Piety

Zelda slept through breakfast. Ember kept the pavilion quiet, which wasn't difficult as most of the occupants deserted the stable at dawn. Link treated himself to the sweet side of the breakfast buffet, a welcome reward for defeating Ganon and found amusement by thumbing through one of Traysi's gossip rags as he waited for the Princess to wake.

An hour passed, and then another. Link waited until Ember headed out in the stables and Lea busied herself baking bread in the kitchen before he slipped over to Zelda's bed and twitched the curtain aside. He found her curled up facing away from where he stood. A light touch on her back confirmed that she was still breathing, and Link found himself rubbing his face as he returned to the table.

Goddesses, for a moment... But no. She just needed to rest. He'd slumbered a century; it was hardly surprising that she needed a few extra hours. Still, he found himself marking the time with concern.

He had to stifle a sigh of relief when the curtain opened revealing a yawning princess shortly before noon.

She pulled on a pair of socks and padded over to him, rubbing the crust from her eyes. "It must be almost noon," she said, eyeing the bright sun outdoors as she sat next to him at the table. "I'm shocked you let me sleep in that long. You should have woken me."

"You needed the rest," he countered, and she rolled her eyes.

"I was not the one running around smacking things with a sword yesterday. You have an excuse to laze about; I do not. I'm sure I've affected your travel plans."

Link shrugged. "I was planning on pushing for Hateno today, but there's no rush as long as we get through the pass before it snows. Which shouldn't be for a few more weeks. We'll be fine."

"Still," she said, accepting a cup of tea from Lea. "I have no intention of slowing you down. If you have a plan, you should keep to that plan. I ask that you wake me next time."

The delay did have its benefits, as Beetle staggered into the stable right after lunch. From his oversized pack, they were able to get Zelda a reasonably fitted coat and some boots. She had to borrow a second pair of wool socks from Lea to keep the boots from slipping off her feet, but they would do for the time being.

He left his Princess in the pavilion to offer her gratitude to Ember and the staff and slipped out to the stable to saddle Epona. An routine task, but one that caused Link to pause as he considered the day ahead. It would be easier, safer, and far more comfortable to rent a second horse for Zelda, but after brief consideration, Link waved off the groomsman. He'd had her in his arms yesterday. Why not today?

The arch look she shot him when he rode up on Epona screamed that she knew exactly what he was up to. He smirked back, not above a little mischief. She scoffed and rolled her eyes, but climbed up behind him just the same.

And of course, once the stable was out of sight, her true feelings emerged when she wrapped her arms around his waist and tucked her head on his shoulder, her breath tickling his ear. He slipped the reins into one hand and interlaced his fingers with hers, both their palms resting against his stomach. "Sweet merciful Din, how I missed you," she murmured into his ear, wrapping her unoccupied arm more tightly around his middle, thus drawing her body more snuggly against his back.

The tone of her voice and feel of her hips and breasts pressing gently into his body sent a lick of heat through Link, originating where her hand rested dangerously close to his hip. He fought the desire down. Not yet. As much as he'd like to lead Epona off the road and drag Zelda down to soft grass below, now was not the time. They still needed to talk, to come to terms with their new situation, and she didn't need any additional pressures from him. There was no rush.

With that in mind, he untangled his fingers from hers and turned his attention to the reins. She allowed it, but kept her head on his shoulder. He kept Epona at a steady walk, not wanting any jouncing to make her shift away. He'd spent months exploring this land almost completely alone, not understanding at first why he physically ached for companionship. The slow return of his memory had made it clear just why, as the two of them had been all but attached at the hip for the better part of a year before Ganon's return. The weight on his shoulder was a balm against loneliness, one he would not willingly relinquish.

"We've missed our chance, haven't we?" she said, voice breaking the silence.

He turned his neck to read her expression, but all he got was a mouthful of hair from the top of her head, still snug against his shoulder. "What do you mean?"

"Everyone in that pavilion knows who I am. There's a part of me that was hoping to, I don't know, dye my hair red and hide among the Gerudo for the rest of my life. Which I know is selfish, and quite possibly divinely disrespectful, but I just thought that after all this time, the Goddess would grant us at least a little peace."

He took a long moment to consider his phrasing before responding. "It was too late before I even went to get you," he finally admitted. "Ember knew I was headed for the castle. So did many others. They knew I was going to bring you back or die trying. I suppose we could have faked my death, but that might make life difficult down the road." Her arms squeezed tighter around his middle, and he felt her shudder against his back. "Besides, it might be a little tough to live with the Gerudo," he said, lightening his tone to try and boost her spirits. "For one, we'd have to sneak me in. And once we managed that, I would never be allowed to go outside."

He expected her to chuckle, and then he'd have an opening to amuse her with his stories of running around as a vai, fooling just about no one, but she lifted her head and he saw no levity in her expression. She was close to tears. "That's just it though. I would be safe with the Gerudo. They don't know me now, not like they used to, but I'm sure I could convince them to accept me. And then you would finally be granted your freedom. You could go off and do whatever you wanted."

Ah. The heart of the problem. "My place is with you."

