A/N: Early update this week! I'll be without WiFi for the weekend, so I'm posting now.

I want to just take a moment to thank Euivy for the thoughtful reviews I received last week. It made me beyond happy to know that people are enjoying how I am portraying Link's and Zelda's thoughts, as my main goal was to show development and characterization for them in Metanoia—especially with Zelda. The reviews truly made my day. So once again, thank you so, so much, Euivy—as well as everyone else that has left a review so far.

Anyways, onto the story. I'm both excited and nervous about this chapter...enjoy!


ZELDA

The bitter cold reaches me first, and I shiver instantly. My eyes open, blinking away the crystal snowflakes collected on my eyelashes. But then I feel warmth under my left hand, and look down to Link curled up against me, watching with patient eyes. He lifts his head upon seeing me awaken.

"There was a hero." My voice is quiet like I've been asleep for hours. Link listens quietly, and I remember with a pang of the new urgency of our quest. I pull myself into a sitting position, staring blankly at the blanketed world around us. It had snowed even more while I slept. Now the woods are silent, every sound muted under the white covering. Though it is a cold, harsh weather to be traveling in, it is a dangerously beautiful.

"After the Hyrulean Civil war," I continue. "He saved Hyrule from Ganondorf with the aid of the princess of the time."

Link's ears twitch slightly in the corner of my eyes. He's likely just as confused and surprised to hear the information as I am. He did not have the extensive education I did growing up and thus isn't as versed on Hyrule's history, but I know that he has read and learned enough in his time in the castle to know that there is no record of a hero within the past several thousand years.

My eyes meet his. "My ancestor undid the damage Ganondorf inflicted...but that meant no one remembered the hero's deeds. He sacrificed everything for the kingdom, and died as a nobody."

All is quiet for a long moment, and I gradually become aware of the chill of snow seeping through my clothes. I stand to my feet, gazing around for any sign of a pedestal. How can we ever find one in this snow?

But perhaps that isn't what we are supposed to look for this time.

"'Play the minuet to awaken the ancient guardian'," I repeat softly to no one. Link stands as well, looking about the trees. He lifts his nose in the air, sniffing the chilled air softly. I watch quietly as his ears suddenly perk, and he glances back at me. At once, he beckons me to follow him and starts as a quick pace deeper into the Woods.

I do not question him, nor ask what he has sensed. I simply follow after him, struggling to keep up with his fast steps. We wind through the trees, farther than we have wandered the past several days. As we walk, I make note of significant marks and trees in hopes of being able to find our way back. Though I am certain Link's sense of direction and senses could lead us back regardless.

The deeper snow makes it difficult to move, and I find myself sinking into the fresh fall and wishing for more practical boots for the conditions. The snow is seeping through the leather of my riding boots, making my toes go numb. I can only hope the Spring's water comes from beneath the earth where the water is heated.

Link suddenly bursts into a sprint, leaving me behind in the snow to follow his tracks. His gray form disappears into the trees, and I shout after him.

"Link! Wait! I cannot move that quickly—this cursed snow—"

Afraid to get lost in this puzzle of trees, I quicken my steps as much as I can and follow Link's paw prints. I stop to yank my cloak from the grips of a dead bush, and nearly crash into Link as I stumble free. Upon regaining my balance, I look to where Link is staring and nearly gasp.

A massive stone statue towering several heads taller than me stands in front of us. Its broad shoulders are covered in a layer of snow, and its oddly shaped head that reminds me of an aquatic creature peers blankly out from the covering. In its grasp is a long staff with two heads of a hammer on the top.

Link looks back at me expectantly. This must be the ancient guardian.

I look between the statue and Link as I retrieve my harp. Uncertainly, I play the minuet that my ancestor taught me. The sounds of the instrument seem out of place in the silent Woods, and they seem to be absorbed into the snow. I allow the final notes to hang in the air, then look up at the statue.

Almost instantly, a reddish light glows to life in the markings on its body. The statue shudders, a soft humming emanating from within the stone. The light reaches its eye sockets until they glow to life. I stumble back in surprise as it lifts its staff in the air, then slams the end of it against the ground.

