The door closed with a small thump, and Links hand rested on its wooden surface. Uli was sat by the side of his bed, leaning back in a chair, watching Zelda sleep with the attention a mother paid to a child.
Uli's eyes remained on Zelda as she whispered to Link, "I had to leave the room while they healed her, I'm sorry I didn't stay, but there was just so much blood."
Link was watching Zelda as well, observing the rising off the blankets as she breathed in and out, and how they ruffled slightly each time.
It was a few moments before he replied but when he did it was just as hushed as how Uli had spoken, "I understand, there's no need for an apology. I would have found it hard to stay as well." He laughed hollowly.
Uli's face softened in sympathy for the young man as she pulled his old stool up beside her, "Why don't you sit down dear."
He nodded, and took the seat beside her.
Zelda cracked her eyes open and groaned at the stiffness she felt in the base of her back. She moved a hand down her side until she found a clump of fabric wrapped around her waist; she fingered the layers of the material, and shrieked as a spark of fire shot up her side. She pushed her hand firmly onto her side, trying to numb the pain, and ground her teeth together until the hurt lapsed into a dull throb. Her eyes had shut on reflex, and therefore she was surprised when she felt hands trying to manoeuvre her own away from her waist.
"It'll need time to heal." The voice murmured, and she opened her eyes to see Link with his head turned away, avoiding her wilted stare.
He took a breath then continued, "I'm sorry-"Zelda made to interrupt him but he shook his head, "No, really, I'm truly sorry." He moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue, then continued, "They say, Rusl and the others," At her confused look he elaborated, "They helped to heal you – that you'll have to stay in bed for a few days. Wait for the wounds to properly start to recover, and then we'll take things slowly."
Zelda smiled sadly, "No more days at the ranch for a while."
Link smiled at how generally disappointed she looked, "Aye, but no worry, I'll make lots of soup."
Zelda laughed, and then tried to quiet down as they heard Uli shuffle on her makeshift pallet at the other side of the room.
It was five tedious days before Rusl cornered Link, after he'd finished his work at the ranch, to tell him Zelda would be allowed out of the house. Uli had spent the days with Zelda, bringing Colin with her sometimes, and Link usually came home to find that they were still sat talking. Of course, he'd seen Colin as well; the child came and sat with him on the hills, and Link often heard stories that Zelda had told him about warlocks and sorcerers, and other mystical beings. Link enjoyed listening to what the lady had told Colin, the stories were intriguing and helped to pass the time while he watched the goats on his shift. Of course he had mentioned them to her, and was rewarded with a blush as she muttered that they were just something she'd made up, he would laugh and tease her until she rebuked with offences to his soup; fake horror was beginning to be a speciality of his. Link had to admit, though, that he was surprised by how happy Zelda had been when he'd said she could go with him to work the next day, he never looked forward to work.
That following day was peaceful. Zelda lay back in the grass, some pieces tickling against her cheek, and fiddled with several small flowers she'd found, tying them together, then threading them through each other. Link stopped herding the goats – they were so docile that day that he felt no need to use Epona - and watched her as she concentrated on the small buds. He smiled softly before looking down at the ground; tugging on the bottom of his worn tunic, and frowning when he saw several unravelled threads. He sighed, and pulled on it once more, so that didn't rumple at the sides, walking forward to lead the final goat into the barn.
The quiet days continued that way for several weeks, Link finding any excuse to avoid Ilia meeting Zelda, and he couldn't help but notice how she looked out of the window in his home. Her eyes drooping and her face forlorn; she was going to leave, he felt it.