Assassination? But– the Sheikah? How could they have failed? Even Link hadn't been able to sneak around without them knowing!
"We're not sure the specific situation, but we need to keep you safe!" the Rito guard continued, but Zelda could feel the world start to blur around her.
No, it was all going so well, her family couldn't– They couldn't–
"You need to breathe," a voice whispered in her ear, and she realized she'd only been panting faintly. She felt a hand on her waist supporting her and inhaled sharply.
"Secure the perimeter," she said, her voice sounding not her own. "I– I–"
"I have the Princess," Link said, his face still near her ear. "Nothing is going to harm her."
The Rito didn't leave the room, but shouted orders to the guards outside. Impa, who was already asleep, was roused and walked in.
"What's going on?" the scientist asked. "Princess?"
Before Zelda could answer, Link already started to explain the situation. She felt very removed, the hand on her waist was the only part telling her any of it was real. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears drumming rapidly. She turned to look at her Hero to try and convey the panic that was brewing her and he seemed to understand the moment their eyes met.
"Sit down," he said quietly, guiding her to the couch. She sat, but when he tried to move away, found herself grabbing his wrist. He wasn't unsympathetic, but he still gently removed her hand. "I need to gear up. I meant what I said." His blue eyes gained a new intensity. "No one is going to hurt you."
Impa sat on the other side of Zelda. Awkwardly she opened her arms. "I may not be much, but I am still a Sheikah, I will protect you as well Princess."
Zelda didn't settle into the older woman's arms, but let them envelop her. It wasn't as grounding, as much as what she felt she needed, but it did help. It was hard for Impa to express herself in such a touchy way.
Link dropped some armor on her lap which she ignored for the large part. Impa helped her put it on. And then they waited.
They waited in tense silence for hours. They waited long enough for the sun to rise. They waited long enough for her hair to dry. Finally a message was sent and received.
She could hear hushed voices and felt the stiff arms of Impa around her. She knew what was being said by the way people started to linger at her door. At the stares.
Link's eyes caught hers from across the room and she knew. The sadness was physical in the room. Her parents had been good rulers, not cruel, and her brother had been promising. He would have been a great king, a better ruler than she could ever be. Impa started shaking with sobs, but Zelda couldn't feel anything.
Link approached her first. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. Eventually the Rito Elder was brought into the room.
"Princess Zelda," he started, "You are now the sole heir to the kingdom of Hyrule."
Zelda stood, pushing away Impa as gently as she could. Her legs were shaky and stiff, but she refused to be weak. "I accept this responsibility with the heaviest of hearts," her voice didn't sound like her own. "Have– have the culprits been apprehended?"
A Rito guard stepped forward. "Three of the four assassins have been caught, two of them are dead." the guard hesitated before saying, "They were rogue Sheikah, your grace."
Impa blushed red with anger as she stood, still crying. "You must be mistaken! A Sheikah would never–"
"A proper Sheikah would never, you are correct," the Rito guard continued, "These are a part of a rogue faction."
Rogue faction… Zelda had heard rumors of such things, but thought them just that: rumors. "The fourth is being hunted down?"
"Yes, he was seen fleeing towards the Gerudo Desert. The lookout posts are on high alert."
There were hushed murmurs at the word Gerudo. Zelda felt that was ridiculous. "Have the Gerudo been contacted to help in the hunt?" she asked.
"Yes, Your Grace." He stepped back and forth on his feet. "We have not heard a response back yet, but sandstorms have been known to interrupt communication."
She nodded. "Let me know when he is caught." she took a step and faltered, a strong hand steadied her forearm and she knew Link was by her side again. Before he could speak she said, "You can't leave to hunt him down. I need you by my side."
He smiled slightly. Grimly. "You should eat something," he said in a defeated way.
She wasn't feeling hungry, but knew he was right.
Food was brought in, and she switched plates with a Rito guard at random. She couldn't taste it.
Days passed in a haze with her preparing for her return to the castle. She was impatient to get back, but knew until the final assassin was caught, the roads were too big of a risk. Finally, after three days, they received a message from the Gerudo. It was sent by runner, as their tower was malfunctioning, the desert sands too corrosive for it. The runner had the ears of the assassins in a bag and it was with dull curiosity that Zelda looked upon the gruesome sight.
"We received the message right before our tower went down," the Gerudo said while still kneeling. "I regret to inform you we could not capture him alive, but we did send him to the dark realm right and properly."
"You've done well," Zelda said, "With these… traitors brought to justice I hope my family may rest in peace."
She'd gotten good at saying platitudes like that. She wasn't sure what was wrong with her, but ever since that night all she could feel was a dull numbness. She was dimly scared of what might happen when it passed, but she was more scared of what would happen if it didn't.
They set out on the road without much fanfare. She wore plain clothes, and traveled only with Link and two other Hylian guards. Link could probably protect her from most threats she gathers, but the other guards were to make sure the unmarried princess and the young man with whom she shared a special bond maintained a certain distance.
When Zelda had realized the true reason behind their small guard she'd nearly laughed. She was used to chaperones, but to think it was Link that she would be chaperoned for… while she was certainly seeing him in a new light, there wasn't any danger of her breaking such ground. Not when she was grieving and with Paya and Reba far away; he was one of the only true friends she had near.
One night while camping, the two guards went out to hunt and gather firewood respectively leaving Link and her alone for the first time since that night when her whole world shifted. They were quiet at first; neither had the energy to try at small talk. Eventually she spoke the lighter of her thoughts she'd been having.
"I think it's funny we have to be chaperoned now."
