The hours passed slowly for Zelda. She ate when Mara brought the soup in. Hesitantly, she woke Link and fed him a bit of the light soup. The knight was in pain, barely swallowing more than several mouthfuls before he passed out again from exhaustion. She forced herself to bathe and get dressed, hardly daring to leave the room for fear he'd wake up and need her.
Evening came, and Lydia came in with the meal. "Mother is talking to Father about something that came up with the Lynel's corpse and what was to be done about it. She told me to tell you that she would be in to see you both later."
"Thank you," Zelda replied, setting down the book she'd been browsing but unable to focus on.
"There's some stew, and some soft bread that I made this afternoon. Mother cut the meat small and cooked it until it was really soft so Link can chew it without too much difficulty," the young brunette explained, humming softly as she set the tray down. "I hope you enjoy. I'm sure that Mother will come in to help clear up the dishes and set up the fire for the night."
Zelda bit back her impatience at the lengthy explanation about the food, and flashed the teen a small smile. "I'm sure it'll be wonderful. Thank you, Lydia."
The girl curtsied to the princess. "It's truly my pleasure to serve you. I only wish there was more we could do." Her eyes moved past Zelda to linger on Link. "He doesn't deserve to be in such a state."
"We're doing the best that we can," she replied slowly. "It'll be enough."
"I'll leave you to your dinner," Lydia said decisively, taking her leave.
Zelda sat on the edge of Link's bed and watched his slow, regular breaths for several long moments before she spoke softly. "Link. Wake up."
The knight's eyes blinked and he lifted his head off the pillow. "Zelda…"
"I'm here." Her hand stretched out to rest on top his warm arm. "You need to recover your strength. I've got some food for you. How are you feeling?'
"Water first," he asked, straining to keep his eyelids open.
Her hand moved and she poured a shallow cup of water for him. "Are you able to sit up?"
"I'll try." Link's voice was raspy from lack of use and sleep.
"How's your pain?" the hesitation was clear in her tone while she propped pillows at the head of the bed, and offered an arm to help him sit up.
He winced as he shifted, gritting his teeth. "Hurts when I move, and dizzy," he admitted.
"You lost a lot of blood. Just sit there for a few moments, and the room should stop spinning," Zelda soothed.
"Lynel really got me, huh?" he commented, his eyes clearing when the dizziness faded.
The princess froze, unsure how to respond. Should she tell him how bad it was? "Yes, he did," she said simply.
"... is it dead?" Link asked, unable to read her expression or body language while she prepared to move the bed tray over.
"Yes, the Lynel is dead," Zelda confirmed.
"How?"
"Guided by Fi, I used your bow and the ancient arrow you had. I hesitated," she remembered with a shudder. "If I had been merely a second slower, we both would have been killed."
"But you weren't," Link pointed out. "You healed me to where I'm at now, too." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, I did. And I thank the Goddess Hylia that you're still alive," Zelda smiled and set the bed tray in front of him. "Are you able to feed yourself this time?"
"Was I so weak before that I couldn't? I can't remember the last time I ate," he said, picking up the spoon in his right hand and taking a cautious bite.
"You were rather out of it. I gave you a couple spoonfuls of some broth at the noon hour," Zelda informed him. "You passed out again before I could encourage you to eat more than that."
"I feel better rested. Still weak…" he flushed red, setting down the spoon. "Can you help me up? I need the washroom and I don't trust my legs yet."
Zelda's red face matched his, but she nodded, moving the tray. "I can call Mara to bring a bedpan if you prefer…"
The set of Link's jaw said it all as he stubbornly shook his head. "No. I'm not that weak," he insisted. "Just make sure I don't fall."
She came to stand by the side closest to the washroom, and waited for him to swing his legs over. "Are you certain you wouldn't prefer to have Mara help you up?" she asked, feeling unsure of herself.
"I don't want a stranger helping me. I want you," he answered bluntly. He pushed himself up on shaky legs, wobbling as he tried to gain his balance. "... feeling the blood loss," he muttered.
Zelda's arm wrapped around his back carefully to steady him. "It's only a couple steps. Will you be able to make it?" she worried quietly.
"I'll make it. I have to get better. Just push through when it's challenging."
"Don't push yourself too hard. I… I can't lose you," Zelda murmured while helping him take the steps he needed to. "Let me know when you're finished, and I'll help you back."
While he wouldn't admit it aloud, it was far more taxing than Link had anticipated just getting up to the washroom. But it was far less embarrassing to take care of his needs in the privacy of the little room. He sat for a long minute when he was finished washing his hands, holding his head and trying to overcome the dizziness that had plagued him since he'd awoken.
"Link? Are you okay?" Zelda's concerned voice floated through the closed door. "You didn't pass out, did you?"
"No. I'm okay," he fibbed, pushing the door open. "What's in the stew? I only tasted a morsel of meat before nature called."
"It's a meat and vegetable stew. I think she threw some of the fortified pumpkin they trade in from Kakariko Village," she mused, keeping her hand on him while he stumbled back to the bed. "D-did you see your scar?"
