Criticism is welcome, just be gentle with me please. Honestly, I'm more of a reader than a writer.
Hope you enjoy!
A large yawn tore through her lips as the pair gallop away from the latest monster den. She looked down at her companion riding next to her, observing the subtle manner his shoulder hunch, the weary, tired look in his eye and the bags forming under them as well. He was dirty and his hair was disheveling; she believed she doesn't look any better, but they were both tired and been riding for two days and a half with monsters stopping them. Any other person would have thought he was still going strong with that calm and stoicism he usually carries, but she was no fool. They needed to stop soon, goddesses know he needs the rest.
"Where is the nearest stable?" her voice broke the silence looking skyward. "the sun setting, and I'm not particularly fond of fighting any bokoblin now," she said as she's rolling her shoulders
The blond hylian silently opens his sheikah slate in response before setting up an open palm and the hand still holding the reins stuck up one finger
During the months traveling together, she learned how silent her blond hero is. He can talk, but he often doesn't unless needed and if he isn't needed, then he prefers not to, so she learned. She learned the clues and gestures he would give and created a few signs together. One finger would mean minutes, two would be hours. They created it after asking the common question, including the habit she made when asking for the distance in the exact order every time.
"Five minutes" she said before a grin took over "well what are we waiting for then" and with that, she taped the sides of her horse for a faster gallop "I'll race you there!" She hollers back with a laugh, ignoring Link gasp
She laughed when Link horse overtook hers. She caught a small smile dancing across his tired face.
She counted this as a success.
—
"Welcome to the North Stable! How may we help you?" The Man ask as they arrived
Amea and Link got off the huffing beasts before she out the rein of her horse to him. Whenever she held out the reins to Link it's a silent way for her to tell him 'I'll do all the talking' giving Link the options to stay behind with the horses.
She remembers Link hesitated a lot in the beginning because he felt like he can handle a simple conversation, but when given an option he realizes he really didn't want to and took her offer. He feels guilty about it, but constant reassurance from Amea calm him enough to let it slide. This response did not surprise Amea, she seems how everyone acts around him, everyone thinks Link is invincible and can handle anything life throws at him because he is the chosen Hero. Even Link himself holds high standards and viewing himself as secondary. Her heart ache to watch him take every request without regard to his health.
She shook herself out of her thoughts when Link took the rein from her, allowing her to walk up to the man.
"We're here to board the horses," she responded. "Do you have two beds as well?" She ask casually leaning against the desk, "particularly one soft and one regular bed"
She intended to give Link the soft bed and hopefully get away with it. He was too stubborn for his own good.
"Sorry miss, we only have one bed left, and it's a regular," the man said shrugging apologetically
She frowned before relenting with a nod. It was a little surprising, but it happens. Handing over the rubies, she contemplates how she's going to convince her selfless little hero to take the bed before she got a wonderful idea.
With a mischievous smile, she walks back to Link.
—
They took the horses while she was trying to get the beds, so she found Link sitting by the fire with his eyes closed. At first glance, he seems to be relaxed, but his twitching ears gave him away.
'He's high strung,' she mused as she found him. Her heart clench at the sight of him. The shadows of the flame gave him a gaunt look and his shoulders hunch more with the burden of his quest as time passes. There are days when he stands tall and nothing seems to stop the fire in his eyes, but she has seen days when it seems like he can't carry the weight anymore. The fire in his eyes grows dimmer and dimmer as time goes on. He seemed so tired and her heart breaks for him.
These moments, as well as many others, remind her why she stays by his side. He is the hero who is supposed to save Hyrule but, someone needs to save the hero every once in a while, and she is determined to show love and care for her little hero of Hyrule.
He opened his eyes when she walks closer. She held out her hand at him "Come, I got us a bed" Link looks at her hand for a moment before grabbing it. Her hand gently squeezed his and lead him towards the tent. He looks up at her in question but didn't let go either. She quietly led him past the rows of bed that held sleeping travelers before she found the one empty bed she paid for.
"Here we are" she grins at Link confused face. "there was only one bed left" she nonchalantly shrugs
Link looks at the bed before shaking his head, nodding at her and took a step back. He wanted her to have it, but he couldn't go anywhere when Amea had simply tightened her hand over his. He wasn't going anywhere on her watch.
"I thought about it and I know you, so we're going to share," she said, pulling him closer gently urges him. She smiles at his fluster face.
To get him going, she unbuckled the strap that was holding his sword. She slowly bends down to his height and with a teasing grin, she whispered in his ear "I have no problem undressing you, just remember to keep quiet for our neighbors" she teased as her lips brushed against his reddening ear.
Link didn't need motivation to take off the rest of his gear. Amea grins at his blushing face as she took her gear off as well.
She sat down at the edge of the bed and beckons Link over. Because of their major height differences, Link didn't need to crane his head up when she sat down. Amea taking advantage of these cradles, his face in her hands and leans forward to peck his forehead, savoring his fluster look.
"Come on, short stuff, you definitely need some sleep," she giggles at his indigent look
"Your too tall," he grumbles half heartily
Amea lays down before patting the spot next to her. "I won't bite," she teased. Link rolled his eyes before laying next to her, keeping a respectable distance.
Amea notice how small the bed was once she got comfortable, as she is a tall Hylian. The beds are meant for one person, which can also mean small blanket. Taking advantage of this, she casually pulls a blushing Link closer. It did not surprise her to feel how tense he still was. This usually happens when you have hoards of monsters show up at every corner.
"Isn't this better, my little hero" she whispered to him. She shifted Link, so he would comfortably lie on top of her. Link rested his chin on her chest for a moment. He tiredly smiles and threads their fingers together. He brought up their hands up close to his face and placed a kiss on the back of Amea hand. A silent 'Thank you' from him.
Amea rested her free hand behind his neck and thread her fingers in his hair. She pulled his hair tie out, gently massaging his scalp, pulling a tired moan out of him. His bright blue eyes slowly closed, and his muscles slowly lost its tension. His head lolled to the side and Amea took the time to hum a quiet tune to lull him to sleep better.
"Rest my dear, I'll protect you," she whispered as sleep finally claimed Link.
