LOVE IN A TIME OF CALAMITY
Part 3: Letting Go
Chapter 25: The Rains of Lanayru
A/N: So I got this all published on Tumblr and AO3 on Monday but today was like, oh shit, I forgot to post it to FFnet! lol. Sorry about that. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Review responses are at the bottom, and an update to my publishing schedule as well!
Chapter Rating: T
Chapter Warnings: None
The morning was dry but overcast, dark clouds pregnant with the promise of rain looming overhead and making the sunrise dim and dreary. She awoke to the gentle shaking of her shoulder, and Link standing over her with a small smile. She smiled in return, blinking muzzily, not having remembered falling asleep. As Link turned to continue packing, she struggled upright, waging a battle with gravity to get her eyes to stay open. Her body ached with exhaustion and her limbs felt like lead. As her mind cast back to the day prior, she withheld a grimace as she realized the likely source of her unexpected weariness. She still wasn't quite sure how her magic worked, or the demands it placed upon her body. She had passed out for four days after sealing the calamity, and it had taken another three days to recover fully after that. The strange and unexpected magic she somehow performed to save the Sidon and Tumbo—that must be the cause.
She shuffled out of her sleeping roll, turning her gaze to Link as he finished tying up his bed roll. His eyes were focused and thoughtful as he gazed downward, his hands working quickly and nimbly to secure the ties for their journey. She smiled softly, feeling a warmth glow in her heart as she thought back on their conversation. She had trusted him implicitly ever since the Yiga attack in the Gerudo Desert; yet he had always kept his cards close to his chest, leaving her to wonder, and to fight to get him to verbalize his thoughts. To have him, finally, after all these months, speak so freely and openly with her… It felt as though he too finally trusted her in the same way.
He had given her something precious—a part of himself he kept hidden from most. She felt… honored, proud to bear the responsibility of sheltering his trust and touched by his faith. Maybe she really could live up to the promise she had made Mipha.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but he also seemed somehow lighter this morning, too. Not in some ways maybe, but nonetheless a weight seemed lifted from his shoulders, a shadow no longer cast over his face. Being able to talk to him and share her worries and concerns over the past several weeks had made the difference between her holding it together and falling apart; and she hoped, maybe, she had been able to offer him the same support.
Once Link was done packing, he dug into his bag and pulled out an apple, handing it to her before pulling out another for himself.
"Running a bit low on food. We can get something more filling on the road," he said with an apologetic smile. She accepted the offering without complaint before patting the ground next to her and taking a hearty bite. He came and sat cross-legged beside her, turning his body towards the entrance of the shrine as was hers. Little was said between them as they chewed thoughtfully on their meager breakfast, but the tension of the day prior was wholly absent—and in its place a quiet comfortability. It was that very comfortability which allowed Zelda's thoughts room to comb back through the chaos of the past few days, and attempt to make sense of it.
Though she was barely halfway through her trip, it had already proved to be nothing like what she expected. Part of her was honestly not sure how to proceed after the events in Zora's Domain. The Zora princess had wanted to MARRY her appointed knight who, as if being the personal guard to the Princess-Regent of Hyrule were not enough, was also a prominent member of the Hyrulean military, the most talented swordsman in the kingdom, and the chosen hero of the Goddess. Did that set a precedent for a change in relations between the Hylians and the Zoras? Was it to be simply… forgotten? Buried in the past along with Mipha? King Dorephan certainly didn't seem to bring it into much account during her visit, aside from his conversation with Link, so she was unsure what to think.
And what of the Wizzrobe? It was extremely unusual for one to be in such close proximity to a habited settlement—they haunted ruins and mountain passes, not large cities. And dare she even begin to wonder: what of her magic? Whatever she had done had been truly remarkable. Much like her power to seal Ganon, there was clearly some instinctual component that allowed her to access and wield other skills she had yet to consciously discover in times of great need. Perhaps, once she returned to the castle, she should set aside time to practice? To see what she could make manifest?
"Zelda?"
Zelda whipped her head away from the misty landscape and towards the source of Link's soft voice, only to find him standing beside her with a hand extended and a slight tilt to his head. She shook herself from her reverie.
"Oh, yes, sorry—lost in thought."
