Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was like trying to swim in syrup—weighty and dense. His thoughts were far and few between, but he could feel it, feel Her presence shimmering across his existence.

Link, Her voice murmurs him into a sense of awareness.

It had been a while since he had heard Her voice like this.

Forgotten Temple, She beckons, must speak.

And just like that, Link woke up.

Spring showers pelted the roof of their home, offering a sense of ambient calmness. He blinks slowly, his mind foggy from such a deep sleep. Zelda’s chest rises and falls. Her hand gently brushes along his mane. She was awake before him, how uncommon but he was inclined to lay that reasoning at the feet of his body recovering from a bout of sickness.

“Morning,” he rasps softly, voice hoarse from sleep.

“Good morning,” Zelda answers, a smile in her voice. “You slept deeply.”

Link hums, the sound rumbling his throat so much it edges a purr. “I had a strange dream.”

Her fingers pause their tracing of patterns. “Oh? What was it?”

“Hylia wanted me to go to the Forgotten Temple to speak.”

He had no need to say how strange it was. On the occasion She or he needed to talk, Link oft approached any statue out in the world.

Zelda said nothing, fingers twitching against his scalp. “Summoning?”

“Yeah, think so,” he murmurs, and that was daunting. His stomach churns at what Hylia could wish to speak to him about. There were so many possibilities.

“It’s only been five months,” Zelda said, voice trembling.

Link squeezes her waist, silently reassuring. “Both of us can go. We need to check in with Lookout, and then we can journey together.”

“Together,” Zelda agrees, arms curling around his shoulders. “Til death do us part.”

“Til death do us part,” he echoed.

Their morning was slow. Neither was in any rush to begin their journey to the Forgotten Temple. Half an hour later, they rose from bed, finally untangling their legs so they could have breakfast. But they were first distracted by the trading of several kisses before Link leapt over the banister to the lower floor.

As Zelda rummaged through the drawer with their clothes, her eyes were set on the wall full of photos. The centrepiece was the century-old photo with the Champions, but plenty of others had joined in the last six years: ones from their wedding, random outings, even pictures of wildlife that Link had taken. He had a real passion for photography.

The most recent addition had been taken not even five minutes after they had been reunited. It was symbolic because six years prior, Link had done the same. He had subdued Ganon, and she had sealed the Calamity, and the first thing he did was whip out the Shiekah Slate and silently ask with those wide puppy eyes.

Zelda couldn’t have resisted even if she wanted to, so relieved and joyous. She had been so happy to indulge in such a miniscule thing after a hundred years of stagnation.

It felt strange to look at photos of what she had once looked like. Her new additions felt natural as if they had always been a part of her. Maybe it was all that time spent as a dragon. But that didn’t explain Link’s own experience feeling the same.

She gazed his way, watching as he hummed a song as he slaved over the stove, tail swishing in a sign of his contentment. His ears flicker too, said appendages presently lacking his earrings. Not even his Secret Stone hung from it. Her own was tucked beside his in a box beneath their bed with all their jewellery.

It still brought an ache to her chest, but Zelda knew it would ease with time.

“Breky,” Link announces through a mouthful.

Zelda tsks softly, swatting at him for it. Link covers his mouth as he let out a muffled laugh.

With their pancakes, Link had prepared a range of fruits and pulled out the honey which Zelda happily dug into as Link dressed himself. Zelda admired the sight, loving her husband’s confidence to show off his body now he presented much more to his liking.

She could remember so long ago now how she had come to find out Link’s biggest secret. Zelda had heard of people choosing to identify differently from their assigned gender at birth but lacked any real understanding besides the fact Link had bound his chest far, far too tightly.

Zelda’s apology gift after all the hassle she had caused him had been a proper chest binder. Zelda had her seamstress sworn to secrecy to make sure Link’s secret wasn’t discovered. She did not doubt what her father would have done had he learned of Link’s supposed treachery against the crown, despite the fact Link was the Hero who wielded the Sword that Seals the Darkness.

“Women are weak. They cannot protect the kingdom.”  Zelda had heard repeatedly growing up.

