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syilcawrites · 4 years ago

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a/n: hi I’m alive and I wrote this bc of a prompt that @zelink-prompts put out!! I thought it’d be a fun little exercise for tonight! It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, so I’ve been wanting to get something out ehe. Here’s to posting at 2 AM (I apologize in advance for any typos)! Hope you enjoy!

summary: [Pre-Calamity] It’s Zelda’s 16th birthday and King Rhoam decides to throw a lavish masquerade ball in celebration. Zelda is not happy (when is she ever happy pre-calamity ;-;)

ao3

a party of floating eyes

“I just simply—” Zelda grunts and winces as Impa tightens the corset around her waist, “—simply do not understand why this is such a necessary tradition!” Her fingers dig into the fabric of her vanity chair with enough force to chip her nails.

“Your Highness,” Impa starts, tying the lace, “if we start straying from such traditions, the people will begin to worry.”

Her frown deepens—she knows Impa is right, but every second she spends lolling around with trivial palace affairs, she can feel her precious time slipping away from her.

“Besides,” Impa continues, pulling Zelda’s hair back and smoothing it out, “you’ll be turning sixteen—your birthday has always been a big celebration.”

Zelda straightens her back out, squirming uncomfortably under the tightness constricting her waist. “Well, if people cared so much about me, I wish they’d let me spend my birthday as I please,” Zelda grumbles, picking up the black, lacy mask that sits on her chair before plopping down onto the cushion. She crosses her arms, staring at her reflection with tinged annoyance.

“I know, I know.” Impa laughs softly. “Just try to focus on all the possibilities that will open up to you once you do hit sixteen though,” she encourages. “Besides, doing this will let the people know that we have everything under control. The less worried they are, the less chaotic the future will be.”

“But everything’s not okay,” Zelda sighs out, rubbing her temples. “I have yet to unlock—”

“You still have the Spring of Wisdom to go to next year. Don’t jump to conclusions, Your Highness,” Impa rebukes quickly. Her fingers work quickly through Zelda’s hair as she begins braiding down her back. “And we shouldn’t give up on the Shrine of Power and Courage, no?”

Zelda remains quiet.

Of all the things she could be doing to prevent a catastrophe, she has to attend another cursed ball. A celebration for her birthday is far from something she wants.

“Only one night,” Zelda mutters, lightly slapping her cheeks. If she dutifully plays along with her father’s antics, perhaps he will ease his expressions of disappointment toward her.

“A little bit of hair here…” Impa tugs out strands of Zelda’s hair to frame her face. “There! You look lovely,” she says with satisfaction as she places her hands on her hips. Zelda flits her gaze away from her reflection against the mirror to her ajar bedroom window. She can already hear the sound of carriages bumping along the roads and the neighs of the horses resounding through the dark night.

“He’ll be there, won’t he?” The corset feels even more constricting when she thinks about him. That boy . She has to keep up—she cannot afford to fall behind any further than she already has.

“The young knight?” Impa inquires, squinting her eyes in thought as she maneuvers around Zelda to look inside her jewelry box. “I believe he’ll be patrolling the castle grounds.” Zelda relaxes her shoulders as she stares at Impa’s back. “Zelda. You shouldn’t avoid him. You know that you will have to cooperate with him in the future.”

“I’m not.” The lie feels sharper against her tongue than Impa’s gaze. “I’m not avoiding him. I was just… curious.” A half-truth is better than none. Zelda toys with the black ribbon straps of her mask, picking at an unraveling thread. She lifts the mask up to her eyes and tilts the corners of her mouth up.

Zelda has many masks, and adding another one is harmless.

——————————————————————

Be graceful. Be elegant. Be poised.

Don’t blink too often. Don’t eat too much. Don’t laugh too loudly and never laugh without a hand over your mouth.

Zelda sneakily picks at the piece of bread that Impa had snuck to her earlier, nibbling on it in between greetings and returning plastic smiles—but the music. The music is irritating Zelda. There’s an instrument out of tune—a violin, maybe—and every time the bow strokes the A string it lets out a glaringly out-of-tune high-pitched squeal.

The only good it does is mask the growls of her stomach. She is starving, but starving is something that she has grown familiar with. Starving for food, starving for affection, starving for power, starving for—

“Your Highness?”

Zelda immediately hides the piece of bread behind her back and glances up at the soft voice. A Zoran who resembles that of a Fuschia flower—Princess Mipha, wasn’t it? If she recalls correctly, Mipha is one of the candidates for the Divine Beasts.

“A-A gift,” she continues, her cheeks tinted pink. “For your 16th birthday.” She holds a palm-sized box out to Zelda—baby blue with a white ribbon.

Zelda blinks at it for a moment, a bit dazed. No one has ever really handed her a gift-wrapped present before. Most of the guests have been handing them to her father—extravagant gifts that were mostly catered to him anyway—and now there is a gift for her here, directly being handed to her. They’ve only spoken to each other once, during Zelda’s mother’s funeral. Aside from that, whenever they had the pleasure of being in one another’s company, they acknowledged each other.

“Thank you,” Zelda says stiffly, accepting it with her free hand as she stares down at it. She brushes a thumb over the smooth surface of the box. Zelda sneaks a glance at her father, who is busy talking to another guest. She stuffs the bread in her mouth—earning a wide-eyed look from Mipha. “Pardon me, I haven’t eaten all day,” she admits sheepishly, gulping it down quickly.

“Oh dear, you haven’t eaten at all?” Mipha almost gasps, her expression strung up in worry. Zelda waves her hand at her and shakes her head.

“I’m sure the last guests will arrive soon.” She holds the box with both hands now. “Is it alright if I open it up now?” Zelda asks, lowering her voice a little. A warm smile spreads across her face. She nods.

Zelda tugs the ends of the ribbon—it slips out of the knot easily—and lifts the lid. The object sits comfortably against a red velvet cushion: a stained glass flower. Zelda lifts it up slightly up in the air—an array of colors dance across Mipha’s face as she views her through the glass.

“I’ve recently taken up glass welding,” Mipha says quickly, fidgeting with her fingers. “I’ve heard that you’re currently researching an endangered species of flora. Although this won’t particularly aid in your research… I apologize…” she trails off, sounding faint.

“It’s beautiful!” Zelda clasps her hands over Mipha’s. “This is the best gift I’ve received today, there’s no need to apologize.” A smile breaks across Zelda’s face. A handmade gift? For her? A recreation of the Silent Princess at that! She tries her best to keep the excitement from brimming out of her voice. “It’s lovely, Princess Mipha. Thank you.” She clears her throat as she catches her father staring at her from the corner of her eyes.

“I’m grateful that you like it, Princess Zelda.” Mipha beams happiness, with a look of relief. She glances at the entrance—and does a double-take.

“Oh, please, enjoy the celebration and the food.” Zelda gestures to the ballroom, sitting back down. “We’ve cooked our finest dishes.” Food that she wishes she could eat herself, but she has to stand at the entrance with her father because he won’t let her get up until everyone has come through the door.

Mipha curtseys—she has always been so elegant—as she wishes Zelda a year of happiness, before quickly hurrying to the door.

Zelda follows her trail, and watches her happily clasp the hands of—Zelda involuntarily scrunches her nose at the sight that she sees before her. Impa had told her he was patrolling outside on the castle grounds. Why in Hylia’s name is he inside the ballroom?

“Zelda, I would advise against raising your voice like that. People are watching.” Her father’s voice isn’t unkind, but chastising. She hates it.

She looks down at her dress, to straighten out the wrinkles of the dark blue ballgown. The sheer fabric has been irritating her the entire night, and she’s almost positive that she’s lost a diamond droplet or two that had been sewn onto the dress. “Father,” Zelda whispers, glancing at him. “This feels like a waste—”

“It is important to remain friendly with our diplomats. You know this. Especially with the prophecy—we must remain united with the others.”

Well, it wouldn’t matter if they were united or not if she couldn’t unlock her sacred power. She’d rather spend her birthday standing in the water of a Spring than next to her father.

“Just do as I say tonight for once, Zelda. For my sake.”

She balls her hands into a fist, scrunching up the skirt of her dress as she does so. “All I ever do—”

“Your Majesty!”

Her voice gets drowned out by the incoming guests, and she is soon tossed into the shadow of her father once more.

——————————————————————

Zelda makes sure to stay across the ballroom from Link—it’s easy to do so, considering how much he sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s easy enough to avoid a stranger—the lack of familiarity makes the task simple.

“A drink, Your Highness?” a passing maid asks, lowering the metal tray for her.

“So much for a masquerade, you can recognize me from a mile away can’t you?” Zelda murmurs lightly, grabbing a strawberry pink drink.

“Your beauty is unmatched. It’s hard not to notice you,” the maid says kindly as she bows her head.

Zelda lets out an uneasy laugh—compliments never sit comfortably with her. “Well, thank—”

“His Majesty would like to formally introduce a faithful knight of the Hyrule Kingdom, who has proven his worth and skill at the young age of ten,” the Court Poet announces, ceasing side conversations down to a murmur.

Her father—looking rosy-cheeked and kind, as he always is in front of guests—ushers the knight out of the crowd, and into the middle of the room with him. “This young man has risen through the ranks and proved his devotion in keeping peace within our lands at a very young age, and even the Goddess Hylia has blessed him—Link, the Knight who has drawn the Sword that Seals Darkness.” Her father’s voice is nothing short of impressive. He’s able to cease conversations within seconds, by the strength of his voice and presence. Zelda quirks an eyebrow up as she stands on her tiptoes to see above the sea of heads—a very stiff-looking boy standing next to a large, bulky man who is taller by half his height is quite a scene to see. “He will fight alongside my dear beloved daughter Zelda, to maintain this peaceful, prosperous time.”

Eyes shift to her—black and beady behind the masks they adorn. Zelda grits her teeth as she bows into a deep curtsey.

One… two… three…

She straightens her posture and clasps her hands in front of her gingerly. As long as she doesn’t make eye contact with anyone, she’ll be fine. Just smile.

Zelda tilts the corners of her mouth up.

Coos of oh’s and ah’s reverberate off the walls of the ballroom, shaking her to her bones as they clap.

“To commemorate, the Hero and the Goddess-blood Princess will offer the first formal dance of the night,” the Court Poet announces loudly, spotting her almost immediately.

Her smile drops from her face, and she methodically shifts her narrowed eyes to Link.

He stands as stiff as a board.

She takes long, brisk steps to the center of the room.

Be graceful, elegant, poised.

Do not look into their restless eyes, because they will worm their way through the black of her irises and find out she is a Goddess-blood Princess who has been abandoned by their savior.

Zelda stares at the creases between his eyebrows as she approaches him—they’re one step away from bumping noses.

He places a hand on her waist, but it mostly hovers over her, like he’s afraid he’ll burn himself if he gets closer. Zelda places one hand on his shoulder. His other hand floats in the air, unsure. She grabs it hesitantly, and settles to look at his lips instead: pressed into a thin line. He doesn’t want to be here, either.

The music starts jarringly, like the morning bell that rings at six in the morning. The violin is still a pitch to high—why hasn’t anyone noticed it yet? Not even the conductor?

Zelda digs her nails into his shoulder as they move—the brush of wind that follows their movements eases the anger that has risen in her.

“Just do as I say tonight, for once, Zelda. For my sake.”

And dancing with the boy who has fulfilled his part of prophecy will help complete hers?

They miss a beat—he steps in at the same time she does, and her forehead almost smacks against his. Zelda almost trips over the skirt of her dress as he accidentally steps on her foot.

She glances up at him—his mask is simple, but it’s as light as starlight and makes her squint a little. Her eyebrows furrow together. It doesn’t last long once she remembers the hundreds of eyes that watch their every movement.

But then he does it again.

Zelda sucks in a sharp breath. “You do know that there is plenty of space for you to step upon aside from my feet, right?” she murmurs between her teeth, making sure her smile is still plastered on her face. The edge of his ears flushes red.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers with a brief, apologetic smile. There’s a finality to his voice that makes her tilt her head in curiosity.

He steps on her toes again.

Zelda’s mouth twitches—she bites her tongue to distract herself from the pain shooting up her foot. “You don’t know how to dance, do you?”

His ears turn a shade darker.

A small sigh escapes between her lips. She straightens her back and tightens her grip on his hand. “Keep your eyes down and follow my feet.” She repositions her other hand to rest more securely on his shoulder. She would prefer not to have a mouthful from her father for messing up the first formal dance of the ball.

Their eyes catch—vibrantly blue and innocent. He nods.

Even though he concentrates on the pattern of her feet lilting across the marble floor, he still brushes against her heels. She glances up at him—beads of sweat roll down the side of his face as he concentrates on their feet, with the tip of his tongue sticking out ever so slightly.

Zelda swallows back the giggle bubbling up her throat.

“Hm, think of it as… sword fighting practice, maybe? There’s formation in that is there not?” Zelda inquires. A good knight must be efficient at their footwork, or else they’d stumble over during a fight and fall. “Try to be light on your feet like when you’re fighting.”

“Like fighting,” he echoes, his face lighting up at her suggestion—she feels the tension chip away from his shoulders as they make their rounds, passing by the ambassadors and royalty encircling them.

Zelda keeps her voice low: “Left, back, right…” she instructs him quietly, as her own shoulders relax at his slight improvement. At least he isn’t stepping on her anymore. The music becomes tolerable, once she decides to focus on their own two pairs of feet sliding across the floor and the sound of his breathing.

The loud, booming round of applause drags her back to reality—she releases her hands from him immediately and takes a step back to do a quick curtsey.

“Thank you.”

The sound of his words catches the tail end of the wind—quiet, almost inaudible. She raises her head, but by the time she does so, the crowd greedily surges toward them to fill the empty space that used to belong to them.

#zelink #botw #breath of the wild #the bolded is underlined on ao3.. idek how to do it on tumblr #so tumblr gets to have bolded words instead!#my fanfics #yahoo #hope you enjoyed reading it <3 #fun to write #i kinda just let the story go wherever it took me LOL #omg i forgot the read more after post hfhd #it's so sexy when tumblr messes up the format

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pastelsandpining · 3 years ago

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Song: "The Panic In Me" by Elton John

Pairing: post-calamity zelink

Congrats on 200!! You deserve more you lovely goddess!!

here you go! a serving of angsty fluff

The Panic in Me

words: 2349

warnings: death mention, panic attacks, nightmares, survivor's guilt if you squint

Masterlist | Song Fics

------

In a perfect world, they could leave their past behind them. They could move on with their lives, never once interrupted by the ghosts of an era that played out so long ago, neither of them should be alive to remember it. But this was not a perfect world, and too often, memories of the past taunted and pulled them so taught, it was hard to believe they hadn’t broken yet. Link did not know if it was easier to have a full memory, or if he was the lucky one out of the pair. Most of the time, he just felt lost. Where something should be, there was a blurry and vague image that made no sense to him. Gaping holes in the memory of his past life lead to many sleepless nights, and this was just another one of them.

In that life that was lost to the hands of time, he’d been a knight in service of the princess. A hero, destined to bring about the Calamity. That’s the kind way to put it, he thought. Harbinger of doom was a more fitting term, even a century later when it was done and over. It was a cruel trick that, by the time he was able to sink the sacred blade into the grotesque body of the beast, he could not remember much about those he was fighting for.

There was a collection of memories, sure. A few flickers of a face here, a voice there, a group of skilled warriors that’d come together for the sake of Hyrule--and what good did skill do them in the end? Remembering meant nothing when they weren’t around to remind him of who they were. They felt too far away for him to have any sort of connection to them, and it hurt. He felt… traitorous.

“Link?”

The hero lifted his head, tearing his gaze from the water flowing quietly beneath the bridge, and turned to look at the fallen princess he’d rescued a handful of weeks ago. She was creeping towards him from the house, hugging her arms. It was too late in the night, or early in the morning, for her to be awake. He pulled his legs from over the water and stood up to meet her, the wood cold beneath his bare feet. It reminded him that the weather was growing colder, and she must be freezing. He removed the cloak from around his shoulders and draped it around hers instead, but she caught his hands before he could withdraw.

“Are you alright?” she asked. Three simple words and the answer was anything but. He didn’t think there was a set of words he could string together that would make sense of his thoughts.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he answered instead, giving her hands a gentle squeeze in assurance that he was fine. In moments like these, he wondered if time was a blessing. A century ago, he’d have never dared to touch her in such a casual, insignificant way.

