Archive of Our Own

This was turning out to be the worst birthday Zelda, princess of Hyrule, had ever had.

Bad enough that she’d awoken to preparations to head to Mount Lanayru instead of a birthday party and spent the whole day in a freezing cold spring, praying and begging for mystical powers (a supposed birthright) to finally awaken.

Even worse when, at sundown, she’d come down to the expectant, hopeful faces of the Champions, only to see them fill with disappointment and dread at the realization of her final failure.

Worse still, to watch helplessly as Calamity Gannon appeared, swelling up and quickly surrounding her home, Hyrule Castle, devouring it in its miasma.

And then, the final blow, when the Guardians and Divine Beasts, that which she’d worked so tirelessly on, had turned against them, killing soldiers and citizens alike… until they’d turned their attention on herself and Link.

Thus, their current situation, she and Link racing through pouring rain (on foot, because of course they had lost their horses in between their flights to and from Castle Town), thunder rumbling above their heads as they raced to whatever safe haven her knight had in mind.

It must be either Kakariko Village or Fort Hateno, she surmised, her mind still hopelessly active even as her legs and lungs ached and burned, either would be full of warriors willing to help us… but against the Guardians….

Memories of what she’d witnessed in Castle Town flashed before her eyes and had her looking over her shoulder, fearful of seeing one just behind her, which proved to be a mistake.

She’d only barely been keeping up with Link’s pace, his grip, her terror, and a mixture of years spent on shifting sands and pure luck keeping her from slipping on the slick mud.

That all disappeared with just one glance and then she was falling, her hand slipping right out of her knight’s as she collapsed onto her hands and knees.

For a split second, she feared Link would just keep running, leaving her there in the mud.

He’d have every right to, there weren’t any witnesses and no king to punish him, why wouldn’t he abandon her, she was just a burden, slowing him down….

But, no, he was already coming back to her and although she felt a great sense of relief at that… it also proved to be the last straw as the tears she’d been holding back finally began to fall.

“How…” she gasped, unable to do anything but stare at Link’s boots as they came into view before her, her hands balling into fists as the sound of the Master Sword returning to its sheath reached her ears.

“How did it come to this?” she asked as he knelt before her. “The Divine Beasts… The Guardians… They’ve all turned against us….”

Hearing that fact stated aloud and remembering the sight of the beast swirling ominously in the sky, the glow of the Divine Beasts and Guardians turning from that beautiful blue to the same hideous pink that surrounded the castle, caused rage and sadness to well up inside her.

“It was…,” her fists clenched even harder, her nails beginning to dig into her skin, “Calamity Gannon. It turned them all against us!”

Zelda, feeling like she could no longer avoid doing so, began to lift her head as she continued. “And everyone–Mipha, Urbosa, Revali and Daruk… They’re all trapped inside those things….”

Finally meeting Link’s eyes, all the emotions inside her heart culminated into a giant ball of guilt as she cried, “It’s all my fault!”

With fresh tears filling her eyes, Zelda quickly buried her face in her hands as she sobbed, “Our only hope for defeating Gannon is lost all because I couldn’t harness this cursed power!”

She’d felt such pride and accomplishment when she’d helped Purah, Robbie and the other Sheikah scientists make new advancements and discoveries regarding the tech their ancestors had left behind, had felt such glee at the sight of the experiments with the Guardians.

She’d never said it aloud, barely even allowed herself to think it but, surely with the Guardians, Divine Beasts and Link, the most accomplished swordsman in all of Hyrule, surely it wouldn’t really matter if her ‘sacred powers’ never manifested. Surely, they could defeat Gannon with just that alone.

Oh, how wrong she’d been….

“Everything—everything I’ve done up until now… It was all for nothing….”

Every accomplishment, every discovery, everything that she’d pinned her hopes and dreams on, everything she’d hoped would prove that her father and the gossip mongers were wrong about her… all for nothing….

“So I really am just a failure!” She was shouting this right into Link’s face, taking her frustration, anger, resentment, and fear out on him again, but he just stared back quietly, letting her vent as always.

“All my friends…,” she continued, sadness consuming every other emotion as she did so, “the entire kingdom… my father most of all… I tried and I failed them all….”

Tears and rain were mixing as she whispered, “I’ve left them… all to die.”

