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linksthoughtbrambles · 2 months ago

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[Things Forgotten. Things Left Behind.]

Part 20 of Adventure Log+ (sequel to Link's Thought Brambles - best to read in order, also on ao3). Warning for strong language. Small edit 5/27/25.

“Two of them?”

“Finn- you’re not gonna believe this.”

“I sure don’t.”

“Enough, Arsden, we know.”

“My- Goddess’ clear skies- where the hell did you find them?”

“Clinging to the canyon wall.”

“Jessrel was right.”

“Kid’s got sharp eyes.”

“Kph. Lucky for him. He’d be out of a job.”

"Ha hahaha!" "Hehuhuh." "Can't fight for s%!^."

"I dunno. The sh!^^iest lookout in Hyrule could've seen that bloody plume."

"Smelled it, too."

"Eventually."

"The boy was paying close attention, to see these two against it."

“Fff- ooohh…”

“…It’s bad.”

“I can see that.”

“Think he’ll live?”

“Depends how sick he gets.”

“What about her?”

“She looks better off, but get them out of the cold. Infirmary’s ready.”

“KhHHHhhhhh-hh-khh.”

“…She been doing that in her sleep?”

“Yeah.”

“The smoke.”

“…Get them in quick.”

“Khhh-hh. KhhHHHHhh.”

“She bring anything up? …I’ll have a look-“

“Ah- Finn?”

“Yes sir.”

“That’s… Princess Zelda.”

“You’re having me on.”

“I’m not.”

“Then she’s having you on.”

“Doubt it. Look what she had-“

“The guy’s Link.”

“…No.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Do not- don’t joke about that.”

“I’m not.”

“The hell you’re not! You keep that garbage to yourself-“

“Finn-“

“- around the Commander, my Goddess! What the f#$&-“

“Finn.”

“-is wrong with you?!”

“Finn, he’s not joking.”

“It isn’t possible.”

“Maybe it is.”

“A man on his deathbed doesn’t get up and race across the Irch Plain to throw himself into a raging wildfire. Stop f#$*ing with me and get him on the table.”

“B-“

“Hennig, just- leave it.”

“...Yes, Captain.”

“Inappropriate horses#&^.”

“Watch the corner-“

“I’ve got it.”

“There and there. Shirts off.”

“B- but if she’s the Prin-“

“So what if she is? Shirt off or she dies.”

“Okay… okay OKAY, I’m doing it…”

“Ah-“

“Yeah let’s just- turn around. Allim, tell them to get two of the guest rooms ready.“

“Yes, Captain.”

“Goddess, it’s like- cheesecloth- stuck in the rind.”

“Just pull.”

“It’s sealed in.”

“Pull it out. It stays, it festers.”

“Ff-ffffff-oh-j-ff-“

“He’s out real good.”

“Uch.”

“Be glad he is. Burns hurt. Cleaning them hurts more.”

“Kh-kh-khk-hhhhKHKHkh-

“Cloth.”

“Got it.”

“-hhh-khhHHhhh.”

“…Not as dark as I’dve thought.”

“She might’ve coughed a lot up already.”

“Nostrils?”

“Sooty.”

“Temda, scrub her. Ollik, start on the pants.”

“Oh man.”

“Temda’ll scrub, just get the clothes off.”

“Yeah.”

“Mik, scrub the- boy. Saren, pants.”

“Yessir.”

“Be ready to knock them out if you have to.”

“Hennig.”

“Captain?”

“Quietly… get Jessrel in here.”

“Wh- what’d he do wrong?”

“Sh- sh. Nothing. He’s seen Link close up, right?”

“Right, right-”

“And tell the stablemaster to saddle Fleet. If that’s Link, I want her on the road with Welsirc in half an hour. With any luck, the snow’ll have slowed the Commander down.”

“It’ll slow Fleet, too.”

“Maybe he cut a nice path for her with that massive horse of his. Go.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“KhHH-m-mGH-hhoOhh!”

“Ether, ether!”

“S-sirs! I… hhhh… hh.”

“That’s it.”

“Hope he doesn’t do that. He’s all muscle.”

“Should I use it on him? Keep him out?”

“No. Only if he stirs.”

----

“Mmm. M-khHHh-h- hh- hh-h. Wh? Oh-hhh. OH-hhh? Link?”

“Link? … L-…hhh-kh-h-khhhHhh. Mgh-hh. Ghuh. …Hello? I… H-khHHHh-k-hhh.”

“Ohh-h. Oh. Godd- essffFFFF! Hhhhh-hhhhh. Hhhhhhh-hhhh. …Persevere. Hhhh-hhhhh.”

“Khh-h! Hh… hh. GMp-whhh. …Ff-fh.”

“KhhHHHh. Mpgh. Keep it- in. Mgh.”

“-oughing again.”

“Yeah.”

“Finn.”

“Yes?”

“Am I good to go?”

“Yes. Lee’ll take over in a minute.”

“Thanks.”

"Anyway, there- there've gotta be people thousands of times worse off than them."

"…Well… dead's worse."

"W- well, yeah but- these ones made it here without being dead, so..."

"…Allim. Did anyone dead make it here?"

"No. It's too bad."

"…Why?"

"We- could've helped them."

"…I see."

"It'll take so long for the Commander to get there."

"He won't go that way."

"Oh! Oh, right."

“D’you think Welsirc’ll catch up?”

“Part of me hopes not. It doesn’t make sense.“

“What doesn't?”

“Them.”

