He knew her feet must hurt, but she remained silent and bore with it.
"Link?"
He stopped beside a rock, sighed and then motioned to her to sit.
"I am also eager to leave the desert, but I won't stand for you to just get hurt."
Zelda looked puzzled, but then Link pointed at her feet and she understood.
"Oh, Link, I can still bear with it, really."
But his face left little to discussion, so she sat. He began cleaning her feet with cloth and then ripped a large piece and wrapped one foot and then the other. She stood and thanked him again, he looked at her, hopeful, but she just smiled, curtsied and kept on walking.
It was endearing, really, the way he looked out for anything that would be a bother to her and try to fix it, but she wasn't going to take advantage of that. He had offered to give her his boots to walk in the desert, she had been thankful, but when she had asked what he was going to wear, his face had remained stoic and he had mumbled - barely audibly - that he was going to walk barefooted. Zelda hadn't lost her smile, she just had thanked him again and began walking. Link had showed worry at every moment, but Zelda hadn't swayed from her decision.
The few bokoblins they encountered weren't a problem for Link, and Zelda watched his movements with fascination. He was feral, ruthless, and clever, whatever he could find to make him have the advantage he took; he had once thrown his boot into a bokoblin's face just to have a few more seconds to finish the one that he was fighting. He always had an eye on her, she didn't know how he managed to be aware of everything and not fail miserably, but he did. After a while, and to Link's great relief, they encountered a group of bokoblins with bulbos, he made quick work of everyone and explained to Zelda how riding one would be a great idea. If she had concerns about riding a huge monster she hid it well, and soon enough, with some slight difficulties thanks to the beast's wild nature, Zelda grabbed Link's torso with strenght and they moved through the desert towards Lake Hylia.
The winds changed near twilight, and they saw the sun hide under green luscious grass, they had said goodbye to the bulbo before exiting the desert and now Zelda felt the need to kneel and kiss the ground, but controlled her impulses. Link lead her to a spring, unwrapped her feet and asked her to please tend to her wounds. They were barely bruises, but she did as told and washed her feet, she also took advantage of the spring and washed her face and arms, as she turned to tell Link to follow suit she saw him cut some grass and bring it to his mouth. A clear, strong tune came out of it, he repeated it three times and then turned towards her.
She must have shown confusion, or Link was really good at reading people, because he answered without being asked.
"Horse grass, my horse will hear its call and come to us."
Zelda looked to the distance and frowned.
"Epona will find us," he commented, almost offended.
Zelda smiled at him, "Of course your horse would be the most amazing horse ever."
Link puffed his chest and nodded, "I have nothing to say against that."
Zelda sat in the grass and played with it while looking at Link. Blonde hair, blue eyes, strong body, the sweetest smile, and the softest voice. All she could think of was that he was a boy, a pure boy she had unknowingly tainted. Zelda could only berate herself since the Goddesses where too far away. She gave such a sweet boy such horrible experiences.
She had awoken near dawn with a nightmare, fire in her kingdom and she was unable to do anything, not that it was far from reality, which only made it harder; but she couldn't go back to sleep and soon after, Link had awoken with a start too. She had calmed him down, his hands were gripping his covers with such strenght his knuckles were white, his breathing was labored and sweat pearled his forehead. He had looked at her, smiled, and then he had breathed out and relaxed. Zelda was too scared to ask about his nightmare.
"Zelda?"
She looked up and saw him smiling and pointing away, she followed his finger and surely, a horse was galloping in their direction. She laughed.
"I had no doubt, you know, none."
He took a last handful of water, splashed his face with it, and went to meet his horse.
"Epona!" his voice was filled with love, and his horse reciprocated, its head came straight to his chest, he patted its head, and looked at Zelda.
"Zelda, Epona," he then motioned towards Zelda, "Epona, Zelda."
The horse looked up to Zelda.
"I have nothing to bribe him," she whispered.
Link snickered, "She, and she actually doesn't like bribes, she's too smart for that."
Zelda sighed and took a step towards her, "Well, then I guess an introduction is in place. It's a pleasure, Epona, my name is Zelda, I am impressed by both your beauty and strenght, and I would be most grateful if you could let me ride you and take me to Castle Town."
Epona blinked, took a step back and then went towards Zelda, breathed her in and then let her head hit her arm.
Link laughed, "She likes you!" he put a hand in Zelda's shoulder, "come on, give her a pat."
Zelda did as told, Epona's eyes were shining, "Is she... She's happy, isn't she?"
Link gave her the biggest smile she had seen so far, "She is! She would've taken you to Castle Town anyways, since I would've taken you there, but she's happy you took your time to adress her." he patted Epona's muzzle, put his forehead in there and closed his eyes "we'll go home, soon, girl."
He opened his eyes and turned to Zelda, "Up we go."
Zelda grabbed Epona's saddle and mounted the horse, Link was about to do the same when he stopped.
"Link?"
"I realise I should've asked this before, but you have no problem with me being in such close proximity, right?"
Zelda made a face, "No, Link, I don't. Come on up."
Link sat with a swift movement, "It won't get you in trouble, will it?" Zelda shook her head no, "Are you positive?"
Zelda looked vexed, "I will get really angry with anyone that picks on you."