It was idiotic because she, Goddess Hylia’s descendant, was a woman who was to one day rule said Kingdom.

If there was one thing Zelda missed the least, it was the system of governing and all those who supported such idiotic ideals.

Link hadn’t said her father had said anything as a ghost to him regarding it once he emerged from the shrine but Link had later said, which Purah backed up, that a bra to help compress his chest had been put inside the Shrine. Zelda had thanked Purah a dozen times once the Shiekah admitted to having known and even supplied Link with teas and items to help him during his unfortunate monthly cycle before the Calamity.

Busying herself with her breakfast, Zelda reached for the Shiekah Slate. After four years, Purah had finally gotten it back in working order. Link had insisted she keep the Slate with the Runes, as he had inherited the Zonai magic from Rauru and thus had little need for it. He was content with the Purah Pad.

Link was very happy to have his range of outfits back however, his clothes and other items having been locked in the Slate for those four years.

Zelda so very much missed seeing Link in the Barbarian armour.

(Link leans against the wall, arms crossed as he looks out into the distance. The skull helmet shaded his eyes and brought out the rich blue pools. Zelda’s eyes flicker from her sketchbook and back to Link repeatedly, desperate to capture the image before her while he remains oblivious to her admiring.)

Her husband was a very handsome man who could pull off any outfit he got his hands on, comfortable with his identity that not even the vai outfit bothered him.

(“Don’t I look pretty, Honey?” Link poses seductively, fluttering his lashes as he arches his back and crosses one leg over the other. Zelda swallows at the heat stirring in her gut.)

“I suppose we should ride to the Temple?” Link asks, chin resting on his curled knuckles. He waves his fork as he spoke, making a circling gesture. “It significantly shortens the journey. We can leave Dior and Epona at New Serenne Stable and carry on foot.”

“Carry on on foot,” Zelda corrects teasingly to which Link rolls his eyes.

“Semantics.”

“I suppose that is the best plan,” Zelda agrees and takes another mouthful as she mulls the plan over. She swallows. “It would also be best to inform Purah in the case something does happen. Hylia would not just summon you to the Temple of all places merely for conversation.”

Link frowns deeply, lips twisting into a thoughtful pout. “It must be important.”

That was easy to conclude. It was what made Zelda nervous, her stomach churning but not nauseous enough to turn down her husband’s wonderful cooking.

Finishing his food first as he usually did, Link made a move to begin preparing them and their horse companions. Only once he had done the latter did he come back inside to finish getting dressed and help one another with their jewellery, which had become a common habit between them.

He pulled on his green sash and Zelda adjusted his armlets. The gold complimented his skin tone.

Link had begun gravitating towards a more ancient Hylian/Zonai mix of clothes since his hybridisation. Zelda had crafted the outfit he wore with inspiration from the clothes Link had managed to scrounge after waking up on the Sky Islands and from her personal experience while time travelling.

Her own was inspired by that period, too, but the style had a more modern take. She had forgone the royal blue entirely, instead choosing a red. Blue felt a bit…outdated these days, at least to the extent she had once worn it. Zelda just wished to blend in a bit…despite her now rather noteworthy identifiers.

Every day, she felt less and less like a princess, and Zelda loved it so much. She had always hated it, all those restrictions and rules—things she wasn’t allowed to do simply for being a princess. She wasn’t even allowed to slouch in the comfort of her drawing room. Only in true privacy was she able to breathe.

“Ready?” Link’s voice brought Zelda from her thoughts.

She smiles. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Lookout Landing was no less active than the last time they had been here almost a month ago. The fort was built on the Castle’s sacred ground ruins, where a hundred years ago Zelda had anointed Link officially as the knight to wield the Sword that Seals the Darkness. Now, it hardly resembled what it once had; even the emergency bunker had been repurposed for something of greater use.

The fort, with its prime location in central Hyrule, was the home base of the operations for Monster Hunting Patrols and Zonai Expedition Corp. People from these organisations were common sight, coming and going on foot or horseback.

It also saw a range of general travellers, both merchants and wanderers. To support those visitors, a small general store had been set up, helping to pay for the fort’s upkeep.

