clatter of dishware and smiled to herself. After stretching out her muscles, more relaxed than she’d felt in ages, she placed her feet flat on the ground and went down to greet him.

Link’s back was turned to her, but he tensed for a moment when he heard the wood creak, as if suspended in disbelief. Then he’d resumed as quickly as he’d paused.

“Good morning.”

He turned his head to the side, a smile tightening his cheeks, and warmth bloomed through her. “Good morning.”

“That smells delicious,” the scholar commented, snaking her arms around his waist and pressing a kiss onto his shoulder as she sneaked a peek. “You’re making my favorite?”

He shrugged, but that smile was still ever present on his cheeks, and she swore it got bigger the closer she got. “You deserve it,” he simply said.

They’d plated the crepes at the table, steaming and fresh with fruits on the side, and she’d already started perusing through the papers, quickly noticing just how often her name popped up in her absence. She’d have to make quite a bit of stops at stables, it seemed.

She’d placed the paper down to take another bite when Link did it again, reaching across the table to curl his hand into hers, and she was surprised to find him studying her quite intensely. There was rosiness in his cheeks and at the tips of his ears, his blue eyes searching her, and suddenly she felt her own skin get warm under his undivided attention. “Link?”

His eyes darted down to their hands, his thumb brushing over her knuckles ever so gently. She could tell he had something to say, the words hanging on the tip of his tongue, but words never came easy to him and she was there to help now. “I’m right here,” she said finally, assertively. The noise that escaped him, a gruntled sob almost, shot through her chest like an arrow. “Look at me, Link.”

He shook his head. “I can’t-” he tried, his mouth dry, voice hoarse. He looked up and though his eyes were rimmed and red, he hadn’t yet shed a tear. But it was okay: she’d shed enough lately for the both of them. “I can’t let you go again.”

She had no words for that. It was unusual for her, especially since the Calamity’s defeat, to be at a loss of words, but she had no guarantees for him, no promises to make. It was clear then that life had a cruel way of tearing them apart.

But at the very least, they were good at finding each other again.

So then, she’d simply encompassed his hand with both of hers and raised it to her lips. “I will always come back to you,” she vowed. He took a moment just to treasure the feeling, the familiarity, and the weight of her hands.

“I won’t rest until you do.”

[obsidiangst]

To Catch The Moon - Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of To Catch The Moon is out now! Read it on Ao3: link

Chapter art is by @between-star

[aegon-targaryen]

The Rise Before the Fall

read on AO3

Zelda cannot remember the last time Link sheathed the Master Sword.

She watches gore and Malice drip into an earth already saturated with both. It’s all she can see, just like the cold rain sliding down her neck and the blisters splitting her feet are all she can feel. Some of that blood must be Link’s. But he won’t stop. He’s only paused long enough to survey Blatchery Plain.

“We have to circle back,” she says numbly.

His fingers dig into the bark of the massive oak that conceals them from the Guardians. A gust of wind smatters their faces with rain. Someone screams from the battlefield, a thin sound of mortal terror that climbs down Zelda’s throat to seize her heart before it falls abruptly silent.

Link turns his head to look at her.

“North,” she insists. “Then south again to Kakariko…”

He points. Three Guardians crawl out of the dark mouth between the Dueling Peaks. A fourth follows moments later. The Calamity is right behind them.

“There has to be another way. We’ll never make it across that field.”

“We will,” Link decides. The words are rough and quiet, his first in hours, yet filled with that absolute certainty she once mistook for arrogance. “The road’s too open. Go east until the forest ends. Then across the field, there’s more cover on that side. The Guardians will be on me and on the fort. You’ll have a clear path to that hill.” He points north. “And then you’re out of sight. Kakariko Bridge is on the other side.”

Zelda stares at him through the rain. He’s never spoken that many words so quickly or so clearly. But her sluggish mind still rejects them.

“We can’t go back,” Link says.

“We can!” Her voice sounds shrill and childish. “I’m going back, and you’re coming with me!”

His left leg trembles beneath him when he shifts his weight off the tree. He studies his bloody clothes. His darkened blade. Her blistered ankles and useless hands. “I’ll meet you at the bridge,” he says finally. “Please, Zelda.”

“No! I can’t leave you. Don’t ask me to leave you!”

Link steps forward. His face is hard and focused like he’s already on the battlefield. One hand still clutches the sword. The other slides along her jaw. He shutters the violent blue of his eyes and presses his lips to hers.

It’s nothing like Zelda imagined, nothing like their first kiss should be. He’s burning. She’s freezing. When her hands come up around his body there’s no caution or gentleness, just raw desperation. Link shivers breathlessly in a way that has nothing to do with romance and everything to do with his broken ribs. They’re drowning in the rain, in the screams coming from Fort Hateno, in each other.

All she can think is that she waited too long. She should have kissed him when he pulled her out of the Spring of Power and enveloped her cold hands in his. When he climbed through her bedroom window with a stolen fruitcake and a wolfish smile. When he sank into stone-faced silence to escape it all. When he ignored their crumbling kingdom to let her pour seventeen years of grief into his muddy tunic.

