Chapter One:
Link had overslept his alarm for the third day that week. This time, however, he refused to be late to his class. Flinging himself out the door without even a 'hello' to his apartment-mate, he descended the stairs two at a time, nearly tumbling down the last of them. It wasn't until his feet hit the sidewalk that he realized how slick the pavement was and how wet his face had become. He closed his eyes, swallowing his bubbling frustration and flipping the hood of his jacket up to meet the rain's merciless beating before taking off at a jog.
His first week at the University of Hyrule had been exhausting, to say the least; not that he would say much about it, anyways, if asked. Though he had at first looked forward to his time spent on and off the campus, it had grown old quickly. Even after only choosing one eight am class, Link found waking up each morning increasingly more draining. His work load had yet to climax, so he packed his days with activities he hoped would soothe his somewhat anxious soul. Monday he had explored the backroads behind the Arena, Tuesday was spent sampling a dish from every local cafe he could find, Wednesday kept his nose almost pressed up against the pages of "The Reincarnation of the Hero: Fiction or Fact?", and with an entire Thursday to himself he had all but danced barefoot in the Applean Forest barely an hour from the University.
And now he felt he had overexerted himself.
It wasn't as if the week varied much from his routine pattern of behavior, but, for a reason he wasn't able to quite explain, he felt emotionally undermined. Anxiety was something that had plagued him since childhood, pressuring him to run and run and run-away from his fears and doubts and trials. That is all this is, he had told himself. So why wasn't he able to escape from it this time? After all, he usually thrived by himself, perpetually seeking ways to distract his mind and heart from the distresses of life. He remembered his summers spent as a boy; they were days eaten up by wandering the golden fields of Hateno, catching Porgy in the shallows of the Lurelin Village beaches, or sleeping beneath billions of glinting stars. Aside from being a devastatingly heavy sleeper, Link was incessantly restless.
Today, though, he would not let that deter him. This was his first photography class of the year, and there was no force in Hyrule that would stop him from arriving late. Photography was a way to still his endless motion and allow him to focus on details and individual moments. He needed it more than he was willing to admit. Goddesses save the poor idiot who ended up in his way this morning.
..o0o..
She had expected the downpour to lighten as the morning wore on, but in two hours there had been no sign of it lessening. Zelda glanced down at her clomping, brown rain boots. As awkward as it was to walk in them, she couldn't help but appreciate the artistry of the splashes they created. Sunlight reflected off the rippling water and every so often she could catch an emerald eye staring back at her or a contented smile mimicking her own.
She adjusted her umbrella, twirling it between her hands and sighing with pleasure. This was the kind of day she loved the most. The rain tasted sweet on her lips and she couldn't help but part them a fraction to catch a couple extra droplets. She closed her eyes, savoring them, her mind working to mentally compose a poem drawn from this perfect serenity. She did not expect her breath to be forcibly shoved from her body and her legs to give way beneath her.
"I- Oh, goddesses, oh, I- I'm so sorry," she caught a stumbling voice get out, hardly acknowledging her situation. She blinked, abruptly aware of stinging palms and soiled jeans. A figure in front of her was pulling her to her feet, albeit somewhat roughly, and apologizing ceaselessly. He must've careened into me, Zelda thought to herself. But she only had a mere few seconds to get a glimpse of his face- innocent and genuinely embarrassed at his blunder, with eyes that reminded her of the sky- before he was off again, sprinting away behind her. Her gaze followed his form as it receded from view while she began to wipe her scraped hands against the dry fit fabric of her jacket.
As she adjusted her walk to a more comfortable pace, she silently elected to write him into a line of her poem.
..o0o..
Four hours after his photography class was dismissed, Link had not expected to be on a date with a girl he barely knew. Or, he assumed it was a date. He wasn't really sure. It was she who had asked him, actually, and he had acquiesced, praying to Hylia that he wouldn't find himself botching everything he attempted to say.
