Scattering petals

Link & Zelda

Chapter 19: Desert hunt

When an upcoming sandstorm forces both princess and hero to isolate themselves

Author's note: Here it is, finally! The zelink development we have been waiting for. Will their conflicts cease for once? We'll see. What I can assure you is that the beginning of this chapter takes place during memory #7: Yiga's blades.

I won't spoil anything else. Enjoy the chapter.

The Yiga Clan pledged their allegiance to Calamity Ganon long ago.

The ticking of time had turned a small group of sheikah outcasts who abandoned the Royal Family of Hyrule into an entire clan that plundered, robbed, vandalized, and terrorized the kingdom daily. They were known for their unique stealth skills, -living up to the sheikah reputation of shadow people-, and general cruelty against the hyrulean guard and the crown. Moreover, the clan mastered the ancient techniques of the sheikah as well, including camouflaging and appearing out of nowhere with smoke bombs. Eventually, they became one of the most important enemies of Hyrule. Capturing one of their blade masters brought with it a special decoration King Rhoam especially created to motivate the chase against the clan. Despite this, not many fighters had achieved that honor yet. The elusive skills of the corrupted shadow people implied the use of techniques unknown to most of the people in the kingdom. Somehow, they always managed to take them by surprise.

Impa had warned persistently about the threat of the Yiga Clan. She even once told the princess about a close person of her lineage betraying the whole Kakariko village to recruit new members and execute the ones that refused. Several members of the community fell that day as so firm was their faith in the royal crown that death was a much preferable fate rather than betraying their beliefs. The graves on the outskirts of the mountain near the village were a permanent reminder of that ambush. Since then, the sheikah punished strictly the former members who raised against Hylia or the Royal Family of Hyrule. Doing so, in a way, was also contributing to the fight against the Calamity. Nobody knew exactly how the Yiga supported Ganon, so every precaution was necessary.

It had been that same precaution that Princess Zelda had lacked the moment she stepped out of Gerudo town unsupervised. The royal family had always been targeted by the enemies of the castle. She had witnessed in person the events of court members disappearing under mysterious circumstances. They wouldn't be so sure about the responsibility for the acts if it weren't for the crime scenes they left, prepared to the millimeter, as proof of their devotion to the triforce of power.

And she, precisely, who embodied the wisdom in the mortal realm, had been the first to act carelessly.

Princess Zelda ran for her life, struggling against the sand that swallowed her feet with each step. She was fleeing to the northern lands with the hope of finding some travelers near the path and maybe someone who could help her against the persecutors. The woman with whom she shared the shade of the palm tree had helped her, gaining some time for the princess to escape. Being valiant travelers, Zelda expected someone around the desert as brave to aid her. Or perhaps the guards that posted the lookout post to watch over Vah Naboris.

She couldn't even think as the air in her lungs felt hot and heavy. Her heartbeats drummed in her ears as a fateful prophecy of blood. The wind was so warm it barely brought relief with its caressing against the golden locks that made the princess stand out in the desert. Adrenaline ran through her veins, granting her some speed despite the complex destination she was running to. Sweat was dripping from her cheeks down the path as she felt the shadowy enemies approaching her. As much as she tried to speed away from trouble, Zelda knew there was no escape from the mess she had gotten into.

Fool, fool, fool… Her mind twirled with burdening thoughts that only managed to slow down her way to safety, wherever that was. She couldn't help but look behind her to check if there was some visible Yiga stalking after her, but the sands were agitated from the movements and it was almost impossible to discern a thing.

Suddenly, a red figure appeared before her when she turned to focus back on her destination. Her feet nailed to the ground, abruptly stopping her run. With the impulse of her body, the princess turned to take it to her advantage. To her surprise, another pair of yiga footsoldiers had her cornered. Her right side was blocked due to a huge boulder and there was no way she could climb it swiftly enough to escape. Her instincts brought her to turn to the east, the only direction she could head to. As soon as she stepped back to keep moving, her boot drowned in the sand, causing the princess to stumble.