“How long have you been out here?” she asked. It was unnatural, surely enough to be a crime, how her eyes could glow even in the darkest hours of night--even when she was tired beyond belief. He thought briefly of saying not long, but he didn’t want to lie to her.

“I don’t know,” he decided instead. It was an alarmingly honest answer. He couldn’t keep track of time when he was in his head, thinking too much about things he could do nothing about.

“Do you want to come back inside?” she offered--an implication that they shared the house on the cliffside. He supposed, in a way, they did.

“It’s cold,” he answered with a nod towards the building. She’d come out barefoot as well, and he didn’t want her getting sick when she was just starting to regain her health. “Come on.”

The house was not much warmer than the air outside, but at least there was no breeze to sink the chill further into them. Zelda discarded the cloak and Link shuddered as he fetched a spare blanket from storage. He offered it to her, then wasn't entirely sure how it came to be wrapped around both of them.

“Link,” she tried again, fishing for his hand as she started towards the stairs. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

He thought about nodding, assuring her he was fine and telling her to go back to sleep, but she was too smart for that. Maybe it was a gift she had, to know when he wasn’t okay, or maybe she just knew him that well even decades later.

“I was thinking,” he admitted at last, taking a seat on the bed when she pulled him down beside her.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked, holding his hand between both of hers, stroking it gently with her thumb. Link never realized how fleeting physical touch was, or how badly he craved it, until he wrapped her in a hug the very day she returned. Maybe it was selfish, how he didn’t want to let her go. Some small part of him still thought that if he did, she would dissolve right in front of him the same way everyone else from his past had.

“I died,” he said simply. “Didn’t I?”

It struck a chord with her too, because she tensed and averted her gaze. He was sure it wasn’t a pleasant memory for her. He’d gotten the best of it, after all--the only thing he could see or feel was her.

“Yes,” she replied quietly. It was no louder than a whisper, but it was deafening. There was no new knowledge to be learned, but hearing the confirmation from other people was so much worse than just knowing it himself.

It was panic that filled him, thinking back on it. Panic that it wasn’t actually over at all, and that he’d find himself waking up alone with no one to touch all over again. He couldn’t speak the words aloud, so he simply sat there, letting Zelda lay him in her lap. Her hands in his hair, her quiet humming, carried him through the staggered breathing and flashes of a burning world. By the time he came around again, dawn was breaking over the horizon and he didn’t have the energy to move. It was a miracle Zelda’s fingers hadn’t put him to sleep already.

“You’re here,” she whispered, far closer to his ear than he remembered her being. It made him shiver. “We’re here. I won’t let you be alone.”

No, she wouldn’t, because she was too good for that. She was too good to have suffered the way she did. Where he was responsible for bloodshed, she was devoted and loyal. Link still couldn’t understand why the Goddess and her powers ignored her for so long.

“Zelda,” he said in return, lifting his gaze to her at last. It was all that could be said.

He didn’t remember being moved to the pillows, but her head was next to his now and he was certain their legs were tangled together under the sheets. He was holding onto her nightshirt far too tightly, so he uncurled his fingers to take her hands instead.

“Link,” she replied, giving his hands a squeeze, and the ridiculousness of the idea that he couldn’t even form a thank you caused him to laugh. It started weak and hardly more than a chuckle, but Zelda giggled softly beside him, and it grew until he was gasping for breath.

