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Chapter 38

Close Call

Zelda's PoV

Link and I cross the bridge to the stable and retrieve our horses before we go exploring above Zora's Domain. We have to re-track of the mountain path we traveled yesterday, but we take a new road that Link says will take us up and behind the domain. I try to quell my enthusiasm as we ride, but I simply cannot keep the smile off my face as we pass through the greenery of plants and shrubs with the trees along the path. A few birds sing in the early morning air, their song a welcome accompaniment to the sound of the large waterfalls nearby. We travel across the highlands to Polymus mountain and follow the trail uphill to a sign that warns people to "jump at their own risk". I look down and Link tells me we're right above the reservoir and that he's seen a few brave Zora really dive off of this cliff. I'm horrified by that fact as I'm pretty sure the drop is even higher than from the top of Floria Falls. There really are some crazy people out there.

We spend the rest of the morning exploring at a slow pace before eating some lunch. I lay in the soft grass and close my eyes, enjoying the cool breeze that feels so good because of the summer heat. When I open my eyes again I find that my cheek and the forearm my head's been lying on are wet. I don't even remember feeling tired, but I guess I must have just been that comfortable. I sit up and wipe the drool from my face before I hear a something to my left. I turn my head to see Link is standing and leaning against a tree, his back faced toward me. I realize that he's humming a song that regularly plays on the radio. I stay quiet and listen as I've never heard Link hum to himself before. I bet if he would sing, he told me when we left Castle Town that he wouldn't, that it would be nice. I've always thought so with how his voice sounds, but I refuse to bring it up again as not to jinx the tiny chance I might actually get to hear him sing someday.I get up and stretch when Link stops humming a minute later, far too soon in my opinion. We take a different route back down the mountain, stopping at the top of one of the many huge waterfalls. I walk over and onto the uneven mountainside that stretches out to the right of the waterfall and enjoy the view from there. Link comes and stands beside me.

"This place is probably more beautiful than Floria Falls. I never thought I'd see an area more picturesque than there." I say, one hand on my hip and the other shielding my eyes from the sun.

"We'll probably find a whole lot more incredible places for you to gawk at."

"I can't wait."

I step closer to the edge of the rocks and look straight down upon Zora's Domain. The way the sun shines off the impossibly giant fishtail is just mesmerizing, parts of it are so shiny it's as if it could be made from glass. I can't even find a place to start when I think of how it was even made, just like the rest of the gorgeous town. You can just tell it wasn't made in our era, the materials are unlike anything I've ever seen. I can't even decide if it's a type of stone or rock you can find in today's world.

I hear Link warn me to be careful as I lean precariously forward to look straight down. I tell him I'm alright just as I hear a loud cracking noise. Link and I share a look before we look around for the source of it. I feel the ground beneath me move suddenly, but I do not have enough time to react before I lose my balance and start to slip as the ground beneath my feet breaks off the mountainside. Desperate, I reach with my arms but my fingers just slip off the smooth stones in front of me. My feet leave the ground first and my stomach lurches into my throat as I fall off the mountain with a scream.

My arm jerks in its socket painfully as the rest of my body continues to fall, cutting my scream into a painful yelp. I look down and scream again, seeing the hundreds of feet down to the ground below.

"Zelda! Hold still."

I look up see Link with his arm stretched out and his hand painfully gripping my wrist. His eyes lock with mine.

"I've got you."

I'm numb with fear as he pulls me up. His other hand grabs my bicep and once my legs are in reach of the mountainside, I kick my legs up and rest my knee on the mountain ledge to help him pull me up. Link leans back and I collapse on his chest, both of us gasping for air. His chest heaves in and out as my heart races and thuds in my chest, throat, and head as we lay in the grass.

"Gods Zel..." Link says and his arms squeeze around me so tight it almost hurts. He's breathing as heavily as I am. "I almost lost you."

If it hadn't been for Link...Goddess Hylia...He literally saved my life.

