Chapter Text
That first day, after the battle, they were both exhausted. Link was used to traveling through shrines rather than trekking across huge distances, but he couldn't bring Zelda with him that way. They camped not far south of the castle, near a bend in the Squabble River. Across Hyrule Field they could see Hyrule castle, no longer grimly lit by malice. Whenever he had looked at it before, it was with dull dread, but now it just gave off a feeling of loneliness, completely dark under the moonless night sky. Familiar now, with more of his memories returning every day, but unfamiliar in its emptiness.
Zelda continued to make plans as they sat by the fire. "We'll travel through Kakariko Village. That will give us the chance to speak with Impa. She should be the first to know what has happened."
Link agreed. He'd started this journey in Kakariko Village, after all.
"From there, we'll make our way to the Zora's domain."
Link nodded along, occasionally poking the fire. Sparks flew up in the wind.
"After meeting with Mipha's father, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check on all the Divine Beasts, and ensure everything is in working order. After that…perhaps we'll look into rebuilding some of what has been destroyed."
She continued like that, discussing who they needed to be contacted, the meetings that must be arranged.
Truth be told, he was barely following her words, his head dull and body heavy. But perhaps all she needed for the moment was someone to listen.
Gradually, she grew quiet. Seeming to be lost in thought, she drew up her legs and wrapped her arms around them, staring into the fire. Link worried that she might be cold, but she turned down the doublet he offered to her.
After a while, Link suggested they get some sleep.
Shaking her head as if to clear it, Zelda brought her gaze up from the fire, then nodded slowly.
The two of them finally laid down for the night. Link's eyes drifted shut, Zelda's form just visable beyond the fire.
---
It was early the next day when they passed by Dueling Peaks stable. People stood around outside the counter, talking about the disappearance of Calamity Ganon from Hyrule Castle, but no one seemed to know why yet. Link wondered how long it would take people to find out—who might have spotted the two of them leaving the castle? Some already knew that he and Zelda were alive, and had been seeking to stop Ganon, it wouldn't take long for someone to realize. But for now, they simply stocked up on supplies, and neither spoke of what had happened.
The wind swept through the mountains out across the grassland of ruins. The site of that last memory. He'd stayed away from that plain at the beginning of his journey, wary of some roaming guardian lurking among the decaying ones, but none were still active. Now he remembered why.
"There it is," Zelda said, "All this destruction still here, a hundred years later." She looked over her shoulder, back at the stable."But people are passing through again. That gives me hope, at least."
"Especially now that Ganon is gone," Link pointed out.
"Yes, you're quite right." She smiled at him. Then turned her horse and continued on.
They made good time with their horses, and were fast enough to outrun most trouble. Still, though strength and number of monsters might have decreased with Ganon's defeat, it was more perilous trying to travel with another person. More than once Link had to run ahead to clear out a camp of monsters, slowing them down.
But on a brighter note... now that they weren't reborn every few days, when Link defeated monsters, it might actually have a lasting impact.
"I believe we can restore Hyrule to its formal glory," Zelda had said. His mission was far from over.
They arrived at Kakariko Village that afternoon. Some of the tension lift from Link's shoulders whenever he was there; this time was no different. It was one of the few places untouched by the Calamity, but more than that, the place was just peaceful.
Olkin, the pumpkin farmer, was the first to spot them coming down the path. Turning from his work he called out through the village, "They're back!"
By the time they reached Impa's house, people were gathered outside. Apparently, they had already noticed the dissapearance of Ganon:
"Congratulations!"
"I knew you could do it!"
"I couldn't believe it!"
Link put his hand behind his head sheepishly.
"Is that Zelda? Can it really be her?" One voiced asked.
Zelda waved back. "Hello." She seemed a bit sheepish herself.
Pushing through the crowd, they headed up the steps.
Impa was waiting for them. "Ahhhh, so good to see you both, safe and sound. It's been too long, princess."
"It certainly has," Zelda answered.
Bit by bit, they relayed to Impa what had happened at Hyrule Castle. Impa listened intently, smiling as they reached the end of their story, their victory.
Immediately after, Zelda began discussing some of her plans for the future. Link couldn't help admiring how forward-looking she was. Perhaps she had been planning that whole time she was trapped with Calamity Ganon... he frowned slightly.
Link leaned against the wall, but continued to listen. He preferred to listen; after all, you could learn a lot that way.
A few minutes later, however, Impa interrupted. "But enough plans and worries. We've been worrying all these years, and there will be time yet for more. For now, let us celebrate!"
That night Kakariko Village held a banquet in honor of Link and Zelda's victory. Or, really, it was their collective victory. Link was quick to deflect over-zealous praise, arguing that he had help every step of the way. Without Impa and Purah, he might never have recovered his memories; without the help of the Rito, Gorons, Zora, and Gerudo, he couldn't have even approached the Divine Beasts; the Koroks had kept the Master sword safe; and countless others had been there in countless ways.
The smells of food wafted through the village, mixing with the smoke of cooking fires. People laughed and chatted. Several people came up to congratulate Link and Zelda, even offering small gifts.
The goddess statue was decorated with red ribbons, and small lanterns floated in the pond surrounding it. Link made sure to give his thanks for all her help. Tonight, he didn't hear her respond. Perhaps now that his quest was over, she didn't believe he needed guidance. Zelda joined him for a moment, but left shortly. It was hard to blame her—she was in demand, as everyone wanted a chance to meet the princess herself.
Link enjoyed tasting the food and trying to determine what ingredients might have gone into it's creation. Bass seasoned with... hyrule herb? Something nutty--maybe acorn. So often a sense of urgency had propelled him, preventing him from simply enjoying the act of creating and eating food. Now, he tried to force himself to slow down and savor it.
Partway through the celebration, Link slipped away. He made his way up to the Ta'Loh Naeg shrine, where he had traveled so many times. Though the shrine was practically in the village, others rarely seemed to come up. Here he could look down on the celebration in peace.
It wasn't long before Zelda found him, however. To his surprise she settled down onto the grass next to him.
"I suppose you must be exhausted," Zelda said softly, "You've been fighting all this time."
He shook his head. "Not as long as you have", he insisted.
"Perhaps, but still, I don't want you to forget your own troubles. If you ever want to talk about it, or even if you don't, just know I'm here for you."
Link didn't answer that, just lay back in the grass and looked at the stars; bright in the cloudless sky. The two of them stayed like that for a long time.