Zelda's POV:
"We've made it…"
Tona looks at us proudly with a cheeky smile.
"Sorry for how bumpy it got there, you both okay?"
Looking over to Link, his face is beet red from ear to ear. Doing his best not to look at me, he slowly removes his other hand off my waist. The pressure from his hands being released, made my body crave for his heat just a little more. Perhaps I wanted that ride to go…just a little bit longer…
He propped himself up from the barrel, and hoisted me up.
"Y-Yes, we're okay, thank you Tona for all of your help," I say to her.
She chuckles and gives a quick thumbs up, "You're welcome! Now go meet our wonderful prince! All grown up!" she says, diving back in the water, waving us off.
I look up to the long intimidating ladder and begin slowly climbing up. Link follows behind me, and when my head picks up as I reach the platform, I marvel at the Zoran architecture and immediately notice the unfamiliar looking statue that wasn't previously here 100 years ago in the center plaza. A statue of the graceful, kind, and most of all brave Zora princess…
Mipha.
My heart aches from the sight of seeing her looking so still and melancholy, when I last saw her she was so full of life and...real. The last I saw of her…she was going to give me some advice on awakening my sealing power.
I wish I could have heard it.
Zora children gather around, marveling at her beauty. There's two Zora soldiers who see us approaching, they appear indifferent looking at me. But as soon as they meet eyes with Link, they both start waving at him.
"Link! Come to finally train with us?"
"I'm actually here on business this time,"
"Ugh, you're always here on business. When are we gonna finally get some training together? Who's your accomplice?"
"O-Oh uh…she's uh…"
Looking over, his face is still beet red, stumbling over his words. Not sure how to introduce me.
Now that we are actually here…there's a knot in my stomach, making me nauseous, mand a heaviness in my chest. My breathing has gone so shallow, and I'm starting to feel dizzy. Staring off and gazing at Mipha's memorial, remembering why we're. The enormous task at hand; having to ask Sidon to pilot—
I'm gonna vomit.
"I-I'm…"
"You alright Miss? You're looking a little pale, well…for a Hylian anyways,"
"I-I'm Z-Zel—"
"PRINCESS ZELDA!?" an elderly Zora shouts from the long flight of stairs behind them, taking notice of Link and I.
"Master Trello!" The two turn around in unison, standing at attention at the elder Zora.
The elder Zora salutes the two soldiers, then continues his path towards me.
"So…your appearance means…you are victorious?" his eyes narrowed towards me, fixing his posture, looking down on me.
"Calamity Ganon…has been defeated…yes,"
He doesn't say anything in response. Continuing to look at me judgingly, then scoffing at me as he turns away, arms behind his back.
"I hope all of this was worth it…"
I…can't say…anything about that.
"Trello,"
"What is it, Link?" turning back to face Link, responding back in a more…gentle tone.
"We need to speak to Sidon, please let us pass,"
He scoffs at us again upon Link's chance of persuasion. Giving us an angered snarl,
"You youngsters…always going about, doing what you please…
Sorry Link, but your princess has no right to speak with our prince Sidon. Not until she's made an appearance with the King. Just because you're welcome here, doesn't mean she is. She needs to answer for her pure negligence, in leading our beloved Mipha to her certain death!"
Mipha's father…
Link puts himself in between me and the elder Zora, staring intensely back.
"Don't speak to her like that,"
"You should be lucky that I saw you two first and not Master Muzu!"
"Oh really?" He squinted.
"Then please take me to him!" I interject.
Trello, looks past Link and back to me.
"Gladly…" He says in a low voice. Then turning around walking back up the long flight of stairs. The two Zoran guards remain standing awkwardly at their posts avoiding looking at us.
My throat suddenly feels choked up. If looks could kill, then I'd definitely be dead. Link finally faces me, his brows furrowed.
"You sure you're okay with this?"
"Y-Yes of course!" nodding my head, beginning to follow Trello.
"King Dorephan is…a very kind soul, I have no fears facing him,"
That's a lie.
