Hello everyone~~ I'm back with Chapter 3 :) Hope everyone had a great week so far! I've been having too much fun avoiding all my responsibilities and writing up Chapter 3 and 4 this week… I'll probs just fail my engineering degree and still be happy about this fanfic procrastination, lmao.
Just wanted to add some fair warning for this chapter and upcoming chapters: I'll be writing pretty liberally about blood and violence, as well as sex in general (if you hadn't picked that up already, lol). So if that sort of content makes you uncomfortable, please don't read! And if you're underage… Well. What are you doing here? :P
Enough from me. Enjoy xx
PS: I updated Chapter 1 bc I spotted a typo. Insert meme about them damn tenacious typos that survive multiple edits, proofreads, and ultimately probably deserve to stay after all that. The audacity.
PSS: Someone pointed out I had two whole typo in here... I managed to find 3, along with some miscellaneous writing errors lmao. (thank you for pointing them out! much love from me x) The ever-persistent feud of British vs US spellcheck mean I've learned to ignore red squigglies... fml lol.
Chapter 3
Zelda's eyes were fixated on the blood that continued to seep from Link's shoulder. His lack of appropriate attire meant she could see every detail of his wound. The pink colour of his torn tissues, the bright red of his seeping blood. Where the arrowhead had pierced him, Zelda could see the split flesh extending beyond the puncture wound. Blood coated the wooden shaft of the arrow, and the smallest droplet dripped from the head every now and then. When Link's shoulder moved, Zelda thought she saw the skin tear just a little further and deeper, revealing yet another few millimetres of raw muscle. It made her feel sick to the stomach.
"…Link," she whispered. She didn't know what to do. She had no knowledge of combat, or of sword play. She took the steak knife from the table and clutched it in both hands shakily. Her eyes darted between each of the four Yiga clan members, desperately waiting in anticipation.
Unlike Zelda, Link's hands were still and steady. He took a step forward, to show the enemy he wasn't afraid of them. He wasn't afraid to die. With his second step, he brought his sword up and sliced the arrow that protruded from his shoulder. He wasn't stupid enough to pull it out, or risk bleeding out like he had seen many an inexperienced soldier do. Instead, he merely cut the wood down as closely to his skin as he dared and flicked the excess wood aside. He would have liked to cut the other end off as well, but he couldn't reach it without taking his eyes off the Yiga men. No, he could see the two archers already drawing their bows and preparing to loose. Behind them, the sickle-wielding Yiga was crouched and ready to pounce. Even the blademaster was already raising his sword, eager to shred Link to pieces.
The archers were the first to make a move.
Link's sword sliced the first two arrows in a swipe of holy, blue light. These had been aimed at him. But the next two… Link knew from their flight trajectory that their intended target was Zelda. A second swipe of his sword, a little more furious than he intended, hacked the arrows from their path. He heard Zelda elicit a gasp when his sword came dangerously close to her face, but he didn't have time to check whether it had been the arrow or his sword that startled her. He could see from the corner of his eye that the blademaster was already preparing to launch a dangerous attack. Even as Link shifted his footing to face the large man, the blademaster's sword had begun its downward path. True to the blade's namesake, Link could hear the whistling protest of wind being cleaved apart. He could feel the wind changing the air, and for a split second, Link felt a prickle of fear electrify his skin. He had fallen to this attack, once upon a time. Link remembered. He remembered the way the windcleaver's blade had cut his flesh open. He remembered the way the surrounding air had shredded his skin. The scar upon his chest would never allow him to forget. But this time, Link knew what to do. This time, he was ready.
He felt time slow down. He felt each tiny change in the air, carved to slivers by the blademaster's sword. He felt the blade sweep past his shoulder dangerously close as he leapt aside, dodging it. Unlike his last encounter with a Yiga blademaster, Link was stronger. Faster. Better. Link didn't give his enemy the time to learn the difference in their calibre, either. He delivered a flurry of attacks upon the blademaster, hacking through his defences and butchering him where he stood. No amount of armour could have stopped Link's sword. The glowing, blue steel sliced through the hardened mask of the blademaster, splitting it clean in half. It surged through skin and flesh, and not even the blademaster's bones could hinder the sword's power. Link desired death, and the goddess granted him his wishes.
The upward swing of Link's sword blocked the sickle that came at him. Using brute force alone, Link disarmed the Yiga clan member and cut a clean line across his throat. Link didn't need to see the man fall to know he would die. He had already turned his attention to the two archers. They scrambled to nock new arrows, but Link gave them no time to draw. As far as Link was concerned, he had already given them their free shot of the night. He sliced clean through their duplex bows and with another flurry of quick attacks, Link brought the men to their knees.
As quickly as it had all begun, it was over already. Blood smeared the walls, the floors, the furnishings. A fine spray of red droplets had even made its way to the ceiling. The bodies hadn't stopped moving, not just yet, but the distinctive scent of fresh blood was already burning in Zelda's nostrils. And standing at the centre of it all? A man who didn't need any shining armour to prove his worth as her knight.
