"Looks like Dualing Peak Stables is coming up soon Zelda. You wanna camp out or stay at the stables?" Link called back from his horse. They had been travelling for about a day now and the sky had started giving off a faint orangish color. Zelda, who was riding peacefully behind Link, looked upwards towards the sky as she thought about Link's question.

"I wouldn't mind camping out. I miss sleeping under the stars like before." Zelda said with a small smile on her face. Link nodded and faced forward on his horse. Link pulled out the Sheikah Slate and started observing the map, pinpointing where the two should camp for the night.

"What are you looking for Link?" Zelda asked. Did it used to be this hard choosing a spot to sleep?

"Somewhere... Comfortable." Link said, though the pause hadn't gone unnoticed by Zelda.

"Link. What are you really looking at there?" Zelda asked, tapping her horses mane slightly, now trotting next to Link and his horse side by side.

"A map. Honest." Link said without looking up from the slate. Zelda frowned.

"You understand what I'm asking Link. Stop trying to hide it. What's got you all focused?" She asked again. Link sighed and put the Slate on his hip.

"I need to find a place that we can camp that won't have to worry about Yiga." He said.

"Yiga? This far out? They keep to themselves in the desert, do they not?" Zelda asked. "It would be rather bold of them to come all the way out to the Necluda Region."

Link nodded.

"They're different than a hundred years ago. They are bold. Sometimes even sending foot soldiers out here. And eventually..." Link drew the Master Sword. "They are gonna find out you're alive and well."

"How much are you gonna want her to 'learn on her own'?" Link asked inwardly, staring at the hilt of the Master Sword. The sword remained silent.

"You really think they'll come after me again?" Zelda asked. Link sighed.

"At some given time... Yes, they will. However right now they don't know for certain that your alive. The only reason they knew I was alive is because I had the Shiekah Slate. And then I only further outed myself when I got the Master Sword back. None of them know what you look like."

"That is very much true, but... I mean... Isn't it a bit obvious who I would be?" Zelda asked. Link looked at her.

"Yea. It would be. But they don't know you yet. So we'll get there when we get there. Until then we need to be safe were we camp, and keep your identity hidden. Even more so than we already are. Speaking of camp, I was thinking the Bubinga Forest would be a good camping spot for tonight."

Link grabbed the Slate from his hip once again and handed it to Zelda, who took a look around the area.

"That seems like the best option we have at the moment. The trees would give us good cover. Oh Link! There's a river next to the forest as well! We can freshen up!" Zelda said excitedly. However, Link could do nothing but frown just a bit. He had hoped Zelda wouldn't want to 'freshen up' for at least another day or so.

Zelda had been... Unusually affectionate towards him lately. Of course Link enjoyed this, much more than he would allow himself to believe, but this was proving to be an issue. He didn't know how much longer he could contain himself, and the idea of Zelda 'cleansing' in a river right next to him was not helping. Before, Link would be on watch duty surveying the area when she bathed in their travels a hundred years ago. This was different.

"Link? Link? What's got you so quiet yet again?" Zelda's voice said from outside the void. Link snapped out of his thoughts, turning his attention to Zelda.

"I'm sorry, what? I'm not quiet." Link said however Zelda fumed.

"I've been calling your name for minutes Link! Honestly, something is clearly wrong. I know, you should bath yourself too! You never did when we travelled back then, you always ended up getting dirty and you seemed uncomfortable."

Links pointed ears immediately turned red. Suddenly the movement and bumps from Epona's trotting beneath him became much more apparent.

"Z-Zelda I don't know-"

"Not an option Link. You won't be absolutely stressing yourself when travelling with me anymore. You always kept watch. Now when you take time to relax, I will keep watch." Zelda said, placing a hand on her chest, her expression proud.

Link shook his head. Of course that's what she meant. Why did his mind immediately go to that? Before Link could come up with an answer however, what Zelda had said fully processed.

"You keep watch?" Link repeated. Zelda nodded.

"Yes, I. I have my inherited skill with a bow. And well..." Zelda's hand had unconsciously travelled to the Travelers Sword she had taken from the Skalkoblin, now resting on her hip. "I need to learn to use a sword without panicking eventually."

"Zelda hold on a second, I don't think-" However Link stopped. This time the words of the Master Sword didn't ring in his ears.

