CHAPTER 7- Seeking Warmth

Zelda

The story intrigued me so much that I didn't realize Link had fallen asleep until I heard a soft snore from beside me. I thought to return to my own hammock, but any sudden movement would threaten to tip the hammock and surely awaken him again. I didn't want to do that to him.

Instead, I decided to keep reading silently until I also calmed myself down more. Link's frequent nightmares concerned me, but knowing that he dreamt of his past 'death' vividlu somehow caused me even greater alarm, as it was a shared traumatic memory for me as well.

I skimmed through the story at a much faster speed than I could read aloud. Several chapters later, I turned to an inked illustration of a great cistern that took up half the page. I narrowed my eyes as I read the next section:

Visiting the Ancient Cistern was a transitional point for the hero, as this was his first contact with the source of all evil that would later fuel the curse of the King of Demons himself, Demise. Monsters revived in the portal to the underworld, and the hero only escaped from here by the thinnest thread of fate that pulled him back into the light.

I paused and re-read the section. Here, in this book of old fairy tales for children, I'd possibly found more information for unlocking the mystery of the Blood Moons and Demise's curse. I removed the barrettes from my hair and clipped them in the page to mark it. The book did not elaborate further on this aspect of the cistern, and I wondered if it still existed. I would have to do more research. I yawned and I continued reading for quite a while. At some point, I passed out, unintentionally.

The faint light signaling the coming dawn peaked through a seam in the inn's facade and cast a streak upon my face, awakening me. The silhouettes of icy snow clumps that had blown up against the structure in the night cast shadows against the fabric walls. I felt surprisingly warm given the amount of snow just outside the inn's walls. I was about to pull the Rito quilt closer around my shoulders when I saw what I was laying against.

I flushed what I'm sure was a dark red color, and my face heated up immediately in embarrassment at the completely inappropriate, unprofessional cuddle I was currently engaged in with my former Appointed Knight. My cheek had somehow found its way into his chest, and my arm curved up around his back. His chest rose and fell softly in a slow rhythm as he slept, and his mouth hung open lazily. I dared not to flinch and wake him. Instead, I lifted my arm from his side and slowly tried to inch away but the hammock started to tilt with the shift in my weight. Afraid it would topple the both of us, I abandoned the effort and crawled back to my place next to him.

Unfortunately, the disturbance did not go unnoticed. His eyes cracked open, a flash of blue in the gray light. "Zelda…" he whispered.

"Link, I'm sorry, I fell asleep here and I... just tried to get up and it tilted," I said.

"Isn't it... too early to get up…?" He mumbled. His hair, loose from its usual tie, fell around his ears in a tangled mane as he turned his nose towards the ceiling and closed his eyes. I began to wonder if he was entirely awake.

"It's not yet dawn."

He made a sound halfway between a groan and a whine, and then reached his arm around me to pull me closer again. I squeaked. "You're so warm though... Just a little longer," he mumbled into my ear, and I now knew he couldn't possibly be awake. Link would never cuddle up to me... ...Or would he...now…?

I hesitated before I reached my arm around his back and carefully brought my nose back to his soft tunic, inhaling the smoky scent from the evening's fire that clung to the fabric. If he didn't mind the proximity, I would gladly accept his shared warmth on this chilly morning. I stole a glance up at his face. He had already fallen asleep again, which relieved me. I suspected he hadn't slept so well in many nights since the calamity, given his recent string of nightmares.

My hand wandered up to trail through the strands of his long, honey blonde hair that fell around his shoulders and onto the pillow behind him. The Royal Guard members were always required to tie their hair back after it became a certain length, so I'd never seen Link with it loose like this before the calamity. With his hair down, he appeared older, wilder… more like an experienced warrior. But maybe that was just another product of his quest. My gaze drifted to his cheek. At this proximity, I could see a small scar I'd never noticed before that reflected in the faint light. Just how many unseeable scars had he collected for the sake of Hyrule?

I soon dozed off again and slept for a few more hours, until the faint chirping of the winter songbirds outside awakened me. When I opened my eyes, I found Link's blue eyes staring wide back at me. I recoiled away from him in embarrassment and covered my face in my hands.

"Good morning," he said with a soft chuckle, adding. "It's okay."

"Link, I'm so sorry…"

"You already apologized," he said.

I eyed him between the gaps in my fingers. He'd been… awake? My face heated in an intense blush. I rubbed my eyes and shook my head back and forth. "If someone had found us like this… Oh, what would the gossip mongers think..."