The sharp swing of his sword made Zelda look up. He flicked the blood from his blade and looked down at the bodies, taking a moment to kick one of them as if making sure they were dead. He had blood strewn across his body, across his clothes. They stained the beautiful silk of his Gerudo outfit and streaked his handsome face. And then, those blue eyes lifted to hers. He wasn't smiling, nor was he frowning. No, his mouth was the same flat line it always was. When he took a step towards Zelda, she heard the splash of blood replace the sound of his footstep.
Zelda stared unabashedly at her knight. She watched as he leaned to look over his shoulder, carefully slicing the other end of the arrow away from his shoulder. The core shaft of the arrow remained lodged inside his flesh, and for a mad moment, Zelda couldn't comprehend his actions. It didn't occur to her that his choice to keep the arrow inside his body was to prevent bleeding to death.
"And just what…"
The sound of Link's voice, quiet and yet edged with amusement, made Zelda jump. Her eyes widened as they tracked upward to Link's face. In all his blood-streaked beauty, he was smiling.
"…were you planning to achieve with that?"
It wasn't till Link gestured at her with his fingers that Zelda looked down at the steak knife in her hand.
"Oh."
As calmly as she could, Zelda placed the steak knife back on the table. She wet her dry lips and looked in search of water.
"I thought… I could provide back up."
Link withdrew a strip of linen from his pouch and began to bind his bleeding shoulder. He watched Zelda from the corner of his eye while he worked to stop the bleeding.
"I've been thinking," Zelda said, looking up at him. "Maybe you ought to teach me how to use a knife."
Link frowned and looked down at her suspiciously. Did she feel that he was inadequate? Did she no longer feel safe by his side?
Zelda misinterpreted his apprehension and quickly held up her open hands.
"Not to fight! I'm not trying to get myself killed. Just… You know, self defence."
Link looked away from her to focus on what he was doing. He finished binding his bleeding shoulder and tied it off. Tearing the excess linen with his teeth, he tossed the last few inches to the floor. Zelda watched the white fabric flutter downward and drown in the ocean of blood at his feet. He took another step forward, prompting her to look back up at him. When he knelt down in front of her with eyes downcast, Zelda felt her breath catch. He reached forward and in that moment, Zelda thought he was about to kiss her. She closed her eyes. Except all he did was wipe a droplet of blood from her cheek with his thumb. The touch of his hand, so deadly yet gentle, sent a pulse of electricity through her.
"…are you hurt?"
Zelda exhaled in a rush, realising she had stopped breathing. She opened her eyes again and shook her head, hating how flustered she was. Link leaned back on his haunches and watched Zelda wipe her face with her hands. She scrubbed at the sweat that beaded upon her brow and spluttered for something to say.
"I'm fine," she answered. "I'm…"
She looked up to him, her face twisted with grief. "You're the one who got shot with an arrow, Link! How can you act as if that didn't happen?"
Link was silent a moment, thinking it over. His characteristic inability to immediately answer her question was what made Zelda laugh. She reached over and traced her fingers over the bandage that Link had applied to himself.
"Does it hurt…?"
Zelda had meant to say something else, too. But the touch of Link's fingers brushing across her jawline, so light and tender, made her forget everything she'd wanted to ask him. He traced her bottom lip with his thumb before releasing her again.
"I'm fine, Zelda."
His voice, so soft that she almost missed it altogether, sent shivers through her body. The sound of him speaking her name made her feel emotions so powerful that her stomach roiled in sheer turmoil. It was such a throbbing feeling that Zelda almost felt sick. Was she pleased to hear him speak her name, finally? Or was she hurt by his attempts to ease her state of mind by pretending he felt no pain? Zelda suspected she might never know the answer.
"We should get moving."
And just like that, Link's voice was back to normal. He pushed to his feet, and with each inch he rose from the ground, Zelda watched him transition back to his usual self. His eyes were alert, his shoulders straight and his sword at the ready. He resumed his rigid, unwavering posture and wiped the blood from his face with a hand.
What Link didn't dare to say was that he feared the worst. Had they gotten to Lady Urbosa? He didn't think she was someone who could be easily overpowered at all, but he had never heard of anyone breaching the Gerudo Town walls. As for the heirloom the Yiga clan members had mentioned… Did they mean the heirloom headpiece that Lady Urbosa proudly displayed in her main hall? It was certainly a valuable item that would be worth stealing. But to attack Princess Zelda? They could have been aiming for murder or kidnapping, Link wasn't sure which. He certainly hadn't been about to wait and ask their assailants for the answer, either.
Link turned back to Zelda and extended a hand toward her. The motion hurt his shoulder, and he felt the arrow agonise his wound. Still, he silently bore the pain. He wanted to appear strong. If not for the sake of appearances, then for his pride.
"Please, Highness. Come with me."
Zelda tentatively placed her hand in Link's, but she pushed to her feet before he could exert any effort into pulling her off the ground. Zelda didn't want to cause him pain, and neither did he want to hurt his pride.
"Thank you," Zelda whispered. "For coming."