"I am the guardian of Her Grace's Spring," an ancient voice resonates from the statue. "You must complete my trial. Only then can you enter the Spring of Courage."

It pounds the staff once again, slicing cleanly through the snow. I shiver as the air seems to change, and a undertone of something hangs around us. It reminds me of static before a thunderstorm, of something on the brink of erupting.

Then a howl slices through the tension in the air, and I whip around to look at Link. He is hunched in a defensive position, eyes darting around the trees as he growls.

The howl wasn't his.

I retrieve my bow from around my torso and string an arrow as more howls join the first. They slowly grow closer.

A snarl unlike Link's sounds from behind me, and I spin around with my bow's string pulled taught. I am met with the sight of a ghostly white wolf with piercing eyes and razor-like teeth.

A white wolfos. They're common in high altitudes like Snow Peak, but this far south?

I let my arrow fly as the wolfos lunges towards me, and it lands deep in its chest. It lets out a pained yelp and crumples to the ground. I avoid looking at the red blood blossoming in the snow beneath it.

More yelps catch my attention, and I look to see Link tangled with another wolfos. He bites hard into its throat, and the beast howls before going still. Another wolfos leaps toward him from the trees, and I shoot it from the air.

Link quickly lunges at two others that seem to appear from the snow like rising fog, engaging them in a flurry of growls and snapping jaws.

I choke on a gasp as a body slams into mine, and I lose purchase in the snow and slam on my back. My vision is instantly filled with white fur and gnashing teeth, and I gag against the overwhelming hot breath in my face. Quickly, I wedge my bow into the wolfos' jaw, struggling to hold it away from my face. A cry bursts from my lips as I feel its claws slice through the fabric of my sleeve and down to my flesh. A wet warmth trickles down my arm.

Feeling my strength wavering under the weight of the beast, I slip the hand of my good arm down to retrieve my dagger from my side and plunge it between the wolfos' ribs. I roll its body off of mine and stumble back to my feet to see Link finishing off the second beast. As I look around for signs of more, I wipe off the blood on my hand on the snow, trying not to think too closely about it.

All is eerily quiet as the last wolfos is finished off, and I pry my blade free and stand ready. Was that all? I certainly hope so, I pray silently. Link's breaths are unusually heavy, and I look over him once to ensure he is uninjured. I sigh in relief to see that any blood on his fur is not his. His eyes meet mine, then drop to my arm. He lets out a whimper of concern and begins to rush over to me, but the statue's voice interrupts his pursuit.

"You have done well."

It shifts from its standing position with creaking stone. The layer of snow on its shoulders flutters off as it holds its staff parallel to the ground and out from its body. It bows slightly.

"To complete the trial, you must best me in battle." It moves its staff closer to its body now, and its limbs coil, ready to spring into action. I yelp and roll to the side as it swings its weapon where my head was.

Link at once lowers and growls, then lunges at the statue with his teeth bared. The guardian is unnaturally quick for being made of stone, and catches Link with his staff and flings him away.

"Link!" I shout as he tumbles through the snow. The statue turns to me, raising its arm. I hop out of the way, nearly falling again as my feet sink into the covering beneath me.

I hate snow, I decide.

Regardless, I cock another arrow and raise my bow to aim at the statue's head. My injured arm protests from the movement, but I ignore it stubbornly. The arrow flies and plinks against the stone with a noisy clatter, then falls to the ground. The guardian remains completely unaffected, much to my disappointment and terror.

I check my quiver, and count five more arrows. I'll have to make them count.

Link regains his footing, shaking snow from his fur, but looks otherwise unharmed. We both circle around the statue, remaining defensive and dodging the occasional thrusts and swings of its staff.

How can we possibly disarm a being made purely of stone?

But that's when I notice the positioning of its arms and staff. After each attack, it quickly brings its staff to cover the circular marking on its abdomen. As soon as my eyes spot the marking, the statue notices and swings at me. I barely hop back in time, and feel the gust of air throw stray pieces of my hair back.

