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The splash in the water disturbed Zelda’s concentration. She glanced behind her sharply at Link, who was trudging through the water, his expression determined.
“Link, I'm not about to pass out. You can return to shore.” Zelda responded, exhausted. He kept moving forward until he reached the altar, almost ignoring her.
“Link?” Zelda frowned, all attempts at praying forgotten. He never entered the spring while she was praying, unless she was in danger of passing out. Now he was almost ignoring her. That was noteworthy in and of itself.
He slammed his hand onto the altar and started signing. Zelda gaped at him as her brain automatically translated the words, “Hylia!” He didn't seem to notice the scrape on his fist from slamming it into stone, and continued, “What's wrong with you?! Zelda has done nothing wrong, Calamity Ganon is imminent, and you haven't given her access to the Triforce!”
A golden light shone on the statue, “Courage is Love, Power is Strength, and Wisdom is Suffering.” Zelda stumbled back and gasped. Hylia. That was Hylia's voice.
Link was unphased, “I know that, but she has suffered enough! Have you not seen her? I have guarded her for years, and it's honestly remarkable that she hasn't given up already. Have you ignored the ten years of prayer, the times she passed out, begging for your aid?”
Zelda felt a slight heat rise in her ears. Link had noticed? She supposed he was quite attentive, but somehow she didn't connect that to respecting her more. Her father always seemed disappointed…
“She has not yet suffered the way she must.” The light responded.
Link resolutely stared up at the face of the statue, “Then let me suffer for her.”
The statue seemed to ponder this, then responded, “This will be far beyond any agony you have felt before, hero.”
Link didn't hesitate, “If it can be done, I will do it.”
Zelda grabbed Link's arm, “Don't! Link, you don't need to do this for me.”
He turned to her with a little smile, “Zelda, do you remember what she said?”
“It will be far beyond any agony you've felt! Yes, I heard that!” Zelda frowned.
Link shook his head, “The first thing.”
“Wisdom is suffering?” Zelda spoke before thinking, “Or Courage is…wait.”
Link tilted his head, “Yes. I'm ready, Hylia.” He promptly stiffened, then fell to his knees, clutching his chest.
“Link!” Zelda screamed as she grabbed him. One of his hands found hers, and his grip became bone-white. She didn't protest, even though her bones creaked in complaint. He was suffering unimaginable horrors for her.
And he loved her. Zelda's ears completely abandoned normal color for burning red. She hadn't known his feelings for her were that strong. Although she used to resent him, she enjoyed his presence now, and counted him as a close friend. Because of how shy he was, it had been a little harder to get to know him than Purah, but he had revealed parts of himself in other ways. His unwavering dedication to Hyrule, despite the fact that he felt crushed by his destiny. He never let Zelda go hungry on the road and cooked delicious meals, though he would eat practically anything, including rocks from the Gorons.
“Link…please…be alright.” Zelda bit her lip. He was trembling in her hands, and she kept whispering to him, trying to relieve his pain. She had never felt so hurt before. She knew it was Link hurting for her, but she wished it was her. It would have been easier to endure agony herself than to watch Link suffer for her.
“Please Hylia!” Zelda pulled Link closer to her, willing the pain to stop, “Don't hurt him more!”
Her voice broke, “Don't…please.” Tears fell from her eyes. She was reaching for anything that could help her knight, anything that could ease his pain, when she found it. Deep within herself, the part of her that cared for others, cared for him, found a reserve of power she didn’t know she had. Ironically enough, all the training and separation had been worse for her than simply letting herself have friends.
Golden light burst from her hand, and the symbol of the Triforce seemed to pierce reality. Link stopped shuddering, and his grip relaxed. Zelda anxiously checked on him, and stopped using her power. He straightened up and stopped leaning on Zelda, a faint flush on his cheeks.
“She has found her power.” The golden light faded.
“Link, that was foolish.” Zelda shakily laughed, now that the danger was gone.
He faintly smiled, “I’m your knight. It’s my job to do stupid things for you.”
“I would argue further, but right now, I’m ordering you to recover.” Zelda flatly responded.
“Alright. There’s soup at camp.” Link started stumbling out of the water.
Zelda huffed and supported him, “You aren’t walking all the way there.” He glanced at her, surprised, then hesitantly leaned on her. The Master Sword dangled from his other hand, leaving a trail in the water.
Zelda didn’t know how to diplomatically phrase her next question, “So…have you spoken to Hylia before?” Link bit his lip, then pointed at a log next to the fire. Zelda helped him sit, then he set down the Master Sword.
“Yes. When I drew the Master Sword-” He tapped the weapon, “-she spoke to me for the first time. She basically told me the same Courage, Power, Wisdom thing, told me Calamity Ganon was coming, ordered me to protect you, then told me I could contact her at any of the Goddess statues.”
“Really?” Zelda gasped.
Link shrugged, “You have her blood. I suppose she still cares about you, even if she isn't as direct.”
Zelda flushed slightly, “I…suppose she does.” Unspoken, she added that Link did too.
“You're ready now. When Calamity Ganon comes, we'll all be ready.” Link smiled.
^^^
Calamity Ganon was sealed away on Zelda's seventeenth birthday. Zelda had been able to purge the system, only because she had spent so long studying the ancient technology. Her rescue came just in time for quite a few people, including the Champions.
Her favorite birthday present was the fruitcake Link baked.