A brief, wry smile crossed Link's face as he led the way towards the doors. He felt Zelda clutch his hand more tightly and give him a small squeeze. It wasn't the first time Link had held Zelda's hand. He'd grabbed her countless times in the past, and almost always, it was met with screams of protest or shrieks of panic as they ran away from something. But it was the first time he felt as if he were doing something wrong. Something too intimate. He didn't have the time to ponder on it, though. They soon descended the stairs and entered the main foyer of Lady Urbosa's home. Beyond the main doors, Link could hear the distinct sound of battle. The clash of steel, the crash of swords against shields. Voices could be heard shouting orders, and mixed in among the rest of the noise, there was the occasional scream of agony. It was a sound that Link knew all too well. He picked up the pace and headed for the open doors.
Zelda looked over the scene of Gerudo guards fighting Yiga clan members. She didn't know if they were losing or winning. She only prayed it was the latter, though she had no way of telling. She saw a Yiga force another Gerudo soldier to the ground, and she felt her heart twist in fear.
"Link!"
Link nodded. He released Zelda's hand and pointed at the floor behind him. It was a command Zelda had seen many times over, and it was the only command she would ever obey so readily. She did as he asked and stayed behind him, not too close, but still within his sight. She watched in awe as Link leapt for the Yiga clan member and in a blur of blue light, sent them to their goddess. Another jumped at Link, but failed to take him by surprise. With an agile twist of his small body, Link spun away from their weapon and followed up with a quick attack to disarm them. A second cut of his blue sword sent them to the ground, dead.
"A… A voe!"
Link turned to look at the Gerudo soldier that had fallen. She scrambled to her feet, eyes wide on Link. Without a veil to mask his face, and perhaps too much blood staining his pretty clothes, Link was clearly recognisable as a male. He waited a moment, wondering how the Gerudo soldier would respond. Shocked as she was, her eyes soon turned to the glowing blade of his sword. Her eyes grew even wider. Link suspected that even if she didn't know his face, she recognised his weapon.
Neither Link nor the Gerudo soldier had the time to give it more thought, because another Yiga clan member leapt at them. This time, it was a blademaster wielding another deadly windcleaver. Without the time to judge the attack with his eyes, Link made a silent prayer to the goddess and switched his grip on his sword. Slamming the hilt into the Gerudo soldier, he forced her away before he threw himself into an arcing backflip. Eyes closed, he turned his focus to his ears. He heard the wind whispering to him, beckoning, taunting. Each sliver of air that passed his nose was dark with the scent of blood and fresh with death. It was a scent that Link knew very well, one which brought him more pain every time. Such a primal evil couldn't be allowed to live. Not for as long as Link was alive. It was his duty.
The Yiga blademaster's head was sliced clean away from his shoulders in a blur of blue light. An arc of red splattered across the ground behind him, fresh and wet from the speed at which Link had chosen to decapitate him. The severed head, still bearing a fully intact Yiga mask, fell to the ground with a crack.
Link's feet brushed across the dusty courtyard as he landed smoothly, his eyes already looking elsewhere in search of his princess. Behind him, the Gerudo soldier watched on with wide eyes. She saw the way he gave a careless flick of his sword, turning it so he could strike the Yiga blademaster's detached head with the flat of his blade. He hadn't needed to look to confirm his aim before he gave it a whack and sent it rolling across the floor, out of the path of his approaching princess. No, his eyes were on her.
Link's eyes scanned Zelda's body up and down as she approached him. As far as he could see, she appeared to be fine. There was blood on her sleeve, and though Link didn't think it was hers, he felt the strange urge to remove her clothing to check. The thought, so rare and out of character even for Link, made him stop to reconsider his own life. Had his mind detached itself? Link couldn't fathom how such a thought had managed to surface in the midst of battle. Sure, he was guilty of sinful ideas and images when he was left alone to his thoughts in the night, but right here and now? Link wondered if he had gone mad.
"What's wrong, Link?"
Link didn't dare answer her. He shook his head and turned away from Zelda, discarding all his worthless thoughts in favour of scanning the area for danger. He had a duty. And by Hylia, he would do it even if it meant his death.
Link's mind was silent as he hacked at the incoming Yiga clan members. There seemed to be no end to them, for each time Link eliminated one, another would jump at him. He was aware that he ought to be taking Zelda out of the town, away from the fighting, and to safety elsewhere. He could have easily cut a clean line through the battle and dragged Zelda out of the mess. But with so many men, swarming a town full of civilians? Link's heart was still human at its core.
Between each enemy he killed, Link checked to see where Zelda was. She followed closely enough that a few steps would allow him to strike any assassins that approached her, but not quite close enough that he had to worry about hitting her too. Link saw from the way Zelda moved and hid behind objects that her ability to avoid danger in a battle had improved significantly. It was a good thing, and yet at the same time, it was a sad realisation. She had seen too many battles.
Somewhere in the distance, Link thought he heard the sound of someone snapping their fingers. It was a soft sound, one which almost blended into the background noise of fighting. Before Link had time to think upon the idea, the crack of green electricity descended upon him. Like a fisherman's net, the electricity reached far across the earthen courtyard and consumed everything in sight. The palm trees, the shallow pools of water, the people. Everything was engulfed in a wild crackle of green light so bright it was almost blinding. The sound of voices was temporarily silenced by the deafening boom of thunder. And then, the cacophony of screaming voices. It was a pale sound in comparison, but a haunting one nonetheless. Link watched the green light pass through each Yiga clan member's body, striking them down where they stood. As if by magic, the electricity struck only the enemies upon the ground. The Gerudo soldiers and civilians, including himself and Princess Zelda, were spared the excruciating experience.