Link rushes to stand in front of me, staying defensive. I catch his eye, and make a pointed look at the statue's stomach. Link registers the movements, turning to look back at the guardian. Realization settles on his features, and he sets into action immediately.

He runs around the statue, barking harshly and darting in and out of the range of its staff. I pull the string of my bow taught, waiting for an opening of the marking on the guardian's stomach.

It seems to understand our plot at once, and struggles to keep its weak spot covered while fending Link off. I circle around it, keeping my breaths even and arms steady as Link tries to distract it. The statue catches sight of me and moves to swing at me, but Link lunges at his stomach and it quickly turns back to jab him away.

I seize the opening at once, letting my arrow loose. The fletching brushes against my cheek as it flies from my bow, whizzing in the air until it lands deep in the glowing marking on the guardian's stomach. The exhilaration of victory buzzes in my blood at once.

Everything goes still as we watch the light in the statue's markings fade from red to an calm blue. It relaxes back into a standing pose at once, settling its staff back on the ground.

"The trial is complete. Follow me."

With that, it turns and walks through the snow with heavy footsteps that deceive of the agility it displayed only moments before. Link and I glance at each other, and then step to follow it.

The guardian of the Spring leads us deeper into the Woods until we reach a massive cliff side rising up toward the tree canopy. It walks up to a section of the cliff wall covered with dead vines and places its massive hand against them. A hum rings through the still air, and blue lights similar to the ones on the statue glow from beneath the dead plants. A rush of stale air meets my nose as a section of the stone beneath the vines disappears. The statue turns to us, its duty fulfilled.

"Go forth, and meet Her Grace." It steps to the side, settling into the same position we found it in, and slowly goes dark. I watch it for a moment, practically expecting it to move again. But it remains cold and still. I pull my arrow from its stomach and place it back into my quiver.

I turn to the opening and push the vines out of the way, allowing Link and I to step through. We follow through the short stone corridor, then enter the entrance of the Spring. Sconces on stone pillars flare to life as we walk past them, bringing a slight warmth to the chilled air. We climb up a short staircase and are met with the Spring.

Unlike the previous one, this Spring has an open ceiling that reveals the gray sky. Massive walls create a bowl-like surrounding and above them are massive trees of the Woods. The water is as still as glass, and I feel a familiar power emanating from it.

I settle my packs on the stone ground. Link looks at me once, nods, then sits with his back to me and the Spring. I inhale a steadying breath, then begin tugging my clothes off. I hiss in pain as the fabric pulls on the lacerations on my arm, and feel fresh blood tickle down my skin. I look down at the wound, cursing internally at the sight. It's not deep enough to need stitches, but it will definitely need attention once I am done. I finish undressing and unbraid my hair, then move to step into the waters. The cold winter air against my bare skin makes me shudder, and I hug my arms to myself in an attempt of staying warm.

My foot glances against the layer of ice on the surface, and I resist the urge to huff a sigh of frustration. So much for the water being naturally heated. I break through the ice with my heel, biting back a cry as the freezing water sends needles of pain through my legs and sucks the breath from my lungs. I press on, wading in to my waist even as tears spring to my eyes and my legs instantly go numb.

I make my way to the center of the Spring through the layer of ice, and I am already shivering violently against the chill. My eyes find the goddess statue's, dull and worn with weather.

"Holy Goddess Farore," I manage to whisper through my teeth. My voice is quavering. "I come seeking help."

I feel a surge of energy at once, and all air leaves my chest as I am yanked into the icy water.

-o0o-

I am acutely aware of my slow heartbeat as I fall through the water, and count the seconds until am suddenly standing in the Sacred Realm once again. I breath the warm air around me at once, grateful for the change in temperature.

My eyes open to see a woman garbed in ivory robes similar to Nayru's.

Farore.