But she’s too late. They only have this one moment, the rise before the fall, and Zelda ruins even that by sliding her hand too far down his side, where the tunic ends and his burns begin. Link makes a sound in the back of his throat, and he’s back in his ruined body, and she’s back to smelling his charred flesh.

“This is all I can do,” he says raggedly. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Zelda.”

She tries to hold onto him. To carry some of his weight. But Link is already pulling away. The last look he gives her is more open and more heartbroken than she could have ever imagined. Then he turns, and she does not understand how someone so damaged can move faster than the wind.

She clutches the tree. He disappears into the rain and the smoke. The world thins around her.

Stumbling away in the opposite direction is the hardest thing Zelda has ever done. Her legs went numb somewhere in Central Hyrule. Her mouth tastes of copper. Time slips by nonsensically. Mount Lanayru looms on the horizon, a cruel reminder of her last chance, her last moment with her friends.

She sees Mipha atop the waterfall, accepting a fate that would tear her away from her baby brother. Revali hiding his weakness at the flight range. Daruk trying to smile right before the end. Urbosa shoulder-to-shoulder with her mother, laughing the way they only ever laughed around each other. Her father’s silhouette on the ramparts, watching her leave for the Spring of Wisdom.

Zelda nears Fort Hateno in time to hear a tattered cheer rise up from its defenders as most of the Guardians move westward. All those men understand is that they’ve been granted a moment’s reprieve. They can’t know that somewhere amid the sparking pile of metal corpses, Link is trading his blood for Hyrule’s hope, just like he’s been doing since he was twelve years old.

Do you keep any hope for yourself? she asked him once. He only turned aside to hide the way his face cracked open, which was an answer all on its own.

He never expected to reach the bridge. He means to purchase Zelda’s life with his own.

She’s on her knees at the edge of the forest. Her path to the hill and the safety beyond it stands clear, as he promised, but the window is closing fast. If she makes it to Kakariko—and that seems a considerable if—what will she do? What use could she possibly be? This kingdom doesn’t need a failure of a princess.

Link does, if only so that he won’t die alone.

Zelda sprints back the way she came, keeping to the trees until her only choice is to strike out towards the maelstrom that separates her from him. Maybe he’ll hate her forever for discarding his wishes. She doesn’t care. Forever is drawing its final breath.

Link has turned the plain into a jumbled maze of dead Guardians, forcing the live ones to approach him over narrow, slippery terrain so he can pick them off and drop back into cover before his next move. Zelda feels a fierce surge of pride, to love and be loved by this boy who has retained his ruthless ingenuity against impossible odds and unimaginable fatigue. It’s almost enough to make her believe they still have a chance.

And then she sees him.

Little guy, Daruk always called him, and right now Link looks so small—a lonely figure soaked in mud and worse, trapped between the mountains of his fallen enemies. Desperate to see his face, Zelda’s mouth forms his name before she realizes he stands between her and a Guardian.

The machine compensates for its missing legs with an awkward shamble that would have invoked pity a few days ago. Now she watches it drag its dead weight around the bend and prays to a deaf Goddess that its roving gaze never falls upon Link.

But he’s waiting for just that. Pieces of him are missing. He clutches the sword between both hands and raises his head, assessing his dwindling options as the red laser fixes on his chest.

Then he moves. He’s still fast, but his legs buckle twice. He can’t possibly have the strength to end the enemy before it ends him. Zelda flounders through the freezing swamp, numb, breathless, blind.

As always, Link surprises her.

He throws himself at the Guardian, his foot finding purchase in the hollow place left behind by one of its missing legs, his fingers seizing hold of some groove that gets him onto its body. And somehow—despite his injuries, despite the slippery surface, despite the laser following his every move—Link hauls himself hand over hand up the metal shell.

Zelda stumbles forward. She can’t reach him in time. She can only watch.

The Master Sword plunges into the Guardian’s eye at the same moment the laser fires.

Link screams.

The world explodes with blinding heat. Through a cloud of steaming rain, Zelda sees him hit the ground rolling. The machine twitches and sparks and slumps over dead, but Link is not dead, he can’t be dead, not him, not the only thing she has left in the world.

Her knees sink into the swamp. She doesn’t feel it; she doesn’t feel anything. Especially not the unbearable heat radiating off him or the blackened shreds of his tunic flaking away as she turns him onto his back. Her hands roam over him helplessly, trying to stave off the blood, to piece him back together.

Link’s fingers twitch around the hilt of the sword.

Zelda gasps his name and his eyes fly open, wide and blue and panicked against his filthy face. He heaves out a horrible, sanguine cough that lasts eternities and breaks every part of Zelda that wasn’t already broken.

“Link, I’m here,” she sobs. “Can you hear me? Can you look at me?”

He tries. His eyes are glassy and unfocused. His lips part over crimson teeth. She cradles the unburned side of his face, hunching over his body to hide him from the miasmic light flickering in her peripheral vision.

“Zelda,” Link whispers faintly.