"But it doesn't have to be!" she burst out, still refusing to meet his gaze, eyes flitting from the trees to the grass to the weeds overtaking a rock on the side of the road. "I owe you the world, but you owe me nothing. And already, you are caring so much for me! You should be free to seek your own freedom, not stuck lugging around an ancient weight."

"Zelda," he said, making his voice stern, wishing she would just turn her head and look at him. "I owe you more than you know. And I am here with you because I choose to be; that's how it's always been. There is no reason for you to harbor guilt. I am free. I'm free to be with you." That was all he'd always wanted, after all. The freedom to act as he'd always wanted with her, to kiss and touch her without their responsibilities and her father's disapproval strangling their relationship. Couldn't she see that this was their chance? That finally, after all these years, there was nothing standing in the way?

She stayed quiet for a few minutes after that; the only sound was Epona's hooves on the path and the shifting of the trees around them. "I suppose that's what I'm feeling, isn't it?" she finally said. "Guilt. You're right. You'd think by now I'd recognize the emotion. But I just don't know what's coming for me, and I don't want you trapped in it again."

He could tell her that he wouldn't ever refer to being by her side as trapped, but she'd find a spoken ultimatum like that insincere. "You're a little short to be a Gerudo," he offered instead. This time, he succeeded in making her laugh. A little watery sounding, but he'd take what he could get.

"That's why we're going to Hateno," he explained, once she'd snuggled back up against him. "I know you'll want to see Impa, and we'll make that happen soon, but the Sheikah will push you to reclaim your throne and power as soon as possible. Hateno is so backwater that they won't care what you do. If it's peace you want, we'll find it there."

Her hair tickled his neck as she nodded. "Thank you, she said, voice barely a whisper. "It seems that you are still capable of finding what I need, even before I know how to ask for it."

She held him tight as they continued down the path, but then she sat up straight behind him, snatched the Sheikah Slate from its place in his belt, and activated it.

"Of course," he said, scoffing. "You've been itching to grab that since yesterday, haven't you?"

"Maybe," she said, voice coy. "Perhaps I've decided that it's time for it to be returned to its rightful owner."

"Oh no," he said, taking one hand from the reins to goose her on the thigh, making her squeak. "You gave the Slate to me. So now it's my turn to hoard it and never let my constant companion even get a glimpse of the screen."

"I let you see it! Sometimes." Link chuckled as she started scrolling through the Compendium. "And what is this? Have you taken a picture of everything in Hyrule?"

"Not everything," he answered, glancing back to find her scowling at a picture of... was it a spear? Maybe?

"This is most unfair," she said, glaring at the image. "It registered this? You can barely see the weapon! It's basically a picture of the grass! When I had the Slate, it took hours sometimes to get it to register an image. It wouldn't even accept the Master Sword!"

"Well," he said, tickling her thigh to feel her shiver under his fingertips again. "It just proves to you that it's my Slate now. It likes me."

"It's an inanimate object," she said drily, gently kicking the back of his calf in retaliation. "Essentially a glorified toolbox. There must be a logical explanation. Ah yes, I know. I suppose that the Sheikah who built the slate must have been acquainted with the hero and princess of that time. They must have been in love with the carrier of your soul, and despised mine, and programmed the Slate to react accordingly. That is the only explanation I will accept."

"Of course. How logical." He shook his head and chuckled as she winked at him, but let her keep the Slate. If nothing else, it kept her distracted from the road and the lack of villages along said road. And it was nice, to have her warmth at his back and her chatter in his ear, as though nothing had changed. His mood brightened even further by the lack of bokoblins in their usual forts. Already, their efforts were bearing fruit.

But his spirits plummeted when Dueling Peaks Stable came into view. His sudden stiffening drew Zelda's attention away from the Slate, and she sighed as she saw it too. "Well," she said, voice bogged down with weariness. "I suppose we should have anticipated this."

Someone from Riverside had obviously ridden ahead with the news. Tasseren was standing out front with his entire family, along with way more people than the stable could comfortably house; there would be patrons sleeping on the floor that night. They were all dressed in bright festival clothing, which looked ridiculous considering the cold weather. They'd even dug up a flag with the Harkinian crest. Link had no idea how the hell they'd managed that with less than twelve hours warning. Maybe Lessa had sewn it; that was something she would do. But how did they know the pattern?

Still, it was what it was. Zelda slid the Slate back onto its harness and drew herself up behind him. He sighed, and squeezed her knee to offer his support, knowing this could be his last chance to show familiarity until they were out of the public eye.

When they reached the small crowd, Link dismounted first, which was horribly awkward with Zelda behind him. He managed to avoid kicking her, and offered her his hand as she carefully slid down, her face drawn into a barely present smile. Her neutral face, what she used to wear at court. Once she was steady, she kept her hand on his arm, and tucked her other hand around as well, another gesture from a long dead court. Or maybe she just needed his support. Either way.

"Welcome, your Majesty," Tasseren said, bowing low. "You honor our humble establishment."

"The honor is mine. Would you please do me the pleasure of introducing yourself and your family?"

