Zelda sat beside the water, enjoying the sunshine as Sidon took in whatever water he could get. It was very cold but the sun was at least warming the surface. ''Are you feeling better?'' she asked and the Zora prince nodded.
''Much. I appreciate that a lot of water isn't a good thing for their wings but the Rito seem to forget how much we need water. The Gerudo and Gorons know they need to do something because of the heat but the Rito think we'd be fine because it's cold. We'd become icicles in the water below.''
Zelda smiled as she knew she'd heard this before from others long ago; some things didn't ever change. It wasn't the Rito's fault that they lived in such a cold environment that it felt inhabitable to other races, just as the Rito struggled in the wet in the Zora's domain. It was nothing personal; that was just the surrounding terrain. At least there were the shallow water patches that got a good amount of sun during the day that the Zora could use to get the water they needed.
''There's not much they can do, sadly,'' Zelda explained and Sidon nodded again, letting out a quiet sigh. It was amusing to hear him complain when she was used to listening to him cheer and encourage all of those around him. She supposed it meant he felt comfortable enough with her, particularly as she shared his ideas when it came to being positive in front of her subjects.
''We have a meeting shortly,'' she said as she looked up at the sky. She could see others wandering in their direction, collecting them both on their way to the nearby stables that they had borrowed for their meetings; ; there were too many important things to talk about that needed more privacy than the open air structures that the Rito Village was known for could provide. This particular meeting was with only the various leaders, not even the representatives allowed to enter the space. There was enough hesitation letting Sidon through the door, even despite the fact he had been gradually taking over all of his father's duties due to the older man's growing incapability to travel; the Zora king was getting quite old and being a giant Zora made leaving the village highly impractical.
Zelda sat in her seat, pulling in her chair as she looked at the very powerful people that surrounded her. ''Does anyone have something they want to say first?'' she asked and no one spoke up. They all knew they'd get their turn and there was nothing pressing that needed to be discussed. ''Then may I? I have a couple of topics I'd like to speak about with you all.''
Everyone immediately let her speak; it must have been important if she was asking to go first. She always insisted her matters were the least important and therefore should be left until last. ''I will start with the worse of the two that you've probably all heard about by now,'' she said and it didn't add any ease. ''Due to a recent incident, we've had to put stronger security policies about all mail and deliveries entering the kingdom. Please make sure anything from your towns and villages that needs to come into the castle has your official seal unless it is okay to be searched.''
Riju leaned forward on her crossed legs, a serious expression across her face. ''I heard something made it up to your room that shouldn't have,'' she said, unsure of how much she should say. She wasn't sure what had been passed around to the other leaders and although they should have all known, it wasn't her place to make the announcement. Buliara had let her know everything that Link and Grax had shared with her; given the past between the Gerudo and the Yiga clan, the castle and Gerudo militaries always shared as much intelligence as they could about the group and their movements.
Zelda took a deep breath, hoping not to insight too much fear or outrage. ''Yes. A threatening package made it up to my bedroom, but there was nothing of real concern inside. It was just made to seem like a much more damaging than it was.''
Riju watched her face carefully. She was telling the truth, but then again, she knew otherwise and they hadn't been lying either. It seemed that she wasn't alone in hearing the news because the chief of the Gorons also looked perplexed by the statement. Bludo spoke up. ''I don't mean to sound like I'm doubting you, your highness but I heard it was incredibly threatening.''
Zelda shook her head. ''No, it wasn't.'' She noticed that all of the faces around her were frowning as if they all knew something she didn't. ''What did you all hear?''
''It was a deactivated bomb,'' Sidon said and Zelda shook her head, though as she looked around she could see they all agreed with him.
''Who did you hear it from?'' she asked and Sidon frowned.
''Link and Grax.''
Zelda got up. ''If you'd excuse me, I will go clarify the information for you all,'' she said as she immediately felt doubt in what she knew. For the entire table to know something she didn't that was about her own experiences, it felt wrong and embarrassing. She stepped out the door and passed the Rito guards, making her way toward the Hylian she was soon going to call her husband.
