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You bobbed your foot up and down as you looked out the tall window. You had the curtains open to let in the natural light. It was a beautiful afternoon in Hyrule. This particular afternoon had you sitting in Zelda’s drawing room. It was small, but it had become one of your favorite places to escape to during your stays at the castle.
You still found yourself getting accustomed to a life of lavishness. It had been over three years since you’d married the love of your life, Link, and you still found yourself fidgeting at the table during council meetings. Link always told you to brush it off. He loved you for you and he was glad you weren’t as stuffy as a lot of the council members were.
You turned the page of the novel you were reading. You’d be lying if you’d said it didn’t have your full attention. It was a whimsical tale of forbidden romance and secret liaisons in the name of love. You were getting to the good part soon, you just knew it. She was due to meet the man of her dreams at midnight…
You were startled by the sound of the drawing room door closing. You sat straight up, afraid you’d just been caught slouching by someone of importance. Your shoulders relaxed when you recognized the golden blonde hair. “Hey. You’re out of that meeting sooner than I thought you’d be,” you said and leaned up to kiss him when he joined you at the table.
“It is a gift to expedite those treacherous occasions. And Zelda definitely has it,” he snorted. He settled into the chair beside you and sighed. You hummed and returned to your novel, completely enthralled. After a moment of silence, Link leaned over. “What’s got your attention so vigorously?”
“Just a book I’ve been reading. I think I’m almost to the good part,” you said and turned another page. Link hummed in reply and sat back a little. He liked to read too, but he was much more interested in historical books and non-fiction. A hundred years was a lot of history to catch up on.
“What’s it about?” he asked. You shifted the book in your hands. Its green and gold cover caught the sunlight streaming in from outside.
“A forbidden romance between a servant and a knight,” you said and smiled at him. He chuckled and raised an eyebrow at you.
“I didn’t realize you had a thing for lawbreakers. Strange that you ended up married to me then,” Link teased. You scoffed.
“Not exclusively. I love you too, you know.” You turned another page as he watched you closely. “I didn’t realize you had any interest in forbidden romance. It doesn’t exactly seem like your thing, to be sneaking around and stealing kisses from someone you’re not supposed to love.”
Link looked slightly offended as he stole a sip of your tea. “Are you calling me heartless? Because that’s what it sure sounds like,” he accused you, making you laugh. “I definitely would’ve fallen in love with you even if our love was forbidden.”
You closed the novel and gave Link a look. “Really?”
“You don’t believe me,” he replied as he set your teacup down. You shifted so you were facing him and the closed book was now in your lap. He grinned, all too thrilled to have your attention. “Let me tell you our tale.”
You dashed from the castle’s kitchen with a tray full of glasses in your hand. You blew a piece of hair back from your face. You couldn’t afford to be late. The steward of the castle liked to pick on you for any reason he saw fit.
Normally you were a maidservant or a laundress, in charge of cleaning the castle’s many linens or scrubbing the floors. On the rare occasion, you got lucky and were sent out to care for the horses. That was the job all of the women wanted more than anything on account of it being right beside the training grounds for the Hyrulean army. Other women were cooks or aids to the queen. Queen Zelda was a kind ruler and a loving soul. Her steward, John, was not.
Tonight, you found yourself assisting with the ball Queen Zelda had been holding. It was an important event, an opportunity for traders and dignitaries to engage in political conversations among the wealthy. The kitchen staff was typically in charge of serving the refreshments of the evening, but most of them had fallen ill with food poisoning a few days before. Apparently one of the head cook’s dishes wasn’t exactly up to par. John had absolutely lost it upon his discovery.
You wheeled around the corner with the tray of gold goblets. Each one was filled with red wine from the castle’s cellars. You had to admit; the Queen really knew how to throw a party. You were moving so fast that you didn’t hear the footsteps approaching from around the corner. You turned the next corner far too sharply and instantly collided with someone, spilling the entire tray of red wine all over your rags and their outfit. You were instantly mortified, but you thought you might die when you looked up and noticed who it was.
You’d crashed directly into Link, the Queen’s Champion of Hyrule and personal knight. Your mouth hung open like a fish. It was true what all the girls said- Link was very easy on the eyes. His golden blonde hair had been tucked back into his navy blue cap. There was now a dark stain on his royal guard tunic. You felt your heart jump out of your body when you realized the Queen was standing beside him, looking a little startled. It was no surprise to see them together- the entire kingdom of Hyrule was waiting for them to be wed one day.
“Oh my Hylia… Your Majesty, I am so sorry. Champion Link, I can’t even begin to apologize…” you stuttered as you stared at the mess you’d caused. You expected him to yell at you, to be angry, or even to hit you. But he didn’t look the least bit concerned. He dusted himself off as the Queen looked him over.