The resulting display took half an hour, as Link slowly walked Zelda down the receiving line. She greeted each person and touched every hand, from Tasseren to a heavily blushing Darton. She spoke longer to the visiting merchants, asking about their trade and profits, until, after gently turning down Bugut's eager offer of fresh fish, she asked to retire, claiming fatigue.

They were bustled back into the family quarters. Zelda thanked Tasseren's wife for her kindness, accepted a tray for dinner, and smiled as the door closed behind the woman. Then, with a huff, she collapsed gracelessly onto the sitting room sofa. Link followed suite. "I'm sorry," he told her.

She looked over, eyebrows raised. "For what, exactly?"

"I should have realized this was going to happen when everyone abandoned Riverside so early. I'm sure they're spreading the news as far as they can ride."

"Is that what happened while I was sleeping? You really should have woken me; perhaps I could have stopped them." She kicked off her boots and glared at them, but then her face smoothed and she turned to him with a soft look. "No, I'm being silly," she said, reaching out and laying her hand on his wrist. "Your apology is unnecessary. This is my life. It always has been and it always will be. Things like this are my duty to fulfill."

"Still," he said, not wanting to pick at her, but also not wanting to sweep her feelings under the rug. "It would've been nice to have a little more time."

She graced him with a sad sort of smile, before shaking her head and reaching for the tray. "Well," she said. "We got peach cake out of the deal, so I cannot complain too much. Shall we start our meal with dessert?"

The food was good, but Zelda started to visibly droop as they ate. "Are you alright?" Link asked, as he watched her fight to keep her eyes open. Perhaps her claim of exhaustion had not been as much of a ruse as he thought.

"I feel fine," she said, pressing the palm of her hand over her eyes. "Just still so tired. I've been fighting it off for most of the day, but now I'm like a candle that's been whiffed out. I'm afraid I just need some more sleep."

"Understandable." The sound she made at that, some sort of gargle in the back of her throat, made him laugh. Only she would rank smacking a pig around with a sword above summoning the power of the Triforce. "Go to sleep," he said. "We can argue more about this in the morning."

"Oh we will," she said with a glower, but her face dimpled into a smile as she helped him gather up the plates.

He delivered the remains of their meal to the kitchen, and brushed off the questions about his companion from the staff. He did take the time to speak to Tasseren and was able to find enough volunteers to set a decent watch for the night. With word spreading, the Yiga clan would soon be after the both of them, and there was no telling how fast they would be found.

When he returned to the suite, he found Zelda's boots lined up at the end of the bed and the Princess tucked beneath the covers, already asleep. He set his boots next to hers, liking the solid physical evidence that he was no longer running solo, and stripped his tunic, leaving him in his thin undershirt. The staff had left a pallet on the floor for him, which he appreciated, as there was no way he could fit comfortably in the kids' beds, short as he was.

Before sleeping, he tucked his arms behind his head and stared up at the ceiling, considering. They needed a plan, soon. If they took too long to contact the Sheikah, Impa would send runners after them. The Yiga would smoke them out eventually. And they'd have to send word to each race, assuring them that a visit would be forthcoming, else they risk offending someone or other. He turned to his side, seeking out Zelda's outline in the dark, and whispered a prayer to Hylia, for strength for the both of them and whatever time the Goddess could grant.

He knew it wouldn't be much.

Link woke once in the night, knife in hand before he even had his eyes all the open, to find Zelda patting frantically at her mattress, her breathing elevated. A quick check revealed no Yiga or monsters, and Link carefully set the knife down, focusing on Zelda. She whispered something, so softly that even he couldn't make out the words, and tore at the blankets. Was she looking for something?

Concerned, he sat up, trying to make out her expression, but the sliver of moonlight from the cracked shutter wasn't much to go by. She wasn't in danger, so what was wrong? And then she suddenly relaxed, tumbling back into the covers. Confused, he slipped up out of the bed and over to her, where he found her curled up with the blanket clenched in her fist. "Zelda?" He whispered, but she did not respond. She was asleep again.

This had never happened before. She was always such a sound sleeper.

He frowned, but decided to let it go for the moment, as she was safe as could be. He carefully stroked her hand, until she relaxed enough to the release the blanket, untangled it and drew the covers up around her. Once she was tucked in, he crouched close enough to see her face. She seemed at peace, brow relaxed and lips slightly parted.

Goddesses, she was so beautiful.

He lightly drew the back of his fingers along her cheek, and she didn't stir. He stood and checked the windows and door; the sentries were still in place, their eager loyalty keeping them awake and aware. He returned to his bed, but sleep proved elusive, so he spent the rest of the night watching her form in the dark.

Notes

This took longer than I wanted to get done, and I didn't get as far as I wanted to, , but that's kind of life! I also wanted to note that the Zelda-styled cursing was invented by Rose Zemlya in her OoT fics. They've stuck with me for so long over the years that I can't think of Zelda characters swearing any other way. Check her stuff out; it's linked in my favorites.

Next chappy, we will finally get to Hateno and dig into the meat and potatoes of this fic. See you then!

SJ