Straightening out of his offensive stance, Link lowered his sword to watch the dying enemies. He wasn't one who enjoyed watching someone suffer, even if it was an enemy, but there was nothing more he could do here. Their death was beyond even his control now. He could only watch them convulse as the electricity burned through their flesh and destroyed their nerves. By the time they fell to the ground in agony, Link knew their hearts had likely already stopped beating. They would be dead soon enough.
He imagined it was a painful experience. To have a thousand volts of electricity burn through their veins in such a violent manner… Link was glad he would only ever need to wonder what it felt like. He looked away from the dead bodies, in search of the person responsible for such a vast, overpowered attack.
"Lady Urbosa!"
Zelda's cry was one of relief. At the entrance of the town, Lady Urbosa herself emerged and stepped through into the courtyard. Her brows were furrowed, and her eyes narrow upon the scene. Her green eyes softened when she saw Zelda running towards her.
"Little bird," she uttered. She opened her arms to accept Zelda's embrace. "You are not hurt, I hope?"
Urbosa lifted her head to examine the town centre. She saw at least thirty Yiga clan members, dead upon the ground. But she also saw several of her own, fallen in the chaos. It was a sight that brought her electrifying rage.
"Merciful Hylia," Urbosa whispered fiercely. She ran her fingers over Zelda's hair, scarcely able to believe she was still alive. "I'm so sorry."
The flash of blue light in the distance caught Urbosa's eye. Was she surprised to see Link within the town walls? She saw the blood that covered his clothes, and the blood that seeped from a freshly acquired wound in his shoulder. Yet he moved as if nothing had ever happened. He sheathed his sword and with empty hands by his sides, he started to move towards Urbosa. Like a child who was puzzled but unafraid of his surroundings, Link glanced about as he made his way over. Urbosa was reminded just how terrible she was at understanding Zelda's cryptically silent knight.
"Link," Urbosa greeted. "You're looking rather pretty tonight."
Link's blue eye went to her. When he was an appropriate distance from her, he dropped down to one knee and bowed his head in respect.
"Lady Urbosa."
Urbosa gave a flick of her hand, greeting him. She was about to tell him to get up when she spotted her military captains running toward her, calling out to her breathlessly. Urbosa curved her hand over Zelda's shoulders and drew her in close.
"Take your hair out, Link. Keep your head down."
Link obeyed. In a small motion, he reached behind his head and tugged at the elastic that usually kept his hair out of his face. With a gentle shake of his head, he let his long hair fall forward to mask his face. He kept his eyes on the ground as Lady Urbosa's captains arrived. When they stepped past him, he turned his face the other way.
"Lady Urbosa! Are you harmed?"
Urbosa took a deep, sharp breath of air and held it briefly. She glanced over her town and pressed her lips together angrily.
"This is quite the mess," she uttered darkly. "Isn't it…?"
"I'm very sorry, Lady Urbosa… But amidst the chaos and the fighting, the heirloom has gone missing."
Urbosa's eyes narrowed further. "Is that right?"
Zelda watched anxiously as Lady Urbosa exchanged a few more words with her military captains. Urbosa gave orders to have all the injured seen to, and to double guard duties for the foreseeable future. A few more orders were given, and soon enough, the Gerudo captains split off again to carry out Urbosa's word. Zelda took a small breath and prepared to speak.
"What happened?" Zelda asked softly. "When you were called away…"
Urbosa's eyes closed in frustration. She squeezed Zelda's shoulder lightly and sighed.
"I had hoped to keep you away from this," she admitted. "We have had many Yiga clan sightings lately. Captain Suma had a lead, and we've been doing our best to hunt down their hideout. Tonight…"
Urbosa hesitated. She didn't want to worry Zelda, but then again, she was old enough to know. She wasn't a child anymore. She deserved the truth.
"Tonight," Urbosa repeated, "Suma captured a Yiga clan member. He was being kept outside our walls, naturally."
Zelda swallowed. "And you went to question him."
Urbosa sighed and nodded. "That's correct. But now… Now our heirloom is missing, and I have an inkling suspicion that this was all an orchestrated fiasco. They were foolish to engage us Gerudo in battle."
Zelda's brows knitted together. She reached out and placed her hand on Urbosa's wrist gently, not wanting to startle or offend her.
"The men who attacked me… I think they wanted me, too."
Urbosa's eye sliced to Zelda. "What?"
The sharp tone of her voice, so harsh and sudden, made Zelda flinch. Frantically, Zelda held up her hands to show she was quite alright.
"I'm fine!" Zelda quickly amended. "Link… Link, he protected me."
Urbosa was silent for a long time. She watched as the strongest of her soldiers carried the injured away, while the civilians and Gerudo children began to emerge and help as well. The Gerudo people were strong, and most people across the land knew that. The Yiga had to have been desperate to achieve something, if they were willing to risk a direct attack upon their town. Urbosa couldn't even begin to guess at what their motive was. For the time being, she would focus on making sure her town was safe while they recovered.