He wasn’t entirely sure what was so funny. Maybe nothing was, and his laughter was simply a result of the unbridled joy she brought him. He would never truly know the answer to that question.

~~~

Zelda did not go without her fair share of torment. Nightmares were common, but her waking up with a blood curdling screaming in the middle of the day was not. She didn’t remember falling asleep. Her hands grasped at something, anything, but all she found was the now crumpled pages of her journal and the wooden desk that bestowed upon her hands a new splinter. She could feel her heart slamming against the inside of her ribs, trying to break free from the prison its sole job was to keep alive. She just barely registered the words coming from her mouth: “no, no, no.”

The door flew open. Footsteps pounded up the wooden stairs and she flinched when he entered her periferal.

“Zelda?” he asked as he knelt by her side. She slowly looked his way, her entire body trembling, and she wanted to cry.

“Link,” she whispered back, broken and watery. “Gods, I-”

“What happened?” he demanded, taking one of her hands. She winced. It was the hand with the splinter. He flipped it to her palm. She didn’t know how he could be so precise and smooth, but the intrusive piece of wood was gone before she could think of digging it out herself.

“I had a dream,” she explained, “the night before… before the Calamity. It made no sense but it felt… foreboding, like a promise—and I think I just had another.”

“Okay,” Link answered with a nod. She watched him shift, kneel in a more comfortable position--a sign he wasn’t going anywhere until she finished speaking. Zelda gripped his hands tighter. She recalled the whispered cries for help, the mangled corpse with glowing, familiar eyes, the feeling of falling down, down, down with him being the last thing she saw. She was shaking again, on the verge of tears, because she didn’t want to lose him again. They had only just started to learn how to love each other in a way that wasn’t dependent on who they were a century ago. She didn’t think she could do it again.

“It doesn’t feel like just a dream, does it?” he asked. Always so considerate, always so understanding.

“There’s been records of prophetic dreams,” she admitted quietly. She wished that if she didn’t speak it loud enough, then it wouldn’t be real.

“Do you think it’s prophetic?”

“I don’t know.”

She didn’t want it to be. The idea that this might not be over after all was terrifying. But Link gave her hands a gentle squeeze and pulled her forwards until she was on his lap, curled up into his arms where nothing could get to her. He was there, just as he always was. He was there when she visited the supposed grave of her father, and he was there when she took her first pilgrimage to Gerudo Town without the company of Urbosa, and he was there when the expectations of the past on her shoulders felt too heavy for her to keep afoot. What had she done to deserve his good graces?

“It’s okay,” he assured, even though she didn’t feel like it. His fingers came up to thread through her hair and she held onto him a little tighter. There were still the remnants of what it felt like to be falling, and the disgust and trepidation that came after seeing the dried out remains of someone who looked too familiar to be of any comfort.

“What if it’s real?” she asked in a whisper, trying to search his blue eyes for any indication that he was lying.

“There’s no way to know that for sure, but if it is, then I won’t let you face it alone.”

He looked so sincere. There wasn’t the slightest waver behind his eyes, or any uncertainty in his voice. He was so steady, so kind, and she almost believed him. She wanted more than anything to believe him. But she didn’t like the implications of her drop into the dark chasm, or the look on his face when she fell.

“I don’t want to do it again,” she said and lowered her head. “I’m tired. I’m so tired. Haven’t we done enough?”

He didn’t answer. He probably didn’t have anything to say, because the same questions must’ve been running through his mind. He had perished to the hands of the Calamity, and now at the slightest whisper of a return, what were they supposed to do?

“Zelda,” he said softly. She always liked how her name sounded in his voice, with no titles or such attached to it. “Look at me.”

She did. He took her chin in his hand, and she could melt at how gently he touched her. In this new age, outside of the eyes of Hyrule, she’d only seen him this serious on a few occasions.

“Yes?” she managed.

“I won’t let anything happen to you if I can help it.”

But he couldn’t always help it, and expecting it of him wasn’t fair. He was still learning how to deal with that knowledge--accepting that he couldn’t always stop what was to come. Even so, it made her feel better. It filled her with warmth to know he was still so determined to stay by her side.

Zelda managed a small smile, then assured them further with a feathersoft kiss. It wasn’t the first they’d shared, and it wouldn’t be the last, but it was a comfort she indulged in whenever she could. There was no reason to be ashamed of it or want to hide it anymore. All those who might’ve cared were dead, and that, while by no means preferable, was perhaps the best part to come out of a fallen kingdom.

“You calm the panic in me too well,” she commented with a weak chuckle.

“I’m just returning the favor,” he replied with a shrug.

It took a few minutes more for them to untangle themselves and stand from the hardwood floor, but by the time they did, the nightmare that interrupted her nap was nothing more than an uneasy feeling in the back of her mind. She trusted in Link, in the bond that they’d not only repaired but regrew and strengthened from almost nothing, and if something wanted to tear them apart again, well, it would have to go through her.

#zelink #botw zelink #post calamity #post calamity zelink #hurt/comfort #let them have peace #nintendo: no #did some nifty foreshadowing

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cyraclove · 4 years ago

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For the prompt requests, zelink ww balter? 🥺👉🏼👈🏼

balter--to dance gracelessly, but with enjoyment

“It seems frivolous to have a party while most of the country is still undergoing reparations,” Zelda muttered as she and Link walked down the main hall towards the grand ballroom. Being the latest room in Hyrule Castle to be refurbished, it required the queen’s approval. Everything nowadays seemed to require her approval.

It was exhausting.

“I don’t disagree, but,” Link replied with a slight shrug, “I do think that Impa has a point. If nothing else, it might lift spirits.”

The ball was meant to bring to a close the summit that would be held at the castle in just three days time. Zelda had been organizing this gathering of leaders from each region in Hyrule for over a year, having traveled to deliver each proposal personally.

She had been hesitant when the ball was initially suggested, only agreeing under the condition that it would be open invitation for the entire kingdom. The whole purpose of the summit was to unite her people after a century of division; this could not be done without complete transparency.

“You know that I am certainly in favor of building rapport with my people, but let me go to them. I need to see their homes, their children. What life is like for them. I know that I wouldn’t want to come here and see how much money and labor has been poured into this place if I couldn’t even put food on my table.”

When Link did not respond, Zelda’s eyes flickered up to find him softly smiling at her.

“What?”

“Nothing. You’re just good at this.”

Zelda felt a tiny flutter in her stomach and quickly glanced away, biting her lip in a failed attempt to veil her involuntary grin.

“Well,” she said, “empathy alone does not a sovereign make.”

Link chuckled, cocking a brow at her. “You’re allowed to take compliments, you know.”

Her cheeks burned hot. She damned herself for neglecting to put on rouge that morning, knowing there was nothing to conceal her blush.

“You’re right. Thank you,” she conceded, “you’re very kind.”

“Just honest.”

Arriving at the intimidatingly large ballroom doors, Zelda took in a long breath through her nose and closed her eyes.

Think tall. Smile. Breathe.

The moment that Link opened the door for her, she was immediately inundated. Disappointed, but not surprised.

“You majesty, we’d love your opinion on a color for the drapes--”

“--and if you look closely at the chandelier, you’ll see that we sourced the crystal from the Hebra region--”

“Don’t forget that you’re due at the clothier for your gown fitting this afternoon, and--”

“As soon as you’re ready, your majesty, we can practice the waltz.”

Waltz?

Zelda’s head snapped toward her newest royal advisor, a young woman named Calyn, from Akkala. She was fond of Calyn for several reasons, but mostly because she was good company. Her sense of humor mirrored Zelda’s in more ways than one, and she was never without a story to tell. Aside from Link, Calyn was one of the only people whose nearly constant presence did not irritate her.

“I’m sorry. Did you say waltz?”

Calyn nodded, emitting a nervous laugh. The woman’s eyes darted towards a cellist and violinist seated next to her, instruments at the ready. How had Zelda failed to notice them when they walked in?

“Yes, your majesty. Practice. For the ball? I thought I told you.”

“That was...today?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Zelda sighed. Of course it was.

She nodded, smiling at a very anxious looking Calyn in order to wordlessly assure her that she was not at any fault.

“Ah, that’s right. I’d almost forgotten. Thank you for arranging everything, Calyn.”

The other woman’s expression immediately softened, her shoulders dropping in relief. She clasped her hands together.

“It was my pleasure, your majesty.”

Calyn quickly cleared the room of everyone else, earning protests from architects and chefs alike. Zelda chuckled inwardly as she watched her shoo them all out.

Calyn returned with a rather triumphant look on her face, arms akimbo. “Right, then. Now, if you’d both stand in the center, there.”

Zelda and Link looked at one another simultaneously. She swallowed hard, unable to decipher if the look in Link’s eyes was one of bewilderment or excitement. As they stood there in silence, Calyn again began to pale. The musicians eyed them curiously.

“The two of us?” She asked, as if there were a million other men in the room.

“Her majesty was to select a partner for the waltz,” Calyn gently reminded her.

Shit. That’s right.

Zelda had had Link in mind from the very moment that Calyn had informed her of this tradition, but had felt a sudden and overwhelming urge to vomit every time she thought that she’d finally mustered up enough nerve to ask. She smiled weakly, trying desperately to ignore the sound of her pulse in her ears.

Poor Calyn shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, her eyes darting frantically between the queen and her knight.

“Has Sir Link accepted, your majesty?”

“He has,” Link answered for her, much to Zelda’s surprise. He beamed at her as he extended his hand for her to take, the handsome cut of his jawline catching the light as he bowed his head in ceremony.

Slipping a gloved hand in his, Zelda let Link guide her to the center of the floor, praying that he could not detect the slight tremble in her fingers. He gingerly placed his hand on her waist, the warmth emanating from his touch sending a thrill through her chest. Their faces a mere hairsbreadth apart, Zelda felt the irrational urge to find out what might happen if she were to press her lips to his right then.

Calyn’s voice shattered the thought, making Zelda startle in Link’s arms.

“Splendid! Music, please.”

The musicians began playing a lively waltz, the lovely timbre of their strings filling the room with the bright melody. Zelda met Link’s gaze, panic spiking in her gut.

“I don’t know how to dance,” she whispered.

The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Neither do I,” he replied. He placed his broad hand on her back, pulling their bodies flush as he took her hand in his. She reeled as the sudden closeness, stifling a little gasp.

“Ready?”

“No.”

Link laughed as he started to lead her around the dance floor, taking wide, sweeping steps that made it difficult for her to keep up. Zelda felt a giggle burble up from somewhere deep inside of her. They stumbled together, moving in a way that could possibly be likened to dancing if one were to squint.

After several moments, Zelda found herself laughing to the point of pain as she let Link carry her across the room with him, twirling her clumsily and far too often. She was so entranced that she did not hear Calyn’s attempt at instruction, instead putting her trust in this man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing.

When they finally came to a halt, Zelda tripped over her own skirt and fell into Link’s arms. He laughed as he caught her, a litany of apologies leaving him amidst the laughter. Her head still spinning, she craned her neck to kiss him on the cheek. She stilled after she realized what she’d just done, only to receive a kiss in return.

It was then that she realized that if this wasn’t truly how the waltz was done, she had no real interest in learning how.

This was so much fun. Thank you so much!!

#writers on tumblr #writing prompt #request #loz botw #Zelink #legend of zelda

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oceansmelodysblog · 4 years ago

Text

A Dream of the Past

Post-botw Zelink Fanfiction

version française : Un rêve du passé

Together we rode through the wind and weather as the rain whipped into our faces and soaked through our clothes to the skin. From then on, I watched Zelda to see if she managed to keep up, or if the heaviness from the relentless rain affected her too much. She was too stubborn to admit that she had reached her limit and pushed herself beyond it. As far as I could remember, she had been like this before the calamity, spending hours in the sacred waters of the springs to awaken her strength.

Slowly a memory crept into my consciousness that I thought I had forgotten:

I watched over the entrance to the spring of power while Zelda prayed until the early hours of the night, however without success. She opened her heart to me and revealed her sorrows and grief, then when I heard her voice tremble, I knew she was fighting back her tears and turned to her. As her chosen knight, I was not allowed to watch her pray, let alone look at her during this sacred ritual in her white dress that had become transparent from the water. But I had to do it, as her best friend and closest companion.

The bright moonlight illuminated her bare shoulders, while half of her face remained in darkness. Her right green eye reflected the light of the moon as tears ran down her face. So far I remembered through the images in the Sheikah Stone, but what came next struck like a fallen star to the ground.

I sheathed my master sword and, defying the resistance of the holy water, ran to her. I barely managed to catch her as she collapsed clutching at my arms. She was exhausted, physically as well as mentally. Sobbing and trembling, she cried her soul out as I held her head tightly against me.

"Link, why does it hurt so much? This burden on my heart, I can hardly endure it and feel myself drowning. Link. Please reach out your hand to me and pull me out of this darkness of uncertainty!" Zelda's voice trembled and broke off as she lifted her head in my arms and looked up at me. Her eyes were reddened from her desperate effort to hold back the tears and now they shone like the surface of spring water reflecting the radiance of the moon. Gently I stroked the strands of her hair behind her ear, worrying that I might shatter her. I leaned my forehead against hers, looked deep into her eyes and exhaled my desperate breath. It was hard for me as well to carry the burden of the hero, when all I wanted to be was a simple knight from Hateno, living modestly and untroubled with my family.

I noticed a heavy tear running down my cheek and how tenderly Zelda wiped it away and looked sorrowfully into my eyes, tears gathering at the edges of the corners of her eyes.

"Shhh, Zelda mark my words. I will follow you into any darkness, however dangerous and hopeless," I whispered against her lips, but before I could give in to her pleading eyes and break the chivalric oath, I reached into the water for her legs and lifted her into my arms. I stomped through the hip-high water, shifting my weight with each step, deliberate, so that I wouldn't fall into the wet with her.

"Link? Are you all right? You just said my name and then spoke of dangerous darkness... isn't it safe here?"

Her concerned voice snapped me out of my reminiscence. My heart was pounding and my breaths were heavier than usual.

'What was that just now? It felt like I was there again!’ it flashed through my mind. 'It felt so real, I could sense her lovely scent!'

"Link!"

I looked up with a jolt and gazed into wide-open eyes. In the shadow of the rain clouds and her hood, her normally emerald eyes now shimmered in the dark green of the Gerudo Desert plants. Not sure I was back in reality, I squinted my eyes and shook my head slightly to clear my head.

"Forgive me princess. I saw a vision of sorts, I'm not entirely sure though, it felt like I experienced it once. If I startled you by talking while I was doing it, I'm sorry. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before, at least there was no one close enough to say it did."

I saw her looking at me curiously and puzzled, but she didn't ask what it was about. She always gave me the space I needed to open up on my own, which I appreciated about her. Only once had she pushed me to give her an answer to my silent behaviour before the calamity, but after that she began to understand me even without words. I didn't even know if she could remember it, if it was really a memory and if I had just fantasised it, which wouldn't necessarily make it more pleasant to tell her that I was having strangely intimate dreams about her.

She gave me an encouraging smile and I returned it with the same. But then her pale lips caught my eye and abruptly stopped her mare while I signalled my mustang to halt.

"Let's rest in the old barn up ahead, our horses need a rest. The rain is draining their strength too." If I had told her to take a break, she would have looked at me defiantly and ridden on without me. But so I made her pay more attention to the feelings of her companion animal and secretly persuaded her to warm up.

In the old barn we found some hay, which of course we scattered on the ground together to give us and the horses a dry and pleasant-smelling place to lie down. Altay and Himawari lay down on the hay mats that Zelda and I had laboriously scattered, almost as if we had agreed. We looked at each other simultaneously and smiled at the cheeky behaviour of our animal companions.

While I knelt down next to Altay, I asked Zelda to sit down next to me, between both of our horses. I dried and cleaned Altay's coat as much as I could with a scrap of cloth, while Zelda took off her mare Himawari's saddle and groomed her. It was quiet yet comfortable between us. We heard only the pounding rain hitting the wooden façade and the sleepy breathing of our horses. Even though the unpleasant wet cold came in through the lack of a door, I felt myself getting toasty warm. I turned my head to Zelda to make sure she was warming up. Leaning against Himawari, she zapped through the Sheikah Stone, ignoring her reddened fingers. Sighing, I put down my master sword and shield, took off my hood and tunic and laid both on the ground to dry. As I thought about building a small fire, I felt her gaze on the back of my neck. She stared at me with her mouth slightly open while I looked at her questioningly.

But then I realised that she was looking at me somewhat absent-mindedly and she was looking through me, to a time that had long since passed. 'Did the scars on my body, trigger the memory of the day of my defeat?'

Carefully, I touched her on the shoulder. "'Zelda, I am here, I am alive and it is because of you. Please come back to me. Zelda!"

She blinked hard, pushing tears from her eyes.

"Link? Oh, by Hylia, I'm so glad you're alive!" she trilled between tears and a relieved laugh as she fell around my arms, throwing me onto my back with them.

I hardly dared move, my arms hovering discreetly over her back as she snuggled closer and closer to me, hiding her face against my neck. I shouldn't think about how it felt for me, no, I wasn't allowed to think about it. But I could not deny that I was deeply relaxed at that moment.

Relieved, she sighed against my neck and looked up into my eyes. At first she looked at me contentedly and even played with the strands of my hair, but suddenly this veil before her eyes disappeared and the expression in them became clear, like a cloudless sky.

She startled to her feet, fell to the side and held a hand in front of her sensuous mouth.

"Link! I'm sorry... I... I don't even know why I did that!"

Slowly, I sat up and run a hand through my hair, troubled. From the looks of it, her soul still couldn't distinguish what time she was in, due to the hundred year seal and the loss of space and time. I just knew I had to help her break out of this darkness, as I had promised in my vision. I let out a loud sigh and gave her a soft, honest smile.

"It's okay. Whenever you need my warmth, don't hold back." I slid close to Altay and leaned my back against him. He lifted his heavy head briefly and looked at me sleepily, but when I stroked his face he settled back to sleep. I turned my attention back to Zelda, who still looked confused.

Then I took the initiative and tapped my chest to show her that she could lean against me.

Slightly uncertain, she joined me and tentatively rested her head on my chest.

"It feels like a miracle to hear your strong heart beating in your chest. The last time I heard it, you were... you...." she whispered weakly. Just the thought of the word 'dying' caused her tremendous grief.