He shook his head, pretending not to notice how his vision blurred from exertion. "No, I didn't. It would take two mirrors positioned for me to see it myself."
"The Sheikah Slate creates 'true to life' images with the Camera rune, though," Zelda argued, repositioning the pillows behind him. "Would you like to see how it looks?"
"Not tonight. I want to eat, and get some rest," Link decided.
"A wonderful plan from the sounds of things," Mara's matronly tone came from the doorway. "I see you've been up. How's your head?"
"It's fine," Link lied, picking up the spoon for his stew again. "Barely notice it."
His false bravado wasn't convincing. "Is that why you're blinking more than usual, and you're not holding your neck correctly?"
Zelda's mouth dropped open as she stared from Mara to Link and back again. Her perception had been strong, but she'd missed the dizziness reaction. A wave of shame and anxiety washed over her, and she busied herself getting her own portion and sitting on her own bed to hide her face.
"The dizziness will go away," Link fought to keep up the facade. "It's not the end of the world."
"So you say. But how can you swing a sword if the room spins at the smallest change in your environment?" Mara wasn't taking any of his excuses. "You need to be eating a good size portion, and drinking lots of fluids."
Link stared up at her, raising an eyebrow. "Who says the room is spinning?" he argued obstinately.
"I wasn't born yesterday, kid. Your expression is the same as my husband's after he hit his head on a tree from being thrown off a horse. The reason might be different, but the expression is the same," Mara crossed her arms over her chest. "So, take my advice: eat and rest. You're going to need it."
The Champion sighed, properly chastised. "Yes, ma'am," he replied meekly.
"As for you, Princess, make sure you replace that poultice on his back before he sleeps again. It'll help the scar heal faster," Mara turned to the girl. "And settle in. We're expecting a blizzard to come in tonight, and from the looks of things, it won't be letting up for two or three days at least. So forget any ideas of leaving until it's calmed down."
The young pair exchanged glances but nodded. There wasn't anything more they could do, given the circumstances. Silently, Zelda was thankful. She was physically and emotionally drained from the last two days, and wasn't prepared to go back on the road yet.
"Now that's settled, eat up. Zelda, honey, set the tray outside the door when you're done, and I'll take it as my cue to come back in and finish stoking the fire for the night," Mara instructed, tossing another log into the flames. "You need anything else for the moment?"
Link had closed his eyes, waiting for the room to stop spinning again. He peeked his eyes open at the question. "No, I'm okay."
"I highly doubt that, but I'll leave you to it." The door closed behind her with a solid click.
Zelda kept her eyes on the bowl in her lap. How did she miss it? Her mind was so busy trying to figure out when she'd missed the cue about his dizziness that she nearly didn't hear Link's quiet question.
"...what?" she asked, thinking she'd misheard him.
"I said, are you mad at me?" he repeated. "I left you to face a Lynel alone. You probably thought I was dead, or dying."
"I'm not angry with you in the slightest. I was afraid, so afraid you'd been killed," she admitted, fiddling with her spoon.
"Will you come sit by me?" Link asked. "I get dizzy turning my head. And like you and Mara reminded me, I have to try and eat."
Zelda picked up her bowl, as well as the forgotten soft bread rolls and brought both while she sat on the bed facing him. "Don't push yourself too much, Link."
"I get the feeling you're going to say that a lot in the next couple days," he said wryly.
"Sorry," she whispered, the previous embarrassment returning.
"Why are you sorry? You're concerned. I would be too, in your position." He took another small bite, chewing carefully.
"Hopefully you'll never have to be." Only one thought came to mind of a circumstance where Link would need to be fretting over her, and her cheeks flamed. She changed the subject quickly. "Are we going to Rito Village from here, once you're recovered?"
He finished the bite in his mouth before he answered. "Unless Fi has something else to say, Rito Village. It's closer than Death Mountain."
"That reminds me… Fi, are you there?" Zelda called.
The spirit appeared between the two beds, floating as gracefully as ever. "You called for me, Princess?"
"What's the task that we need to complete at Rito Village?" Zelda didn't waste any time getting to the point. "I should hope it's not another Lynel."
Link winced, focusing on his bowl of stew. He didn't need a reminder.
"It is not a Lynel. There is a pack of wolves that came down from the mountain. They have chosen to prey on the fledgling Rito who have yet to master the art of flight," Fi explained.
Zelda gasped. "No... not the Rito babies," she whispered. A memory of seeing the young bird folk when she was but a child herself flashed to mind. All she could see was the wobble as they took flight, and the encouragement the grown Rito showed.
"If it's hunting wolves, that shouldn't be an issue," Link mused aloud. "Just make sure you have a good vantage point from a tree out of reach, and call it 'target practice'."
"Master Link, in your present condition, my calculations determine you are yet too weak to wield a bow. Your strength must return before proceeding to Rito Village," Fi stated.
He fought the urge to scowl. It took too much energy, if he was being honest. The longer he sat up, the more exhausted he felt.
