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Series title: The Shrinking Trilogy
Part 2: Hero, I've Shrunk the Princess!
Chapter 2
Author: Sailor Song
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"Is that what you truly desire?"
That voice. The same voice that lulled me into dreams when my sleep was full of nightmares. The one that warned me of dangers and guided me in my final fight with the Calamity. In one quick motion, I turned and was on my feet before I realized, staring into emerald green eyes.
"I tried to tell you, Linky, it isn't instantaneous-"
"Thank you, Purah," Zelda said with a smile. "Can you excuse us for a moment?"
"Oh sure. Mess around with my machine and then send me away-" Her voice drifted off, and whether she went in or was still here with us, I had no clue because my eyes were glued to the living goddess standing before me.
It maybe went on for a little too long, because she was the one to break the silence. "Link, say something."
"Yes!" I all but shouted at her, causing her to flinch.
"Pardon."
"I...uh…" Goddess, why am I suddenly such an idiot? "Your question from our first meeting after defeating the Calamity, th-that is my answer. Yes. Yes I remember you. I remember us. I remember everything."
"Oh."
Silence. A wind swept up the hill, slightly blowing aside the thin blanket she had been wrapped in as a baby that was now being used as a cover. After pulling out a few random clothing items for her to change into, I looked away to give her some privacy. This was not going at all how I thought, but I also was not sure what I had expected.
"Thank you," she said, handing me back the unused items having chosen only my Champion tunic, which on her was oversized, a dress. "I see you were able to pull the sword again."
I looked back over my shoulder, the hilt once again always within my grasp. "It was the only way to ensure I remembered everything." And unfortunately that meant EVERYTHING, both my own past and also the snippets of memories from those who had once wielded this weapon. I didn't want to tell her all of that, worried it might make her feel guilty for the choice I made.
There was a long, silent pause where we both stood, awkwardly staring at everything but each other, waiting for something to break the tension.
"KISS HER!" came a shout from inside the lab. Yes, something like that.
I sighed and looked deep into Zelda's emerald eyes. "I have a house not far from here. If you want, I can draw you a bath or-"
"Yes," she whispered, interrupting before I could finish offering anything more. "Yes to anything."
With a nod, I led her around to the front where I had tied up my horse. She seemed light enough, so I lifted her up on the horse sidesaddle, which elicited a small gasp.
"Put this on," I said, holding out a Hylian hood. She looked at me blankly, but took the article and did as I instructed.
"Linky, a word." I turned to see Purah leaning against the wooden door at the entrance to her lab.
"Yes? What is it now-ow-ow?!" She grabbed me by the ear and pulled me down, and goddesses, if she wasn't stronger than I had originally given her credit for.
"You've been on your own for a while now. Remember that before speaking, and maybe work on your people skills, won't you?"
Someone needed to heed her own advice, but in an effort to be agreeable and get out of here, I put on a fake smile and thanked her.
"Good boy," she said, patting my cheek. Then, leaning in, she whispered, "Please take care of her."
"Purah, I swear it," I said seriously, looking her in the eye so she knew that I meant it with my life.
Seeming satisfied with my response, she let me go. "Bye, Princess! Come visit me sometime!"
Zelda gave a wave and made a promise that she would.
I approached slowly. People skills, hm? What exactly did that entail? "Is there anything you need before we go?" That seemed like a start, I supposed.
She told me no, so I pulled on the horse's reins to head home. "You aren't going to ride too?"
"That isn't exactly a two person saddle," I pointed out the obvious, and perhaps I was a little short in my reply because she turned away. Oh, this was exactly the kind of thing I needed to work on. Maybe it would be better if I fully explained my thought process to her? "If you are uncomfortable, it's only a short ride there. I'm walking because I wanted to be ready in case the Yiga decided to attack."
"Yiga? Here?"
"They know where I live," I went on. "We have an unspoken understanding that if they try anything in this town, I will go scorched earth on their homebase. I just want to make sure your presence doesn't give them a reason to break the standoff, hence the cloak to hide you."
That was all true, but I also didn't need my gossipy neighbors to come banging on my door, enquiring about my guest. In an effort to avoid their unwanted interference into my life, I took the back way to my house instead of the direct route through town. Once we were there and I had helped her down, I asked what she needed.