She accepted his hand and stood, and he merely smiled at her. Taking the last bite of her apple, she tossed the core out over the cliff edge—a nasty habit she indulged in only when on the road. Stooping to pick up her bag, she followed Link out of the shrine and into the dark, damp landscape to load up their horses.
They set off by mid-morning, the overcast sky only marginally lightening as they rode side-by-side along the Zora River. Little was said between them, though not out of spite as the silence the day prior had been. Zelda found herself once more swimming in her own thoughts, and it seemed, perhaps especially after last night, Link was as well. His eyes were far away as he rode beside her, and faint dark lines hung beneath them. She couldn't help but wonder just how much sleep he had gotten. She hoped sharing as much as he had hadn't worn on him more than it had helped.
By noontime they found themselves approaching the sandy shoreline where the river widened and merged with the Lanyru wetlands, and Zelda felt her stomach beginning to growl. They hadn't passed any traveling merchants despite this road often having many on their way to Akkala or Zora's Domain, and perhaps the weather was to blame. Though the sun was high enough now to pierce the clouds, somehow everything seemed darker than when they'd left. A chill permeated the air, and she pulled her cloak tighter around her as a breeze began to flap at the heavy material. She glanced over to Link to see how he was faring, only to find him staring critically up at the clouds, brow furrowed.
Zelda likewise turned her eyes to the sky, observing the thick, dark clouds. "Do you think it will rain soon?" she queried.
Link lowered his gaze and turned to her.
"Yes, we should probably hurry before-"
"Bananas! Delicious, ripe bananas for sale!"
Zelda's attention was immediately diverted by the unexpected voice, head swiveling towards its source. A hundred feet ahead of them on the side of the road stood a man with a large pack, waving to them and smiling.
"Bananas! Get your delicious, ripe bananas!"
Zelda felt her stomach grumble, their discussion of the weather momentarily forgotten at the prospect of food; and bananas were somewhat of a rarity, growing in only one region of Hyrule: the tropical forests of Faron, far to the south. She smiled brightly, turning back to Link.
"I could do with some bananas, what do you—" she stopped mid sentence when she saw Link's hardened eyes and tense shoulders. He quickly maneuvered his steed closer to her, subtly shaking his head. Zelda gazed back in confusion. What was wrong with bananas?
"What—"
"Keep moving. Don't make eye contact." His voice was low, too low for the salesman to hear at such a distance. She felt her heart skip a beat, but did as he instructed. She hadn't taken him at his word in the Domain, and after everything that had happened, she wouldn't make the same mistake twice. She turned her attention away from the salesman, feeling a bit mournful at the loss of a potential midday meal, and kept close to Link—spurring her horse on to keep pace with his increased speed.
The salesman kept up his sales pitch and smile for only another minute before falling silent. As they rode past, she could feel the man's eyes following her, his face much more sinister without the overly-cheerful salesman grin. A shiver ran up her spine, but she kept her gaze forward. They passed by quickly, but Link's vigilance remained high until they passed Zelo pond several hundred feet beyond.
When she saw his shoulders finally relax, she turned to him with question in her eyes.
"What was that about?"
Link shook his head, glancing briefly over his shoulder before speaking. "Later. The rain will start soon, so we need to focus on covering more ground."
Zelda nodded, burning with curiosity but trusting his judgment. With a flick of her reins, she hurried Ponli into a canter, hearing the beating hooves of Link's steed following close behind her.
-:-:-:-:-
The rain began as they passed the fork in the road near Thims bridge. The wind began to gust, blowing wildly through the trees and bringing with it the first drops of rain. It started slowly, beginning as a mere drizzle, but quickly intensified until water was pouring from the sky in sheets. When thunder boomed from the heavens followed quickly by a fork of lightning flashing across the sky, Link leaned towards her on his horse, shouting over the torrential downpour.
"The Woodland stable is just ahead, we can wait out the storm there!"
Pulling her cloak tighter around her to keep her body heat from escaping and the rain from her face, Zelda nodded emphatically. With a flick of her reins Zelda spurred Ponli on, eager for the dry safety of the stable.
A wave of relief washed over her as the stable lights came into view a few minutes later. She didn't slow her horse until she was within fifty feet of the entrance, coming to an abrupt stop as a young woman wearing a heavy overcoat came running out into the rain.