“Oh, that. Y-yeah. …Captain thinks it could be them.”

“He can think what he likes, but I don’t know anything about the royalty’s possessions or- bloody magic. I'm not sure he does, either.”

“…It… would sure be strange. If- if they’re here.”

“Strange isn’t a strong enough word.”

“That sword, though. THAT’S strange.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s the right sword.”

“What sword is it, then?”

“You’ve heard the reports, same as me. How they can make things look wrong.”

“H-”

"What-?"

"O- oh? Oh. OH."

“Ff!“

“GhkhhHHHHHhhh-hh-“

"Woah!"

“Ma’am, back in your room.”

“-hhHHHhhkh-whKH-“

“I have to insist.”

“Wh-ere is- khH-hh-Link?”

“…He’s across the hall sleeping.”

“KhHh-h.”

“Like he should be.”

“Hh-hh. We mustn’t be separated.”

“P- ah- Princess, we- we can’t-“

“Then I shall.”

“Prin- cess, you’re- not dressed for- the hall-”

“That is utterly inconsequential.”

“The, uh, guards can- can see you-”

“They’ll survive the experience, I daresay.”

“Ma’am, with all respect-“

“KhhHHh-hh.”

“-back up and return to your room and the seat you woke on. Right now.”

“I will not.”

“…You need rest.”

“I nkHHh- need to see Link.”

“Nothing to miss. He hasn’t woken.”

“I mustn’t leave him alone.”

“He’s not alone.”

“Five people have attempted to murder us in as many days. I flatly refuse to be apart from him, eKHhe-specially if he is khHhincapahkhcitated.”

“I thKhhH- ank you for your assistance, your hospitality, and your attention to ouKHhhr- wounds, but I shall-hh- force my way through you if I must, to be at his side.”

“…There’s no need for that.”

“Then why bar my path?”

“If you insist… we’ll bring him in to you.”

“I am capable of walking ten paces.“

“You need that lounge behind you, and he needs his. Your room’s bigger.”

“Khh. Khh-hh. …I am well enough. If moving him would harm him-“

“That’s the least of his worries.”

“Allim- Lee, good. Come on. Please sit, ma’am.”

“Hhf.”

“KhhHh-hhh. …KhhHHHh.”

“You forgot to call her Princess.”

“Fhh. Lee- okay. Got it? …One. Two. Three.”

“Gh.” “Ff.”

“Khh-hh-kh-kh.”

“The door-“

“Got it.”

“Ghg.”

“Ah!”

“Watch it.”

“His arm-“

“It’s fine.”

“Hh-! Khh-hhKHHhh.”

“Ma’am, I’ll ask you again to please sit down.”

“Hh. Hhh-hh.”

“In, in, watch the- WATCH- the elixirs-“

“Oo- s$%@-.”

“Nothing spilled, just get him in. …Good, good. Down.”

“Hh-h-“

“No- ma’am, stay in your seat.”

“Link.”

“F- ph. Holding his hand won’t heal him any faster.”

“His wounds are not my only concern.”

“He can’t feel you. He’s out.”

“Where is the Slate?”

“Thought you were worried about him.”

“I am.”

“…It’s in that nook. O- no, ma’am-“

“Do not bar my path.”

“Allim will get it. Just… stay down at least. Stop shifting those bandages.”

“…Thank you.”

“What are you doing?”

“It is difficult to explain. And… perhaps unwise to do so.”

“Is that so?”

“…It is.”

"You seem disappointed.”

“I do not see what I’d hoped to.”

“He’s not feverish. …Yet.”

“Then youkhHh-hh… expect he shall be.”

“Both of you. You need rest.”

“I am well enough.”

“You’re not well. You see how he’s laying? That’s how you should be.”

“I quite underst-ha-khHHhh-hh-“

“Mh.”

“-khhh-khkh-khhhHhhh- hhh-hh. Hhh-hh.”

“…Up.”

“I-“

“Up- and back in your seat-”

“I have no wish to be manhandled.”

“Ma’am, I am respectfully insisting you not hinder your own recovery.”

“And you believe forcing me over to that couch to be beneficial?”

“I believe you agonizing over him while you kneel on a cold floor is worse than laying propped like he is and sleeping under a fur.”

“And what is to stop me from returning to the floor when you leave?”

“You’d regret it when the fever sets in, faster and higher than it would’ve been.”

“…Hh-h.“

“Come on. …Gh.”

“…You’re difficult to move, aren’t you?”

“...There is a far more gentlemanly course of action you could take, sir, than your continued pressure on my bicep.”

“Offense is not my intention.”

“Indeed. Nor is it your impact.”

“…I don’t follow.”

“Disapproval, sir. That is the state your behavior has engendered. The man sleeping here would never behave so.”

“He’d let you kill yourself?”

“He would not be so narrow-minded.”

“Pfh. …What will it take to get you to lay down, stay warm, and not ruin your dressings?”

“You cakHHhn- move my couch to there.”

“We, uh. Should’ve- thought of that-“

“Shh.”

“Fh. Allim, Lee.”

“Yes sir.” “Got it.”

“I thank you, sirs.”

“Am I allowed to help you into it or will you disapprove of that, too?”

“I believe I would prefer your associate’s help.”

“…Uh. H-here.”

“Thank you.”

“KhhHHHHHHh-hh-KHh-h. Hh.”

“…Izie’ll be in to feed you. Then-"

"Oh-hh-"

"…Ma'am?"

"The plain. The Irch Plain- you must send-!"

