Chapter Text
Zelda grinned as she felt the curtain of her dreams bleed back into reality. It was hazy, but she remembered frogs and a Unicorn with a scary level of clarity. She rolled over to her knight to tease his adorable unconscious face. She did not find him there, though. Her eyes remained heavy, the glow of the sun through the window was still golden like her hair. Yesterday had been exhausting, most of it being a horseback trot to and from Kakariko, but she doubted that she had slept until dusk. What’s more, the smell of Link’s cooking didn’t permeate the air, not breakfast or dinner.
She blinked her eyes for a moment, bringing her hand to her eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. She had expected, no, hoped, that Link would appear before her. It was far from the first time she had done that. She had hoped that he had simply blended in with the pillows and sheets, somehow, in her daze. Then the scientist in her finally woke up too, a beat or two behind the lover in her, and realised just how cold she was. Zelda placed her hand on Link’s side of the bed, where he had been the night before. It wasn’t freezing, but he had certainly been gone for some time. The princess sat up in bed and shuffled out, letting out a yawn as she stretched. She brushed up her nightgown, feeling more confused than anything. Since the Upheaval was thwarted and they had truly committed to their life together, she had never seen Link more expressive and open. For him to vanish simply without a word was markedly out of character. Or was it? Nevertheless, it led her to deduce that he hadn’t gone far. If he had, there would be a very obvious note in some less-than-legible handwriting that would put her translation skills to the test. That and the sweet aroma of his fluffy pancakes, which he loved to surprise her with. Even now, Zelda struggled to understand how she could have brought herself to hate him all those years ago. She was different now. Hyrule was different.
In case she’d knocked away what should’ve been an obvious note, Zelda searched around for a moment but found no signs of life. Her ears did however, when she heard a grunt from outside their small home. She originally passed it off as a bird until she heard another, followed by some kind of impact. Zelda didn’t even decide to investigate yet she found her legs taking her down the stairs and slipping on some shoes, and walking into the small garden area around the side of the house, near the well, to her secret study, and the source of the sound.
Admittedly, she was relieved when she saw him. She felt a rush of both confusion, yet understanding; a feeling entirely alien to her. The sight was hardly one she would complain about under other circumstances. Her hero was there, chest bare, scars on show under a bath of morning sunlight. His skin glistened with sweat, though his eyes never left the training dummy that he unloaded slash after slash into. A puddle of straw pooled at the base of the dummy. It was a repurposed scarecrow that they’d been gifted by one of the farmers in Hateno, though it had surely seen more action in the past hour than it had birds since its construction. Zelda thought he glanced her way for a moment, and she offered him a small smile and wave. Though he didn’t respond, letting Zelda presume she had been mistaken. Nevertheless, she watched him, expecting to notice her soon after. But he didn’t.
Five minutes or so passed, and the understanding in her mind had been entirely replaced with bewilderment, with a sprinkling of hurt. She moved a little closer and cleared her throat.
“What time do you call this, Hero?” She asked, the humour in her voice made obvious. He stopped his movements and lowered his blade, the tip digging into the dirt slightly. Thank Hylia, you stopped.
His exhaustion was obvious. She could tell he was hiding it, though performing wasn’t exactly his strong suit. To this day, Zelda didn’t completely believe his story of infiltrating Gerudo Town posing as a woman. She could see in his eyes, in his body as it violently fought between standing on his own two feet and letting his weight rest upon the sacred blade he held. ‘Just how long have you been at this?’ She thought to herself, though instead of asking, she decided to sling her lover another joke.
“What monsters are you fighting this time?” She saw him flinch for a moment. It was in time with her question but no doubt because his muscles were searing. Though it didn’t ease her concern. She saw his eyes drift away, his almost signature silence radiating across the morning grass as he moved to place the Master Sword in its scabbard. It felt louder than the roar of the Calamity itself. There was a wall where there hadn’t been one. Where there shouldn’t be one, not anymore. She had promised herself she would never be trapped again, not by Ganon, not by anything. Nothing would separate the two of them. She didn’t count on it being each other to do it.
Zelda shook her head, sending such thoughts far out past the Duelling Peaks. She found Link looking at her now, a smile on his face, though there was some invisible weight on the corners of his lips keeping the smile from being complete. She walked up to him and completed it for him, pressing her lips upon his. It took him a moment before he kissed her back, shakily. She became acutely aware of the sweat across him as her arms slipped around his neck. She cringed as her nightgown stuck to him. Eventually, they parted and she again found herself lost in his eyes for a moment before she then spoke up, unknowingly hoping that last night was not the last she saw of the expressive and somewhat quirky knight who had robbed her heart over a century ago.
“You’re not going to make me guess, are you?” She chuckled playfully, which he thankfully responded in tandem.
“I woke up early, is all, and haven’t really had anything to swing at the past few days,” he said, lifting a hand to his honey-blonde locks. There was a pain in his eyes as he spoke the words though Zelda could discern nothing more than that. “So decided to get some exercise in.” Zelda’s face turned into a somewhat sarcastic smirk.
“Really?” She chuckled. “Personally, I would say not having anything to swing your blade at would be a good thing.” Peace in Hyrule was… alien. Even before the Upheaval, Hateno Village had felt at odds with the dire state of the kingdom. Only recently, since peace had truly been restored, did it feel congruent… safe. “Even so, training? On an empty stomach? That’s hardly like you now, isn’t it?” She could tell he enjoyed her playful tone as much as she did, and for that she rejoiced. Zelda couldn’t help but feel as though it was different this time, that she was having to try.
Zelda unwrapped herself and parted from him. “Since you’ve already exhausted yourself before the cuckoos have chirped, I’ll do breakfast today.” She grinned, turning to walk back into the house.