She is shorter than Nayru, though still taller than me. Her loose hair is a shimmering green color that reminds me of the grasses of Hyrule Field in the summer. The strands shift and lift as if there is a breeze, though the air feels still. A similar golden circlet lays on the crown on her head, though this one's pendant displays her symbol of a three circles settled together to create a single one.

Her eyes are kind and cheerfully emerald, and she wears an easy smile on her face.

"You have done well, Bearer of Wisdom."

"Your Grace," I reply and bow at my waist.

She makes a scoffing sound and waves away my formality. "I have never cared for such displays, young one. Do not waste your energy."

I straighten at once, heeding her words. She offers me a grin.

"What brings you here, wise one? Perhaps you simply wished to pay your old Goddess a visit?" Farore asks with an amused twinkle in her eyes. "Though you descendants of Hylia are normally much more demanding than that."

I blink in embarrassment, and open my mouth to defend myself.

"I only jest," she smiles kindly, cutting off any words I was about to say. "It is an honor to aid your blood."

"It is not only I that seeks your blessing," I say slowly, and she lifts an eyebrow in interest. I relay the situation of the curse upon Link and I, and that we have already visited Nayru. She hums in reply and taps her lips with her finger.

"I see. I suppose I ought to aid the man who bears my portion of the Triforce, especially considering he was successful in his fate. Not to mention you both passed my trial to arrive at my Spring."

Her words make me stop. She phrased it almost as if there was a chance Link would not succeed...does that mean there have been other heros in history that failed to fulfill their destiny?

"Well, wise one, I will offer you my blessing on one condition."

I incline my head respectfully. "Anything, Your Grace."

Farore gives me playful grin and shifts her weight to one hip as she presses her fingertips to my forehead.

"Take good care of your hero, all right?"

She offers a wink as my vision begins to fade away.

—-

LINK

My thoughts snap into focus as I hear Zelda burst from the water behind me, coughing and gasping. She wastes no time in wading back to the shore, and I listen as she steps onto the stone. My ears twitch as she mumbles something too quiet for me to hear, and I wait as she pulls her clothing back on.

While she was gone to wherever the Goddesses had taken her, I gathered the driest wood I could find to prepare for a fire. The water is undoubtedly freezing cold, and I know she will need heat as soon as possible.

"Farore awaits," Zelda whispers through clenched teeth, and I turn to see her shivering violently. Her clothes are already soaked through with the water that was on her skin, and the droplets on her face look as though they're already crystalizing from the cold air. Her lips are dangerously pale as she settles down on the ground.

She stares at me when I don't enter the water. "L-Link…you need...y-you..." Anything she was about to say is cut off with another violent shudder, and she fumbles to pin her cloak around her shoulders.

I shake my head and arrive at her side, checking her eyes. They're strangely blank. Urgency sets in at once, and I whimper desperately and nudge her clothing. Zelda just blinks at me, clueless and dazed. I take the hem of her trousers in my teeth and tug, trying to make her understand. If she stays in these wet clothes, her core temperature will drop dangerously.

Her eyes follow down to the hem of her pants, and she slowly seems to understand. Normally she is so perceptive and quick—and it worries me that her motor skills and mind seem to be slowing.

As she pries away her wet clothing, I dig through her pack to find the woolen blanket she had brought, as well as more dry clothing. I curse mentally that we didn't bring her horse with extra supplies. The Woods are too dense to bring her, and her weight could have collapsed air pockets beneath the snow and broken her legs. But now, I wish we had risked it if it meant extra clothing.

All I find in the pack are my own clothes and along with the fur blanket. I push the blanket towards her, careful to avert my eyes and give her privacy. I look away as she throws it around her shoulders, trying to find her own clothes. I had brought along some of my own shirts and trousers for the journey back from the final Spring once I am finally been returned to my Hylian form. She may need them if the hypothermia continues to worsen.

I nearly flinch as I feel a hand at my back, and turn carefully to see Zelda wrapped in the fur blanket, clutching it closed as her throat. Only the slightest hue of color has returned to her face, but it is an improvement nonetheless. Relief floods me at once.