“Oh, it’s quite alright. I’m surprised you spilled something on him before he managed to do it himself,” she joked and offered a smile to you. You still looked down at the floor and immediately started gathering the goblets. To your shock, Link crouched down wordlessly and helped you. Your cheeks darkened to an even deeper shade of red. You were certain you looked worse than a Hylian tomato now.
“Oh, please let me get it. I don’t want you to acquire anymore stains, my Champion,” you said and stacked the empty goblets onto your tray. You stood from the floor with him and dared to look up. You locked eyes with Link and from that moment, you knew it was all over. His eyes were a beautiful shade of blue, just like the ocean you dreamed of seeing one day out along the coast of Hyrule. You were about to apologize again, but your heart plummeted when you heard a familiar grumbling approaching.
“Your Majesty, I do apologize, but it seems another one of the servants has fallen ill. Fear not, for I-” John stopped beside you and noticed the mess. You froze in place, like a statute. You hoped the floor would open up and swallow you whole. “What happened here?” he asked and immediately turned to you. He was fuming.
“I-”
“We spooked her and jostled her tray. No need to worry about anything,” the Queen said, interrupting you. You turned to her with wide eyes as she offered a kind smile.
“My deepest apologies, Your Highness. I promise it will not happen again and I shall see to it that she knows that as well,” he hissed, harshly grabbing your wrist. You winced in pain. The Queen offered another wan smile before placing a hand on Link’s shoulder and rounding the corner, out of sight.
John turned to you and before you could process anything, backhanded you across your face. You yelped in shock, your cheek immediately throbbing. “You are to retreat to the horses’ stable for the next week. You are not to leave. You will sleep there and once your week is up, then we will discuss your future here.” John harshly shoved you down the hall, away from where the Queen and the Champion had disappeared to. “Go. Now.”
“You let him hit me?” you asked and took another sip of your tea. “That’s nothing like what happened in Lurelin at the bar…”
“Hey, there has to be a villain in this story,” your husband said with a wave of his hand. “And of course I would never let anyone hit you. What a ridiculous thing to be worried over.”
“Are you insinuating that the palace servants are treated this way now?” you asked curiously. Link quickly shook his head.
“Absolutely not. Zel would never allow for that. But like I said, this story needs a villain.” You hummed and smiled, holding your tea close. You nodded for him to go on.
You sighed as you pushed the door of the stable open. It was late, much later than you wanted to be awake. You’d finished tending to the horses for the evening and were about to curl up for your third night in the stable when you heard movement near the back of the stable. Your ears perked up and you cleared your throat, hoping to pull the attention of whatever stable attendant or knight was up late and in your temporary bedroom.
You stopped in your tracks when you saw a tuft of golden blonde hair peek out from behind the prized horse, Epona. You stuttered and immediately looked at the floor. “I- I am so sorry, I didn’t realize you were still up this late, my Champion.” You offered a subtle curtsey. When you didn’t get a response, you looked back up. He was smiling at you, nodding for you to come closer. “Of course. What may I fetch for you?” you asked and quickly crossed the room to him. You hadn’t seen him since you dumped a tray of red wine on him and you were hoping he wouldn’t remember. Important people typically forgot unimportant people, and you hoped that stayed true still.
The other girls had all talked about the Champion’s stoniness. They all said he was charming and strong but almost never spoke a word. Yet before you stood a man with one of the kindest smiles and softest looks you’d ever seen. You folded your hands in your lap and waited for instructions.
Instead, he took your hand in his own and brought it to Epona’s nose. She snorted before brushing her nose against your palm. You smiled and for a moment, you felt lighter than air. The knight’s fingers were gentle with you. He let out a light chuckle when Epona licked your hand. Your heart could’ve popped from that one noise alone it was so warm and wonderful. “She’s beautiful,” you said and smiled up at the mare. She seemed to take the compliment well and whinnied in reply.
“She likes you.” Your head snapped to the right at the sound of the Champion’s voice. Even in the dark of the stable, you could still see his gleaming blue eyes. His voice was rich and velvety and you couldn’t wait to tell the other laundress Victoria that you were right all along.
When you smiled again, you felt the bruise on your cheek throb. It pulled you from the spell of the moment and you gently pulled your hand from his. You cleared your throat and took a step back, unintentionally finding some of the moonlight that snuck through the holes in the roof. Reflexively, you reached up and brushed the bruise. “If you do not need anything more, my Champion, I would like to retire for the evening, if you’d allow it.” You lowered your head and gave another curtsey, waiting to be dismissed.
