Chapter 7

Epilogue

Zelda and Link found a nearby stable where they were able to acquire a pair of horses. Link realized what an interesting time it would be escorting the princess around since no one knew her as the princess in this age, just a beautiful girl in a tattered dress. All the men in the stable stared at her and every move she made, eyeing Link in either envy or admiration. He felt uncomfortable with such for many reasons. She was still the princess in his mind's eye, and she required a certain decorum to be shown for one thing. For another, he did not like the idea of so many men looking at her. She demanded more respect than that. Alas, he could not control everything to such a degree so he merely did what he could and shot daggers at anyone who even looked at the princess with so much as a sideways glance until they were finally able to ride off to Kakariko.

They received a heartwarming welcome from Impa and even Paya, the sheepish girl Link felt uncomfortable around for knowing just a little too much about. Impa outfitted Zelda in traditional Kakariko garb, making her look more like a Sheikah than a princess.

Link felt his face color when she emerged from Paya's room.

"What is the matter, Hero? Do I remind you of the princess of old who disguised herself as a Sheikah boy for seven years until her chosen boy woke up again?"

"In a way, Princess. Excluding the fact that you could look remotely similar to a boy," he tossed her a wink.

The entire village celebrated the news that their princess had been returned to them. Link was eager to get to his house in Hateno where he and Zelda could have a moment of peace before the inevitable activity that would pick up within the next few days. But first they must rest.

After being sent off by the people of Kakariko, Link and Zelda rode side by side to Hateno, just like they had so many years before.

"This is so familiar," Link said as they rode in silence.

"This is the most peace I have felt since the last time we did this," Zelda replied.

They reached Hateno late in the night. The usual, peculiar fellow who ran the stables, Manny, was still standing guard when Link and Zelda arrived. After some bartering, Link managed to convince Manny to keep their horses for the night. Manny had refused at first, until that is, he saw the princess. Link tried not to roll his eyes or shove Manny to the ground after the way he salivated over his beloved princess. He kept his temper in check however, leading Zelda to his house around the corner.

Zelda was impressed by Link's ability to purchase a house in the middle of his expeditions, although the hero assured her it was really just being in the right place at the right time.

When they entered the house, the both nearly collapsed from exhaustion. Zelda sat on the small cot that was in the living room of the lovely house. Had he been completely alert and awake, he would have been embarrassed of the conditions he brought his princess to. But she did not mind. She loved his house. It was the most inviting thing she had ever seen.

Link sat next to where she sat with her head in her hands, saying nothing. Neither spoke for what felt like a long time. Zelda's thoughts ran rampant as she remembered her friends and her father that she lost. So much had happened. So much had been fought for since then.

A small cry escaped her throat. She tried to hold it in, but she soon saw no point. She leaned her head over in her hands and finally, finally grieved over her loss.

Link placed a hand on her back as she let out years of grief.

"Just cry," he whispered. "Just let yourself cry."

Zelda cried herself dry. She cried and cried until she certain she had no water left in her body. She cried herself to sleep, content with Link's loving hand on her back.

Her hero carried her up the stairs to the small bed that sat in his loft. He gently placed her down, pulling the covers up over her before bending down and kissing her forehead.

Link quietly retreated to his cot down below, being lulled to sleep by the sound of her breathing.

Days passed and the two of them healed together. At first it was hard. Either Zelda or Link woke up to nightmares, or woke up to the other one comforting them from a nightmare. But the fear would pass. They would fetch cups of water for each other, wipe the sweat off of one another's foreheads and then eventually return to their own bed and wake up to the sun the next morning.

Link supplied Zelda with new clothes from the garment store, although he did not have to pay for them once it was clear they were for the princess. Zelda thought about staying in the inn to give Link his bed back, but with her nightmares and the bit of anxiety she felt when apart from Link, the pair thought it best for her to continue sleeping in his loft.

Nights became easier, however. Days became more normal. Mornings became sweeter.

One morning, Zelda sat with her feet dangling off the edge of a small cliff that was decorated with waterfall. The cool breeze that blew down from the mountains blew her blond, free hair back from her face. Link found her sitting outside and joined her, sitting in the soft grass next to her.

"You aren't braiding your hair back anymore," he said as he handed her a jar of milk.

"No. I decided I felt more…liberated with it loose," she replied, opening the bottle and taking a drink of the ice cold milk.

"I like it," he said, opening his own bottle and indulging in the beverage next to her.

"Link," Zelda said quietly, swinging her legs. She looked around the beautiful area, admiring the grass the blew in the wind, the sound of the water falling over the rocks and into the pond beneath her and the distant laughter of children in the village. She inhaled deeply and took in the scent of the outdoors and watched an eagle fly high overhead.

"Yes, my love," he asked.

"I like our ordinary life," she grinned, feeling the warm sun kiss her face.

"I like it too," he said, kissing her cheek and following her gaze to the eagle above them.


A/N: Well, that was really fun. Thanks for sticking around with me during this fun summer mini-series of a Zelda fic I had a hankering to write. I hope you all enjoyed it. I just love writing these characters so much. I might just have to replay BotW. Alas, classes start tomorrow so my summer is officially over. But this was a great way to end it x) 夏の幸せな終わり !