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She hadn't been able to feel the cold before. She missed that now, on the side of this frigid, forsaken mountain. Even in Link's shadow, she felt remnants of the bitter wind as it nipped at him. There was the howl of Wolfos that could be heard from the base. It was a pack that was looking for them. Link snarled at the sound and stopped, sniffing the air. He did that more often, since he'd been stuck as a wolf. Sometimes it seemed like the beast was there, lurking just beneath the surface.
He didn't talk about it, but she knew it scared him. She couldn't blame him. She knew the way Zant’s magic could twist and turn your sense of self, until you couldn't even recognize yourself in a mirror. She wondered if she would ever gaze once again upon the reflection that now only lived in her memories. Perhaps one day, she would be able to stand amongst her people as their princess once more.
But for now there were no grand ballrooms or political plays. Just the cold and her companion who had gone still. She came out of his shadow, feeling the wind pierce her body even more as she gained solidity. She began to shiver, “L-Link, what are y-you doing?”
“The Wolfos are growing closer,” Link murmured. He turned around, gaze fixed on her. Midna was incredibly jealous of the fur lining he had under his tunic. She didn't know how he could tell where the Wolfos even were, she could hardly see a thing in the blizzard they were wading through. The only living thing she could detect was Link, his body covered in white. He could have been a Wolfos himself. She was about to make a joke about it when picked her up, scooping her up like she was nothing. Midna flushed at the indignity of it all.
Link seemed to find a kind of hidden path through the storm, leading them into a small cave. It was warmer in there, if only slightly. He knelt down, setting her down. Then he slumped against the wall, back sliding against the stone until he was in a sitting position. He let out a deep exhale and didn't move. He took off his hat and clutched it in one hand, revealing dark gold hair flecked with white from the snow. His face was bright red. “Midna,” he got out between his gasps, “Why did you come out?”
She folded her arms across her chest. “It didn't feel like we were getting anywhere.” She couldn't exactly tell him that she was worried about him. Sometimes she didn't know what thoughts were dancing through his head and it terrified. She laid awake at night wondering how much he blamed her for what was happening to his kingdom. It was unfair how handsome he was. He would make a devastating righteous figure, ready to smite the evil in the land. He supposed that's what he already was, even if it was hard to look at his exhausted frame now and see it.
“We'll find the mansion… after the blizzard,” he breathed. Then he glared at her, “You should stay… in… shadow.”
“I will, I will,” Midna waved her hand at him dismissively. She rubbed at her arms, still shivering. While the cave was warmer, the stone was still cool to the touch. Link was watching her and she rolled her eyes. “They didn't exactly make fur linings in imp size, Link.”
Her companion paused, brow furrowing in thought. It was quiet for a moment, except for the blizzard howling outside. Link sat up, reaching for her and Midna jerked back, floating up out of his reach. “What do you think you're doing?” she snapped. Link looked up at her with wide, blue eyes. She had to steel herself not to cave to them there and then.
“The stone,” he explained, “You can use my fur.”
Midna inhaled sharply. This idiot. She shouldn't have been surprised that was his first thought. Blood rushed to her cheeks, turning them an ashen gray. She looked away so Link wouldn't see. “You're spent,” she chided him, “Transforming is a large physical strain. You shouldn't even think-”
“You sound almost worried about me.” She caught a note of smugness in his voice she hated. She shouldn't worry about him, but she couldn't help it. He'd needled his way into her heart with his ridiculous kindness. She'd once thought he was naive, but now she understood the courage it took to keep his heart open. There was no doubt why Link had been chosen by the Goddesses.
“I would never-” she retorted, only to turn and meet his chiding gaze.
“Midna,” he whispered, “You're shaking.”
She let the stone appear in her hand in a show of black squares. She shoved it towards Link’s hand, if only to get him to be quiet. Soon enough, a familiar dark-furred wolf was standing in the cave. He tilted his head when she sighed. As she crept closer, the idiot had that audacity to wag his tail. “This is only because it's cold,” she told him. It couldn't be for anything else. They both had too much to go back to.
Link walked in a circle a few times before settling down. His eyes never left her as she came and settled against his side, gingerly at first. He was soft. She'd always known that from her time riding atop his back, but it was different to be surrounded by it. Her breath caught and she heard a pleased hum from the wolf. “Quiet,” she muttered, laying her head down on his side. Tension eased out of her shoulders as he laid his head down beside her, curling his body around her as far as it would allow.
She felt a pang in her heart at the action. Link was genuine in his desire to help her, and he still didn't know the full truth of who she even was. She knew he had questions, but he was too respectful to ask them. It was times like these she almost didn't want to be a princess. Not with Link so close, she could feel the tide of his breathing. Midna wanted to stay by his side forever.
She would allow herself this brief respite. She snuggled closer to Link, stroking his fur with one hand. Touching him in the Light Realm was still a new experience, one she rarely allowed herself to indulge in. She smiled, listening to the wind outside the cave. Link's breathing grew slower until she realized he'd fallen asleep. He was so tired. “It's okay,” she whispered, “I’ll keep watch.”
There was no throne to worry about at that moment, no kingdom that needed saving. Midna only needed to worry about her traveling companion. They were not princess and hero, but simply a wolf and an imp.