Saying the words aloud, it was as if it had, just now, truly become a reality to her and suddenly, all the strength left her.

Desperate for comfort (though she knew she didn’t deserve it) she fell towards Link, eternally grateful for his patience and kindness as he allowed her to collapse into his arms and sobbed, despair consuming her as his arms wrapped around her in a comforting embrace.

But then, suddenly… they were gone.

And where only a second before she had been on her knees kneeling in the mud while the rain pelted down on her now… now, the rain was still falling on her, but she was standing and fire was raging all around her, embers dancing on the wind.

Before her, Link was kneeling, gasping for breath as blood dripped from various wounds. It was likely only a combination of the Master Sword in his hand, adrenaline and his own stubborn nature that kept him upright.

But it was obvious he wasn’t going to last for much longer and there were still so, so many Guardians crawling around the field intent on hunting them down.

Unable to stand back any longer she placed what she hoped was a comforting hand on his shoulder and begged, “Link, save yourself! Go!”

Goddess, he felt so small under her hands. He’d always seemed so large to her, steady and constant, nigh untouchable in a fight.

She’d seen him slay entire hordes of monsters, monsters so strong that even the most veteran knights would’ve paused if faced with them, with nothing but a scratch.

This, though… this was far different and if she didn’t do something soon, she was going to watch the only person she had left in this world die.

“I’ll be fine! Don’t worry about me!”

It wasn’t a complete lie, there was a… slim chance that she could get away… hell, if it was the Calamity itself controlling them, they probably wouldn’t even bother with her, powerless failure that she was.

They would still go after him for the sword, you idiot!

And there’d be nothing you could do to stop them.

Despair welled up in her at that fact, but still she begged Link to run, hoping against everything she had learned about him that he would do as she said.

But of course, he didn’t.

With a groan of pain he rose, shakily, to his feet, Master Sword sliding free of the ground as he stumbled forward.

And, of course, a Guardian appeared at just that moment, spotting them instantly and striding forward, standing forebodingly atop its fallen brethren.

The second its tracking laser focused on Link; Zelda was moving forward.

She had no plan, really no thought in her mind at all as she screamed her denial, pushing Link out of the way.

It was utter foolishness, what could she possibly do to protect him, completely unarmed and without any knowledge of how to even wield a weapon if she’d had one?

How could a failure such as herself protect anyone?

There was a beep and then a blinding flash of light before pain seared through Zelda’s right shoulder and a deafening blast sent her flying, landing on the ground painfully only seconds later.

Dazed, ears ringing and shoulder blazing with pain, it took a few moments for her eyes to clear and when they did… a truly horrifying sight greeted her.

There was Link, just a few feet in front of her, sprawled on his back and completely unmoving as his body smoked and steamed from the impact of the Guardians beam.

With a howl of anguish, Zelda, somehow, clawed her way to her feet and stumbled over to her fallen knight.

Foolishly, she still clung to hope, the hope that he had survived, that he was only stunned, the Master Sword was still gripped in his hands, surely, he was still—

Falling to her knees beside Link, Zelda felt the very last of her hope die as she took in the sight of the boy’s face, eyes open and unseeing, and a small red hole in his forehead, the skin around it charred and still smoking in the rain.

A scream of anguish escaped her lips as she gathered her fallen protector, her Champion… her friend… into her arms.

She screamed and cried and begged for him to wake up, come back, don’t leave… but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

The very last of the Champions, the wielder of the Master Sword, destined Hero of Hyrule… was dead.

And it was all her fault.

You are the heir to a throne of nothing… nothing but failure.

As those words rang through her head, Zelda noticed, numbly, that a red laser was now focused on her.

Another appeared, then another, and another, until her body was almost completely covered by the ominous red light.

Looking up, she saw an entire horde of Guardians, their sights set on her and lasers all primed to strike her down. For a moment, all she could do was stare at the things that had filled her with such joy and hope… now, she couldn’t help but wonder how she had ever found these things to be beautiful.

No longer able to stomach the sight, her gaze fell once again to the boy in her arms.

He was beautiful, even in death, a death she’d helped cause and now… well, now she would pay the price for robbing the world of its hero, its hope, its future.

Silently, tears dripping down her cheeks, her head lowered until it came to rest on her knight’s still chest.