"That bath you mentioned did sound nice. If it isn't too much trouble that is."
"No trouble, but it will take a few moments to set up." I wasn't sure what to do with her. Leave her? There wasn't much room in the bathhouse for her to stay with me in there as I heated the water. I decided instead to give her something to do. "Can you pick some of those purple wildflowers in the field out there? They release an oil that is good for the muscles." She set off to the task I had given her while I refilled the water and started the fire to heat up the bath.
When it seemed about ready, I went out to collect her, only to find her wading in the pond reciting prayers to the goddess. Worried that the water might no longer be warm, I cleared my throat, startling her from her recitations.
"Oh, Link, I… I didn't get the flowers."
"That's okay. I already got everything set if you are ready."
She nodded, following me into the bathhouse. I turned to give her privacy as she undressed and entered the tub.
"I'll be nearby if you need anything," I said. She didn't respond, only stared blankly at the wall, hardly blinking as though she were in a daze. "Zelda, are you okay?" What I'd meant to ask was if there was anything she needed before I stepped outside, but my question prompted more of a response than I'd expected.
"I'm having trouble grounding myself in this reality." Her voice was little more than a whisper. "To go from our lives together, to walking away from you to hold off the Calamity in the hopes that you'd come back to me, to you returning and hating me, to a blank existence, and now this." The tears were streaming down her face as she swirled the water through her fingers. "I need something to anchor me to this life because I feel like I'm slipping."
"What can I do?"
"I don't know," she whispered.
Without a second thought, I climbed into the tub and pulled her into my arms. The thin fabric of my shirt and pants provided a barrier between us, allowing a space of connection without the arousal of intimacy.
I mean, there was some arousal. I am only a man after all.
After a time, the water began to chill slightly, and as her crying subsided, I felt her fingers move along my back. Suddenly, a laugh broke through the tension.
"You're all wet," she said, sniffling.
I shrugged. "It's for the best." Honestly, I couldn't be certain when I'd last bathed, so it really was a win-win. "If you are ready to get out-" She nodded. "I'll let you have a moment of privacy. I left something for you to change into."
I climbed out and was about to leave when I heard a tiny voice asking me to wait. Dripping wet, I stood at the door, listening as she emerged from the tub. The shuffling stopped, and I could feel fingertips running along my hand. I had made a step in the right direction to repair the damage I had done, but there still much to do.
… … …
Over the course of a couple of days, it became very clear that Zelda was not going to suddenly revert back to the person I now remembered she was one hundred years ago. Something had changed in her, and whether it was my death, her time spent with the Calamity, my treatment of her after, or some combination of everything, it was likely that this could lead to a permanent alteration of her character and our relationship with one another.
I understood - I had gone through something similar in my youth, but I wanted to find a way to open the lines of communication. And perhaps, if my plan worked the way I hoped it would, it might also bring a smile to her face.
After arranging a day for her to spend some time with Purah and Symin, and only once I made sure that that goddess damned machine was turned off, I used the Sheikah Slate to teleport myself deep into the castle ruins. I began searching for the items on my list in the most obvious places, but after a while, I had to resort to rumors to seek out some of the last pieces of what I was looking for. After locating everything I needed, I made an impulsive visit to the library before heading back to Hateno.
From the second I arrived outside the lab, I could hear Purah and Zelda talking excitedly to one another about some discovery, likely of the technological variety. It took me back to my days as the princess's silent knight. Though she hated me back then and sought out every reason to distance herself from my presence, I still tried to find ways to make her happy, which usually involved arranging trips for her to the Ancient Tech Lab against her father's wishes. She would resent my being there, but once she had thrown herself into the newest device Purah had to show her, her eyes would light up in excitement. I could imagine that was how she looked right now, but I didn't want to enter the room, worried that the second I did, her joy would quickly disappear.
Goddess, I really hoped my plan for tonight worked.
After an hour of sitting outside listening to the inside commotion while watching the water in the distance, I decided to finally go in. As expected, the moment I entered, her smile instantly faded and the mood became slightly tense. We said our goodbyes to the Sheikah pair, and began the walk down to the village in utter silence.