The impact with the floor went by in slow motion. She felt her left knee colliding with a small rock that, due to her weight, scratched the skin under her trousers. Zelda landed with both her hands and elbows, feeling them scrape against the earth painfully. In the end, the impact blocked the air out of her lungs. Her lips tasted the dry texture of the sand before she regained enough strength to pull herself back up. A sigh escaped her lips as she collected enough impulse to sit up to face her persecutors. The sun unforgivingly met her jade iris, blinding the sight of the three Yiga lurking around her. The one on his own raised the Demon Carver, making its edge radiate with the sunshine's light. The inverted eye on its traditional mask stalked her mind with terror and uneasiness as the enemy readied to strike.

An assassination attempt? Was this how her life would end? Not without giving a proper fight against Ganon? No heroic ballads, no monuments in her name to remember the great sacrifice of Princess Zelda the Second of Hyrule. At least they wouldn't recall the failure of claiming her birthright powers. She would become a martyr, the end of the royal lineage. Soon enough mourners would try and recreate the way the Yiga blade pierced her heart. Maybe it was for the best.

She didn't want to face her doom, so her eyes turned to the floor. Even her eyelids trembled in fear as the weapon parted the air in two. A muffled yell escaped her as she expected the stabbing.

But the hit never came.

Instead, she heard a manly grunt followed by the metallic sound of two weapons clashing. The princess fluttered her eyes open, identifying the Demon Carver flying off the assassin's gloved hand. And then, an alleviating shade veiled her flickering body.

Zelda gasped in realization as she identified Link sheltering her from the Yiga attackers. Her knight threatened the two enemies remaining with the blade of the master sword. The one who tried to take her life was lying on the sand, lifeless. Her pupils escaped the horrendous sight, crawling slightly to approach her escort.

The hero's chest was moving up and down heavily as he softly controlled his breathing through his mouth. He looked as if he had been running for miles and yet managed to wield the heavy weapon with a firm stance. His light bangs were caressed by the warm breeze, disclosing some drops of sweat from his forehead. The beige sweatshirt embraced his muscles tightly, allowing a glimpse of his trained limbs. The Yiga footsoldiers observed his intimidating defense and slowly stepped back with hesitation. Link took advantage of the movement to change into an offensive stance in case they decided to attack. The swing of the master sword at the moment felt like a part of his own body, an extension of his arm. The knight could even swear he saw the blade gleaming while protecting Princess Zelda. Strange energy got a hold of his instincts. Something was telling him to end with the foes. Yet he wouldn't out of respect for the princess. One corpse was enough punishment for the clan. It would send a message to let them know the heiress to Hyrule's throne was escorted. And any action that could harm her would turn bad for their splinter group.

Finally, the assassins decided to retire, summoning a circle of red floating lights that made them disappear when the smoke bomb exploded.

Only then, Zelda's capability to breathe freely returned. She just couldn't move her eyes from Link. She felt like if he did, the Yiga tormenters would return any moment now. It seemed her heart was about to collapse.

Reality snapped back when Link's right palm occupied her view of the lone wastelands. He practically had to aid her legs to respond so she could stand straight again. Once she was up, he placed his hands on both of her shoulders, noticing she was still in shock. Her attention was lost in an undetermined point of the landscape and her fingers were still shaking.

"Are you hurt?" Zelda perceived his voice as a distant echo while trying to focus on Link. She tried her best to hide the scare. His touch was the bridge that brought her back to the present moment.

"I'm fine." She finally confirmed. Only then, her escort proceeded to check on her. He noticed the rasp on the cloth of her trouser and the reddened scratches on the palms of her hands.

Link looked furious. Zelda had never seen him that way. His furrowed eyebrows, the twitch on his lips, and the way his cerulean eyes narrowed while scanning her body. She couldn't recognize the easygoing protector that shadowed her everywhere. With that bitter expression, he looked way more intimidating. He saved her…

"You saved me." The princess repeated out loud, catching his attention. She could see traces of adrenaline on his dilated pupils as well. He did a better job than her at hiding it, though. Yet still, she could identify the same symptoms she was going through. The panic of ending a young life so suddenly… Was it how the knights in service of Hyrule felt whenever in battle? Did they voluntarily offer their lives to train and sacrifice themselves in the name of the King? Zelda couldn't bear the thought of imagining it.