"A team's handling it already."

"Oh-hh. They have my thanks, in that case. Those people ahkHhre-hh- khhHHHHHhhh-hh. Gghm. Hh. They- are in most dire need of aid. We've no idea where most of Serenne's inhabitants are, though some of the children fled eastward—and we believe some of the townsfolk traveled belowground. The knights and soldiers accompanying us were scattered in the attack."

"Attack?"

"There were all manner of foul creatures on that plain last night. Or- or prior, I- I'm not sure-"

"The Captain picked you up this afternoon."

"Last night, then. There were creatures whose hands emerged from the ground to grip and strangle in the dark. Bokoblin riders. Moblins. A lynel with a man-"

"Lynel."

"With a rider—a powerful magician. Yes. He appears to have turned some of the plain's inhabitants into monsters."

"Precisely what manner of look is that, sir?"

"You took in a lot of smoke."

"I am in possession of my faculties. Your talk of smoke suggests you did, in fact, see the fire."

"We all saw it."

"It was deliberately set, and many on the Irch Plain had already been killed the day before. Link..."

"He… we tried to render aid."

"You need to sleep."

"That… is all you have to say?"

"…Help is on the way already. What I say won't speed them along."

"A warning is more than warranted."

"I'm not at liberty to say more, ma'am."

"At liberty."

"That's right."

"Khh-h… kHHHhhhhh-hh-k-kh-khhHhh-hh. Mh."

"…You see those?”

“Mm.”

“The pale blue’s for pain. Clear’s for sleep. Red’s for fever. There’s a note under each bottle for dosing. You can read?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I’ll take that as a yes. But if not… better come clean. Too much makes you sick. Way too much kills you.”

“KhhHhh-hh-khHHh. Hh. Nothing for cough?”

“Absolutely not. Better if everything comes out. Drink plenty of water. But don’t touch the pot on the fire. It’s there to make steam, not to drink. And don’t open the window, either. You need something, there’s a cord- there.”

“…I see. Thank you.”

“Is there something else you wish to say, sir?”

“…I’m Sir Finn. I’m the head medic. And I want to know the minute he wakes up, whether you disapprove or not. Ma’am.”

“I understand.”

“Good. Rest.”

“KhhHh-hh.”

“Y- you keep not calling her Princess.”

“She didn’t argue the point.”

“Khh-hh. KhhHHhhhh-h. Hh. Can I read, indeed. Link? Now would be a superb time to drop the pretense. That is- if you are conscious and pretending, rather than unconscious and… unwell.”

“KhhhHh-h-kh. Slate.”

“I would truly prefer you to be playing it some manner of safe. I know you were loathe to trust our rescuers, but surely they’ve earned it despite their presumptuous insinuations of illiteracy. Please- open your eyes.”

“Please. Reveal the Slate to be damaged, or for its astonishing mind-reading feature to have somehow turned itself off. I… thought at the least I would see Fi, perhaps also attempting to awaken you, or to convey something of import to me.”

“I- I find it disheartening that the Slate and your most unusual sword were not enough to drive doubt from Sir Finn’s mind, for it is surely well-known that I am a scholar, and scholars, on the whole, tend to be not only literate, but more literate than most. He does not believe me, though his Captain might. The man who led our rescue, perhaps. I’d thought- they were so pleased to have found us. But of course, they’d have no way of knowing we were anything other than two people fleeing the fire.”

“Please?”

“Your hand is cold. Despite my personal wishes, I believe it is better off beneath the fur than in my own hand. …There you are.”

“Perhaps it is a mercy, with these masses of bandages on you. My own hurt- a-astonishingly. I can only imagine- let me see…”

“Your legs, too.”

“I shall tuck you in carefully.”

“You protected me from this. Placed yourself to bear the brunt of each of that creature’s deadly breath-weapons. You don’t deserve to pay for it with- with this.”

“A part of me feels as though I must learn this strength you have, that I may act as you do for others—for I know you would do this for any of us. It is not only out of love for me. …And yet I know I must survive, for without me, Hyrule cannot. It is the error you… made… in the bailey. …An incongruent error of self-sacrifice. For anyone else, it would be a virtue indeed! But Hyrule needs you, also. There is no replacement.”

“No… replacement. How odd, that vile rider’s words. Content to let you live without her. I’d thought, at first, he meant he sought to kill me, and would allow you to go free, as the survival of one of us meant nothing without the other. And yet he asserted I had already died.”

“Kh. K-khHHHhh-kh…khhHHHHHhhhh-h- kh-khhh-khh. Ggh.”

“I… kh-khhHh. Am clouded, Link. Too dulled to pierce the meaning of those w-hkhords. Our undiplomatic caretaker was right. I do need rest, as you do.”

“Hphmm.”

“Hph—your bangs must be tickling you.”

“That’s better. Ticklish hair does tend to wake you, as I wish you would… but if I can spare you that small amount of discomfort, I shall do so. I admit some surprise that your bangs are still soft. I’d supposed the- heat- would have changed the texture… and… perhaps it did at the back. I hadn’t the heart to tell you earlier that your hair tie had, essentially, disintigrated. I hope you have a spare. You seem fond of it.”

“I see the logic of propping you up, so. One oughtn’t lay flat with a cough. And with your back so injured, to lay on that would be quite painful. It does appear a little ungraceful, hehe. Especially with your mouth open in that manherkHHhh-hh. KhhHHHHHHhhh-hhh. Hh-KHhHh. Hh-hh. Hhhh. I should- hh-h- try to sleep in the same position, though- you haven’t a cough, have you? I’d have thought we would both suffer from that. Your constitution must be more robust than mine.”