I felt that she was no longer herself; more fragile, more sensitive and full of sorrow. Her soul was shattered, and it hurt in every inch of my body. I felt her shoulders begin to shake, again struggling with her heart.

It had only been two days since her rescue from Gannon's clutches and yet she expected far too much of herself.

I pulled her onto my lap and tenderly lifted her face with one finger, I leaned my forehead against hers and sighed. At last, I was no longer bound by an oath.

With my fingertips on her chin, I stroked her soft, pure skin, her jaw, her cheeks, eyes, nose and finally I stopped at her lips. She relaxed noticeably and leaned closer to me.

"Whatever darkness you are in, however dangerous and hopeless, I will follow you there and save you," I breathed against her lips. My heart pounded and my breath trembled, I wanted to take away her pain, to help her heal. One last time I looked into her emerald green tortured eyes and closed the gap to her soft lips with mine.

I kissed her with the thirst of a desert wanderer who finally found water and the tenderness of snowflakes touching the ground.

Zelda interrupted our kiss; shaky breathing, she whispered my name.

It was all I could hear, nor did the drumming of the rain on the roofs reach me, nor the soft snoring of our horses, only her breath whispering, I once vowed the same words in the sacred spring of power.

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c-c-cherry · 5 years ago

Text

Talk to Me

AKA: Link doesn’t like storms. Also Zelda and Link really need to talk more.

BOTW Zelink Hurt/comfort, POST-GAME, a LOT of angst (but it’s a happy ending!)

WORD COUNT: 4196

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“Alright. According to the map, it should take about 3 more days to reach Zora’s Domain. We’re making good time here, aren’t we, Link?”

Link felt his heart warm his body as Zelda smiled warmly. Genuinely. There were so many times a hundred years ago that she had to “smile” during so many occasions, so many meetings, so many failed attempts. She had to put on a brave face and smile through it all. Now it was different.

Link nodded in agreement and walked alongside the princess as they picked the last of the apples they had come across. Link stooped down and fed one of his to his horse and shoved the rest in his bag, securing it onto the horse’s saddle.

“It’s funny. I never knew how much food could grow in the wild. I suppose I always thought that it came solely from farms, now.” Zelda said thoughtfully, examining the red fruit, “I assumed that most life had been wiped out from the Calamity, but somehow things still managed to grow. It’s fascinating.”

“It’s just that…” The princess paused, rolling the apple around in the palm of her hand, seeming lost in thought.

“Oh, never mind,” she said absentmindedly, turning to Link, “We should get going. The faster we travel the faster we’ll get there.”

Link let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding in. It had been at least a month or so since the couple had defeated Ganon, but both still had yet to talk to each other about it. You would assume that two people would bond over the shared experience, but Link felt like treading on that territory just pushed them away.

It seemed like both of them were reluctant to speak about their experiences; he still had no idea how Zelda stayed, holding back Ganon for his 100 year slumber and she had yet to know about his epic quest while she was keeping Ganon at bay.

He sighed and remained content. He walked away from the apple tree, mounting his horse as the princess did the same and, side by side, rode closer and closer to their destination.

The sun had finally begun to set, and the two of them were closer than before after a long day of traveling. Zelda breathed in a breath of fresh air and admired the mountains as their horses slowly trudged on. She liked that she had more time to appreciate nature now. It felt nice.

Link rode on silently next to her, seeming as content as she was. The champion leaned his head back, his eyes partly closed, and embraced the wonderful weather. Zelda giggled. She barely saw this side of Link before the Calamity, but she was glad that she could now.

Sure, he was still a silent champion, but not as silent as before. He spoke when he felt he needed to now. He felt that the burden he carried upon his back was no longer so heavy that his words were locked away. And he wasn’t sworn to her anymore, either. He could go off and live his life as he wanted, yet he preferred to stay by her side. She found it comforting.

Link seemed to have heard her soft giggling, as his eyes flew open and his head turned to hers, an eyebrow raised.

“Nothing’s wrong, Link. I just like seeing you so happy.”

She watched as the hero’s face flushed red, his mystical blue eyes barely meeting hers.

“You act like you’ve been caught doing something forbidden!” Zelda laughed heartily, “We have the freedom to feel happy now. No one can tell us that we cannot do so!”

Link looked long and hard at her before chuckling as well, their giggles turning into small fits of laughter which echoed through the trees and the mountainside like a song.

Their laughter was cut short when Link’s face perked up, his eyes suddenly taking on a serious tone. Zelda sobered up and frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

Link’s eyes glanced up at the clouds, which were now forming a dark wall above their heads. A soft rumbling could be heard in the distance. Link bit his lip in concern.

“I think it’s going to rain soon, Zel.”

By late evening, it was Zelda who had felt the first drop on her nose. Blinking in surprise, she watched another one fall onto her hand. And another. And another. Soon the landscape was being sprinkled with soft rain, the quiet sound being heard throughout as the sun finally set.

“We should find somewhere dry,” Link looked tense, his eyes fixated on the sky.

Zelda much enjoyed the rain, but she didn’t want to spend the night in the cold with wet clothes and gear. Link was right.

After staring at their map, they noticed in annoyance that there was no small town anywhere remotely near them. Link closed in on the map to locate any stables, and to their disappointment, there was nothing.

The sun had set. It was getting dark. They were starting to get cold, too.

“I think we have no choice but to trudge on. There could be unmarked shelter up ahead,” Zelda sighed, grabbing the reins on her horse. Link remained tense, but nodded in agreement.

After what felt like hours, but was probably more like 45 minutes, Zelda squinted and noticed a peculiar structure in the distance. Upon further inspection, she noticed:

“A cabin! Link, I think that’s a cabin over there!”

The two of them picked up speed as the rain finally pattered down harder on them, the sprinkle becoming a full-on rain. Dismounting their horses into a small stable-like thing attached to a cabin, they pulled out their wallets and walked into the small cabin, hoping to offer money for a bit of shelter for the night. Zelda shivered, wet clothes clinging to her, but as Link knocked on the door, he found no answer.

Slowly pulling the door open, they found that the cabin was dark and almost completely empty. Clearly someone had not been here for years.

“It seems abandoned.” Zelda thought out loud, “ But...should we really go into someone else’s house?”

The patter of rain on their backs morphing into a violent stream of water gave them no other second thoughts as they pushed through the door with their things pulled off their horse’s saddles.

The rain’s hard drops could be heard from the roof and the outside, which made them feel at ease that they were no longer in the sudden downpour and sheltered by this wooden lodging.

Link sighed in frustration as he found that most of his wooden weapons were completely soaked, but felt relief as he found a single torch in the bottom of his pack that remained mostly dry. Lighting it, he lit the only light in the centre of the room that had long ago been burnt out, giving them a dim lighting in their cabin.

Zelda shivered, and Link found himself starting to freeze up in his wet clothes as well. The two stripped hastily and grabbed their other set of dry clothes, hanging up the wet ones up to dry.

“Can we close the window?” Zelda asked, making her way over to one of the walls. Wind whipped harshly outside, shaking the cabin and coming in through the open window. But upon closer inspection, Zelda found that the window had long been broken.

“Well, at least the window isn’t above the bed…” she thought to herself, “But it seems to be quite close to the light. Let’s hope the wind isn’t strong enough to blow it out.

Link nodded. He took the torch and lit a small fire in the fireplace, bringing out their apples from earlier. The room had barely anything in it; a fireplace, a now lit lantern hanging in the centre of the room, a wooden chair that seemed to be rotting, and a sturdy, rather large bed. A mattress made of hay and fabric still lay on the bed, but any blankets or pillows were already gone.

“What are you making?” Zelda asked, pulling out their bedrolls and pillows from her pack and setting them up cozily on the bed. She was reluctant to bring such items as they would stay in stables and inns, but Link insisted on bringing them ‘just in case’.

“Looks like simmered fruit tonight,” Link answered quietly, blowing out the torch and readying the apples, “We can go hunting tomorrow morning so we can have something meaty. But this is all I can do for now.”

“I think it’s perfect.” Zelda answered, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around him. Link turned and returned the gesture, smiling warmly, but Zelda noticed something off about him. His shoulders were too tense. His gaze looked to be somewhere else.

“Is something wrong?” she asked him, kneeling down beside him as he put the apples in the cooking pot. Link bit his lip at the question, but shook his head.

“Are you sure, Link? Because you can talk to me. After all we’ve…” Zelda stopped herself, slowly trailing off. Now probably was not the time to bring up old memories about their trials and hardships.

Will there ever be a right time?

Noticing her distress, Link patted her head affectionately and smiled, “Everything’s fine, Zel.”

Nodding skeptically, Zelda soon forgot the ordeal as Link finished making their meals and the two sat in comfortable silence, sitting on the side of the bed and eating. Their legs dangled off the side of the bed, and the two of them slipped off their shoes and set their plates down by the fire, which Link had now put out.

The dim light of the lit lantern hanging from the ceiling was their only light, and the two of them laughed as they recalled a memory from Gerudo Town when Link first accompanied Zelda to the women’s only haven, still sitting on the side of the bed.

“You were the only voe there!” Zelda giggled. Link’s ears grew hot at the thought of it. His eyes shined brightly as he too chuckled at the story.

“Urbosa had to escort us, remember? I thought that one guard was going to kill me!” Link replied, covering his mouth as his small fit of laughter turned into a bigger one. Zelda had her hand laid beside her on the bed and Link placed his hand over hers, both not noticing the gesture as they continued to laugh about old stories.

Link had recovered most of his memories by now. He felt whole again for the first time in awhile. He was glad that he could finally laugh about old times with Zelda again. When he first woke up in the shrine of resurrection, he thought he would never regained any memory of who he once was.

Link’s eyes lit up as he thought of an especially funny time.

“Hey! Remember when--”

*BOOM*

The cabin shook from the ground up as an exceptionally large thunderclap shook the skies. The wind picked up speed and the rain pattered harder on the roof. Even Zelda herself felt shocked into silence as she watched the lantern hanging from the ceiling swing back and forth slowly from the impact.

She finally regained focus and waited for Link to continue his story, but found that he wasn’t speaking. The hero beside her tensed up significantly, the hand on top of Zelda’s tightening its grip as his eyes flew shut, a painful expression on his face.

“Link?” Zelda inched closer to him in concern, “Are you alright?”

Link’s eyes flew open again, his gaze elsewhere. She watched as his face flickered through a thousand emotions before he regained a neutral expression again.

“Link?”

“I’m fine.”

Link slowly lifted his hand off of Zelda’s and crossed his arms tightly against his chest, shrinking into

Himself. His expression looked shameful, his lips pursed slightly and his eyes widened. He looked pretty shaken up.

“Link, you’re awfully tense. Please, tell me what’s wrong.” Zelda begged, placing a soft hand on his shoulder. She knew it was hard for him to open up, but maybe a nudge would help him voice his feelings.

Link seemed to melt into her touch at first, but soon shrugged it off and dropped his head down, letting his hair fall in front of his face.

“Link--”

*BOOM*

Link’s breath hitched in a small gasp, his knees now pulled up to his chest. Zelda frowned in confusion as she brought herself closer to him.

“What’s wrong?” After no response, she placed one tender hand on his shoulder and another one on his head, “Look at me, Link.”

She slowly lifted the champion’s head up and let out a soft gasp. His blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and his expression looked fearful.

She didn’t say anything for the longest time and Link felt awareness suddenly hit him as the tips of his ears burned red. He quickly blinked any tears away and regained his neutral expression. His voice cracked as he spoke.

“We should get to bed.”

Zelda nodded in worry.

They silently got under the covers and took off their socks, setting them in their shoes. The bed was pressed up against two walls, the top and side of the bed were protected by wooden walls, and the foot of the bed had just enough room on the ground to put their shoes and packs.

Link gave Zelda the most sheltered side of the bed, his primal instinct was to keep her safe, but the princess didn’t miss the worried expression on his face that came with it. Zelda frowned as Link pulled the covers over his head, hair covering his eyes. He refused to look at her. It was bone-chilling.

The bed was large enough so that the two of them had breathing room and just enough room so that the two barely touched each other. It was still much smaller than Link’s bed in Hateno and the beds in Hyrule castle, but Zelda didn’t seem to mind.

Ultimately, they decided to keep the lantern lit as it was their only source of light in this winding, dark, stormy woods. Zelda felt her eyes start to grow heavy with exhaustion, and she turned her head to the hero sleeping next to her, who had his back to her. The patter of rain on the roof gave her a steady rhythm to fall asleep to.

“Goodnight, Link.” she whispered. Link didn’t answer.

*BOOM*

A monumental clap of thunder sent Zelda’s eyes flying open. Blinking, she remembered, We’re in a cabin. It’s just a storm.

Zelda was actually very fond of rain and storms on late nights. She wondered if Link rather enjoyed them as well. She rolled over to see if the crash had woken him up as well, but outstretching her arms, she frowned.

Where’s Link?

Sitting up, she squinted her eyes in the dim light, and looked around.

He can’t be outside in this weather…

Blinking in surprise, she saw the silhouette of the hero at the foot of the bed, hands grasping the sheets next to him aggressively. She couldn’t tell over the sound of the rain, but she thought she could hear his breathing from over here.

“Link?” she asked groggily, “What are you doing?”

The hero jumped, startled, but stayed in the same spot, his back to the princess. She could see his hands shaking slightly in the dim light above them.

She begged him softly to come back to bed, but the hero remained in the same spot in silence. Zelda sighed and sat up straighter. There had to be something going on with him.

Before she could speak again, Link’s voice, soft and low said something. Zelda craned her neck and raised her eyebrows.

“What was that?”

“We’re…” he paused, “We’re in a forest...do you think we’ll get...struck?”

Zelda, confused replied, “What, by the lightning? No, Link. We’re in a cabin. Don’t be silly.”

She watched as the hero’s head turned to the window, standing up suddenly and walking cautiously over, muttering to himself.

“But wood is a natural conductor...we’re surrounded by trees which means we’re even more likely to get struck...what if there’s something metal on top of the cabin?...what if the cabin catches on fire?...And if each lightning strike carries up to one billion volt of electricity...and the possibility of a tree being struck and exploded is likely...what if--”

*BOOM*

Link’s quiet ramblings were interrupted as a loud clap of thunder shook the cabin again. It seemed that the storm was almost directly above them, and the wind picked up as did the rain. A flash of light could be seen outside the broken window and the horses outside whinnied loudly.

Link jumped back from the window and Zelda could hear his breath grow heavier. The lantern swung in the centre of the room and Link had both hands over his ears, kneeling on the floor.

“Link!”

Zelda leapt from the bed and ran over to Link, wrapping her arms around his back and pulling him up slowly.

“Is it the storm? Is that what’s bothering you?” she asked frantically. Link’s tense body was shaking like a leaf and his hair was sleek with sweat The hero seemed to get ahold of himself, pushing the princess away softly, standing up and backing away from her.

“Link, come back to bed and we can talk there.” Zelda offered, gesturing towards the cozy, warm bed. Link turned his back on the princess, hugging himself tightly. Zelda could see his shoulders still shook, and he stuttered out a few words.

“I’m...I’m fine...I’m fine, Zel..”

His voice was shaky, unstable, and Zelda knew better than to just let him stand there in such a state.

“Link, why won’t you just come here?” she asked him tenderly. The wind blew through the windows and Zelda felt herself shiver. Link seemed almost agitated that she was still convincing him to come to her.

“Zelda, I said I’m fine. It’s stupid, anyw--”

*BOOM*

The lantern swinging suddenly blew out, leaving them in complete darkness, A broken-sounding cry came from Link as he stumbled in blind panic through the darkness and into Zelda’s arms. She wrapped one arm around his back, the other tenderly on the back of his head. His head fell into her chest and she thought she could hear a soft whimper escape him.

“Okay, back to bed.” she said gently, leading both of them to the bed in the darkness. Another thunderclap had the whole cabin shaking from its foundation and Zelda felt Link’s shoulders tense up.

“So it is the storm, then?” she asked quietly, guiding him to the walled side of the bed this time. Link tried to get ahold of his breathing as he was set back into bed, but failed miserably as another clap of thunder and a crash of lightning could be heard from outside.

“You didn’t have to keep it from me. We could have talked about it, you know.” Zelda pried, getting under the covers herself and inching closer to Link.

“We don’t just...talk about things, do we Zelda?”

Link’s sudden composure surprised the princess. He seemed almost angry at what she had said, judging by his harsh tone and the way his face was pressed into the pillow.

“What?”

“Of..of course you wouldn’t know that I hate storms. Because we never talk. We can never talk about what happened during the Calamity, or the hundred years that just happened, or--or anything!”

Zelda began to understand where he was coming from. But he had never been so upset before, it shook her to the core.

“Link…”

“You wouldn’t know how long I spent in that Divine Beast, hours and hours of trying not to get killed--trying not to fall off of it in order to save Urbosa! And that goddamn fight--gods it was so fast, that--that thing and lightning it would shoot was--”

Link halted his rant, his eyes lighting up with that very same fear that he felt when he first felt the electric shock go through his veins, the first time he felt his heart stop, the first time he felt his body vibrate with the pure electricity that was coursing through his veins.

And suddenly he wasn’t in a cabin in the woods anymore--he was there.

He was right there in Vah Naboris again, fending for himself again, the hunger pangs in his stomach refusing to cease as the food in his inventory had long depleted. He was right there, reliving his inner cries for help that no one would ever answer.

And he was reliving the fight; every minute of it.

He could feel the scars on his back start to bleed again, the voltage running under his skin, the complete and utter helplessness, and a shrill cry that he didn’t know was coming out of his own throat until he felt himself clutching his chest, gasping for air, and the shell-shocked emptiness that he felt when Thunder-blight finally died.

He stood in shock as Urbosa blessed upon him the power to control the one thing that he feared besides Ganon himself, and warped him back to the desert.

He was reliving the grueling moments in which he would sit in his house in Hateno just days after and do...nothing. Nothing but sit there and wonder if there was anything left worth fighting for. If he really was just in this whole thing alone, and if he should be feeling this empty about “saving his home”.

He walked out of his house, and fought and killed a Lionel. No--two. Just to feel something, any kind of feeling at all.

And then he was sobbing. He was back in the cabin in the woods and he was wrapped up in Zelda’s arms and sobbing his heart out. And his breath was so shallow that he could feel his lungs in his throat and the tight hug that Zelda was pulling him into as he felt endless tears streaming down his face and onto Zelda’s shirt and the blankets.