"Let's move." He simply commanded, taking her trembling hand with his, leading the way back to Gerudo Town.

Link could feel the echo of his heart racing over and over. His instincts were in a loop, impossible to disable them once he had been triggered. Being engaged in intense training of the royal guard, the knight was aware of how adrenaline kicked his physique. And yet, he could swear not having felt anything like this before except for one time. Once during his successful attempt to wield the Master Sword for the first time. It was hard to describe. Something mystical warned his senses with a feeling of agitation. It almost seemed as if the magic blade granted him a boost of unbearable energy. His skin burned, it felt as if he were catching fire. There was a tangible change in temperature as he could feel the comfortable chill on the hold he got on Princess Zelda's hands.

He had seen the expression of resignation before death in the princess' eyes. A knot in the pit of his stomach was torturing his insides with uneasiness. All in all, having to strike an enemy with such bloodlust in his intentions, was making him feel sick. But what worried him the most was the panting protegee behind him.

On the other hand, Zelda was sharing the same concern over her escort. Her thumb was against his palm and she could feel her knight's increasingly rapid pulse rate. He was covered in sweat and his cheeks were red from the corporal heat he emanated. A generous amount of guilt suffocated her more than the physical effort of running through the desert. She just couldn't understand what kind of loyalty he felt for her. What kind of person in his right mind would swear an oath of protection to a useless princess? Why did he value his life so little?

"Link, slow down!" Zelda pleaded, feeling her legs going numb from the constant effort. She just couldn't stand such physical effort anymore. All of her energy had been drained with the Yiga fright.

Despite her command, the knight didn't stop his fast pace until his eyes detected Urbosa's silhouette on the horizon. Two gerudo guards were escorting her as well, riding sand seals beside her. The animals were much swifter than human steps, so they reached Zelda and Link's location in no time. Only then, the royal guard allowed himself and the princess to stop their motion toward Gerudo Town. Zelda almost fell to the ground and ended up sitting on the sand to rest. Link, on the other hand, felt his numb legs slowly turning sore.

"Are you both unharmed?" Urbosa exclaimed as soon as she arrived. Honest concern was all over her face. She quickly kneeled beside the resting princess, who still couldn't catch her breath properly. "Thank Hylia nothing has happened to you. This is why I insisted on having your knight around outside the town, Princess!"

The fear of losing the hylian heiress to the crown caused Urbosa to panic. She scanned the situation seriously preoccupied and had to cup the princess' face into her hands to double-check she was there, safe and sound. The thought of her being harmed only brought despair so, as soon as Yiga soldiers were reported, she decided to go hunting for herself. And she was going to personally make them pay for the assassination attempt on Her Highness. Treachery was the worst crime that could exist in the region. The corrupted clan had only followed that vow since they managed to install a secret headquarter somewhere around the wastelands. Time was running out for them to maintain the secret. The gerudo champion would find them and defeat the whole faction for Hyrule's honor. The leader's head would be a great present for King Rhoam, Urbosa told herself.

After that, she gave a quick gaze to the exhausted escort who, thanks to him, Zelda was safe. Link nodded in response and allowed himself to lean on a nearby rock, freeing his body from his weight to regain his strength back. The voe deserved a raise if he ever got paid for his oath.

"Let's end the Yiga Clan once and for all." She ordered her guards who were ready to continue the chase in the desert. Urbosa got on her feet, not before softly caressing Zelda's cheek. "Please, little bird, go somewhere safe with your knight. Don't leave until I'm back."

With that last petition, both the matriarch and the hylian heiress looked over at Link, whose expression had darkened. Zelda could read that greenish glance that was telling her to have a word with her escort after everything he had been through. The princess silently agreed and got a helpful hand from Urbosa to hurry safely back to his side. He was still recovering from the fight. Seeing him worn out hit different. Being used to witnessing his amazing skills in battle was common around Castletown. Now, having him so weary before her just didn't feel right.