Especially once I tell him my purpose of returning to the Domain. Asking his only son, the last of his two children to pilot the same thing that his daughter perished in. He's not one to get upset or angry…but…maybe he has not been able to forgive me after 100 years...and I wouldn't blame him.
My hand won't stop shaking, I keep both of them to my side, looking down to the beautifully carved pavement as I climb up to the royal throne. My heart is pounding with every step that I take. Link stays close to me, but his gaze is towards Mipha's statue. I can't decipher what he's thinking behind those ocean eyes, but he seems…distant.
Was Link ever in love with Mipha at one point…?
I know that Mipha's feelings for him were…a loosely kept secret. Or maybe I could just tell since…I feel the same way.
It must've been hard for him…to remember his best friend he cared about so much, died at the hands of Calamity Ganon…another burden I've laid upon Link. I wonder if he ever regrets gaining his memories. It's probably brought him nothing but heartache. He must feel my eyes on him, quickly looking over to me, giving me a warm smile.
"You alright?"
I hold my tongue, somehow it's hard to face him right now. With the thought of him possibly loving her, I turn my head away from him, ashamed of the flustered feeling I get from him. Like I shouldn't be seen with him.
Do I truly have the right to love him?
After all the pain I've caused…
I briskly up my walking pace just to be slightly ahead of him. Everytime he tries to walk with me, I take a longer step to remain ahead of him. I can't have my eyes stinging now, not before I meet with Dorephan.
"Your Majesty! I've brought a special guest, who seeks an audience with you, with Link accompanying her, of course," Trello shouts in a pompous voice, way different than the snarky sharp tone I received earlier. He takes one last look at me and rolls his eyes, beginning to grit through his teeth.
"Princess…Zelda…" he manages to get out,
There Dorephan sits on his throne, and a younger looking, tall, muscular Zora standing in the royal hall, looking like they were just interrupted in the middle of a conversation. Both the larger Zora and Dorephan look stunned once they see me.
"Do my eyes deceive me Father?"
"No Sidon, it appears…this means we have finally won,"
"That is…OUTSTANDING!"
The younger Zora bared his teeth showing off his huge smile. Trello comically appears stunned by both of their initial reactions. He tries to straighten up and clears his throat once more.
"S-Sire! Th-This is the woman who led our wonderful lady Mipha to her untimely death! Don't you have anything you would like to say to her?"
"Trello, I will not tolerate such accusations being thrown to our honored guests,"
"B-But your Majesty!"
I hear Link snicker quietly behind me, "Watch it! Don't think just because we older Zora have forgiven you. Doesn't mean we want anything to do with the royal family any longer!"
"Silence Trello," Dorephan says sternly, Trello appears as flat as a board.
"My sincerest apologies of your treatment up to this point princess Zelda, I hope you can forgive Trello on my behalf,"
I feel just as stumped by Dorephans reaction, just as much as this older Zora is. I am about to speak but the younger Zora approaches me, losing my train of thought. I don't know if I should be intimidated or at ease from him towering over me.
"You may not remember me princess, I was much younger, but I'm Prince Sidon! And it is an honor to officially meet you,"
So this is Mipha's brother…
"You're…Sidon…?"
"Tis I!" He smiles, his teeth are pearly white, nearly blinging off any ray of light.
"You've grown to be so…tall!"
"Yes, I was a mere tadpole, but alas! I've grown to be quite the warrior! I'm sure Link has told you about all of my heroic deeds of the Zora!"
"He has…spoken good things of you,"
It's not technically a lie.
"So, princess…"
Dorephan says in a low voice, Sidon and I look up to the enormously sized Zoran king. My body stiffening at his mere size. He leans his body as forward as far as he can, his eyes piercing.
"Calamity Ganon is…?"
"Defeated, yes,"
"So then…my daughters soul can finally rest in peace,"
"Y-Yes…the Champions have done well, they're valiant efforts even after life shall always be remembered,"
"Princess Zelda…"
"Y-Yes?"