Finally, Urbosa looked down to the ground behind Zelda. Link was still knelt there with his head bowed, but his blue eyes kept a careful watch on everything. It was rare to see the knight with his hair down, and it struck Urbosa just how pretty a face he had. Though Urbosa herself had taught him how to infiltrate the Gerudo Town walls, she had never seen him wearing such an outfit. His hair, longer than most men's, framed his sweetly handsome face. She was beginning to understand why Zelda always seemed so flustered whenever Link was brought up in conversation. He was rather a cute voe.
She hadn't intended to punish Link for his infiltration of their sacred town, nor had she planned to let him stay. But now that she knew the Yiga clan were targeting the princess of Hyrule, Urbosa knew she would rest easier if she allowed Link to stay by Zelda's side. Her attention went to Link's bandaged shoulder, and the circle of blood that had seeped through. Judging from the unprofessional nature of the dressing, Urbosa guessed he had sustained the injury during his efforts to keep his princess alive. Urbosa took a breath and settled on her next plan of action.
"Both of you, come with me. I will find you a doctor and see about that shoulder of yours, Link. Until we have a better grasp on the situation, I'll not have either of you risking your lives out on the open road."
Perched upon the topmost step outside the door, Zelda sat with her knees drawn to her chest. She waited in silent anticipation, distinctly aware that the two Gerudo guards beside her had their keen eyes on her. It had been an hour, possibly more. The night skies remained dark still, and though Zelda couldn't be sure, she suspected sunrise was still at least a few hours away yet. The town square had started to quieten, and with the injured withdrawing to the safety of their homes, all Zelda could hear was the sound of marching patrols.
Zelda sighed softly and placed her forehead against her knee. She carried in her hands Link's legendary sword, given to her by order of the doctor that came to attend Link's needs. The doctor had been an ageing lady, one with enough gusto to demand Zelda confiscate Link's sword so he could rest. Considering Link was a voe, the doctor had also firmly ordered Zelda to wait outside. Neither of her two demands had been welcomed, and Link certainly hadn't surrendered his sword without a fight. Zelda suspected that had it not been a verbal argument, Link would have surely won. Still, the knight had little experience in bending others to his will, and had been given no choice but to hand Zelda his sword and let her out of his sight.
Looking down at the heavy weapon in her hands, she traced her fingers over the golden engravings. She closed her eyes and prayed to Hylia, asking her to watch over Link. She didn't want him to suffer anymore. Not for her sake.
"An elegant sword, for a princess's handmaiden…"
The sound of the guard's voice made Zelda look up. The Gerudo guard to her left had been the one to speak, and her eyes were trailing over the design of Link's sword. Zelda thought she heard a mixture of amusement and suspicion in the guard's voice. Wistfully, Zelda smiled.
"Yes, indeed."
The Gerudo guard held out a hand. "May I see it?" she asked. "I've never seen a Hylian sword before."
It was then that Zelda stuttered for something to say. She tightened her hold on the sword, frantically searching for the right words. She couldn't possibly explain to the Gerudo guard what the sword was, not without revealing Link's identity. The only reason nobody else had discovered he was a voe was because very few living beings had ever laid eyes upon the legendary sword. That, and perhaps a few clever strings pulled by Lady Urbosa herself. The Gerudo chief had gone to lengths to ensure Link would have a place to rest, where nobody could heckle him or try to kick him out of the town. As far as Zelda knew, only the doctor was aware Link did not belong.
"Um," Zelda stuttered. "I don't… I don't think that's a good idea."
The sword which seals the darkness. Zelda didn't know how to explain that it was not a sword that simply anyone could wield. Given the legends of countless men who had died trying to pull the sword from its pedestal, Zelda wasn't sure she wanted to witness it first-hand. Just as Zelda opened her mouth in preparation to give a lame excuse about her servant not liking others to touch her things, the door behind them opened. It creaked open in a puff of dust and Zelda nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Well!" the doctor proclaimed, setting her hands on her hips. She lifted her chin and looked to the two Gerudo guards standing watch. "A very serious wound indeed. I don't want either of you going inside there, hear me?! She needs rest!"
Zelda's mouth opened. She felt the colour drain from her face, and for a moment, she was lost. So it had been worse than Link made it out to be. It wouldn't be the first time, either. She remembered the time he kept fighting, even with a broken arm. Granted, the two of them might have died if he hadn't suffered the pain in silence, but that was beside the point. The light pat of the doctor's hand on her shoulder made Zelda look up again.
"He'll be fine," she said in a soft whisper, to Zelda's ears alone. "Stubborn little prick."
It was all the doctor said before she passed by and gave a wave of her hand.
"Now then…"
Zelda spun on her heel, her hands tight on Link's sword. She placed a finger to her chest, pointing at herself.
"Am I… Am I allowed to go in…?"
The doctor was already at the final step and ready to depart when she turned around again. She raised a brow and looked at the princess.
"A princess surely does not need a humble doctor's approval to do as she likes," was her reply. "These guards, however… They will stand guard until your servant is healed."
The doctor gave another wave of her hand and walked away. Zelda was silent a moment longer, waiting and watching. The two Gerudo guards only turned their backs to the door and to Zelda. They stood at attention, spears in hand, silent and ready. They didn't look back at Zelda.
