Wind howling against the window of the room was what woke Link the following morning. He'd slept better than he had since being injured. By shifting slowly, he could feel that his strength was starting to return as well. Blue eyes blinked to clear the last vestiges of sleep, and he saw Zelda still fast asleep with her head and hand pressed against the pillow. Peace covered her features for the first time in several days, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a slight smile. She needed the rest too. While she never complained, everything that had transpired took a toll on her.

He sat himself up carefully, and swung his legs over the far side of the bed. He wanted to be able to get up and walk around without help. The feeling of being unable to take care of himself got old in a hurry. The dizziness was far less than it had been the previous day, but he still moved slowly. His hand grasped the headboard of the bed when he stood, and he stayed in one place for a moment to gain his bearings before cautiously taking the few steps into the washroom and closing the door behind him.

The soft click woke Zelda and she sat up with a start when her eyes focused on the empty bed across from her. Her heart leaped to her throat, and she forced herself to keep breathing. It's okay. He's just in the bathroom. He was able to get up by himself. Calm down, Zelda. No need to panic.

Link opened the door, bracing himself on the frame. He froze, feeling like he was being watched. Zelda's frightened eyes and flushed face filled his view, and he fought the urge to groan. Despite his best effort, he'd woken her.

"Are you doing better this morning?" she managed to ask after a long moment of silence.

"Think so," he answered, carefully stepping back to the bed.

"I was afraid something had happened to you," she whispered, her hands over her racing heart.

"I'm fine. No need to worry over me."

"I can't really help it," Zelda ducked her head.

An awkward silence fell in the room, broken only by wind whipping around the building.

"Maybe you should meditate to calm down," Link finally suggested.

"Perhaps I should," she replied slowly. She took a minute to go to the washroom first, leaving Link alone in the room.

The blond blew out his breath, and leaned his head against the wooden headboard. Physically, he could feel his strength returning, but it was slower than he wanted. Restlessness was setting in. He couldn't remember a time he'd been forced to be still for longer than a few hours. An odd thought suddenly occurred to him, and he sat up straighter, ignoring the pain it sent down his spine. Why hadn't Mipha's Grace healed him when he'd been struck by the Lynel to the point of near death? For that matter, why hadn't he thought to try and use Urbosa's Fury when fighting Kohga or the Hinox? Or Daruk's Protection against them rocks falling outside the Yiga's base. It didn't make sense.

Zelda returned from the washroom, and noticed his expression. "Is something wrong?"

"Why was it that you had to heal me?" Before she could do more than open her mouth, he continued. "Mipha's Grace, the healing ability gifted to me by her after freeing her spirit was supposed to save me from dying. But when the Lynel struck—,"

"Nothing happened," Zelda finished, sitting cross-legged on her bed in preparation for her prayers and meditation. "What about the others?"

"None have been used since we defeated Ganon. I can't hear their spirits anymore either," Link said forlornly. "I honestly hadn't missed it in the chaos, but it's been unusually quiet."

"Perhaps," mused Zelda. "Perhaps it's because they were no longer needed. Their part in defeating Ganon was complete, so the additional power and abilities they granted you were unnecessary as well. That's the only conclusion I can come to."

Link nodded slowly. "That would make sense."

"Good morning!" Mara sang, interrupting their train of thought with her bustling into the room with scarcely a knock. "I heard you talking so I knew you were awake. How are we feeling this morning?"

"Better," Link answered.

"And what about you, Princess?" The matron turned to her. "Were you able to sleep well?"

"Well enough for the moment," Zelda replied.

Mara raised an eyebrow. "That so, huh? Well, if I can make a recommendation, after you kids eat, get out of the room. Walk around a bit. It'll help keep you from going stir crazy. Just avoid going outside. The wind chill is rather sobering, if not deadly for the unprepared."

"Yes, ma'am," Link responded.

"I've got hot porridge and boiled eggs for you this morning. Do you take hot coffee or tea?"

"Either one," Zelda replied. "Anything to remove the chill." Her eyes closed as she began her meditations.

"I'll be back," Mara promised, leaving the door open as she left.

Link watched Zelda quietly praying, and kept an eye on her body language. The longer she prayed, the more relaxed she became. Her lips moved silently, and for a moment, he was transfixed, unable to look away. She was serene, and had never looked so beautiful… aside from when he first saw her after defeating Ganon, when she'd stood in that white dress. She'd looked like a heavenly being. This look was different, but no less breathtaking. Her long nightgown tucked around her crossed legs, maintaining her modesty, and her lightly tousled hair hid all but the tips of her pointed ears. Not for the first time since reuniting with her had Link wanted to cover her lips with his and help her forget their troubles, at least for a brief time.