Link shrugged as he yawned. "Well, they aren't really around anymore..."

I sat up in the hammock and grabbed the book beside me from where it

rested. Immediately, the cool air surrounded me, and I wanted to crawl back under the quilt. "We'd better prepare to go. The innkeeper will return soon to check on us."

"Zel… Thank you for everything," said Link.

My heart fluttered in my chest. He'd never called me that before, even a hundred years ago. I nodded without a word, and hopped off the hammock. The floor was cold against my bare feet.

We emerged from the inn to find the mountainous landscape surrounding the village blanketed in a dazzling sheet of white snow. The morning sun cast a warm glow across the snow fields surrounding the village. Icicles dangled from the pine trees around us. I stopped and took in the beauty of the landscape for several minutes. To see such undisturbed, perfect snowfall on the land was a rarity, and a sight I missed dearly while I was trapped in the castle fighting Ganon. I snapped a few photos of the scenery on the Sheikah Slate.

"Hyrule is beautiful, isn't it?" Link said when he came up beside me. I agreed with a nod, and suggested we take a photo with the scenery. When we huddled together, he put his arm around my shoulders, which left me on the brink of a flustered daze. He stepped away, and I followed him towards the Chief's quarters as I checked how the photo looked. It was… adorable. My heart skipped when I looked down at the image of us together.

Before we bid the Rito farewell, Teba volunteered to fly a unit of Rito to Hyrule Field to chase out any remaining monsters that roamed the ruins from the skies. I agreed it would be a fantastic start to the Rito's legacy in helping to defend the Kingdom once again.

We carefully navigated over the snow covered bridges back towards the stable to retrieve the horses. I only slipped on ice once, and Link caught my arm before I fell, sending me once again into a flustered state. I had no idea if he felt similar embarrassment since our little cuddle session, but I hoped the feeling would pass for me soon.

The horses traversed through the fresh snow at a careful pace, so it took much longer to descend the mountain than we planned. I didn't attempt to make much conversation with Link, so much of the ride was silent. My mind eventually wandered back to the story I read about the ancient hero, and his descent into the underworld where monsters revived with cursed magic that somehow connected with the curse that led to the cycle of the calamity. If there was a connection to the underworld somewhere that fed the blood moons, perhaps we could find it and seal it off permanently.

We stopped briefly at Tabantha Stable to warm up and eat a quick meal, and then continued on until we reached the Outskirts Stable to the south, where we spent the night. The weather was much milder there, to our relief, and we were able to change out of our heavier clothes. Link only talked in his sleep once that night, and I was able to reach out to him from the bed beside his to send him back into a peaceful slumber with a comforting squeeze on the back of his hand. I wondered if he would have slept better if I cuddled up to him again. The thought left me flustered again.

Our next destination was Gerudo Town. We fully replenished our water and food supply before we began down the Gerudo Canyon path. The temperature steadily rose as we neared the desert. The horses would not be able to cross the desert sands, so we stopped to board them at the Gerudo Canyon Stable. While there, Link tossed me a pair of Sand Boots he'd acquired during his journey. We decided to walk to the Kara Kara Bazaar Oasis to stay at the Inn there so we could cross the rest of the desert early in the morning before the heat became too unbearable.

The inn was comfortable, though a bit crowded with other travelers from all over Hyrule. One of them recognized Link, and we immediately became the center of attention as people were curious about the events at the castle. I told the travelers to inform all those they passed that Hyrule was victorious, and the kingdom would rebuild.

I recalled staying at the oasis's inn once before the calamity as well. I'd snuck off from my entourage on my own to look for the shrine nearby when the Yiga Clan attempted to assassinate me. That was when Link jumped in and saved my life just before they could lay a hand on me. I'd been treating him awfully up until that moment, as I was jealous of his ability to so easily take up his destined task. It had been the first time I understood who Link was as a person, and not just the boy who held the Master Sword.

The next morning, we trudged across the sand towards Gerudo Town. Link followed close behind me with a little difficulty using his normal boots in the sand. Though it was morning, heat already rose into my face. I looked back at Link, and saw beads of sweat forming on his brow. I suddenly missed the snow of the Hebra region.

Link's attention suddenly snapped up in front of me. "Look out!"

Before I knew what he was referring to, the sand slithered beneath my feet and an octorok sprang up from underground. It fired a rock at me. I held up my arms to shield myself, but Link was faster. He leapt in front of me with his shield raised, blocking the projectile from hitting us. Another octorok rose from the ground to our side. I bit my lip. I needed a weapon. Before Link could react, I grabbed the bow off his back and slipped an arrow from the quiver at his hip. I knocked it, and shot the octorok straight on. It fell, disappearing in a cloud of malice dust.

