To those to those who are wondering, my 'upload schedule' is quite random and spastic, so if you get a chapter each day then you're lucky...But otherwise, I write when I feel inspired. I will try to upload daily, but no promises.
Welcome back! Thank you to those who have clicked onto chapter two, and I must say this one has much more Zelink. I hope you enjoy it, and please please please leave me a review. Thanks!
"Happy Birthday, my Queen."
"You need not address me with my formal title, Link."
"Yes, I know. But we are still out in the open at this very moment-" Link pauses and turns his head about, surveying the few Hylians that lurk within Castletown behind the gates where we stand. "And we ought to wait until we are alone, for any informal addresses." Smiling and bowing down to kiss my hand, it was a simple and honorable way to demonstrate his affection for me. Though I have trouble taking it very seriously, I nod my head in acceptance to keep up my proper appearance.
Stepping forwards, Link adjusts his hold on the horse's lead rope that is tied tightly in his fist. Reaching upwards and stroking it's chestnut mane, he mutters a few indistinguishable words to the beautiful mare. As he does this, I examine his appearance and crinkle my nose.
"Link, why do you look so disheveled?"
Wearing old worn-out trousers and a loose, white shirt, he also appears to have forgotten to put on any form of footwear. Typically he wore his hair tied back, but today it falls against his face and blows lightly in the summer breeze. I do admire his appearance though, regardless of how unkempt he is.
"I've spent the morning in the stables. I didn't have time to- well, really do anything before meeting you here."
"You could have taken a few extra moments to put shoes on, at least." I giggle, pointing to his bare feet.
"Yes my Queen, but then I may have been late to our meeting place! And surely you would have me beheaded for such a crime." Link jokes with me, beginning to walk forwards with the horse following beside him. Walking alongside the both of them, I hold my hands behind my back and laugh at his ridiculous notion. A few moments of silence pass as we make our way towards the great plateau, in the distance I can see flowers dancing in the wind. Taking a deep breath and sighing, I close my eyes and feel the sun soaking into my skin.
This is where I belong.
"So Zelda, what would you like to do on this monumental day?" Link asks me from the other side on the horse, stopping in his tracks and walking around to face me. Smiling quite innocently, I laugh to myself for a split second.
"I know I told you a while back, that there is a difference between courage and recklessness..." I begin saying, trailing off and kicking at the grass by my feet.
"Oh no, what have you got planned this time?" Link says sarcastically, knowing that I always made a habit of adventuring recklessly for science's sake. Exploration and expanding my knowledge of this land's plants and animals, those were the only things that I truly succeeded at...And for the longest time my father kept me from doing so. Now that I was on my own, despite missing my father dearly, a new sense of freedom has always tended to overtake me. And so, while I had my valiant knight to keep me from getting into any REAL trouble, it only makes sense for us to push the boundaries.
"I...I was thinking maybe we could visit the Zora domain. There is a certain fish there that has scales which are virtually impossible to penetrate. If we can find that fish, perhaps it's mass production would aid in making indestructible shields or other weapons." I speak quickly and know that Link is the only person willing to tolerate my constant innovating. A woman's place in Hyrule was traditionally in the home and caring for the children, not exploring and inventing.
"Say no more. Whatever it is you wish to do, I will accompany you." Link places his hands on his hips, nodding his head and giving me a sure expression.
"But do you think it's a good idea?"
"What I think does not matter."
Pausing and looking at the ground, I sigh for a moment and bite my lip. Looking back at his sharp face now, I attempt to explain myself.
"I simply mean, do you think that the fish scales would help in making new weapons and materials. I have little experience with those things, so I need to know what you think."
"Zelda, since when do you even remotely care about the results of your exploration? I thought you just collected items and experimented for the thrill of it. That's the way you've always been." Link tilts his head and asks, placing one hand on our mare's fur, petting her softly. Swallowing hard, I decide it's time to completely reveal my reasoning.
"Well. As you know, I am now twenty years old and I am the royal family's only heir. All my life I have served the purpose of keeping myself safe and watching others do work for me." I pause and sit down in the soft grass, crossing my legs and fumbling with a twig in my fingers. Link joins me on the ground and leans in to listen intently.
"I've grown tired of delegating. All I ever do is tell others what to do- commissioning buildings or treaties or expeditions. Of course I've always experimented on my own, and I'll admit it was just for thrill, but now I am seeking to create change. I want to do it myself, not by telling others to do it for me."