In truth, she was rather charming. Her crimson bob accentuated the curve of her jaw and her petite but strong build made her a reassuring presence. Her voice was soft and gentle, but there was a fierceness behind those shimmering, golden eyes. She was a year ahead of him and already very familiar with the campus and the region of Central Hyrule, itself.
Although they had walked in silence for the majority of their time together, Link felt he knew more about her than he would have had they had a real conversation. He followed the way she padded along beside him, her hands clasped loosely in front of her, amusing herself by trailing the shadows with her gaze and cracking a smile every time she saw a small bird or wild animal.
He liked her. She was good.
"Thank you for coming with me today, Link. It's really very sweet of you." She glanced up at him and her words startled him from his thoughts. He smiled and nodded, then chuckled. "I'd still prefer it if I knew where we were going, Mipha," he responded with a grin. She blushed and turned back to face ahead of her. "I had hoped you'd have guessed by now, since I asked you to bring your camera." She pulled her hands apart, briefly gesturing to the landscape steadily emerging before them. "I'd heard this was your first time in Central Hyrule, and since you're a photography major, you should get the best shots of one of the most iconic, historically relevant spots in the entire land."
It was clear to him, now, where she had taken him.
As the trees parted, Link had a better view of the pillars reaching up around him, their cerulean gray stone winking at him under the hot, afternoon sun. As he followed Mipha up onto the moderately raised platform resting in the center of the pillars, he watched the ring of water pooling in the space between the stairs and the higher level.
"The Sacred Grounds," he murmured. "I've only ever seen pictures of this place."
"I tried to pick a time when it was less bustling," Mipha said, "but I'll admit that the best time to come is at night. You'd think it'd still be a tourist hot-spot, even after the sun goes down, since it always seems to stay warm, but I suppose most find the nightly events in Castle Town to be more exciting."
Link shook his head, grinning. "No, this- this is great." He looked back at her small figure, staring at him expectantly. "Thank you." She blushed more furiously this time, but Link was unaware, his fingers already fumbling for the camera in his backpack.
He had just begun positioning himself to capture the way the water below them met the steps, when he saw her: a woman, no older than he, lying with her back against the cool grass and her hands cradling her head. Rich, golden strands of hair concealed her face, but he could make out the point of her sloped nose. Beside her were piled two books, a journal, a pen, and a small bouquet of wildflowers, twitching occasionally with the wind.
He raised his camera and peered through the lens, preparing to take hold of this moment forever. It was then that he recognized that face, remembering a expression of surprise as his body collided with another's, knocking it to the pavement only hours before.
He paused. Should he apologize again? Should he ignore her? Was he over-thinking it? The answer to the latter question was, 'most likely'. Still, he felt he owed her some explanation. She probably thought he was a madman, running clumsily through the rain, his backpack bouncing violently as he went, with eyes wild and hair plastered to his forehead. Yes. She definitely deserved an explanation.
Plus, he had noticed Mipha's ever-present stare boring into the back of his skull, and he silently prayed that she would remove it if he struck up a conversation with someone else.
As he approached her, Link felt hot anxiety coil and uncoil within him. He didn't expect to spend much time with her, but he hoped she would at least be understanding of his situation. Goddesses knew she had every right to see him as rude and indifferent. He had completely ruined her jeans, after all. And weren't girls picky about stuff like that? Honestly, he didn't really know.
"Hi." His voice came out softer than he expected and he looked away, bowing his head. The woman blinked, allowing her eyes to adjust to the light. "Hi," she replied after a time. "You may not care, but I was the one who crashed into you this morning by mistake," he continued, not meeting her eyes. "I just wanted to give you an explanation." He chanced a peek at her and found that she had sat up and was sitting cross-legged, now, running her fingers through her hair. She met his eyes and offered him an encouraging smile. Her's were a vibrant green, and they reminded him of the valleys in Hateno. But, in the same way that he could find a certain fierceness behind the eyes of Mipha, behind this woman's was a shivering hunger. They complimented her pink, full lips and clear, ivory skin. He liked that she wore a plain green hoodie which seemed a tad large for her person, and fresh jeans, cuffed at the ankles. Her black lace-up shoes were muddy and worn, but, for some reason, Link liked that, too. Really, she was strikingly pretty.