''Link,'' she called out and she could see him quickly get up and make his way over to her, leaving the others he was talking to behind.
''What's wrong?'' he called out back as he ran toward her, watching her stop and fold her arms away from any possible listeners.
''Did you lie to me?'' she asked and Link frowned. ''About the package. Everyone else in that room is determined there was a bomb in that box and you told me there wasn't.'' Link's face said it all. She didn't have words to describe how she felt but she was going to be damned if she didn't try. ''Why did you lie to me? We're getting married soon, you've been the one person I've trusted without fail for over a hundred years through thick and thin and you make me look like an idiot in front of all of the other leaders that I'm meant to be ruling over. Do you know how that makes me feel? Betrayed. Furious. Embarrassed. Upset-''
Link stopped her in her tracks. ''I did it because you were already scared enough. I did it to protect you.''
''I don't need protecting like a child. I am a grown woman, I have dealt with Ganon, I know that people may want to hurt me. I was shaken but I don't need to be coddled,'' she retorted and Link sighed. He knew he'd done the wrong thing but it was all with good intentions. He wasn't sure how he was meant to bring it up again to tell her he'd lied and what the truth was, so he'd just avoided it until he could figure out the best way to say it. Eventually, it became too hard and he just decided to never do it.
''I'm sorry.''
''Sorry doesn't make me look less incompetent,'' Zelda snapped back at him and Link knew he'd really upset her. She turned around and stormed off as Link debated internally what he should do. He only thought to run after her too late, watching her walk back into the stable room with the other figureheads of the kingdom.
She sat down, pulling herself together as much as she could. ''You are all correct. I am sorry to have told you the wrong information,'' she said and no one dared to speak. ''As previously stated, please make sure anything that should not be searched by security is marked with your seals so we can confirm they are safe and their place of origin. What is the next topic we should discuss?''
Everyone was nervous to say anything but they had to. ''You had a second topic you wanted to discuss, your highness,'' Kaneli said as he shuffled uncomfortably.
Zelda shook her head. ''Not right now. Perhaps at the end depending on whether I've changed my mind,'' she said and no one else said anything until the end of the meeting. They all looked at her and waited until she spoke. ''I wanted to ask your opinions on making Link king immediately upon our marriage, rather than via the usual process. Being the heir and given his history, I thought he deserved the title.''
''I certainly don't have an issue with it,'' Sidon said and Riju agreed. They knew he would become king sooner or later; why not just make it sooner?
''I do not have a problem with this so long as he goes through a full coronation ceremony. If he is to become a proper king, he must go through all of the ceremonies and blessings that you did when you became queen,'' Kaneli said and Zelda had anticipated that was likely to be an answer. For all the traditions that had been lost since the great calamity, there were some she knew would never change.
Bludo looked at the Rito elder. ''I concur with Kaneli. He is to go through the coronation. If you are happy to have the coronation directly after the wedding ceremony, he may become king immediately. Otherwise, he must wait until he goes through the ceremony and will only be prince in the meantime.''
Zelda was still frustrated with him but she knew this was what was best for her kingdom. ''I will let him know. I will check what his preference as it is his ceremony but I would prefer it to happen on the same day as not to take more time from anybody else than necessary,'' she said and everyone seemed to agree. ''That is all. Thank you very much for your time.''
They all got up, walking out and back into the village. Link could feel eyes on him as the council all walked up the staircases, Zelda standing behind with her arms still folded. Yunobo and a couple of others scurried off after their respective chiefs, giving them both some privacy. They all knew it was going to be bad and it wasn't their place to pry. Zelda began to walk away from the village and Link followed, putting his hand on her shoulder as she barely looked at him. ''Zelda, I'm sorry.''
''What else have you been lying to me about? I'm meant to be able to trust you. How can I marry you when who knows what else you've kept from me?'' she said and Link felt that painful tug in his gut, reminding him that he'd let her down.