You heard his heavy boots step closer to you. You gasped when he reached his hand out and tipped your chin up, the moonlight illuminating your blush. His eyes landed on the bruise. He scrunched his eyebrows at it, as if asking the bruise why it dared to take up residence on your cheek. “Oh,” you stuttered and reached a hand up to cover it. “I am awfully clumsy,” you tried to joke. The knight didn’t buy a word of it.
“Did he hit you?” The level of concern heard in his voice threw you off. You hadn’t expected to be this close to this man ever again, let alone have him touch you with such care and kindness. Your lip trembled as you lacked the words for him.
You cleared your throat and once again curtseyed. “If there is nothing more I can assist with, I would like to be dismissed.” Your gaze fell to the floor. The Champion didn’t have time for servants or their problems. You feared getting attached to him, even just after one interaction. He was like the sirens you heard so many tales of that hid on the shores of Eventide Island- one look, and you were sunk.
Without a word, he stomped past you and out of the stable. You kept your head down until you were certain he was gone. After the silence of the stable returned to mock your solitude, you righted yourself and looked over your shoulder at the empty doorway. You feared that you’d said something to offend him and he would never again spare you a second for the rest of your days. You sighed and thought it best- after all, what would a Champion want with a mere maidservant?
The next morning, you were shaken awake while lying in your straw pile. Victoria, one of your friends, was grinning like a madwoman. “Have you heard the news? Steward John is gone!” You sat up in a bolt.
“What?” you asked, your voice still groggy with sleep. She nodded frantically.
“No one knows what happened! But this morning, his room was discovered empty and there are rumors he was dismissed permanently! Even banished! This is the happiest day of our lives!” she squealed and pulled you to your feet while jumping around. You looked over her shoulder at the empty doorway, remembering the Champion’s quick departure the night before. He couldn’t have… he wouldn’t have…
Would he?
“Ah, my hero,” you teased and set your teapot down. Nina, one of the nursemaids of the castle, had stopped by to offer you a fresh pot of tea. You were incredibly grateful for her kindness.
“I told you,” Link mocked you and filled his newly acquired teacup.
“Now what? We run away on a ship together?” you snorted and leaned back in your chair.
“No no, you’re skipping so many important parts! Just listen.”
You were in the library this particular afternoon, finally enjoying some peace and quiet. The new headmistress still ruled with an iron fist, but it didn’t even compare to the things John did. Currently, she’d sent you to retrieve a few books for the Queen from the library. The Queen was a researcher at heart and was usually more than happy to obtain her own literature, but when she was wrapped up in a project a servant usually went to fetch the books instead. You had been strolling by and the easiest target for the headmistress.
You scanned the shelves for the books she’d mentioned, but the library was massive and you were not. You weren’t allowed in the library often, so finding a single book felt like finding a needle in a haystack.
You sighed and your shoulders slumped as another bookshelf led to a dead end for your search. You moved to the next one, but stopped short when you noticed who was currently looking through it. You were thankful you’d taken a bath that particular morning as you met his heart stopping gaze.
“Oh! I didn’t hear you, my Champion. I apologize,” you said and curtseyed to him. He turned to you and smiled. “Forgive me, I’m just searching for some books for Her Majesty. I don’t suppose you know where the botanical collection is?” you asked and tucked the short piece of hair back behind your ear. The knight turned and nodded to a shelf across the room.
“Ah. I see. I shall not usurp anymore of your time. Thank you, my Champion,” you said with a small bow of your head. You crossed the room to the shelf and quickly found what you were looking for. You pulled the three books the Queen had requested and tucked them under your arm. You were about to walk away when you noticed a book titled Guide to Gardening. Your eyes lingered on the gold writing on the spine of the book. You’d always loved the castle gardens on the rare occasions you were able to sneak over. The idea that you could grow something so lovely was beyond comprehension.
You set the books for the Queen down for a moment and picked up the book that was taunting you. You flipped through the pages. It was adorned with beautiful sketches from plants across Hyrule and beyond. Each page talked about what that particular plant needed to thrive. You smiled, amazed at the incredible flora within the pages.
You heard someone clear their throat to your left. You jumped and slammed the book shut only to come face to face with the man you seemed to keep running into. He was smiling slyly at you as he looked at the shelf. “I- I’m sorry, I realize I’ve overstayed my welcome. I apologize. Let me put this back and then I-“
“I won’t tell if you don’t.” You stopped and looked at him. His grin was boyish and mischievous and so unlike his stoic features he donned out in the training grounds. You looked down at the book you’d been flipping through and back up at him.
“My Champion, that is kind, but the penalty for stealing is more than I can afford in the castle,” you said and started to shelve the book. He chuckled and took the book back off of the shelf, handing it to you.