"I hope you know that the Zora remain ever faithful in the royal family, and their efforts in protecting the land of Hyrule. May we continue to have a peaceful union for many centuries to come,"
"That is very kind of you King Dorephan, but…the royal family is…well, extinct,"
"But you live on princess, and I doubt that Link would be cruel enough to bring a ghost to my hall,"
"I-I…I may be the last of the royal family but…I failed you, I failed the other Champions, I failed…your daughter. Everyone was counting on me," lowering my head in defeat.
This was a bad idea…Goddesses, please don't tear up now Zelda…
A wet scaly hand rests on my shoulders, "Oh Princess,"
"Sidon…"
"You, and my sister were very brave facing off against the Calamity, if it hadn't been for you keeping that monstrosity at bay for over 100 years, who knows what would have happened to the Domain? Who's to say any of us here would have survived?"
"I concur with Sidon, Princess,"
"Your Majesty…" Trello says quietly, looking up to his king, crestfallen. "Lady Mipha…is no longer with us because this…this…Hylian! Went behind your back and asked her if she wanted to join her 'Champions'! I-If she hadn't practically interrogated her into joining then—"
"That is not what happened!"
"You asked His Majesty first! And when he denied your request for the safety of his own daughter. YOU went to confront Lady Mipha alone and asked to join your little…crusade of Heroes! If you hadn't asked her…then she would still be alive! You should have just piloted Vah Ruta yourself!"
There's a heat in my cheeks, my fists are clenched tightly in fists pinned to my sides. I feel my chest tighten, as though the air is poison, my voice cracking betrays my calm composure.
"I-It's…"
"It's…what…?" mocking my voice.
"It's not that simple! Not just anyone can pilot the Divine Beasts! There's many factors that go into being a good candidate for a pilot…a pilot's spiritual strength should be just as strong as their physical strength!"
Trello begins to scoff, then looks back at Link, who's been staring down at Trello since he began speaking out.
"You Hylians…are all the same…greedy, selfish, entitled…" he looks over back to me,
"Jealous,"
"Trello! Not this again," Dorephan boomed.
If he was trying to get under my skin, then it worked.
"Excuse me?" walking towards him , trying not to lose my footing, my vision is so blurry from the tears that I refuse to let come out. Standing face to face with the elder Zora, staring him down.
"What do you mean by that exactly?" I ask sternly. He takes a small step back, straightening his back, giving him more confidence.
"You were jealous of Lady Mipha and Link's friendship, weren't you?"
What?
"You can't be serious—"
"OH BUT I AM! And it's so obvious too! Us elder Zorans have had over 100 years to think about this! You were so jealous of the genuine love that Lady Mipha had for Link, you were afraid she was going to take your precious knight away from you! So you ensured her death by assigning her to Vah Ruta! I wonder how you would have handled her if you knew she was going to propose to Link to be her husband!"
W-What?
Mipha was going to propose to Link?
"Trello! That is quite enough!" Sidon intervened. Stepping in between me and him. I don't know if it was exhaustion or pure disbelief, but I fell to my knees.
Is that…
Is that how much they hate me…?
That they would accuse me of such…immoral actions…I…I would never do that Mipha…to anyone! Even if she was going to propose to him…
I–I love Link, but I'm not that shallow.
But…can I really be upset though?
"I–I'm sorry…"
How can I be? I took away the most precious thing from the Zoran people. Their princess, their healer, their savior, their future queen.
"Admit your sins 'Princess Zelda',"
Holding in my tears has completely backfired. They stream down my face like an endless river, I'm so ashamed to face anyone.
"I–I…"
There's a hand that appears in front of my lowered face. Of course it's Links, but I don't want to face him most of all, not after what I just heard. Turning away, ignoring his offer. His brows began to furrow, looking over to Trello.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing," he says as he begins to walk over to him, "You're giving her this kind of treatment, when the only reason Mipha's spirit was freed from the Divine Beast was because of Zelda, need I remind you of the whole memory loss?"