The first time he spoke her name, it was a new beginning, a light shining through the cracked surface of her. He says it like an end now, choked out between reedy gasps. But all at once, Zelda realizes she did not come here to die with him. She came here to save him, the way he saved her with every smile and every swing of the Master Sword and every stolen piece of time.

“Go,” he begs.

“Not without you,” she vows. “Get up.”

Link looks up at her despairingly. His breaths stutter out of him as if dragged by a hook. Malice cuts through the rain, drawing closer.

Zelda kisses him. This one is so brief and so soft and tastes entirely of blood. Link’s eyes remain closed after she pulls back, tears and rain carving clean tracks down his face. For a terrifying moment, she thinks: He’s gone. I finally killed him.

But his hands slide through the mud, bracing as much weight as he can bear, and together they get him upright. Through sobs of pain, her knight—her dauntless, lionhearted Link—stabs his sword into the marshy earth and levers himself onto one knee while blood and charred cloth and burnt skin slough away from his body.

Despite everything, Zelda feels an infinitesimal spark of hope. “Now run, Link. Save yourself. I’ll distract it—I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me—"

The Guardian crawls closer and closer to their pocket of safety. In one impossible movement, Link surges to his feet, his blade springing free from the muck as he staggers back. Death rattles through his lungs.

The machine’s spindly legs fold up and over the last barrier. Zelda blinks and sees Ganon in its place, all fog and fury, teeth baring for the kill. She has one thought as the red beam slices through the endless rain: It was all for nothing.

Link doesn’t run. He doesn’t lift his blade. He doesn’t look back. Everything he wants to tell her is there in his unbroken stance, in the defiant set to his chin, in the pure ferocity of his eyes. They flash to Zelda in terror when she steps in front of him, but he’s given his answer to the silent question that has loomed over them both since they were born. So she gives hers.

It sears up from a place she didn’t know existed, bright and visceral and real, filling her up and blazing forth to rend the fabric of the world. Zelda erupts into gold. Nothing in her life has ever felt so right.

But even that comes too late.

.

.

.

[summonerluna]

Word Count: 6906

A few Hateno NPCs make an appearance, and more dreams.

The last time she looked at one of these shrines, she had little hope of ever understanding them. Now, there’s a shrine that’s active and right next to Link’s house. She can wait a few more days before she finally gets to look inside, to see what knowledge or trials were barred from her so long ago.

She is so distracted thinking about the shrine she only half pays attention as Link leads her the rest of the way into town, and she jumps a little when a booming voice calls out, “Hello there!”

Zelda stops walking, but Link takes a few steps towards a tall, broad-shouldered man who waves to them from in front of a large garden. He has a thick beard and a friendly face, and his voice is loud and filled with enthusiasm.

“Who’s your friend?” the man asks.

All thoughts of the shrine vanish. Zelda looks at Link, and his slightly widened eyes reflect her panic.

How am I going to introduce myself?!

[iti-iskuna]

Mo's Zelink Week 2024 Master List!

damn sorry I'm late. yeah I'm walking in with coffee. what about it. anyways, here's a handy dandy list of all the fics I wrote for Zelink Week 2024, for easy access!

Day 1: Under the Stars -- The Wisdom to Know the Difference

Day 2: Fading -- In Every Shade of Blue

Day 3: Blooming -- To Sow You Back Up Like a Garden

Day 4: Enchantment -- Somebody to Love

Day 5: Spellbound -- head empty

Day 6: Sealed Fate -- Upon the Face of Fate

Day 7: Reunion -- no thoughts

thank you all SO so much for all the love you've shown me this week. you all rock my world! and a special thank you for @zelinkcommunity for putting this all together, thank you all for your service fr. zelink be upon ye all <3333

(p.s. i did end up coming up with ideas for days 5 and 7, even if i didn't get to writing them. i may try to write them this week as late submissions, or just write them at a later date for fun, so stay tuned!)

[uncleskyrule]

If I add it as a new chapter, then previous readers who subbed can see it & my fic will show up again earlier in search results which equals more people get to see it.

If I add it just within the body of the work, only new readers will know about it if they find my fic through filtering methods.

If I upload it as its own work, new readers can find it, but are less likely to click on it because it won't have any stats, which many readers care about.

Ultimately, I just want to share my stories with as many ppl as possible, but I don't want to clutter the search results or my own works list. What do y'all think? I'm open to suggestions.

[lily-alphonse]

New Chapter! (3) Time After Time

Zelda's hands were sweating, gripping her rolled script as if it could be her flower wreath.  She looked at Link. He was watching the other knights. Despite how handsome his face was, it wasn’t the same when he wasn’t smiling. It seemed he was really quite stoic much of the time.  Look at me, she willed. She wanted to imagine she was bestowing her favor onto him. For whatever reason, it felt right, if she was to truly embody her character. If she were a real princess, she would want Link for a knight.

-- Excerpt from Ch 3

Read Time After Time on AO3, a modern (renfaire) AU Zelink fic

Zelda always loved the renaissance faire. Since she was a girl, she dreamed of being a princess in the joust and becoming a part of the fairytale magic. Now on her summer break from university, she has a chance to do just that. When she meets the knights who'll vie for her favor in the jousting tournament, everything changes. Could life really be like the fairytales?