He spun around after taking care of the other octorok with his sword. "Are you hurt?" He asked, panic evident in his voice.

"No. I took care of it. Here's your bow," I said.

He raised his eyebrows when I returned it. Apparently he had not even noticed I'd taken it from him. "I never knew you could shoot..."

I shook my head. "I studied archery. Let me remind you who gave you the Bow of Light to use against Ganon."

He clicked his tongue. "And yet I still used it. You had a hundred years to try out that bow on him."

A pursed my lips and tightened my fists as he chuckled and continued walking towards the town. "I was a bit busy holding him back," I yelled.

"I'm kidding, Zel," he said with a small laugh and a wave of his hand.

My face heated up from the pet name, and I sighed in exasperation.

Link and I arrived at the front gates of the town to find it bustling in activity inside. The guards at the gate eyed us curiously, and I could tell they did not recognize me yet as their Princess. Entering the town in anonymity tempted me, though I knew I could not gain an audience with their leader without giving them my identification.

"Sav'otta," I said to the guards, recalling the Gerudo morning greeting. "What is happening in town today?"

The guard on the left, a very tall, muscular Gerudo glanced back at that town. "Sav'otta. We are preparing for a big celebration today. News of the calamity's destruction reached us via a Sheikah messenger a few days ago."

I smiled, and stepped forward. "Wonderful. May we pass through?"

The guards crossed their spears in front of us and stared down at Link. "You may, but no voe can enter," they said.

"But, uh…" I stammered as I glanced over at Link. His eyes met mine and he frowned, turning away. In the chaos of the octorok attack, I had somehow forgotten the Gerudo wouldn't let Link into their town. Yet, I'd seen Link explore the town during his quest… how did he do that before?

Oh, right. He had a disguise...

"Is that Link I see out there?"

A voice carried over to us from the crowd inside. A young Gerudo, accompanied by a set of guards, walked towards the arched gate. Above her long red braid she wore the ceremonial Gerudo Chief crown, the same one Urbosa once adorned on her head, and I knew she was the one we needed to see.

"Riju!" Link grinned and waved at the girl. "Vasaaq."

"Vasaaq," She greeted him when she approached us. She looked up at me for a moment, and her conclusion of my identity dawned on her eyes. "Is this…. The Honorable Princess Zelda?"

"Well, I'm not sure 'honorable' is the right title..." I laughed, running a hand through my hair.

"Nonsense. You have sealed away Calamity Ganon and saved us from further destruction. The party tonight is in your honor, after all! Won't you please join me in the palace, and attend the party tonight?" Riju asked.

"I would love to join, but... uh…" I glanced over to Link.

Riju laughed. "Your Highness, I think we can make a very special exception for entry to Link today, given this celebration is in his honor as well." She leaned towards me and, in a low voice, added, "I already know about his little secret... He'd find his way into town, anyways."

The guards allowed us into town, and Riju's security surrounded us. We walked through the square, where many Gerudo were setting up decorations for the party: torches and colorful banners were going up along the walls and lanterns were strung across the courtyard. Several were already drinking and singing in merriment. A few Gerudo setting up tables looked up and seemed to notice Link, and squealed in excitement at the rare sight of a man in their presence.

When we arrived at the palace, we followed Riju up the stairs to the balcony overlooking the plaza as she called down upon the town and announced our arrival and attendance to their party that evening. When the Gerudo cheered for us, a weight lifted from my shoulders.

They were not angry with me.

The fear had still tugged at the back of my head. Gerudo Town was mostly untouched by the calamity's attack, though I knew the people must have still been living in fear of a day my power ran out and Link was not there to seal the monster.

Riju led us back into the palace to the breezy throne room, where we sat beside the large fountain in the back. I was grateful for the cool water as the desert heat had definitely intensified more, even since our arrival. A few workers brought us fruity drinks and small food plates for brunch. Link began eating almost immediately.

"So… Your Highness, what do you plan to do next?" Riju asked as she dipped her feet into the waters of the fountain.

"The castle is being cleaned up as we speak," I said. "I seek to rebuild the kingdom back to its former glory...and beyond."

"Of course," Riju nodded. "Please let me know what the Gerudo can do to help. We are incredibly thankful for the sealing of Ganon."