"Thank you." I say as I shake from head to toe. "I-it's okay. I'm okay...we're both okay." I say between breaths.

x.x.x

Link's PoV

I force air into my lungs as I hold Zelda tight in my arms, my pulse thundering in my head. I barely caught her. One moment we are both standing there and the next...if it weren't for the warning crack to get my attention, I don't know if I would have been able to react in time. We're also lucky that more of the mountain didn't collapse when I reached out to save her. I don't even want to think about what would have happened had I been a millisecond slower.

After we've both calmed down, Zelda pushes herself up on her arms and then falls back down on my chest with a painful gasp.

"What's wrong?"

She gasps and takes a deep, heaving breath. "My shoulder. The right one. I think there's something wrong it with it."

I carefully help her sit up so I can examine her right shoulder. I'm not sure how badly hurt she is, but I tell her that I think she got lucky because I don't see any bruising and it doesn't look like it is dislocated. Zelda says she hopes that it isn't or even worse. We use some fabric bandages that she has in the little emergency supply backpack she brings everywhere to make a temporary sling. Then we head back to Zora's Domain hoping one of their doctors can help. Zelda tries to ride Starlett back down there but halfway there she says the movement is hurting her too much so we walk the rest of the way. We drop our horses off at the stable before crossing the long bridge. Several Zora run up to us when they see us enter the domain, frantically asking if "Sheik" is okay and I assure them she'll be fine as we walk through the crowd. It's obvious they all saw what happened. A few minutes later we sit inside the small infirmary, which is located in a small room adjoined at the back of the Seabed Inn.

I stand next to Zelda as she's examined by an old Zora doctor by the name of Trello. When he says that she's likely just strained it, she asks him if he's sure that nothing is broken or something. Trello assures her that he's completely sure, having treated many injuries like hers before, Hylian and Zora alike. He promises her that she will be just fine as long as she takes it easy.

"Zel, you would know if something were broken." I say, putting my hand on her good shoulder and looking in her worried and skeptical eyes. Trello places her arm in a proper sling and says that she'll have to wear it for a few days.

We both say thank you before leaving the infirmary and trade our room for one with a regular bed inside the inn. Zelda sits down and asks if I have any of the pills I shared with her in Castle Town when she was hungover from getting drunk with Malon. I nod and tell her to stay here while I go to the horse stables to retrieve Impa's homemade honey covered natural painkillers. When I get back into the domain, three Zora children I've met several times run up to me yelling my name. I stop and Finley asks how Zelda is doing - using her alias like everyone else. I kneel down and tell her she's fine and just needs to rest. Laruta and Tona ask if they can come see her and I say yes as they'll probably be able to help lift her spirits. Zelda was immediately depressed when the doctor said she wouldn't be able to use her arm for at least a week. She also met these the three yesterday so I'm sure she won't mind them checking up on her.

Back inside, we find Zelda sitting on the bed with her left hand on her forehead and elbow on her knee. I walk over and hand her two pain pills with her water canteen after opening it. She takes both with a thanks.

"Hi Sheik! Are you okay?" Finley asks, as she and her friends jog over to the bed. Upon seeing the Zora kids, Zelda's eyes seem already brighter and she smiles. "I'm alright now." She responds.

"Was it really scary hanging from the cliff?" Laruta asks. "We watched Link pull you up and we heard you scream."

Zelda closes her eyes as she nods and I see her tremble a little as she surely recalls hanging in midair up there. I take a slow breath as well as the sight of seeing her hanging by only my hand flashes behind my eyes as well.

"It was. When you three go up there, promise me you'll be extra careful, okay?" Zelda says, looking into all of their eyes. Tona says "I promise, Miss Sheik" and Laruta and Finley follow up promising they will too.

The kids stick around talking to Zelda for a little while, telling her what they've been up to as they sit on the bed with her. Zelda laughs and jokes with them looking much happier than she was after we saw the doctor. It's as clear as it's always been that Zelda loves kids, she smiles the whole time they're with us just as she did with Romani at Lon Lon ranch and Koko and Cottla in Kakariko. Zelda sends them off to play a short time later, telling them she's tired and needs some rest. Finley hugs her before hopping off the bed with her friends and saying goodbye as they run out the door.

x.x.x

An hour later Zelda says she's too restless to relax like the doctor told her to do, so we slowly wander around town all evening, just chatting with the locals. We make our way to the top of Zora's Domain into a large open room. Small waterfalls create an ambience of lovely sound through the open walls, also adding to the beautiful atmosphere that exists literally everywhere in Zora's Domain. We sit on one of the cushioned benches placed around a series of statues in the center of the room of the five people we got the honor to not only meet, but gotten to know: The Indigo-go's. The artist did an incredible job capturing all of their features. I can't imagine having a statue of myself anywhere, that just seems crazy. The Zora must really be proud to have such successful talent from their home.