No spoilers for any game it is a complete AU and fandomblind-safe, even. This work is rated T. Additional tags listed on AO3.

[syndxlla]

best friends don’t look at each other the way we do

A low stakes, high rewards and self-indulgent Zelink fanfic. Canon-compliant, takes place between BOTW and TOTK

chapter three: She is beautiful, I am a mess

Read chapter two here

My masterlist

Song: Lights are On by Tom Rosenthal

Summary: Link processes his destiny while Zelda slowly recovers. Link meets with an old friend, and realizes how much he wants to Zelda in his life.

Warnings: PTSD, implied self-harm, illness, trauma

Word Count: 3.3k words

Authors note: The last line of this? Scrumptious. I ate that up. Also I’m going to start doing different pieces of art/gifs at the start of each chapter mostly so I can see the differences in the notifications! Thanks for all the support! Everyone has been so kind this is easily the most supportive fan base I’ve ever written for.

Link doesn’t leave her side the entire night, yet again. He sits on a stool pushed against the bed, and watches as she breathes in the sleep. He refuses to sleep, which means he’s gone about four days now with very little actual rest. This normally wouldn’t be a problem, but fighting Ganon on the second day of that no sleep schedule has really taken a toll on his physical health.

In his quiet contemplation as Zelda rested, the weight of what just happened set in. His heart rate rose as he remembered the sight of the Calamity, its spider-like body dripping with malice and disgust as it sneered at him. The stench is still pungent in his memory, his bad ear still beats with the blood that filled his body as he faced his destiny for a second time. He’s supposed to be courageous, unafraid and rarely daunted by his fate, but in reality he’s terrified.

Link doesn’t think he’ll ever forget the feeling in his bones as witnessed by the beast. How he felt paralyzed, how the night before he prayed to the Goddess that he wouldn’t wake up. Make someone else do it, please.

He could never admit this to anyone, and even struggles to admit it to himself. If he’s supposed to be the closest thing to the God of Bravery, why does he feel like such a pathetic coward most of the time? Maybe it was his reckless abandon that caused his status, or the fact that he’s so desensitized to the horrors of his knighthood. But those things do not equate to courage.

What even was courage, he asks himself.

He looks at Zelda. “She is beautiful”, he thinks “I am a mess”.

Link places a nervous thumb to her jaw with trepidation. He gently holds her face, soft enough that it wouldn’t wake her. Her skin is so soft, her eyelashes so gentle, her breathing even. Does she have any idea how beautiful she is when she sleeps?

When day finally breaks, Link realizes how cold it’s gotten in the house, and he takes the brave step of leaving the sleeping princess to build a fire in the hearth. He does so quickly, using a fire arrow. He pulls on a warm shirt, and quickly returns upstairs to Zelda.

She was awake, looking up at him.

“You should keep sleeping.” He whispers.

She groans, “Why did you leave?” She was aware enough to tell?

“I built a fire.” Link explains, "It's cold.”

“Oh.” Zelda whispers, “I am cold.”

Link crosses to his dresser and pulls out a woven blanket from the bottom drawer, draping it over her and the blanket she already had. She whispers thank you. ”Did you dream?” Link asks.

Zelda nods.

“It was me and my mom, we were eating and laughing together.” She describes and Link smiles. He places his hand against her forehead, and feels that she’s burning up. Of course she has a fever, that would cause her body to have the chills, that on top of a cold house wasn’t a good fit.

“How are you feeling?” He asks, vocalizing from a whisper for the first time.

Zelda thinks about it for a moment, she’s so snuggled up in the blankets all he can see is her face. “I’m not sick.” She states. Link is skeptical, but he nods.

“Go back to sleep.”

“Are you going to leave me again?” She asks.

“I might. I think I’ll go into town and get some things from the market, and I should probably send a message to Impa that we’re alive.” Link explains. Zelda frowns.

“I’m scared to be alone again.”

Link frowns, “You’ll be okay. But you need to sleep, your body is trying to recover from-“ He stops himself, he doesn't need to explain any further.

“You need sleep, too.” Zelda replies. She was right.

“I’ll be fine.” He shrugs it off. “But you need to promise me that you’ll be okay if I leave for a few hours, alright?”

Zelda groans, “You’ll come back, right?”

“Of course.”

It’s a few more hours before he leaves, he waits until Zelda falls back asleep, and it’s mid-morning when he finally does. He makes his way into Hateno Village, which is as lively as ever. He first stops in at the general store, buying a few essential items, and telling the store keeper about where he was last.

“You’re telling me you got rid of that thing at Hyrule Castle?” He asks, skeptical. Link just nods and shrugs as he examines a swift carrot. Like it was no big deal. The man laughs behind the counter, “And you lived to tell the tale? I don’t believe it.” He scoffs.

Link sets his items on the table between them, digging out a handful of rupees. “Well, I lived to tell the tale of Naydra last year, you all witnessed that, didn’t you?”

“I suppose… but that thing at the castle is a legend, I never even saw it. Just got told ghost stories of it as a boy.” His voice was gruff.