"Well? Go on, then," she chuckled, prompting him to speak.
"Oh- oh, yeah, sorry." He cleared his throat. "It's just, I'm really terrible at showing up to my classes on time, and I had hoped to actually make a good impression in the one I had this morning, and since I was running late I was out of control and I wasn't looking where I was going, and yeah, I am just really, really sorry. I hope I didn't scare you or- or anything." He cleared his throat and glanced away again, praying that the heat he felt rising to his cheeks didn't show.
But when, instead of accepting the apology and lying back down, she laughed, he turned to face her again, confused.
"I, uh, I had thought you'd be mad. Your pants weren't ruined, right?"
She stifled her laughter and gazed up at him with a bemused expression. "No, they're fine. A bit of rainwater never hurt anyone. All the same, it was sweet of you to say something." Now Link truly was blushing. "So," she stood, brushing the dirt from her clothes, "What class was so important that you decided to mow down a complete innocent?" She grinned.
"Photography." He gestured to the camera around his neck. "It's my major."
"Fascinating choice for a major. Why did you elect it over something more conventional?"
"It's... just really important to me." She didn't press further. "What about you?" Link questioned. "Are you a student someplace?"
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, yes. UofH. We're in the same Linguistics class."
He flushed, suddenly remembering a vaguely familiar head of blond hair sitting three rows in front of him with her hand raised nearly the entire period. Oops.
He forced a laugh. "Right! I knew I'd seen you before."
"It's alright," she smiled forgivingly, "I only recognized you about two minutes ago, myself." Inwardly, Link was relieved. "What's your major, then?"
"World History, although I minor in Philosophy. I'd sort of like to be a professor of both one day." She grinned sheepishly then added, "Nerdy choices, I know."
He smiled. "It's pretty cool, honestly. I wish I could focus enough to be good with the books."
"Well, if you ever need any help..."
Link nodded, still smiling softly. "I might."
The woman grinned, the whites of her teeth brilliant and warming. For a moment they stood together in silence, Link oddly comfortable. "It's time for me to go. I'm interviewing for a job up at Beetle & Books in a couple hours and, unlike you, I'd rather not be the cause of anyone's death this evening." Her countenance was jesting but Link's shame was still prompted. Rather than responding he took a step backwards, bobbing his head in understanding as he did so.
"What's your name?" Her voice was clear, ringing, and laced with mirth. She raised her eyebrows as if to ask, "Where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you, yet."
"Link... Greene," he threw in hurriedly.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Link. My name is Zelda Harkinian."
And then she gathered her things and left.
Not in a huffy or agitated way, but simply in a way which indicated that their conversation had ended and there was nothing left to say.
As he Link watched her stroll away, books pressed to her chest, a thought crossed his mind. As he began his trek back to the pillared circle, he wondered if she would be annoyed with him for abandoning her- even if only for a short time.
"Mipha?" He called out, his nervousness peaking.
"I'm over here!" Her reply revealed nothing of her potential frustration. Link could see her bright head of hair from through the dense grove of evergreens. When he found her, she was engaged in discussion with a man he was unfamiliar with.
Mipha looked up and met his eyes, pausing hesitantly before waving a small hand in the direction of her companion. "This is Revali. We're members of the same Combat Club at UofH." Together, the two of the them rose and Link had a better opportunity to study the man. Revali was roughly a head taller than himself and his hair, which was such a deep blue it almost looked black, was slick and combed neatly. Any loose hairs that fell in his eyes were clearly left untouched intentionally. What captured Link's attention was the one, small braid which dangled from the left side of his head. Three minuscule downy feathers stuck in its twists and stood out against his dark hair and light complexion. Link could easily admit it suited him.
"Were you able to get any good shots?" Mipha asked politely. Link nodded even though he hadn't, yet. Something told him it was time to head home. Then, remembering his manners, he extended a hand in the direction of Revali who glanced down at it sourly before reluctantly taking it into an iron grip.
