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Even in his sleep, he still seemed to be battling against something.

I brushed his hair away from his forehead, a little damp from the cloth I had used to keep his fever down all night. Because the cut on his shoulder had given him a fever, nothing to worry about, but I was so worried... I still can't explain what I felt when we found him collapsed inside the cave, wounded and with a strange expression on his face. Gods, he had left his fists on the ice walls, which were broken and covered with the blood from his hands, what the hell was he thinking? Had he gone mad? Fridd and Ardren examined everything and saw nothing, no footprints, except the ones Link himself had left there. I knew I shouldn't have let him get two steps away from the hut, it was my fault.

"Princess, I've made a soup and here you have clean clothes. I think they'll fit Link, they were Kevan's when he was about his age."

"Thank you."

Edra came up to us and stared at Link, in detail, the same thing she did the night we descended from the mountain shelter. I could understand it, she'd have dreamed so many times of seeing his face that it was as if now she couldn't stop memorizing him.

"He'll be fine, sure," I smiled, watching her wrinkles contract out of worry, "he is very strong."

"I never thought I'd have my child in that bed one day," she said, threatening to cry again. The first night she cried a lot, an explosion of emotions that had been pent up for years.

"He always wanted to come here. It just hasn't been in the best of circumstances, but he'll recover."

I used to say it out loud, too. Link was going to recover and he'd find himself perfectly, as always, I could hug him and respond to his statement the other night, and that would make no one ever try to separate us again, not even ourselves.

"You should take a rest, princess, I can stay with Link for a while. You haven't slept a wink all night."

"Yes, it's true..."

But I didn't want to be too far away from him. On the other hand, Link no longer had a fever, and it would probably not be long before he woke up hungry enough to wolf down all the food his grandmother had been preparing until there was not a single crumb left.

"Maybe a little fresh air...," I gave in.

"It'll do you good."

"Where's Ry?"

"Chopping wood. Please ignore him. He's a scrawny old man, he never learns his lesson."

I let go of Link's hand and stood up. My legs were shaking, too many hours numb, in the same position.

"Your Highness, do you need anything else? Food, more clean clothes?" Edra asked me.

"No, thank you," I grabbed her hands, "just don't call me Highness or things like that. I'm Link's wife, we're family."

Edra opened her eyes wide and said nothing. It was hard for her to take in, I know, as it was for some of the villagers who knew more than enough about who was staying at the ranger's house.

I put on my feathers coat and went outside. It was spring, but it was early and in Hateno, so close to the sea and the mountains, the weather was still wet and cold. Ry had already cleared the road with the little snow that had fallen during the night. I walked up the hill, where Link's grandparents had a shed and a pen with few animals. Goddesses, I hadn't set foot on the street since we arrived, and the feeling of breathing fresh air, of feeling the daylight on my cheeks, cleared my mind a little.

Grandpa Ry chopped wood just like Link. They were so much alike that I must have been blind not to recognise him from the first day.

"Is he awake?" He whispered, without turning, when he heard me coming. He just prepared another log and split it in half.

"Not yet, but he doesn't have a fever anymore."

"I don't know what the hell he was thinking. I ordered him not to move from the hut."

"He thought there was something threatening us and went to investigate," Ry snorted and broke another log, "perhaps Fridd and Ardren could help you to chop wood."

"No. They need rest too. They can help Kevan when they wake up."

I nodded. Impa was the only one who didn't stay with us or Link's uncle. She told me that when her parents were young were appointed as the guardians of the Dawn Lighthouse. It was a tall tower, with a blue light, high up the hill that ascended Hateno to the cliffs. Apparently, her sister Purah had travelled a couple of times to the village, evaluating the possibility of moving her laboratory there and also her residence, because over the years the family moved to Kakariko and the lighthouse fell a little into oblivion. There were no more sheikah lights guiding their navigators, Hateno's sheikah docks moved further north in the Akalla coast region. According to Impa in the lighthouse there were medicines and other utensils that Purah had been preparing and that could be of help to us, but I know the reality was that Impa didn't want to disturb, Link's grandparents' house was humble and there was hardly room for Link and me and she had left to give us space. The same happened with Kevan, who in addition to having his family hosted Fridd and Ardren.