"But now your just being an overprotective parent Link! She can't learn in your yard! Some basic's yes, she had to learn in safety. But it's been weeks! She needs real life experience!"

Link sighed to himself. At least he was near her this time. Link looked at the still silent sword on his back. While he was frustrated with its decision, he trusted it. If something went wrong, the Master Sword would signal him. Plus... If he cleared out the monsters in the area first, it shouldn't be that bad.

"Alright then. You'll take a early night shift watch then." Link said, speaking in a bit of a knightly tone. Zelda perked up with a smile, though surprised that Link ad so easily agreed. She very much had prepared herself for an argument.

"I'll clear out the monsters in the area first. Then we'll..." Link's voice drifted away. The Master Sword had made a sound. Not a loud one, not even a word. Just a sound. However Link knew very clearly what it was trying to say. Link sighed. He had the idea but had voted against it. However the Master Swords vote seemed to opt in for it. Might as well trust the ancient blade.

"Better yet. I've got another idea." Link said, turning towards her yet again. Zelda, lightly bobbing on her white stead, looked confused.

"You're going to help me clear them out."

"And there... we... go." Link said to himself. He had successfully balanced a piece of flint on a stack of wood.

"Link..." Zelda called from behind a few of the forest trees. "Are you sure the horses won't go anywhere? Shouldn't we tie them up or something? That's what you used to do..."

"They're fine!" Link called back. "I'm a lot better at horse training then I used to be. Been bucked off enough horses to determine that..."

Link had mumbled that last part to himself.

"Stop worrying about that and come here!"

After a few moments, Zelda appeared from the through the trees.

"What is it Link? What are you doing there? Are you starting the fire?" She asked, placing her hands behind her back, strolling towards him.

"Yup. We'll camp in the woods. And just behind those trees over there is the river, so we'll be able to rest in there. Not as good as the hot springs in Death Mountain, but it'll do."

"Yes indeed. It should be wonderful- Wait, did you go to the hotsprings on your adventure!?" Zelda asked. Link gulped.

"They offer healing benefits..." Link mumbled. Zelda puffed her cheeks and squinted her eyes.

"Well next time... Take me with you..." Zelda said crossing her arms.

"S-Sure." Link said, starting the fire and sitting in front of it his pointed ears turning red. Zelda crouched and sat next to him, enjoying his company, though Zelda had noticed. These last few weeks Link seemed... Off.

"Link... Are you okay?" Zelda asked. Link turned to look towards her, clearly confused.

"I'm fine? Why do you ask?" Link asked curiously. Zelda shrugged.

"Well... You've been a bit... I don't know how to say this properly. Every since we left Kakariko you've been a bit... distant. I know the fun jokester in you is somewhere but so far you've been more of the stoic silent knight again. I'm worried about you..."

Link blinked. Had he been distant? He had been a tad bit stressed worried about Zeldas training. He was constantly worrying about her. It didn't help that something inside of him was battling between right and wrong when it came to her. And the upcoming trip to Zora's Domain for another secret reason. Maybe he had been acting a bit down towards her?

Link thought back to all the interactions they had since she first awoke. He cracked a few jokes and was a bit carefree the first night... What had changed? When did the worry return? Why was he worrying so hard? Was it his knight training? Or was it...

"I... Just worry about you. Doing the things I do is dangerous. I've had a couple of close calls." Link chose to say, opting not to tell her the rest.

"So naturally I'm just stressed. Not because I don't think you can't do it. It's more because... I just hope I'm teaching you right." Link finished, playing with his fingers.

"I'm a knight. I never made it to trainer. And if I'm being honest, almost everything I did on my adventure was not taught in training." Link laughed nervously. He sighed.

"I just... don't wanna get you hurt."

Zelda, who was quietly listening, smiled. Link really did care about her.

"Well Link. I think you've done a most wonderful job. And if we are being honest, the fact that Impa left me with you and wanted you to teach me... you should have more faith in yourself. You know how she can be." Zelda giggled.

"I trust you Link. Really. Please, have more faith in yourself."

Link blinked. She really trusted him. Him, a mere knight. He smiled, probably the most genuine smile since he saved her from the Calamity.

"Thanks Zelda. Well then if you trust me that much, follow me. We've got some monster hunting to do."

...