SUMMARY: Three years after the birth of their son, Link and Zelda struggle to resume their life together after a sudden accident drastically changes their relationship.
I'm aliiiive! :D Well, maybe I can't say that, since I never actually went on hiatus. As some of you may know, I've been quietly working on the "Epic Edit" of Fortitude (Epic Edit is my silly term for the last massive revision before I finally declare it complete). I had hoped to be done with that by now, but lately I've been struggling to find the energy or inspiration to tackle such a complex story. Fortitude is a labor of love, and I still absolutely intend to finish it (however slowly), but I'm wondering if a little variety might help me be more productive.
So I allowed myself to tinker with this new idea, and I came up with a novella of sorts. I plan to keep it under ten chapters, and I will hopefully update it on a more regular basis, but that remains to be seen. I admit this is an experiment of sorts - if readers don't take a real interest I may remove it and continue focusing on the Epic Edit.
This story is a small sequel to Fortitude, but it is written in third person, and from Link's perspective as well as Zelda's. I have no idea how people will react to that, but I hope it captures your interest!
— PROLOGUE —
Thunder rolled across the darkened sky, and lightning flashed amidst heavy rain as it poured from the heavens. Creatures from every walk of life had long found shelter, but one lone carriage still hurried along the muddy road, its passengers determined to reach the nearest village before nightfall.
Zelda stirred and opened her eyes, disappointed to hear rain still beating against the rooftop. Her husband sat beside her, having spent the past hour gazing out the window while she slept against his shoulder.
"Welcome back," he murmured, caressing her arm.
"Hmm," she groaned with disappointment, breaking into a yawn as she slid into a stretch. "I was hoping I'd sleep through this."
Link scoffed. "Well, I'm sorry I'm such unbearable company."
Zelda laughed and shifted in their seat, snuggling closer to him. "I mean the storm, silly."
"Well," he replied, tucking the blanket they shared more tightly around her, "in that case I'll just have to keep you distracted."
Zelda smiled and laid her head on his shoulder, trying to ignore another clap of thunder.
"We could avoid this entire journey, you know."
Zelda sighed and pulled away to look out the window, watching the storm with a tug of worry. She knew he referred to the Ocarina of Time—a sacred heirloom capable of teleportation.
"It is tempting," she admitted. "But we agreed to bring it only as a last resort. Using it now would be excessive—and we can hardly abandon the guards."
Link moved to slip his arms around her waist, holding her close.
"I don't recall you showing such reluctance during our courtship," he murmured against her cheek. "Would you say we fled to the Lost Woods an excessive number of times…?"
Zelda closed her eyes when he kissed her neck, reveling in the chills he sent up and down her spine. Years before their marriage, the two of them had courted in secret, forced to hide their feelings because of their incompatible backgrounds. They had used the Ocarina to spend time together in seclusion, if only to exchange meaningful conversation and innocent affections.
"That wasn't excessive," she murmured. "It was necessary."
"Ah, so," he said, kissing her again, "romantic escapades are necessary, but coming home to our son is excessive?"
Zelda pulled away with a groan. "Now that isn't fair. We had no alternatives back then, and Shayne is in good hands."
Link feigned a disappointed sigh, but she felt his impatience through their metaphysical bond—a feeling she also endured. A familiar ache had grown in her chest since the day she left home, an ache she knew would only worsen until Shayne was back in her arms.
"How about this," she added, turning to bring her arms up around Link's neck. "If we encounter another significant obstacle, we'll use the Ocarina. Is that reasonable enough for his Majesty?"
Before Link could reply, a sudden cry sounded outside, barely audible above the rain. Seconds later another shout followed, and the carriage gave a sharp lurch.
Link and Zelda exchanged concerned looks. Are we being ambushed?
They wasted no time finding out. Quietly Link moved to open the door, glancing up and down the road before he slipped out into the rain. Zelda tensed as he climbed up on top of the carriage, then hurriedly tied up her skirt to climb after him.
You stay in there, Link's voice echoed through her mind. Let me handle this.
Link—
There are only two of them, and I have the element of surprise. Just stay put—please?
Are you even armed?
His exasperation drifted through their bond. Zelda. It's me.
She sighed and reluctantly closed the door. Fine, but if you have any trouble I'm coming after you.
She felt him sigh in response, but he did not argue. Quickly Zelda summoned her magic, listening in suspense to the scuffling on the carriage roof. Holding the magic ready at her fingertips, she concentrated on Link's emotions, ready to help him at the first sign of danger.
That moment came sooner than expected, when she felt his sudden lurch of surprise.
Link?
...There's another rider behind us, he told her. An archer. See if you can take him out.
Carefully Zelda cracked open the door and looked outside, searching for the rider she knew had fired at Link. She spotted him about five meters behind the carriage, and, seeing his bow was nocked, quickly fired her magic before he could shoot again. He fell from his horse with a cry, much to Zelda's relief.
I got— Zelda broke off when she felt another jolt from Link, followed by a rush of frustration. Link, are you—?
Hold on; there's another—
He broke off suddenly, and Zelda turned to see his own magic pierce the darkness outside. The rider dodged the blast, causing it to explode against the rocky cliffside. Loud whinnies filled the air as the carriage gave another sudden, violent lurch. Zelda caught the door frame to steady herself—just as Link and one of the bandits crashed onto the muddy road behind her.
"Link!" Zelda cried. Link, are you all right?
…I'm fine, he assured her after a moment, sounding a bit dazed. Try to stop the carriage.
With a flare of anger Zelda pulled herself up onto the roof, careful to keep a tight grip. She was relieved to find only one bandit left driving the speeding carriage, and he was too preoccupied to notice her. Pulling a knife from her boot, Zelda dropped down beside him, and, in one swift motion, pressed the blade to his throat as she snatched the reins from his hands.
"Get off!" she shouted over the rain.
The man hesitated, then quickly did as she asked, leaping off onto the roadside. His sudden cooperation puzzled Zelda—until she saw the road ahead.
A sharp turn loomed mere seconds away, curving over a steep hillside.
Zelda gasped and pulled hard on the reigns, desperate to stop the carriage—
She was too late.
The horses skidded and slipped as they made the turn, forcing the carriage onto its side. Zelda launched into the darkness, too shocked to cry out before she hit the ground.
For several terrifying moments she hurtled down the rocky, muddy hillside, unable to respond to Link's frantic voice in her mind. Then her head struck something hard, and she knew nothing more.