He held her shoulder and made her stop, turning her to look at him. ''Nothing. You were scared, I was trying to protect you. I meant to tell you sooner but the longer I waited, the worse it got. So I hoped you'd never know because it was better for you that way. You knew it was a threat, that's all you needed to know.''
''But how do I trust you? You've done this before; you told Sidon when I was scared of becoming queen and I asked you to keep it a secret. I am strong enough to work things out on my own.''
''I know you can but I have been taught my entire life to protect and help you. I couldn't help you back then because I didn't understand what you were going through, and this time I was telling you what you needed without hindering you. You would have been even more terrified if I told you there was a bomb in that box. You struggled to sleep even with me there and shut yourself off for a couple of days while you tried to adjust to the idea people could get even just a threatening letter in your mailbox,'' Link clarified. She knew he had a point but she was still upset with him.
She looked into his eyes, taking a deep breath as she tried to level her head. There was no point in being over-emotional. ''I need to know I can trust you if you're going to help me with this kingdom.''
Link nodded. ''I'm sorry. You can. I promise I won't lie again, even if I think it's better that I do. I swear on the goddess I won't.''
Zelda leaned forward and kissed him. ''You promise?'' She felt better as Link nodded. He may have lied or done things she was annoyed by but he'd never let her down; she could always trust him. ''You're being coronated on our wedding day.''
Link gave her a confused look. ''What?''
''You can talk to me about it again when I'm in a better mood but to become king on the day we get married, you're being coronated as part of the ceremony. Otherwise you're doing it another day anyway,'' Zelda said and Link took a deep breath. He knew he deserved that; he was going to have to do it either way and given what he'd put her through, she really deserved to get his support when she wanted it instead of when he found it most convenient. It was also better to get it all over and done with at once so he had no complaints.
Sidon was loitering around, waiting for permission to approach. All seemed well so he began to make his way toward the water pools, sitting in one again as he enjoyed the sunshine warmed water. ''I can close my eyes and cover my ears if you want. I just need more water.''
Link knew that the other Zora had spent all morning in the pools, getting their warmth and water requirements while the council members were all in and out of meetings. ''No, it's fine,'' he insisted and Sidon still looked uncertain. He lay down, his head under the water as he seemed quite happy to stay under there forever. There was an awkward silence for the few moments until Sidon floated to the surface, so obviously excited and relieved to be back in the water that it was too hard to stay mad at each other for very long at all.
There was a different air about the castle as Grax and his soldiers arrived back, Grax dropping his gear on the floor of the academy the second he walked through the door.
Everyone knew he was tense as they stood around inside, waiting to hear what he'd been thinking for days on their trip back home. He'd been perfectly silent the whole way, unlike his usually relaxed demeanour and no one understood why. It had seemed to go well but he'd been acting like it hadn't.
''Grax, should we debrief now?'' Enrita asked, removing her sword from her back as she rested it on the ground in front of her to lean on.
Grax looked hesitant. ''Yes, before we all start forgetting,'' he said and everyone gathered around. ''We rode into Courage Steppe and met with a group of people. It wasn't the village we were told but we did find some of the people we were looking for. They have given us a date and time to meet with their leader to negotiate peace treaties. Does anyone disagree with any of this?'' There was a collective shake of heads. ''Does anyone have anything else to add?''
''They claimed they're not a village but a group of people with the same faith,'' Enrita added.
Grax nodded. ''Yes. That is correct. They are not a village according to those we spoke to.''
There was silence for a few more moments. ''There's nothing else, is there?'' another asked and Enrita shook her head.
''Link and I will work out our next moves from here. Until then, this doesn't spread just in case plans change,'' Grax said and it made everyone feel even more uneasy.
He remained oddly cautious for the days it took for Link to return. Link could tell the second his eyes set on Grax standing in the entry way with his hands behind his back. Zelda was speaking with Sidon who was spending the night in the castle with the other Zora on their way back to the Domain, too busy to realise that Link had made his way straight over to the head of the guard.
''What happened?''
''We have a problem,'' Grax said and Link frowned. ''They know everything.''