Mipha observed this exchange warily. "Then perhaps it is time we return to Castle Town for Friday evening festivities. You haven't had the pleasure of watching the fireworks presentation, right? It is a show you won't forget." Although her smile was encouraging, Link felt peculiarly out of place. "Thank you for the invitation, but I will join you another night," he replied quietly, offering her a gentle smile. She returned it and he parted ways with the two friends.
..o0o..
Castle Town was more or less a tourist trap, Zelda noted as she navigated its crowded walkways. It was the center of trade and commerce in Hyrule, but, unless you were truly visiting on account of business, its main function was to attract foreigners of all regions with expensive dining and over-the-top street shows. However, if it landed her a job, she was more than willing to indulge in its frivolity.
And, by the blessing of Hylia, it had.
Her interview had gone quite well. The manager of Beetle & Books was a rather eccentric little woman, who talked so much about her employer (the most wealthy businessman alive, Beetle Barnes) that Zelda was afraid she wasn't breathing enough to allow a proper amount of oxygen to enter her body. By the end of it, even Zelda felt winded.
Now she was browsing the shelves of Tostuna's Trinkets, aimlessly running her fingers over small bottles of perfume, strings of pearlescent beads, and glittering pocket mirrors. As she fingered a rather ornate bracelet, she was greeted by a deep, lilting voice. "If you look carefully, you'll notice the almost microscopic shards of luminous stones embedded in the beads. If you wear this item out under moonshine, it will emit a glow which would look dazzling on a beautiful woman like yourself." Zelda flicked her eyes up curiously but rolled them when she was met with the wry smile of Riju, her forearms resting on the counter and supporting her slightly cocked head.
"Well, hello," she answered, letting her features relax and cracking an amused half-smile. "Ready to treat this 'beautiful woman'," she emphasized the words, "to a chocolate pastry? I do believe I've earned it."
Riju chuckled, her tropical green eyes gleaming. "Does that mean you got the job?"
"Mhm. I start Monday at five on the dot."
"Hm... Then I suppose I might be able to clock out early. Only for you, of course." She winked and Zelda laughed.
"Thank you."
"Don't get used to it. University has left me as broke as you," she responded, but Zelda watched her lips part into a grin. They were painted with her usual blue lipstick, a choice typical for a Gerudo woman. It complimented their dark skin.
"So," her friend began as the two worked their way through the market place, occasionally fighting passage through the throngs of people, "what is your opinion on your first week as an official student of the University of Hyrule?"
"It's been..." Zelda took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Quieter than I expected," she finished.
"Awh, are you lonely without me lounging across the couch of the apartment twenty-four seven?" Riju waggled her eyebrows. "I'm afraid I can't do much about that. Someone has to pay the bills."
Zelda laughed. "Oh, of course! But, it's not just that. I thought I'd feel liberated coming here. After all, I'm finally studying exactly what I love and making my own decisions and getting time to myself..." She trailed off, then turned her gaze to meet her companion's. She watched the way her swinging red hair followed the movement of her body and how graceful her strides were compared to Zelda's. "It's not enough."
"You have to give it some time."
"I know."
For a time they walked in silence, until Riju looked her friend up and down and sighed. "What is it?"
"What if I'm one of those people who always dreams but never achieves? What if one day I'm old and while I sit and watch youths become leaders and artists and travelers, I have to constantly tell myself that I'm happy living the simple life, if only to mask the sadness inside?"
"Will you consider your life to have been pointless if that's the case?"
"I... I don't know."
"The truth is, you don't decide how much meaning your life holds. But, you can decide how much meaning to allow the Present to hold in your life. That means living unafraid of tomorrow. That means fighting for what you want every chance you've got... That means you stop waiting and start searching."
Zelda's voice grew quiet. "For what? Opportunity?"
Riju looked at her as Milk and Honey, the bakery they had been perusing the shops for, finally became visible.
"For whomever you want to be."