"You're taking her side? I'm disappointed in you…"
"Aren't we all supposed to be on the same side? You're the only one being hostile,"
"Do you not care? That your future wife was taken away from you? Who cared for you so much? Do you not care how much we have suffered?! I thought you were different because Lady Mipha saw something in you. But you're just like the rest of the Hylians…"
"What about Zelda? You think she hasn't had to deal with any pain from the Calamity?"
"At the cost of her life?" Trello snarled,
"117 years to be exact," Link squinted.
"And yet, she still lives, cheating death, while our Lady Mipha is no longer with us,"
"That's enough," Sidon speaks up. Getting in between the two. He looks over to Link and then over to me apologetically. It's clear that the death of his sister still weighs on him. Zora do tend to live longer lives, it must still be so hard for him.
Waking up one day, and just…having no sister…no one to talk to, no one to give him guidance.
He must've been…so lonely.
How can he look at me so calmly? With no hate in his heart at all?
"Trello, you should ashamed of yourself,"
"My prince…"
"Using my sister's death, to push your hatred towards Hylians. It's inexcusable. My sister fought bravely, and valiantly against the Calamity. She fought because she wanted to protect everyone, not just Link, not just the Zora, but everyone. Her spirit was strong to not let the Divine Beast bring any harm to any of us this whole time while princess Zelda held back Ganon!"
"But surely, she could have chosen anybody else!"
"Are you saying that my sister was not qualified?"
"N-No! O-Of course not! But for the so-called 'Royal family' of Hyrule, their own princess couldn't find any other candidates for Vah Ruta? I-It's highly suspicious! Especially since she was obviously jealous of Lady Miph–"
"Stop, I will not allow you to disgrace my sister's name with your…WILD accusations!"
"It's not true…" I say quietly, picking myself up, my fists balled, trying to maintain my newfound composure. Trellos accusations have tightened the knot in my stomach, it makes holding the nausea back even harder.
This whole time…I was more worried about Mipha's father, how he would react to seeing me. I feel as though I did betray the king. Because, I did ask Mipha after he declined my plea. But it was never because I was jealous of her…
"I…I chose Mipha, because…because I knew she was strong, not just physically, or her unmatched strength. But the love she carried for her family…for her people, the same love I have for mine…the kind of love only a princess could understand! Her kindness knew no bounds. She was a true Champion,"
Trello just snarled, baring his dull fangs at me. "Your words of feigned grandeur don't fool me. The fact is, you lead our Lady Mipha to her death,"
"And her blood is on my hands…right…?"
Trello remained silent, set back by my sharp response,
"Unbecoming of a Hylian…to take accountability…especially a royal,"
"I can assure you…I take much blame for Mipha's passing…and not just hers…"
I look down in shame, when will this feeling of guilt ever get better?
"L-Like I said…I failed everyone…I don't expect you to ever forgive me, when I can't even forgive myself…"
"Zelda…" Link says softly.
"What matters now is that Hyrule is saved, we have all fulfilled our duties…we can now focus on the growth of our land without the worry of the Calamity…" Dorephan said slowly. He looks down to me, then over to Trello.
"Trello, you of all of the Zora should understand the complications that come with war. My daughter did what she believed was right of her own free will. You may not know this, but Mipha had come to me after the princess asked her to join the Champions. I was…furious…but…when she stood up to my anger, talking back to me…she had never done that before. When I saw the passion burning in her eyes, I saw what the princess saw in her. The need to protect her people,"
"L-Lady Mipha…"
"By pushing her death onto princess Zelda, you're completely overlooking her will to protect the people she loved, please…be kinder to our distinguished guests…"
Sidon clears his throat, "I believe an apology is in order,"
I shake my head, "N-No, please. I understand the anger and frustration…it was…something I could not run away from," looking over to Trello with glossy eyes, his whole demeanor now changed, looking back with lingering anger, but more so sadness.