Link smiles, “whatever you want to believe, you don’t have to believe me.” Link sets to rupees down.

“That’s more than the cost.” The man states.

“Keep it.” Link pushes it towards him before putting his items in his pouch. “Use it to fix your roof, I saw it was leaking.”

The man smiles, “you’re always so good to us, Link. This village owes you.”

“You don’t owe me anything, except maybe your trust. The story will spread and rumors will, too.” Link turns to leave, but stops just outside of the door, speaking over his shoulder. “It wasn’t a ghost either, it was a spider-like thing that hatched out of a cocoon with giant axes and swords.” Link opens his arms up to show the size, “Probably at least the size of three oxen!” The shopkeeper's face goes pale, “But that wasn’t even the hard part!” Link starts to smile mischievously, “Then we took the battle onto Hyrule Field, and he turned into a massive pig. As big as a house, or bigger.”

The owner was dumbfounded, unable to reply at first, but then he shook his head, “You have quite the imagination, Link!” He chuckles and waves him off. Link just grins as he exits the shop.

He makes his way up the mountain to Purah and Symin’s, making a stop at the farm to pet the cows and help the owner with a broken fence post in trade for some milk. It was about noon now, and he wasn’t expecting to take as long to get to the Tech Lab, but the fence was absolutely destroyed. The farmer didn’t know what caused it, but it certainly wasn’t a cow…

The light on the Hateno valley is warm and inviting. It will be the harvest soon. Link had missed his days here. Early on after he woke up, he spent weeks at a time in this little village. Mostly because he was still too poor to afford sleeping anywhere other than his home. It was a safe home base for him when he was freeing the divine beasts. It wasn’t until he had laid his friends' spirits to rest that he became the wild child of the forest he was now. The last year or so he stopped spending more than a few days anywhere, it was the anxiety of the upcoming battle he kept avoiding that caused him to become such a nomad. He learned that it was always free to sleep in trees.

He gets to the lab, and before he can even open the door, Purah is swinging the door open. “Linky! You’re alive!” She cheers, looking up at him.

”I am,” Link replies with a smile, “and Zelda is, too.”

Purah smiles wide, her eyes becoming fiery, “Incredible. Is she okay!” She opens the door for Link, he enters the messy-as-usual lab, setting his sack of goodies down on the table.

“I don’t know…” Link shakes his head, “She’s very tired all the time, and she passed out quite unexpectedly last night.” He sighs. “I’m actually rather worried about her.” He admits. “It took me a long time to wake her up after she passed out, too. Longer than it should have.” Purah walks over to the table before climbing on top of it to Link’s eye-level.

“But she’s alive! And I’m assuming her body has been preserved, no?”

“It has, she doesn’t look a day over seventeen. But her spirit and her mind has changed, she’s tired.”

“Aren’t we all…” Purah shakes her head, “But no one as much as her.” She shrugs, “I would love to run some tests on you two, it might help me figure out my age issue.”

“More tests? I thought you said you were done with me?” Link groans.

“Nope, now that Zelda is here I want to take a sample of her DNA, too, and see if I can reverse-engineer it to cross with my DNA and get me back to my preferred physical age. I’m sick of this.” She gestures to her child-like state.

“When she’s feeling better I’ll ask her. I’m sure she’ll say yes, considering her love of science and all.”

“Alright Linky, what are you here for, I know you didn’t come to just talk, you always need something from me.” She teases.

“Alright Purah… don’t be mad.” He says as he reaches into his pouch to pull out a smashed and destroyed sheikah slate: the same one that got him through his quest.

Purah’s face goes white. “You did not just do that to an ancient piece of indestructible tech.” She reaches for it, taking the device in her hand and cringing.

“Well it wasn’t that indestructible, now was it?” Link asks with an awkward laugh.

“How?” Purah asks, traumatized.

“It happened while I fought Ganon, it kind of… exploded, and then he trampled it as a giant hog in Hyrule field.”

“That is…” She chooses her words carefully, “Epic, Linky.”

“You’re not mad?”

“No! But you’re gonna be when you can warp to sheikah hotspots. You’ll just have to go on foot like the rest of us. Speaking of, did you see what happened to the shrine in the ocean?”

“What?” He obviously didn’t.

“It sunk back into the ground, completely gone! Symin watched it happen! I’m curious about that happening to the other sheikah tech…” She gets lost in thought, and Link realizes that they all might disappear just as fast as they were found. “No one is gonna be more heartbroken about this than the Princess.” Purah finishes her thoughts.

“I’m hiding it from her. She can’t take a heart break in this state.” Link groans, sitting down in one of the chairs by the table. “Purah… I need you to send a message to Impa. I would go myself in person and be back by dinner but I can’t because the slate is gone. I know you sheikah have weird ways of communicating through distance, especially you sisters.” Link sighs.

“Oh she’ll beat you if you don’t go in person. You know how she is.”

“Yes. Which is why I am absolutely sick over this. But I can’t leave Zelda, she’s not okay, and I don’t know how long it’s going to be until she is.” He explains. “Impa can be mad at me all she wants, but she deserves to know that we are both alive and safe, and Ganon is not.”