Without another moment's delay, Zelda picked herself up and scurried inside. She shut the door and bolted it behind her, frantically searching the dark room for Link. Unlike the moonlit skies outside, the interior of the house was dark to Zelda's eyes. She squinted for a while, forcing her eyes to adjust to the candlelight. When her eyes finally focused and she was able to make out everything inside, she saw the bed in the corner. Her eyes landed immediately on the body that lay upon it, silent and unmoving. She ran to it.
"Link…!"
Up close, she saw that his upper body was naked. He still wore the Gerudo sirwal on his legs, along with the shoes. But he sported a new bandage on his left shoulder, clean and white. The linen was bound across his entire shoulder, and even extended far across his chest. It was a considerably larger bandage than Zelda had been expecting. There was about four times as much fabric as Link had initially used to bind himself, just hours earlier. The doctor may have been trying to exaggerate his state to prevent the guards from entering, but Zelda suspected there was still an element of truth in her claims.
"…Highness."
Link's voice was soft. His right arm was folded comfortably beneath his head, and when Zelda approached, he turned to face her. She saw his hair was still untied, probably because he couldn't fix it with an injured arm. Soft and long, it splayed across his arm and pillow like a golden waterfall. It crossed her mind that she'd never seen him with his hair down like that before. It was always tied back, out of his way, always ready for battle.
"Are you…"
Zelda didn't know why her voice refused to work. She felt the knot in her throat silencing everything she wanted to say to him. She swallowed and looked down to her feet briefly.
"…are you alright?"
Link's only response was to shift his head so it sat more comfortably upon his arm. He lifted his eyes to the ceiling and took in a long, slow breath. It wasn't the worst injury he had ever suffered. It wasn't painless, but it certainly was not nearly as bad as some of his other injuries. The tone of Zelda's voice, however, made him feel guilty. Guilty that he'd even sustained an injury in the first place. Usually, she would be scolding him for being reckless. He almost preferred it that way.
"I'm fine."
He knew it wasn't going to be a satisfactory answer for her, and she probably wouldn't believe it, but he didn't know how else to answer. Perhaps to his surprise, Zelda said nothing afterward. She only stepped forward silently, reaching out to place his sword on the bed next to him.
"Here," she said. "I think… I think it's best you hold on to that."
Link glanced to her then. He studied her up and down in a gradual sweep, before he took in the sight of her more slowly. He saw from the folds on her clothes that she'd been sitting for a while, waiting for him. She hadn't had a chance to change into a clean set of clothes, either. He saw his blood dotting up and down her white sleeve, along with a few stray marks of dust and dirt. Slowly, he unfolded his arm and placed his hand over the hilt of his sword. It was a familiar touch, one which brought him a great sense of comfort.
"If you could bring me some clothes," Link suggested, "…I will gladly accompany you for a bath."
Zelda stared at him. She blinked once. Twice. Whatever she had been expecting him to say, it hadn't been that.
Her reaction made Link stop. He looked to the wall, then to Zelda, then to himself. It took him another two seconds to understand that his words had not correctly conveyed his motive.
"That didn't sound right, did it?"
A quick, uncontrolled chuckle slipped Zelda's lips. When Link's blue eyes sliced across to her, she covered her mouth hurriedly. Still, she wasn't entirely successful in hiding her smile from him. Link closed his eyes and lay his head back down on the pillow. With his other hand, he grasped the scabbard of his sword and placed it on his front, as if it were a blanket that helped hide him from embarrassment.
"What I meant…"
He opened his eye when Zelda placed her hand on his uninjured shoulder.
"I know," she said, having regained her composure. "I know what you meant. But… Aren't you on strict orders to stay here until you're healed?"
Link's chest heaved with a dreadful sigh. He closed his eyes again and rolled his head away from Zelda, as if reminded of a terrible past. He made a soft noise of irritation in his throat, confirming Zelda's suspicion. Zelda patted his arm lightly.
"Then you will stay here."
Link's eyes suddenly opened again and he turned his head to look up at her. He pushed to his elbow and sat up, startling her.
"I'm your knight."
Zelda retracted an inch, confused. She was glad that Link was finally talking more freely, but the years of silence had made him quite terrible at it. Still, she was willing to be patient. She shook her head slowly, to show she didn't quite understand.
"You can give me any order," Link went on, his eyes urgent. "I'll obey."
He released his hold on the sword and for a moment, Zelda thought he was going to reach out to take her hand. He didn't. He lifted his arm and swept his fingers through his loose hair, combing it out of his face. His eyes remained fixated on Zelda, betraying a deep sense of desperation.
"Now's a good time to abuse your power, Highness," he whispered. When Zelda didn't speak, he wet his lips. His voice dropped to an even softer whisper.
"…please?"
Zelda took a step backwards. She understood exactly what Link wanted now, and his desperation was almost amusing. Just almost. She lifted her arms and placed her hands on her hips, looking down at him.
"It's been two hours, Link. You can't sit still for two hours?"
His throat moved when he swallowed. "But… I can't… I can't stay like this for a week, Zelda. Please."