A loud gust of wind knocking something against the window broke the spell, and he flinched hard, giving a subtle grunt of pain as he looked away. Zelda's voice brought his attention back to her.

"Link? Are you in pain?" she asked, her blue-green eyes blinking open, full of concern.

"Just the branch hitting the window startled me, and the reaction hurt," he explained, looking at the fire. His hands pulled the blanket tighter across his lap.

"Would you like a tunic?" Zelda offered, seeing the nervous action and mistaking it for being cold.

"Not a bad idea."

"Save more exertion for after you've eaten," Mara advised from the doorway with a tray in hand. "I'll stoke the fire higher to keep you from getting chilly. The blankets will help too."

Breakfast was eaten in silence with both Link and Zelda keeping their thoughts to themselves. Link was pleased to find that his appetite was coming back, finishing the portion that Mara had brought for him.

"Do you have a preference what tunic you wear?" Zelda asked as while she gathered the dishes and set them back on the tray.

"No, as long as we're not going into the snow."

Zelda pursed her lips but didn't say anything while she dug through the bag of their clothing. She pulled out the tunic, leggings and cloak she'd worn in Hateno for herself, and pulled out the Hylian tunic and beige pants for Link, along with a new set of underwear. "Go ahead and change here. I'll get dressed in the washroom so you have some privacy." Without waiting for a reply, she gathered her clothing and ducked into the washroom.

Link looked at the clothes for a long moment before he picked them. He sat on the edge of the bed for the arduous task of changing. The pants and underwear weren't too bad, but pain shot through the scar when he lifted his arms over his head to pull the tunic on. He doubled over gasping, fighting to regain his composure. The fabric itself, though he felt the softness on his arms was anything but over the raw, sensitive skin.

Zelda opened the door and dropped her nightclothes when she saw him doubled over in pain. "Link! Are you okay?"

"Give me the herb I chew on… please," he panted, his eyes squeezed tightly shut.

She had it ready within seconds, opening his palm, and closing his hand around the mouthful. He shoved it into his cheek, breathing a soft sigh as he chewed. The medicinal properties kicked in immediately, easing some of the pain.

"If I'm hurting from getting dressed, how am I supposed to fight?" Link growled. "I'm of no use to you or Hyrule if I can't heal fast enough."

"Link… you nearly died. It's been two days. Please, give your body a chance to recover. I'm doing all I can," Zelda pleaded, taking his hands in hers. "I can't take any more of your pain," she whispered. "I'm sorry I can't do more."

He shifted the now-bitter herb to his other cheek before replying. "You're doing enough."

Zelda handed him an empty bowl for him to get rid of the herb. "No, I'm not. If I were, you wouldn't be in pain."

"That's the choice of the Goddess, and you know that," he replied.

"How are you feeling now?" she tried to change the subject. "Would you prefer to wear socks, or be barefoot while we walk through the halls? We won't need boots inside."

"Socks, please."

Zelda pulled out two pairs of thick, woolen socks and knelt in front of him, slipping one pair over his cool feet. "We don't need you exerting yourself more than necessary. The walk will do us both some good though."

Link watched her straighten to sit on her bed and pull on her own socks. "Why don't you feel like what you're doing is enough?"

She froze, the tips of her ears turning red. "It just… doesn't. You helped free me from Ganon, and came back even when you'd lost your memories. You've done so much for me… healing you so you're able to get back on your feet, it's the very least I can do."

"But that's not the only reason, is it?" he prodded. He wasn't sure, but he had his suspicions and wanted to see if he was correct.

"What do you mean?" she tried to brush it off, clearly flustered by the question. "What other reason could I have?"

He waited, allowing her to fidget under his gentle stare. Silence fell between the two while Zelda played with the hem of her tunic, unable to meet his eyes.

The knight sighed and looked away, choosing to focus on the dancing flames in the fireplace. "Never mind. Let's just go then."

"No."

Eyebrows going up in surprise, he looked back at her. "Why 'no'?"

"Because there is another reason. And I'm going to say it now before I lose the courage to do so again." Zelda took a deep breath, and finally said what she'd been hesitating to. "I'm afraid I'm not going to do enough and I'm going to lose you. And that's not something I can fathom because… I love you, Link."

He sat quietly, slowly nodding his head. "...I had a feeling that was what you were going to say."