Purah squints, “Fine. But you owe me.”

“As if saving the world wasn’t enough.” Link scoffs playfully.

“Hey! Don’t get cocky, no one likes a cocky hero. Besides, it’s not like you did it on your first try.” Purah jumps down from the table and Link’s entire body seizes. She freezes in her tracks when she realizes she said that out loud. She slowly turns around to see Link tense and unhappy. “Linky… I’m sorry I didn’t mean-“

He says nothing at first, “Is that what you guys say about me?”

“Link, we've always pushed each other's buttons like that.”

“It’s fine.” He sighs, it wasn’t fine. He signs, “I’m leaving. I don’t need anyone else’s shit.” He always signed when his emotions were at risk of betraying his words. He didn’t want to upset someone with his words. Purah isn’t very good at signs, but she gets the gist.

It was rare to see Link genuinely mad, especially at someone he cared about and knows is good. But that was out of line.

“Link…”

“Will you just tell Impa that we’re okay. Both of us. The calamity is gone and we’ll come visit as soon as we get our strength back.” He grabs his belongings and heads out.

“Wait-“ Purah tries to stop him but he leaves too fast. He takes a deep breath when he gets outside, looking out towards the sea. He walks towards the edge of the cliff, staring out at the horizon, letting the salty sea air blow on his skin. He looks where the shrine that lived in the water once was, and nothing was there but the original mound of island sand it sat on.

Back at home, Zelda is still in bed, and Link frowns when he sees her. He sits on his stool next to her, placing his hand against her forehead again. Her fever hasn’t broken.

“I’m home.” He whispers, and she stirs awake, her green eyes looking up at him. She smiles.

“I had the most wonderful dream.” She sighs. “We were at the beach, you and I, and Impa and Urbosa… and my mother.” Link worries that she dreams about those who have passed, he brushes some of her golden hair out of her face. “We looked at the water and listened to the seagulls. My mother was so beautiful and healthy, not like how she was when I remembered her.”

Zelda was very young when her mother died, and she was quite ill for the years leading up to her passing. Link remembered that, he remembered many of the things Zelda opened up to him about in their final days before The Calamity. “Do you want some water?” Link asks, she nods. He stands up, making his way to the well outside and scooping a bucket of it before coming back in. He finds her sitting up in bed.

“Did you get up all by yourself?” He asks with a smile. She nods, her face still pale and expression lost. She was much worse today. Link scoops some water out with a cup, and hands it to her. She shakily holds it in both hands, bringing the wooden mug up to her lips and sipping lightly. Link sits beside her this time, but he feels petrified.

In the last two days they've already crossed so many boundaries. He feels as though he has to be the stoic Knight from before, never looking at her for too long, not speaking unless spoken to, and especially not touching without explicit permission. That was a whole lifetime ago, however, and he’s barely the same person he was when those were the rules.

But even so, he can’t help but follow those roles that he keeps breaking. He shouldn’t see her in such a state: shirt too loose, eyes droopy, sighs so gentle and alluring it could tame a lynel.

He knows no one is watching them, no one is there to judge them, but he cannot bring himself to hold her hand as she shakes, even though he desperately wants to. Placing his hand on her head to check for temperature and burns in her hair from her face was already a serious breach of protocol, and yet when he did it, he felt so comfortable, so safe. He felt more like himself.

Maybe what’s holding him back is the knowledge that she didn’t lose her memories. To her, he is supposed to be that obedient servant.

He knows they got very close towards the end. Based on the memories he’s recollected, he knows they broke those rules far more than they should have. But it was always by Zelda’s instigation. She wanted him to place his hand on the small of her back as they walked, she asked him to lace up her goddess dress, she initiated the gentle touches and hugs of despair.

Now, he’s terrified of taking advantage of her in her sickly state, but he wants so badly to lie with her. To finally get some rest of his own, in his own bed, holding the girl he worked so tirelessly to rescue.

He wishes he could rest as a reward.

He reminds himself that her presence, safety and life is reward enough.

And goddess, is that a wonderful reward. Her weight sinking down the bed, her intoxicating smell, their shoulders just barely brushing. She was incredible, completing a feat that no one had ever come close to accomplishing, and here she was, in his home, in his bed, wearing his clothes.

Link's stomach flips, and he immediately forces himself to relax. Realizing how immature his though process was. This was a princess, not a girl in the Gerduo Brothel. He was confused.

“What are you thinking about?” She asks him, pulling him out of his rampant thoughts. He snaps back to reality.

“What?” He turns to see her looking up at him with her shiny eyes. “Oh…” He desperately wants to tell her, tell her that he’s thinking of her and only her. For three years he spent sleepless nights staring at the heavens and thinking about her. How he hungrily searched for every memory just to hear her voice, and how he took her diary out of the castle to read every page, even the ones that were scribbled with doodles and blacked-out poetry. He wanted to tell her that he fell for her the moment she told him to open-his-eyes, and when he finally remembered what she looked like, she was even prettier than what he imagined.