"Did you find everything you were looking for?" she asked as we navigated the winding path.
I took a moment to mentally run through my list. There had been one or two missing pieces, but I had found enough substitutions to make it work. She cleared her throat, and I realized she was merely trying to make conversation.
"Yeah, uh, mostly," I replied.
She waited, perhaps expecting more from me, but I had nothing to add. "That's good."
"Yeah." Silence returned. People skills… I could do this. "How was your day?"
She stretched a little and gave a smile. "It was nice. But if I'm being completely honest, I was ready to leave about an hour ago."
"I'll remember that for next time," I said. "Or maybe you can come with me?"
She smiled. "I would like that."
That look she gave… everything suddenly seemed tight, most especially in my lower region.
We reached the village and the moment was gone. In silence again, we navigated the Hateno residents and finally reached the bridge to my house.
"Wait!" I said a little too loudly as she reached for the door. "I… I have a surprise for you, but I need a little time to prepare everything."
"Oh." She looked intrigued. "Should I have stayed at Purah's?"
"No." I want you here with me. "I was thinking I could draw a bath for you to enjoy while I make dinner."
She agreed, and in only a few moments, she was bathing and I was again alone. Wanting everything to go off without a hitch, I raced back to the house and started preparing the meal. Most of the recipes I knew well enough by heart, but there were a couple of new ones I had found in the castle that had been left out for a special occasion that never was.
I walked back to the bathhouse, and I felt a growing nervousness as I approached the door. I could face down a herd of lynels without blinking an eye, but every time I drew near her, I would lose my ability to hold a coherent thought. After clearing my throat and a quick head shake, I rapped my knuckles against the door.
"Link?"
"Just checking in." Good. Good start.
"I'm fine. A little pruny."
I smiled, but realizing she couldn't see, I forced a little laugh. "I'm going to get changed for dinner. I left an outfit for you, but, uh… you don't have to wear it if you don't want to."
I wasn't sure if she heard me or not until I heard a soft "Okay" from the other side of the door.
"Stay here," I said. "I'll be right back to get you."
I raced back, trying to not overthink everything. Changing took very little time at all, my muscle memory of dressing in this apparel not forgotten. With one quick look in the mirror, I took a deep breath and walked back into the night.
*Knock, knock, knock*
"I'm here," I said softly. "Whenever you are ready."
"I'm dressed," she said from inside. "Link, I don't understa-"
The door opened and she gasped to see me standing there, bowing in my royal guard uniform. I rose and reached out my hand to her to help her from the bathhouse. "Your highness," I said, finding some humor in how opposed to this I would have been only a week ago. "I'm here to escort you… you're beautiful." I had looked up and my breath caught to see her in her royal gown for the first time in over one hundred years.
"Thank you, but what is all of this?"
"I made you a promise all those years ago. We didn't get to attend your birthday celebration, so I told you I would make it up to you. I'm sorry, Princess, for making you wait so long."
Her arms wrapped around my neck and her lips collided with mine. It was new and unfamiliar, yet all the while, kissing her felt as natural as breathing.
"Touch me, Link," she whispered against my lips.
I pulled away. "I want to, Zelda. I'm just worried that if I start... I don't know if I'll be able to stop."
She leaned forward and said in a sultry voice, "Then don't stop."
The rest... well, all I will share is that I shouldn't have bothered to put any time or effort into worrying about making dinner and tidying up the house.
After what could have been minutes, hours, or maybe even days, we lay in the bed together, breathing heavily in each other's arms. I found myself entranced by how the moonlight on her exposed skin shimmered in a way that made her appear to be glowing as though she were a goddess. My goddess.