As the beeping intensified, she closed her eyes and accepted her death, hoping that, just maybe, Link would be waiting for her on the other side.

The beeping all around her came to a stop, quickly replaced by the sound of lasers firing and then all Zelda knew was white.

***

With a jolt, Zelda came awake, her heart racing and entire body shaking as the sound of Guardian lasers firing still rang in her ears.

Panting for breath, her eyes darted around in disorientation as her brain scrambled to make sense of what was going on.

She was no longer kneeling in that Goddess-forsaken field, but lying in a nice, soft, and warm bed. Through the darkness she could make out the shape of wooden walls around her and there was the faint sound of wooden wind chimes blowing in the wind.

Kakariko, Zelda thought blearily as she struggled to a sitting position, you’re in Kakariko, not that blasted field….

With still shaking hands, she reached for the Sheikah Slate, breathing a small sigh of relief as she was bathed in its soft blue light.

She then cursed as she took in the time and the weather forecast, letting out a particularly crude Gerudo curse as she saw nothing but storm clouds and rain droplets on the screen.

That explains the dream, she thought ruefully, or I suppose remembrance/nightmare would be more accurate….

Her musing was interrupted by a sudden, horrendously loud clap of thunder and suddenly, she was back in that awful moment.

Rain pouring down, fire dancing, Guardians everywhere, Link in her arms, so heavy, so much blood, he’s dying—

She didn’t realize she was up and moving until her hand came to rest on the handle of the door, ready to slide it open and barge right into the room behind it.

Stop it, you’re being ridiculous! she silently chided herself, forcibly removing her hand from the door and taking a step back. Everything is fine, go back to bed.

What if it’s not? What if a Yiga assassin managed to sneak in—

We’re in the middle of the home of the Sheikah, they wouldn’t dare.

They did before.

Yes, well, he wasn’t there and, also, he would be aware of the hypothetical Yiga and would’ve dealt with them before you even realized something was wrong.

…Just when was it exactly that I got into the habit of having silent arguments with myself?

Feeling utterly ridiculous, Zelda had just spun on her heels and taken three steps away from the door when the storm decided to release a clap of thunder so loud that felt like it caused the whole house to shudder.

Or perhaps she was misinterpreting her own shivers as the house, it was quite difficult to tell, frankly.

Once again, her eyes drifted to the door and her resolve shattered completely with the thought, a quick peek won’t hurt.

And so, in the end, she was back at the door, this time sliding it open, albeit as slowly and quietly as she could.

Peeking in, she was fortunate enough to catch a quick glimpse of dark blonde hair from under the blanket on the bed as lightning lit up the room.

She felt her body brace for the expected crash of thunder, then breathed a sigh of relief when only a low rumble sounded instead.

A sigh came from the bed at about the same time and her body tensed up again, fearful the occupant was about to awaken and discover her at the door.

But, no, he merely shifted his position and then lay still, the sound of his breathing only barely audible over the rain.

There, you see, everything is fine, let’s go back to bed.

You don’t know that; he could be in distress!

Does he sound distressed? Enough with the absurd theories!

Zelda grimaced as she realized she was arguing with herself again and released yet another sigh.

She knew these voices wouldn’t calm down until she could discern absolutely that the room’s occupant was, without a doubt, absolutely fine.

Slowly, trying to be as quiet as a Sheikah herself, Zelda inched her way into the room.

She would freeze like a deer caught in an archer’s sights every time lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, fearful of discovery, until finally she found herself standing at the foot of the bed.

There, sleeping peacefully, was Link, face relaxed and apparently completely undisturbed by either the lightning or thunder or the princess standing in his room, peering down at him.

Some knight, not even realizing that someone’s entered his room, she thought as a wry smile crossed her lips.

They immediately drooped back into a frown as she scolded herself, he had a busy day and we are in Impa’s house with guards in the front, he has every right to sleep this peacefully.

Unless it’s not a natural sleep.

Oh, can’t you just shut up already? she growled inwardly at that traitorous voice.

But the blasted idea was already in her head and the awful moment in her dream where his blue eyes had stared lifelessly at her was back.

So, with another silent curse at her own foolishness, she made her way even closer until she was leaning right over the slumbering hero.