Zelda's shoulders tensed. "Well, what do you have to say then?"
A wave of calm washed over him and he slowly replied. "I love you, and I want to make this work. Both of us have been through a lot. Let's work on this together. We can't lose sight of what's important, and right now," he paused, hating what he had to say. "Our first duty is to Hyrule. We owe it to them and to Fi.

"So, what does that mean for us?" Zelda whispered, wringing her hands in her lap.

"It means we're going to take things slowly." His hand outstretched toward her. "Come sit by me."

Her heart pounded as she took the three steps across to where he sat. His arm curled around her shoulder and pulled her close. "Zelda, I love you. Please don't misunderstand that."

She rested her head on his chest, the soft thump of his heartbeat soothing her. She further relaxed when his fingers moved carefully through her short, blonde locks. "So, you're not seriously going to consider any of the offers you've been given? Riju was the most blatant, but—"

"It's like you told her," he interrupted. I'm my own person. Not something to be bought or sold. The moment someone does that towards me or anyone else, they've lost my respect," Link finished harshly.

Zelda stiffened at his tone, and he immediately regretted the action. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault. You stood up for me, and I'm grateful for that."

"I've been doing my best," she replied weakly. "I may not be as young or as exotic as a Gerudo, but I could understand your attraction to them."

Link's finger pressed against her lips. "Who said I found them attractive?"

"But I just assumed because—"

Again, the Champion quietly stopped her. "Since seeing you in my memories after I awoke, there's been only one person I've found attractive. And that's a young woman with blonde hair, gorgeous blue-green eyes, and an unrivaled heart of compassion. The fact she's a princess and I'm able to dedicate my life to protecting her is merely sugar in the tea for me."

Tears dripped onto his chest, and Zelda clung to him as carefully as she could so she didn't cause him more pain. "I don't deserve you," she hiccuped. "That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me in my lifetime."

A soft kiss was pressed to the top of her head. "You needed to hear it. Now, we should probably take that walk before Mara decides it's time to bring in lunch and postpone it again."

"We should change the poultice on your scar when we get back. It should be done at least twice a day, so you can heal faster," Zelda commented while she turned around to face him. Gone were the tears, though her red face remained. A soft glow seemed to emanate from her, and she offered a hand to Link to help him up.

"You spoke to me, when I was unconscious, didn't you?" Link asked, studying her peaceful expression.

Her mouth fell open in shock. "How did you know? You weren't responsive."

"I wasn't aware of anything. I felt nothing but pain and blackness. I couldn't answer, and yet I heard snippets of your distorted words," he explained, taking a step with a soft grunt. The wobble of weakness was nearly imperceptible as the couple stepped into the hallway. He still kept an arm on Zelda for balance, and reassurance.

Mara watched them go slowly down the hallway away from her until they turned the corner out of sight. Lydia came beside her. "He's getting better, isn't he?"

"They both are. There's healing of the body and spirit at work here. They're going to need a lot of healing and strength from here," Mara observed.

"He's so strong already… it's really admirable to see how much he's done for Hyrule. The stories about him have already started circulating." Lydia's gaze lingered on him. "And he's handsome too."

A stern look crossed Maria's face as she turned to her fifteen year old daughter. "Don't you dare go falling for him, young lady. There are plenty of other fine young men out there for you to choose from. Princess Zelda won't be so fortunate. There are very few who will choose to love her for who she is rather than her title, and Link is one of those already."

The girl ducked her head, embarrassed and chastised. "I wasn't trying to steal him from the princess, I promise! I just… never mind."

"Run and pull the potatoes we set aside out of the root cellar. We're going to make that hearty stew your father enjoys for the evening meal. The noontime meal is already done," she instructed Lydia.

The teen sighed but did as she was told, leaving Mara where she stood in the doorway when the couple came back into sight. "How's the walk going?" she asked, approaching them.

"Slow," Link responded, leaning more on Zelda's shoulder than he wanted to.

"But he's determined that once the storm is passed that we're going to Rito Village," Zelda explained. Her upper body ached from supporting him, but she wasn't about to complain.

"Do another walk after lunch. But for now, go back and take a rest. How's the poultice doing on his back?" Mara asked, following them back to their room.

"I'm replacing it as soon as we get settled back in," the princess replied.

"Good. Leave his tunic off until it dries fully. It won't ruin the cloth, but it'll stick and cause him unnecessary pain. I'll give you some time to get that taken care of." Mara checked the fire and tossed another log on to keep the heat going before taking her leave.
Link sat on the edge of the bed, working himself up to removing the garment.