"Need to board?" she shouted over the din, approaching Zelda as she dismounted and landed with a splatter in the mud. Link spoke from behind her as he hurried toward the woman, leading Epona by the reins.
"Yes, two to board!"
The stable woman nodded, taking Epona's reins as Link turned to her. "I'll unload our bags. Head inside and get beds for the night—I don't think the rain will let up before nightfall." Zelda nodded again, eyes squinting against the wind and small strands of hair clinging to her wet face. She turned, splashing hurriedly towards the canvas flaps covering the stable doorway before water began to seep into her boots.
As Zelda pulled back the thick sopping fabric and stepped inside, the warmth and noise of the stable cheerfully greeted her. The large tent was filled with travelers, and the steady thrum of conversation met her ears. A group of four sat around the table leaning forward eagerly over a card game, their boisterous laughter echoing; a pair of identical-looking young men lounged against the wall near the saddle racks; and what seemed to be a traveling merchant sporting an enormous beetle-shaped pack sat propped up against the central wooden pillar adding sums in a ledger. However she gave only brief consideration to the stable's occupants, focusing instead on relieving herself of her sopping cloak as she made for the counter.
A friendly middle-aged man with a thin mustache and graying beard was rummaging in a low cabinet on the far wall behind the counter as she approached. Looking up briefly, he greeted her with a smile.
"Welcome to Woodland stable! Give me just a moment here and I'll be glad to help you."
Zelda nodded, offering a smile of her own, relieved simply to be out of the rain. "Alright, thank you!"
She leaned against the counter, catching her breath and taking a moment to gather her wits after their brief but fraught ride. It had truly been a torrential downpour, but at least they hadn't suffered it long. She momentarily closed her eyes, basking in the cozy warmth of the stable as her body warmed and her shivering eased. They might lose a day on their way to Rito Village, but at least they wouldn't catch their death braving the elements.
"Excuse me, miss…?"
Zelda's eyes popped open and she turned in surprise, finding one of the young men who had been lounging against the wall now leaning against the counter beside her. He had brown hair tied back in a ponytail and a small goatee trimmed to a point on his chin, and he was looking at her with unnerving interest.
"Are you single?"
Zelda blinked. Was she a single what?
"I'm… sorry?"
He grinned widely at her in a manner she presumed he thought was charming, but which rather made her skin crawl. "Are you single? Because if you are, I'd be more than happy to fix that most unpleasant of circumstances for you."
Suddenly it dawned on her—he was trying to… pick her up! Or hit on her, whatever the commoners called it. She felt her pulse spike and revulsion rise in her gut. A frown threatened to mar her features, but years of training in courtly behavior forced her to keep a polite smile in place.
"Oh, um… that's… very flattering, but I'm not, um… no. Thank you, but, no."
She repressed a grimace, feeling the distinct desire to smack herself. She was the Princess-Regent of Hyrule, not some stuttering fool! That had to be one of the single most embarrassing sentences she had ever spoken aloud. But… no one had ever dared be so… brash with her. Was this sort of crude attempt at flattery common? How did people normally respond to something like this?
Instead of apologizing or walking away like she had expected, he simply shook his head and gave her a coy smile. "Oh, sweetheart, you don't know what you're missing! Everyone wants a piece of the Domidak… I'm a famous treasure hunter, d'you know? It ain't often I'm available… Why don't you take advantage of this rare opportunity, eh? You and I could spend some time getting to know each other…"
Zelda felt distinctly uncomfortable as the man inched closer, desperately hoping Link would enter and be her saving grace. However, Domidak continued to stare at her with an unnervingly hungry gaze, and Link was nowhere to be seen. She felt her heart beat quicken.
"That's very… nice, but I—"
"Welcome! So sorry about the wait. Will you be staying with us?"
The stable master's interjection couldn't have been more welcome. Swiveling quickly on her heel, Zelda turned her attention to the man, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. As she stared at him, an idea suddenly blossomed in her mind. She nodded, smiling sweetly as she greeted him.
"Yes, thank you! I will need lodging for I and my husband," she emphasized the word as she glanced fleetingly out of the corner of her eye, "for the night; as well as for both our horses."