Link was still confused. ''We don't hide anything,'' he said and Grax shook his head.
''About me,'' he said and Link still looked confused. ''It means someone I trusted is giving them information.''
''What haven't you told me?'' Link asked and Grax looked at his leader.
''A lot of things I don't like telling myself,'' he said and Link could take a few guesses. It was enough with the remorseful look on his face that he felt safe to say that Grax regretted every moment of it.
Link took a deep breath. ''We will sort this out later.''
Zelda walked over with a smile on her face. ''Grax, how did things go with the meeting?''
Grax eased up his facial expression. ''Link and I are going to discuss what we should do next. It turns out that the location we thought they were in was wrong but we did find people there that have set us up with a meeting at another date and place.''
Zelda took a second. ''So it was a trap.''
Grax took a deep breath in. ''Yeah.''
Zelda looked at Link. ''Tell me when we're going. I'd like to have a talk to whoever this is and tell them to stop terrorising my people.''
''You're not going anywhere.''
''I will go where I please, I am the queen and if you're planning on going, I can too. They've made their point and I know between the two of you, we will be safe. Get the guard ready and tell me when we leave,'' Zelda said and Link kept a straight face, trying not to show disapproval. He wasn't king yet; he could complain all he liked but at the end of the day, she was the one who still had rule over everyone else.
Grax looked at Link. ''We will need to set off tomorrow. I know where it is.''
Zelda looked at the man, wary of how stoic he seemed. ''Where is that?''
Sidon slowly wandered over, listening carefully as Grax spoke. ''The buried ruins of Rabia Plain.''
Sidon had to interrupt. ''Would you like any of my guards to help escort you there? That is close to the Domain,'' he asked and Grax looked at the Zora, unsure of what to say.
Both Link and Zelda were deep in thought. Neither of them could work out what was at the place he mentioned. ''Rabia Plain? That's been empty for centuries. There's never been a village there. An old nomad colony used to stop there frequently but nothing,'' Zelda said as she tried to think even more. ''Nothing to produce ruins.''
Sidon looked at Grax. ''I didn't realise that place was so young,'' he said as Grax seemed to know as well. ''A village started forming there just after the calamity started. About fifteen years ago there was a landslide that buried most of them alive, caused by some rogue guardians that made their way there somehow. The village was full of people against the Sheikah and the few survivors were determined it was the Sheikah's fault, that they'd been in control of the guardians the whole time and caused the destruction of Hyrule and let Ganon free. We know this is false but you couldn't convince any of those people otherwise,''Sidon explained and Grax seemed to agree.
It felt strange to know there'd been so much history that had passed in those hundred years where Link lay asleep and Zelda was trapped, both unaware of all of the damage occurring across the world. ''Impa would have done something-'' Zelda said and Sidon nodded.
''She sent her people out to help; they refused and tried to kill them instead,'' Sidon replied. ''They would venture out to kill any Sheikah in hiding. The couldn't hurt Kakariko village, but they did their best to remove the race from the world.''
Zelda looked at Grax. ''Are they the people that killed your family? That tried to kill you?'' she asked, aware of his history. He'd been completely honest about why he'd joined the Yiga, quickly gaining her trust. He gave a single nod. ''So the positioning is deliberate?''
''Yes, your highness,'' Grax said as he looked into her eyes. ''You are better to stay here. Link also.''
Zelda shook her head. ''No, they want to talk to me then fine. I have nothing to hide or to fear; I have the rest of the world behind me, hoping for peace. If they're going to try these silly tactics to scare us off, then they're mistaken. We won't back down.''
Grax nodded. ''Right. Well, if it is okay with you, Prince Sidon, we're going to need all the backup we can get. Just to be safe. I'm hoping it won't be necessary but given what we have so far, ''
Link agreed. ''I'll gather the guards,'' he said as he walked off, still trying to get his head around the dangers that they would very shortly face. Zelda was always headstrong but he really wished she would stay behind. He'd escort the people in if necessary but taking her to somewhere which was very obviously was a trap was ridiculous.