And he tried to put a hand over his mouth as his crying got louder and louder and his entire body shook even more violently, but Zelda tenderly lifted the hand off his face and squeezed it tightly, saying nothing.

And the crashing of the thunder made him cry even harder in pure fear as he clung onto the princess, begging for the world to stop spinning.

And then it did.

The lightning and thunder slowly got farther and farther, but the rain remained, sprinkling overtop the roof and dulling his cries. Link breathed shakily and felt himself shake just a little bit less, cry just a little bit softer. His eyes felt puffy and his face still wet with salty tears, but he felt alive again. He was here in present time again.

He didn’t dare lift his face up in fear of what the princess thought of him now. Some hero, getting worked up over a little bit of rain. It was humiliating.

The two of them said nothing for a long while, and Link remained with his head buried in her chest, breathing slowly as his small hiccups subsided. Finally grasping the courage to look up, he lifted his gaze to find the princess in near tears. Her face looked tender, as if remembering something that deeply hurt. Link opened his mouth to explain himself.

“Zelda, I--”

“I told you that I’d been watching you all this time.” she said unsteadily, her eyes glazed over with unshed tears, “I told you that after the final battle. But that was a lie.”

Link grew confused. What is she talking about?

“I said that I’d been watching you and your perilous quests, but I never truly saw you. For those hundred years, I couldn’t see anything. It was strange, really. It was like I didn’t have a body. I couldn’t see you, but I could sense you.” she continued, “I could sense how brave you were, and when you grew closer and closer to Hyrule Castle, and whenever you took control over another Divine Beast. But I never felt anything that you felt. I never knew of your endless hunger, your constant fight with life and death, and Link, if I had known, I would have done everything I could to help you.”

Link could tell she was on the verge of crying now too, so he locked eyes with her and gave her a teary smile.

“It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Zelda sighed and embraced him closer. And they spoke freely about things, freely without anyone to judge. They spoke about the things that they were capable of, the things that gave them great pain and none at all. They spoke until the rain stopped hitting the roof and their eyes became heavy with exhaustion. They both drifted off into an easy sleep, and Link chuckled as Zelda’s eyelashes tickled his forehead.

“We really need to talk more.”

#botw #legend of zelda #breath of the wild #botw link #angst #zelink #hurt/ comfort #thunderstorms #crying #trauma #ptsd #panic attack #c-c-cherry's fic

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fatefulfaerie · 5 years ago

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Change

Zelink Week 2019 prompt #3/10

“And the other, who holds the Triforce of Wisdom,” she said as her gaze finally locked into his, for the first time in seven years, “is the Seventh Sage, who is destined to…”

Her words trailed away when Links’ brow started to knit in an apparent confusion, his head tilting ever so slightly.

His lips parted for just a second, a moment of contemplation before he stammered,

“Y-your eyes…”

“What about my eyes?”

“They’re,” Link replied, his voice oddly weak, “they’re…blue…”

“They are?!” Zelda asked, so shocked at what Link saw that she forgot completely to tone down her voice to sound like a male.

It was shrill, it was high, and it was familiar, Zelda bringing both her hands to her mouth mere seconds after her exclamation.

Links’ eyes widened greatly at the revelation, a shaky exhale out of his lungs and a small tear from his eye as his feet brought him a couple steps forward.

Just an old fairytale that all illusions dispel in the midst of true love…

Impa’s words echoed in her mind as it all unraveled, the sheikah wrappings, the bodice. As if prompted by some mysterious magic, a dress soon replaced them, Zelda looking down at herself in surprise, her feet lifting inches above the ground.

She hadn’t thought about those words in years, a warm feeling settling inside her as she felt gloves as well, and a tiara atop her head, a sensation that was sorely new for a warrior of the Sheikahs.

When her feet returned to the floor, stable on the stones of the Temple of Time, she looked up to see Link completely bewildered, his eyes still wide and his lips parted even more.

“Oh goddesses, Link,” she started quickly as she stepped forward, “I’m so sorry, I…I didn’t want to lie to you, really I didn’t…it was jus—”

It was sudden, and it stopped her words completely, but it was warm and comforting.

The Princess’ arms floated at her sides as Link kept his tight hold on her, his arms wrapping even further as his exhale brought his head down into the crook of her neck.

It was hard for her to recall the last time she had been hugged like this, surely not in the past seven years.

“I was so worried about you,” Link said.

Zelda was utterly deflated by it all, soon giving into it and returning the embrace.

“I guess I didn’t need to be,” he said as he let her go, yet his hands were still on her arms, “I suppose I worked myself up a bit too much.”

“That’s an understatement,” Link heard Navi say, the glare she received from Link afterwards as his arms returned to hang at his sides prompting her to fly off to the other side of the temple with a scoff and rolled eyes.

She waited with crossed arms, her back turned to them with a petulant frustration scrunching her tiny face. Navi knew Link well enough by now to know that the look she received meant that he wanted her away, even just for the moment.

“I just…I can’t believe it’s really you,” Link said, “all that time…”

“I know,” Zelda said, “and I’m so sorry for meeting you in disguise but…”

Link nodded when her words trailed away.

“You needed to be safe from Ganondorf,” he said with a small smile, his eyes kind, “I understand.”

“You forgive too easily,” Zelda said with a shake of her head.

“Only when it is just.”

“Link…what I’ve caused,” she started, “subjecting my kingdom to suffering…subjecting you to suffering…all because I instructed you to open the Sacred Realm…it is a horrid and selfish thing that I’ve done. And all the while I waited for your return, wanting so much to see you, and…for you to see me.”

“For seven years I waited for such a selfish fantasy.”

“But…” Link started walking forward, “I have returned…to help you, no less…to end all of this.”

He reached out and clasped his hand into hers.

“It’s no fantasy,” he said, Zelda closing her eyes at the sensation.

She nodded in the acknowledgement of his words.

“Then you will need this.”

Zelda stepped back, her hand slipping away from Link’s as a golden light started to envelop her, the sheen reflecting off of Link’s wide blue eyes.

She raised her arms for a glowing yellow orb to appear between her hands, arrows that shone with a similar golden luminescent light soon finding themselves between Links’ hands.

“These arrows drive away darkness,” Zelda said in Links’ awe, “much like fire melts away ice, they are a conduit of opposition. The adversary of darkness will light the way…your way.”

“But,” she continued after Link had put the arrows away, his glance resting on her blue eyes. She walked forward before placing a hand on his chest, her eyes focused only on her hand, “never forget your greatest strength, never forget that you have a courageous soul and…a kind heart…”

Her words faded when she felt Links’ fingers brush her cheek. It was such a gentle tickle to make her heart blush with warmth, herself looking up to find Links’ soft gaze.

Links’ eyes flitted to her lips for just a second before he felt himself tossed backwards, hitting the stone floor behind him with a rather strong thud. The wind was almost knocked out of him as he fell to the ground by a force he couldn’t explain, his eyes squinting and his expression wincing at the sensation, at the pain in his back.

That was sure to leave a bruise.

Yet, he no longer felt it when he quickly clambered to kneel, rushing forward with a run when he saw the Princess trapped by a pink crystal.

But he was too late.

She was now in the very clutches of Ganondorf, the self-proclaimed King of Evil.

A cautionary tale, really…love can be as much of a weakness as a strength. It’s a vulnerability we Sheikah can’t afford when we are out in the field…

#zelink #zelink week #zelink week 2019 #zelda #link #oot #ocarina of time #sheik #temple of time #navi #tloz #the legend of zelda #light arrows #triforce #triforce of wisdom #triforce of courage #change

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queakenstein · 5 years ago

Note

You , miss , are by far my favorite zelink writer ever. I have 2 requests for ya... ugh I need to stop being greedy XD it’s fine if you do one. - Link getting Impa’s approval for courting Zelda - Drunk Link spilling his feelings for Zelda to everyone who can hear.

Thank you so much!!

Hope ya like!

He knew from experience that he really shouldn’t challenge a Gerudo to a drinking match. However, Link was not the type of man to back down from a difficult task. The woman, a dignitary from the desert region, slaps him on the back and laughs. “I’s alright, ya can stop now.” Her words are slurred and her fingers rest, lazily, on her small glass. She’s turned it upside down. A classic sign of defeat.

Link grins. His blue eyes sparkling with assured victory and blows his bangs away from his face. He snaps his own drink to his lips and takes the shot with as much grace as he can given he can’t quite remember what number he’s at. “Do ya give?”

She snorts, raises her hands and nods. “ ‘M callin’ it quits.” She latches on to a passing guards arm and points in a general direction of the guest rooms. “Help a lady, would ya?” The man raises a questioning look at Link who waves him off with a smirk. The Gerudo throws an arm around his shoulders and leans against the man like crutch. “G’night.”

“Night.” The Hero stands and keeps to the walls. It’s safer that way especially since he knows straight lines are dangerous right now. Eventually, he finds the woman he’s looking for. Back rigid and red eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of disturbance. She should know that few would dare to attack the castle with some of the country’s strongest warriors present. He can appreciate her vigilance. She’s the only reason he was able to let himself loose.

“You won.” She glances at him from the corner of her eye. Her lips hold some small trace of amusement. “Impressive.” He notes that she doesn’t sound impressed.

He ignores her tone and steadies himself by leaning back against the wall. He watches the crowd with her for a moment. Sages, nobles, great knights and famed heroes all move about the celebration. No one is treated any better than the others. Tonight is a night to enjoy the peace brought forth by all the hard work each of these individuals have done. Either by pen or sword. This was the third annual gala created by Princess Zelda. Link smiles at the thought of her.

“This is the third time you’ve refused to accept any honor or award.” Impa takes a step back so that she stands a bit closer to him. “Why do you refuse?”

Link shrugs. He’s dizzy and all the colors are honestly making him sick. “Uh.” He swallows and tries to carefully scan the area for anything he could safely vomit in. “I don’t…” He stops and decides standing is making all of it worse and let’s his body slide down until he sits on the floor. “I didn’t do it for medals.”

“As chivalrous as that sounds, it would not hurt to receive some accolade.” Impa either pulls on of her shadow walking stunts or his eyes close for longer than he thought. Either way, Link finds a piece of bread in his hand. She’s crouched before him and peering into his eyes. “She would, happily, give you any thing you would desire.”Her eyes squint. “Land. Gold, A title.”

He doesn’t like this interrogation nor the fact that she’s using his inebriated state to gain some sort of leverage or answers. Rather than spit the foul mouthed retort gathering on his tongue, he merely chomps a large piece off the bread and munches, angrily, at her. They sit there in a silence while he contemplates her queries. The titles and land would do him well. Gold would not be a bad prize either. He falls asleep for a time but wakes up feeling less dizzy but knows he isn’t sober. Impa stands guard next time him. “How long’ve I been out?”

“Two hours.”

“Shit.” The wall, ever his friend, helps him to stand. “That’s embarrassing.”

“You snore.”

He flinches. “Yer jokin’?”

“Not in the slightest.” Impa turns to points at the bread in his hand with a nod of her chin. “You should eat more.”

“Fine but this needs something.” He moves toward the table where a majority of the food has thinned out. He’s a little surprised to see that the party hasn’t dwindled much considering it is getting in the early hours of morning. A brief scan of the room reveals no trace of Zelda. He tries not to think about the possibility of her being swept off into a more private setting. A slice of cheese, butter and with an apple in hand, Link returns to Impa’s post. He drags a chair away from a table and sits next to her. “Thanks.”

“For?”

“The bread… earlier.”

She shrugs and makes no further comment for several minutes. “Who were you looking for?”

“You stalking me?” He asks, frowning.

“Merely noticed is all.”

Link sighs and answers her with exasperation. “Zelda.” He takes a bite out of the apple and makes a noise of delight before he continues. “She mentioned she wanted to dance.” He makes quick work of the fruit and starts on the cheese. “Why so many questions?”

“I’m bored and you’re the only one around… and you intrigue me.”

“How?” He rolls his eyes. “I’m not exactly a puzzle.”

“You say that yet none of your actions seem to add up.” She turns to meet his gaze and he feels very dizzy again. “You waged a war with a Evil reincarnated to fight for the peaceful life you had before. Yet, do not return to. So, perhaps it is knighthood that you long for but you refuse to accept any offer of ranks. Gold seems not to appeal to you nor does any lordly right or land…” She glares. “Still, you remain close by and accepted one final job offer… that of personal guard to the Princess herself.”

Link meets her stare and smirks. “You don’t trust me.”

She frowns and the hardness he sees softens some. “Wrong. I trust you.” Her admission shocks him but she doesn’t acknowledge the expression he makes. “The point that I would like to make is… If you are waiting for a sign, for some sort of permission, or approval then you have it.” Impa spares him one, small, sliver of a smile. “We have many ghosts that walk these halls. All of them filled with regret. Do not make that same mistake.” She turns away from him. “She pressures you to take all of her gifts because she thinks you are unhappy… but, also, because it might make the process easier.”

Link’s brain misfires for a brief second before he stands, quickly, and causes his chair to topple with a clatter. “Easier?” His voice is a little louder than he expects so he clears his throat. “Are you telling me… that she’s…?”

Impa nods. “Are you not in love with her?”

“I-I–” He knows he’s losing composure. He’s still to drunk to deal with this. There’s too many people but calculated steps are far from his mind. “Of course, I do but– It’s— Complicated.”

“You make it so.”

Link shakes his head and growls with frustration. “No. The fact that she is a Princess and I’m just some man with a sword makes that complicated.” Link’s voice is a harsh whisper and he moves to stand in front of her. Talking to the Sheikah’s back is making the situation all the more uncomfortable.

“You slaughtered Ganon.” Her face is impassive and her voice resumes it’s unimpressed tone from earlier in the night. “You are the one making this complicated.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose and can feel a headache coming on. His voice rises but he’s too worked up to notice. His heart is pounding and he’s sweating. He can’t understand why he’s sweating. All he knows is that Zelda is in love with him and, apparently, it’s his fault that they aren’t…married? Courting? He shakes his head and settles on together. “You’re telling me…” He ignores the way that Impa’s eyebrows rise. “That I… could just waltz up to Zelda.” He takes a deep breath. Air. Air is hard. “Princess Zelda. Who, by all rights, is Queen.” His gestures are wild and his legs have begun to pace. “A-And just tell her that… what? I love you?! And she would be okay with it?!”

He realizes his mistake when he recognizes the voice bouncing back at him is his own. Impa’s mouth is open slightly and she holds the first truly shocked expression Link has ever seen… There’s a small voice in the back of his head that tells him if he just drops to the floor hard enough that he would probably knock himself out and spares himself a few hours of whatever the hell awaits him behind his back.

The grand hall is deadly silent. Clearly, one’s drunk love confession to your regent who may or may not be in the room is serious.Sounds of feet shuffling around reaches his ears as Link glares at Impa and half-scream, half-whispers to her. “You’re dead to me. Now, I have to go kill myself. Hope you like your ghosts filled with embarrassment too!”

“Now, now.” A soft voice admonishes. He’d recognize it anywhere. He can picture her dressed in the pink gown he saw her in with her pale, blonde locks cascading behind her. Light blue eyes that would peer up at him should he turn around. “You promised a dance and, since you mentioned waltzing, I would like to take you up on it now.”

“Or.” Link swallows. “I could throw myself off the balcony.”

“You’re very drunk.” She giggles and he can’t help the smirk that crawls across his face because he knows she is too. She only giggles like that after drinking too much wine. “Could you make it that far?” Her hand, gloved in silk, reaches out to pull at his. “Dance with me.” He turns to her with just a small tug from her fingers and keeps his eyes to the ground. Zelda steps forward to wrap her arms around him. Her fingers clench his shoulder blades and his arms encircle her shoulders in a tight embrace. He closes his eyes to the many gazes on them and rests his chin on her hair. “Hi.” She giggles and he feels her shift to look up at him.

He musters up the courage to finally look her in the eye and he smiles, ever-so softly. “Hey.”

#queaky writes #legend of zelda #legend of zelda fanfiction #zelink #zelink fanfiction #fanfiction #zelink fluff

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ashleyswrittenwords · 5 years ago

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The Homecoming Formal [ZeLink College AU]

Note: Hi hello it’s me, Ashley. I know this isn’t HTBAQ, but I’ve been drabbling on the side and I very much like this idea. Also there’s a hot fraternity president that I happen to know and anyway, thought it was topical. This is kind of mature rated? Kinda? If you don’t like reading about sexual mentions and stuff or if you’re uncomfy. This will be a couple chapters and then I’m retiring the idea lol. It’ll be cute, promise.

Summary: [Zelink College AU][Greek Life] Zelda had a one-night stand months ago and finally got over a big break up, but the shame of it happening weighs down on her. To make matters worse, her best friend keeps pushing her to go to formal with a fraternity boy. What happens when she meets their homecoming fraternity's president and her past mistake comes back to haunt her? Can I make this sound any more like a Wattpad book? Can this be anymore cliche? Yes, probably.

Warning: Mentions of the sex.

The Homecoming Formal

The bass seeped from the floor and through her wedges. She was completely off beat but she finally felt comfortable dancing. Dancing wasn't really the word for it, it was more or less being very low and bobbing with the music. There was lots of alcohol and none going on Zelda's tab. She was happy, shouting to the music that the club provided and danced with her girlfriends without a care in the world.

Maybe Midna was right and she should get out more.

It helped when she was paying the bill.

Men had come around every now and again, asking to dance with them and offering drinks. Midna was very staunch about the sudden arrival of testosterone and manhandled them away. Zelda had grinned wryly repeating how much she loved everyone. More jelly shots please.

Countdown and shots. It was a cycle.

How many did she have? It didn't matter. Nothing mattered right now. Zelda wanted to have fun.

She turned around and didn't see her friends. They were on the dance floor. She felt wobbly and a steady sense of vertigo washed in. Okay, the bar is nice now anyway. The bar stool was cozy and gave her relief to the balls of her feet. Someone brushed against her, slurring to the bartender. Zelda didn't recall what was said, but the nice drink lady was reluctant to give him more. Oh, it was a man. She had looked at him and he had looked at her.

Fun had found her.

Daren ΚΗΣ : Yo me and the boys are tailgating across the street from the stadium. You going to the game tmrw?

Zelda's eyes flicked up to her phone, which dinged, and pulled her from her glazed over stare. She sighed and stretched before grabbing the phone.

Me: Yea

A beat passed before the phone buzzed again.

Daren ΚΗΣ: Ahahah slideeee

She squinted at the phone screen and opted to stare off into the corner of the library. The calculus homework that glared at her from her computer screen seemed to hate her more than she hated it. A woman bounced through the door and immediately locked eyes with her. Her stare was piercing and Zelda felt like crawling under the table.

"Zelda Harkinian, what are you still doing here?" Midna said, accusatory.