Zelda sighs heavily, leaning against me on her good side, her head against my neck. I gently wrap my arm around her, careful not to bump her shoulder. I hear her sniff and realize she's crying. I wrap my other arm around her and rest my face in her hair.

"I'm sorry, Link." She says, sitting up and wiping her face. "I should have never been so close to the edge of the mountain."

"Hey...Zel, you don't have a reason to be sorry. Neither of us had any way of knowing that was going to happen. I'm just grateful I was quick enough to catch you."

"Me too, but I..." She cuts off and I hear her swallow. Several seconds later she speaks again. "You know, I'm going to need help doing things for a while." She says, sounding calmer and turning her head to look in my eyes.

"Anything you need, just say the word."

Zelda kisses my cheek before she says thank you. I tell her no problem as I squeeze her to my side earning a giggle in response.

"You're simply the best."

"Thanks. I know." I respond with a smirk.

"Smartass." Zelda calls me before poking me in the nose and sticking out her tongue.

"You're adorable when you do that."

Zelda stifles a laugh and shakes her head. "I am not." She says as she pulls her legs up on the bench and leans against me again. I don't argue since I know she'll just keep denying it, sadly, but she can't change my mind.

We rest on the bench for so long that soon I think Zelda has fallen asleep on my shoulder when she moves and stretches her un-slinged arm up in the air between us. She groans in pain and hisses when she goes to move her other arm, her free hand going to her hurt shoulder.

"Careful there, Zel. You alright?"

"Yeah. I'm good, but I require some more painkillers." She says, grimacing and holding out her left hand. I shake my head and reach into my pocket for the little bottle of pills, open it, and shake two into her awaiting palm. I tell her I can't give her more for at least four hours from now and she nods as she pops them into her mouth and swallows them without water.

"My shoulder is seriously killing me. This sucks so bad."

"Trust me I know. I've dislocated my own shoulder twice doing things you like to call 'being an idiot daredevil.'"

Zelda laughs and rolls her eyes at me. "I love you anyway."

"I love you too."

Zelda asks me how I met Sidon and Mipha, pointing out that I seem to be quite close with them. I put my arm on the back of the bench behind her head and she leans against it as I tell her that story.

I first met Sidon and Mipha during the Kakariko Pumpkin Festival when I was six years old. We all showed up with several other kids from around the world for the spear throwing contest my dad hosted each year. Not many of us did well in that contest, but I was one of four of us to even hit the tree my dad had hung a giant bullseye on. Mipha and Sidon came first and second and I came in third. Aryll liked Mipha immediately, claiming her as her friend before they had even spoken. I invited the Zora siblings to come eat lunch with us up on the hill under an apple tree. We were instant friends and very sad to say goodbye at the end of the day.

The next Pumpkin Festival was two months after our dad died. Aryll and I couldn't bear being around anyone. Our dad was a big part of the festival, hosting many of the kid's events and it was too hard for us to participate without him. Everyone had heard the news of what happened in Bubinga Woods. Our dad was popular with everyone and loved by many people outside Kakariko. It was Sidon's idea that we spend time in the woods above the village instead upon seeing how depressed we both were. Mipha told us she would run through the village and round up as many kids as she could and so she, Purah and Paya all ran around getting everyone to come. We made it a day of playing in the pond and hot spring and it was one of the best days I've ever had.

It meant a lot to me that Sidon and Mipha were there for us even if we had only met them once before. I knew we would always be good friends after that. I've always believed it takes someone special with a huge heart to do something like that for someone you hardly know. I'm sure I'll never be able to repay either of them for what they did for us that day. They came for every Pumpkin Festival after that and instead of dreading the event, I looked forward to it because it meant that we would get to hang out again. Besides, all the other kids from Rito Village, Gerudo Town, Zora's Domain, Death Mountain and everywhere else were also awesome.