"P-Please believe me when I say that Mipha's death was not something I could have ever imagined happening. If I could go back, I'd happily take her place, for all of the Champions. I…I wish I could bring them back, I wish I could do more with this cursed sealing power but—"
"No…if it was truly Lady Mipha's wish…then…I must accept any consequences she had to face with dignity and respect…" Trello cuts off, placing a scaly fin-shaped hand over his chest and bowing his head down.
"Please accept my sincerest apologies princess Zelda,"
I should be the one apologizing.
"And to you too Link, please forgive my…outburst…"
Link narrows his eyes towards Trello, remaining silent.
I'm not sure if now would be the right time to ask Sidon or the king about why we're here. But since we're laying everything out now, I may seem deceitful if I wait…
"Trello, please ensure that the Kayden and Kodah set Link and the princess up with their finest waterbeds and a warm meal for however long they need,"
"Yes your Majesty!"
"W-Wait!" I say.
"Is there something else you would like to speak about?" Dorephan questions,
Suddenly my throat closes up, and I hold my tongue. I've got his attention now. But how can I ask now? After clearing up those accusations about Mipha…I'm once again in aid of the Zora.
I'm at a crossroad, it can go one of two ways.
I can make something up, thank him for his generosity perhaps. Go on to stay here with Link and head back to Hateno, start life over again. I could continue my research in silence and let the name of the royal family drift off in obscurity. I could just tuck away the Sheikah slate in a chest along with the other painful memories I have to bear.
Let them collect dust.
Links words echo in my mind,
"If you ever want to turn back just say the word,"
Perhaps Link and I could also…
M-Maybe…
…
No.
I have met my resolve, I promised…I swore I would make Hyrule a safer place. It's the only way to ensure the Champion's deaths were not in vain.
"The Divine Beasts…"
Dorephan and Sidon's faces looked intrigued, Sidon arching his brow, studying my face, pondering what I will say next. I look to my feet, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
"The Divine Beasts a-are ready t-to take on n-new…"
Deep breaths Zelda, you can do this.
"It's ready to take on new pilots," I blurted out.
Sidon and Dorephan looked at each other astonished and then back to me. The room was met with silence, my heart was going to beat out of its chest, the air filled with tension. All that was heard was the sound of the waterfalls crashing down below, it was suffocating.
"This is…true…?" Sidon asked carefully as he walked towards me.
Dorephan looked down at me with saddened eyes,
"I see…" raising his head and looking out to Vah Ruta which overlooks the whole Domain, cracking a small smile.
"It's bittersweet…knowing that she has fulfilled her duty but now…she is no longer with us in this world…I hope her spirit is resting with her mothers…" he looks back at me with soft eyes.
"Vah Ruta now holds a significant place in Zora history. We cannot deny the potential help it can bring to protecting the Domain or ensuring the safety of Hyrule. We shall be responsible for its pilot. I have grown too old to control any sort of machinery…I leave any decisions to Sidon,"
"Of course Father! I will not fail you!" He pledges to his titan sized father.
"I of course choose myself to pilot the beast to follow in my dear sister's footsteps!" He smiles brightly.
I'm too stunned to speak, they accepted it? Just like that? I look back to Link, he covers a small snicker. Poking fun at my shocked face. The look he gave back to me seemed as though he was saying,
"I told you so,"
"H-Hyrule thanks you for your partnership…" I bow to Sidon and Dorephan.
"There is just one thing I will need your help with if you don't mind princess," Sidon says,
"Of course! A-Anything to be of service!"
"Come! Let's walk and talk! Leave the lodging arrangements to me!" Sidon wraps his wet, sticky arm around my shoulder, leading me and Link out of the royal hall. I glance back to Dorephan before we fully exit to see his reaction. He gives me a slight nod, as though he is entrusting me with his son. It was as though he was almost expecting this day to come.
"A lynel?" I gasp.
I look over to Link who's brows are furrowed in concern. Judging by his reaction, this isn't the first time a lynel has been a danger to the domain.