The snowy weather is not only inconvenient, but threatening as well. Rusl told me once about his father who once braved the forest during a particularly cold winter in search of game to feed his family. But the weather was ruthless, and he hadn't prepared well. He spent nearly two days missing before the village men found him, half-frozen and nearly dead in the snow. Though he was returned to the village before the cold claimed his life, the frostbite rendered his hands useless.

But upon looking, Zelda's fingers are slightly pink, and show no sign of frostbite. I breathe in relief, ignoring the heat in my chest as the fur of the blanket brushes against the skin of her bare arm.

"Thank you," she says softly. She retracts her hand back beneath the folds of the blanket and moves to start the fire. Her fingers still quiver. Quietly, I lay out her soaked clothes on the stone next to the flames, hoping they'll dry quickly.

Now that her temperature is stable and the fire is roaring to life, I approach the water. As I swim through the biting chill, I realize that for the first time since being cursed, I am grateful to be in wolf form. If not, the water would freeze me to the core just as it did to Zelda.

I stop and float just in front of the goddess statue, waiting until a flash of green light sparks and absorbs into my skin. A familiar surge of power buzzes through my veins, burning away the feeling of cold from my toes.

But this time the light doesn't disappear. It grows brighter until it is practically blinding me, and my head is spinning from the overwhelming magic.

Is this supposed be part of Farore's blessing? I consider in a moment of panic. But soon thoughts fade from my mind, and my consciousness leaves.

-o0o-

Zelda sighs and leans her elbows against the stone railing on top of one of the castle walls. The movement is the slightest crack in her usual straight-back composure, and it makes me strangely glad knowing that she is more relaxed around me. Her eyes reflect the blazing sky as the sun settles into the horizon, and a noticeable sorrow hangs in the air. A sorrow that only we feel as dusk.

I search her face quietly as I also lean against the railing. There's something more than the usual reminiscence, something that I've noticed has been churning under her mask for quite some time now. I rarely get to see her close in person, but the look is unmistakable. I remain quiet, knowing she'll tell me when she's ready.

She does.

"Do you ever wonder if destiny chose you wrong?" Her voice is quiet, no louder than a leaf rustling in the wind.

"Yes," I admit. "But seeing where it has led me so far, I realize that perhaps it chose correctly."

Zelda shakes her head slightly. "But what if your duty is not yet fulfilled? What if there is more to come that you cannot control no matter what you may want?"

-o0o-

"...Link? Goddesses, please wake up..."

My limbs ache and feel as though they're filled with sand. My mind struggles to resurface, but I fight against the wave of tiredness that nearly pulls me back under. My eyes slide groggily open, and I see Zelda leaning over me with open concern on her face. It quickly melts into relief as she watches me wake.

"I was terrified," she breathes, and vaguely I note that she is now dressed in her dry clothing. I slowly become aware that I feel...different. My senses are muffled and less sharp, and the cold air seems to chill me more than before. I take a deep breath as I begin to understand.

"How do you feel?" Zelda asks cautiously, and I suddenly register her hand cradled gently against my face. I can feel that it is now warm—a stark difference to after she had climbed out of the Spring. But even more strangely, I can feel the skin of her palm against my skin.

I lift my arm and see skin, not fur.

I'm Hylian. I have arms and toes and hands and—

"Fingers," I mumble aloud gleefully as I flex my hand experimentally. No more useless paws.

Zelda laughs at my daze proclamation.

My heart stops.

Instantly, my eyes return to her, and I watch in awe to see her smiling—actually smiling—and it lights up her entire face. She self-consciously lifts her hand and presses the back of it to her lips as she tries to stifle the smile unsuccessfully. Her blue eyes twinkle.

She's beautiful, I realize as I smile along with her. My heart seems to heat inside my chest.

"Yes," she says after some time, face still glowing, "I can imagine you would grow to appreciate your digits after living without them."

In that moment, I finally put a name to the relentless heat in my chest with a note of terror, of the inexplicable draw I feel toward her.

I've fallen wholly, irreversibly, and hopelessly in love with the queen of Hyrule.