The man behind the counter smiled, pulling out a ledger from under the counter. "Two horses for boarding and one double bed for the night. You got it, ma'am! Just sign in here and I'll get your total tallied."
Zelda froze, hands tightening around her cloak as her brain stalled on the words 'one double bed'. But she couldn't request two, not in front of mister would-be charming; it would seem too suspicious and she didn't want to risk having her bluff called.
However, her worry over whether she had just made a mistake was momentarily allayed as the self-proclaimed famous treasure hunter visibly soured.
"You know, that husband of yours should really be takin' care of you—its a shame you have to pay for him," he huffed, then turned and headed back towards his companion lounging against the wall. Zelda let out a small breath.
"Sorry about him—Dom's one of our regulars. Never met a man with a more inflated ego, but its against regulation to ban customers unless they've broken stable rules, so please don't hold it against us. If I could just have you sign in here…"
Zelda's attention returned to the stable master who was offering her an apologetic smile as he pushed a notepad towards her on the counter. She picked up the quill beside it and nodded.
"Yes, of course."
However, as her pen came to hover over the paper, beneath the column labeled "guest name", she found herself facing yet another problem. She couldn't put her real name, nor Link's for that matter—It would rather invalidate the point of traveling in disguise. Thinking quickly, she set pen to paper and wrote in her looping, curving script, "Hilda Lorule", and beneath that, "Ravio Lorule". She smiled at her own cleverness—few would recognize the reference to the Princess and Hero of Hyrule's mythical parallel world—only the most educated scholars, most of whom resided at the castle or the Royal Lab, even had access to the texts containing that ancient legend. Satisfied, she returned the pen to its inkwell and smiled at the man.
"Excellent!" He glanced briefly down at the form before tucking it back under the counter, leaning atop the wood and smiling jovially. "Your total is 60 rupees, Mrs. Lorule."
Zelda quickly reached into the pouch at her waist and pulled forth the appropriate payment and extended it forth. The man deftly plucked the rupees from her palm before gesturing across the room.
"All set! Your bed is the one on the far left, please feel free to get settled in."
She smiled as a feeling of awkwardness began creep in, giving brief thanks before turning for the bed he indicated. A pit of anxiety settled in her stomach as she approached, the consequences of her lie returning forcefully to her mind.
A chair sat next to their bed and she used the backrest to hang her cloak out to dry before turning and slowly sitting upon the mattress. She took a slow, measured breath. She knew what the Knight's code entailed—knew that in the eyes of the court her sharing a bed with Link—however platonic—would be at minimum cause for an inquiry. Only the most upstanding and honorable soldiers were even appointed to guard a member of the royal family for the very reason that they would be exposed to potentially compromising and personal situations with their charge during the line of duty, and must be trustworthy enough to handle such situations with discretion and respect.
But at present, they weren't under the critical eyes of the court—they were far north of the castle, traveling as two nobodies; and in order to maintain their anonymity, it seemed certain… compromises, would have to be made. But was such a compromise reasonable?
It wasn't that strange, sharing a bed—right? Just last night they had fallen asleep right next to each other. Sure, they'd been in their own separate sleeping rolls and hadn't had much room in the shrine to begin with, but the concept was essentially the same… so why did the prospect of sleeping right next to each other, but in a bed, cause her nerves to explode into an anxious frenzy?
Her thoughts lingered fretfully on the subject, but upon hearing a flapping sound coming from the front of the stable she swiftly turned to see Link stepping through the canvas flaps, a bag under one arm and the wind whipping his cloak as he quickly glanced around the room. Butterflies erupted into a flurry within her, but she pushed the feeling away as she waved him over.
He walked towards her with quick strides, his cloak dripping water across the floor. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Domidak eying him critically from his spot along the wall, though Link paid him little heed. She felt the butterflies flutter and flap, and her nervousness must have shown on her face as Link's expression slowly narrowed as he got closer. She forced a smile as he approached the bed, setting the bag down on the seat of the chair as he pulled off his cloak and hung it from a nearby hook on the wall. He then leaned in, speaking lowly, his expression one of carefully disguised concern.
"What's wrong?" he whispered, and she nervously patted the bed beside her. He quirked a brow, but sat down without question. She could feel Domidak's eyes on their backs, and so she forced her smile wider, taking his hand. If Link was surprised by her unexpected gesture, he did a good job of disguising it.