“That sounds nice,” Link nodded, as he stretched to relieve some horrible tension in his muscles that Zelda could feel from his face alone. She took note of his unusual stoicism. “What is it you’re making?” He asked. That was a good question and not one she had thought through before making the offer.
“I’ll have to see what we have, but after that roast you cooked up last night, I’m not sure that we have much left in terms of food.” Sometimes Zelda loathed her deductive reasoning. Now was one of those times as she proved herself right.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overdo-“ Zelda zipped across the room and pushed her finger on Link’s lips to stop him.
“Don’t you dare apologise, that was one of the best meals I’ve ever had!” She wanted to shout at him for even thinking of being sorry, not with anger, more so with a feeling which she was becoming far too familiar with this morning: bewilderment. “It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if you told me one of the powers Rauru’s arm gave was cooking-related.” She sighed, though not before a chuckle escaped her lips. As her shoulders relaxed, her finger released his lips.
“I never tried it, though I imagine Fuse would have done some wacky things.” He giggled, almost like a child.
He’s back.
“Missed opportunity, I’d say.” Zelda looked back at the near-empty cupboards of their kitchen and let out an exasperated huff before closing them and leaving to go upstairs. She later descended in her normal attire, a royal blue blouse and white corset to boot. She skipped on the gloves, a trip to the market once it opened in about 20 minutes would be a drama-free excursion. “I shan’t be gone too long, darling.” Darling. It will never get old. “Maybe see about having a wash and changing, not that I don’t love the view,” she winked. As she opened the door, she felt a hand clasp hers.
“Wait.” Link spoke up. Zelda stopped and turned, only to be embraced by him, which she swiftly returned. “I love you.” He spoke. The words were still new to both of them, but they weren’t scary. Not to her, at least.
“I love you more, Hero.” She pecked him on the cheek before turning and leaving. She didn’t look back, but she knew he was watching her. What she didn’t know was his right hand still reached into the air where she once inhabited moments ago.
The stroll through Hateno was enjoyable. She dared say refreshing, even though she had been out of the house every day that week on some errand. Her mind lingered on Link a while longer. She regretted leaving him at home alone for so long, though after all his trekking across Hyrule, no one in the kingdom was more deserving of a rest than he.
Hateno was steadily waking up and it was barely five minutes into her stroll through the village before it hummed with life. Zelda still felt as though she had missed a beat with the mushroom hats everyone seemed to don, but it did not harm anyone. She approached one stand, where one resident, no less ‘mushroomey’ in appearance, was selling dairy products, eggs and milk in particular.
“Oh,” the owner stammered, shifting the red and orange hat that looked rather heavy upon her head. “Princess, fancy seeing you out this early.” She even threw in a small curtsey for good measure, though Zelda waved it off with a smile.
“There's no need for that, please, I am just another resident of the village, there’s really no need for special treatment.” It had become a well-rehearsed line of hers. Zelda never understood why she was the one who was practically worshipped across Hyrule. She was the daughter of King Rhoam, sure, but the way she saw it was that Link had done most of the work; first against Calamity Ganon and then against Ganondorf. She knew if Link heard her say that, he’d remind her of her century of restraining the Calamity, or her aeons as the Light Dragon. She would rather not be reminded of either of those things.
“Of course, Prin- ahem, Zelda. Though I’m sure you are planning on taking back the throne soon, once the Castle’s restoration gets underway.” Zelda froze for a moment, the stall owner suddenly shifting, clearly feeling as though she’d said a grave insult. Zelda replied honestly.
“In truth, I… I haven’t really thought about it much. It certainly hasn’t come up in conversation between Link and I.”
“Ah, of course, I didn’t mean to intrude, it would seem you both must be going through a lot.” Zelda felt her ears perk as she loaded the eggs and milk into her basket neatly and searched around for her bag of rupees.
“I’m sorry?” She looked up and could have sworn the owner flinched, though she hoped she had shown no hostility in her voice.
“No, I’m sorry, it’s just…” She trailed off for a moment though Zelda’s face struck a balance between benevolence and concern.
“Just what? It's alright, I’m more curious than anything now.” The owner sighed at Zelda’s words and then spoke.
“I strolled past yours and Master Link’s home the other day and he suddenly came charging out at me with his weapon.” Zelda’s eyes widened for a moment and then immediately furrowed.
“He did what? That doesn’t sound much like him.”
“It’s true, he stopped when he realised who I was, I think, but he was as pale as the snow in Hebra. I asked him if he had seen a ghost.” She chuckled for a moment, but Zelda didn’t move.
“Had he? Seen a ghost?” She inquired further, though she could see the line behind her was becoming restless.
“I wouldn’t know, I’m afraid, Prin- Zelda. He turned around and went back inside without a word. It was all quite odd.” A beat of silence crossed the air before life returned to Zelda.
“I see, well, I’m sure it's just some odd joke of his. He has a very odd sense of humour when you get to know him.” Zelda chuckled, though it was slightly forced. She prayed to Hylia that it wasn’t noticeable. She paid for the items and bid the shopkeeper farewell, wandering back to their home. Her mind was at odds with the peaceful chirp of the birds that sat on the chimneys and trees, as she searched for a reasonable explanation as to what she had just learnt, and if it could even be true. She recalled his staring at the moon the previous night; she could tell he was still wary of the blood moon, but he seemed receptive to her words the night before. Zelda eventually chose to presume that it was some sort of misunderstanding, and it wouldn’t be worth bringing up.
She had barely walked through the door before she was greeted with the tightest embrace they had shared. The only one that could compete was after she awoke in Link’s arms after Ganondorf’s defeat. She whispered to him.
“I’m here, my love.”