Chapter Text
Something wasn’t right.
Zelda awoke in the middle of the night to a crack of thunder. The lightning lit her room in menacing shadows, and it seemed for a moment the terror of her dreams had been brought into the waking world. With a scream that Impa had heard over the howling wind, her nursemaid and guard burst into the room.
“Princess,” Impa exclaimed, “Are you–”
Zelda screamed again, a sob ripping through her. Something was terribly wrong.
Impa quietly examined her for injury, the soft touches a grounding experience. When she was satisfied Zelda was uninjured, the older woman pulled her into a hug. No one would believe the supposed last Sheikah could be so warm, but her presence brought Zelda a great amount of comfort.
Enough comfort that she could recall her dream.
“Impa,” she said quietly, her fear and worry melting into purpose.
“Yes?” Impa made her distance once more. She was almost a mind reader, knowing what Zelda needed at any moment, whether a mother or an ally.
“I had another dream.”
With shaking hands clasped tightly together, and shivers that wouldn’t go away even with the blankets Impa had insisted on wrapping her with, Zelda detailed the ambush that would face someone in a few days time. A splinter group of Gerudo, seeking revenge for the imprisonment of Ganondorf.
“And you are certain about the time?” Impa asked.
She nodded. “There was a full moon. We’re due for one in three days.”
“But you don’t know who will be attacked.”
“It’s someone important to me,” she said, “I remember the feelings that were invoked when I saw this person…” She only cared about three people enough for the horror to make sense. “but I only saw–”
She inhaled sharply, as the blood splattered night came back to her. Lightning flashed through her window.
“Do you recall where?” Impa’s serene face betrayed nothing. Zelda tried to superimpose that terrible wound onto her face, but all the act did was shake her more.
“There were trees,” she answered unhelpfully. “I can't remember more than that.”
Impa creased her brow in a rare show of emotion. “I will look into this.”
Zelda nodded and dismissed Impa, staring out into the stormy night, knowing no more sleep would welcome her.
…
Her lack of sleep caught up with her when she fell asleep in the middle of magic practice the next day and was wracked by the dream again.
She could recall the smell of the place now. The damp forest, the chill of night, and a foreign perfume. There was one extra detail in it, the horse she would be riding. It was clear who would be out there, both attackers and victim, and it made her more desperate to do something.
With a resolution, Zelda knew she had to sneak out, that night preferably, and go to the spot. She’d been mistaken about the time, it wasn’t a full moon, but a waxing one.
She knew where it was now. She couldn’t put to words or explain, but she knew her feet would take her where she needed to go. It was frustrating to have such an unsure certainty, and in her sleep deprived state, she didn’t think to tell anyone else about it. Even if she had, she wouldn’t have the ability to direct people, and her father would surely forbid her from going herself.
That night she turned in early, citing her earlier nap, and requested not to be disturbed. If Impa thought anything odd was afoot, she said nothing.
Perhaps it was foolhardy to sneak out and try to deal with it on her own, but Zelda knew if she said anything her father would want to mobilize the army. Which would turn the rest of the Gerudo against them. The fragile peace brokered with Nabooroo was only held so because of careful treatment.
Her father and Impa were untrusting of the remaining Gerudo, but they had experienced more conflict with the bandit women than herself. Before Ganondorf had seized power, Hyrule had regularly fought with the Gerudo to protect merchants. It hadn’t been a serious threat to Hyrule’s sovereignty, but a pressure on the border that all would’ve rather been without. Even the Gerudo claimed they would rather trade honestly than resort to banditry.
Zelda had only ever known about Ganondorf and the malice that seemed to cling to him. She hadn’t thought it a Gerudo trait, rather a him trait. And now years after his execution they had achieved a shaky peace. Peace that might be broken if Zelda failed to prevent what she saw in her dream.
Zelda was skilled in magic, and with her goddess harp she could be quite formidable. But she had never been in a real fight.
As the castle quieted, Zelda slipped into the night, teleporting from hiding spot to hiding spot. She made it to the stables to her pale cream horse without alerting any of the guards. Buttercup started when she teleported the two of them out of the stables, but Zelda had trained with the animal before, and was able to keep control.
Off they rode into the night, darkness covering land courtesy of the new moon.
The area was near the Lost Woods, a few hours' ride away. Long enough for worry to set into her breast like a bird trapped in her rib cage.
The night would’ve been pleasant for such a trip had her heart not been pounding like a war drum. Magic itched at the tips of her fingers in anticipation. The healing potions rested heavy in her bag. The knives in their sheaths lay cold against her legs.