“Oh!”

“There is a deadbolt. I… ought to throw that. Mg-rh-hh. F-f-f-f- oh, sh-sh-f- f-h-h-h-h. It was far warmer beneath that fur.”

“Rgh-kh-hhHHhh-h.”

“There’s no other way in, apart from the window, correct? That latch is secure. At the very least, anyone attempting entry through it would make noise if they did.”

“Water closet.”

“Ech. They… have locked this from the outside.”

“I believe they must have heard me try it. …Well… no matter. I shall throw the bolt and call it even. And you shall have my words on the slate even if, somehow, I am not here when you wake.”

“I wish you would wake.”

“I love you.”

“Thank you.”

---

Oh no.

“Mm?”

No, no no, I forgot it I forgot to put it on, the red tunic, Link, not the green one

“Oh!”

what were you THINKING?!you’re going to burn alive BURN so stupid stupid it hurts get outNOW out from under the mountainHURRY ithurtssobad sobadalready how much life is left in me if it burns this bad?!

“L-ink?”

Sheik! Sheik are you THERE?nevertherehwhenIwanthimtobe this cave, this one, this is it, right? I came this way before I was so burnt Goddesses Almighty it’sallpeelingoff Icanfeelitpeeling isitcharred liketheworld?allmyfault, I’m going to dietoFAIL and it’llallbeallmyfaultalloveragain the egg toss, I broke all the eggs, oh no, look at them all cooked on the ground I have to pick them up

“Oh.”

can’t waste eggs like that

“An- ordinary dream?”

someone has to eat them, right?

“I…”

I’ll feel better if I eat them

“shouldn’t wake you, should I?”

food always helps even with the burning but is anyone else around?

“I should… sleep more.”

I could share them. “Anyone? The eggs are ready! If you’re not hungry, maybe you could toss them now. They’ll still break if you mess up.” How can it still be dark with all this LAVA? I can’t see! “If no one wants them, I’ll eat them.”

Okay, Link, no one here, the eggs are all yours. It’ll help the burning- hey.

Hey, you can’t have horses in here. That’s bad for them. They’re eating all the hay and BAD THAT’S BAD IT’S ON FIRE NO NO NO HORSE NO OH NO WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A HORSE WHO ATE FIRE? No where are you going?! Come back back back back my back why is it always hotter behind me? Maybe that’s the cooler cave over there, just go forward, Link, of course, why are you so thick-headed? Ouch.

Come on.

Come on, my head’s not THAT thick.

Fit.

Fit fit fit.

There’s plenty of room and your BACK is burning just fit through the hole, head! The KIDS went this way, you can't just leave them!

“You’re lame, Link.”

“Chee! Chee, what am I stuck on?” Oooh look at her folding her arms like that she looks like it’s obvious but it really isn’t, the cavemouth’s plenty wide.

“You’re square like dad.”

“No I’m not.”

“Yes you are.”

What’s she doing?

Water?! “Where’d you get that?”

“I have to keep you cool.”

“No NO CHEE it’ll STEAM, it’ll-!!!” What?! Wet, wet, sweating, hot why does it hurt so much?

“I’m sorry. Phh.”

Chee- no, don’t cry-

“I wanted to help.”

No, no no no what’s- why is she-

“Chee, it’s okay. I’ll read to you.” It’s her favorite book. “See? I put the pages back in.”

Why is she still crying?

I’ll just start.

Huh?

Why can’t I pick up the book?

No fair. I just fixed it!

Open up, book!

Mom? I hear her in the kitchen.

“Mom? Chee’s crying in bed.”

Wow, you’d think she’d stop what she’s doing. Chee doesn’t cry anymore, she’s got a way thicker skin than I do. “Mom?”

Why isn’t she answering me?

Get right in there and lean down, Link, get a good look at her face-

She’s crying, too! “Mom, what’s wrong?”

…She just… keeps scrubbing that dish. It’s foul. What is that on there? Purple? What? WHAT? “Mom, don’t touch it!” Grab that plate and THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW, LINK AND OH S#*% you are in big trouble now because you broke a window holy crap dad is going to be SO MAD.

Go get the plate get the pieces you can put it back together Link before he comes home you have lots of time, right? Lots-

NO.

CHARRED! THE WORLD NOT AGAIN THE CLOUD IT’S CIRCLING DEATH MOUNTAIN WHEN DID IT GET HERE IT SHOULDN’T BE HERE NO NOT AGAIN I FIXED IT I FIXED IT I FIXED IT I FIXED IT I KNOW IT WAS MY FAULT BUT I FIXED IT I SWEAR PLEASE BELIEVE ME DAD PLEASE

“Come here. Now.”

“Please, I fixed it. I don’t understand!”

“Now, Link.”

Oh. Oh right. I forgot.

My hands.

I grew up. Didn’t I?

“It only needed fixing because you broke it.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry’s not acceptable. Look at this mess.”

All the cracks! He’s right. How do I fill them in? They go so deep and Margil and Beraya are down there how could I forget them?!!? But you have to keep going, Link, you can't just let these cracks swallow everyone else up, too, you have to fill them in even if it means dad sees you weeping, all the weeping, all the people you killed

There’s not enough dirt, I’m already burning and “do you have a bigger shovel?”

“You can have this.”