Grax wasn't too far behind, standing behind his boss with his hands still behind his back. They both watched the military below going through their training exercises, making sure they were up to scratch. Grax stuck his thumb and ring finger in his mouth, whistling to bring the room to silence. They all turned in place and put their hands behind their back to show their respect. ''We're escorting the queen and Link to the Rabia plain for a meeting. Departure is tomorrow at midday. Same group that just got back, the Zora are going to help on their way back to the Domain and we will be on our own on the way back. Nahdi, you lead the group while we're gone. Understood?''
''Yes, sir,'' they all called back in unison before Grax turned to look at Link.
''Anything to add?'' he asked and Link shook his head. That pretty much covered everything that needed to be said to the wider group, leaving the finer details until they gathered together with those who would be escorting them. ''Travelling group in the meeting room.''
They made their way to the meeting room, each of the soldiers standing and waiting aside for Link to be seated before they sat down themselves. He wouldn't deny that it made him uncomfortable to see all the people he still considered himself equivalent to. He could only imagine it was going to get worse given they would have all been bowing if he had been Zelda. ''Are we going to find out what is worrying you and Grax?'' Enrita asked as she crossed her legs and wrists, tapping on the table impatiently.
Grax leant back on his chair, sitting opposite the future king. ''They knew we were coming. We went where we were told and they were waiting despite the fact we had the wrong location,'' he said and Enrita sat up, suddenly realising what she should have noticed earlier. ''That was meant to be their village according to the sources but it clearly was not.''
''It was a trap.''
Grax nodded. ''It was a trap,'' he said and uneasiness began to spread. ''They didn't get the queen, so they'll try again until they get what they want.''
''So we shouldn't go,'' another spoke up and Link looked at them.
''The queen won't hide,'' he said, his voice clearly disapproving of his own words. He agreed; they were better to keep her safe within the castle and to handle it themselves. They discussed all of the details, getting organised for their travels the next day.
The door opened and everyone got up and bowed their heads, Zelda standing in the doorway. ''Link, I need you for another meeting if you're available,'' she said and Link walked around, holding the door open as she stepped out. She stopped in the hall and watched him close the door behind himself. ''I want you to stay here.''
Link took a second to process what she'd said. ''No.''
''They want to talk to me, you are heir to the throne. If something was to happen to me, at least the kingdom won't lose both of us,'' she said and Link still disagreed.
''No, I will not stay behind while you're in danger,'' he said very clearly, Zelda folding her arms and opening her lips to speak. ''I don't care, Zelda. If you're leaving the castle to meet these people, I am coming with you. It's my job to protect you.''
''Not anymore. Not since you gave up your position with the guard,'' she replied. That stung in a way that Link couldn't describe. ''Your job is now to support me and eventually help me rule this kingdom. I need you here to fill in while I'm gone.''
Link sighed and walked off; he couldn't describe how he was feeling but it was building up and he didn't want to take it out on her. She was right and he knew it, but that didn't mean he'd changed his mind. He made his way to his room, standing on the balcony as he took deep breaths, letting them sit in his lung and burn along with the emotions that raged inside of him. He hadn't expected moving from his role as knight to take such a mental toll on him when the process had started but he'd been feeling less and less in control as time went on. Things were easy before when he only had one goal; protect the princess. Now he had to think about himself and the good of the kingdom beyond just its ruler.
The door opened as Link rested his forehead on his arms. ''Link,'' Zelda's voice said gently as she closed the door. ''What's wrong?''
Link took a deep breath, standing up straight before he turned around to face her with an expressionless face. ''Nothing, Princess.''
''If I couldn't already tell by your face and your body language, calling me princess gives you away immediately,'' she said and Link sighed, his shoulders dropping a little. ''Talk to me about it. You don't have to hold things in anymore.''
Link leaned back on the rail, checking no one could overhear the conversation. ''It's a very big change for me. It's taking a lot to get used to.''
Zelda put her hands on his arms. ''Then let me know when it's hard. I'll try to make it easier,'' she said and Link sighed.