"Indeed!" Sidon bursts, "However, this lynel seems…different,"
"Different? How?" Link asks,
"Well, when I went with the scouts in order to hopefully defeat it, we saw it was surrounded by…something,"
" 'Something'...meaning?" I ask, Sidon brings a finger to his chin, pondering how to describe it. He stands in the center of the plaza tapping his fin-like feet, when his eyes shoot open. Looks like he had a lightbulb moment.
"It was a pink purple sludge you could say! Almost like it was tar,"
A pink-purple sludge?
There's only one thing I know that matches that description. My heart sinks to my feet, and my eyes widen in horror. I look over to Link, it appears he's thinking the same thing, but he hides his fear much more discreetly. His eyes look like a calm ocean before a storm.
Yes, it can only be one thing.
"Malice…"
"Well only one way to surely find out!" Sidon says excitedly."The domain is once again in need of a Hylian! Link, Princess, are you up for the task?"
As if we could possibly say "no" now. We absolutely must get to the bottom of this. Malice still being prominent in Hyrule is odd…especially with the Calamity defeated. There must be some reason why a lynel would possibly be corrupted by malice. Who knows what kind of destruction a lynel could do with that extra power…and it's equipped with shock arrows, the Zoras most lethal weakness. If it's left there on Polymus Mountain to get stronger, it could very well single handedly wipe out the domain.
"Of course!" I say determined, looking up to the mountain where the lynel rests.
"Then let's be off in the morning! You two should get some rest, and eat something hearty! Can't fight on an empty stomach!" Sidon smiles. He takes us to the inn, greeting what looks to be the owners.
"Good evening!"
"Prince Sidon! Link! What a pleasure to see you! What can we do for you this evening?" the male Zora asks.
"The King requests for you and Kodah to provide the best lodging and eating accommodations for our distinguished guests, Link, and princess Zelda!" he boasts.
The Zora couple gasp and look over to me. The female Zora speaks up.
"Y-You're Princess Zelda?! It's such a pleasure to finally meet you!" She says excitedly.
"Zelda is fine, we're so thankful for the hospitality," I bow my head respectfully back to her. Her cheeks flushed, blending in with the rest of her scaly skin.
"The names Kodah, and this is my husband Kayden!" She gestures over to the male Zora.
"We'll take great care of you two, Link can attest to our hospitality!" he assures Sidon.
"Have you both eaten? I know Linny has quite the stomach on him, do you like anything in particular princess? Er–uh I mean Zelda?"
The mentioning of eating prompts my stomach to growl. Despite the rocky start with Trello, I'm blown away by the hospitality the king has offered to the both of us. It almost doesn't feel real.
"N-No, I'm not picky either, whatever you serve will be just fine, thank you so much," I say politely.
Prince Sidon waves us off and returns back to the royal hall, leaving us with the innkeepers. Kayden shows us to a large suite with two large waterbeds side by side, a door leading off to a washroom area, and a view of the lake below us.
"Kodah will bring you both hot meals momentarily, in the meantime please take full advantage of the washroom and get yourselves out of those muddy clothes," he says as he's scanning both of our still dirty attire.
"Thanks Kayden," Link said calmly.
He bows his head respectfully to us and closes the door behind him.
Leaving me and Link alone.
"This is—"
"Well! I should go get washed up! I won't be long!" dashing into the washroom. There's a large tub with swift violets surrounding the edges of the tub and petals spread all over the tub. A lever is right next to it, I pull down and hot water starts pouring out. Looking into the clear water that's starting to fill the tub. I begin to slowly undress, stepping in the tub and submerging my body in the warm floral scented water. I feel my heart beating so fast. Knowing now that Mipha was going to propose to him…it feels wrong being around him.
I stole Link away from Mipha…she couldn't even confess her feelings to him. And now here I am in her own country being given a royal treatment after her death.
I really am a terrible person…
There's a soft knocking sound at the door. I turn around, facing away from the heavy doors.