Finally, she made it to the area. The Lost Woods insulated sounds, a double edged sword as no one would hear her, but she would not hear anyone else. Buttercup balked though, as horses tended to do at the periphery of the woods. Before she could force the animal past its fear, there was movement from within the woods.
A chestnut mare burst forth, and Zelda cursed herself for not being faster. There was only one reason Epona would leave her owner. Not even thinking, she jumped off her own horse and made her way to Epona. She held out a hand to the large mare and gently brushed its mane. Epona calmed down and allowed Zelda to mount her. Once situated, Zelda urged quietly, “lead me to him, please.”
Buttercup would likely be fine in the field until Zelda could make it back, and so she dove into the Lost Woods in search of Hyrule’s Hero.
Or to find his corpse.
…
The cry pierced the night, anguished and horrible, and Zelda knew she was too late.
Still, she had to try– had to do something. Something for the one person who always believed her.
Into the clearing she rode, hair streaming behind her, magic burning at her fingertips. She saw the two assassins, tall Gerudo women, with long ponytails and veil covered faces approaching to finish off Link. One had her scimitar raised, and Zelda threw out an uncontrolled magic burst, pink and shimmering.
The magic hit the woman, sending her sword flying out of her hand. Link lay on the ground, bloody, unmoving. The other turned on Zelda then, her own spear poised to attack. Zelda charged the two of them, Epona more fearless than any other war horse she’d ridden.
The spear flashed at her, and she teleported off of the animal’s back to behind the disarmed woman, summoning a great concussive force with her harp. The Gerudo had not been expecting such a blow from one so small as Zelda, and she flew to the side of the clearing, knocking her head on a rock. The other assassin’s eyes went wide as she sized up her opponent.
“Vile Hylian witch,” she spat out, readying a strike with her spear.
Zelda raised her hand in preparation for a more powerful chord. She though she’d seen Link’s chest move, but couldn’t be too sure. She needed to help him. She needed to–
The spear flashed like lightning and it was only her training from Impa that allowed her to dance out of the way. With a precision that was not her own, she started another song. The song built with each strum and finally she was able to hit the main part. The concussive song was difficult to play without the dodging of the spear, but through the grace of the goddesses she managed.
The clearing filled with her music, and just as the Gerudo thrust in what would’ve skewered Zelda, the magic force erupted. Sending the spear backwards, and the Gerudo flying towards her sistren, for Zelda now saw the third Gerudo who lay still, a red stain under her.
The second Gerudo had recovered some, and when Zelda started another song she cursed loudly in her language. With some communication, the two remaining Gerudo fled away.
Zelda would’ve pursued, had Link not been bleeding out on the forest floor.
She rushed to him, not able to stop the gasp that came from her lips when she saw his face. A wicked cut marred his face, leaving one of his eyes a gorey mess. She could tell… no, she would hope she was wrong.
“Link?” she asked, “Link, can you hear me?”
When he didn’t respond, she frantically patted for the health potions she had brought. Surveying his body for injuries, she determined his wounds were a broken sword arm, twisted ankle, and severe head trauma. She probably shouldn’t have moved his head, but he would have an easier time drinking if propped up.
He stirred slightly at her touch, and let out a moan of pain. It broke her heart to see him in such clear agony. She prayed under her breath as she waited for the healing potions to work their magic. If he was too far gone, it wouldn’t matter.
Finally, his breathing evened out, and his arm snapped back in place. His face was still a bloody mess, but that was to be expected. A healing potion couldn’t grow back a new body part.
Deeming him well enough to move, she lifted him onto Epona and tried to make her way out of the forest. Only to forget once in the Lost Woods, it was easy to get lost.
She rode in the direction she thought she’d come from, only to meet trees where there should’ve been open grass. Frustrated, she rode on, foolish in her panic.
Once thoroughly lost, she gripped closer to the unconscious hero slumped in front of her, despair coming to terms. He was still bleeding, she could tell, and she was lost in the woods, and–
Before she could spiral much further, a voice called out to her.
“HEY! LISTEN!”
Zelda glanced up in the direction of the voice, to see a fairy. A blue glow surrounded her, and Zelda furrowed her brow. It was the fairy that had accompanied Link when he’d first come to Castletown. He’d left to go find her, so why…?
“I know you can see me!” the fairy said, growing closer. “Link needs help, and the closest ones are the Kokiri.”
“But the Kokiri don’t accept adults,” she argued.
“Ask for Saria, she will help you. Now follow me!”
The fairy zipped off, and Zelda decided to follow her. Through the woods they raced, until finally they came to a small tree.
Suddenly she found herself in the middle of what looked like a miniature village, where all of the houses were proportioned for children. Zelda searched desperately around.
The fairy had disappeared, and Zelda wondered if she had been led into a trap.