"Thank you, Riju," I said. I sipped from the cup, and the refreshing hydromelon drink bubbled up against my lips. I stole a glance at Link, who had removed his boots and rolled up his trousers to cool his feet into the fountain as well. He appeared to be attempting to eat more daintily than usual as a guest in the palace.

"I do wonder, however, what the Yiga Clan will do now," Riju said in a low voice. "They have always pledged to oppose those who are against their Lord Ganon. Now that he is defeated… will they continue with their goal?"

"Most likely. Ganon will return again someday due to the ancient curse," I said, placing my cup down on the stone step beside me. "I have been researching the source of the curse to find out if I can prevent the calamity from occurring again."

Riju laughed which surprised me. "You want to stop the cycle? It's been going on for thousands of years. Nobody has ever found the solution to ending the Demon King's curse."

I frowned. "But have they tried searching for the source of all evil, the underworld itself?"

Link seemed surprised at my notion and paused chewing on his glazed voltfruit. Riju tilted her head. "You intend to find the source of all malice?"

My eyes drifted to the top of the fountain. The water emerged in a bubbling circle from the center of the large block and drizzled down its smooth sides in a soothing gurgle. "I've been doing some research about the blood moon monster revivals, and that led me to reading about the evil source of malice itself that fuels the blood moons' power. It's connected to the curse, which stems from the hatred bred in the Underworld."

"I see," said Riju. She frowned as she waved her toes in the cool water. "What have you found so far?"

"I recently read about… an ancient cistern that had a connection to the underworld beneath it," I began, my words slow and uncertain. I turned to my bag and retrieved the book, opening it to the page I marked. "Apparently it was a place the first Hero visited before the curse was even laid on the land."

Riju leaned back against her hands. "This cistern… The Gerudo have spoken of it before, in our own legends and childhood stories."

"Oh?" I raised my eyebrows, surprised that she knew about it. "Please share anything you know."

Riju hesitated for a moment. "Thousands of years ago, our people almost all died out here in the desert. We were running low on water supply due to lack of rains, and were considering moving out of the desert. The Kingdom of Hyrule would not accept us as we were known as a band of thieves. This was true since many of us, unfortunately, had resorted to stealing goods from travelers on our borders to stay afloat."

Link leaned forwards and placed his plate down as he took in the story. I wondered briefly if Link could recall any stories from his childhood, besides the one I had told him...

Riju continued. "Our Chief at the time traveled outside the desert in search of options for us. He came upon a mythical temple with a cistern in the Faron region, where endless purified water flowed in bountiful quantities and fed the entire ecosystem of the region. In desperation, he prayed to the ancient Gods that our land would be blessed with a magical cistern to supply us with water, and his wish was granted, as we received this precious gift of flowing water from deep underground for our fountains. However, he was not satisfied with what we had been given after seeing the lush green lands outside of our desert borders."

"What happened?" Link asked.

Riju frowned. "He was consumed with greed. It drove him to madness, and he used his position of power to bring destruction on the kingdom in revenge for our ancestors' banishment to the desert lands. After losing the war, we pledged to never let another like him emerge from our civilization ever again.. We set stricter rules for interaction with voes, and no voe has been born in our nation over thousands of years. That is why he was our last King. His name… was Ganondorf."

A chill sliced up my spine, cutting through the afternoon heat. The name echoed through the throne room chamber, hanging in the air like a poisonous gas. Ganondorf was an evil man of legend. He was one who inherited the hatred of Demise and the Demon known as Ganon in his life. I knew from the old tales that he had come from the Gerudo but never had I heard this side of the story. My lips turned down into a frown. "I see…" I whispered.

"Some say his body is still out there in a cursed temple underground, waiting to feel those crisp waters on his lips once again," whispered Riju.

"You think so?" Asked Link.

"Maybe," Riju hummed. "Though, he would be thousands of years old. A rotted corpse would be all that is left… so I'm not sure how much of a threat he would be anymore!"

"You would be surprised at what a skeleton arm can do in a fight…" Link muttered.

Riju laughed and then continued. "His body is said to be hidden inside a secret temple made by an old civilization that disappeared mysteriously long ago. You may have heard of them as the Zonai tribe. We don't know much about them, unfortunately. They never came far into our desert back then, so we have no records, and we have no idea where that temple would be located."

Zonai… the word was familiar, as if I had read it somewhere before. I reached deep into my memory, trying to recall where I had read about it before. I pursed my lips as I tried to remember. Perhaps there were Zonai books in the castle?

I supposed I would need to return there soon, anyways...

"You alright?" Link asked me. I flinched.