"Don't make it too obvious," he laughed.
They had a day before they arrived to Castle Town, and as the night settled over them, Zelda wistfully looked towards Lake Hylia, she had recollections of entering Hyrule Field when her head fell into Link's back.
"...Zelda," Link repeated, " let's change positions, you sit on front."
Zelda furrowed her brows, confusion seeping into her face, "What?"
"You're falling asleep, come on, let's change."
He didn't wait for and answer as he stopped Epona and got off her, Zelda grabbed the saddle, "It won't happen again, I'm sorry." She had no recollection of falling asleep.
Link raised and eyebrow, "I want you to sleep, though. Let's change so you can do it, also I'll get to be at peace, since I won't have to worry about maybe dropping the future Queen of Hyrule from a horse."
She could taste his good humor, and she was too tired to keep on protesting. She moved to get off, and into Link's arms.
"Uh? You didn't have to..."
Zelda looked confused and then shook her head.
"Shoot, sorry..."
Link helped her get on this time, he got on and grabbed the reins.
"Are you alright?"
Zelda sighed and looked at him, "How awkard is this going to end up being?"
Link flashed her a smile, "Zero awkardness, of course. Just use me as a pillow, I'll wake you when we're near the Castle, and nobody will be the wiser."
Zelda let her head fall on his chest, "You, sir, are a blessing."
"My, I'm flattered."
"And I'll take you up on your word and let myself be comfortable, so bear with me a little."
Link remained impassive as Zelda sat with her legs together and off the side of Epona's flank, she then put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"Thank you, Link."
Link sat motionless and then cleared his throat, "May I?"
Zelda raised her eyes, but before she could understand, Link's arms enclosed her and secured her by the waist.
Improper, was the first word to come to her mind, but she could feel his heartbeat and she was so tired that knowing that she wasn't going to fall in the middle of her sleep helped her rest.
Link made sure to go through the less stony roads, go around any kind of threat and also any kind of traveller, Zelda slept soundly against him and he could feel his palms sweating. He could make out the Castle's outline, and he could imagine the people's uproar at not finding the Princess, he glanced at her and then sighed, if only he could give her some more time to recover.
Zelda woke with the slightest of nudges on her arm, Link hugged her to keep her from falling and she raised her head from the crook of his neck, the shiest of sunrays touched her and she hid her eyes with her hands.
"Oh, Nayru, did I sleep too much?"
She felt Link's rumbling chest, "You slept enough, don't worry," he motioned with his head to the nearing Castle, "we're almost there."
Zelda let her eyes wash over the wrecked Castle before realization settled in.
"Oh, Nayru!" she looked at Link, he looked back, worried. "You didn't sleep!"
Link snickered, "No, ma'am."
And then he kept staring ahead, Zelda shook her head. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry-"
"Zelda, don't worry, I'm completely fine, I got used to a few hours of sleep."
"But you have to sleep."
"And I will, I'm not invincible, sadly," Zelda didn't appreciate the joke, "as soon as I make sure that you arrive well to Castle Town, and I go back to Ordon, I will take the biggest nap Hyrule will ever record."
As that didn't sit well with Zelda - he wasn't sure her face could look more malcontent - he tried to look apologetic.
"You can rest in the Castle, you must know that."
"Since I will be condecorated with every badge and title you will find, I find it hard to believe I won't at least get a personal room inside the Castle, maybe a whole wing if you're generous," Zelda still didn't find it funny, "but even if I stayed for a whole day, I wouldn't sleep a wink." He locked eyes with her "I must go back to Ordon and make sure that everyone is all right."
Zelda bit her lip and nodded.
"I appreciate your offer," he assured "wholeheartedly."
She could feel him trying to ease this on her, and she squeezed his arm, "I know, don't worry."
Zelda gazed at the Castle, and tried to prepare herself for it.
"I'll take you to the Castle, people are surely looking for you," she nodded, "I will then return to Ordon, I don't know how things are there, they musn't be too bad, but I'll come back as soon as I can," he could see a smile forming on her face, "I would say a month and a half before I return."
Zelda nodded, "Okay, I'll be waiting."
Before they could be seen from the Castle, Link dismounted, Zelda looked as he grabbed the reins and guided Epona inside. Just before they entered he looked at her.
"I am and always will be your ally, do not doubt my allegiance."
Zelda felt the fear easing its hold on her heart.
"Link, from here on out, and whenever I am in the presence of more people, I will have to be less..."
The words died in her throat, but Link could recall her nickname. Her face lost sight of color, of movement, of life. Her eyes washed over him before settling to the first people awaiting for them.
"They view feelings as weakness," she offered.
Link squeezed her hand, bit down the urge to ask her what she thought of it, "I understand."
He reminded himself that he had no right to feel robbed when he saw the Ice Princess before him. Regal and beautiful.
And terrifying.
Hi, there!
There will be new characters next chapter, and I was wondering wether you would like them to be OC's, franchise characters', a mix? Chapters should be up every Tuesday, I feel like I might be hexing it writing it, but so far I've been doing alright so.
Comments are always appreciated! Also, we are entering uncharted-kind-of waters so maybe if you have prompts you would like to see, you could write them down.
See you!