“Consider it a gift then.” He reached past you and grabbed the stack of books waiting for the Queen.
“Oh, Her Majesty requested those. I should be carrying them up to her now. I’ve lingered far too long.”
“I’m going that way anyway. I can take them. Read through your new book,” he said. He didn’t give you time to answer before he carried the stack of books up the stairs and out of the library. You stood there for some time, completely dumbfounded. You looked down at your new book. You could see your reflection in the gold paint that titled the book.
You felt a surge of energy rush through you as you skipped from the library, determined to read the entire book as quickly as possible. It had been some time since your heart had felt such passion, but you were looking forward to it.
You set your soup spoon down on the tray. Nina had once again stopped in to ensure you were well fed and wouldn’t leave without dropping off a bowl of soup for the both of you. You’d offered her a seat at the table, but she politely declined and said she had been looking forward to checking on the plants in your garden all afternoon. You didn’t keep her.
“Are you trying to charm me with a book about gardening?” you chuckled and leaned back in your chair. Link grinned at you.
“Isn’t it working?”
You found yourself spending more and more time in the castle gardens, especially in the evenings. You’d requested to focus more on gardening as opposed to the laundry, and there was another girl kind enough to switch places with you to escape the sun.
You’d found a new home among the flowers. They didn’t judge you; they didn’t make snide comments; they didn’t hit you or yell at you or torment you. They were friends. You loved spending every moment you could flipping through the book Link had given you and learning as much as you could about the garden.
This particular evening, you found yourself being called back to the gardens. You had finished dinner, but sleep was still far off. So you opted for some alone time with your plants to calm your mind.
Instead, you came into the gardens to see the man of your interests standing there. You stopped in your tracks and admired him for a moment. He was dressed a little more casually, wearing a red tunic and beige pants. His blue hood caught the gentle breeze that made the flower petals dance. You fiddled with your hands and stepped a little closer. “Good evening, My Champion. I apologize for any interruption I’ve caused,” you said and curtseyed.
“Just Link. Please.” You swallowed hard and met his warm smile. You bashfully returned it and walked over to him. You stood beside him and looked down at the glowing flowers. You smiled at them, as if that would reassure them they were doing well.
“Aren’t they beautiful? They’re Silent Princesses,” you gushed over them. You crouched down to properly greet them.
“They are,” Link replied and crouched down beside you. He reached out and delicately brushed one of the petals between his fingers. “They are Zelda’s favorite flower.”
“I read about these. They were almost extinct. The Queen saved them.” Gently, you skimmed your knuckles against one of the petals. They were soft and cool to the touch. You sat back and folded your hands in your lap. “I believe thanks are in order, by the way. I took notice that Steward John disappeared after you spoke with me a while back,” you said and found interest in the seams of your skirt.
“I don’t tolerate physical punishment of any kind,” he said and looked over at you. He was close enough that you could smell the leather of his belts and buckles and you were suddenly drunk off of him. He reached out and titled your head so he could see the almost healed bruise better. Your breath stopped as he held your chin. “I’m sorry. I heard him hit you that night. I should have turned around.”
“No, please, my Ch- Link,” you corrected yourself. “I made a mistake. I earned the punishment.”
Your heart skipped a beat when he said your name to get your attention. He knows my name? “Mistakes don’t deserve what he gave you.” You realized as he looked at you, you were from completely separate worlds. If you told Link half of the things that occurred in the servant quarters, you were almost certain he may have murdered John- if he hadn’t already.
You stood and took another step back. You remembered to distance yourself. Link followed your movements curiously. “I couldn’t possibly take up anymore of your time,” you said. “Thank you for the book.”
“You seem eager to get away from me. Have I done something wrong?” Link asked and crossed his arms. You immediately shook your head.
“Oh no, not at all. I just…” you trailed off and looked at the pink flowers blooming in the corner to your right. “Not many people outside of my quarters have a desire to speak with me, let alone someone of your status. I suppose I just feel out of place,” you explained and fiddled with your fingers. “I know my place and it certainly isn’t with you. You belong with the Queen,” you sighed.
“Ah, so the rumors have made it across the castle,” he said with a nod.
“Rumors?” you asked, looking up at him. “You and the Queen are betrothed, are you not?”
Link laughed and rocked back and forth on his feet. “Despite what the kingdom may believe, we are not.” Your eyes widened.
“Then what purpose could I possibly serve for you? I know how silent you are for the world, yet you speak so freely with me. I don’t understand,” you said and moved to sit by the fountain. Link joined you. You didn’t realize how cold you were until his warmth reminded you.
“Do you believe I am more than a Champion?” he asked you. The question took you aback.