Huh? “A magnifying glass?”

“Look harder.”

Okay, I guess.

All the cracks are still there.

Wait. Why are there two Death Mountains? “Why does it look normal through this?”

“Here.”

ANOTHER magnifying glass? Look at all of them!! “Where’d you get all these?”

“From you.”

“But I only had one!”

“You kept leaving them behind.”

Well that’s just silly. “If my back didn’t hurt so much, I’d bury you in the sand again.”

“You forgot about the twilight.”

“I didn’t forget. But I can only see it through this one.”

“Better look, then, or you’ll miss it.”

Fine, DAD.

Wow. “It’s really beautiful.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“Link?”

Zelda! “Oh my Goddess, I was worried about you. Have you met my dad?”

“You mean your father?”

Oh. Right. Your hands. Look at them now, Link. You DID grow up. “Yeah. Yes, I did. Father, may I introduce Princess Zelda?”

“What about her?”

Her who? OH. “Yeah, that’s Princess Zelda, too." Oh man that's some stare she's giving me, she thinks I'm so stupid, but it's fair considering how often she has to save my ass.

“Hph. You do keep leaving things behind.”

“You’re not a thing, Sheik.”

“What am I, then?”

“I thought you said she was the Princess.”

“She is," dad "Father, it's just…” wait. Wait, I fixed it. Right?

Right?

Zelda?

“What is it, Link?”

“She’s not real, right?”

“Hph. Typical.”

Shush, Sheik. You’re the not-real one.

“Perhaps you should look harder, my love.”

She looks worried. I should do what she says.

Which is the right glass? Or is it the mirror?

…Let’s try them all.

Aaaaaaand there she is. She's only in this one.

“Well!”

Why’s Zelda so excited?!

“That’s it, then! Come, Link!”

“Where?”

“We must make haste to the stable. They’ll be so pleased to see you!”

Yeah. Yeah, they will, won’t they? “Wait up!”

“You must catch up, Sir Knight!”

“Hey!” Speedy trickster. How’d she get so far ahead so fast?! “Hey, wait. Wait- Zelda-“ ohmyGODDESS what?! “FIRE Zelda NO NO LOOKOUT NO!!!!”

OHMYGODDESSWHEREISSHE NO NO PLEASE NO PLEASE SHE WAS REAL SHE WAS REAL BURNINGBURNINGBURNINGBURNINGBURNING WHOCARESHOWHOTLINK HOW HOT IT IS DOESN’T MATTER YOUR ZELDA SHE’S YOUR ZELDA BURNINGSO HOT hot why am I so hot sweating? Head. Square.

“S…”quare. “H-“ hurts.

“M. Mhh?”

Ohmy

pain

Itburnsitburnsburns it was Death Mountain pillow warm couch, couches? Chaises? Oh boy here we go burning and awkward but hand, I know that hand, praise the Goddess, praise Hylia thank you thank you so much take it, her hand Zelda's (eyesocket throbbing so bad why?)

"L- ink?"

Zelda. Zelda- Oh- OH "We- we're." Alive!

"We're safe."

Her hand squeezing what-? What is THAT? You're sticky. Stuck bandages.

Burning "Fire."

"In- indeed."

"Burns- your wounds-?"

"They've tended us. Well, I think."

Her thinky eyebrows. Her hand's so cold on my forehead.

"You do feel a bit warm."

Not good. Not a surprise, either. "We went a long time." Unclean wounds.

"Yes. They've left us an elixir for kHH- for fkhHH-hh- feverKHh-khkhkhhhh-hHh. Mgh."

Zelda. There. You're bandagy, Link, but you still have fingertips and knuckles and Zelda seems to like them on her cheek and you love her so much.

She's alive.

"Mm."

We're alive.

I wasn't fishing for fingertip kisses but it's amazing that she's doing this. She's doing this because she loves me.

Zelda loves me.

Cut it out, eyes. Why now? Too dry anyway. Water soon. Zelda first.

She's not far. Can I manage- "AHgh-ff-oooh…" wow, that little shift hurts this much?!

"You- appear to have far more bandages than I do."

"Yeah, it-" no, Link! You more and her LESS was the point. "It's worth it."

Another new look on her face. Kind of a smile but it doesn't look happy. And it's sideways.

She's sideways, too. Maybe that's throwing me off.

"I ought to have been more cautious."

"You did what was right."

"I… behaved as a concerned sovereign ought to."

"Sounds right to me."

"I may be a little muddled. My head continues to turn on itself, with no proper course of action emerging with clarity."

"Your father said… yesterday morning- hah- hahah-hh."

"Link?"

"Sorry. I just- fh- can't believe it's only been like a day."

"It may have been longer, depending on the length of our sleep."

"Yeah, that's true."

"…And what of my father?"

"Oh, he just said something like if you only base your choices on whether you might get attacked, you've already let your enemies corral you."

"Mm. He also told your sister she ought not to blame you for choices made with her well-being at heart."

"And that no one could know how their choices would turn out ahead of time. So… please don't blame yourself."

She's totally blaming herself. "Please?"

"It isn't self-recrimination, Link, so much as my desire to learn. For next time."

Next time.

There will be one, too. Once that guy figures out we didn't die. We never hit bottom and oh! "You said you saw them under us. Huiru and Reida."

"I did. Goddess help me, I did."

Wow. She never says things like that.

She's shaking. "Hey. Hey, it's alright. They're not here."

"…They… seemed unable to keep up with the wind. I am thankful for that."

