A/N: I never feel comfortable doing author's notes - but, I think I can afford myself the confidence to say hello. I love Breath of the Wild and I've been struggling to post my stories about the beautiful cast. I do this dance of writing and then editing until it's unrecognizable (and dislikable). More than anything I want to post. I have a different story I've been writing and rewriting for Link and Zelda, but I need to practice writing and posting. So, I'm making myself sit down and write and immediately post - to my detriment. So, please enjoy this spring-of-the-moment BOTW post-story. Leave a comment- you'll make my day.
Updated: 10-07-21
Chapter One
He did not remember her - and that was okay.
Princess Zelda froze in the view of the liberated castle. The wind rushed her breath; grass tickled her wrists; slowly, she blinked back dust until her eyes adjusted to the colossal tower peering down into the world of yellow foxtails.
Her arms flaked with goosebumps; the hair on her skin rose, all together proving the termination of her immortal shield - she was mortal, free, alive. The clock of life resumed its ticking, and she, like frozen food tossed out of the ice chambers, swore herself to be rotting. Her century-suspended skin cried out from the heavy-laden grime; she tasted her tongue caked in dirt, and each attempt to turn around had her stumbling.
Where was he? The boy who saved the remnant of Hyrule? - there! Across the meadow of dried mustard flowers, standing with his eyes wide.
Each attempt to call out to him had her coughing.
"Link - " A faint wheeze.
A century-long prayer swelled up in her lungs like a balloon and slowly released as the boy of her wildest fantasies limped the distance between them.
Urgency consumed her - Link! She scampered forward! Her knees felt knobby; her shoulders screamed; those limp wrists fumbled for a hold on the earth, yet no finger could catch. No palm could push her up onto her feet. But, her arms tingled as the ghost of the divine lifted her century-paralysis, allowing her to meet him halfway. Somehow she got to her feet - a true washing sensation that suddenly surrendered to the silence of afternoon crickets and dragging feet.
Link slid in, checking side to side for enemies. Stunned, she stood frozen in those familiar blue eyes - a sudden flood on the anxious hell-fire of a hundred years. But still, she found no strength in her hands to cup his face; no tenor in her voice to introduce herself. But then came the unfastening of his cloak! He whirled it off his shoulders, setting it on hers - a sudden whoosh before his hands came around the front to fasten the button. A stunning gesture it was! - despite its subtly, it marked the first touch in one hundred years, making her feeling like an infant once more, violently birthed into a troublesome world.
"I'm sorry." He struggled to button the cloak - his hands were shaking.
She bounced between those busy eyes until the stench of blood plagued her nose. And when looking down, she saw his turquoise tunic wet with his own blood.
A red pool dripped down his side.
She fell to her knees to help.
"Wait." He teetered.
"No Link, please let me!" Unyielding, she tore at the blackened hem of her skirt. Oh, the smell wreaked - she pushed her nose against her shoulder.
He was awkward with his high shoulders; for they reminded Zelda that she was indeed a stranger to him. She looked up apologetically and bit her lip, "I know you are without knowledge of me, but my name is Zelda! I am the one who has been talking to you!"
Although faint and nauseous, she ripped the hem clean off her dress, "I am the Princess of Hyrule and commissioner of the champions!" And when looking up, she caught his eyes against the blue skies and held the make-shift bandage up to size.
He appeared both muted and terrified - looking everywhere in a blink: her eyes, the bandage, her hands, her mouth, her collar, and shoulders. Bubbling beneath that anxious stare was a thin reluctance to expose the bleeding weakness, but odd trust laid him bare. And in a moment of estranged intimacy, he allowed his shirt to be lifted.
When was the last time someone was this close to him? Thought he.
Had anyone ever bandaged him?
She was a friend's distance from his face.
Had they been friends in the past?
Princess Zelda lifted his shirt to find a gushing mess.
"Oh, Goddesses." She dropped her bandage.
The sight smashed down a ticking timer in her mind, and if they didn't get him help soon, then -
Then -
She cupped her mouth, horrified to finish the sentence.
He must have noticed because he inched his pack off his shoulders and weakly pointed to a bottle inside the sack, "I don't have enough, but - "
It was medicine!
And in her haste, Zelda fumbled for the cork and dumped it over the mess. He seethed - his face going sheet white as he bit down the pain, his balance wavering. Up came Zelda to catch him, yet, she did not expect the feeling of his chest against hers to knock her breathless; she grappled for his shoulders and suddenly found herself holding him. Tears brimmed at her eyes, and when she scourged her mind for ideas, she felt his hand move to his face. He stuck two dusty fingers into his mouth and let out a loud whistle.