A recent addition was a new stable inn situated just outside, named aptly Lookout Stable. It was where Link and Zelda boarded their hooved companions Dior and Epona. The two mares were fed some golden apples for their swift efforts in getting their riders to the destination.

Josha, having spotted their arrival, came rushing towards them with a large grin. “Link! Zelda!”

“Hi Josha,” Zelda greets warmly, releasing Link’s hand to wrap the young Shiekah up in a hug. “How has everything been?”

“Excellent! Robbie finally agreed to allow me to join this expedition!” Josha cheers, dancing happily.

Link chuckles, knowing exactly why the Shiekah was so excited. “What rules did he set in place?”

That put a dampener on Josha, who threw her head back and groans. That got a laugh from Zelda.

“Ugh, I have to have at least someone with me at all times,” Josha grumbles.

“It could have been worse,” Zelda said, and Josha gave an agreeing shrug.

“We weren’t expecting to see you again so soon. What changed?” the young Shiekah asks curiously.

“Just a pit stop. We wanted to check in with Purah before heading off to our destination,” Link said.

“Where you off to?” Josha pried as the trio began walking again, heading to the stairs leading to Purah’s office.

“The Forgotten Temple,” Zelda answers after a hesitant beat.

If Josha noticed, she didn’t comment on it. Link squeezes his wife’s hand reassuringly.

“You interested in the Zonai additions Impa and Link found a few months back?” Josha asks.

Zelda smiles sadly, recalling the area rather vividly. She hadn’t the courage to return after becoming Hylian again but supposed now of all times would be a good one.

“It’s a reason,” Zelda agrees but said no more.

Josha picks up on the vagueness this time and bobs her head, scampering towards Purah’s office door. She knocks loudly and rapidly, calling for her superior.

“So excitable,” Link murmurs with a fond grin.

“Like someone else I know,” Zelda teases, nudging his side.

Link huffs out a laugh, flashing her a grin before looking onward as Purah opens her door exasperated. “Josha.”

“Zelda and Link are here!” was all Josha said, pointing at the duo.

The annoyance was gone in an instant as Purah flashed them a grin. “Well, what have I done to get a visit this time?”

“We wanted to have a quick talk.” Zelda turns to Josha with an apologetic expression. “Could you give us some privacy?”

Josha pouts but doesn’t protest. “Just come say goodbye, okay?”

“We will,” Link assures as they step into Purah’s office when she beckons the two of them to do so.

“What’s the problem? You wouldn’t be so secretive if it weren’t important,” Purah asks immediately, worry pinched her brows.

Link and Zelda glanced at each other. The former spoke first: “I had a dream. Hylia summoned me to the Forgotten Temple.”

Purah clutches her fan tightly, expression twisting. “You mean—?”

“We believe something has happened or is happening and Hylia requires Link’s assistance,” Zelda said. She took a deep breath to attempt to calm her nerves. It didn’t work. Link took her hand in his again, squeezing.

“If that’s the case, Zel refuses to be left behind. Hylia’s gonna have to accept it’s a package deal,” Link huffs.

Purah smirks. “I doubt she could separate you two even if you tried. You’ve hardly left each other’s sides since reuniting.”

Neither were embarrassed about the comment. Why shouldn’t they enjoy life now Ganon has dealt with it? They had to make up for lost time after all.

“We thought it best to inform you. If this is nothing serious, we’ll stop back here on the way home but if we don’t return in two, three weeks, take that as something has happened,” Zelda said. They had spoken extensively on the way to Lookout Landing about how they should go about this for just this reason. “We plan to leave Epona and Dior at New Serenne Stable and walk the rest of the way through the canyon. If we don’t return, we plan to instruct Sprinn to have Epona and Dior brought back here.”

Purah taps her fan against her chin. “Okay, I’ll inform the Patrols to keep an eye on anything unusual. After Ganon, the mutations look to be here to stay but we’ve got that under control.”

“It’s like that old historical text speaking of how monsters became black-blooded,” Link murmurs.

Zelda stood up straight at the reminder, a strange idea coming to her. “Huh, you’re right. Maybe monsters go through evolution when Demise’s avatar returns.”