“Link, he needs, he needs help!” she cried, “Can… Can Saria help him?”
Timidly, a green haired girl approached from out of the shadows. “Is that…?”
Once she came out of hiding, fairies flew above, lighting the meadow.
“He was attacked,” Zelda explained, dropping to the ground and getting Link down too. She laid him on the ground and worried over how pale he was under the lights of the fairies.
“Oh my!” Saria exclaimed, clasping both hands over her mouth. She called to the other Kokiri and started ordering them around. Zelda found herself carrying him to a small bed in one of the houses and being supplied with medical supplies. The Kokiri seemed to be much like actual children and squeamish at the sight of blood. All save Saria, who seemed to have more healing knowledge than Zelda.
Zelda tried to assist, she had medical training, but her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. It was just so wrong to see Link so weak. Fearless Link--who never balked from a challenge, who promised to protect her from any danger--pale and limp.
“His condition seems stable,” Saria said, “but he lost a lot of blood, so we need to keep him warm.” she hesitated, and looked at Zelda. Zelda wasn’t sure about the attention and sat up straighter. “Princess…” Saria started, “could you…” she then shook her head. “Nevermind. I’m going to try and clean him up a bit.”
“Oh, I can help.”
Saria almost said something, but didn’t. “I don’t want to ask this of you, but… I don’t know if the others can help. Or if they should. But Princess, you’re trembling.”
Zelda willed her hands to stop, but one glance down at her blood stained gloves and she nearly threw up. She’d seen injury before, she’d seen blood before, but this–
This was Link’s blood.
Hands clenched in fists, Zelda set her resolve. How could she be so weak when Link was–
One of the Kokiri came in with a pale of hot water, but quickly scurried out when he saw Link and Zelda. With a slight tremor still in her extremities, Zelda helped Saria remove Link’s outer clothing, leaving him in under shirt and pants. While his arm had been healed by the potion, his ankle was still broken, and his head still concussed. Worst of all was his eye, or rather what was left of it.
Saria worked on wrapping the ankle while Zelda wiped the blood away from his face with delicate dabs. Each swipe revealing the tender wound. She didn’t know what to do with it. Some of it must’ve been removed by the cut, and so the potion had been unable to save it.
Could he fight with one eye?
Of all the things to strike her, for whatever reason that one sent her over the edge. Pushing away from the bed, Zelda fled out of the building to puke in the bushes. It was mostly bile that burned her throat, and by the end of it she felt like crying. Laying on the dirt ground, she waited for the convulsions in her stomach to stop. Sitting up, she finally noted the Kokiri surrounding her.
Zelda had never been in such a situation before. She was utterly alone, with no one, not even Impa, to help her. Link still hadn’t woken, and the fairy that had guided them there was nowhere to be found. She didn’t think the Kokiri were enemies, but they also were so much like children, Zelda couldn’t exactly rely on them, save Saria. Even Saria, it seemed irresponsible to leave Link’s healing all to her.
Quietly, she asked for a drink of water, and it was brought to her without a word. Once the taste of bile was cleaned from her mouth, she pulled her hair back and returned to the room.
Saria had finished treating his face with a bandage over his eye. She glanced up as Zelda ducked into the room.
“Thank you,” Zelda said, “I don’t know what I can do to repay you.”
“You don’t have to do anything… just…” Saria glanced at Link, affection in her eyes. “I’m thankful you were there. Who knows what would’ve happened had you not–” Saria blinked. “Nevermind. I must rest, and I’m sure you should too.”
Zelda shook her head. “Someone has to keep an eye on him, you just worked hard to heal him, I can keep watch.”
Saria hesitated, starting with, “Are you sure it’s alright? You’re both adults and...”
Zelda furrowed her brow. “I am aware. I can’t very well leave him alone after all--” Zelda choked up, thinking back to how he had believed her when no one else had. “I can’t leave him.”
At that Saria brightened somewhat, “Oh,” she said, “I see. I suppose that makes more sense. I’ll be close by if you need anything.”
Zelda sat down at Link’s bedside. He was so pale under those bandages.
Keep an eye on him, she thought, what a cruel joke.
If only her magic was stronger. If only she had arrived sooner! If only he’d never left her in the first place!
But those were selfish thoughts. Of course he should have his freedom, even if she wondered about freedom and adventure being good things for him anymore. Clearly now he’d have to reevaluate.
If he woke up.
But he had to wake up! He had to. Saria said–
But Saria was still a Kokiri, and they were different from Hylians. Could Zelda trust the wisdom of an eternal child?
Not knowing what else to do, she knelt at his bedside and clapped his hand in hers. She prayed for healing and strength. And she prayed most importantly, that he would wake up.