Chapter 4 - Nightmares and Comfort
1 Month Later
Zelda was sitting in a field next to Link, her brown hair flowing in the wind. She looked over at him and smiled when she saw how happy and content he was. "The sunset is beautiful..." He said, looking at her with his sky blue eyes. She agreed and looked back at the sunset.
She then heard a weird noise come from Link, and when she looked over, she saw him lying in the grass dead, along with someone beside him holding a sword.
It was her being possessed by Ganon.
Her mind took her back to the time when she was possessed by Ganon and when she was attacking Link. She, rather, Ganon swung her sword and slashed Link across his body and he fell to the ground in a pool of blood. Her laughter sounded demonic as it rang through the throne room.
Link was barely holding on when a fairy appeared from his pouch and healed him, his tunic was still torn from the slice, but his wound had healed into scar.
"Tch, JUST DIE!" She yelled and swung at him again.
Zelda woke up screaming, sweat covering her face. Her heart was pounding as she tried to calm down. It was just a dream...
She heard footsteps running her way and the door flew open. Link stood in the doorway and looked over at Zelda, his face softening. "Princess..." He whispered and she looked over at him afraid. "I caused that scar..?"
He walked over to her and hugged her, trying to calm her down. "You also saved me that fight. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to defeat Ganon." She hugged back, afraid if she let go, her dream would become reality. "Do you want me to stay?" Link asked her, looking into her eyes. She nodded and to her surprise, he pulled out a red velvet pouch.
"Don't touch, you don't know what it would do to you." He warned, taking the shard out. She gasped at the sight of it. "I thought it..." She began as he tied a string to it and strung it around his neck, turning into Wolf Link. He hopped onto the bed and circled around her, looking at her, he sat down beside her.
She hugged him and dug her face into his neck fur, "I-I'm just so scared I'd lose you! You were the only one who understood my pain!" She began to cry and tell him all about her worries and about whats going on with her. He sat there silently, watching and listening to her. When she finished, tears were still rolling down her cheeks and she was still clinging to him.
His ears pricked when he heard someone coming down the hall. He poked Zelda with his nose and she let go of him. Just as the person entered the room, Link hopped down onto the floor and hid under the bed.
"Princess, are you alright? I heard you screaming." A maid asked, placing the candle she was holding down onto Zelda's nightstand.
"Yes, it was just a nightmare. I am fine." She reassured the maid who lingered for a few more seconds. "Well, alright. Just call if anything else happens. Goodnight your Highness." The maid curtsied and left, taking the candle with her.
After waiting a few moments, Zelda closed her door and Link crawled out from under her bed. She climbed back into her bed and patted next to her for Link. He hopped onto the bed and looked at Zelda, worry in his eyes.
"I'm alright now Link. Thanks to you, I've gotten all of that stress off of my chest." She smiled and he dipped his head. Before Zelda could lay down, Link wobbled over behind her and propped her pillow up, his body taking its place. He laid down and waiting patiently for Zelda to lay her head on him.
"Are you sure..? Hehe, you really do know how to take care of someone. Seriously Link, thank you." She smiled and carefully laid her head down onto him. He licked the top of her head and curled up around it. She was easily lulled to sleep by the rising and falling of his sides and Link was easily lulled to sleep by Zelda's scent.
Zelda woke the next morning on her pillow alone. There was a note on the pillow beside her.
Princess Zelda,
By the time you read this I'm probably already awake and gone. Don't worry, I just woke up to go train or something. I'm glad I could help you last night, and if you ever need to, I'll gladly do it again.
The Wolf,
Link
Smiling at his little letter, she got up. After getting dressed in her signature lavender dress, she walked around the halls. Today was her free day, so she could do anything she wanted. She decided to go visit Link, on her way to the training field, she caught a glimpse of Castle Town.
"Hmm... I still haven't properly thanked him..." She stopped and though up of something. "I know! I'll go get something for him."
She grabbed her hooded robe and put it on, pulling the hood over her head, she began to sneak out of the castle. Once she was out, she began her search for the perfect present. Speaking of which, didn't she hear one of the guards earlier say that tomorrow was Link's birthday? She decided she'd make her thank you gift a birthday present.
Looking around the shops, she decided to ask Telma what Link's favorite things were. She walked down the south road and entered the small alley that lead to Telma's bar. She knew Link frequently went there in his spare time.
Walking in, she saw some guards, some Gorons, and some regular hylians there. Walking over to the counter, she tapped on Telma's shoulder, causing the woman to turn around. "Yes?"
"Hello Telma. Can I ask you something?" Zelda asked. Telma looked confused until she noticed who Zelda was. Keeping her voice lowered, she leaned over towards Zelda, "What do you need, hun?"
"I was wondering if you knew some of Link's favorite things were, seeing it is his birthday tomorrow."
"Well, we all know his favorite color. But he does like collecting different types of shields and weapons. A hobby of his since the war has ended and he doesn't really have a use for his old gear that much. I'd say, he's had an eye on that new sword in the Malo Mart. It's a bit pricey though." Telma said, straightening back up.
"Thank you." Zelda smiled and Telma winked. "Tell him I said happy birthday." She said as Zelda left.
Walking over to the Malo Mart, she entered and instantly saw the sword Telma told her about. It was a beautiful sword with a green and blue hilt. It's scabbard was also blue, but with a hint of gold. "Excuse me, sir, how much is that sword?" She asked the person behind the counter.
"For now, it is 10,000 rupees."
"I'll take it." Zelda said, putting the rupee bag on the counter. She was handed the sword and she put it around her waist. "Is that all?" He asked.
"Yes, thank you." She bowed and left for the castle.
Once she snuck back into the castle, she hid the sword under her bed. It was almost the twilight hour, so she decided it would be best to visit Link finally like originally planned. Walking over to the training field, she saw Link practicing against a dummy. She watched him as he looked at the sun, that's when she saw it.
His eyes, the one bright blue eyes that were filled with life, now dull and empty.
She watched him as he just stood there, looking broken and lost. She ran over to him, "Link!"
He looked at her, not showing any emotion. She stood next to him, and looked into his eyes seriously. "Link, be truthful, what's wrong? And do not avoid this question."
"I-I miss her... She was the light that guided me... then... then she had to leave.." He began to break down and Zelda instantly hugged him, trying to comfort him like how he comforted her. He hugged her back tightly and they fell to their knees as he began to cry and ramble on how he wished that Midna didn't have to leave. She somewhat understood his feelings, but not at the degree he felt them. Midna was after all, one of his closest friends and the one to save him when he was in trouble. But after the war, she had to return to her own kingdom in a different dimension. Zelda was surprised about how easily the claimed Hero and Savior of the Land broke down. She waited for him to finish before she could speak up.
"I miss her too, Link. But she has her own Kingdom to run. I am here for you, so don't go do anything too stupid that would worry me. I care about you Link, I need you here for me!" She didn't know what she was saying anymore, but she continued. "Link... If you ever need anything, help or just company, I'm here. Don't be afraid to ask me or tell me anything! I won't keep secrets from you if you won't keep secrets from me." Zelda promised Link. He nodded in reply and she smiled.
"Thank you..."
The adorableness and saddness ends here, well, there will be more, just for this chapter though. Thank you guys for reading and I'll see you next chapter!
~Bye
-Stormi
