It was through a hazy lens that Zelda saw everything that was going on. If someone spoke to her, she answered automatically, but she couldn't consciously remember anything that was said. She was numb, physically and emotionally, as the men carried Link into a downstairs room of the inn.
"I'm so sorry, Princess. We don't have a healer here… the best we can offer is a bottled fairy that will help restore some health." One man came to stand next to her. She couldn't remember his name, assuming he'd even shared it with her.
"Use the fairy. I have some ability to heal as well. I only hope that it'll be enough…" Zelda watched as they moved Link's limp form onto the bed, face down. His snowquill tunic and cloak were shredded from the bottom of his right hip through all of his left arm. Blood stained all that remained. Bone and flesh were exposed from the mangled remains of his arm clear to the base of his spine. She fought the urge to gag, turning while the men grabbed the fairy.
The magic of the tiny creature repaired part of the injury to his arm, and mended two of the broken vertebrae, but nothing further. The second man, a portly, middle-aged Hylian shook his head sadly. "I've never seen someone recover from such injuries. It'd take a miracle for him to make it through this."
Tears rose in Zelda's eyes, and she shook her head vehemently. "I refuse to give up. Leave me to pray over him. Hylia will be merciful. I know she will!" she insisted.
"As you wish, Princess. If you need anything, just call for us. Don't worry about the tab for the room. It's the least we can do for you, as thanks for killing that savage brute."
The door closed, leaving Zelda alone with her badly wounded knight. She discarded her cloak, muff and gloves, kneeling at the bedside.
"Princess, Masker Link will require significant healing to restore him. In your present state of mind and body, you are incapable of accomplishing this fully," Fi spoke from the far side of Link's bed.
"I don't care! I have to try! Otherwise, he's going to die! He promised me…" Tears flowed over Zelda's cheeks. "I cannot bear to lose him again."
"Tears will not aid in healing Master Link. My calculations state he has a-"
"Don't tell me what his chances are for survival! Hang the odds!" the princess snapped at the spirit. "Whether he lives or dies is up to the Goddess Hylia, and for no other reason. Now, if you're not going to assist me or offer any constructive guidance, I suggest you leave me to my duty!"
Fi studied the flushed princess and gave a slight nod. "Call if you require my assistance."
Zelda lifted her eyes toward the heavens in silent pleading, then slowly closed them. "Goddess above, hear my cry… I ask for nothing more than the strength to heal the man to whom I owe my life. Return the strength to his body, restore him, and fortify his soul."
Her palms glowed a brilliant shade of gold, and she felt the tingling in her veins of the healing magic flowing through her. Ghosting her hands over the worst areas in his spine first, she incessantly prayed, silent words requesting the bones be made whole, the tissue and flesh returning to their natural state. Time stood still for her as she prayed and worked her way over his mutilated form.
Her body gave out before she could heal everything, and she collapsed to the floor in exhaustion with a loud thud.
"Princess? Princess!" The innkeeper's wife and daughter heard the sound and came to check on her. "Are you ill?"
"No," she said weakly. "I need to heal him… he's not healed enough yet."
"Rest, Princess. Please. You'll exhaust yourself and be of no use then. Lydia! Run and get some of the fortified pumpkin soup that we made this morning. And hurry!" The older woman, Mara, commanded her daughter.
"Don't trouble yourself on my account," Zelda protested as she was assisted into the second bed in the room. "I'll be fine. I just need to take a minute," she admitted. The room spun around her, and she could barely hold her head up.
"Oh, hon, you can't even sit up anymore. You just rest here for a minute or two. I'll check on your knight, and then Lydia will be here with your soup as soon as she can." The matronly woman fussed over her, removing her boots and her bloody clothes. "My goodness, child. He really was in a bad shape, wasn't he? Now, where did that husband of mine set your bags… we need to get you into some clean clothes, and I'll wash out these furs. Blood tends to stain, but I'm sure we can figure something out to get it all taken care of for you."