“…Horses.” He says, dumbfounded and foolish. She smiles.

“I’ve always admired how you loved them. You were the best rider in all of the guard, I fully believe it’s because of how gentle you were with them. They trusted you, which made them listen to you.”

The way she spoke was so thoughtful, so intelligent. Link catches himself accidentally looking at her lips, but yanks his eyes away.

“W-What were you thinking about?” He asks.

She looks off, swallowing thickly. Zelda then lifts her hand, holding it palm up, staring at it. Nothing happens.

“My gift isn’t working anymore.” She states. “I tried while you were getting the water, and look, nothing.” Zelda explains. Link looks at her hand, not knowing what he’s supposed to see.

Her hand is so soft, her fingers long and slender, her nails clean and rounded to perfection.

Her wrists are littered with old scars.

Link wants to take her hand. She sets it down in her lap, “I suppose that’s alright. I don’t need them anymore.”

“What was it like?” Link asks. “In that castle.” Zelda shudders. “You don’t have to say.” Link states.

Zelda carefully constructs her words, “Cold. All the time I was cold. I wasn’t conscious usually, but I wasn’t… unconscious either. I know it makes no sense. I was in a sort of trance. Time seemed to move at a rapid pace while also simultaneously standing still.” She looks at him, rotating her body to face him, he mirrors her.

“Did he ever… say anything?” Link asked.

Zelda nodded, “In the beginning he would whisper constantly, but it was an ancient language I didn’t understand. The longer time went on, the more tired he got, but the wiser I became. He spoke less, and I was able to pick up on certain words and phrases. He didn’t expect me to last as long as I did, that’s for certain.”

Link listens intently, “How did you do it, last so long?” He asks.

Zelda’s big, green eyes meet his. She takes his hand with hers.

“Because I knew one day you would wake up.”

—

Read Chapter four here

[demiboydemon]

Writing an angsty fic rn and I’m going to get rid of this but it made me laugh (it’s only going to be another 1,500 words if I meet my word goal though rip 🥲 I’ll let y'all know if I make it)

[athena-theunicorn]

I'm screaming y'all.

I just got my first ever fanart for my fic and I-

STFU ITS INCREDIBLE? I'M IN LOVE WITH THEM ACTUALLY. ITS EXACTLY HOW I PICTURED IT BUT BETTER? AND SHES WEARING THE RINGGGGG I CANT BELIEVE THEY REMEMBERED AHHHH. i HAVEN'T STOPPED SMILING IM SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL. I CANTTTTTTT TAKE IT AHHHHHHHH

The wonderful Chihua_draws made if for me on Twitter! Go follow them! Show them all the love they deserve!

Oh, and go read the most recent chapter of Between Them if you want context for this beautiful drawing :)

[zelink5ever]

🎄❄

[liv-andletdie]

Zelink Week 2024 - Reunion

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Fandoms: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of Kingdom Relationships: Link/Zelda (Legend of Zelda) @zelinkcommunity

Summary: Post Totk. Zelda and Link finally arrive home ready to rest. But memories and feelings continue to plague her, making her wonder if she is still the same person as she used to be.

(Companion piece to Fading and Blooming)

Ao3 Link [x]

---

The journey home had taken longer than either of them would have preferred. A few days spent walking or riding across the Hyrulean countryside had left the two of them exhausted. It was only the last dregs of adrenaline and sheer determination that pulled them through the gates of Hateno and back over the bridge to their little cottage. 

The sight of it made Zelda want to cry. 

She’d been doing that more recently? Crying? She could remember heavy grieving tears rolling over her cheeks, could remember the feeling of them as they fell and crashed into the ground below. 

She’d been so high up. 

They slowed to a stop by the front door, Link pulling gently on Epona’s reins. He had led the horse like that for days, one hand on leather straps, the other resting against the mare’s neck. He had kept the two of them going, murmuring soft words as their energy flagged, small encouragements. We’re almost there, we’re almost home. Zelda had been propped up by saddle bags, resting on the steed’s back. 

Turning back to look at her, Link patted her gently on the knee, in a silent request. She complied, shifting her hips and legs so that she could slide off of Epona’s flank. Link was quick to catch her, holding her against his chest in a bridal carry. She rested her head against his shoulder, eyes fixed on the pulse jumping under his skin. 

Alive.

He was alive. 

A fresh wave of tears hit her like a kick to the chest, and she hid her face in the crook of his neck, shaking arms coming up to wrap around his shoulders. She felt him stiffen for a second, a faint gasp escaping his throat, before he crushed her tighter to him, his fingerprints leaving bruises on the back of her knee. 

He started walking then, the world moving around her. She felt weightless, like she was flying again. The memory settled sourly in her stomach. She tried to block it out, to focus only on Link’s steady breathing, his long blond hair tickling her nose, his voice right next to her ear saying ”You’re safe. You’re home. We’re home.”

He carried her to the garden, the smell of safflina’s perfuming the air, and began to lower her down. He sat her by the old apple tree, her spine resting against rough bark. She had watched this tree be planted, it was older than her. 