… … …
For the first time that I can remember, perhaps since my one hundred year long nap, I slept well, deeply, and woke up feeling refreshed. And very, very satisfied. I stretched out my arm, seeking the beauty that had been in my arms, but found the other side of the bed empty. Rubbing my eyes, I looked over, confirming that I was, indeed, alone. I sat up and grabbed my boxers from the clothes strewn about the floor the previous night. The thought of our evening made me smile, and I looked down over the railing, only to find the house was empty. On my upstairs table, a note that read simply, "L, thank you for last night. Z"
"Probably relieving herself," I muttered as I grabbed a pair of pants and a semi-clean tunic. Once I was dressed and my hair pulled back, I went downstairs to tidy up from dinner and start putting together something for breakfast. The problem was, I couldn't find my paring knife. I could have sworn I'd left it on the cutting board, but it wasn't there, and no, it wasn't on the ground either. It wasn't…
The door was cracked open. The princess was gone. And so was my knife. The memory of the night at the Spring of Power, when she threatened to harm herself, crossed my mind, and no other thought was in my mind other than I had to find her now.
Rushing out, the morning chill hit my body like I'd run into a wall, but I didn't stop to change into something warmer. She was my only concern at this moment. I checked the bathroom (empty), the nearby shrine (nothing), and began to climb up the mountain when I looked down and saw a glint of light and a mass of golden hair down at the lower part of Firly Pond.
"Zelda!" I called out, and began running at full speed. She saw me coming, and even from a distance, I could tell there was a look of determination on her face. Whatever she was about to do, she had set her mind to it, and there was no way I would be able to reach her in time. She raised the knife, closed her eyes, and sliced.
Her hair. She cut her hair.
I was on my knees beside her, gasping for breath as I looked at her. "You…"
"Before you say anything, I just needed-"
"You…" Still I was gasping for air. Goddesses, how was I so out of shape?
"Link, don't be angry."
"I'm not-"
"I needed a change-"
"You scared the shit out of me, Zelda!" This time I yelled, and she looked at me with eyes full of fear. Taking another breath, I moved a little closer and reached out to her. She flinched, causing me to stop until I was sure she wasn't afraid, and then put my arms around her. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
She was quiet for a time and then pulled away. "I'm sorry if you don't like it, but wearing that dress last night reminded me of what I was no longer. I wanted a change, and...and my hair seemed the easiest, least permanent thing."
This time I let her speak until she was done. "Is that all?" I asked, to which she nodded. There was still fear in her eyes, and I hated that it was directed at me. I tried to soften my features as I looked her over. The golden locks were spilled all around her on the grass, like someone had just harvested a field of Tabantha Wheat. I looked back and took in her new appearance. "I like it."
"You… do?"
I nodded. "If you do, and that's what matters."
"You don't care? I thought that's why you were angry."
"I wasn't angry. I saw the knife and…"
She was confused for a moment until I saw the realization hit her. Sheepishly, she handed me the knife, which I took and am not ashamed to say I put as far out of her reach as possible.
"Link, I cannot predict what the future holds for us, but what I can tell you is that I am very well aware that my actions impact us both." I cocked an eyebrow but gave her the chance to elaborate without my interrupting. "When I decided to use the machine on myself, I knew at the time my actions were selfish, although my intent had been to start over without hurting anyone. And still, I hurt you. You were dragged into a mission when I knew all you wanted to was to be left in peace. You even had to reclaim the sword, and I know how much pain it has caused you in the past."
At this point, she was crying so hard, I couldn't let her continue. "Zelda, my choices were my own. I didn't have to recover my memories because of you; that was my choice. I didn't have to pull the sword because of you; that was my choice." I could see this wasn't helping her feel any better, so I reached out to take her hand in mine. "I promise you this: I feel like myself again. I'm not sure why the sword let me reclaim it now that the Calamity is gone, but whatever it means, I have no regrets. Not when it led me back to you."
"Link…"
Now I was the one crying. "I love you. I need you. The person I had become without you, he was a shell of a man, miserable and alone. Now, with you by my side, I have a partner, a mission, a purpose once more."
She held me in her arms, and we both were able to release the pent up feelings that had been buried down for so long. Our comforting touches turned into sweet caresses, and we had barely made it back into the house before our clothing was once again strewn about the floor.
As her breathing slowed from our second round of love-making, I knew I wanted to wake up with her in my arms every morning for the rest of my life.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Being a trilogy, I do have a third entry planned for this series. We did get a look at BOTW2, and while that plot may impact what I had planned for the next part, I may just go ahead with the original plan. However, I have a few other stories I'm playing with, plus the ongoing Dawn's Early Light, so I have no idea what's coming next from me.