Puraha and Link shared a curious glance.

“That actually sounds possible,” Purah notes. “I’ll ask Impa to see if the Shiekah have any older text regarding monsters. If anyone knows it’ll be her.”

“Thank you,” Zelda said, and Link nodded agreeingly.

“No problem. If there’s a pattern to this, we could hopefully prepare the country for future generations,” Purah said.

“Link, Zelda,” Sprinn greets warmly as they approach the stable, leading their horses. “You boarding these girlies?”

“We are, thank you,” Zelda smiles and hands Dior off to Ariane as Link follows the stable hand with Epona. “We’re investigating a few things and were wondering if you could send a letter to Purah in Lookout and take the girls there after two weeks if we have not returned.”

“Two weeks, you say?” Sprinn repeats as he pulls out the stable ledger book to make a note of their request.

“Two weeks,” she confirms and draws the letter from the Slate to hand over as well as some rupees to cover the horses’ stay.

Link reappears, offering Sprinn a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

“No problem, take care, would you?”

“Of course,” Zelda smiles.

“No promises,” Link sings, earning a laugh from Sprinn and an elbow to his side from Zelda. He sniggers as they walk off, continuing their journey towards the forgotten temple and breaking off the path when they reach the former location of the previous Serenne stable to instead walk along the cliff edge of Tanagar canyon.

Eventually, they stand overlooking the temple below them, its entrance in their sights.

Link leapt first, allowing himself to free fall until the last second before whipping out his paraglider. Zelda rolled her eyes and followed suit, being far more sane and summoning her own at a more reasonable distance to glide down the rest of the way. They might be more durable these days, but Link’s stunts never ceased to make her heart flutter in a mix of nerves and desire. Loveable idiot.

“I’ll get you to be more daring one of these days,” Link comments as he starts walking.

Zelda scoffs, trotting after him. “I’d like to see you try.”

“I just said I would,” he retorts with a playful grin. Zelda groans, realising she had walked right into that one.

The sandstone walls were worn with time, and Zelda recalls that in the turbulent days of Ganon’s rise, she had only barely had time to gaze upon what the temple had once looked like. A lot of detail had been lost, figures and symbols. Entire scenes had been dedicated to the ancient stories of the Heroes of Old.

Her stay with Sonia and Rauru gave her the ability to learn more about the convergence of timelines. How the sorceress’s interference had forced the timelines together in ways they should never have been. The consequences caught up eventually, but only after the Hero and Princess had been dead and long gone—plague, wars, and famines ravaged Hyrule as people went mad with suddenly clashing ideals and muddled history.

So much knowledge was lost. Hylians lost the ability to use magic. The Rito emerged from the convergence and evolved into what they are known as today. The Zora learnt magic in Hylian stead, even if only healing. The Gorons, well, they were as sturdy as they always had been for their entire existence.

The Zonai, a dying species made up of only a few by the time Rauru and Mineru were born, descended upon Hyrule under the guidance of the Golden Goddesses to help steady the realm once more. It was only Rauru and Sonia’s marriage that truly began to stabilise Hyrule.

Then Ganon enacted his plan, and once again, the foundation of Hyrule was shaken.

Zelda stared, just about able to see the Mother Statue in the next room over. She hadn’t been here in this time since not long after the Calamity had been sealed. Link had dragged her here, having recalled a memory of her desire to stand in this very building. Guardians that had once been active but were dead after they won had lined the walls until Purah and co had come to salvage what they could.

Not even the Shrine of Resurrection had been spared. Not that anyone had any real attachment to it. Only the Divine Beasts remained, stagnant after deactivation several years prior, their purpose complete and their masters’ having passed on. No one could bring themselves to take them apart, not when they were the grave sites of the Champions.

“Back room first, Mother Statue second?” Link asks, reading her mind.

“Please.”

If Hylia had any common sense, she would give them time to prepare mentally.

It felt surreal to step into the judicial chamber once more; the familiar lotus motif in the centre yanked back memories and Zelda could almost see the Sages of Old standing there. Her eyes drifted to the gravestone, and her heart was in her throat when she realised that there was a second now, and they were decorated with Silent Princesses.