Link began to pull away, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of her head. “I’ll be right back,” he promised, tilting her head to look at him. “I just need to get something, okay?” 

She nodded, watching unfocused as he made his way to the well, climbing down and disappearing behind the grey stone walls. 

And then she was alone. 

She sat, against the tree, next to the flowerbeds that they had built. It felt like millenia ago, but she knew it had to have only been a year since she sat with Link here. Dirt under her nails, plans for a pumpkin patch brewing between them. Yes. Yes, a year was right. Maybe a little longer? … how long had she been gone? What had she missed? 

She shifted uncomfortably against the tree. Her body felt wrong. Two legs, two arms, blunt teeth. She was smaller now, too small. No. The right size. She had been too big before. Too long and unwieldy. Her teeth pointed and sharp in her mouth. She had felt wrong. 

She had to have felt wrong. 

She ran her tongue over her teeth then, and she began to shake. Her fangs were gone, but she could still taste that Man’s blood in her mouth. She had bitten him, torn at his flesh, and clawed the scales of his underbelly. If she checked under her nails would she find pieces of him there too? How much of that murderer had she carried with her back to her home? To Link’s home! 

Her Link, he had held her, carried her to safety, and all the while their enemy was littered over her skin. She wanted to scream, to rip the flesh from her body and fly away. Retreat back into the sky and hide there. She didn’t want to be here, sat in too tight skin next to flowers she planted thousands of years ago. She wanted to go home. 

Where was home? 

Here. It was here, in Hateno with the school and her studies. In the house she shared with Link. In their bed, at their table. She had lived here for years. Her and Link, husband and wife. That was home. Not the cold and distant sky above her. Not the endless silent void, not the blue and black and red that reaches up and up far above her. Not the never ending horizon. 

This was home. 

Please let this still be home. 

She wrapped her arms around herself, short nails biting into the meat of her biceps. Her claws should draw blood. The thought was absent and jarring and, as she pressed closer, unwavering. 

The idea that something was wrong, that her shape does not match who she is, will not leave her alone. It had plagued her for days - since she first woke up in his arms, stripped of her armour. She had been trying to ignore it for his sake, for her own. 

But it won’t leave her. 

The doubt cuts her like a knife, sinking in like a rot. Tears began to fall, running down her cheeks and neck, her mouth hanging open in silent sobs. 

Is she the same Zelda who planted these flowers? 

That Zelda did not know the pain of transformation. That Zelda had not yet met and grown to love Sonia or Rauru, she had not yet lost them. That Zelda had not sacrificed herself. That Zelda was the one Link had loved. 

How could he love her now? 

She was so different from the woman she was before. Broken now, a dragon in Hylian skin. Fundamentally changed. Her bones were too big for her body, her teeth didn’t fit in her skull. She had been remade. 

That’s how Link found her. 

She didn’t notice him at first, lost as she was in her own tumbling mind. His crashing footsteps shaking the earth went unheard as he dropped to his knees next to her. 

“Zelda,” he gasped, his hands pressing against hers, pulling them from her arms and the angry red welts that she had left there. “Zelda, breathe,” he pushed her hair from her face, wiping away the tears on her cheeks. “Please, breathe for me.” 

She took a shaking gulp, letting herself be pulled into him. “I’m scared,” she sobbed, wrapping her arms around him, feeling him warm and alive under her palms. His skin was littered with new scars and old. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’m so scared, Link.” 

“You’re okay,” he was shaking too. “You’re going to be okay now. We’re home.” He pulled his head back, catching her eyes. He looked so determined, so sure, his bright blue eyes focused entirely on her, pinning her in place. “It’s over now,” he tucked her hair behind her ear, his thumb bumping against the zonai earring she wore. “We’re safe now.” 

Relief hit her like a wave, her body going limp in his arms. The fight, the adrenaline, the never ending pressure that had kept her going for the past hundreds of thousands of years, finally leaving her. 

It’s over.

It’s over.

It’s over.

They sat by the tree for hours, wrapped up in each other's arms, listening to the world around them. The birds singing, the wind rushing through the branches, the goats braying softly in the distance. Life. All around them, life. 

And they talked. When the strength returned to them, they talked. Her about the past, her King and Queen, they love they had given her. Him about the present, the people of Hyrule banding together to help fight, the Champions standing by his side. 

The sun had nearly set when Zelda perked up, head tilting in confusion as something occurred to her. “You said you were going to get something?” 

Link looked back at her for a second, deciphering her words, before laughing quietly. Being careful not to let go of her, he leant to the side, his arm reaching out to grab something. When he returned she could see a shallow nursery tray in his hand, two tiny green shoots poking up out of the dirt. 

“I figured you would find this interesting,” he said, passing the tray to her. She could see two markers, each written in his hand. Silent Princess, and Sundelion.

“You said that they were her favourite,” he whispered, voice low and soothing like a lullabye. “I think it’s time for us to finish our flower bed, don’t you?”

A little piece of her family, finally home, finally together. 

Looking at him, she found she didn’t have the words to thank him. 

“Yes,” She took a deep breath. “Yes, let’s show them to their new home.” 

Fin

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