He stood behind her, just as he always did. He watched her speak with such passion and vigour to the Zoran prince, showing him pictures upon the Shiekah slate he had happily gifted to her upon the defeat of Ganon. It had always been hers, after all.
Link, how long do you think it would take us to get to that quaint little place on the way to Akkala. Tarrey Town, wasn't it?'' Zelda asked as she turned to him and Link stood perfectly in place.
''With you or alone, Princess?'' he clarified and Zelda almost rolled her eyes at him.
''With me. I don't slow you down that much, do I?'' she asked and Link tried to word himself in a way that wouldn't offend her.
He almost stammered but composed himself as he spoke. ''Together, four days.''
Zelda could see him restraining himself as Sidon tried not to laugh. ''And how fast on your own then?''
''I'd scale the waterfalls and ride through the night for you, Princess,'' he replied and Sidon gave him a grin.
''Good answer,'' he said and Zelda gave him a look that proved she was not amused. ''With Mipha's armour, he doesn't have to walk around the winding paths and fight as many of the remaining monsters. And he has that paraglider. He could be there by tomorrow morning.''
His explanation helped as Zelda walked back into the room she'd been provided, rustling through her bag. She pulled out some sort of pendant, holding it in her delicate fingers. ''There's someone there I've been told can help me with identifying this. Anson, I think his name was.''
Sidon walked over to her slowly, gently taking it from her hands. ''I can see the waves in it. Surely someone here would know.''
''It shows you something of great significance to you. Something you could not live without. I imagine you see waves as you need water, Prince Sidon,'' she said as she gently took it back. ''I've heard of others seeing riches and food, some seeing open plains or nice homes. It tells you what you need to feel complete.''
Sidon was only more interested. ''And what do you see, Princess?''
Zelda let out a frustrated sigh. ''Nothing. It is still unclear to me like fog or smoke,'' she said as she put it back in her bag gently. ''Please excuse me, it is time I go pray to the goddess.''
She let herself out to go to the statue, where Link knew she would be safe enough to venture alone. Sidon leaned on her bed post, folding his arms. ''What do you see, Link?'' he asked and Link had his usual expression. It was so hard to read for those who did not know him but Sidon had somehow clued onto the other giveaways in his behaviours and words that he knew how the not-so-young knight was feeling.
''I have not looked,'' he said and Sidon looked at Zelda's bag. ''I would not go through her things if I were you.''
Sidon laughed as he walked over and put an arm around Link's shoulders. ''Always so serious. Ganon is gone and the princess is more than safe here. Relax a little. We could go for a swim if you'd like.''
''No, thank you,'' Link said as he looked in the direction of the door.
Sidon released the blond man and began to walk out the door. ''Well, I know you and I've heard from the guards you spend most of the night taking watch over her. I know you won't listen to me when I say the guards will wake you if anything happens so why don't you get some sleep now to make up for it?''
It wasn't a bad idea. Link made his way to the couch, lying on it as Sidon laughed. ''You can have a bed. I'm sure there is a spare room.''
''I'm fine here. Thank you, Sidon.''
The Zora shook his head and chuckled to himself as he walked away. He sometimes worried about how much danger Link had put himself into just for his princess. When was the last time he had laid in a bed and slept the night, not just dozing while listening out for any signs of trouble. He'd heard a story that the knight had almost killed a child one night that had snuck into Zelda's room, pulling one of his arrows from the sling beside his bed and throwing it with pinpoint accuracy at the first sound he heard, luckily moving it just enough to miss as he realised it wasn't a threat. The child profusely apologised and ran away crying, Zelda awaking to the commotion only to scold him for scaring the poor thing. She'd made him give the child a gift the next morning to apologise himself for nearly killing them.
He woke as he heard footsteps, the sound clearly Zelda's shoes against the floor. Even if someone else wore the same, he knew the pattern of her steps and the weight of her body as it shifted, able to pick them from a recording if he was ever faced with one. He slowly sat up as Zelda walked in, the princess folding her arms as she looked at him. ''Link, I must insist you get another room. Sidon has told me he'd find extra guards to do the night watch around the inn if that would mean you'd sleep.''