''It's little things. Obvious things. You telling me I don't have responsibility for your safety anymore-''
''You still do; you are the one who directs the military. Grax may deal with their day-to-day actions but you tell them where to be and what they should be doing. It's just a more hands-off approach,'' she tried to reassure him. ''Planning, documenting, preparing.''
''Zelda, I barely know how to write. It's lucky I can read. How do I do all that well enough to know everything is done?'' he said and Zelda let her hands drop down his arms to hold his hands.
''You're not as bad as you think you are. You're not going to be a scholar but you're plenty enough for what you need to do. If you're worried about yourself, work out why you're that way and fix it for others so the problem goes away over time. Use what you do have, what you do know,'' she replied. Link was still unconvinced. ''You will be great, Link. I can assure you that.''
Link let out another deep breath. He wasn't convinced but he at least felt a little better after speaking his mind. ''I want to come with you, Zelda. You can't expect me to fight against my instincts all at once.''
''Okay,'' she said, letting him have his small victory. ''If the worst happens and we need to fight, you let them fight for you. They guard both of us now; it's not your responsibility anymore. That's my conditions.''
''I won't stand down and let them hurt us.''
''I don't expect you to. I won't if it comes to the point I need to defend myself too but it should be the last resort,'' she replied. Link looked hesitant but agreed. He knew if he disagreed she'd make him stay behind and that would hurt him even more.
Zelda kissed him gently. ''There's not long left before we get married,'' she said, an excited yet anxious look on her face. ''King Link Hyrule.''
Of course he was taking her first name; for a start, he didn't have one because he was a common man and she was a royal, and it would be unacceptable for the kingdom to lose the name that linked it to its kingdom. Nevertheless, it still sounded strange to his ears. It was something he'd never imagined for himself, barely able to remember he had a title already when he was asked for his full name.
She tried to change the topic to their future together, hoping it would distract him enough he'd feel better. She sat on the end of his bed as he continued to breathe in the fresh air from the balcony. ''Just so I know what you're thinking; how soon after we get married were you thinking of children?''
Link looked up at the sky; he'd really not thought about it at all. He may have technically been over a century old but he still felt young. He was barely out of his teenage years and certainly didn't feel old enough to be raising children. ''I haven't thought about it.''
Zelda folded her arms. ''I think we need to.''
''Have children or think about it?'' he asked and Zelda gave him a look. He knew what she was asking, he was just avoiding the topic while he didn't have answers. ''When are you thinking?''
Zelda shrugged. ''One one hand, I feel unready, but I don't think it's something I ever really will be. All I've ever heard is that no matter how much you prepare, you will never know and be ready for everything,'' she said as she seemed to be divided. ''I want to hurry for the sake of the kingdom, but I also want to wait because I'm scared we won't be ready.''
Link was confident Zelda would spend her days gathering as much information about child bearing and raising as she could the second they decided to try for one. It was never her that he was worried about. ''You will be fine.''
Zelda could hear his very deliberate wording. ''You have classified yourself in such a small box you don't believe you can do anything but protect me, don't you?'' she asked and Link sighed. ''You are so much more than just that. Anybody could dedicate their life to protect royalty but you overcame so much. You lost all of your memories and still had the courage and resolve to do what was best for the entire kingdom. You didn't remember me or anything of what you knew but you still fought so hard when you could have easily given up.''
Link still looked unconvinced. ''Do you want to leave it to the goddess to decide when it is right?'' he asked and Zelda took a moment. That made the most sense. ''Don't try to but don't try not to either. It will probably be sooner rather than later given we won't be stopping it but it might not be immediately.''
Zelda seemed uncertain. ''It is very likely we will be parents within the next couple of years if that's the path we choose.'' Link shrugged; it didn't sound any better or worse than waiting longer. ''Leave it up to the goddess.''
''If the goddess wants it, what we do won't matter anyway,'' he said and Zelda nodded. She put her hands out, Link walking toward her to take them. ''I don't know what terrifies me more right now; parenthood or being king.''
