link seemed satisfied enough with her answer.
interested, zelda watched him as he stood, moving the stool closer to her side to sit. suspicion pricked at her as link seemed to prepare himself, then opened his mouth to speak again.
"are you.. sure? i didn't want to bring it up at first.. but, i'm worried about you, zel."
her heart throbbed at the nickname. he would've never dared calling her anything outside her title before; he would've never voiced his worries for her aloud. he really has changed. he really did care for her. tugging at the flesh of her inner cheek, she prepared herself to try and soothe him. they both knew she wasn't,,, at her best. nowhere near it. but it was no matter. they both had a silent, mutual agreement to pay no heed and pretend everything was fine— calloused hands then moved to cup one of her own, and the reply died in her throat as link continued on.
"you've barely slept, barely eaten. i know how it feels to adjust to living again after a century, and that it feels impossible at first, but you need to try."
apparently, it wasn't mutual. the denial was exclusively her own. link had blatantly called her out. wincing in response, zelda swallowed thickly. he wasn't wrong. in fact, everything he had said was painfully accurate. yet,, she couldn't help but find herself taken aback at his forwardness.
"link, i'm sorry, i'm just-"
link quickly intervened before she could voice her opinion of herself.
"zelda, you are the bravest, and most powerful, person i know. but, that does not make you immortal." while sincere, his eyes twinkled with amusement as he punctuated his last sentence. zelda's expression stayed the same, unknowingly oblivious to his reference. clearing his throat, link continued on.
"let's just.. start slow. i know you have no appetite right now, but you like berries, right? i can try making a parfait,, or something. and then we could go outside, if you're feeling up for it?"
zelda had to keep herself from gaping at him. he hadn't admonished her for her lack of self-care and general enthusiasm. instead, he simply proposed for them to spend the day together and coax her to eat (despite the array of leftovers he had to give away due to previous attempts). goddesses— he was so thoughtful. and sweet. and sensitive. he even spoke more, with a funny hybrid dialect in lieu of the regal castletown accent he once wore. zelda didn't mind this change so much.
"zelda?" he gently clenched his grasp on her hand, still expecting an answer. "you better eat something. but if you don't want to go somewhere with me tonight, i'm fine if you say no- we have all the time in the world after all-"
"yes."
"huh?"
"yes, link. i'd love to."