Link, having seen where her eyes lay, links his fingers with hers. “I come back every now and again to pay respect. I don’t know if Rauru ever got an official grave, so…”

“Thank you,” she chokes out, curling into Link’s side and hugging him tightly. Her eyes well with tears, and her breaths shake. Link held her close, pressing a kiss to her temple.

“After all he did for me. What they both did for you. It was the least I could do,” Link murmurs softly.

Zelda choked out a laugh, wiping her tears. She let out a breath as she gathered herself. “What’s the room behind it?” She couldn’t recall such a room ever existing before.

“Map room, it’s where I got the order for your tear geoglyphs from,” Link explains.

Bewildered, Zelda stared at him. “Really?”

He nodded and gestured for her to go ahead. Zelda did so, hurrying to the ledge, and stared in shock. A stone map of Hyrule with all eleven glyphs was delicately carved onto it. They were carved into the wall as well. Zelda could easily recognise the order and blinked. How exactly the Sages of Old knew was beyond her.

Link steps up beside her. “It was Impa’s idea to come here to begin with. My original plan was to run around like crazy high up until I spotted them once I realised what they were.”

Zelda laughs, half face palming at how Link that was. “Honestly, Link. Never change.”

He went pink. “Don’t plan too.”

“Good.” Zelda took a breath. “I suppose there is no delaying.”

Link rubbed the back of his neck. “Let’s get this over with so I can have you can watch your awesome husband beat some Lynel butts.”

Zelda let out a pearl of laughter. What a way to lighten the mood. “Yes, let’s.”

It never got old watching Link fight.

Hand in hand, they left the map room and the judicial chamber. They circled around the Mother Goddess statue until they stood before her. It had been easy to ignore the minute divine presence before, but now they were standing before Hylia’s statue she was here to greet them.

There was a swirl of light magic, a tinge of time magic, as the world around them faded out.

Thank you for coming, She welcomes, I am sorry but I must ask something of you. Both of you, as I understand you do not wish to be parted.

A weight was lifted from both sets of shoulders—a breath of fresh air to soothe their fears.

“What’s wrong?” Link asks without missing a beat. That once-hesitant stance was gone. It was familiar—that determination, that focus. No matter how silly a man Link could be, he wasn’t anything but serious when the situation called for it.

“What do you need us to do?” Zelda expands on Link’s question.

An evil shade has been poisoning monsters, making them stronger, and setting them upon countless Hyrules throughout the ages, Hylia explains.

“Like time travel?” Zelda inquires.

Yes. He is aided by a being older than the cycle of evil itself.

Uneasiness settled as they shared a glance.

“Just us?” Link asks, concerned. “As confident in my skills as I am…”

Fear not. You will be aiding an already established group of past heroes. I wish to offer you more time, but I can wait no longer. Forgive me, She murmurs with heavy regret.

“Okay,” Zelda breathes. “What can you tell us?”

The Heroes of Old are competent but lack the skills required to truly push back. They have been together for a year now and have yet to make progress toward capturing the shade.

“Can’t you tell them what they need to do?”

I cannot speak to them, not even my skyward bound, Hylia admits. So much time has passed since the Heroes of Old existed that even a Goddess can evolve. Where I could not communicate with them, I can with you.

That took the pair a moment to compute.

Link swallows. “So, what needs to be done?”

You both bring skills to the table that the Heroes of Old do not have. You are Children of the Wild, morphed by what life had wrought upon you. You and all of Hyurle have adapted to the world you live within—a harmonious ecosystem that gives and takes in equal measure, Hylia explains. I have the utmost faith that you are what the Chain requires to accomplish this mission.

Zelda and Link glance at each other, silently agreeing. This was bigger than them; this was the safety of more than their Hyrule. The very existence of the Timelines as they knew it was in danger. Hundreds, no, millions of people’s lives were at risk.

“We’re ready to go,” Link announces, clutching Zelda’s hand tightly. “Where are we going first?”

The Era of the Hero of Time, Hylia answers, her aura is full of relief. Go and bring peace to every Hyrule.