Slowly and silently her arm extended, fingers stretched until they landed lightly on his neck.

Pressing down just the slightest bit, she sighed in relief once again as Link’s steady pulse beat gently beneath her fingertips.

Now with irrefutable proof that everything was fine and dandy with her knight, there was absolutely no reason why she shouldn’t turn right around and return to her own room and go back to sleep in her own bed.

Except… except that the thought of being by herself right now really wasn’t that pleasant and sleeping… didn’t really seem possible and… well….

Despite everything she still didn’t want to let Link out of her sight.

With a defeated sigh this time, Zelda eyed the room once again.

There was a shape she was fairly certain was a chair a few feet from where she was standing, but it was a bit further than what she was hoping for and trying to move it closer to the bed… no, horrible idea.

Floor it is then, she concluded grimly, already feeling a chill from her feet and knowing it would be worse once she sat down.

Before she could, though, there was sudden movement from the bed, and she felt herself freeze once again.

But, once again, he only shifted on the bed and then rolled over until he was on the complete opposite side of her, and the back of his head faced her.

Relief was short-lived as suspicion bloomed in her mind.

Is he really asleep or is he faking it?

It can’t be Link isn’t that good of an actor.

We don’t have enough data to prove or disprove that….

She stared at the figure on the bed for one more minute before making a decision and, slowly and carefully, eased herself onto the bed until she was in a sitting position.

Again, Link made no response and just continued breathing peacefully.

That sound was like a balm on her frayed nerves, and she felt tension she hadn’t realized had been present starting to ease.

It wasn’t very long before she found herself lying back, her head finding a space on the pillow as she became more and more relaxed.

Now that I think about it, this isn’t very different from what we do when we stay in his house in Hateno, she thought, a smile again playing at her lips.

At first, Link had insisted she take the bed while he slept on the floor with an extra pillow and blanket.

She’d declined and argued vehemently that it was his house and his bed so he should sleep there, and she would take the extra pillow and blanket on the floor.

It had been their first true fight, both of them on the verge of screaming, until she’d managed a compromise of using the extra blanket as a divider and thus sharing the bed.

Speaking of extra blankets, she really should’ve brought one, because even though it was much better than the floor, lying in the open air was still a bit chilly.

It is spring and raining, really shouldn’t be surprised by that. Got out of practice since the last few times this happened it was summer.

At the realization of her latest thought, Zelda found herself releasing yet another sigh.

How in the world had this become a habit?

Hateno was one thing, what with the whole ‘one bed only’ situation, but this?

When had she become so needy that she needed Link beside her to sleep peacefully?

Since the Calamity happened and the damn nightmares started. Isn’t that why you always shut down his suggestions of Bolson creating another room or at least a second bed back in Hateno?

Goddess, if the Zelda of one hundred years ago could see this now….

Well, it ends here, I’ll just go back to my room….

The thought formed in her head, but her body refused to budge even an inch.

You truly are pathetic.

Zelda grimaced and shivered once again as she felt just a tiny, yet very chilly breeze sweep through the room.

She truly was being ridiculous, if she stayed like this any longer, she was going to catch a cold and then she would feel even more pathetic.

Gritting her teeth, she flipped onto her side facing her room and prepared to throw everything she had into getting back to said room… when suddenly, something warm and soft fell on top of her.

Stunned, it took her a few seconds to realize she’d been covered by a blanket and when she did, she immediately flipped back onto her other side.

There, blue eyes were staring back at her. No longer cold and unseeing, they now stared back at her with concern and perhaps a shade of guilt as well.

Embarrassment flooded through her, and it was a true struggle not to scream as she asked, “how long have you been awake?”

“I wouldn’t be much of a knight if I didn’t notice someone coming into my room,” was Link's soft reply, though he had the grace to sound nothing but apologetic.

Still, it took every ounce of her rational mind to keep her emotions from spilling out in an ugly display of either screaming and hitting Link or just collapsing into embarrassed sobbing.

It became much easier when he asked, hesitantly, “do you want to talk about it?”

The blubbering/screeching mess that was her emotions seconds before immediately solidified into an icy shield of defensiveness when she replied, “talk about what?”

His sad smile had her emotions morphing once again as he said, in much the same tone he spoke to a spooked horse, “why you always sneak into my bed whenever there’s a rainstorm.”