"You should go warm up inside. The morning is still cold," Ry said, in the face of my silence.

"If you recognised me from the beginning, why didn't you say anything?" I reproached him. I was still angry at him for not telling the truth when he met.

"I didn't recognise you. But Impa only escorts the royalty, that is known by even the most ignorant person in this village. A young woman travelling with three barbarians and Impa of the sheikah could be no one but the princess of Hyrule."

"Well, you'd have said it, instead of shutting up and behaving in that absurd way. You have no idea what it'd have meant for Link. What it still means to him. His family is the most important thing for him, you know?"

"Saying it or not changes nothing, since the kid has the same stupid habit of disobeying his mother had."

"Link hasn't done anything wrong to you," I accused him, "Keep that in mind when he wakes up."

"Wait," he stopped me, as he heard my footsteps turn around, "I didn't want my grandson to go to that mountain, I warned him, I warned you all. The mountain was haunted, something dangerous was going on there. The last thing I wanted was for him to be in danger."

"Be nice to him," I warned him, "that's all I ask of you. And if, once he recovers, you are still determined to blame him for things he has not done, we will leave and you will not have to see him again."

I left grumpier than I would have liked. It was typical Zelda of the Eagle's Nest behaviour, but unthinkable for Zelda Bosphoramus, princess of Hyrule. However, Princess Zelda was the one in Hateno (of sorts), and my arrival had caused a huge stir in the village. There wasn't a soul who didn't know that I was staying at Ry and Edra's house, that my husband had arrived in the middle of the night, bloody and unconscious, that two barbarians were guarding us and staying at Kevan's house and that, to add icing to the cake, Impa of the sheikah had spent the night at the old lighthouse.

The whole thing was out of control and anti-protocol, and... well, I was so distressed to see my barbarian in such a state that any attempt to pretend normality and protocol made me want to vomit. But I had no choice but to be friendly and open to questions and visits from the citizens.

Worst of all, I'd never been to Hateno before. Although it was an important village in the kingdom, the princes of Hyrule had never been there. We had always moved directly to the Citadel of Lanayru, a place "up to" our needs... how absurd. The closest I had been to Hateno was at a symbolic ceremony at the fort and wall guarding the access at the base of the mountain. When I turned seventeen, after my pilgrimage, I made a short stop at the wall, before returning home. That day I travelled with a huge entourage, with soldiers, with sheikah... the whole village had come to the walls for the event. The people celebrated my coming of age and purification at the spring even more than I did. I was so numb from the cold of the pilgrimage that I was only able to retain vague memories of the day, such as that I was still wearing my thin pilgrim's robe even though a heavy spring snow had fallen and I had not recovered nearly as much from the cold of the spring, that hunger prevented me from thinking clearly, and that I was barely able to react to the people's displays of affection without feeling as if I might faint at any moment. A pity.

That's why, among other reasons, I had to talk to the governor that morning. Edra advised me to do so, even though my first reaction was to refuse - I didn't want interviews with anyone until Link had opened his eyes. Impa convinced me that it was better to explain, or the noise would be so loud that it would reach Father's ears. And she promised to accompany me, but she hadn't yet returned from the lighthouse and I began to feel anxious. My palms were sweating and the knot in my stomach wouldn't let me breathe. I didn't want to, my whole being rejected having to behave like an innocent and happy princess on a diplomatic mission, the rejection I felt was physical and difficult to control. For my peace of mind, as I headed from the stables to the house, I saw Impa chatting with Edra at the door, waiting patiently for me. Thank the goddesses.

"Link looks so much better," Impa told me.

"It seems so," I said, and I tried to force a smile.

"I'll take care of him while you two meet the governor, everything will be fine around here," Edra assured us.

We walked down the hill. The village was located on the slope of a mountain, so, with the exception of some meadows and also the artificial terraces that had been built for cultivation and livestock, the streets were sloping.

"Have you slept anything, princess?"

"I closed my eyes a couple of times… but I couldn't sleep," I admitted, "Link had some fever, and because he's still unconscious, I couldn't give him the medicine."

"What the hell would he see up there?"

"I hope to know soon enough."

"Your Highness, you seem nervous, do you want us to call off the visit?" Impa stopped me, tugging on my arm. We were the only ones on the street at the time.

"No," I sighed, "the sooner the better."