"Princess, my Master requires rest. His strength is fading rapidly," the spirit commented. "Over-exertion will prolong the healing process."
"You think I don't know that?" Link growled, pushing the nearly empty bowl away. Even the slightest action caused pain and dizziness.
"I need to replace the poultice before you sleep again," Zelda set aside the remainder of her meal so she could begin to prepare the new mixture of herbs. "Can you stay up that long?"
"I'm not sleepy," he grumbled. "Just hurts and the room's spinning again."
Fi quietly took her leave while Zelda grabbed a clean bowl of water and a soft cloth. She set the bowl in front of the fire for a minute to warm up while finishing grinding the herbs. "Do you need the one to chew on again?"
"No. Just help me lay down." Link hated asking for help, but his pride had to let it go. He wasn't in a position to do everything for himself that he wanted to.
The herbs forgotten, Zelda moved the pillows, and helped him gently roll to his side, then onto his stomach. She remembered the bowl of water just before it became too warm. Using the water with the soft rag, she cleaned what remained of the original poultice off his scar.
Link gritted his teeth, still letting out a pained sound occasionally. Even with the healing that the princess had done, it was a major injury, and one that would be remembered for many years to come.
While Zelda's hands worked on cleaning his skin, her mind wandered. If he had heard her confession, what would he have said? What would it have changed? On the one hand, she was terrified of things changing. What if he didn't feel that way about her? He was still her loyal knight and had sworn to protect her, even to the point of sacrificing his own life. If he didn't reciprocate, she would be left to try and handle her feelings while seeing him daily, probably for the rest of her life. And yet… if she wasn't willing to say something, would she really be content to see him as nothing more than a bodyguard and friend indefinitely?
Link's eyes closed when her soft hands applied the new coat of herbs to the scar. It didn't hurt nearly as badly as it had the first time she'd done it. The touch was almost soothing, and the princess's hand was warm on his back. He could probably fall asleep there if he had wanted, and she wouldn't likely mind. But he couldn't sleep. Whispered words in his subconscious had him perplexed. Snippets of sentences he didn't recall her saying swirled. He had to be dreaming it all. The only way to know for sure though would be to ask... But that would have to wait. He silently yawned, and allowed himself to drift off.
Zelda felt his breathing slow and deepen as sleep took hold of him. She wiped her brow with the back of her hand, and set the bowls on the nightstand. Tucking the blanket around his waist, she left him to rest while she prepared herself for bed. It took almost no time at all to brush out her short hair. Opting to leave it unbraided for the night, she opened the washroom door slowly, seeing Mara slip in to quietly tend the fire and gather the dishes.
"Looks like you'll need more herbs for tomorrow," Mara whispered when Zelda approached the bed. "How was the dinner?"
"It was quite delicious, thank you," she replied, sitting on her bed. "And yes, I used the remainder of the herbs you'd gathered on the second poultice. The bowl you left for water was perfect for cleaning the old one off."
"Good. I've used it on my husband, and on my daughter when she was ill as a child. It's certainly had its fair share of uses. Do you need anything else tonight, Zelda?" Mara asked gently.
"Just some more water in the jug, and for my anxiety to lessen," the girl admitted. "I know he's going to be okay, but until then, I'm still worried about him."
"It's to be expected," Mara assured her. "But you must allow yourself to rest too. Don't allow yourself to focus on him so much that you fail to take care of yourself. Heavens only know, you're already thin enough."
Zelda's cheeks flushed, and she ducked her head in embarrassment. "I know… I'm trying to find my appetite and work on strengthening myself. The time I spent, keeping Ganon sealed until Link was able to return, took a toll on my body, despite not aging."
"You have nothing to be ashamed of, hon. Just know that you're going to need to be getting back up to a healthy weight again. Guys will like seeing you with a bit more meat on your curves," Mara grinned at her. "You're young and beautiful. I'm sure you'll have men falling over themselves for your attention, being a princess aside."
Zelda's gaze unconsciously went to Link. "I'm sure they will… Link has no shortage of attention either, both female and male."
Mara's hazel eyes softened. "Trust yourself, Zelda. If you love him, tell him. Life is too short to waver on uncertainties. Use some of the courage you showed when you faced the Lynel, and when you sealed Ganon."
Tears rolled down the princess's cheeks. "But what if he doesn't… what if he doesn't love me in return?"
"He'd be a fool not to. Don't dwell on the negative 'what-ifs', princess. Everything will work out like the Goddess Hylia intends," Mara said softly. "Don't fret over it."
Zelda nodded, and bit back a yawn. "Thank you for your advice. It's appreciated more than you know."
"Get some rest, and we'll talk more in the morning. Peace to you, Princess." Mara left the princess to her thoughts.
Zelda curled up on her side, facing the sleeping knight. Her heart pounded faster as she remembered both the words she'd spoken when he was passed out, and the encouragement she'd just been given. She needed to speak up. Others were showing interest in Link, and it sparked jealousy within her. There was wisdom in confessing her feelings to him sooner than later, and she could see it. It would only take a bit of courage.