Behind them, divine magic gathers, opening a golden archway. The image inside is blurry and distorted, and the longer the glance, the more it tingles their eyes.

“Ready?” Link grins excitedly.

Zelda mirrors that grin. “Ready.”

Hand in hand, husband and wife step through the portal ready for their next adventure.

Chapter Text

The fire crackles softly as Zelda journals in her book. She peers over at Link as he lay on the ground, eyes locked skyward. She stares at the positioning of his legs. His elongated ankles lay on the ground, making it look like he had extra-long feet.

She snorts with partially suppressed laughter at the thought, trying to cover her mouth when she fails to hide the sound.

“What?” Link asks, turning his head to look at her.

“Nothing, just a silly thought is all,” Zelda said, clearing her throat and desperately trying to stop looking now that she had seen it.

“…Okay,” Link acknowledges, sounding entirely convinced. Not.

“What are you doing?” Zelda asks in an attempt to try and change the subject.

“Hm, the stars,” Link answers, looking skyward again.

“The stars? What’s the issue?”

“They’re…different. I can’t see constellations as we know them,” he explains.

Zelda paused. Despite her love for study, astrology had never been her strong suit. But Link? Oh, he adores it. It was more than navigation for him. Link had come to love stargazing after sleeping out under the stars during his journey to save Hyrule from Calamity Ganon. It had only grown once he could dedicate time to really learn about it from Purah afterwards.

“What’s different about them?” Zelda questions as she set aside her book to join Link. She lay next to him on their shared bedroll, casting her eyes skyward.

“The three entwined dragons,” Link starts, raising a hand to a collection of stars. “Five of the stars are missing, and three are far too dim.”

Zelda stares, squinting. There was a silence.

“You can’t see it, can you?”

“I can’t see it.”

Another beat of silence and Link sighs, but she caught the beginning of a smile on his face and Zelda laughs as he groaned.

“Anyway,” he began with emphasis. “The three dragons came after the timeline convergence…we’re still studying stars and their existence but…maybe the stars came into being after?”

Zelda mulls that idea over. “It sounds plausible. Farosh, Naydra, and Dinraal are representations of the Golden Goddess who brought the timelines back together…well, that’s the running theory from ancient literature that remains.”

Link hums, tapping his chin. “I wanna learn more about changes that have happened from the Age of Myth to our present. So much lost knowledge and history. Think these heroes could help give some context?”

“Considering they’ve been together for a year and haven’t seemed to make much progress with this shade…” Zelda left it unsaid, and the husband-and-wife duo sniggered.

“Is this gonna be a running gag between us?” Link asks, turning onto his side and supporting his head to peer at Zelda. “Do we make it subtle when we finally meet them that Hylia asked both of us to join to make some progress?”

Zelda playfully smacks the man. “Link,” she chastises. “That’s rude…we should make it obvious.”

Link laughs, rolling forward onto Zelda’s chest. She joins in with his giggling, wrapping her arms around Link.

The married couple rouses with the sun, enjoying the sunrise as they eat breakfast. The fire is doused, and their camp is packed away between the Purah pad and Slate.

With the morning light, Link scouts the tree canopies in hopes of finding civilisation. He did, clinging to the tallest tree as he overlooks what could be no other than Hyrule Castle and Castle Town.

It looked so strange to him. This version of Hyrule was miniature compared to his native Hyrule. Hyrule Field felt like it went on for miles in this time before breaking away into different regions, but not in the way Link was familiar with. This Hyrule Field felt empty, void of what made their own Hyrule Field so beautiful: the scattering of copses of trees, the ruins of settlements, the worn paths and the ponds that dotted the plane.

The castle didn’t even have a moat! It was almost a quarter of the size their ruined castle was!

Link found his gaze falling onto the farm south-west of the castle. To him, the farm ruins were to the south-east. He couldn’t quite get over the emptiness of this land. It unsettled the wildness within him. But it was wonderful to look at and admire, even if his home was far superior in its size and beauty.

After snapping a few photos, Link descended to report his findings to Zelda, who was awed by them.

“I suppose Castle Town might be the first place to try?” Zelda muses, tapping her chin as she examines the photos. “It’s so…”

“Small? Vastly different to ours?” Link fills in.