Zelda owed him infinite gratitude at least. And an apology for escaping his watch. He deserved that long ago. She had been unfair with her cold treatment towards him. From the first night he had been appointed until their last argument before staying in Gerudo Town. Kind words about him evaded her relentlessly despite deserving every ounce of them. If it only were the lack of recognition. Yet she had done much worse. Though it pained her to admit it, she even used Irel against him indirectly as she noticed his dislike of him. Not to mention she had instantly blamed him for her father's punishment for sheikah technology. And she was sure now that the knight hadn't been the one to report her constant disobedience. Link had always granted her safety and comfort even though she didn't want to see it. But, eventually, his kindness and selfless services awarded him the honor he bestowed for wielding the master sword. She just wished for him to see the integrity of her next words.

"Forgive me for leaving, Link." She apologized, swallowing all of her royal pride to replace it with honesty. But the escort didn't answer and instead turned to face the horizon. The princess felt a hint of blame piercing her heart and as much as she tried to face him, she couldn't. Link's bangs covered his face, leaving only the upper side of his face at the sight. Something felt wrong. To make her presence more obvious, she placed her gloved hand on his shoulder. She couldn't blame him for not believing her sudden praise. One person couldn't change her thoughts about another so fast yet he didn't know Zelda had stopped resenting him long ago. She just couldn't allow herself to let it show. "Please, don't be angry at me." She insisted, anxiety making her tone tremble.

Zelda noticed something was off as soon as he reciprocated her touch. For a moment, she even thought he was going to quit and leave her alone in the desert. Instead, his weight suddenly dropped before her. Link's body went numb until stumbling to his knees, drowning the sand under him. A sigh of terror escaped the princess' lips as she hurried to the floor. Even Urbosa left her regal self aside to kneel beside him.

"Link!"

The gerudo took the reins of the situation as the princess was too in shock due to the previous events. She softly slapped the knight's cheek while holding his upper body. It was then that Zelda finally could see Link's weary form drop back, revealing his drained factions. His sun-kissed skin was now covered with a layer of sweat, causing some blonde locks to stick over his forehead. His mouth was half-open, letting out air from his unstable breathing. The sight itself was terrifying. Sickness was written all over him. It reminded Zelda of her fading mother…

"Sun-sickness." The matriarch informed. However, that term was unknown to the hylians, so she clarified. "A sunstroke."

Urbosa immediately detected the cause of his state and confirmed it as soon as she placed her hand on his forehead. He was burning up. The intense blush on his cheekbones indicated a strong fever.

"Prolonged periods exposed to the sun cause severe overheating. He needs to stay away from it or his body won't be able to cool down." Captain Teake explained to the frightened Princess. That commentary didn't seem to soothe her, so she continued to try and fix her fault: "It's a common disease among tourists."

Comprehension finally allowed Zelda to think straight at once. Afterward, she snapped at the realization of the freshly-made chilling elixirs. But when her hands touched the pouch on her belt she remembered leaving those behind to escape her attackers.

"We have provisions in the lookout post, there." Urbosa, noticing her inattention, pointed with her finger at the building. It was a cabin made of beige rocks that easily camouflaged with the desert's landscape. It looked like a bare building though very similar in architecture to Kara Kara Bazaar. And much closer to their actual location. "He can't enter the town, but you will be safe there in the meantime."

Right, Princess Zelda thought to herself. Kara Kara Bazaar surely didn't possess enough resources to be qualified as a nursery. And men couldn't enter Gerudo Town. That outlook post was their only option while the Yiga lurked in the area. The members of the clan could appear anytime, anywhere. Using that as a temporal shelter would allow them both, escort and princess, to maintain a low profile until danger vanished. Or until Urbosa executed someone. Or both. Either way, it seemed a wise choice.

"Thank you, Urbosa." Seeing the general aversion towards men, the matriarch was tolerant and compassionate in comparison. She made sure her guards inherited the same values though Captain Teake couldn't hide so efficiently her awkwardness about carrying Link in her arms.

"If anyone knocks, ask for the password." The chief commanded, motioning for her captain to accompany both Link and Zelda. "Remain hidden until our return."