Zelda didn't even have the strength to cry or protest when Mara helped her change to a nightgown. Lydia returned then, and pulled up a chair to help the exhausted princess eat while her mother worked on removing the bloody clothes and changing the sheets on Link's bed.
"By the Goddess… how injured was he when you came in?" Mara's mouth fell open when she pulled the remnants of fabric free, leaving the wounded Champion clad only in his underwear..
"His back was flayed open like a fish," Lydia supplied. "I watched Father help carry him in. "And his left arm was nearly detached from his shoulder too."
"Lydia. You need to see this," Mara encouraged, her hand covering her mouth.
In the space of several hours, Zelda had managed to mend the internal tissue, and reattach his arm, completely healing the last of the damage the fairy had been unable to on the limb. The skin on his back was nowhere near normal, but anyone could tell that it was better than it had been.
"I've never seen anything like that… he should be dead, Princess." Mara turned to the weary young woman, her gaze softening when she realized the blonde was asleep.
"She saved him, Mother?" Lydia asked, awe in her tone.
"She did. She wore herself out completely. She was right, though. He's not fully healed, and I anticipate it'll be a bit before they can leave us. But at least he's not going to meet the Goddess tonight. Come, Lydia," Mara gestured to her daughter. "We'll leave them to rest. Hylia knows, they'll need it. We'll take turns checking the fire tonight to ensure they stay warm. He can't handle a blanket at the moment, except on his legs."
Giving a final glance at the sleeping pair, the matron shook her head. "Goddess, grant them a break. These two young people certainly need it."
Zelda startled awake, thrashing wildly until she realized she was laying in bed, not face to face with a monster trying to kill her. She didn't remember falling asleep, and yet, she must have. Sitting up, her eyes landed on Link. She watched his prone form for a long minute, relaxing when she saw the gentle rise and fall of his chest. They had made it through the night.
She slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the washroom to take care of her needs and clean her face. Her fingers quickly redid the braid across the front of her hair, and she finger-combed the remainder of her short locks. The rest had been much needed, whether she had cared to admit it or not.
The sound of humming startled her when she stepped back out of the washroom. Her eyes landed on Mara, where the graying brunette-haired woman knelt stoking the fire. "Morning, Princess. How are you feeling?"
"Much better," Zelda replied, walking the few steps to Link's bedside. "Has he stirred?"
"Not yet. I have a feeling that when he does, he'll be in pain, despite the healing you gave him," she commented soberly.
Zelda sat on the edge of his bed, and smoothed his hair away from his eyes. "Is there any way to tell if he's in pain now?"
"I'm afraid not. We'll just have to wait for him to wake up and tell us. We have some medicinal herbs to ease pain. I'll bring them so you can take a look. I'll have breakfast brought in for you shortly as well. Don't try and heal him further 'til you've eaten." Mara shot her a stern look. "We don't need you passing out from exhaustion again."
The princess gave a soft smile. "I won't. You have my word."
"Good. I had a feeling that you would see reason," Mara added another log onto the fire. "I've sent my husband to Rito Village to replace your knight's cold weather clothing. It was what he wore before, so we felt it would be best to keep him in the same thing. I'm cleaning your snow clothing, and hoping I can get the blood out and make them fully white again."
"Thank you for your kindness. I have no way to repay you at the moment, but know that your generosity will not go unnoticed," Zelda murmured, her blue eyes focusing on Link's back.
"Think nothing of it, child. We'd have done the same for anyone. You showed such bravery… facing that horrible brute like you did," Mara straightened and walked to the bed. "He's going to be okay. He's a fighter."
"He always has been," the princess whispered, stroking his hair.
"Lydia should have breakfast nearly done by now. I'll be back in a couple minutes." Mara rested a hand on Zelda's shoulder. "Don't fret over him. He's going to pull through."
"I pray that you're correct."