Okay… you have to swallow, Link. But try not to make noise when you do it even though it hurts (damn, it DOES, why does my throat hurt so bad?). Try not to let her know you're now wondering if they've been scrabbling their way up that cliff this entire time. Or if they can talk. All they'd have to do is tell the rider we flew off.

"Kh-khhh-hh- khHHHhh."

Your Princess is still shaking, Link. "Hey." Pain be damned. I'll scooch onto her couch or- sort of- half on hers and half on miIIIINEpain if it's the last thing I do, but careful when you hold her, if hers hurt like mine do. "I'm here."

"Ohh-h. I- I fear causing you pain."

Her fingertips, she doesn't know where to touch me- oh my eye, that eyesocket "Ffff-" yeah that really does fricking hurt.

"We shall have to get you a new bow."

"Oh." And now I can't unremember, the string snapped in my face! I'm all mixed up. And… her fingers. My windpipe. So gentle. It was Reida's bones, choking me. StalReida. And… oh no. Pull that fur down a little, Link.

She's making a face.

Shrinking.

Like she think's I'm judging her?

No, no no no, Zelda. Why would she think that? When I should've stopped Huiru before he reached her.

That- f$#*ing- bastard. She's so bruised. There's his thumbprints. His other fingers. Marked on her neck like those potato bruises, the really black ones, and then all those tiny little blood-bursts, she's speckled like a robin egg. Bare bones… must dig deeper, harder than living hands. He didn't even have her long. I ripped him off her.

That- me doing that. I could've done some of this, too.

Maybe I shouldn't be touching her like this. She's not hurting me, but it looks so painful. "Should I stop?"

"Mkh-hh. Please don't."

"Hh." Soft. Stay soft.

I don't dare kiss her neck, not even gently. It'll hurt…

Those things were so strong. She must be like me. Less breakable than normal. Someone else? Crushed windpipe.

Her lips, though? Those I can kiss. Stay very, very, very soft, Link.

"Oh-m."

Her hand curling my hair ohhh that hurts too doesn't it but we're alive and her lips are so chapped and she deserves (she deserves) (I don't) no Link, don't think it. These are Reida's boneprints in your neck.

And there's Zelda's forehead on mine.

"I- wish we were in my bed, heheh."

"Kph. That would be more convenient. I'm kind of on the seam, here."

"Indeed. You-"

Oh, her face is falling, her face is falling

"You ought to return to your propped position against that arm. They placed you that way for a reason."

"Eh. I'm okay here."

"IkhHHh- khh-hh. I am concerned about your temperature- oh."

"Oh?"

"SkhHh. Sir Finn wanted to know the moment you woke."

"Who is he?"

"Our caretaker, it seems."

Ooo-hoo, what is THAT face?

"I shall-"

"Oh woah, woah, Zelda, stay down-"

"In- deed not, Sir Knight. You are far more injured thaKHHn-kh-khhh-hh-"

"But coughing less."

"-hhHHkhh. Mgh. Hh. I haven't a fever."

"Yeah, I've had fevers before, though, and you're my Princess."

"And what of it? You are my knight."

"Pff. Which again means I protect you."

"From the need to pull a simple cord?"

"Double-pff. Now I'm DEFINITELY doing it." Up, Link "OoOOOhffffff-"

"Link!"

"I'm good, it just- hurts." It's fine, Link, and the floor isn't that cold, the fire in the grate's been going a while and oooh, the water pot, that's a good idea.

Don't get distracted, Link, just hurry over here and pull the cord and get back in-

"Oh- the- bolt. I'd thrown it as you slept."

"Got it." Smart. Of course, this means I am absolutely not sleeping until it's bolted again. Just in case.

Reidabones.

…No. If I hear Reidabones I'm going to help them destroy what's left of her, even if I rip my bandages out of my BAaaACKskin which is what it feels like I'm doing right now holy crap get back on that couch and stay still "F-f-f-f-f" wait. Wait, whose underwear am I wearing?

"He- heheheheh, knight."

"What?"

"I'm astonished you have such acrobatics in you at the moment."

Very glad she's not just laughing at this nothing-but-bandages-and-underwear situation. "For me, jumping onto a couch isn't acrobatics. It's just the fast way to get back under the blanket."

"It does seem cold, even with the fire."

I hope that's true, and not that we're both actually feverish, but my fever is higher than hers.

Elixirs?

"Kh-hh-khHh-"

DOORbeready

"-hh-kh-h- oh-"

"Wha-?!"

Hiiiiii, why's he so surprised? It's not like they didn't know I was in here, right?

"You're up?!"

"Uh. Kind of?"

"Lee. Lee! He's up. Yell it down."

"THE GUY'S UP."

Wow.

And this guard clearly has no idea what to do next.

Be friendly? "Hi. I'm Link."

"Hehehehehehe. Y- yeah."

…What the hell?

"Sir Finn'll probably be- be with you- soon. I'll just."

…Sneak back into the hallway?

"KhhHHh-khh."

"Be. Outside."

Aaand door shut.

Zelda?

"Sir Allim appears to be quite skittish."

"Why?"

Oh. Oh, I don't like that face on her either, and this time she's less sideways.

"Link, I think some of these people suspect us to be Yiga Clan members."

"What?!"

"I heard them say something- something which suggested so to me when I first awakened. I- could of course be mistaken."

That's just. "I." I want to say it's crazy but I can't because it so isn't. Not with what's been happening this week. And with Vayden being in the castle longer than I was, which… is really f$*%ing terrifying now that I think about it that way.