''I'm fine, Princess.''
Zelda could see how tired he was, walking out of the room with her arms still crossed. ''Can you please pass onto the prince that we'll be taking up his offer? And a room for my appointed knight, please.''
She walked back in with a key, dropping it into Link's hand. He slowly got up, stiff from the uncomfortable position as he gathered his things. ''Princess-''
''I don't want to see you until tomorrow morning, Link.''
Link knew when he'd upset her, taking himself into the adjoining room as he dropped most of his things on the floor, standing his sword beside the bed with a bow and his quiver. He laid on the bed, surprised by how quickly he fell asleep, not even waking for dinner.
But the early slumber meant he'd awoken in the middle of the night, unable to fall asleep again. He quietly checked Zelda's room, noticing she wasn't in her bed as he opened the adjoining door. He stepped inside and could see the balcony door open, walking up behind her as she leaned over the rails.
He was silent, watching her in her white nightdress looking over such a unique part of her kingdom. It was all unique but the waterfalls had a certain glow in the moonlight that radiated from her skin, only making her look more beautiful. She was staring at the pendant, holding it with a gentle grip so she would not damage nor drop it.
She let out a sigh as she turned, almost jumping as she noticed Link was there. ''Why aren't you in bed?''
''I could ask you the same, Princess,'' he replied and Zelda looked at it the pendant again. He had a point.
''Link, what do you see?'' she asked as she gently handed it to him, her soft hands brushing over his, a complete contrast to his which were scarred and covered in rough callouses.
He knew what he was going to see before he did. The bright blonde hair and green eyes entrancing him as he handed it back. ''Nothing.''
Zelda frowned. ''Nothing?''
''Yes, Princess.''
She looked at the stone again. ''Nothing as in-''
''It's a blue stone, Princess,'' he said and Zelda looked at him.
''You're lying to me,'' she said as Link tried to hold his expression. But she could read him, she always could. ''You don't need to be embarrassed or ashamed, Link. You want and need things too.''
He let out a sigh. ''You, Princess,'' he said and Zelda hesitated. She could tell he was telling the truth this time. ''As long as I know you are safe, that is all I need.''
She gripped the stone tighter as she looked at him. Guilt ran through her as she could see him still standing straight, dutifully ready for her next order. ''Link, you should go back to your home in Hateno Village for a while.''
Link's expression immediately shifted. ''What have I done wrong, Princess?''
''Nothing. It is what I've done wrong,'' she said and Link was confused. ''You are always loyal to me and tend to my every request. You help me in any way you can, even when I ask you not to. You have dedicated your life to me when you should be having your own. So please, go home for a while and clear your head. Your life should be about more than me.''
Link wasn't sure how to respond. ''Princess-''
''Go. You could make it there by tomorrow night, couldn't you? I will send a message to Purah to make sure you get there and spend some time caring for yourself. I will be fine here. If I decide to move on, I will ask for an escort. Don't worry about me,'' she said and Link still felt hesitant. This was the princess, his princess that he'd follow to the edges of the world and back, who was asking him to leave her alone.
''If that is what you wish, your highness.''
He packed up his things, checking with her again as she sat on her bed, still staring at the stone. She looked up at him, a look of sadness on her face. He longed to take it away so she would smile again. ''Safe travels. I will meet you in Kakariko village in ten days.''
He held back the desire to argue but at least she'd given him a timeframe. He knew what it was like when he was first appointed to her; she would yell at him every time he followed her just because she was desperate to show she could do things on her own. He knew she could, he just didn't want to take the chance when her head looked even more desirable with the King gone.
Instead, he got down on one knee, making sure she knew he was taking this as an order from royalty, not a request from someone he sometimes almost called a friend. But soon she would be queen and things would change. Orders were going to become the norm. ''Yes, Princess.''