She almost denied it, but the facts wouldn’t change if she did.

She did sneak into his bed whenever there was rain at night whenever they were away from Hateno. She did, because every time that cursed nightmare/memory would come and she just needed to be next to him to know he wasn’t dead and gone like the other Champions and her father.

“…have I been making you uncomfortable?” she asked, a genuine worry now that she thought it.

“No, but if there’s something I can do to help….”

It was an obvious ploy to get her to open up to him and she knew she should, but she managed to latch on to one last possible way out of the uncomfortable conversation.

“Are you wearing the rubber armor?”

She’d caught a glimpse of it at the latest lightning flash and his slight flinch.

And now that she thought about it, Link had been unnaturally sensitive about thunderstorms lately, especially when they were out in the open field.

Before she could ask another question, he said, “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

Well, drat, now he had her cornered.

Knowing he had a problem she of course immediately wanted to help, if she could, but talking about her own….

She bit her lip as she met his eyes once more.

There were so many reasons not to tell him and yet… wasn’t it hypocrisy itself not to accept aid when wishing to give it?

“You first,” she said, determined to have this at least. 

Link sighed this time, flinching once more as another flash came from the window, “Thunderblight Ganon and the storms during my travels seem to have… left me with a slight fear of lightning….”

Zelda wanted to kick herself after hearing that, “of course, Thunderblight alone would’ve left anyone wary, it’s a wonder you can use Urbosa’s Fury at all!”

“Riju lending me the Thunder Helm helped, at least until I got the Rubber Suit and upgraded it,” Link said, waving a gloved hand at her.

“And it helps that the lightning and thunder nowadays have eased in their intensity but….”

“Better safe than sorry?”

“Hey, at least I’m not wearing the hat and shoes.”

“Were you before I was heading here?”

“…they were within arm’s reach….”

“We’ll have to talk to Purah if it gets any worse.”

“And will we also talk to her about your problem?”

Damn him for steering the conversation back to her.

“I told mine,” he continued, giving her a pointed look, “now you tell yours.”

Goddess she was sighing a lot tonight, she didn’t even want to know the number of the one that slipped from her mouth right then.

She really didn’t want to talk about ‘hers’ but she knew by now that certain set in his jaw meant there wasn’t a force in this world that would make him let this go.

“… there’s one last thing I need to know before I tell you,” she began, holding up a hand as he began to protest, “no, I’m not trying to avoid answering it’s just… it concerns you and your wellbeing, please believe me when I say that Link.”

He gazed into her eyes, suspicion dancing in his own, but he finally nodded and said, “I believe you.”

She wasn’t so certain, but she began anyway, “how much do you… how much do you truly remember about… about my seventeenth birthday?”

Link’s whole body stiffened and this time it wasn’t from any lightning or thunder. His eyes shone in the darkness and for a moment Zelda didn’t know if he would snap at her or run out of the room like a Guardian was on his tail.

He did neither, instead he replied, “only… bits and pieces… just what the pictures helped me recall….”

Zelda felt her heart fill with worry and sadness, more from the fact that there was so little development in his memory recovery outside of what she’d managed to leave him than of the memories themselves.

At least until his eyes widened and filled with worry and sadness themselves as he asked, “oh no, is that what’s been happening? Have you been reliving that every time there’s a storm at night?”

“Not every time,” she admitted, “and… not exactly what you might be thinking of….”

At his look of confusion, she took a deep breath and continued, “it starts out as it did that day. The Guardians had turned against us, and we were running for our lives. But, at the point where my powers are supposed to appear and save us… they didn’t and you… the Guardian struck you right between the eyes and… your eyes they just— they were staring at me, but they weren’t seeing me because— you were—”

“But I’m not,” he said, voice gentle but firm as he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed gently, “I’m right here, alive, because of you.”

“But if—”

“No, hey, we’ve been over this,” he said as he pulled back enough to look her in the eye, “it’s like Urbosa said, this… ‘this is how things had to happen. No one… need carry blame.’”

His voice wavered as he repeated those words, words that they recited, to each other and, most likely, to themselves.

She’d lost count how many times she’d done just that but… but still…

“It still hurts,” she sniffed, wrapping her arms around Link now, “I miss them all so much….”

“…including ‘me’?”