Despite Urbosa's motherly side with the hylian princess, her gerudo nature was her identity. Eventually, she couldn't hide the bloodlust over vengeance against the Yiga Clan. Her jade-green eyes become piercing and perilous once her target was in sight. Zelda could recognize that essential part of the Gerudo culture in her values as the desert's ruler.

"Be careful." The Princess warned before drifting away to rest.

"Worry not, Your Highness. If someone has to be scared is Master Kohga." Teake comforted her. "Our matriarch will have his head on a silver platter by the time we reach the posting."

Zelda didn't doubt it.

A perfect day arose in Hateno village. Spring had been gentle and rewarding to the hard-working dwellers in town that cultivated the earth, farmed resources for the population, or worked in the cloth manufacture for later barter. It had been a good year and despite being far away from the harvest season, the storing of food was plentiful even in the most modest homes. The thriving mood was noticeable among the villagers that woke up to put their hands at work at sunrise. Everybody smiled and gifted away friendly salutations as night vanished behind the peaky mountains in the distance. Hylia designated the place to be free of worries or sorrow, blessing them with unconditional joy.

The Calamity didn't exist. Peace was never threatened by the looming forces of powerful evil. The triforce was never created by the goddesses. There was no burden cast upon a holy princess and a strong hero. Myths around Hyrule were just as regular as the ones in foreign lands across the ocean. Stories and legends were a mere mechanism to explain weather phenomena to children who, later with youth, would be taught an approximate of science. The world had just been gifted with the perfect balance of wisdom, courage, and power. And so, the forces had never entered into conflict, making rulers and social status disappear with due time. There was no castle for the hylians nor crown to bestow rules written on ancient stones.

What is more, the benignant consequences brought total freedom with them.

In that reality, Link was a simple man living a straightforward life. His familiar ranch had prospered enough to grant the family a convenient lifestyle: his sister could go to school and learn new abilities every day, his father was retired and concentrated on writing his memories, and his wife…

"Link, dear, come and try this on." She called him from inside the house.

By the time he entered back home, his beloved wife was already waiting for him downstairs. She was just a regular villager from a once-regal lineage. Rumor had it that she was royalty, but Link never cared about status. Time and patience rewarded his courtship and chivalry with a fulfilling marriage at a young age. It had been almost a year since he had wed-… Princess Zelda!

As much as he tried to react according to his surprise, the dream kept on. Zelda was standing before him and grinned cheerfully as soon as she saw him home. Her expression was priceless and a healthy blush stained her cheeks, emphasizing her already beautiful face. When she approached, Link could swear to smell the same Silent Princess scent typical of her. The touch of her rosy lips on his also seemed too real to be true. From the current distance, he could observe the small group of freckles formed by the sun on the bridge of her pointy nose. Her hair was also messier, waving around her slim figure with a natural glow that made her stand out. The dress she wore was not as white as it was the day she bought it and the sky-blue corset was worn out from using it daily. Still, Zelda looked as magnificent as ever. And, what was the most painful, she looked for once genuinely happily.

"The blanket. It's finished." She reminded him, making Link snap out of his lovely trance. Zelda, -his wife-, was holding a soft wool cloth between her not-so-flawless hands. The embroidery had floral motives all over the corners. "Do you like it?"

"I love it, Zel." He replied with care, forgetting about the crafted loth and lifting his wife in his arms.

She let out a high-pitched yelp in surprise as he brought her upstairs. Meanwhile, she placed a long kiss on his tanned cheeks. A shiver ran up his spine in reply. A spark of need lit within his body. Compared to him, Zelda was as light as a feather and weighed nothing in his arms. Despite the ticking of time and the hard-working hours of labor, both were still brimming with young energy.

In a blink of an eye, Link found himself lying in bed. Zelda had pushed him down to the couch and she was now softly caressing his hair while placing butterfly kisses on his neck.

"Zelda-..." He warned her.

"Your sister won't be back yet." She replied, muffled by his skin. "Don't give me that look."

He didn't even know what she was talking about. Despite finding himself in some kind of divine alternate reality, the reincarnation of the hero forced him to close his eyes. Yet his wife's traces were all over his aching body. His skin was burning against her electric hands that explored every corner of him. He could even sense her warm sighs near his ear as she bit softly on his jawline. Something inside him was about to drive him wild and let his instincts drive them both to a much-expected situation. Her fingertips teased the hem of his shirt, allowing one of her sneaky hands to meander up to his chest. Link felt about to choke with his breathing, not standing a second more of that consuming torture.