“Your name is Link. You are the Hero of Hyrule, Hylia’s Chosen Champion, the Queen’s Appointed Knight. I am certain that you are reminded of that every day. But if that was truly all you were, then the reminder would not be needed. So surely you are someone else too,” you explained.
“I knew you were different,” he said after a moment. You watched the ripples in the fountain stretch out toward you after a leaf had fallen into the water. “When you spilt that wine on me, most of the servants would have groveled at my feet over it. You didn’t. It was… refreshing,” Link admitted. Your ears perked up a little more at that.
“Oh, I hope I wasn’t disrespectful-”
“Not one bit.” You still didn’t feel satisfied with your reasoning for sitting beside Link. There were dozens upon dozens of servant girls in the castle, and even more male servants. You were certain any of them would have given their lives to be sitting here now.
You were going to open your mouth and ask, but when you stole a glance at Link’s lost expression, you stopped. You thought about all of the wars he’d seen and the struggles he’d fought through. You could only imagine the hardships he’d felt. So instead, you tried to focus on things most people probably didn’t ask him.
“I read a lot about the warm safflina growing over there,” you said and nodded to the pink plants in the corner. “The book said they only grow in warmer climates. Do you know how they manage to grow here?” At that, you managed to pull a genuine smile from Link. You led him over to the plants to show him their secrets.
Link had to admit, he liked you. You were pretty, kind, but authentic. Most women swooned over him and Link just hated it. They seemed to be too lost in throwing themselves at him to make any conversation. But you had personality, likes, dislikes, interests, opinions. You weren’t as shallow as the courtiers or the council, but you weren’t as busy as Zelda was. Link often grew bored around the castle without Zelda to talk to. You were a welcome delight in his life.
And the way your eyes lit up over the garden had absolutely captured his heart.
The sun was setting on the horizon. You’d stoked the fire to keep warm. Your teapot had run empty again, but you declined another cup. You were certain the green and gold book had collected dust now.
“So now we run away on a ship? A hero and his peasant?” you joked and returned to your chair. Link crossed his arms.
“Do you have a thing for sailing or pirates or something?” he asked. You waved him off.
“I am from a fishing village, you know,” you reminded him. He shrugged.
“Maybe you were secretly a pirate too. You know, you’d make for a very good pirate,” Link said with a grin. You glared at him. “But that’s a story for another time. As I was saying…”
Another month had gone by since the first time you’d seen Link in the garden. Even if he wouldn’t admit it, he had taken a shine to you. He popped up during your evening work occasionally. Sometimes you wouldn’t even exchange words and instead enjoy the company of another kind soul. Other times you could tempt Link into telling you a story about his adventures. He had become such a different person than the one you thought you knew.
You found yourself stretched out on a blanket in the garden, Link lying beside you. What you offered him in knowledge about the gardens, he returned with knowledge of the stars. He had promised to tell you every tale about every constellation you could spot. You were enthralled with every story he had to share.
“And that bright one, just to the left of the Hylia constellation? That’s the brightest star in the constellation of the Gleeok. It was a ferocious beast that scoured the land, its massive wings a deadly sight for any victim.”
“Did you ever fight one?” you asked and rolled over to look at him. He shook his head.
“Thankfully, not,” he chuckled. “I can only imagine the fear they would cause.”
“Like you could feel fear,” you joked and rolled onto your back again. Link sat up and looked at you.
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“You’re the Queen’s appointed knight. I’m pretty sure you don’t know what fear even feels like,” you teased him again. Link suddenly found interest in the dirt under his nails.
“I feel fear,” he admitted. Your teasing smile faded and you sat up to be level with him.
“Link, I’m sorry. I was just-”
“I feel it when I’m with you,” he said and looked up at you through his blonde bangs. You were rendered speechless with confusion.
“Why?” Link shrugged and sat up a little straighter. Your smile came back and you nudged him gently. “C’mon, you know I don’t bite. Just tell me.”
Your heart raced when Link looked at you. His eyes darted from your eyes to your lips so fast you thought you imagined it. You forgot how to breathe when he leaned closer to you. He was just a breath away when he stopped, lingering to let you tell him no, to push him back, to solidify his fears.
But you didn’t.
You let him press his lips to yours in a soft peck, one not lasting longer than a few seconds. You felt the floor fall out from underneath you as you savored every millisecond of the kiss. When he separated from you, you instantly missed his taste and warmth. You felt your heart lodge itself in your throat. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
You could only let out a small squeak. Words had completely escaped you. Link swallowed hard. “Was I right to be afraid?”
“No,” you finally said, your voice barely above a whisper. A rush of butterflies flooded your stomach when you saw the corners of his mouth turn up slightly. “Would you be afraid to kiss me again?” you asked and watched him through your eyelashes.