The door closed with a soft click behind the woman, but Zelda barely registered it. She was too busy focusing on her blond knight lying motionless on the bed. "Link… open your eyes. Just, tell me that you're going to return to me. I can't bear to lose you… not again. I… I... love you," she finally admitted, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to heal you completely yet. As soon as I'm able, I'll finish mending the wounds. I can't keep something like this from scarring. But if that's the cost for keeping you alive, I doubt it's something you're going to find fault in."
Her fingers looped through a long lock of his hair, and she leaned down to press a gentle kiss on his forehead. "I love you, Link… I have for as long as I can remember. I was just too stubborn to admit it. Perhaps, once you're better, I'll be able to say the words to you directly."
Mara paused in the doorway, a bed tray of food and tea in her hands. The sight before her broke her heart. The princess was laying across the edge of Link's uninjured shoulder, whispering softly into his ear. Tears rolled down the blonde girl's face, dripping onto his hair. Both mind and spirit was broken for the young couple. Of this, Mara was certain, despite the young man being unconscious. She cleared her throat gently, trying not to startle the princess again. "I have your breakfast, and some hot tea for you."
Zelda sat up, hurriedly wiping her tears on the long sleeves of her nightgown. "I'm sorry. Let me just-"
"Don't apologize to me, child. You take all the time you need," Mara interrupted. "I'm going to set your breakfast down on your bed, then I'm going to get those herbs I was telling you about. If you want some company, once I'm back, I'll stay while you eat."
"Yes, please," Zelda answered, hugging her arms around herself. The woman reminded her of her late mother, and she found herself wanting to spend as much time as she could with Mara.
"Then you sit your backside down and eat. You need some meat on your bones. Don't think I didn't notice that last night. We can't have our princess wasting away," Mara gently scolded.
Zelda gave a half smile and moved back to her own bed. She poured some of the hot beverage, added two spoonfuls of sugar and stirred it, inhaling the pleasant aroma. "You added mint into it," she breathed. "I haven't had mint tea since I was a little girl."
"Mint soothes the stomach and clears the mind. I thought it fitting. Drink up. I'll be back shortly," Mara stated.
The princess sipped her tea slowly, watching the rise and fall of Link's chest. Prior to the injury, he always slept on his back or on his side. It felt unusual to see him constantly on his stomach, but until he was recovered, or awoke, she wasn't going to try and change his position.
Breakfast went by before she knew it. Zelda found herself eating subconsciously while she chatted quietly with the innkeeper's wife. Mara was a wealth of knowledge when it came to herbs and herbal remedies. The notebook in which Zelda kept track of information proved to be invaluable, and several pages filled quickly with medicinal properties for the flora within Hyrule.
"Would you like to stay with me while I heal the remainder of his injuries?" she offered.
"Heavens, no. I would just be a distraction. But you remember what I told you. If he wakes up, just holler, and I'll get him some light soup to settle his stomach," Mara stood and brushed off her apron. "I'll be back in a few hours with some soup for you at least. Don't overexert yourself, you hear me?"
"I won't," she promised. Her gaze drifted to Link's form again as the woman took her leave. A knot of anxiety swelled in her stomach. His color was better, but he'd lost a lot of blood. He'd be weak when he awoke, despite the healing she'd provided.
Taking a seat on the edge of the left side of the bed, she ran her fingers through his blond hair before she put her hands over the wounds that remained. Speaking in a low voice, her prayers began. It took several moments for the healing glow to materialize and strengthen, but she didn't waver. She couldn't doubt. Link needed healing, and the Goddess Hylia would strengthen her and allow her to do what needed to be done. Murmured words flowed from her mouth, ebbing and flowing with her emotional pleas.
Gradually, the tissue and skin wove itself back nearly to normal, a scar forming in a long line where the Lynel's sword had cleaved through the Champion. Zelda silently wished she could have healed it without leaving a scar, but alas, the Goddess left reminders of what she brought her people through. His left arm was scarred but it was minimal compared to his spine. The glow receded from her hands, and she let out a breath she'd subconsciously been holding. He didn't stir or react, and she felt a twinge of disappointment. She had hoped he would immediately wake up after she had healed him. She looked at the long, red ragged scar across his skin and sighed softly.