"Zelds…" He repeated as if it were some sort of holy chanting.

The much more joyful version of Hyrule's princess laughed in response, enjoying the reactions she stirred up in her husband. Link could feel his own hands climbing up to her waist, caressing the skin under the dress. His fingertips burned in contact with the tender flesh of her thighs. He nailed down his fingers to bring her closer to his center. They seemed to melt and fuse within her, becoming an essential part of her being.

'What do you think you are doing?!' His inner voice screamed against his deepest desires, but he had lost control of the situation long ago. He was burning.

Truly burning.

The sudden yell escaping the Princess' lips brought him back to reality.

Despite the high fever clouding his judgment, Link could still witness his hand gripping tightly around Zelda's arm. Her eyes lit up in shock before the possessive act from the knight.

"Link?" She called him softly as if trying not to wake him. But he knew he was awake. Oh, gods, he was certainly awake now.

His touch switched to a much more gentle and polite grip, sliding down to her wrist where he stopped the motion. Zelda identified the courteous gesture and sighed with relief. She was cold and it was consuming him, to put it somehow into words.

"How are you feeling?"

She checked the temperature by placing her palm over his forehead. Only then he realized some soaked cloths were sheltering his lightly dressed body from the heat. Somehow, he was now inside a small room that assured safety for both of them. Despite not identifying his surroundings, it felt cozy and familiar. Slowly, he tried to recover his most recent memories: the crossdressing, watching over the princess in the market, then finding her 'casually' on the oasis, the Yiga attacking her, and the heat finally conquering his senses to unconsciousness. The pieces fit the puzzle eventually, forcing the knight to guess how they had ended up locked in a cabin with a very concerned Princess Zelda nursing him. There was a bucket with some ice beside her and spare rags drowned in the water. Suddenly, the sensation of thirst overcame his now-awaking body.

"Water?" He asked, unused to the velvety tone of his voice. He was aware of his lack of manners because of ignoring Zelda's question, but he felt about to catch fire. Luckily, the holy heiress swiftly handed him a bottle nearby. As she assisted him to lean forward, Link swallowed the whole content of the bottle. It was already empty once the princess glanced over at him again. Embarrassment became his main worry as he became self-aware. "Thanks." He said wearily.

"You became delirious." She casually commented as Link rested his eyes. He was too weak to stand up or even try to move. Not like in his dream though. "Talking nonsense and all…" Zelda continued.

Oh, no. Alarms rang in the knight's head, suddenly vanishing the desire to sleep some more.

"What did I exactly say?" He managed to ask.

"I don't know." The princess simply replied but felt the urge to continue as soon as she witnessed the insistent cerulean eyes on her. "I've never heard you talk so much before." She admitted, trying to lighten the ambiance.

He appreciated her effort, though not very effective at the moment. The physical discomfort he was going through still clouded his senses. It felt as if his breath made his lips boil. He could feel his skin sore despite the fresh clothes damped with water. Some areas on his shoulders and arms were reddened because of the sunburns from staying too long posted in the desert. He had forgotten the master sword and the proper equipment in Kara Kara Bazaar. If he had been more cautious, they wouldn't be in that situation. But hearing about Princess Zelda being in danger was far more important than his well-being. A good knight would have hurried to her aid with armor, a vai traditional outfit or even naked if it were to keep protecting the princess. His slip-up had saved Zelda, but it submitted Link to sickness too.

As he tried to distract his mind from the painful situation, Link felt his eyes closing slowly. As much as he tried, he couldn't help but allow his eyelids to drift him to sleep.

"Rest some more." He heard how the princess commanded, her soothing tone fading into a distant echo that lulled the hero to sleep.

Who was he, after all, to protest against the future queen's orders?

Link is having some struggles! These were the exact chapters I was so excited to write. I can't wait to hear your thoughts about this one.

If I keep talking, I will spoil something. Read you soon!

Stella