Link didn’t hesitate in pulling you close for another taste.
“Wait wait wait. Are we going to hook up in the garden?” you interrupted. Link stopped mid sentence and smirked at you.
“Why? Do you want to?”
“Outside in the dirt? Don’t we choose outdoor venues enough in this life?” you teased while grinning.
“Oh come on now, don’t act like you don’t have a good time,” he scoffed. You rolled your eyes.
“You were saying?”
You giggled as Link peppered kisses down your throat. You were hidden in the dark of the trees in the garden, where moonlight couldn’t touch you. You could feel his smile against your skin as he pushed your harder against the tree. You practically felt your soul leave your body with how happy he made you.
You’d been sneaking off for late night rendezvous for three months now. No one had suspected a thing, and if they did, they hadn’t said a word. You didn’t dare tell another soul, not even Victoria. She had told you several times that you looked much happier and asked playfully who you’d been running off with, but you always blamed the sunshine you got in the garden now.
You gasped as Link’s hands grazed your thighs. He made you drunk, made your mind stop working the way it should. All thoughts of how bad it would be to be caught together were gone from your mind now. You knew you could never be by his side in public, but the quiet of the garden would do for now.
“Link,” you sighed as he kissed every visible spot of skin. You hadn’t realized his hand was trailing up your thigh until you felt the breeze of the gardens and the roughness of his fingerless gloves. You gasped and looked down, making Link stop instantly and pull back. Ever the chivalrous knight.
“I’m sorry, was that okay?” he asked genuinely, trying to catch his breath. You swallowed hard and thought about it. You hadn’t let another person see beneath your outer layer of clothing, let alone Link. But the comfort of his gaze and the gentle way he combed your hair back made you feel safe.
“I think so,” you said with a nod.
“You think so or you know so?”
You reached down and placed his hand back on your thigh, encouraging him to gather your skirts up again. You were about to reassure him when you heard voices approaching. You gasped and Link quickly moved his hand to cover your mouth. He softly shushed you before peering through the darkness. “Two knights on patrol. Just keep quiet,” he whispered to you as he watched.
A sudden rush of adrenaline coursed through you. You ached for his touch, and being hidden from the watchful eye of the world in the gardens made it that more exhilarating. You held your breath as the footsteps passed you. The thrill of the game was all too exciting.
Link released the breath he was holding and let you go. “They’re gone. You’re going to have to be quieter, you know,” he teased and moved his hands to your waist. You hummed and smirked at him.
“And here I was looking forward to hearing how loud you could make me be,” you said and invited him closer, moving one of his hands to pop the laces on your corset. “Better not hesitate before we’re interrupted again.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he replied and kissed you again, diving into pleasing you headfirst.
“You added that part in there just because of my comment about sex in the dirt, didn’t you? If so, I believe I get partial credit for this story,” you said and tapped your chin.
“We’re married. Everything I own is already yours. Now stop interrupting. We’re getting to another plot point.”
You slipped down the hallway with a smile on your face. You’d received another one of Link’s handwritten notes hidden in your pocket. He liked to slip secret messages for you into the pocket of your apron whenever he passed you. If he wasn’t lucky enough to see you, he usually slipped one under your door.
The paper rustled in your pocket as you rounded the corner into the gardens. It had been six months since he’d kissed you that wonderful summer night. You often found yourselves hidden in the shadows of the castle, away from the world. You loved when you got particularly passionate together. His hands would tangle in your hair and leave a secret little possessive mark underneath your collar. You were incredibly proud of it all.
Link looked happier when you saw him in passing now. He told you that you made him feel authentic, like he didn’t have to hide behind walls of stone. Link lit a fire in you that you’d never felt before. It was a completely unique experience you hoped you’d never lose.
The gardens were empty when you arrived. You didn’t think much of it. Link sometimes got caught up on his walk over- he was a popular person to stop and chat with. You took a seat on the bench by the fountain and waited.
You watched the water ripple gently with the breeze. You stared down into the fountain, pushing another piece of hair back behind your ear. You smiled at your reflection until you noticed someone appear over your shoulder. They were taller than Link was, and their hair was longer…
You turned around and gasped. You were now face to face with the Queen.
She smiled and you suddenly felt small under her gaze. “Your Majesty!” you stuttered and immediately fell into a curtsey. “I am so sorry for intruding at this hour. I am one of the servants that tends to your garden. I was just checking on the flowers…” you trailed off, keeping your head down.
“So this is where my knight has been sneaking off to.” Her voice made your veins ice over. You dared to look up, expecting her to be filled with rage. But instead, she wore the smile of a mother who had just caught their child red-handed.