Then came a whinny.
Behind the death-gripped pair, a mare broke from its stun and trotted over to help. She slid to a stop, cueing Link to catch her by the reins and bring Zelda by the waist. He lifted her up onto the horse - blood wetting his side at the exertion.
"I need to get you to Kakariko." He said, almost coldly.
"Karkariko?" She whispered as if she had just spoken that word yesterday. But then she found herself begging, "But, you are bleeding!"
He pushed through the pain and heaved himself up in the saddle before her.
Her tears were spilling, "Link, Kakariko's too far!"
He was listening, but the mission gripped his drive. Peering around for enemies, he pulled his belt from his pants and tied him and the girl together - less any of them should fall.
"Link, listen to me! Is there an inn nearby? Stable? Anything?"
"We can't." He said, almost too quietly.
"We can!"
"I-I don't want to risk you being seen."
She pressed her forehead to the back of his head in a relapse of desperation. And suddenly, she felt his back loosen; his shoulders dropped. He turned as if about to say something, but whatever it was, he bundled it up and kicked his horse onward. Yet, the electrifying gate made him seeth. He toppled back against Zelda, almost swinging them off the horse together. But, he pulled the mare to a stop and stabilized. But a frightening pause held him in suspension.
He turned, realizing the doom at hand - he couldn't ride.
Already Zelda was thinking - did she have the strength to hold on to the reins if she took them? If Link laid back on her chest, could she support them both? So much she wanted to wrap her arm around his side, but all this movement sent eerie tickles through her frozen limbs. The best she could do was lie to herself and pray that the stable was not far; an attendant would be there; he'd have the supplies to help Link; two beds would nurse them overnight; and Zelda would sleep without any nightmares.
She took the reins, "Where is a stable, Link?"
Unresponsive, he dipped his head low, yet the exhaustion welling up in his eyes forboded some sort of denial. But before he could do so, she interrupted him, whipping the horse on, "Can you point?"
"I have orders." He finally uttered - all in a wheeze.
"I cannot let you bleed like this, Link."
"Monsters," he started - the gate of the horse's walk made him wince. Already was his face going white, though he pushed through and gestured to the dangers with his hands, "Yiga and gangs - we can't."
"I'll wear this cloak - and anything else you have!" Her emotions caught in her voice - angry, she felt herself begging. "So, please just tell me where I need to go!"
His eyes caught like a stitch on a snag. Zelda challenged that gaze until he looked away. Weakly, he pointed east beyond a copse of ancient oak trees.
"Thank you!" Zelda cried. She yanked the horse in that direction, holding the reins as best as she could with one hand. Adrenaline animated her arm as it came up and over the hero and cradling him against her chest. And this she knew as the wind picked up, she was trespassing the boundary of stranger-hood: close-contact, her arm around his waist, the smell of his hair in her nose, the warmth of his cheek against hers as they rode.
"I'll hire someone to get the Sheikah," he said, cursing himself and the blood he drained. "They'll take you to Kakariko."
What could she do? Tell him no? The feeling of his cheek against hers was all too intimate to turn him down so soon. So she let her silence comfort him - perhaps he'd relax, knowing he had a plan.
Meanwhile, the wind ran through them. Foxtails whipped, age-old dust flurried, and tremendous weather began to stir. A crown of storm clouds billowed behind the head of the castle as its Princess rode out of its shade. She did not look back - no, she pressed her forehead into the forgiving backside of her companion and wished the prison gone.
When Link's chest stilled, she shot up, "Are you breathing?"
He nodded feverishly, "I just -"
"Just what?"
He looked obviously nervous - Zelda wondered if she should loosen her grip on him. Yet, he went on, "I just thought I should ask - "
"What is it? - ask anything!"
For a moment, he just stared into her eyes - looking at every part of her face before flicking down his gaze.
He hesitated. "I should ask what I call you."
She bounced between his eyes - he was nervously asking about honorifics. On a horse with her. While he was bleeding out. Zelda bit her lip, but a pathetic smile broke. She gushed, "You can call me Princess Zelda." Almost everyone called her that on the fly, but she rambled on. " ...or Princess... or better yet, just Zelda is fine."
He took a quick breath in, "Princess Zelda." He finally said - too shy to return her smile.