Zelda smiled. ''Taking it from the queen, parenthood is much scarier. The entire kingdom isn't likely to sneak into the kitchen and play with knives.''
''You're not selling this idea to me,'' he said and Zelda kissed him again. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders to hold him close in the moment of privacy they had, just enjoying the feel of him against her instead of the usual distance they were forced to have in the public eye.
There was a knock on the door and Link stepped back, Zelda standing up straight as her fiancé opened the door. ''Sorry to interrupt; is there anything in particular that you or the queen would like to bring with us?'' Grax asked and Link looked at Zelda who shook her head. ''Then I think we're ready when you are.''
It felt strange to be leaving again so quickly, reminding Zelda greatly of the time before the calamity when she was constantly travelling to different areas of spiritual significance. She stood in the foyer with the soldiers that would be escorting them, waiting as Grax and Link made their way toward them. Link had the Master Sword and an old Hylian shield upon his back, wearing his Champion's armour instead of the armour of the royal guard; that felt like a step in the right direction.
''The horses should be ready for our departure, your majesty,'' Grax said and Zelda nodded.
''Shall we get moving then?'' she asked and everyone nodded.
Everyone was tense. Zelda had Grax and Link on either side of her at all times, making sure that they were on high alert while they were heading into the enemy's territory. They stopped late in the afternoon and Zelda watched aside as the soldiers set up camp. They put up a couple of shelters; just enough to block out the elements but simple enough they could put it up and pull it down quickly. The Zora had taken the water route, trying to scope out the situation before they arrived.
The women all stayed in one of the shelters and the men were under the other while a couple of soldiers remained awake at all times to keep watch. The separation was only because of the queen's presence; the female soldiers only needed privacy in the same situations the males did; most often getting changed, bathing or going to the toilet. Sleeping amongst one another wasn't unusual and given they were in a larger group, inappropriate behaviour was just stupid.
It did mean the male shelter was much more crowded than the female one; there was still a larger number of men in most militaries than women, though the Gerudo were always the exception to the rule. There hadn't been any restrictions in a few centuries but the numbers just never quite evened out. Link leant against a tree trunk with his head back, trying to get some sort of rest when he couldn't see Zelda past the division, his senses heightened by his cautiousness and fear that something was going to happen while they were all out in the open.
Grax sat down beside the former knight, his voice quiet as he watched Link shuffle a little more to get comfortable. His voice was only just loud enough for Link to hear to keep it from everyone else. ''Lie down and get some sleep.''
Link took a deep breath, speaking back just as quietly. ''I'm fine here.''
Grax sighed, resting his arms on his knees. ''Don't you trust me? If something happens, I will have you and the queen out of here as quickly as I can. I will keep you both safe.''
Link opened his eyes slowly. ''I have a bad feeling.''
Grax nodded. ''I think this is a bad idea too.''
Link slowly moved, lying down on his side as he closed his eyes again. He was tired; having a relatively stable daily schedule had taken its toll already. If he needed to, he could still stay awake all night but it certainly wasn't the same as when he was doing so regularly.
He could almost hear Grax smile. ''I can rub your back for you and play with your hair if you'd like. That always puts me to sleep.''
''No, thank you,'' Link said quietly as he curled up a little more, Grax letting out a laugh under his breath.
The man tried not to watch but it was hard not to notice how restless Link was while he slept. He heard movement and used all of his stealth to peek around, looking at the queen who looked just as restless. There was something about it that brought a little smile to his face, the soon-to-be-wed couple both feeling the same in their sleep. If they'd been alone, he would have let them sleep beside each other; he'd seen too much pain, sadness and death to deny someone simple comforts.
He walked back around, resting his eyes for the night. They were in for a big day and they all needed as much rest as they could get.
I'm sorry my updates have been so slow. I hope you enjoyed and I'll try and get the next chapter up soon. Until then, let me know what you think. Thank you for all your kind reviews so far, and all of the favourites and follows. It motivates to keep writing, no matter how busy things have been lately! Thank you so much!