“I- I’m sorry?” you stumbled, trying to play dumb. She actually laughed. She addressed you by name the same way Link did. It both flattered and terrified you.
“That is your name, isn’t it?” You nodded and swallowed hard. “You are the maidservant that spilt all that wine all over Link a while ago.”
“Unfortunately, yes, Your Highness,” you admitted and found interest in your hands. The Queen hummed and circled you. You felt like you were being sized up by a lion. You suddenly remembered the note you had found stuck under your door. The handwriting hadn’t looked quite like Link’s, and now you knew why. You’d been lured into her trap. “I’m terribly sorry if I’ve done something wrong, Your Highness.”
“Zelda,” she said after a moment. You spun around to look at her. She was smirking, her arms crossed. “If he trusts you, I do too.”
“Who, Your Majesty?” Zelda once again laughed.
“Link. I see it in your eyes. I know you’re the girl he’s fallen for,” she explained with a toss of her hand. She moved to sit on the stone bench by the fountain. When you didn’t move, she looked up at you and patted the space beside her. “Please, sit.”
“Am I… am I in trouble, Your Highness?”
“You will be if you keep using that stuffy title,” she joked. You managed a halfhearted chuckle and sat down beside her. You cleared your throat and fidgeted with your hands again. “I’ve known Link for a long time. A very, very long time. One hundred years of destruction will really bring two people together,” she snorted. You smiled along, still incredibly uncomfortable sitting on the bench with her.
“Right, you battled the Calamity together. We have you both to thank for saving Hyrule,” you said.
“All that time, Link took years to crack. Slowly, he would talk to me. It started out with a greeting or a gentle goodbye, and it eventually bloomed into full conversations. After some time, he would speak freely with me.” She stopped and turned to you. “And yet, you’ve managed to accomplish all of that in a few months.”
“Oh, um, I hope I haven’t overstepped,” you tripped over your words.
“Not at all. I’m actually here as a friend.”
“A friend?” you asked, not expecting the Queen to give you more than a passing glance. She was lovely and a kind ruler, but not someone who was known for spending a lot of her time with the servants.
“A friend. I want to know something,” she asked and leaned back on her palms, staring up into the sky. You waited patiently for her to go on. “Is it the fame you’re after? The money? The luxury? The title?” She paused to look over at you. “Or is it the bragging rights you believe are included?”
You were confused for a moment until you realized she was here to press for details about your relationship with Link. You quickly shook your head. “Oh, Hylia, no. I really don’t want any of that,” you said and looked out into the night sky.
“Then what is it you’re after?”
You thought for a moment and shrugged. “I like that he’s nice to me. He makes me feel important. He tells me wondrous tales and loves to hear my much less extravagant stories. He’s easy to talk to. I’ve just never had someone see so much in me before,” you confessed.
“Do you love him?” Zelda asked softly. You thought about it and twisted the fabric of your skirt in your hands.
“I… I don’t know. I’ve never been in love. But I can tell you that he makes me feel safe. He makes me want to never leave his side. I miss him, even when just a day goes by. I dream of the sound of his voice on nights I can’t sleep. I think about the way his fingers feel in mine when I feel alone. I long for a world that we could be together, away from… responsibilities and rankings,” you sighed.
Another moment passed. Zelda sat up. “Do you love him?” she asked again. You looked down at the single daisy blooming from the edge of the fountain. Some might call it a weed, but to you it had bloomed in the exact spot that it was meant to be in.
“I do…” you admitted. “And Zelda, I know it is no place of mine to be beside him. I can accept that I do not belong and will return to the far wing of the castle by tomorrow.” You knew this was all destined to come crashing down sooner or later. You had hoped you might’ve made it to a year, but you fell six months short.
To your surprise, Zelda placed her hand over yours. “I didn’t come here to get between the two of you,” she started. You were met with a warm smile when you looked up. “I’ve never seen Link happier in all our decades together. I had to meet you to know what you were like. That you were good enough for my knight.”
Zelda stood from the fountain and started to leave the garden with a smile. You watched her go with baited breath, still unsure of anything that had just occurred. She stopped at the edge and leaned against the wall. “You know, Link has a home out in Hateno. He’s well overdue for a break. I was planning on dismissing him from knighthood for a short while so he can focus on other things,” she said and smiled at you over her shoulder. “I think you two might have a lot to talk about tomorrow. It was lovely meeting you. I look forward to seeing you more in the future.”
“You sent Zelda after me? That’s lame,” you huffed. You’d now moved to the couch in front of the fire in order to keep warm. The sun had set and the chill of the autumn weather had crept into the castle.