"Let me help you get the tunic off," Zelda offered cautiously. A blush stained her cheeks when she realized how that sounded. "Not like that, I promise! I just thought it might make it easier on you if you didn't have to struggle with it."

Link smiled in spite of himself. "I won't argue."

Zelda's throat felt thick and she didn't speak as she stepped in front of him, lifting the hem of the tunic. "On three, lift your arms up, and we'll take it off in one motion."

He nodded, silently enjoying her blushing face. "Ready when you are."

"One… two… three!" her hands tugged the garment up as his arm came up. He couldn't help the grimace of pain, but the process was far less painful than doing so without help that morning.

Zelda stepped back, folding the tunic and draping it over the foot of the bed. "How was that?"

"Better than me doing it alone," Link answered.

"Long as you don't mind, I'll help you with at least the tunic and socks until your pain subsides," Zelda said decisively.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something," Link admitted.

She busied herself preparing the new poultice and bowl to clean the old one off his scar to hide her immediate tension. "What about?" she asked with her back toward him.

"When the storm ends and we go to Rito Village, I want you to be the one to take out the wolves." His tone was clear and direct. "I'm not going to be ready to draw a bow in the matter of a couple days, and I have a feeling that I'll need more strength for whatever is in store when we get to Death Mountain."

She turned back to face him. "You know that I'm not as proficient with a bow as I used to be."

"You're skilled enough to do what it takes. I have faith that you'll be able to complete this task," Link encouraged, rolling onto his stomach when Zelda brought a bowl of water and new herb poultice over.

"Thank you, Link," she said softly. "I'll do my best not to let you down."

"I know you won't. Whether you do it for me or someone else, you pour your heart into it. In this case, the Rito will benefit from that," he replied.

Zelda was silent while she replaced the herbal dressing on his scar. His skin felt warmer than usual, and she didn't know whether it was due to his recent exertion, or the fact that the woman he loved was touching him. She didn't hold the same confidence in her capabilities that he did, and honestly, she didn't feel that she needed to. He had faith in her, and because of that, she would perform at the very best she could. The same was true with her healing. She was fairly confident that the only reason he had been healed as much as he had was due to her attempting the impossible for the sake of the man whom she loved. The man she'd waited for a hundred years, and would wait as long as he deemed necessary for them to take care of the homeland they both loved. Fear crept back in when she realized what being romantically involved with him would mean. She wasn't just anyone… she was the princess. The one chosen to take the throne in her father's absence. Had that crossed his mind when she had made her confession of her feelings scarcely a couple hours before?

"Link?" her voice interrupted the light doze he was taking.

"Hmmm?" His eyes blinked open and he turned his head toward her.

"We're not just… I mean, you know that I… ugh!" Zelda dropped the towel on the edge of the bed and buried her face in her hands. "You know what you're getting into, by reciprocating my feelings, right? What my duty will be?"

"That you're going to be the Queen, ruler of all Hyrule? Yes." He sat up slowly, grunting at the soreness he felt. "Why?"

"Because… life with me won't be easy. And you deserve better than—"

"Zelda." Link stopped her by gently taking her by the shoulders, ignoring the ache in his own and sitting her across from him. "Whether you feel that what I deserve is somehow better than you or not, I'm not easily swayed. I love you," he enunciated. "As you are, knowing what we've been through, and even with what's ahead. As long as you'll have me… I'll be with you. Forever."

She nodded slowly, and he pulled her forward. For an instant, it looked like he was going to kiss her, but at the last second, he tilted her chin down and pressed his lips to her forehead instead. His arms wrapped around her waist, and he cradled her close. "Do you believe me, Zelda?" he whispered.

"Yes. I'm sorry… I didn't mean to doubt you." Guilt sat heavy in her chest, and she wanted to hide her face.

"You tend to overthink things a little," he gently admonished. "You don't need to with this."

She nodded, pressing her face against the top of his good shoulder. "I won't let you down, love. I promise."

"I know you won't. You're too strong for that." Link's words were quiet but solid. He meant every word he said. He tended to be quiet in battle or overall given the choice. He carried the burden of needing to be the Champion for Hyrule. The weight of what was riding on his shoulders was immense, but it was nothing compared to Zelda's destiny. As princess, soon to be queen, the people would look to her for leadership. Carrying the TriForce of Wisdom like her mother and generations before her, she would have guidance from within. But that didn't mean that she could do it alone, despite how she might feel. He would be there for her, whatever it would take. Such was the cost of being a knight. Such was the life of the one who loved the princess. And he wouldn't choose anything different.