"You need to rest as much as Link and the others."

"True," I smiled with resignation, "but don't worry about me. I'm fine, really, and I'm calmer now that you're with me."

The governor didn't ask as many questions as I expected. He offered me to stay at his house, he even offered to close the village inn just for me and my companions. I explained that Link needed to be with his family and he understood. It took a little longer to explain what happened on Mount Lanayru, we didn't know, the only thing I assured him with certainty, was that whatever was there was gone and the Spring of Wisdom could be reopened to pilgrimage.

He served us a cup of tea that we accepted out of courtesy, and I agreed to receive his family and some of the members of the village council. I won't deny that the visit was something mild, the tiredness in my face should be noticed or... or it was simply much better to deal with the villagers than with the courtiers and nobles who lived in the citadels.

Impa managed to end the meeting by saying that we were expected for lunch (probably true, but nothing concrete had actually been agreed), and dragged me out into the street, where the fresh air brought me back to life. Already more villagers were milling about, waving or looking at us curiously, though no one dared to approach.

"How do you know?" Impa asked.

"Know what?"

"That it's a safe place, that there is no longer any danger on Mount Lanayru."

"Well, I..."

I frowned. How did I know? Actually, the answer came out so naturally that I hadn't stopped to think about it. My heart told me, that is, and I had no doubt about it, but I couldn't prove it in any way. It was obvious, I could feel it that way. The sheikah would not be satisfied with that answer, that much was clear, and it was clear to me that Impa would sooner or later go up to lift every stone to see if it was true that the place was once again passable.

"Don't worry" she squeezed my shoulder, "I also felt there was nothing, although it's always best to take a second look."

"Princess!"

Edra ran down the hill and that made my heart stop.

"What is it?" I held her, she tried to catch her breath.

"It's Link, he's awake."

"Well, that's what we expected," Impa said, without hiding her impatience.

"He's very nervous, he's gone out of the house asking for you. I told him to wait, but he didn't listen to me. He ran up the hill, calling you."

Impa and I exchanged a look and ran up the hill. He was yelling my name and it didn't take long for us to find him, barefoot and limping, totally disoriented.

"Link!"

As soon as he saw me, he ran dragging his injured leg and hugged me. Goddess, he was shaking from head to toe.

"Don't worry, we're all fine, okay?" I tried to hold him with the hug.

"Zelda, where... " he whispered. He was still shaking but the contact, as always, started to make its soothing effect on him.

"I'm so sorry, I had to go out for a moment, I know you woke up alone in a strange place, but calm down, I'm already here."

He held my face with both hands, as if trying to read something strange about me or finish landing in reality. Then he kissed me and... this was not even our first kiss, but it was the most desperate, I was so moved that now I was the one shaking.

"We'll see you later at Edra's," Impa said behind my back.

And there they were, Edra, Impa, and even Fridd and Ardren, who I didn't even know where they had appeared from.

"Yes, of course, we'll see you later," I said. We were leaving as soon as the fire was out of my cheeks, because I must have been as red as a tomato.

"Captain, we're glad to see you're fine!" Ardren exclaimed, "we'll wait for you to lunch together, take your time."

Ardren winked and walked away with the others. I'm not sure Link was aware of anything yet.

"You're barefoot," I told him, "It's cold."

He blinked a couple of times, looked at me as if I spoke another language and hugged me again. He didn't mind being barefoot. Then I came up with something, I was sure he'd like it and it would calm him down. I was afraid he'd lost contact with reality, like that girl Ry told us about."

"Come on, I'm going to show you something."

I grabbed his hand and dragged him with me. Behind the houses, up to one green hill I found the perfect spot.

"The sea?" He asked and took a few turns along the edge of the hill, as if trying to cover more and more with his sight.

"I told you it was worth it."

He made me smile, rubbed his eyes to see if it wasn't a dream.

"Smells of salt."

"So now I need to teach you how to swim," I said, winking at him. He seemed more relaxed and that was a good sign.

He sat down on the grass, his leg was hurting. I took the opportunity to look at the stitches on his shoulder. He grimaced when I barely grazed it, in a way that was good, because it must be healing. We were a bit silent, I didn't know where to start with the questions. I decided it was best to offer him information.