“Yes. Perfectly put,” Zelda nods before frowning. “I can’t quite help but feel unsettled by it in truth.”

“…I got that feeling too,” Link admits, gazing at the photo one last time before tucking the Slate back onto his hip. His ear with his secret stone twitches, and the magic stone rattles. “But yes, Castle Town…” a beat as Zelda glances at her husband, waiting for him to find his words. He points to himself and then to her. “Appearances?”

It was Zelda who stayed silent for a moment. “I had not thought of that with how everyone at home knows us.” Zelda frowns again. “There is only one way to know and that is to approach. We still look Hylian, so I do not see them turning us away.”

Link nods, happy to go wherever Zelda thought was best. They didn’t look like monsters—they were still clearly Hylians underneath. In fact, Link knew from comments that both he and Zelda looked beautiful.

Perhaps they would think Link and Zelda were foreigners?

Zelda slipping her hand into Link’s drags him from his thoughts. He blinks, ears flicking again as they begin walking.

Each sign of nature that caught Link’s attention, he strayed off course, dragging Zelda to look them over and compare. She rambled some things about their own plants and how they could be similar.

It repeated, and progress toward Castle Town was slow, but neither was in any rush, as they understood the meeting with the other Links would happen one way or another. The married couple found no need to hurry along to join when Hylia would eventually nudge everyone together.

And maybe both were a bit hesitant to approach Castle Town. Just a tiny bit.

By the time the married couple reach the gates of Hyrule Castle, the sun had begun her descent, giving way to her sister’s night.

With a buzzing nervousness between them, Zelda and Link approach the two guards on duty. The knights share hesitant and confused glances in a very unsubtle way.

“Good evening,” Zelda greets them happily. “Are there any requirements for entry into this city?”

“I—uh, no, madam,” the right guard denies. “Just the standard procedure of what business you have in Castle Town.”

“We’re not from around here,” Zelda smiles. “So presently, just a bed for the night. Could you offer us some directions?”

“There are a few inns,” the left guard said, turning to point inside the walls. “Depending on your price range, the closest to the gates, just down the first right, is the cheapest. If you follow the main road toward the town centre, you’ll find the other two beside the fountain. The Sun’s Chariot is the mid-priced, and Hylia’s Disciple is the admittedly overpriced luxury inn for the wealthy.”

Link was almost tempted to go for Hylia’s Disciple just for shits and giggles. He wondered what type of luxury the guard meant.

“Thank you,” he said and hands them both two red rupees for their help before walking on.

Zelda said another thank you over her shoulder, earning friendly smiles from the guards.

“Sun’s Chariot?” she asks.

“Sun’s Chariot,” Link confirms.

The evening crowd unnerves Link, who wasn’t used to being in such a populated place—well, not that he remembered anyway. It did not help that people stop to stare at them—elderly, middle-aged, young, and children. Everyone did double takes.

He tightens his grasp on Zelda’s hand, silently reassuring himself that he, and she, were safe. While Link’s discomfort was near invisible, Zelda had straightened up. It reminded Link of memories that had returned that he would rather hadn’t.

But navigating through this Castle Town was a breeze and soon, the bell on the door of the Sun’s Chariot was ringing as Zelda opens the door for entry.

“Hello, how can I, oh,” the young woman at the desk stumbles over her words, flustering in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, you caught me off guard.”

At least she was polite about it, Link muses.

“It’s quite alright. My husband and I are aware our appearances are not the norm here,” Zelda said smoothly, not even flinching at the comment.

The lady just blushes deeper. “Still, it was rather unprofessional of me.”

“It’s fine,” Link said, offering her a small smile. “You are far from the first, like my wife said.”

“Of course. My name is Lucy. I suppose you’d like to rent a room for the night?” Lucy smiles.

“Yes please. How does your renting work? By the night? Or do we pay for a certain number of nights?” Zelda questions.

“Both. Some people just don’t know how long they’ll stay,” Lucy chirps merrily. “Is that what you would like to do?”

“Yes, please,” Zelda confirms. “How much for a night?”