"Are you really going to beg me, Link? Hero of Hyrule? Saviour of our land?"
Instantly, Link's face fell. All the hope disappeared from his face and he looked down in shame. Silently, he bowed his head and let his hair fall over his face again. Even his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"…okay."
His voice, so soft and trembling, punched a hole through Zelda's heart. And then another. She had never regretted saying anything as much as she did now. She wet her lips anxiously, trying to find a way to undo the damage she had done.
"Wait, Link. That's not…"
Link only raised his hand to tuck his hair behind an ear. He combed it through with his fingers, pulling it out of his face in silence. He didn't really have anything to say, not anymore. He could tell Zelda was struggling to say something too, so he waited it out. She'd say something again eventually, and he knew she didn't like to be interrupted mid-thought. He could at least grant her some silence to think.
Instead, Link focused his attention on fixing his hair. He might have been instructed to stay put, but that didn't mean he couldn't stay ready. He had a sword in his hand, and as far as he was concerned, he didn't need much else to defend his princess. With his eyes fixed on the bedsheets and his chin still lowered in shame, he pulled the blue elastic off his wrist and bit down on it with his teeth.
Zelda trailed off into silence. Hadn't she sworn not to hurt him? Be it physically, or his pride? She wondered why she'd thought teasing him had ever crossed her mind to be a good idea. She saw the way his head remained bowed in embarrassment, and the way his brows were creased in a half frown. Even when he tried to pull his hair together into a ponytail, she could see him struggling. His face didn't show anything, but she saw from the way he moved that he had to be in pain.
She wondered if Link would ever let her touch his hair. From the way he handled it, she could tell it was soft. Clean. She'd never seen him bathing, but it was surely no easy task for a soldier to keep such long hair looking tidy and clean. She felt the sudden urge to touch his hair, and given his current state of being, perhaps she finally had a chance.
"Here. Let me."
The way Link's eyes lifted to her made her think she'd just stepped on a puppy's tail. She'd hurt him, not deliberately, but he'd undoubtedly think she had done it to spite him. It wasn't that she wanted to rub salt into his wounds, though she was sure that was precisely how he felt in that moment. Zelda clenched her fists and scowled at him.
"I'm a girl! I just want to touch your hair, okay? Let me play with your hair!"
Zelda hadn't meant to cry out in such an outburst, but clearly, controlling herself around her knight had begun to prove more and more difficult. Though, she didn't have time to regret it or even think about feeling embarrassed. No, she saw the way Link retracted an inch, startled by her. His eyes were wide, his brows high on his forehead. He was silent for another few seconds, before his eyes darted across the room to the door. Then, he glanced back up at her. Slowly, painstakingly, he released his hold on his hair and lowered his arms. His brows twitched then, as if unsure what expression to make. A couple of blinks later, he settled on a small frown of confusion.
"…okay."
Zelda blinked. "Wait. Really?"
Link's eyes darted up to her face, checking it over. She was surprised that he would let her play with his hair? He thought it odd. He gave a slow, careful nod of his head.
"You…"
His eyes narrowed just a fraction as he studied Zelda's face. One of his brows arched as he looked her up and down.
"…you've done more scandalous things to me. Why would I be upset about you touching my hair?"
His voice was quiet, but it was steady and confident. Above all, he sounded genuinely confused. It was a statement that made Zelda flush bright red.
"That…!"
Link's mouth curved with a suppressed smile as he slid his eyes fluidly away again. No, it wasn't a smile. It was a smirk. One which showed he knew exactly what effect he had on his princess, and perhaps for just a little while, Link wasn't ashamed to show he was proud of it.
Zelda balled her hands into fists and scowled at him indignantly. It wasn't that she was embarrassed by the events of the previous night. But for him to blow her off the next morning, only to bring it up again like this? It didn't seem fair that he could both deny her any answers and still tease her as if he'd loved every moment of their time together. It wasn't fair. And yet… Was this the beginning of his downfall? From his high, unreachable, and impenetrable pedestal as her stoic knight? If it was… She had a thread now, and she intended to tug on it. It was a fine thread, one which would break at the smallest wrong move. But one day… One day, she would grasp him with all her strength and drag him to the ground. To the low, low dirt where human emotion thrived. To a place where he could feel. Where he could love. Where he could cherish life for a purpose beyond his duty.
To break a knight's will would be no easy task. But one day, she thought. One day.
"You wouldn't happen to have a comb in that pouch of yours, would you?"
Link was silent a moment. As if contemplating whether to answer, not what to answer. After what could have easily been five seconds of dead silence, Link finally took a breath and closed his eyes. He reached into his pouch and searched briefly, before he produced a small wooden comb and held it out to Zelda.
Zelda took the comb from him, acutely aware that he was watching her from the corner of his eye. Was he embarrassed? She imagined most other soldiers didn't carry combs. Perhaps it was seen as a vain object of unnecessary weight, and Link didn't want to admit he combed his hair. Still, Zelda knew that hair as long as his would require maintenance, and the state of it was proof enough that he put effort into it.
