*trigger warnings*: death/dying

Zelda dipped the cloth in the water, rung it out above it, and placed it gingerly upon Link's forehead.

He slept peacefully now, but Zelda was starting to grow even more concerned. She didn't know how many days he was without food or water and she didn't know whether or not any next second would be the second he couldn't survive without some.

He even looked skinnier than when she'd seen him last, paler, weaker. Only she would know him as the great hero the way he laid there on the verge of the death.

In fact, she still wasn't sure how he was alive, the miracle on the deck a few hours earlier still unexplained.

He was dead.

And then he wasn't.

Link started to open his eyes slowly, Zelda taking his hand almost immediately where she sat at his bedside.

"Princess?" He asked, his head falling over to his side to look at her.

"Yes," Zelda said with a smile. "Yes, it's me. Really me, no dream."

Link gave a small smile. If he had more energy it would have been bigger.

"I know," he replied. "You slapped me in the face."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he retorted.

He seemed different than before, the same charm and kindness, but there was something else, he was more…candid?

No, that wasn't quite it…

"Link, I need you to sit up," Zelda commanded, although she tried to keep her voice as calm as possible.

Link did so without a word of objection.

"Now I'm no doctor," Zelda started, grabbing the glass of water. "But I know you need energy."

Link looked at the glass with the slightest jolt of fear running through his eyes, the reaction not lost on Zelda.

But he nodded and took it, gulping down about a quarter of it.

Zelda switched out the cup with a bowl of soup, Link starting to eat in silence.

Goddesses, Zelda wanted to ask him about what he said earlier, about being allowed to die, someone not letting him die…

Did he want to die?

"Your uncle will be excited to see you," she decided on instead, the very idea of him wanting death gnawing at her greatly.

"How is he?" Link asked between spoonfuls, looking at Zelda as he did.

He seemed normal enough, carrying a conversation fine. Actually, it was even better than he used to. Maybe he was fine.

"He misses you," Zelda replied. "We all do."

Link nodded.

"Why did you leave?"

Link put down the bowl of soup. If he already hadn't eaten so much of it, Zelda would have insisted he keep eating.

"It's complicated," he finally said.

"Things are rarely simple," Zelda countered.

Link's gaze suddenly went guarded.

It's not like they had such a deep relationship before, why should he trust her with anything? What was she even doing?

"I'm sorry," Zelda said, standing up to leave. "It isn't my place."

Yet Link grabbed her wrist as she turned, Zelda finding his blue eyes when she turned back.

"Don't be sorry," he insisted. "I'm sorry I can't put it into words. Believe me when I say that I want you to know."

"Do you know what's stopping you?" Zelda asked, sitting back down slowly.

"No."

"Princess Zelda!" exclaimed a old man almost as soon as they entered the sanctuary. "Thank the goddesses you are safe!"

"Actually," the Princess responded, stepping forward. "It's thanks to…"

Her words faltered.

She looked behind her to the boy, who had just finished securing the secret entrance to sanctuary.

"I…" she started with a small laugh. "I don't even know your name."

The boy took a step forward, a smile turning his lips upwards.

"Link," he said, holding out his hand in greeting. "It's nice to meet you, Princess."

Zelda tried to restrain a chuckle.

Her entire life she had met people who bowed to her without a second thought. Really, most of her interactions with people were with the top of their heads.

This boy probably knew nothing of that, which is why he held out his hand expectantly.

The priest who watched the interaction was surprised when Zelda shook his hand, as if they were equal in status, in rank.

"It's nice to meet you, too," Zelda said with a smile, her hand slipping away as she turned to the priest.

"As relieving as it is to be free from Agahnims' grasp, I fear Hyrule still is not," she said.

"I agree," the priest said in reply. "It is quite a coincidence that this place really is your sanctuary from a dangerous world outside."

"This isn't about me, especially since I am in no way powerful enough to combat Agahnim."

"Then, who is?" the priest asked. "Hyrule needs a hero, Your Highness."

"I can do it."

Zelda turned around in surprise, meeting Link's kind blue eyes as her lips parted.

There was such an innocence in his words that Zelda had the full intention of objecting.

He was obviously close to her age, if not exactly sixteen. He didn't deserve what he was suggesting. Even if he did survive, this task surely came with an unparalleled burden, a suffering Zelda couldn't even fathom subjecting him to.

But, when she saw the determined look on his face she was reminded of his immense courage, of his valor in battle, of his humility.

"Okay," Zelda said with a nod of acknowledgement, the priest raising his eyebrows at the trust she was placing in this boy.

"But, Link," she implored as she stepped forward. "I need your understanding that this is a grave responsibility. It must not be taken lightly."

"I understand," Link said with a nod.

"The land of Hyrule cannot fall into the wizard's clutches," Zelda continued. "If he releases the seal of the seven wise men, evil power will overwhelm this land. Before that happens…before it's too late…you must destroy the wizard before he destroys Hyrule. You…you can do it, I know you can."

"Seek out the village elder in Kakariko," the priest added as he stepped forward. "He knows of a weapon that will aid you greatly, that is sure to banish Agahnim's evil. But until then, be on your guard, you have surely seen that the castle soldiers have been cursed to aid him, not to mention the minions that roam the land even now. They will be looking for you two after tonight. I wish it wasn't so, but they will kill you if given the chance."

"What about you?" Link asked as he looked to Zelda, his face full of concern. "If they are willing to kill me just for assisting you then…"

"I will hide Princess Zelda here," the priest interjected. "Do not worry, your only concern should be with finding the elder as soon as possible."

Link looked to Zelda once more, parting his lips as if he were about to say something, his eyes almost panicked as they searched hers.

Zelda simply waited for his words in response, curiosity overtaking anything else as she stared.

Yet, he soon tore away his glance, starting a run out of the sanctuary.

"Wait!" Zelda exclaimed before running to meet him, his expression attentive when he turned around for her to approach him.

"Link," she started, in a voice unbefitting for a royal and proper princess. It was softer, more real, with more genuine emotion behind it than he'd ever heard.

"My dreams," she continued. "I…I didn't know they would reach you like that…I didn't mean to force you into all this."

Link only smiled, his eyes warm.

"You didn't."

Those two words were all she needed to smile as well, soon running forward and hugging him.

"Please be careful, Link."

"I will, I promise," he said in reply. "Zelda…"