“For a double bed, it’s thirty rupees a night.”

Link reaches into his money pouch, setting a red and two blues on the desk.

The money pouch thing had been a good idea. Link really did not want to flash the Slate and Pad, even if they would never work for anyone outside the registered users. Thieves will be thieves.

Lucy pulls out a ledger book and pencil. “Names?”

Zelda visibly panics and says the first names that came to her. “Sonia and Rauru.”

Shit.

Link swallows thickly, using everything inside him so as not to burst into hysterical laughter. His wife was such a dork.

Thankfully, Lucy was looking down at the book and failed to see any of Zelda’s panic.

“Sonia and Rauru, room fourteen,” Lucy beams and reaches below the desk again to produce a key this time. “It’s the second door on the right upstairs. Is there anything else I can help with?”

“Are there any places to buy food open this late?” Link asks.

Lucy hummed. “I believe the bakery just left of here should still be open but whether their remaining products are enough for dinner…I’m not sure.”

“Then we’ll just have to investigate. Thank you,” Zelda smiled. “We shall see you shortly.”

Lucy waves cheerfully, and Zelda and Link step outside once again.

“Sonia and Rauru,” Link whispers, giggling.

Zelda sighs, cheeks glowing. “Shut up. I panicked.”

“I know,” Link’s voice warbles as he tried to suppress his glee. He gets the stink eye from his wife. “But Sonia and Rauru.”

“Oh, you pest!” Zelda thwacks Link’s arm and storms off in the direction Lucy had given them for the bakery.

Link laughed aloud, hurrying after his wife. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s adorable that those are the first names you think of, honey.”

Zelda just gives him another side eye. It probably didn’t help that he was still giggling.

After a night’s rest, Zelda and Link could explore this Castle Town more thoroughly now that it was daytime. Once again, they got curious glances, but this time, Zelda and Link were far more prepared for the number of double glances.

“It’s getting on my nerves,” Link whispers, ears pinned back in an attempt to reduce background noise.

This Castle Town was far more populated than any other place Link had ever seen. But perhaps where this Hyrule was smaller, it made places more populated, whereas his Hyrule was significantly more expansive, and after the Calamity, the people had spread out, carving out little nooks to call their own.

Zelda squeezed his hand. “I know. We shall stay one more night before heading out. If we’re going to meet the group, we’ll meet them.”

Link could have swept his wife into his arms and kissed the daylights out of her if it wouldn’t have drawn more attention. But it would, so Link doesn’t. Instead, he returns the hand squeeze.

The ogling eyes of women and men alike heckle his nerves. Link knew his wife and he was good-looking even before they underwent these changes, but now Link feels like an exotic animal to be gawked at. Ugh.

He crinkles his nose and tugs Zelda towards a jewellery stand. None of it was magic, and it disappointed Link, but he was always up for pretty accessories.

Link absently listens as Zelda greets the stall owner with pleasantries as he looks over the rings and necklaces on display. There was a thin, gold bracelet shaped like a dragon. Its eye was an emerald. The details were simple but elegant. Oh. Oh yes, Link would undoubtedly be getting that.

“How much for the dragon bracelet?” he asks, breaking up the conversation between his wife and shop owner.

Zelda elbows him for it, but Link doesn’t care.

The man leans closer to see the one Link is pointing to. “Four hundred rupees. It came from the Gerudo, so it costs more.”

Link hums and, without batting an eye, hands him the rupees. The man stumbles over his words at how casually Link hands the money over.

Picking up the bracelet, Link took his wife’s right hand and slid the bracelet on. “There.”

“And you call me a dork,” Zelda sighs fondly.

Link cracks a grin. “I’m your dork.”

“That you are,” Zelda smiles.

“Thank you,” Link throws out to the man as he turns and walks away.

“I, uh, of course! Thank you for your patronage!” the man stumbles again.

“You’re in a mood,” Zelda notes.

“Can’t help it. People,” Link said shortly. Words were getting hard. He frowns. It had been a while since he had verged non-verbal.

Zelda squeezes his hand, bringing it up to her mouth to press a kiss. “Why don’t we head back and relax for a while?”

Link nods.