Zelda gave a silent wave of her hand, motioning for Link to move over. He obliged, and pushed himself forward on the bed to make space for her. She climbed onto the open gap behind him and took a moment to get comfortable. And yet once she was sitting there behind him, a comb in hand, Zelda felt an odd wave of embarrassment flood her. A princess, playing with a knight's hair? She gazed down upon his back, at the golden hair that flowed past the top of his shoulders. True to his word, he waited in consenting silence. His only movement was to bring his left arm closer to his body, where Zelda couldn't see him cradling it.
The gentle, sliding sensation of the comb scraping over his scalp made him close his eyes. She passed it through several times, providing him with such pleasure that for a moment, he forgot where he was. His shoulder no longer hurt, his fingers were no longer aware of the sword resting in his lap, his muscles didn't ache from the evening's battle. All he felt was the gentle, tender touch of Zelda's hands, scratching at his scalp and tugging at his hair.
Zelda heard the soft, near-silent gasp of Link relishing in her ministrations. She saw his head tilt back just half an inch in pleasure, and she saw the way the tension faded from his terse posture. Smiling to herself, she wondered if Link had ever done something like this before. Soldiers didn't play with each other's hair, did they?
Zelda scrubbed the thought from her mind immediately, realising it was the stupidest idea she had concocted all day. Was this why Link never spoke? To make sure he never embarrassed himself if he gave voice to the wrong idea? If nothing else, Zelda supposed she needed to learn more restraint.
She gave his hair one final pass with the comb before setting it down. He hadn't said anything, but he glanced over in mild disappointment when she stopped. It was enough for Zelda to justify her next course of action. With both hands, she reached forward and ran her fingers over his head. Slowly, deliberately. Her nails, longer than the average working woman's, scraped over his scalp with such delicious friction that she heard him elicit the softest groan. In that moment, Zelda learned there was more than one way to pleasure her knight.
"What…"
Link turned his head just enough to glance over his shoulder at her. Combing his hair was one thing. To go so far as massaging his head, though? Link felt his defences rising again. This wasn't right. None of it was right. But he wanted it, more than anything.
"What are you doing?"
Zelda smiled. "I'm playing."
The look on his face told her he didn't believe her, but he wasn't about to argue. He answered with a small nod, and turned to look forward again.
"Your hair is so soft," Zelda remarked. She ceased her ministrations and turned her attention to his hair instead. She would have liked to provide just a few more minutes of deliberate pleasure, but she suspected she would be treading on eggshells. She combed her fingers through his hair instead, touching and feeling as she went.
"Softer than mine, in fact."
Zelda paused her task and placed her hands on his shoulders. She leaned forward, to look at him.
"What would you like?"
Link stared right back at her, a look of confusion on his face. Zelda wore an expectant expression, one which he didn't know how to answer.
"Braids?" she prompted. "Plaits? Rope? Lattice?"
The creasing motion of Link's brows told her he had absolutely no idea what she was talking about, but the corner of his mouth curved upward in half a smile.
"I don't… I don't mind."
Zelda thought it over a moment, before her eyes lit up. "How about something to match me?"
Link offered a light shrug, to show he didn't mind. It was about as much of an agreement that Zelda would get, so she pushed back to start her work. She picked up his comb again and parted his hair carefully, before proceeding to section off the necessary pieces for her style to succeed. As she worked, she glanced down at Link frequently. He remained as still as stone.
"Hey, Link."
He didn't respond, but she knew he was listening.
"Why did you come after me?"
Link remained silent. Zelda tugged on another piece of hair and began to braid it.
"I know it's not because you don't trust Lady Urbosa."
Link's shoulders lifted with a short, sharp breath. Hearing her say such words... He felt as if a small burden had been lifted off his shoulders. "…I was worried about you."
His chest expanded with another, fuller breath of air. "And rightly so, it would seem."
Link knew he ought to have been utilising his time to go over everything that had happened tonight. To examine his memory, consider the facts and the clues, and to try determine the reason for everything. Hell, he should have been trying to convince Zelda to let him speak with Lady Urbosa, so they could pool their knowledge and work toward establishing a solution. The theft of their prized heirloom was one thing. But to attack Princess Zelda? The Yiga clan couldn't have possibly made it more personal to Link, and he was set on making sure it was the last mistake they would ever make.
And yet the gentle touch of Zelda's hands on his hair as she braided it in silence weakened his resolve. He wanted the moment to last. For the next few minutes, at least, his wish was granted. It was a rare, peaceful period of comfort.
"I know you think I was drunk…"
Zelda's voice was softer than usual. Link glanced up, aware that though her hands continued their work, her voice had changed in tone. She traced her fingertip through another section and tugged it into place before speaking again.
"…but I meant what I said, Link."
Link's eyes lowered to the bed again. He took a slow, gentle breath of air and closed his eyes.
"I know."
Chapter 4 is coming! :D
(pssst it might get steamy... stay tuned)
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Author's note: For any younger readers here, please don't let this make you think that the 'right person' can change someone 'for the better', or that it is ever your responsibility to fix a flaw your partner might have! This is a story of fantasy, written for the purposes of entertainment. Fanfictions are really fun, and my intention is to contribute towards a positive experience, but make sure you take everything with a grain (or a bucket) of salt! Stay safe, healthy and happy, everyone xx