Link nods his head in understanding, leaning backwards and letting his arms support him now. Staring off at Castletown in the distance, the early morning sun casts grass shadows on his handsome face. Sighing then and looking back at me, he smiles and leans forward to take my hand. Catching me slightly off guard, I tense for a moment and almost forget the words that he speaks.
"I think it's a wonderful idea. I think it will create change, and most importantly, I think it will work."
"Really?!" I leap to my feet and clasp my hands together. All I wanted to hear was his approval, for reasons more than one. Smiling brightly and feeling completely full of joy and excitement, I pace back and forth and start my horrible habit of rambling nonsensical.
"Okay well first.. we're going to need to teleport there, then probably talk to the locals and find out if the fish are even native, we'll need to catch a few and-"
"Zelda? If we are going to go then we must set out now." Link interrupts me and places a hand on my shoulder, bringing me back to reality.
"I'm sorry, I just get caught up...Yes, let's go."
The trip to Zora's domain was tiresome, despite the fact that we rode our chestnut mare the entire way. I held tight onto Link's waist as we passed through creeks and valleys, Link followed the path and got us there in a timely matter. Meeting straight away with Prince Sidon, I removed my shoes and carried them at my sides as we walked through the damp corridors of the Zora Domain.
"Prince Sidon, I was wondering if you could tell me about a certain kind of fish that is native to this area. I don't know it's name, only that it's scales are impossible to penetrate." I spoke in a reverent tone, knowing that Prince Sidon was royalty and not to be disrespected. He sat on his throne before us, Link at my side and a few Zora guards nearby. Both Link and I were well known to the Zora population, so it was no trouble passing into their domain. Nodding his head, he began explaining the details of this ancient fish.
"The fish you speak of no longer exists. You must have read about it in ancient Hylian textbooks, yes?"
Sighing with disappointment, I nod my head.
"It used to be quite pleantiful in the Zora Domain, so much so that we allowed Hylians to fish recreationally to control it's population. But when calamity Ganon wiped out much of this land, many fish and other animals no longer had the means to survive."
Just then, I feel Link place a comforting hand on my shoulder. Turning to look at his sympathetic gaze for one moment, I shrug inwardly and decide to not let this ruin anything. Smiling back at Prince Sidon, I swallow my disappointment and bid the Zoras farewell.
"Thank you, Prince Sidon. Your knowledge has been very helpful and will be added to the new Hylian Codex. What did you say the fish was called, your majesty?"
"Civalin Blue, was its formal title."
"Link, please hand me my Sheikah slate." I then write down it's name, this way I will remember it later when I edit the science textbooks. Saying our last goodbyes, Link and I make our way out of the Zora's Domain and back into the forest.
The sun is setting now and leaves harrowing shadows peppered across the ground and trees, but I feel no fear as Link holds extensive knowledge of these woods. Laying my head against his back now, we ride slower on our mare and drowsily make our return to Castletown.
"Don't worry Zelda, I am sure your next idea will work out just perfectly. This could not have been prevented. We have more information now about the fish in the Zora's Domain, so either way we made a discovery. Besides-"
"Thank you, Link." I interrupt him, feeling a wave of emotions sweep over me.
"For what?" Link says after a few seconds of silence, the chirping of Hylian crickets filling my ears. I sit up slightly but keep my arms around him, feeling his muscular form underneath my hands.
"For coming along today, and doing it all without question. Even though it was kind of pointless."
"It wasn't pointless."
"Don't be daft."
"I'm serious, Zelda! I had...I had a nice time. It was just like when we were children, me always following you on adventures and never thinking twice about it- simply because I enjoyed your company."
Well.
Though it was hard for me to believe that Link did any of this because he shared the same feelings as I did for him, his words struck me ever so slightly and I held him tighter. Since I was a small girl, I firmly believed that Link simply followed me around because my father told him I needed protection- not because he loved me.
"Thank you, Link. I enjoy your company too." I say flatly, not knowing if anything else could be appropriate for a moment like this. As we then enter the castle grounds, Link dismounts the horse and stands on the courtyard's plush grass, holding out a hand to assist me from atop the saddle. I take his hand and release my feet from the stirrups, stumbling just enough as my feet touch the ground to tumble to my knees. Pulling me to my feet straightaway, Link holds both my hands for a long moment, as our faces hover inches from each other.
"I must say goodnight to you now." Link speaks first, interrupting what was seeming to become a kiss. Nodding my head and pulling away, I reluctantly release his hands and nod my head.
"Goodnight, hero."
"Goodnight, my Queen."