Chapter Text
She’s waiting for you. She’s been waiting a century. You aren’t moving fast enough.
The words burned in his mind. A breath in, and a breath out. With every passing night, his calloused hands sought fire. Seeking comfort where possible. But it often proved to be difficult. Yet, tucked away in the corners of a desolate Hyrule, moments presented themselves. The sunset fireflies spread about the large grain of land. Beside him, a companion. Link’s eyes landed over his horse, fast asleep, finding warmth near the fire pit. The fire crackled and popped in the open air under the stars. It lit up his eyes and sent a warmth throughout him he’d come to rely on.
Upon the occasion, his mind would string together the many scattered memories. His eyes set on the fire, he’d replay them all in his mind. The ones he could recall.
But he couldn’t, no matter how hard he tried, picture Princess Zelda fully.
Rhoam’s only and remaining daughter of the royal family. The one person he swore his life to. Yet, he can’t recall any such vow.
So she was but a blur.
But he knew she was more than that.
He relied on the voices of those he helped. The ghosts he freed from the Divine Beasts…
Be it the cold mountains he conquered, even if the leather or fabric weren’t always enough. The various stretches of land that were drenched in darkness. Were the buried dead to rise, and make an attempt to thwart his life, he’d have been prepared or have died in trying. The terrains that left his legs heavier. His sleep became interrupted and often, was never enough.
Link often found himself in thought.
“You rest. But you can’t help but think you shouldn’t have to. Yet, how are you to carry yourself to that castle if you stagger night after night?” He thought.
Will sacrificing himself be enough so that she may yet see another peaceful day?
Would she even recognize him?
He wondered how that meeting would go.
“If you put yourself through it, thinking you can endure it, it’ll just leave you with no momentum when it counts most.”
The fire reflected in his eyes. He couldn’t help but notice the light, delicate shimmers, or flakes of fire floating alongside the breeze. Slowly to fade away.
The moon hung high in the sky. Normal for tonight. For now…
“I can’t keep her waiting any longer.”
He balled a fist. Toward the fire, his eyes remained determined, flickering with the loyal, royal intention that he’d reach her. That it’d be sooner than later. The weight of the Kingdom of Hyrule sitting heavy upon his shoulders.
***
It was subtle at first. Soothing, rather. Suddenly, goosebumps trailed along the heroes’ spine, as well as up across his shoulders as nails trailed carefully along the scars across his back. The curtain fluttered with the window open, and light poured through unapologetically so. The hand accompanying his shoulder, itched closer to his cheek. Taking a steady breath,realizing where he’d been, he reached for it, finding a tender warmth as well as a smile across his face.
Sprawling over his shoulder, he’d seen that the Princess’s eyes found his very own.
“You were having a nightmare.” She spoke softly, as she always had. Her eyes were still half closed. “You were so tense…”
He turned his body to meet her in bed. Running his hands through his furled hair, he leaned his head back against the pillow, his eyes nearly hidden. But not quite hidden enough as one eye managed to escape his locks of hair, meeting the Princess. “It was.” He said through a low voice.
She leaned into him, kissing his forehead, thus connecting her head with his chest thereafter. Burrowing herself in it.
“Sometimes, I dream of bizarre, scary things too. I get it.” Zelda said, but then, she couldn’t help but smile ear to ear. “But then I wake to find myself in another. It feels quite real, too.”
He turned, seeing her eyes still closed. Softly, her hand had slowly draped his back. It was a comfort he hadn’t known for a long while, and he’d come to appreciate it.
He nudged as he turned to meet her. Her hands slowly fell, until she pulled him into her, a warm embrace as the sun showed through the window. Her breath is slow and steady, still half asleep. Link sighed a heavy breath as his eyes adjusted, seeing Zelda clearly. She’d been beautiful, radiating a gentle calmness that made him smile.
He rubbed the bridge of her nose, giving a small tender kiss to her head. He hung an arm over her, pulling her close to him.