I also tell her that the first place I went when I left Kakariko three years ago was Zora's Domain. I'd never been here before and honestly my reaction was probably the same as hers was. I'd wandered around admiring the unparalleled architecture until I was almost ran over, literally, by Sidon. I wasn't watching where I was going and he had been running in a hurry to get somewhere. I almost went tumbling down that curved staircase but luckily he was quick enough to a grasp a handful of my shirt in one of his hands. After an overly sincere apology, Sidon realized who he'd, in his words, almost 'trampled to death'. He forgot all about whatever pressing errand he'd been on and instead offered to give me the tour of the domain. He shouted to everyone that his pal from Kakariko was here for a visit, enthusiastic as always. Mipha was excited to see me as well and they somehow got enough people to throw a party for our reunion. I ended up staying in Zora's Domain for over a month, exploring everything the area had to offer sight-wise and learning much about their culture, which until I spent so much time with Zora I didn't know I was interested in. It was a great start to my new life on the road.

We stay on the bench talking and recalling the memories we've made with the Zora siblings till the sun goes down and we share a simultaneous yawn, laugh, and head back down for another night at the Seabed Inn.

x.x.x

We're standing on the mountain looking over Zora's Domain when I hear it: that extremely loud crack that neither of us find the source of until the moment it happens. I see Zelda sinking when the ground beneath her feet begins to give way and I lunge forward to grab her as she shrieks and tries to save herself. I don't get ahold of her arm or even her wrist and our hands slide through each other as I desperately try to grab hers and fail. Time seems to slow down as she falls, the air filled with her screaming. On my hands and knees, I watch her fall and fall unable to do anything at all. I'm not breathing. Just before she hits the ground below I wake with the sensation as if I have been falling myself, my equilibrium thrown out of balance. I gasp and hyperventilate as I quickly look to my side and see Zelda, laying still and sleeping peacefully. I force a couple of deep breaths into my lungs and spend at least a few minutes calming myself.

She's fine. Zelda's fine. She's alive. I think over and over.

Gods. Usually I know I'm dreaming, especially when I know what's happening can't possibly be, but this time everything felt so real.

I felt it all.

I lay there wide awake and unable to fall back asleep. I get up carefully and breathe a sigh of success in not waking Zelda. I walk to the second level area where the Indigo Go's concert was and quietly pass by the sleeping Zora in the water pools around the middle platform. I rest my arms on the railing at the very back of the room and I look up at the mountain we were standing on earlier. I can easily see the place the rocks broke off even in just the moonlight. If I had been a fraction of a second slower to grab her, Zelda would have fallen to her death. We may have been over the incredibly ginormous waterfall that Zora's Domain is built on, but she would likely have landed on one of the many stalagmite-like boulders that stick out of the mountainside or onto one of the sharp luminous stone deposits. She may or may not have died instantly.

I rest my head on my forearms and take several deep breaths as an awful image paints itself in my mind...I'm thankful to Hylia above that that specific image only lives in my graphic imagination. I think of everything and anything else I can think of to erase the sight of what would have broken and haunted me for life.

I know I wouldn't be me anymore if anything did happen to her. I look at the stars and silently thank the goddess above that I was quick enough to save her and vow that I will treasure every moment we have together from now on. I'll make sure I show her each and every day how much I love her and to be sure she knows it. To see Zelda smile, to hear her voice and her laugh, to hold her in my arms, feel her lips on mine and countless other things...I want all those things for many, many days to come. I need her. On the road and even in towns like this one, any day could be our last, today proved that. I won't waste a moment believing otherwise from now on.

I return to our inn room and lay down next to Zelda again, slowly as not to move the bed too much and wake her up.

"I hope your dreams are sweet, Zel." I whisper, wanting to pull her into my arms, but the last thing I want is to wake her up from the sleep she certainly needs for what I have planned for tomorrow. On top of that, she had such a horrible time trying to fall asleep with her shoulder pain, a struggle I know far too well from past injuries. I lie on my side and gaze at her peaceful face in the low light for a long time until sleep finally takes me once again.