He glanced up, clearly not expecting her to say that.
"I mean, you grow up and now all of a sudden I shouldn't be alone with you." She smiled, but without joy. "I suppose it has always been clear how you felt, or at least how it seems you feel."
"I'll always be devoted to you," he said quietly.
"I realized what you were asking about then, that night," she said, "and I have the same answer as before. I can't get married until after we defeat Ganon."
He only nodded.
"What I mean to say is," The hollowness crept up inside her. "after we defeat Ganon you may ask a favor of the royal family." Her throat tightened at the word 'family.' "You can ask that again then," she finished quickly.
His ears turned red and knelt before her. She was afraid he was going to do something that would weigh heavy on her, but instead in a slow and steady tone started to say the oath of a vassal to his lord. When he finished the oath, he glanced up at her with imploring blue eyes. "I know that sort of thing is usually said to kings," he said after her continued shocked silence, "And I prayed I would never have to say it to you, but just as you have faith in me, I have faith in you. Zelda, I will follow you anywhere, no matter what."
She nodded. Then twice. Something twinged almost painfully in her chest, and for a second she wondered if all her composure and stoicism would crumble. But it didn't. Still, a crack in the wall around her heart was welcome for now. It made her hope the numbness would pass. It made her hope she could someday return her Hero's feelings without any guilt for living and finding happiness when her family could not.
"I would knight you again if I could," she murmured.
"And I will say any oath you wish me to as many times as you wish me to."
"You're too blind in your devotion. You're shrewd in other aspects of your life I hope."
"I like to think you're wise enough I can rely on you to never steer me wrong." He smiled and she wished she could capture the expression to look at it later. It made her believe his words. That she could be a wise leader.
"I suppose I should stop kneeling now. We wouldn't want our traveling companions to return and think something different occurred."
"Quite right. How gentlemanly of you." she was only half joking. In a way it was exactly what it would look like. They were practically engaged in her mind, as long as he wished to marry her, she would not object. Perhaps it wasn't fair to marry him when her love wasn't the exact same type and scale as his, but that was due to her own grief. A selfish part of her just wanted to be loved so thoughtlessly.
But all that would have to wait until after.
He stood and sat an exaggerated distance from her.
"What? Have I offended you?" she asked, now fully teasing. She scooted to be nearly too close to him.
"Your divine aura is too much for a mortal like me," he said, shielding his eyes. "We need at least a goddess statue between us."
"Ah, that is a fair distance I think."
They sat the distance and stifled the silly giggles that bubbled up. She pulled out embroidery she was working on, and Link started his official job of guarding her.
The knights came back to see them a respectable distance apart. They hid their surprise poorly.
…
They arrived at the castle without much fanfare. Paya met her at the gate and the sight of her guard filled her heart with a great sadness that they had been separated during this time of sadness. Paya's mother had recovered, but lost the use of her legs. Zelda was happy that she at least could be with her mother when it was happening, not two regions away. Though if Zelda had been present when the assassins attacked, she would be dead too.
They didn't hug, as they were in public, but Paya knelt and clasped her hand tightly. Her eyes were red, not just the iris, but from crying. They made eye contact and Zelda nodded for her to stand.
"As you should know, Link has completed his quest and is now guarding me. You two worked well together if I remember," she said as they walked to the castle.
"Am I still his senior?" she asked.
Zelda knew it wasn't an ego question, but a pragmatic one. She hadn't thought of it. Hierarchy was important to know in such an important position. "In general he should defer to you, but he has good instincts." She turned to Link. "What is your opinion?"
"Paya's been guarding you for a lot longer," he said simply, "I can defer to her."
"That's decided then."
Zelda faced forward and walked towards a side door of the castle. She entered without any problems, which brought them all a modicum of relief. They had predicted if she were to be attacked, the most likely time would be from when she entered the capital to when she arrived in the castle. When she had been on the road there was simply no way of them knowing where she could be, as nobody save the Rito had known she was there. The castle could also prove dangerous, but she would have either Paya or Link with her at all times.
"I would like to have a word about your safety," Paya said, "I know we couldn't discuss this over letter, but I believe either Link or I should be with you at all times."
"That sounds reasonable."
Link furrowed his brows slightly, but didn't say anything.
"What is it?" Zelda asked.
He looked slightly surprised she noticed him, but answered her slowly, "I agree that either Paya or I should be with you, but I was thinking… I can't really guard you at night, and your quarters are in a relatively secluded part of the castle. Perhaps Paya could sleep in your room."
What he said was true. She could read between the lines of what he was saying as well. If Paya was there, he wouldn't be barred completely from her chambers, which would be nice to avoid anything looking like a scandal. Not that that really mattered at this point. Zelda could care less about a scandal.
"That's not a bad idea," Paya input.
"I would agree."
And so Zelda became acting ruler of Hyrule at the young age of 22. She wouldn't be crowned or married for a while yet, until her mourning period was over. Zelda wasn't sure when that would happen. If that would happen. To put her advisors at peace, she did agree that she would have the ceremony after Ganon was defeated. Considering that there was no real way to tell when Calamity would come, and that fighting while pregnant, or at least indulging in martial duties would distract her, most respected her decision. Her mourning period wasn't over though.
There could be pushes later.
At least she wouldn't need to worry about a marriage partner if they got that far. No, they would probably get that far. She couldn't give into despair.
They would go that far, and Zelda would be crowned queen in the dawn of her and Link's victory. The thoughts felt mechanical and practiced, but it was all she could do to keep her head up. Perhaps if she repeated them enough times, she would start to believe them.