"I, um… please… hear everything I have to say," she began, chewing nervously on her lip, "That man sitting along the wall—"
"The one staring at me when I walked in?"
It seemed Link had noticed, after all. She should have figured.
"Yes, him. His name is apparently Domidak. He…" she fiddled with the hem of her tunic briefly as she contemplated how best to explain what had happened. "While I was seeing to our lodgings he approached me and he… well, he was very interested in me, and didn't seem to want to take no as an answer…" She felt Link's hand tighten around hers, and his expression hardened.
"Was he inappropriate with you?"
The sharpness in his voice took her by surprise and the implication of his words made her blush profusely. She immediately released his hand, balling them against her belly as she vigorously shook her head.
"No! No, nothing like that, but I—when the stable master asked if it was just me who would be staying, I told him…" She hesitated, and Link nodded for her to continue, expression confused. "I… told him I would be staying with—with my husband." She felt her cheeks burn fiercely and she looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "It worked quite well to get him to leave me be," she continued quickly, "But… we only have one bed as a result."
Link continued to gaze at her with an inscrutable expression for several moments, during which she felt her stomach flip several times. However, slowly, his expression morphed into one of humor. Lifting her head, she saw him smiling, relief etched in his features.
"You had me worried for a moment," he admitted quietly, "I thought I was going to have to break our cover and arrest him."
Zelda felt unexpected relief, smiling at him sheepishly. "No, he seemed quite put off at the mere mention of the word. But…" she hesitated again, feeling her nerves spark once more. "We still only have one bed. If I request another, that would only do to draw attention."
At this, Link stilled, turning from her gaze as he stared absently across the room in thought. It was several moments before he spoke, turning back to her with determination in his eyes.
"I'll sleep in the chair—we'll just wait until everyone else is asleep before going to bed, and no one will be any the wiser."
Silence hung between them as Zelda considered his plan. It was a perfect solution, one that would allow them to maintain their anonymity while also preserving propriety, even if it did require a sacrifice on Link's part; yet she couldn't help but feel inexplicable disappointment. But really… what had she honestly expected of him, anyway?
"You don't mind?"
Link smiled softly, shaking his head. "No."
Though part of her had been hoping he would rescind his offer, she forced a smile—it was a potential problem resolved, at least, and now they could both relax for the remainder of the afternoon and evening.
"Alright, it's a plan. Oh—one more thing."
Link nodded.
"Your name is Ravio, and my name is Hilda; Lorule—Hilda and Ravio Lorule. At least, that's who I signed us in as."
Link tilted his head in amusement, quirking a brow.
"I—we couldn't use our real names, and they were the first names I thought of," she said sheepishly, "I hope you're not opposed to them."
Link smiled wryly. "Not at all, Hilda."
Zelda eyed him with amusement before smiling in return.
Review Responses:
aso083: Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! That's pretty much what I was going for-he just assumes, especially given the current situation, that she'll be pushed in a different direction and he'll be left in the dust, just another royal guard amongst many now that his role as hero is done. Thank you so much for your review, I'm glad you liked it!
Sarah: Haha, that's cute! Certainly a thought... I didn't have plans for anyone to go after Link in this story, although I'll have to think on that... could make for some amusement. Hm...
Nekotoko: But then they wouldn't be "#IdiotsInLove"! lol.
kansa: I love that! "Heated Fellowship". That's kind of what I was going for-not quite 'fighting' because they know each other and respect and care for each other too much for it to be a straight fight. We've got quite a ways to go before they return to the castle (Part 3 ends with their return to the castle), but I promise it'll be good once they do ;D
Leafshadow2: Thank you so much!
Nightwing2013: Lol, won't that be the crux of his struggle for chapters to come :O
nirvanaluvr24: Thank you so much that is so sweet and nice!
LuniaWolfe: How was the "we only have one bed" trope for fuel to the fire? lol
Beta117: This was the best comment and I totally laughed when reading it because I have done that myself SO MANY TIMES.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Publication schedule update:
Mon., March 4th: LIATOC, chapter 26
Mon., March 11th: Beneath a Midsummer Moon
Mon., March 18th: The Adventure of Bink
Mon., March 25th & April 4th: Publishing break (for taxes)