"I…" Zelda paused, her brain not giving her a snarky reply, "I needed a couple more hours before the test." The woman picked up the cup of coffee that sat under Zelda's chin. It was still half full and hours old. The scent was comforting, at least.

"Cold coffee again?" The scary woman dumped it into a trashcan without another word, drawing attention from the people around them.

Zelda wined, mourning the lost cup, "Midna! You know that coffee here is expensive!"

"Only because you're too lazy to get off campus for a fix, besides you're addicted. Look at those eye bags! You know we have a social this weekend and you still insist on torturing your skin. What have I told you about at least using eye cream?" She went on, the blonde zoning out. She wondered how she would get out of this one. Midna was obsessed with socials. Especially this year, being that their homecoming fraternity was Kappa Eta, also known as Kappa Eta Sigma. It didn't make complete sense to Zelda, she wasn't the one for Greek drama, but if it made Midna happy she would be happy for her. In all honesty, a lot about being in a sorority confused her. It took a lot of pressure from her friends to rush with them two summers ago.

It was quite possibly the worst experience she'd ever faced. Standing outside sorority houses for fifteen minutes in the hottest days of summer weren't exactly what the movies depicted. The feeling of an hour's worth of makeup melting off her face made her shiver to this day. But to her friends it was something worth doing and Zelda couldn't complain. She met amazing people in her house and having Midna joining her made it even better.

"Anyway, tomorrow before the game we're going by their tailgate."

Zelda groaned, "Are you serious? Why? I'm trying to pull a disappearing act on one of their brothers."

"Because they're our homecoming frat and Paya said everyone has to stop by at least once if we're going to the game. And free drinks and free boys," Midna pulled her phone out, typing something in it was a grin. "Is it Daren again?"

"Yes," Zelda said breathlessly, shutting her laptop closed, "He's been either texting or snapchatting me everyday since the date party." She flung her backpack on and followed her tall friend out, looking around shortly for any of Daren's frat brothers. Believe it or not, fraternities were more invested in drama than any top-tier sorority. They always played that bad boy persona, but could never dish it. Of course, in Zelda's opinion. If anything, they were middle schoolers in snapbacks… just barely old enough to drink cheap liquor.

"Hey, I told you to get that other guy on their list. The blond one with the tan."

Zelda huffed, "I didn't know I was being catfished, Mid. Not my fault."

"Just, you know, make out with some other guy in front of him. He'll get the message."

"I'd rather die."

Midna looked up from her phone with another striking stare. How does she get her winged eyeliner so perfect everyday? "Don't give me that, Zel. You try pulling that perfect scholar attitude on me all the time, but I know you can get some if you really wanted to."

Zelda rolled her eyes, "I've no clue what you're on about."

"Really? After that last boy? When we went clubbing and you wore that skimpy black dress and we lost you. I thought you were kidnapped, but you just ran off with a boy."

"Okay, okay, I get it!" Zelda felt heated, "It was one night and I regret it." And she did truthfully regret it. That night haunted her as much as it did thrill her. She couldn't remember his face or name but he sure was good at-

"OMG you're so thinking about it."

"No!" Zelda fumbled as they descended down the hill, almost tripping in front of a man on a longboard, "I'm not!"

"Oh, my Zelda. Growing up so fast! Having one-night stands with hot men! I'm so proud," Midna pretended to wipe a tear. Some random girls caught wind and looked at the duo in a strange manner.

The blonde girl fumed, crossing her arms and pulling her math notebook close. She thanked her stars for the leggings she decided to wear. The days were getting cooler, but she couldn't bear to turn to jeans just yet. The oversized shirt she wore displayed her universities name: North Hyrule University.

"When is your calc exam?"

Zelda looked at her phone, "At 2. So, I have a couple hours to kill."

Midna looked at her with that look that made Zelda worried.

"Midna what are you planning?"

Silence.

"Midna."

A smile was being wrestled with on her red lips.

"Oh, Hylia above help me."

The accused girl gasped dramatically, "My stars! Would you look at that! Kappa Eta has a tent put up just down the sidewalk. What a coincidence!" Zelda's eyes were immediately pulled towards a row of tents in the common area. Damn it, of course she would lead us here. It was still early in the semester so clubs and chapters were scouting for freshmen. There was an outlandish difference between sorority and fraternity recruiting, the latter going through recruitment events throughout the semester. Sorority rush however was a week filled with suffering. It wasn't fun for anyone involved.

"I really don't want to go," Zelda whined.

"You are," Midna looped her arm around Zelda's as a move to take her as captive. She was evil. "We should at least meet some before the social. Maybe we can get you a new formal buddy! Wouldn't that be peachy?"

"Oh, yes. I'm sure any man would want to see me in no makeup and hellish looking. Perhaps I should tell them that this horrible hair bun is Vogue," the blonde groveled, trailing behind Midna who looked positively radiant.

"That may work," Midna said absently, responding to a yell with her name. She had already put on that dazzling smile, while Zelda was trying to remember if she brushed her teeth that morning. Kappa Eta's tent was loud to sum it up. Loud and obnoxious. Several were talking to nervous freshmen and showing off their acts of good deeds. Or whatever frats boasted about. Midna was talking to Kafei, a man she loosely knew from a friend. He seemed nice enough, but Zelda ended up zoning out on the background. Why did frat boys tend to wear the same outfit 8-year-olds wear to their grandma's for Easter? The bright shorts were killing her. At least some of them took the decency of wearing long khakis and a normal tee shirt with their letters. That makes sense.

A hard nudge to the side sent Zelda into the real world again.

"-and Zelda here is our Academics Chairwoman, as you can see she's clearly been wrapped up in it. She's in Calculus 2, you know?"

"Are you finished with the dossier on me?" The accused woman glanced at who Midna was talking to. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." The man was looking at her odd and his expectant gaze caused her to stop thinking for a moment. His hair was longer than what she usually saw with typical frat boys, shaggy and blond. His eyes contrasted greatly to his skin. He was tan and she wondered if maybe he was on the football team. He seemed like he could be built for that; a linebacker? It occurred to her that this was the same guy that Midna had recommended before for the date party. Zelda mentally kicked herself for not taking more care of her appearance today.

"Link," he finished his weird stare and smiled. Almost hesitantly. It made her wonder if she looked worse than Midna described. Had she actually spared her feelings this time?

No, probably not.

He held out his hand and she took it, shocked for a moment by his delicate grasp. She thought he'd be more firm.

"Zelda, this is Link Forester. He's the president of Kappa Eta Sigma." Now it made sense why Midna sounded so professional. She was the Social Chairwoman after all. She had to be diplomatic in some way. A hot flush crept up Zelda's neck, "Oh, I'm sorry. I probably should have known that."

He kept hold on her hand and laughed, "It's fine. I don't expect people to know me. Why should I?"

"Isn't that Zelda?" A sly voice crept in and it took a lot for the named woman to not roll her eyes. Link dropped her hand as another man approached them. He was shorter by a fraction and everything she didn't want to deal with at the moment.

"Hi Daren," she said, trying not to sound lame.

"'Hi Daren'? That's all I get?" It sounded like he was talking to a child. He glanced at Link, "Excuse me, Mr. President. This is my date to formal."

"Formal buddy, but okay," Midna interjected. To be fair, there was a stark difference. Date suggested… other things. Buddy, of course, was a more amicable form of date and Zelda hoped perhaps her own would change before formal. Daren only gave Midna's comment a side glance. "Where's my hug, Zelda?" He was going in for it and Zelda raised her eyebrow in question. Was he really trying to hug her? She had met him a total of one time.

Link pulled him back by the collar and Daren stumbled back. "Yeah, no. We're not doing that here. I told you and the rest of the guys that it's a bad look on the chapter, but I'm honestly not too surprised that you forgot so quickly." Daren mumbled something but complied.

"I apologize, ladies," Link again was looking at us, softer than he was before with Daren. "It was good to see you again Midna," he said, nodding at her and then looked to me. The same smile from before was playing on his lips. "And it was wonderful to meet you, Zelda."

He turned away, said something else to Daren and went to help his brothers with recruitment. Midna was easy to turn Zelda and herself away and begin surveying the rest of the booths as they walked. Zelda hummed, "I do believe I should have followed your advice."

Her companion scoffed, "Please. I should have followed my own advice."

#let me know what u think #college au #loz #loz au #zelink #greek life au #zelda #link #ahhhhhh #fanfiction

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skymom · 6 years ago

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A Different Way to Be

SS Zelink fluff, for @andelynkinsey

Kikwi’s were not typically famed for their knowledge. In fact, if you had to ask any Hylian living on the surface what a Kikwi’s most memorable trait was, the majority of them would say “cowardice” which, Zelda thought, was a little harsh.

Especially seeing as she had learnt the hard way that Kikwi’s were very, very knowledgeable indeed.

---

The rain thundered against the rooftops, ice cold daggers of freezing water pounding against the tiles like artillery fire– seemingly never-ending in its attack, forcing all in the surrounding areas to retreat to safety as soon as they could before they were caught in the crossfire. Across the small village, people ran to their homes, baskets and bare hands the only defense they held against the sudden onslaught of the storm. Most made it to safety, evacuating the newly built town square before the first flash of lightning.

Most, that is. Not all.

One couple was left stranded in the rain. Their blonde hair plastered to their foreheads as they ran, boots slipping against the fresh mud of the fields, gasps of laughter drowned out by thunderclaps.

“I knew we should have listened to Oolo,” Zelda cried, “They told us it would rain!”

“But not this badly!” Link countered, pulling Zelda along as he tried to pick up speed. Their little house just now barely visible behind the rain. Just a few more steps, and they’d be home safe.

“Yes this badly,” Zelda called back, lifting their picnic basket over her head, though the now sodden wicker did little to protect her from the onslaught. “They said ‘oh no, oh no, it’ll be too wet to picnic!’” Beside her, Link held back a chuckle at his partner’s impersonation. Her high voice becoming shrill and nasally in her attempt to imitate the small creature that had come to warn them only a few hours before.

Finally reaching the door, Link let go of her hand to root around in his pocket for the key. The cold was already starting to seep into his bones, causing his whole body to shiver. Zelda wasn’t faring much better, the nearly full basket above her head starting to shake as she struggled to hold it up. She shot him a pleading look, silently asking him to hurry up so they could get inside and start a fire to keep warm.

When the first pocket proved to be empty, Link went to check the second… then the first again… then the second. Cheeks flushed pink with both the cold and the embarrassment, Link turned to look at Zelda.

His expression explained it all.

Realization dawned on her quite quickly, her arms lowering the basket to the floor. She chewed on her lip, racking her brain to try and figure out a way into the house.

“I think I left the bedroom window open,” she started, a hand trailing through her fringe, pushing the wet hair back off of her face. “Maybe we can get in through there?”

That idea, however, proved to be easier said than done.

The window had indeed been left open, but the torrential rain had turned the flower beds beneath it to mud, making it incredibly difficult to get a stable foothold in order to pull themselves up and over the sill.

“Your sacrifice won’t be in vain, Mr. Hero,” Zelda said with absolute conviction as Link sunk his knees into the mud and pushed the window open enough for Zelda to crawl through. He followed after her, the two of them dripping all over the floor. Zelda dropped their ruined lunch and tried to remove her boots. Link had even less success than her and stared dolefully at the basket.

“I’ll get some towels.” Zelda made her way across the room, water and mud trailing after from her ruined stockings.

“You’re not supposed to get wooden floors wet, Zelda,” Link called after her.

“It’s my house, my rules,” she replied distantly. Link heard the sound of wet clothes being removed and shivered. He removed his boots, and made an attempt at his tunic, only to get stuck.

“Help!” he cried, frustrated nearly to the point of tears. He heard Zelda laugh, almost cackling as she made her way back in, mopping up the mess as she drew closer. She dropped the towels and helped him pull the wet fabric over his head, only for his ears to get caught in the neckline. Zelda’s laughter became vicious and high pitched well after he got free, and he took their biggest, warmest towel out of spite.

“Link don’t be like that! I’m cold,” Zelda trailed off after composing herself. “I’m in nothing but my slip! Have a heart.”

“Perish, you wicked girl,” he said, and then grabbed her in a hug. They tussled over the towel, their only one from back home, filched from the dorm’s bath. The rain picked up even more, drowning out their voices with its dull roar. Link finished their fight with a kiss to her cheek, and a raspberry following shortly after. Zelda smacked his behind and shoved him towards their living area, mirth in her expression, and frizz in her hair. She knew she looked a right mess but hardly cared when there were charcoal smudges ringed around Link’s eyes as he pawed for his favorite sweater.

It was a horrid red thing that was dull from excess washings, and she was almost certain it was actually Groose’s. Link had no qualms about filching their friend’s clothing, just as she could care less as she removed her slip and wrapped herself in a knit blanket. Her brazier was damp too, but it felt like a hug around her chest, and with Link in his underthings, it wouldn’t be fair to let him be on his own.

“That sure was a great lunch. Thank you, Zelda,” Link said, and she kicked him from her blanket pile.

“This is your fault!” and it was. But she didn’t mind.

“I’m cold,” he said in response.

“Then put on some pants!”

Link instead made his way to their hearth and lit their cooking fire with the flint starter. He placed their water pan on top and added some tea leaves to the teapot.

“Can you make the warm, spicy one?” Zelda asked.

“With the milk?” Link was already making his way to their cold box for the jug.

“A rainy day requires some spoiling, I think.”

Link agreed and began to warm the milk as well. Zelda watching as he worked, and brought the blanket to cover her head as well. It was dark and safe, and Link was there. This was all she could ask for, even if their plans had gotten ruined. She was wet, gooseflesh along her arms and thighs, and she marveled that she could even feel it after so long of nothing.

Fur brushed across her toes, and she tried to cover those as well. Mia fought her way into Zelda’s cocoon and onto her lap. She heard Link let out a yelp and trip, Pancake’s incessant meowing, and she could just imagine the remlit winding her way between his legs.

A kit is deposited into her lap, and the blanket moved to make way for a steaming mug. Link tries to shove her over and join her. She points out there’s about five more on the seat behind him. He reminds her of the two remlits purring on top of her and calls her selfish. She knows she’s selfish, and he’s proud of her for it.

Link settles for curling up against the side of her blanket, and they sit there listening to the sound of the storm; the rustling of their shades, the songs of the small birds that were so tiny and foreign. They both stare at the fire in their cooking stove, and Zelda wonders when it was lit. Link’s focus seems miles away, and Zelda begins to worry that he’s disassociating again.

“Let’s build a blanket fort!” she declares.

Link stares owlishly at her, his eyes large and round as her father’s, and she stands up in a brazen display of underthings and yowling animals.

“A..blanket fort?” he trails off, already placing his mug down to the side to grab chairs. They were both well versed in the art of blanket fort making, but it had been years. They were adults, but Zelda wanted to just be with Link, so they built. They had a few knit throws, some from Zelda, old comforters from their childhood rooms, and the most precious of all, a hand-stitched quilt from Link’s mom. It was under its care they both managed to share, leaning against the few precious down pillows whose feathers had yet to come loose.

Mia came first into their fort to make a home under Zelda’s thighs, and Pancake was quick to lap at Link’s mug. He swallowed everything at once just to stop her and then choked for a good few moments. Zelda followed his throat as it swallowed, and the flush on his cheeks, and said eloquently, “You look like you’re crying, with the coal running down your cheeks.”

“Zelda, I love you but you look like a forest witch right now,” he managed, voice hoarse and squinting at her.

She only looks smug in response, whispering a soft “nice” to herself.

He gave her a long, hard stare and asked: “Was that about my love, or the witch comment?”

“Witch comment, of course, I already know you love me. But I had one goal left and it looks like I finally achieved it.” He laughed and brought her close. Zelda smiled and leaned into his arms, head under his chin, and tea warming her cold hands. Link sighed and buried his face into her hair, and Zelda wanted so bad, more than anything else, for them to stay this way till the end of time. She closed her eyes, and inhaled the spiced Lanayru chá, and let herself be.

---

But of course, she couldn’t just be without letting a clammy hand roam its way up Link’s bare thigh. He screeched, remlits running in fright, and pushed her out of their embrace. She hit the floor with a laugh and lie there for even longer, and it was then, in that moment, she could be more than before, she was happy.

#skyward sword #zelink #legend of zelda #happy birthday skymom!

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syilcawrites · 4 years ago

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archived memories | 4

Series: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Type: Multi-Chapter Main pairing: Zelink (Zelda and Link) Rated: T Tags/Genre: pre-calamity, fluff (middle chapters mostly), hurt (toward the last chapters lmao), pining Summary: bits and pieces of zelink scenes strewn in between the canon memories in botw! Snippet from Ch 4: “It smelled like him, a smell she could only compare to the word comfort, with a mix of grass and dirt; like the forest. All the things she liked bundled up into one tunic, and her heart swelled.” A/N: Between Memory 5-7 I scrapped two other chapters in favor of this one and the next, since they felt quite bland... Hope you enjoy reading this! You can also read it on ao3! Click here to see all chapters on tumblr

Chapter 4: thunderstorm

Zelda held up a weak hand as she battled to get air in her lungs, coughing. She struggled to stay on her legs as she bent over, a hand on her knee, almost wheezing at this point.

He placed a hand on her outstretched arm, gently tugging it to try and usher her forward. He looked at her with urgency, but Zelda found it physically impossible to continue.

“Just a second—I, the air is so thin up here it’s hard for me to catch my breath.” Zelda said in a raspy voice, gulping. “Or maybe, just go on ahead with me—“

Zelda let out an airy yelp when he swooped down and lifted her, tucking his arm under her knees with the other on her back. Zelda was too winded to really protest, and she actually did not mind the little break. An apology was at the tip of her tongue, but it disappeared once he began jogging, and her breath once again escaped her as he ascended. She tightened her grip around his neck as the cold, biting wind hit her face.

They were to meet with Mipha in Zora’s Domain, but it was Zelda’s idea to trek through the mountains as a little detour since she hadn’t really explored the mountains around, and it would’ve been the perfect opportunity.

But she may have overestimated her lung capacity. Just a little bit.

Something cold—colder than the wind—pelted her cheek, drawing her out of her thoughts; then another. Until an onslaught of tears dropped from the clouds above them, and Link almost slipped on mud as he made it under the rock shelter he was aiming for.

“Oh dear,” Zelda grumbled, thanking Link as he set her down on the ground. “The rain came out of no where…” They both gazed out into the pouring rain, loud and overbearing. She could hardly hear her own heartbeat against the thrum of the rain drops slamming against the rocks.

When she returned her attention to Link, he looked troubled. And it was probably her fault.