“No!” Zelda snapped/blubbered as she smacked his arm reproachfully, “if I can’t apologize for not awakening my powers you can’t apologize for not being the ‘stoic hero’. ‘…sides, I hated you not talkin’ to meh….”

“Right, right, don’t want you running away or yelling at me in front of shrines again.”

That earned him another whack on the arm, which just made him chuckle, which caused Zelda to burrow deeper into his chest, arms squeezing as hard as she could.

It didn’t really do anything to him, but she hoped it got her point across.

There were a few seconds of silence after that, only interrupted by the barest hint of thunder very far off in the distance as the storm passed on.

Then, suddenly, he said, “I’m a bit surprised, though, I thought… I thought you’d say you were having nightmares about your time with the Calamity instead of, well, the worst birthday ever.”

“Mm, well, not the most illogical assumption,” Zelda mumbled after a time, face still pressed rather firmly against Link’s chest (she was pointedly ignoring any thoughts of impropriety and focusing solely on the ‘he’s not dead’ thoughts).

“I’m serious though, with what I saw, what I fought… and that was with you and the others…” Link continued with an earnest voice. “You faced that thing alone, kept it sealed in the castle all those years I—… I thought, if you were having nightmares, they’d be about that….”

She didn’t answer the unspoken question, in fact she made no move to do anything.

Her breathing had slowed and her grip around Link’s waist began to loosen, though it tightened up again when he tried to move away.

Giving up on that, he simply murmured a quiet ‘good night’ and squirmed around a bit until he was comfortable.

After waiting five extra minutes once Link’s breathing had evened out, Zelda opened her eyes and gazed intently at her knight’s sleeping face.

She then shifted in the bed until her ear was placed against his chest and her left hand rested on the pulse point in his neck.

Hearing and feeling the beating of his heart, Zelda sighed one final time that night, this time with relief and contentment.

This right here, this sound in her ear, this throbbing under her fingertips… this was why she didn’t dream of her time with the Calamity, because she barely remembered it.

That whole time, while she’d been keeping it trapped within the castle, less than half of her focus had been on the containment of the beast.

The rest of it had been focused on a simple little beating sound, a tiny, fragile little pulse under her fingertips.

It took her a year into her imprisonment to realize that the beat and pulse had belonged to Link, though even today she had no idea how she’d known that or how she was even feeling it in the first place.

Oh, how hard that second year had been after she’d learned that fact, how frighteningly fragile he’d felt. Every time the beat or pulse weakened, so had her magic, and she’d have to fight tooth and nail to keep the beast from breaking free.

It got easier as Link stabilized and the beat and pulse lulled her into a kind of meditative stasis (a bit like the Sheikah monks who waited in the shrines, she mused).

Before she knew it, the beat and pulse had finally grown strong enough that she knew he was ready to awaken.

And here they were now, safe and sound in Kakariko, with no Calamity in sight, beat and pulse strong and healthy.

And they will stay that way, I will make sure of that, Zelda vowed silently to herself.

Eventually, she really did drift off, her hand still on Link’s neck and ear still pressed to his chest, as she fell into a mercifully dreamless sleep.

A few hours later, she woke with a jolt of panic as a scream rent through the air.

This was immediately followed by a heavy weight pressing down on her, something whistling through the air, and a now terrified scream filling the room.

“Wha-, Paya?! Why are you screaming?!” Link’s voice suddenly exclaimed.

“M-master L-Link, P-princess-, why, k-knife, why-?”

“Paya dear, you cannot scream in the presence of a sleeping warrior and not expect some kind of weapon being thrown your way,” Impa’s calm voice cut in. “And Link, perhaps you might let the princess up now, hm?”

There was a beat of silence and then suddenly the weight on top of Zelda disappeared and Link was somehow standing on the other side of the room looking incredibly panicked.

He then began apologizing profusely to her, then to Paya, which led to the young woman apologizing just as profusely and it quickly became a jumbled mess.

Amidst it all, Impa came to stand next to Zelda handing her a shawl to cover herself with and, with a mischievous grin, asked, “so then, should we see about getting started on your own little house here in the village? That way you’d have more privacy for late-night escapades.”

Zelda’s response was a lightly tossed pillow, which the old woman caught with ease and a hearty laugh.