"C-Come in…"
The door opens slightly, and I hear Link's footsteps stepping into the room. I can hear him gasp lightly when he takes notice of me in the tub.
"S-Sorry! You said 'come in'...i-is it really okay for me to be in here?"
There's so many things I want to ask him…but what kind of answer am I supposed to expect?
"We left your spare clothes with the horses, s-so I thought you could borrow some of mine for now," His footsteps come closer and closer to me accompanied with some light tapping sounds coming from the Sheikah slate, but he stops at one point, not getting too close.
I remain silent.
"Hey, you okay?" he asks, concerned. Fighting the urge to get any closer to me.
"Did I…do something…?"
No…you didn't do anything…but I ruined everything…
I slowly turn around, and look up to him. Not averting my gaze for the first time since we got here. He looks back at me with his cyan eyes, his cheeks turning red slowly the longer I stare at him, I'm beginning to grow increasingly more uncomfortable, while trying to find my words. I take note that he's doing his best not looking at my chest, just waiting on my word.
"C-C'mon, isn't the silent treatment supposed to be my thing?"
"Link…"
"Y-Yeah…?"
"Did you…" I trail off, do I have the heart to ask?
His head tilts in confusion, "Did I…what?"
"Did you…love her?"
Folding my arms over my chest, looking away slightly embarrassed.
"Who? Mipha?"
"Y-Yes…"
He looks at me and then looks down to the Sheikah slate,
"Did I love her? I guess so, but…in a more platonic way I guess, I don't remember feeling any other way about her…it may sounds like a cop out but it's the truth, I don't have any memories of having a relationship…like that, with her…"
"Do you think…"
"What?"
I shake my head, "Never mind…forget it…" and look away from him, I hear his footsteps fastly approaching me, then feel his hand cup my cheek, having me turn around.
"I think I've forgotten enough, don't you think?" he asks quietly, his face inches away from mine. He leans his forehead against mine, nuzzling my head lightly, he closes his eyes, and exhales slowly.
He feels so warm…
"C'mon Zel…just…ask me…"
My face feels hot, he's…he's never called me that before.
I take a deep breath in and out, "Do you think…you would have accepted her proposal…? If she had survived?"
"T-That's what you wanted to ask me?"
"Y-Yes…"
"Probably not…why?"
"Why not? She could've given you so much more than–" I stop myself from letting out too much.
"Why would I marry someone I don't have the same feelings for? L-Like that anyway…" he answered. He pulls his head slightly away from me, looking into my eyes.
"M-Maybe you would have grown to like her…l-love her even…she was an amazing person after all…smart, talented, beautiful, what's not to love…?" He shakes his head,
Link looks at me from my head to my chest, surprisingly I don't feel embarrassed about him seeing me this way, I…I kind of like it.
"Well…I think…you're all of those things…"
His face is flushed red, his eyes fall down to my lips,
"What if…I just wanted to be by your side…?"
"Link…"
His cupped hand starts to slowly slide to my neck, gently pulling me closer to him. The look on his face looked so serious, his ocean blue eyes pierced through mine, lost in a trance, he slowly started to close them.
Oh…
Is he…
About to kiss me?
My heart is pounding in my ears, but I remain calm. I begin to close my eyes, letting my body lean closer and closer to him, his hand gently combs through my hair to my neck. I feel his shallow breaths falling on my lips. It sends shivers through my whole body, I almost want to faint…
We're mere centimeters away and—
"Dinner is ready!" Kodah boasts through the bedroom doors. Making Link instantly pull away, snapping me out of the trance his gaze held on me.
He looked at me with his eyes widened, with me just giving a confused look back.
"S-SORRY!"
He quickly taps on the Sheikah slate and leaves his Champions tunic. Bolting out of the luminous stone doors.
I just sit there in the warm watered tub in silence. I look down at my reflection,
He almost kissed me…
I dunk my head in the water, drowning out the rest of the world.
…
Did he…mean to do that?