“I’m sorry for getting us into this mess,” Zelda smiled weakly at him. He looked at her thoughtfully and shook his head, a smile replacing his frown. “I guess it would’ve been better if we just stayed on the path. I’ll have to stop myself from being so insistent on taking spontaneous excursions during our duties.” Zelda exhaled, watching her puff of air evaporate into the rain.

“That’s how you find interesting things though,” Link mumbled under his breath.

Zelda blinked.

Link… mumbled something.

He said something?

Zelda whipped her head at him, eyes wide.

“Did you just speak?”

He startled at her loud voice, flinching.

Even when she apologized to him after the Yiga attack a couple months ago, he didn’t utter a word to her. Her face glowed with happiness as she took a step toward him, hands clasped together in front of her.

“Please, say something again!”

Link raised an eyebrow, straightening his posture once more. He opened his mouth, but closed it quickly, glancing up at the ceiling of the rock shelter. “Hi, I’m Link?” He offered with his small smile and an awkward wave of his hand.

His voice sounded rough, raspier than she thought. It was noticeable that he did not speak much, and it reflected in how hoarse his voice was. But for some reason, it spread warmth within her, to hear his voice after all this time.

Zelda could almost burst with happiness—she wasn’t sure why she was so delighted, but for some reason an overwhelming sense of accomplishment overrode her exhaustion, and she threw her hands up in the air between them, laughing.

“I never thought I’d see the day where you’d speak!” Zelda exclaimed, her voice echoing around them. She knew he simply decided not to talk—she heard him sort of speak once before, with his father, but he was so quiet she wasn’t sure if she just imagined it. She knew all the secret areas of the castle during the time she kept trying to hide from Link and had snuck up on them speaking in one of her old hiding spots.

“I’m so glad! I mean, I’ve been trying to get you to talk to me for quite a bit now. I want you to feel comfortable, since you’re stuck with me afterall.” Zelda blushed at her forwardness and cleared her throat, taking a step back from him. She averted her gaze, switching back to her usual, composed self. “A-Anyway, I’m glad. That… that you are okay with speaking. Around me. More comfortable, I mean.” She hoped her sudden, odd excitement didn’t scare him out of it.

She peeked at him when he didn’t say anything, and he simply stared at her as if he was trying to hold in his laughter. Zelda pursed her lips, crossing her arms over her chest. Embarrassment slapped her cheeks as she let out a huff. They stood there in silence for a bit, watching the endless rain fall down.

“Hungry?”

His voice startled her out of her daydreams. He held out something wrapped in a piece of cloth.

“Oh, thank you.” She accepted it gratefully, peeking into it. It wasn’t much—baked apples, but it made her stomach grumble all the same. Right when she opened it up, Link was quick to snatch one, gobbling it in practically three whole bites.

“Save some for the rest of us won’t you?” Zelda took a small bite out of her own. He was always a quick eater; she would watch him golf down whole meals by the time she was barely half done with hers.

As she ate slowly, Link laid out a blanket he had down on the ground behind her. When she looked back at him quizically, he patted it, motioning for her to sit down.

“You’ve got mud all over it now,” Zelda frowned. “You didn’t have to do that.”

He stared at her, waiting. Zelda sighed and took a seat, making sure her muddy boots didn’t touch it at least. With a grunt he stood back up and stepped closer to the opening of the little shelter. He lifted his arms over his head.

“Are you going somewhere?”

Her voice paused his movements. He turned around and nodded. Zelda held out her hand in an attempt to stop him, but he held up a finger and smiled before jogging out into the rain.

“What could he possibly be doing out there in the rain?” Zelda mumbled, finishing the second to last of the baked apples. She wrapped the remaining one up, opting to save it for Link when he was back.

She leaned back against her arms, waiting. Watching the rain. It was slamming against everything hard enough that it had started up a mist, to the point where she could hardly see anything.

After some time, she scooted closer to the edge of the blanket, so she could draw her knees up to her chest without her boots touching the blanket, and hugged herself for warmth. She hummed to pass time as she closed her eyes, tapping her toes to the rhythm of a lullaby that her mother would sing to her whenever Zelda was feeling tense and troubled.

It didn’t sound as elegant as how her mother had hummed it, but it lulled Zelda into a sense of security. For a brief moment, for once in a long time, she felt okay.

Thunder jolted her from her short-lived peacefulness as it struck a tree right over the cliff in front of her, leaving it fresh in flames before the pelting rain sizzled it out.

Any warmth she had conjured up immediately evaporated as her heart dropped to her stomach.

“Link!” Zelda scrambled up, shouting into the rain. Her cries were drowned out by the rumbling in the sky. “Link! Where are you?”

Zelda cursed under her breath, pacing the entrance of the shelter as she racked her brain for… for an idea, for something. It would be soundlessly idiotic to go and try to search for him in a rainstorm—a thunderstorm at that now. What use would she be if he found her fried?

But she also didn’t want to simply sit and wait like a sitting duck, but what could she do if she even went out?

Zelda let out a groan of frustration—why did he even go out in the first place?

She jumped in her skin as another roll of thunder shook the ground, and she grabbed onto the walls of the rock shelter to stabilize herself. She let out a string of curses as she gripped her hands together, trying to stop herself from shaking.

Her ears perked up when she heard something out in the rain—tapping, some kind of.. loud pattering, heavier than how the rain sounded.

She squinted out in the rain, leaning.

Then she saw him, looking frazzled and unlike his usual composed self, sprinting toward her general direction, but his eyes looked lost as he frantically looked around. His arms were full with bundles of—

Of… korok leaves?

“Link!” Zelda waved her arms, screaming his name until he finally looked at her. His eyes widened as he noticed her and barreled right at her.

Zelda jumped out of the way as he lunged into the shelter, right before another thunder strike slammed against the ground mere seconds where he was.

The korok leaves had splattered all over the muddy ground, with Link landing face first. Luckily enough, his face had landed conveniently on the blanket. But the rest of his body…

Zelda stared down at her outfit, watching the mud that he had splattered in his grand lunge, drip down onto the ground.

He made a noise when he lifted his head, a sound of exasperation that she’s never heard before.

Her attempted laugh simply sounded like her teeth were clattering against one another.

As he got his bearings, he immediately looked up at her, hefting himself on his feet quickly as he stared at her with wide eyes.

“Sorry!” He said. He seemed overwhelmed, as if his mind and body hadn’t really caught up to speed with one another yet.

“So you were off.. c-collecting… leaves?” Zelda averted her gaze down to the mess scattered on the ground.

He glanced down at the pile, then back at her, then back down, as he waved his hands in an attempt to explain, but it seemed as if his words were stuck in his throat. Panic rose in his eyes as he tried his hardest to get the dirt off of her clothes.

Zelda waved him off, laughing a little at his actions. “It’s fine! I can just wash it out, it’s not a big deal.” She smiled warmly at him as he nodded, staring at her feet. Was he actually embarrassed for once? She felt a little smug that the tables had turned. “Well…” Zelda sighed out, placing a finger on her chin, tapping, as if she was in deep thought. When she glanced at him, his tenseness caused her to burst out into a fit of laughter.

“I-I’m sorry, I was about to tease you, but now I feel too bad!” Zelda continued to giggle as she bent down to pick up the leaves. “Anyway, what were these for?”

Link bent down too, collecting them as well. “Something to cover our heads with…” He let out a sigh. She felt a little bad at how disappointed he seemed.

“To cover our heads with?”

He nodded, holding out his arms. Zelda placed her own stack of collected korok leaves onto his. He set it down on the blanket, straightening them out. “I was going to make a korok cover so we could get out of this rain, and then…” He gestured toward the sky with a wave of his hand.

“How do you make a cover out of korok leaves?” Zelda bent down next to him, her chin resting in the palm of her hand as she looked down at the pile with curiosity.

“Well, like this—“ Link began twisting and bending the leaves, working fast and diligently. He stuck out his tongue a little to the side in concentration—a quirk she hadn’t noticed before, and watched as his fingers nimbly worked around.

After what felt like only a second, the korok leaves had twisted together to form some sort of makeshift cover—big enough for the both of them to stand under.

Link held his hands out toward it, as if to say tada! He looked at her expectantly, obviously proud of his creation.

“Where did you even learn this?” Zelda exclaimed, touching the various stems bound together. He was able to combine them to create a sturdy handle, to hold up the weight of the leaves.

“With my mom, when we were lost in the forest.” His eyes warmed as he answered, as if he was peeking into a distant memory.

“With your mom?” Zelda echoed.

He nodded, his eyes a little sad. Zelda didn’t push forward on the topic; she didn’t want to accidentally bring up any painful memories.

“Well,” Zelda said, patting away the dried mud from her palms as she stood up. She shivered as a light breeze wafted into the shelter. “Too bad we can’t make use of your cover, not with the thunderstorm at least.”

“I think it’ll end soon,” Link stood next to her, peeking out just a little. He unhooked the various leather belts attached on him and shimmied out of his Champion’s tunic, handing it to her. “It’s dirty, but it’ll keep you a little warmer.”

She stared at the tunic, then at his collarbone, and how it dipped—

“No, no. It’s fine, I’m okay.” Zelda looked away quickly, staring straight ahead. But he continued to stand there with his arm outstretched. His silent way of saying that he was going to hold it out until she accepted it. Zelda sighed and gratefully took it, muttering a quiet thank you.

It smelled like him, a smell she could only compare to the word comfort, with a mix of grass and dirt; like the forest. All the things she liked bundled up into one tunic, and her heart swelled.

#botw #zelink #zelda #link #breath of the wild #my fanfics #didn't post yesterday cause i was tired but here u go!!#updates will be every tuesday~#thanks for all the likes and reblogs #i appreciate it!#archived memories

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mairiangel · 8 years ago

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Of Evading and Locating

Summary: Finding and especially looking out for the princess, he thought, is comparable to being held at knifepoint and is forced to choose whether to be chased or pecked by the cucoos, it was just plain impossible.

Relationship: Link & Zelda (BOTW)

FFNET: x

Notes: Here is another one, have some link pov to brighten up your day, or something.

He had honestly saw it coming, it wasn’t as if she had even tried to make an effort to hide the contempt she had for him—if the way she had addressed him during his knighting ceremony wasn’t a strong indication then he doesn’t know what is. Just the thought of that is enough to make him release a sigh, his gaze flitting towards the hyrule fields with only him as company because she had once again evaded and avoided him like the plague.

Biting the inner side of his cheek, he clucked his tongue and straightened up. Link should had known better than to let her out of his sight. With that in mind, his gaze shifted towards the vast expanse of grass surrounding him though he paid it no mind, his focus was solely on the back of the princess who was atleast a good ten steps away from him now.

He squinted his eyes at that, a look of determination flashing through his face. The king had entrusted her to him and he would do his best to not disappoint his majesty because anything otherwise is not a choice, it wasn’t even like he had anything to look back on. And this is the only purpose and job he has, he wouldn’t let anyone down.

With a sprint, he managed to easily catch up to fall back behind the princess as she gave him a side glance before wrinkling her nose and continued to walk ahead of him, her sheikah slate was gripped rather tightly with her hands. She didn’t attempt to say anything to him which greatly relieved him because that would mean less people to disappoint to if he managed to say something wrong that betrayed their expectations.

It has been a week since he started following the princess like what he assumed, a dutiful knight would though she still pretended that he doesn’t exist, often trying as best as she can to lose him within a crowd—thinking of that, it made him think that being in the hyrule field made his job easier because they were usually the only people trekking around these parts.

“Are you always this quiet?” He was startled by the sudden voice, his eyes immediately sought the back of her head. She wasn’t turning her head and Link isn’t sure whether she was actually asking him a question or possibly mocking him, either way, he doesn’t quite know how to respond to her words, so he stayed silent.

The princess suddenly halt on her steps before she turned around and faced him, her stare penetrating him with those eyes of hers that always demanded answers for something she doesn’t quite understand. Some wisps of her blonde locks flowed behind her as she continued to regard him, scrutinizing him with her looks.

Suddenly as if by command, he stiffened and stood straight. It was one of those looks—the ones where he desperately wanted people to just keep it within them, those judging stares that wanted to probe on his mind and dissect them one by one. Link fought hard the instinct to shift on his feet, he always received those whenever he had done something worthy of note back then when he was a mere recruit.

When he didn’t respond, she narrowed her eyes at him before he saw the way she pursed her lips and harrumphed in irritation and then she turned back around and started walking again. ‘One more person disappointed’, his mind reminded him. It wasn’t even like he expected her to start a conversation, still, as far as he was concerned, it wasn’t exactly great to make the princess mad.

Or curious, she was definitely going to be curious. And that usually translated to her going out of her way to find and pry onto something that should be left alone. He doesn’t know whether to finally respond or not, deciding that it would be best to atleast give her some minimum answers, and with that decision, Link opened his mouth to respond when she suddenly stopped walking once more just beside a rock that could be considered half their size.

She craned her neck to look back at him before gesturing towards the rock. “Stay here, I’m going to look for some flowers that could prove useful.” He saw right through her ploy and immediately shook his head and told her in low barely used voice. “The king trust me to not let you out of sight.” His words were enough for him to felt her irritation spiked up and carried over her own tone, brows furrowing in frustration.

“Fine,” She said and then proceed to sit on the ground just beside the rock, her eyes had shifted towards the sheikah slate. While he stood there, in front of her, confused though he doesn’t let it show and doesn’t know whether she had just given up or she is merely planning something.

The princess looked up at him, meeting his stare head on. She had that kind of expression that told him he was the last thing she even wanted to see let alone be accompanied with, “If I can’t go by myself then it would be better that you find some flowers.”

Link blinked at this and he can the see the triumph look reflected on her eyes, she wasn’t always good at masking her emotions and it showed on her eyes most often than not. He wondered for a second why she would look like she won before he repeated those words on her mind.

And then realization dawned onto him, she would run away the moment he turned around and pick out some flowers for her. At least that is what he assumed and it could be nothing else other than that. Link was on the verge of protesting when he paused and kept his mouth tightly closed.

‘She could have this’, he thought carelessly. ‘I would give her a ten-minute head start and then I’ll track her down.’ He could always just file this kind of hide and seek as training for locating her if something bad had gone down and then his thoughts scurried and suddenly, he wondered if this is the day where she could be in danger.

He pursed his lips in thought and almost let out a sigh, he’ll take this chance and gave her a five-minute head start and then she wouldn’t be able to shake him off for the rest of the day because he would not let himself be tricked by her plans to escape him.

With those made up, he straightened his back and gave her a short stiff nod. “Of course, your highness.” He then turned around and started walking a few steps away, his gaze sweeping towards the patch of grasses surrounding him though his focus was solely on the faint sound of scraping boots and then it was gone.

When he gave the rock a glance, she was gone.

And now, he is alone.

The king would surely be disappointed at this kind of behavior from him thought strangely enough, he doesn’t mind it the least bit.

He should have seen it coming, it was not that he had given her a five-minute head start that made it harder to locate her but because she doesn’t leave any track to find her. It was honestly kind of stupid of him to agree to her ploy, he can’t just wait until he was given a reprimand for losing the princess.

This was the first time that he had no idea where she could be, his gaze flitted towards every single thing and can’t seem to find her in the vast expanse of the hyrule field. Maybe it would had been better if they were in the village atleast she would not find it within her to leave him alone there.

But in out of the wilderness, she hadn’t thought twice to leave him alone.

He sighed and trudged towards some random path, his eyes kept gazing at the fields, hoping by some miracle that she materialized out of nowhere and told him that it was just a joke and she wouldn’t leave his sight ever again. Yeah, right, as if something like that would happen, in his dreams, perhaps.

He batted those thoughts away and focused on the reality, she couldn’t had gone that far, he knew that despite not wanting him guarding her, she usually left some faint trail however she hadn’t done that right now. He wondered if she was fed up with him. With a glance towards the blinding sun, it was better if he started finding her now before night would fall.

It was nearing dusk and he was this close to panicking as he returned back to the rock he had lost her and there he saw, sitting beside it with her gaze focused on him and her eyes was obviously still plastered with that triumphant look, she was leaning back against the rock, clothes slightly rumpled but she didn’t seem to notice as she was focused on him.

And he knew right away that he was played, as she stood up and put a hand on her hip, her other hand is clutching the sheikah slate. The princess let a small smile grazed through her lips as she silently regarded his face that obviously reflected a tired man though she didn’t comment on it instead she gestured towards the direction of the castle.

“Let’s go back, I had already gathered the data that I needed.” She turned around from him and started walking towards the castle as he sighed and followed behind her, he can’t believe that she had used his five-minute head start against him and not leaving some form of trail.

Still, he decided as they continued to walk. She smiled, a rarity around the castle grounds and more so when in his company. If the thought of being alone for hours is enough to make that look graced her face, he doesn’t think he would mind, after all, he can tell that she was being suffocated amongst anything that reminded her of the duties she had.

Next time, he’ll just give her a three-minute head start.

Notes: Do you guys have any suggestion you wanted me to write a pre-calamity ganon zelink oneshot about? It could be silly, it could be fluffy or it could even be angsty. Writer’s block is every writer’s bane of existence.

#zelink #zelink fanfiction #botw zelink #link #princess zelda #My writing #legend of zelda #link x zelda #fanfiction #deep within mind fanfiction

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ragecandyfics · 8 years ago

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The Beat of Your Heart: ZeLink Week Day 1

ZeLink Week Day 1: “The Beat of Your Heart” Summary: Impa had warned her not to get attached. But how could she stop herself when the Goddesses' hero was both incredibly cute and incredibly danger-prone? Pairing: Shink (Sheik/Link), but in a ZeLink vein Game: Ocarina of Time Word Count: 4K Notes: sH IT IT’S ALMOST MIDNIGHT,, NO PROOFREADING WE DIE LIKE MEN.

The Beat of Your Heart

Keep away from Link, she had been told. Guide him, but don’t get too close. Don’t let him get attached. And, whatever you do, don’t get attached yourself.

It was hard sometimes.

Maybe it would have been easier if Link was some arrogant, holier-than-thou, pompous rich kid. After all, most of the future suitors she’d been introduced to as a child were convinced that they were worthy of the Triforce’s power. Why couldn’t the Goddesses have chosen one of them? It would be so much easier to keep her emotions in check if she couldn’t stand their chosen hero.