He saw the sun pour through the windows. He shifted his legs and felt them crack. Gently, he uncovered the sheets from himself, throwing his arms up, stretching much as he could. Turning, he found her eyes still closed. The Princess seemed to be falling back asleep. He placed the back of his hand against Zelda’s cheek, and felt the familiar warmth he’d grown accustomed to this past year. Instinctively pushing in, he felt an arm wrap over and around his side.
“You’re warm.” She managed to say, fighting back against another dream to stay in this one.
“Always so warm, Link! Though, I think I'm going to stay here a little longer…”
The hero nodded, a gentle smile tugging at his lips as he leaned in, placing a tender kiss upon her forehead. His hand reached her own, and the tinge of her brow shuttered as he pulled away from her all too quickly. However, she breathed and opened her eyes slightly. Her eyes found him.
“It’s okay. I’ll survive here by myself.” Zelda pulled the blanket up and over her face, her mouth covered. She managed one last reassurance through a mere mumble. “For a time…”
She was clearly still very sleepy.
Each and every one had reminded Link what he fought so hard for. Her charming, silly remarks and calm demeanor. This day to day life with her was beginning to bring a light back into his eyes. He saw it return to her, too. His heart was full, and happy. Those moments with her, simply irreplaceable. They were real.
The stairs creaked as he carried himself downstairs to the kitchen. Shirtless, and scratching at his cheek, his eyes were stuck on the dresser. Ample decorations of the people of Hateno, Zelda’s old, loyal horse. Besides that, plenty of silverware and other dishes with unique patterns.
Rummaging through, he found he had plenty of outfits to choose from. And judging by the window, and the golden hue shining through…
He felt a short sleeve might be best.
Hand on the handle, pushing the door open, Link was met with a translucent, golden fog. The sun peeked over Mount Lynaru, spilling onto Hateno Village. The birds flew from above and chirped. People from afar down and across the bridge, what little there was at this time.
It put a smile on his face.
Wherever evil plagued Hyrule, Link was able to find reason after reason, after reason, that good still existed. The people of Hateno and their busy schedules, moving along with their day to day. It could’ve been the view from a place he could finally call home for the first time in a long time.
It was the Princess who offered such solace and meaning to the smile he dawned.
***
The table was set wonderfully. Plates, napkins, and mugs placed about. It brought about a tender, domestic warmth.
“Link?” Zelda found herself in her gown, setting the table. “Still tired? You know I could always cook this time.”
Link shook his head, and turned to meet her eyes. In his, there was this reassurance that made her heart flutter.
“Oh, alright.” She blushed.
Warm milk was settled onto the table. A lovingly crafted beverage from who else but the hero of Hyrule.
Zelda could hardly wait for the food to be done, not with the aroma from whatever it was he was cooking. Today, she would share a plate of meat curry. To which again, she couldn’t wait.
Watching him cook, she couldn’t help but pull her gown closer, finding the wood colder than usual.
“Say, we’re approaching the winter season, soon.” Zelda’s hands wrapped around her mug of warm milk. “Think we got enough wood?”
“We do.” Link nodded. Speaking so rarely as he always has. He quickly nodded his head in the direction of the window out back. “Stacked up for two winters.”
Zelda sniffled. “Perhaps three, considering it’s you we’re talking about. I’m glad to hear it, though. Thank you…”
It was rare enough for Link to speak. But her eyes always widened with glee when she heard him laughing. Be it a little shy, and lightly embraced. It was a wonder for her to hear after all he’d been through.
“I forget that oath you once took, and how much it might’ve weighed on you.” Zelda took a sip from her wooden mug. “Do you find it hard to let go, Link?”
It took a little time to get an answer, despite shaking his head.
“Not… too much.” Link scratched at his face, prepping plates.
“You’re adorable.” Zelda’s eyes followed his face, finding it in a distress rarely seen. “I’ll always admire how you carry yourself, Link. No matter what. So, don’t feel the need to say what you don’t want to, even around me. Okay?”
Link breathed through his nose, nodding.
“So long as you’re you, that’s all I’ll ever ask for.” Zelda raised herself up and placed a soft kiss to his cheek.
Flushed, Link settled the plates on the table, and the two shared the morning together. One more, out of the many more both yearned to have, for as long as they could have it.
With warm milk, and soft curry.