“I’m sorry, but you know Zel is sneaky and nosy. She definitely got involved herself.” Link leaned down and kissed the top of your head. He pulled you closer to keep you warmer. You had kicked your shoes off and curled up into his side.
“You know the real Zelda was much less scary,” you argued.
“Yes, but we’re in our fantasy world, so stay with me here.”
You paced nervously in the garden. You hadn’t seen Zelda or Link since last night, and you’d only found a note from Link in your bedroom an hour ago. It wasn’t like him to be so late.
“You’re here.” You stopped pacing and looked over at the entrance to the garden. Link was standing there, two bags in his hands. He dropped them and opened his arms to you. You ran over and threw yourself into his waiting embrace. His warmth flooded your system and you were overcome with joy just being close to him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” you admitted, squeezing him closer. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. My favorite flower,” he said and kissed the top of your head. You leaned back from his hug and kissed him sweetly. Once you were freed from your trance, you nodded to the bags on the grass.
“Where are you going?” He chuckled and stepped back from you, releasing his hold on you. He rubbed nervously at this neck and looked down at the ground.
“Well, actually, I’m leaving.” Your heart sank. You remember Zelda’s words last night. You’d hoped Link would offer to take you with him, but so far it didn’t look that way.
“Oh.” There was another silence. “For how long?”
“I’m not sure. A while, I think,” he said and cleared his throat, still unable to look at you. “Zelda has asked me to take some time away from the castle. I think she’s forcing me to take a break,” he chuckled. “I bought a house in Hateno a few years back. It was just a safe place to rest, a place to store my things and get off the road if I needed to. It’s still there, albeit a little bit dusty,” he said. You laughed along, but your heart wasn’t in it. You were clinging desperately to the hope he would invite you.
“That sounds lovely. It’ll be nice for you to get away from the stress of the castle. The headmistress has been grumpy lately and I’d hate for you to cross her path.” You tried to make a joke out of it, but you knew it didn’t sound convincing.
“Yeah, I heard about the pudding debacle in the kitchen the other day,” Link replied and crossed his arms. He rocked back and forth on his feet while you took a little step back.
“Well, I hope you travel safely,” you said. “And I hope you find what you’re looking for,” you added and moved to step by him. You could feel your heart breaking and you didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing you cry. As you passed him, he caught your arm. You stilled, not trying to break from his hold.
“I did,” he said quietly. You didn’t turn around, but you didn’t try to run either. “I found it in you. And I… I want you to come with me. Back to Hateno.” This time, you pulled yourself from his grasp to turn around and look at him. “I know it’s far, and I understand if you don’t want to go. I know I’m asking a lot. But I’d love to have you with me in Hateno. We can cook under the stars and there’s even a small garden along the house that could really use some love. We can find a place for you in Hateno, if you’d like that.”
“I… I would like that,” you said, bringing a smile to Link’s face. You watched the stress drop from his shoulders as he wrapped you into a hug once more, threading his fingers through your hair. He leaned back to hold your face in his palms and brush your hair back. His smile was practically glowing as he kissed you.
“You’re certain?” he asked again between kisses. You nodded.
“Very much so. I’d love to go with you, Link.”
“Good, because I didn’t want to leave behind the woman I’m so desperately in love with,” he admitted, his cheeks darkening to a deep pink hue. You found that you adored the color on him, but the words he’d just uttered had your full attention now.
“I love you, too,” you answered, unable to keep your joy down to a whisper. Link kissed you again, seemingly not capable of taking a pause to stop kissing you. You felt pure joy flood your heart, more than it had in a very long time.
And in the dark of the night, you both mounted Epona and snuck away from the world, looking forward to the peaceful home you would build together.
“And we lived a wonderful, beautiful life together in Hateno. Just like we’re doing now,” he finished and kissed your cheek. You hummed sleepily.
“Did you tell that entire story just to give yourself a fantasy where you got to say I love you first?” you asked. You could barely keep your eyes open now. The stars had been out for hours and the fire was dying out. Your husband’s warm, rich voice was pulling you into a tempting sleepy state.
“Now that sounds petty, even for me,” Link said. “And I believe it is far past your bedtime, my beautiful flower.”
“It’s far past your bedtime,” you mocked him.
“Don’t make me shove you off of this couch,” he quipped back.
“You wouldn’t dare,” you laughed him off. Your eyes were closed and you felt the mistress of sleep pulling you in. You were almost there when you were violently ripped from the grasps of sleep and shoved onto the floor. You sat up in time to see your husband darting up from the couch and toward the door, cackling wildly. “Link!” you yelled after him.
You stumbled to your feet and chased after him, knowing that in this lifetime and the ones beyond it, you would always be doomed to such a fate: falling madly in love with your hero and living a story worth telling.