A/N: I recently started playing LoZ: BotW, and got curious on what it might look like to an outsider when Link is regaining a memory. It's a much longer process here, but... well, this is fanfiction. Also, I chose Celesse because she's the first NPC I rescued, so she's stuck in my mind.
Important note: I've jumped on the "Link is mute" wagon. If I end up writing more LoZ fics, I'll go more into that.
Lake Kolomo was supposed to be a very beautiful place, though not many people ventured so close to the ruins of Hyrule Castle. Powerful monsters and the eerie Guardians gathered near the cloud of darkness around the Castle, making even the paths to be dangerous to use.
Nevertheless, Celesse was determined to see the lake. It's closeness to Castle Hyrule meant it was very likely that Princess Zelda had walked along the shore, an easier path to retrace than trying to reach the Spring of Wisdom at the top of Mount Lanayru.
With directions from an elderly painter she met at the Riverside stable, Celesse set out early in the morning. She kept her sword out, in case some monster decided to cross her path.
It was a five hour hike, but Celesse saved an hour by dodging into the tall grass to avoid a camp of bokoblins. Topping a hill, Celesse found herself gazing down on Lake Kolomo, the path having circled the lake behind a bunch of hills. She sighed in relief upon seeing no monsters, and hurried down to the shore.
Celesse gazed contentedly at the softly rippling lake. The surface glittered like a diamond under the midmorning sun's rays.
Movement further along the shore caught Celesse's attention. She squinted at the figure, then perked up upon realizing she recognized him as Link, the young man who'd rescued her from a bokoblin when she was traveling to Hateno village.
Celesse trotted along the lake's edge, following the man and his brown-and-white horse. She had spoken to him only a couple times, but knew if he was near, then she didn't have to fear any monsters.
Celesse slowed as she neared, not wanting to intrude. She knew almost nothing about him, after all. He was friendly and usually smiling, but never said a word. The only reason she even knew his name was because she'd heard someone call his name at the Dueling Peaks Stable.
Link was staring intently at his odd, glowing tablet, letting his horse walk slowly along the shoreline. He glanced up at the lake, then at the tablet, then at his surroundings. When he spotted Celesse, his look of concentration relaxed into a smile. He waved.
"Hello," Celesse called, matching the horse's pace. "Did you come to see the lake, too?"
Link nodded, then pointed across the lake. Celesse followed his finger to see the Dueling Peaks in the distance.
"It is a lovely view," Celesse agreed.
Link nodded, but his gaze had returned to his tablet.
"Are you looking for something?"
Link nodded. He pulled his horse to a stop and hopped to the ground, then turned his tablet so Celesse could see the front.
On the tablet was an image of the lake with the Dueling Peaks in the background. A large rock rose from the ground and was surrounded by birch trees like the ones around the pair.
"Are you trying to find the exact area?" Celesse asked, setting her sword against a tree.
Link nodded excitedly. Celesse looked around, then spotted a grassy boulder like the one in the picture.
"Is that it?" Celesse asked, pointing.
Link lit up and ran toward the hill, whistling to his horse as he did. He slowed near the hill, eyeing the water in what seemed to be suspicion. He drew a dual-bladed sword from seemingly nowhere -Celesse wondered if it had been hidden by the shield on his back- and pointed it at the water.
After a moment, in which nothing happened, Link nodded and glanced at the tablet in his other hand. He shuffled around, as if searching for the perfect vantage.
Bemused, Celesse turned to leave. She'd taken only a few steps when the sound of Link's feet silenced. A moment later, there was a soft thud.
Celesse turned and saw Link was unmoving, as though suddenly carved in stone. His sword lay at his feet.
"Link?" Celesse said cautiously. "Are you alright?"
Link's horse nickered, but the young man didn't react. Celesse went toward him, glancing at the rippling water. Had he seen something?
Link didn't seem to be watching anything in particular when Celesse reached his side. His eyes were open, but distant, and his face was slack.
"Link?" Celesse tried again.
Celesse hesitantly poked his arm, still to no response. Humming in thought, Celesse circled Link and said his name a couple more times. Still, nothing. Link seemed to be caught in a trance.
"Well…" Celesse looked around, but they were alone.
Deciding she couldn't leave Link alone in such a state -who knew where monsters might be hiding?- Celesse sat and trailed her feet in the water.
Some time passed, then Celesse heard rustling grass. She turned quickly, but didn't see anything. She stood slowly.
"Is anyone there?" Celesse called.
The grass shook, then a large blue blob rolled into view. Celesse recoiled in disgust.
"Go on," Celesse told the chuchu. "Shoo!"
The chuchu, unfortunately, wouldn't be deterred and rolled closer. It was larger than Celesse was used to seeing, being almost as tall as her shoulder! Celesse was ready to run, then remembered the still unmoving Link.
"Link!" Celesse said. "You really have to run now!"
Link still didn't react. Celesse sighed, realizing she couldn't leave the young hero to a rather gooey fate. She reached for her sword, then remembered she'd left it against a tree behind the chuchu! Groaning, Celesse cast about for a weapon against the chuchu. A rock or branch, anything would work!
Celesse's eyes fell on Link's sword. She quickly scooped it up and pointed it awkwardly at the chuchu. She was used to a normal sword, not one that split into two serrated, zig-zagging blades on a single handle, but it would have to do.
The chuchu was nearly upon the two Hylians when Link's horse reared with an angry squeal. Before Celesse or the chuchu could react, the horse slammed its hooves into the blob. The chuchu jolted, then exploded, spattering the ground with chuchu jelly.
"Well… that works," Celesse said. She appreciatively patted the horse, who nickered.
Celesse prodded the three globs of chuchu jelly aside. She knew traveling merchants were always looking for that sort of thing, but didn't really want to touch the stuff.
With the chuchu taken care of, Celesse turned back to Link. His eyes had closed, but nothing else had changed. If he'd noticed the attack, he didn't show it.
After retrieving her sword, Celesse resettled on the rock, keeping her back to the water and senses on high alert.
It was nearing midday when Link flinched. Celesse jumped to her feet as he shook himself. Link blinked dazedly around, frowning and reaching for something on his back. He focused on Celesse and, while his frown didn't leave, he relaxed.
"Are you alright?" Celesse asked.
Link nodded. His hands moved rapidly, as if he were speaking with them instead of his mouth. He ended the flurry of signals by pointing at the Dueling Peaks.
"You're leaving?" Celesse guessed.
Link nodded and turned to his horse. He noticed the chuchu jelly and blinked at it, looking at his horse, then Celesse.
"Your horse took care of it," Celesse explained.
Link grinned and patted his horse's nose, then fed it an apple from his pocket. He picked up the chuchu jelly and offered a glob to Celesse.
"Er… no, thanks."
Link shrugged and shoved the whole mess into his pocket. He hopped onto his horse, then held out his hand to Celesse.
"Oh, no, that's alright," Celesse said. "I want to look at the lake some more."
Link nodded. His hands moved rapidly, then he ended with his fist pressed to his chest. It seemed like some sort of salute. Before Celesse could ask, Link wheeled the horse around and kicked it into a gallop.
Celesse watched the pair race across the field, ignoring the road. Then, she turned back to the lake. She stepped onto the hill and peered across the water for some time, but never figured out what had caught Link's attention so intently.
A/N: If there's some sort of salute the Hylians use, I'd love to know it!
This is based on personal gaming experience, so the horse's name is Scruffy, Link has a dual-bladed lizalfos sword, and things like to jump out of the water at me! Also, I haven't gotten very far in the game, so no spoilers in the comments, please!