But… that wasn’t Link. He wasn’t prideful in any sense of the word. If anything, he could stand to be a bit more sure of himself. When it really came down to it, he never hesitated―he was no coward―but she could see the skepticism in his face every time someone told him that he was the hero; that he was the chosen one; that he was worthy of wielding the Master Sword.

And it was endearing. Even though she should have been critical of it, she couldn’t help herself from smiling a bit under her mask whenever he blushed bright red and demurred from a well-earned compliment, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. After all, she’d grown up surrounded by massive egos that constantly yearned to be stroked, so Link’s awkwardness was refreshing, in a way.

It shouldn’t have been, because she was supposed to be staying distant and detached and objective.

But it was hard sometimes.

And now was one of those times.

Sure, Link was often injured. It wasn’t exactly an uncommon occurrence. Especially when he was coming from temples; rigorous tests of his mettle filled with deadly traps and monsters. It was only natural that he’d get some scrapes and bruises along the way. Usually, all it would take to heal them would be a fairy or some Red Potion, so it was no use worrying about him.

So, when a familiar green speck began to emerge from the depths of the Shadow Temple, her first thought wasn’t to survey him for injuries. Her first thought was to leap across the graveyard and find a perch where she could observe without being seen, just as Impa had taught her (Guide him, but don’t get too close. Don’t get attached). She wasn’t going to teach him the Requiem of Spirit just yet, but she wanted to at least congratulate him for a job well done. That much, Impa surely couldn’t be mad at her for.

(‘Impa’s gone, now,’ she reminded herself. ‘Impa is the Sage of Shadow. You won’t be seeing her again.’)

(‘Oh, yeah,’ she responded, as if there was actually another person there, and she pretended that her heart didn’t sink.)

As usual, she heard his fairy before she heard him. The bright periwinkle ball of light―Navi, if she wasn’t mistaken, although the two rarely spoke to each other―was flying in frantic circles around his head, chattering. Her voice sounded like the shrill ringing of jingle bells from a distance, and it was impossible to make out the words.

Link, for once, didn’t seem to be listening, though. Gaze fixed on the ground, he shuffled along wordlessly, whereas he usually glanced up at his fairy to reassure her that he was listening. Now that she was looking, he also looked more weary in general, his shoulders slumped and his back hunched. Something was definitely wrong.

Frowning, Zelda―no, no, Sheik―leaped down from her hiding place and landed behind him with nary a rustle of cloth.

Navi was the first to notice her, which was new. As silent as she had learned to be during her training with Impa, Link wasn’t a chosen hero for nothing; he was usually able to detect her presence after a moment, at which point he’d pause, then whirl around, grabbing the hilt of his sword. Not this time, though.

She tried not to be too worried about that.

“Link!” Navi cried when he didn’t notice Sheik’s arrival. “Come on! Aren’t you paying attention? Turn around! Turn around!”

That struck Zelda as unfair—it was literally her job to not be noticed; Link was not in the wrong—but Sheik didn’t say a word. She merely lifted her chin and strode forward, confident as ever, until she was several paces away from them. Close enough to speak without raising her voice, but far enough to provide an easy getaway if necessary (he had been getting more persistent when he pursued her at the end of their meetings. Don’t let him get attached, Impa whispered in the back of her mind).

Link still hadn’t turned around.

Sheik’s frown deepened, and she could feel her brow crease. Vaguely, she wondered if the concern showed through her mask. “Link,” she said after a moment. Her voice came out deep, smooth, and androgynous; Impa’s disguise spell was thorough. “You have done well. The Temple has been cleansed. Now, you have only one more Medallion to collect.”

This one would hardly be easy to get—she somewhat doubted Nabooru the Gerudo would be very cooperative—but he didn’t need to know that yet.

Finally, he responded, but it was a slow thing. His aimless shambling ceased, and, sluggishly, he turned around, not bothering to reach for his sword.

Sheik froze.

Link was usually injured. Link was wounded more often than not. The last time she’d seen him in perfect condition had been seven years ago, when he’d been standing outside the castle gates, and she’d barely seen him from atop a charging horse, clinging to Impa and tossing the Ocarina of Time blindly over her shoulder.

But… this was a whole other level.

The entire left side of his face was one big bruise, puffy and swollen. His lip was split, and a long gash cut its way from his right temple to the bridge of his nose, bleeding profusely. Although it was unnoticeable from the back, most of his green tunic was practically in tatters, the bloodstained shreds that remained hanging loosely off his gaunt frame. As she stared in horror, he slowly looked up, meeting her gaze with lifeless, unseeing eyes.

He looked like he could drop dead at any minute.

“Sheik!” Navi screeched, and this time it wasn’t hard to detect the note of desperation in her voice. “Tell this moron he needs to use a fairy!”

Finally, Link’s eyes came into focus. A hint of recognition flashed through his otherwise vacant expression, although it didn’t seem like he’d heard Navi at all. “Sh-Sheik?” His voice sounded almost as weak as he looked; wavering and pitching like a boat in a violent tide.

Sheik opened her mouth, but no words came out. Some distant part of her was aware that her eyes were wide and horrified, her entire body tense and radiating worry. But Link didn’t seem bothered, because his scrunched-up expression smoothed out ever-so-slightly when he saw her. “Sheik,” he repeated faintly, taking a single step forward, starting to stretch out his hand―

―and collapsing onto the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, letting out only a soft wheeze to betray his pain. Navi shrieked, immediately following him down to careen in quick circles around his head. “Link! Link!”

Don’t get too close. Don’t let him get attached. Don’t get attached yourself.

Sheik surged forward, already reaching for the bright blue vial resting at her hip.

By the time she reached him, he was already trying to right himself, pushing his beaten body off the ground with trembling hands. It occurred to Sheik that she should scold him for overexerting himself when he was clearly injured, but it also occurred to her that lying face-down in the dirt was a good way to get all of his wounds infected at once, so she let it slide.

He didn’t react when she flipped him onto his back, sliding her legs under him to keep his open wounds away from the dirt. Instead, he allowed himself to be manhandled into her lap, squinting up at her. She could tell that the sun was starting to rise behind her head, because he immediately groaned and turned away, raising one hand in an aborted attempt to shield his eyes from the light.

(It was probably dark in the Shadow Temple, she thought.)

(She swore in her head, and then she swore out loud.)

“Link, hold still,” Sheik said; he barely acknowledged her, but obediently dropped his arms back down to his sides. “Navi, stay back and don’t get in the way.” The fairy made a very indignant ding like that of a church bell, but reluctantly acquiesced. Taking a deep breath, Sheik steadied herself, hastily scanning Link’s limp form.

Alright. Alright.

This, she could do.

Stripping off his tunic and undershirt, she prodded his chest to check for broken ribs, trying to ignore the blood for now. The results were less than pleasing. It was a miracle none of those ribs had punctured a lung, although he would be dead by now if it had. “Dammit, Link,” she muttered as she pulled the blue vial off her hip. Emergencies only, Impa had instructed her, and this was an emergency if there ever was one. “How did you even make it this far?”

Popping off the cork, she swirled it in her fingers a moment, letting the thick, gelatinous liquid inside sloosh about. It sounded fresh enough to still be potent. Reaching up to brush his matted bangs out of his face, she lifted Link’s head and put the edge of the vial to his lips.

Automatically, his jaw fell open, and she made a vague noise of approval deep within her chest. The second he saw the vial, though, he grunted in protest, turning his head aside. “Can’ drink,” he muttered, then coughed harshly, his entire body seizing.

Sheik scowled. “Why not?”

Link’s eyes closed, but she could still see the embarrassment in his face. “S’yours.”

Exhaling harshly through her nose, she reached down and grabbed his chin, jerking his face back into place. “Now is not the time for good manners, Link,” she snapped, fist clenching around the vial. “You’re going to die.”

Link hummed softly, casually, and she wasn’t sure if it was agreement or denial, but, either way, it made her chest ache. “M’fine.” His eyelids fluttered shut and he smiled a little, although it was weak. “Doesn’ hurt,” he slurred, blood dribbling out from the corner of his mouth.

“Don’t.” Sheik snapped, rare anger clouding her voice. By now, her hands were shaking, but she didn’t know and didn’t care whether it was from the adrenaline or the fear. “Don’t act tough.”

Link frowned. “M’not,” he murmured, cracking his eyes open; he looked genuinely hurt by the harsh accusation, and Sheik choked back a humorless laugh. “Really doesn’ hurt. Can’ feel it.” His eyes drifted shut, and his head flopped to the side, as if his neck simply couldn’t support it anymore. “Can’ feel nothin’,” he breathed, and it was probably meant to reassure her, but Sheik only grew more panicked.

With a sharp jerk of her arms, Link’s head was propped up again. This time, his lips parted without his consent in a quiet groan, but she took the opportunity to tip back the vial and shake it into his mouth. With a wet squelch, the Chu jelly plopped onto his tongue, and she quickly tilted his chin back slightly, holding it in place. “Don’t swallow,” she instructed sharply, and she could see his throat muscles relax as he complied. “Just let it go down on its own.”

Easier said than done. When the jelly began sliding down his throat, he choked momentarily, and she quickly pinched his nose shut and pressed her palm over his mouth, pressing the back of his head against her knee to hold him still. For a moment, he flailed in a blind panic, but his body was weak and his limbs heavy, and soon the fit was over. As soon as he stopped choking and let the jelly go down, Sheik released his nose and he sucked in a much-needed breath, but she kept her other hand plastered over his mouth.

High-quality, purified Blue Chu Jelly was much stronger than a regular Blue Potion, but also much slower-acting. The potions derived from Chu jelly were diluted, but the added water helped them move through the body almost instantaneously. Pure jelly did no such thing. With that in mind, Sheik quickly pulled out some bandages from her own store and began to wrap the worst of Link’s wounds. It wouldn’t do to have him bleed out before the jelly could even take effect.

(Hyrule couldn’t afford to lose him.)

(She couldn’t stand to lose him.)

She could pinpoint the exact moment the jelly began to work, because Link immediately moaned in sudden pain, trying to fold in on himself. Biting her cheek, Sheik pressed her forearm carefully to his chest and stretched him back out, keeping his mouth covered. “What are you doing?” Navi demanded, zipping closer and hovering over Link’s furrowed brow. “You’re hurting him! Stop!”

“It’s just the medicine.” In any other situation, she might have been irritated, but now she was too drained to feel anything other than exhaustion and pity for the boy in her arms.

(Because that was what he was; a boy, only 11 years old; snatched without warning from his old life and shoved into a new, large body and told that it was his destiny to save the world.)

(At least she had been given training.)

Luckily, she didn’t have to worry about cleaning the wounds. Not all healing substances could boast the same, but Blue Chu Jelly would destroy any infections like they were nothing. Anything short of fatal poison in Link’s wounds would be cleared within minutes.

That was when Link’s first rib shot back into place with a snap and he shouted into her hand, writhing under her am.

Navi cried out loudly, rushing forward as if to comfort him, but Sheik only winced and pushed him down tighter, holding him still before he could make the pain worse. Another rib snapped back into place, and Link screamed again, this one louder, muscles spasming. Sheik’s lips pressed tightly together behind her mask.

The unfortunate side effect of using pure jelly instead of a potion.

“It’ll be over soon,” she said as Link squirmed weakly, letting out a muffled yelp every time another wound fixed itself in an instant. She wasn’t sure whether she was trying to reassure Navi, who was ringing angrily in her ear, or Link himself.

Sure enough, within maybe five minutes, the ordeal was over. The last thing to heal was his face, and Sheik stared intently as the skin along his forehead stitched itself back together and the bruise turned from purple to green, then vanished altogether. Even the small scab on his lip vanished, and, unless she was mistaken, his nose looked a bit less crooked than it had before. As the last scrape vanished from his jaw, he whimpered once, then went slack entirely, all his energy gone.

(She couldn’t blame him.)

(Blue Chu Jelly had that effect on people.)

(Pain had that effect on people.)

Navi quickly landed on his forehead, nudging his cheek. “Link?” she squeaked fearfully, her voice even higher than usual. “Link?!”

“He’s probably passed out from the blood loss,” Sheik muttered, pressing two fingers to the crook of his neck. His pulse was a bit weaker than she would have liked, but steady and calm. “He should be fine now, though.”

With some doing, she managed to hoist Link into her arms, although it was rather unruly. Luckily, Impa’s disguise spell left her taller than Link, making things much easier, and the seven years of Sheikah training certainly didn’t hurt. Navi hovered uncertainly by her ear as she walked, talking non-stop; after about fifty “thank you”s and twice as many demands for an apology, she tuned the matronly fairy out, letting her ringing voice become background noise.

Fortunately, most people were in bed at this time in the morning. Unfortunately, Kakariko Village had a disproportionate amount of carpenters, farmers, and other workers who got up at the crack of dawn, so Sheik was forced to stick to the rooftops, making her way across town with Link in her arms and trying not to jostle him in the process, which was no small task. She couldn’t exactly be spotted carrying a shirtless man covered in bloody bandages into Impa’s house, though. People would ask questions.

In a stroke of luck, there was no one guarding Impa’s house for once. She locked the door once inside and carefully sat down on the bed, laying Link down in her lap again.

Luckily, he seemed completely unharmed now. The jelly had done its job. Letting out a breath (how long had she been holding it?), Sheik settled back against the wall before she could think to stop herself, her eyes drooping shut.

He was okay.

He was going to be fine.

Everything was going to be fine.

Now all she had to do was stay with him until he was conscious again, give him the scolding of his life for making her worry so much, and then leave before she got too close.

(Ha!)

(Pretty sure you’re already there, kid.)

(Oh, shut up.)

(How ironic that she was disobeying Impa’s orders on the very day she disappeared, and in her own house.)

Grumbling, Navi alighted on Link’s forehead again and lay down for a nap. Sheik couldn’t help but smile a bit at the sight. Although she may claim otherwise, Navi clearly cared about Link more than she let on most of the time, and not just because he was the Goddesses’ hero. Sheik could certainly understand how one might accidentally start caring about him as a person, no matter how hard they tried to view him as a warrior and nothing more.

She looked down at his face, smiling―

―and jumped when she saw Link staring right back up at her, his eyes a bit groggy but much more alert now. Navi was already asleep on his forehead.

“Link,” she said hastily after a moment when she realized that she was just staring dumbly, and only partially because of the surprise. Honestly, it was mostly because Link’s eyes were cute. He really had become handsome over the past seven years, she supposed. “I’m glad to see you’re awake.” In the back of her mind, she knew she was supposed to be chewing him out, but she looked into his tired eyes and couldn’t bear to. “How are you feeling?” she asked instead.

A minute passed. Link slowly raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side in amusement. Sheik’s own brow furrowed, and he smiled; she knew because she could feel his lips moving.

Only then did she realize that her palm was still pressed firmly over his mouth, preventing him from answering her question if he wanted to.

Wincing―‘Smooth, O Great Princess Zelda; your charms are truly irresistible.’―she hastily released him, and his smile widened. “M’fine,” he muttered, and, although he still sounded bone-tired, she was a bit more inclined to believe him this time. His eyes closed again, and he shifted. “Thanks,” he added after a second. “You saved me.”

Seven years ago, she might have taken a page out of Link’s book and blushed bright red, hastening to assure him that she hadn’t done anything, really; it was fine; he needn’t thank her. But, now, she just nodded in acceptance, taking it for the gratitude and half-apology it was. “Be more careful next time,” she tacked on as a side note, and he hummed quietly in agreement.

Sheik looked down at him as he turned onto his side, nuzzling into the quilt under his head―Navi tumbled off her perch and grumbled before immediately falling back to sleep―and was suddenly acutely aware that he was shirtless and laying across her lap. Somehow, it took her longer to realize that his hand was set gently on top of hers―and that she was lightly gripping it back.

Her pulse was racing; she could feel it in her neck. Swallowing thickly, she carefully extracted her hand from his; he gave a little plaintive murmur, but didn’t stir.

Don’t get too close. Don’t let him get attached. Don’t get attached yourself.

Guide, but don’t get too close.

She should go. She should wait until he’s asleep and then slip away, leaving him to wake up without her in the morning. She should make her way to the Gerudo Desert to wait for him; she should practice the Requiem of Spirit a few times to make sure she was ready to teach it to him when the time came.

She should really go.

But, even as Impa’s voice echoed in her brain, reminding her to guide, guide, guide, but don’t get too close, Sheik lay back on Impa’s bed and tugged Link the rest of the way into her arms, hugging him gently to her chest.

(It was a little too late to keep from getting attached, anyway.)

(Impa could probably forgive her this time.)

Link hummed again, shifting to wrap his arms around her, and Princess Zelda, the picture of propriety, probably would have been embarrassed, but Sheik just closed her eyes and accepted the affection, almost sinking into it. After being in the heat of battle; after her too-passionate speech about friendship after teaching him the Bolero of Fire; after dragging him back from the brink of death… she honestly didn’t have it in herself to be ashamed of their embrace, no matter how taboo.

“...I can hear it.”

She startled a bit at Link’s voice, eyes snapping back open. He sounded completely lucid, this time, as if he wasn’t two seconds from falling asleep. Even when he hadn’t just been on the brink of death, his voice was usually raspy from underuse, but somehow that scratchy edge was gone, now.

Something about this moment felt… sacred, in a way she couldn’t quite describe. Maybe it was the silence of the house. Maybe it was the sleeping fairy that would surely force them to break apart if she woke up. Maybe it was just the fact that Link still felt fragile, even though he was muscle-bound and fully healed; still felt like he was a breath or two away from fainting. Whatever the case, Sheik scarcely dared to breathe for fear of breaking the feeling that was hanging heavily around them, thick enough to cut with a knife.

“You can hear what?” she breathed when no clarification seemed forthcoming, tightening her grip on him subconsciously.

A soft chuckle. Link glanced up at her, eyes half-lidded and heavy with sleep, but not quite flickering.

“Your heartbeat.” He was just as quiet, but the words roared in her ears. Her face heated up, and, in that moment, she was infinitely thankful that she only blushed in her cheeks, which were covered by her mask. “I can hear it.”

His eyes closed again, and only then did she realize that his ear was, indeed, pressed to her chest directly over her heart. With a soft hum, he shifted to settle more comfortably in her arms, but made no move to take his ear off of her chest.

“It’s nice,” he whispered slowly, his voice trailing off as he drifted into sleep.

Sheik couldn’t help it. Even as her own heartbeat sped up, and her face reddenned, and she wondered again if she should really be cuddling the Goddesses’ hero, she closed her eyes, slid down to lay her head at the base of Link’s neck, and listened.

It was to the slow, steady thump, thump, thump of Link’s heartbeat that she slowly fell asleep.

(For the first time in a while, she didn’t have nightmares.)

(She just dreamed about a slow, steady thump, thump, thump.)

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