"They've treated us well, regardless."

…Yeah. You know what? "It's… okay."

"Is it?!"

"Yeah. Because it's pretty reasonable for them to be confused by us. And unless I was asleep a really long time, there hasn't been enough time for news to have made it deep along the other side of Tanagar Canyon. They wouldn't've known we were on the plain. Hh. The last thing they heard about might be the festival."

Blinky blinks. Why?

"Link."

"What?"

"…They may think you're dead."

"I did not think of that." Crap, crap, CRAP how do I prove it's me OH "The sword! Where's-?"

"I do not know."

Maybe they leaned it up-

"It isn't in this room. But Link, it isn't enough."

"Why not?"

"Their discussion of your sword is, in fact, what tipped me off."

"But it doesn't look even vaguely Sheikah, much less anything like what Vayden and Carok-guy were carrying."

"It has long been said that Yiga magic excels at disguise."

"Yeah…" Thus Jeralt's three-guards plan.

"They spoke of things looking wrong. And I think considering your sword's immense weight-"

"Its what?!"

"Y- yes. They don't appear able to lift it and… I rather understand how someone might wonder whether it is, in fact, some other, far heavier object disguised to appear as your sword."

No way. No way, that's crazy. "It's light!"

"I would agree with you but for the others' attempts to remove it from your person."

"So you agree. It's light."

"It seems so to me."

"Like… lighter than all those rocks you lugged in the yard."

"Heh. Kh-kh. Hh. Yes. Far lighter. Quite easy to manage."

When they tried to remove it… I do remember them tugging on me a lot… "What about the slate?"

"It- oh-"

Boots. Movement.

Okay, Link. Okay, it's fair. Sure. They can suspect you're Yiga. But you KNOW Yiga are after you and the Princess. You can't let them put her at risk. Remember your own advice to yourself. Be suspicious.

No, wait. That wasn't my advice to myself. My advice was 'Don't be so suspicious Link.'

No. No no, wait. It was 'Be suspicious, but not TOO suspicious.'

How much is too suspicious?

Clearly WAY MORE than I was being. I should've had Huiru and Reida sniffed out the minute they seemed not to respect Zelda's orders. Very not-Sheikah. I just assumed my preconception was wrong.

Not useful criteria if people don't even think she IS the Princess, although I can watch for people who seem strangely stupid. Stupidity that consistently messes us up. Other than my own, of course.

Well… I should probably watch for that, too. Me being stupid is not good for us and speaking of stupid before they come in what do I do if they decide we're a threat and try to separate us? Or restrain us.

Those boots are shuffling right outside there.

"Kh khh khHHhhh-hm."

The answer is no.

No separating and no restraining. Period.

And in come those boots.

"Good morning."

Does that mean it's morning or is he saying that because I just woke up? A nod and a small wave, Link. Don't really trust the voice right now.

"Surprised you're awake already."

Zelda?

Yeah, it's not just me. She doesn't think he sounds happy about it either.

"This is Sir Finn. He- is in charge of our recovery."

Her face. She… doesn't know what to do here, does she?

She's usually good with people, but they also pretty much already believe she's the Princess.

She looks deflated.

You know what, Link? This time, it's up to you. After all, I'm not used to people thinking I'm anything in particular. Assuming he's NOT a Yiga, this guy deserves your respect, and he's technically under your command. Just follow your own rule: don't be an asshole.

Get back up, Link. Blanket off, and sitting up "f-f-f-f-ooh."

"I don't recommend that."

Yeah, but how else am I going to get up and shake your hand? Give him a little nod, Link, and oh that's interesting, what did my eyebrows just do? I think it's something father's do sometimes. Up, Link, it hurts and it's cold, but it's important, I think, and I'm real glad my nuts aren't just hanging out.

He is giving you SOME look.

"For the love of- sir, with respect-"

Ohh and in come two more pairs of boots- oh, three.

"-please stay dow-?"

Yeah, that's my hand. For shaking! "Good to meet you, Sir Finn. You have my thanks on behalf of both of us, but especially for tending to the Princess." Let that sink in for a second. "I'm Sir Link."

And there's the stare-down.

Don't let it be a stare-down, though. Let the smile out. Let it just be real. Yeah, I'm thankful we're not dead and you helped us. Yeah, I know you're confused and wary. But I'm also not going to bite.

"KhhHHh-hh."

I am, apparently, going to shiver a little, but keep your mouth closed, Link. Keep a lid on it.

There it is- he's taking my hand. And that's an at least relatively normal handshake. I think.

My smile's a little bigger now. None on him, though. Just looking down at me.

"You're welcome. We're not in the habit of leaving people to die in the snow."

"Glad to hear it."

Checking me out all over. Okay.

Eyes lingering on my neck- and narrowing. Did he not realize what he was looking at before? Or was he so busy with the burns and my eye that he didn't notice?

"Couldn't help but notice your palm is warm."

No 'Sir.' Probably to be expected. "The Princess noticed, too." Ha. That one took him aback a bit. "I couldn't tell if her temperature was elevated."

…And he's nodding at the couch.

"Please have a seat and use the fur. We'll check."

Alright. Cordial. I haven't set off any alarm bells.

"Lee, watch for Temda, Izie and all them."

"Yes, sir."

"Allim."

Yeah, he's trying not to say it, but that was totally 'Allim, if this guy makes a wrong move knock him on his ass.'

But I haven't moved wrong. I'm just… back here with Zelda, under my blanket.