She moved over to her bed, turning to get a glass of water off the nightstand. A harsh, raspy cough from behind her startled her, and she dropped the cup with a clatter. Whirling, she saw Link clutching his chest on his side, still coughing. "MARA!" she cried out, fighting the swarm of emotion swelling in her. Grabbing the teacup from earlier, she poured a bit of water from the jug and knelt by his side. "Link. Take a sip of water."
The Champion's eyes struggled to focus, and he was too weak to take the cup, so Zelda pressed it to his lips so he could take a swallow. The coughing eased just in time for the innkeeper's wife to come to the doorway. "He's awake, good. Did he tell you what pain he has?"
Zelda shook her head. "He just woke up and started coughing."
"Keep having him sip water. I'm going to heat up some light soup for him. Give him some of the herbs if he's in pain. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Link's breathing came in ragged gasps, his hands pressing against his chest. "Hurts. Bad." He stammered, fighting to keep his eyes open.
Zelda grabbed one of the herbs and pinched it into a ball that she slipped into the edge of his mouth. "Chew this one but don't swallow. I'm going to create a poultice with these other herbs to apply. Is it your ribs or back?"
"Back," he panted.
Zelda pulled up her notebook and stood at the nightstand, preparing a mixture of herbs and grinding them with a mortar and pestle into a thick paste. "Lay on your stomach, please," she softly urged. "It'll be easier for me to apply."
He grunted through gritted teeth but slowly complied. He chewed slowly on the strange tasting leaves, feeling himself relax and the intensity of the pain ease. It still felt like he was being sliced open when her fingers ran over his back with the herbal mixture, and he hissed in pain.
"Do you remember anything of what happened?" she asked.
"It was snowing. I was getting my bow… then searing pain, and darkness," he croaked slowly. His voice was still raw from coughing, though the herb he chewed helped a little.
"Nothing since then?" Zelda asked, her fingers lingering near the top of the ropy scar.
"Not 'til I couldn't breathe and woke up coughing. Hurts to sleep on my stomach."
"... I'm glad you're going to be okay," she whispered.
"Me too," he yawned.
Zelda brought a small bowl for him to spit the now-bitter herb into, setting it aside. "We have Hylia to thank for that. Rest and work on recovering your strength."
A soft snore was the only response she got. Zelda sat back on the edge of the bed and fought back tears. He hadn't heard her confession. Part of her was relieved. The other, disappointed. Regardless, he'd awakened. There was hope ahead. Somehow, everything was going to be okay.
"Princess. Master Link's chances of survival have increased. He is currently weak and thus incapable of engaging in battle," Fi appeared above Zelda's bed.
"I can see that," the princess replied. "He'll live though, right?"
"Yes. Master Link will survive his injuries."
"That's all that matters then, Fi. We'll get back on track soon," Zelda forced herself to sound more confident than she felt.
"The peace of Hyrule will be restored with you and Master Link. He must be near full health for that mission to occur," the spirit stated matter-of-factly.
"Then we'll make sure he recovers before we leave," Zelda promised. "Did you know this would happen?"
"I do not have the capability to see the future. Only the present, Princess."
"Regardless… I'm just glad he's going to be okay." Her gaze lingered on the snoring Champion.
"That is due to your prayer and intercession alone. Without it, Master Link would be dead."
With that sobering final thought, Fi vanished as quickly as she'd appeared, leaving Zelda with her thoughts.
Fi was right. By all accounts, Link should have died. Yet Zelda was able to breathe new life into him with her healing magic. Her heart was torn entirely in two. She wanted to be able to tell him how she felt. Yet doing so now would ruin everything they had at the moment. Her blue eyes closed in prayer. There had to be some wisdom she could gain on how to proceed from this circumstance. But for now, she was thankful. Link was alive. That was the only thing that mattered at the end of the day.