"Yes, just thinking…" I nodded to the Gerudo Chief. "Thank you, Riju. Your insights are incredibly valuable."

Riju held up her hands in defense. "I may not have much leadership experience yet, but at least I can still remember the bedtime stories my mom used to tell me before she passed!"

I blinked. Riju had also lost her mother at a young age, and her people crowned her chief as next in line, without any formal preparation, or a governing Kingdom to offer her guidance.

She and I were… very alike in some ways.

A passion to help her ignited deep within me. She needed the strength of the Kingdom of Hyrule behind her as well.

"Riju… I never knew your mother, but I was friends with Chief Urbosa a hundred years ago. She would be very happy to see the Gerudo in your good hands," I said.

The Chief looked down, a distant look on her eyes. She swallowed. "Thank you, Your Highness. I am absolutely sure she would be proud of you as well."

"And Riju, if there is anything the Kingdom of Hyrule can do to help you as well, please let me know," I said. "It must be so difficult running this town all by yourself."

Riju laughed. "It's a learning process. I can only imagine what governing an entire kingdom must be like for you, Your Highness."

I smiled. "But please… if the Yiga Clan do continue to give you trouble, let me know, and when the kingdom is more established, we can see what Hyrule can do to maintain peace."

Riju nodded and offered a small smile. "Thank you, Princess Zelda. Please keep safe yourself too. The Yiga Clan will not be happy with you—or Link, these days."

"I imagine they will be quite upset with us," I said, looking over to Link. He swallowed a gulp of his drink and nodded.

Riju offered us a large guest suite with several beds in the back of the palace to stay in, and we graciously accepted. I could tell Link was relieved to have a private place away from the intense gaze of the Gerudo women who were entranced by the unfamiliar presence of a man.

The festivities were to begin in the evening after a feast. We decided to spend much of the afternoon inside, away from the intense desert sun. I rummaged through my bag, looking for something better to wear to the event than my standard research clothes. I wanted to look decent: It was the first party I had attended in a hundred years, after all. I had packed the dress I bought in Hateno Village but it felt a little too plain for a Gerudo celebration in our honor.

"Try this if you want," Link said, tossing me a bundle of fabric.

"What's this?" I asked, catching it. My eyebrows rose when the scandalously small green top with ruffled blue sleeves, purple sirwal, and a blue veil and mask unfurled in my hands

"Traditional Gerudo Vai garb," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

I blinked and stared at him across the room. A smirk tugged at my lips. "This was… your disguise, wasn't it?" His cheeks burned in an adorable shade of red in response. I giggled. "From what I remember, it looked quite good on you... But what will you wear?"

"I have Desert Voe armor that would match with yours quite well if you decide to wear that..."

I smiled. He was suggesting we go to the party with matching outfits. "How cute. I'll try this on, if you'll give me a minute."

Link stepped out of the room to allow me to change. The sirwal fit snugly around my hips and the cropped top fit me only after loosening of the fabric ties in the back a small amount. I had never worn an outfit publicly that exposed my back or abdomen so much before as it was never deemed an appropriate style for the modest, strict wardrobe of Hyrule's Princess. I supposed the judgment of what I could wear was entirely up to me now, however. I decided not to use the fabric mask but clipped the veil to the back of my hair. Using the Sheikah Slate camera as a mirror, I brushed my long hair free of tangles. It was becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

I spun around to ensure everything was secured well enough for dancing before I called Link back inside. When he entered, his eyes widened and he froze, mid-step, in the doorway.

The silence stretched between us as he continued to just stare at me without a word. "Well? How do I look?" I asked. I stepped around in a spin so he could see all the angles of the outfit. When I looked back at him, his face had reddened considerably.

I felt my cheeks heat up. Maybe...this outfit was a little much for a Princess of Hyrule...

Link cleared his throat finally before he nodded. "Really good," he said before he crouched down over his bag against the wall, retrieving his own Desert Voe outfit. He immediately began stripping off his tunic to change.

I squeaked in embarrassment and covered my face. "Goddesses, give me a warning before you need to strip down, Link!"

When I heard him finish, I peeked at his new outfit. He wore only Gerudo trousers, sandals, and a green metal spaulder on his left shoulder that left his chest exposed. Fortunately, his shoulder wound appeared to be healing nicely. His hair was tied up on top of his head like a miniature palm tree with the addition of a band that looped around his forehead. It was a very different style for him, though I did not mind. It was still very handsome. I was sure all the Gerudo outside swooning over him would not mind his look either.

...The thought sent an unfamiliar pang of jealousy through me.