She looks pale.

Dammit. I couldn't help that look, and I know he saw it. That wasn't professional-concern-look. That was emotional-oh-no-please-be-okay-look. Too late now.

She looks worried, too. And like she feels kind of sick. Like when fruitcake got ruined for her, and the sight of it turned her stomach.

Aw. I haven't stuffed her full of fruitcake, yet. Haven't had the chance to tell Plynne she'd eat it again.

One palm on each of our foreheads.

And not mine anymore. Just hers.

Those are thought-wrinkles.

"Did you use the fever elixir?"

Resist the urge to tell him to call her Princess.

"No. I slept."

Now is not the time to insist. Why does her voice sound small?

"KhhhhhHHh. Kh-khh-hhh. Mgh."

"Lee, any sign of Izie?"

"Not yet, sir."

"Yell down the stairs. Hurry her up."

"Yes, sir."

"Allim."

"Y- yes, sir."

"Check her forehead, would you?"

"Sir?"

"See how warm she is."

"Uh. S- ir."

Okay… what's he doing?

…Getting a bag from the hallway.

And that would be a thermometer. Expensive, those.

Cleaning it.

"Well, Allim?"

"What?"

"Does she feel like she has a fever?"

"No, sir."

"How does she feel, then?"

"Ah- er- h- how do you feel, Princess?"

Oh my Goddess I can FEEL Finn's eyeroll in the depths of my soul, WOW-

"Allim. Is she the same temperature as you?"

"KhhkhHHHHhhh."

"No, sir."

"What is she, then?"

"…Not sick?"

…This guy's real lucky Chee's not here to make fun of him. I may genuinely feel bad for Sir Finn with his pinched-shut eyes.

"Does she feel cooler than you?"

"Yes, sir."

He's nodding and clearly used to Allim not being all that smart and NOT ALL THAT SMART? Be suspicious, Link. Though… what tactical advantage there'd be in not saying Zelda's cooler than you, I don't know.

Zelda's not usually cold, is she? She's not one of those people with cold hands and feet. Just… reach out, Link. Slowly so you don't give this guy an excuse to poke you with his long stick. Take her hand again.

And… you are also not all that smart, Link. You have a fever. EVERYONE will seem cold to you. Nice that she squeezed me a little, though, no matter how cold it feels.

And here comes the freshly-cleaned thermometer.

"Under your tongue, please. Hold it there firmly until I say otherwise."

Not her first time.

This should really be an awkward silence, but Finn is clearly keeping some kind of mental track of timing or something for the thermometer, Allim's looking confused enough that it doesn't bug me that I know he's also watching for threatening moves, and Zelda…

There were dark circles under her eyes when I woke up, but I feel like they're getting worse while we're sitting here, and there's something about the way her hand's resting in mine. Like she needs mine to lift hers up.

I could be imagining that.

"KmmMMm-mmh-mmh-hh. Mg. M."

"Just hang on a few more moments."

"Mhh. Kmmhh-mmhh. KmmMMMMMmm-hh-mh."

"Alright-"

"Kmm-mmh-khhHhh khHHHHh-hhh. KhHh. Mgh-hh. Hh."

Thoughtful is definitely the word for that look on his face.

"Your body temperature is low."

"…I do feel cold."

"Stay under that fur. Stay warm. With your wounds- not that we want you to be feverish, but cold tends to let festering set in and take hold. Eating should help warm you, too. And you."

And me.

"You have a clear fever, but not high enough for that elixir. That's in case of dangerous highs."

"Like delirious-high?"

"Yes."

Got it.

"Sleep, warmth, and food are still the answer. Food first. Then we'll get your bandages changed and reapply the salve."

Maybe me having a fever was a good thing. This guy's bedisde manner seems to have kicked in or something.

"Has there been- any word. From the help you spoke of?"

"No, ma'am, and I wouldn't expect there to be. It'd take days to get word back from Serenne."

"I thought, pehKhhr-hh- perhaps someone fleeing the eastern plain-"

"Would more likely find help with the Sheikah near the old temple or one of the snowfield Garrisons."

…Why does he suddenly look freaked out?

"Izie will be in soon."

He totally rushed out. "I'm… guessing the help is people from here responding to the fire?"

"Yes."

Glad. Very glad. Maybe they'll run into the others. Margil and Beraya… and Daile. They all kicked serious ass. If we can pick them up for the journey back-

Dear Goddess. The journey back. We'll be heading through the plain again if we ever want to go back to the castle. What if you didn't kill everything? What if it's still infested? What if by the time we get there, it's totally overrun?

"Link? You look…"

"Sorry. Just thinking about- next steps."

Oh. The look on her face. "Sorry again." Forward, Link. Hold her. Gingerly, but…

"Ph. Kh-hh."

Her eyes. Closed against the crook of my neck. Can't feel properly. There's… another new bandage there. Where the ReDead bit me.

I'm a mess. We both are.

I can't fight on every front personally. I hope Zelda and I killed most of the true horrors on the plain. And I hope the others kick the serious ass they were kicking when we got separated, and that they're well and we'll see them soon.

But the part of the world I'm meant to protect is right here in front of me, and she's not feeling well. Definitely not up for another trip for a while. Neither am I. My back- weird feeling. Hurts, yeah, but also… full? That's not quite right.

------

Read part 21 here.

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#botw #fanfiction #adventure log+ au #zelda #loz #breath of the wild #pre-calamity #zelink #adventure

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