"We are in Hateno Village. We find you on Mount Lanayru, in a cave behind the Spring of Wisdom."

"Your map was correct. I found the door."

"I know... Link, you had lost consciousness, and so to this day," I whispered, "When we found you... Gods, there was blood everywhere, look at your hands."

He looked at them and frowned at the scabs on his knuckles. It was impossible to stitch the wounds there, but since he was asleep, they had healed well on their own.

"And... Well, they said it was better not to stay in the shelter, to bring you to the village to heal you, so that's what we did. Ardren and Fridd saw nothing in the cave. They searched everything with Impa, and the surrounding area."

"There was nothing to see," he said, shaking his head, "it was all an illusion."

"I'm a little scared," I admitted, "for... for finding you like this…"

He grabbed my hands and kissed them, and I really didn't know who was comforting who anymore.

"The cave was a trial, Zelda. A trial of wisdom, you said it yourself, it was about the change, the heart of things."

"No... but I meant rather to an inner journey, Link. You were attacked by something... right?"

"Only what was inside me," he looked back at the blue horizon, "it has already started, since we awoke that darkness in Ikana. You know what I'm talking about, you've seen it too, in your nightmares."

I was going to reply but I was speechless, a bit stunned, I had almost forgotten about the nightmares, I hadn't had them for a long time.

"I don't know how, but we had to get there, to that spring. It's the first trial, but there are more. I must pass all the tests to prove that I am worthy to carry the only weapon capable of sealing this monster in the abyss."

"And... the other trials..."

"You know the answer," he smiled, "there are two other springs. Three. Like the power of your goddesses, the one who belongs to your family. Or rather, to you."

"Me? No, Link" I waved my head, " It's all just legends, it's not true. I've read a lot of stories about it, but they deviate from the truth enough to be unbelievable. And there is no scientific evidence for any of it."

"Even though you've been looking for it. What were you looking for with the excavations?"

"I don't know."

"Well, we have to find out, because time is running out."

"How do you know that?"

"The other masters of the sword told me, that's what I saw on that mountain. I had to face them and then they explained a few things to me. They said time is running out, and there are always two facing darkness. And... that sword is the only way I can protect you, Zelda. I have to pass the tests even if that quest claims my life."

"No way," I stood up, "I don't know what... it can't be."

Anguish overwhelmed me. The sacred power was Father's and then it would be Kahen's and had nothing to do with what Link was saying in the first place, because no one had really seen it, Father never had to resort to that and it had never manifested itself, either forcibly or involuntarily.

"The masters were inside the mirror in the cave, and they challenged me. I couldn't defeat them with all my might because it was all an illusion. The illusion concealed that the real enemy was the mirror. That's why it was a trial of wisdom. Now all that's missing is courage and power."

"What else did these spirits tell you?"

"A lot of things," he smiled, "they weren't enemies like I thought. One of them said: Look back to the past to understand the future. That's why they showed up to me. They're the past. And they're a warning of what's to come."

"I can't disagree with that. After all, I've always looked for answers in archaeological excavations."

"It's no coincidence," he said. And he remained thoughtful.

"And what about the Spring of Wisdom? Is it still dangerous?"

"Not anymore. It woke up at the same time as the darkness, everything is connected. But once the trial is passed, there's nothing left there that could be a danger."

"Okay," I sighed.

"Hey. Come here," he pulled me, and this time it was he who took me in his arms, "don't be afraid."

"That's easy for you to say."

"I know it sounds crazy..."

"No. I was the one who got you into this. Link-

His stomach made a dreadful noise, he hadn't tried anything solid for a long time.

"I'm sorry," he laughed, "I'd eat a whole rhino."

"Link, I haven't finished telling you some details. Now you look like yourself again..."

"I was stunned and... hell. I just realized that before..."

"Yes?"

"I kissed you in front of everyone."

The heat returned to my cheeks almost as intensely as when that had happened.

"It doesn't matter."

"Is it wrong because we're in your country?"

"Not at all," I caressed his cheek, and thought another kiss would be welcome, without an audience this time.

"I'm so sorry I scared you before, the last thing I remembered was being with the masters of the sword and suddenly I awoke and saw a stranger. And, they said I should take care of you, so..."

"A stranger... Come on, sit down again and I'll tell you everything."