Chapter 7 - Downtime

"You didn't!"

Zelda stared at Link, her jaw slack and fingers half covering her mouth. It was difficult to imagine what he'd just told her, but he confirmed it anyway.

"A couple times actually."

"A couple?" Pursing her lips, Zelda shook her head, relating, "I don't believe you."

"It's true," Link insisted with an amused smirk from his resting spot against the smooth rock wall of the cave they'd chosen to camp within—not that it was an actual cave. Instead, the entrance turned out to be a large rock overhang forming a wide tunnel which led them to a pristine pool of water at the base of a modestly sized fall.

The outcropping of rock serving as their roof extended only a short way over the water, allowing in a decent amount of light as a thin fog rolled around them from the waterfall on the opposite side of the pool. It was a serene area, and the pool was shallow enough to wade into without needing to swim, providing the perfect opportunity to take care of their bathing needs—individually of course.

Zelda went first, bathing while Link worked to set up camp and start a fire, his back turned to her the entire time. As a result, she couldn't stop smiling, and not simply because she trusted him enough to know he wouldn't look. She also appreciated the relief being clean provided even if the water was too cold to allow for a lengthy bath.

It was an aspect both of them complained about, Link remarking you weren't kidding the moment he'd waded into the pool. But neither of them minded so much to let it stop them, and were now resting comfortably around the warmth of the fire.

And Zelda had gotten so used to seeing Link fully geared up that his current state of casual wear seemed strange.

Neither were fully dressed after opting to take the chance to clean their clothing as well, and the act left Link in nothing more than his white tunic, brown pants, and his boots. With his arms up behind his head, he looked completely relaxed—even his drying hair was now hanging freely about the nape of his neck, and she had the strongest urge to run her fingers through it.

Such thoughts made it difficult to focus when he continued their conversation.

"The Gerudo are all women, and they have romantic relationships all the time."

"No, I believe that part. What I mean is that I don't believe you actually watched them."

"I didn't watch them," he countered. "I just saw them. The first time, I was at a party and Nabooru sent me to grab one of the wine casks from the cellar, but when I got there, Nadine and Elise were just … going at it."

He could barely speak the last without snorting in amusement, and Zelda was torn between laughing, staring, and teasing him for being a peeping tom. Try as she might, it was just too difficult to imagine a fifteen year old Link stumbling across two women engaged in an intimate act, at least, not without watching out of curiosity over what they were doing.

That's when he qualified, "But I didn't know what they were doing. It just looked like they were trying to bite each other, so I ran away."

Now, Zelda laughed, finding that more believable. Dragging a brush through her wet hair in the hopes of getting it to dry faster due to the cold, she said so. "I think I would've done the same thing. But you said you saw them more than once."

With his eyes shut, he gave a sheepish smile, but didn't seem to have a problem admitting, "It wasn't Nadine and Elise, but a few years later, I was delivering some wrought iron to our smithy and I'd planned to leave it at their door and move on. But the sounds coming from inside caught my attention, and the window wasn't exactly closed."

Zelda's snickering sounded followed by shuffling, and Link opened one eye to see her wrapping the cloak he'd purchased in Engleton around her body—and he was grateful for it. Their baths had left her in a modest, white slip and her knee high boots, but though the material of the garment wasn't sheer, it was flimsy enough to hug her feminine curves, leaving little to the imagination over the shape of her body.

Sadly, he didn't think Zelda realized just how frustrating the sight was, especially when she was questioning him about the source of his experience with kissing. So he'd closed his eyes as if to rest, but in reality, he was fighting temptation by ignoring it.

Still, now that she'd covered up, it seemed safer to open his eyes, and he did so before concluding his story.

"So I looked inside and … well, I don't have to tell you what I saw. But what I didn't realize was that someone had followed me, and about two seconds after I decided to peer through the window, she made her presence known."

Zelda's smile grew as she remarked, "Let me guess, Nabooru."

"Thankfully no," Link chuckled out. "She never would've let me live it down. You saw how she teased me about Masita, and she doesn't even know the whole story."

"Then it was Masita, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," he confirmed with a smirk. "She thought I was trying to peep, but I guess my shock told her I was just genuinely surprised that I'd come across such a … private moment. So she never teased me about it."

Nodding, Zelda tilted her head and asked in a slight change of subject, "How old is she again?"

"About our age, maybe a year older."

"And when she found you uh … peeping, is that when she taught you how to kiss?"

Link couldn't stop himself from snorting in amusement, and Zelda must've found the reaction extremely confusing because she quickly asked, "What?"

Shaking his head, he mentioned, "I think I told you about how we were sparring partners?"

"Yes, and you said she always made losing feel like winning."

Zelda hadn't forgotten that comment if only because she'd found it so strange. Now, Link explained, "That's because she was forward, and we did a lot of playful flirting that eventually led her to play a little game where the winner of our matches would get a kiss as a reward."

Finally, the comment made sense. If Link got a kiss even after losing a match, then of course, it would've felt like winning—and Zelda couldn't help feeling jealous. Yet her envy wasn't directed at Masita for kissing him, and instead, she only wished she'd been part of his life, too.

Still, she was happy they were together now, and smiled at his explanation, asking, "Was she pretty?"

Cautiously, he inquired, "Are you going to get mad if I say yes?"

"No, I promise."

Nodding in a manner that proved he trusted her, he answered, "Yes. She had long black hair and green eyes, which was a little unusual for the Gerudo. Most of them have red hair and gold or yellow eyes."

Keeping her promise, Zelda didn't get angry, though she couldn't help feeling inadequate in comparison to the description he'd given. But before that feeling got the better of her, Link qualified, "Still, I always remembered a girl I used to know, and though I couldn't recall her name or what she looked like, I did remember thinking she was much prettier, possibly with fair hair, and I somehow knew she had pointed ears like mine."

A blush lit her cheeks, and while she knew his flattery would've caused such a shy response anyway, it was more intense now that she knew how he felt about her. So she hid her timidity with a little humor.

"Are you saying I'm your dream girl?"

Instead of laughing, Link's expression grew thoughtful, and he tilted his head as if to seriously concede her point. "Now that you mention it, it is kind of fitting."

Reaching over, Zelda pushed on his arm, causing him to snicker as she shook her head. "So then, lover boy, what happened after she found you looking through that window?"

Though his grin persisted, it took on a scandalous quality as he rubbed the back of his neck with his answer.

"Well, let's just say it opened the door on a few topics of conversation we hadn't discussed yet. One thing led to another, and we wound up learning quite a bit about the opposite sex."

Hearing this, Zelda stared with her jaw agape for several moments before finding enough clarity to ask, "You slept with her?"

The question came out as a whisper despite the fact that they were alone, and Link tried his best not to smile or laugh, afraid she'd think he was making fun of her. But her reactions were so sweetly endearing that it wasn't easy.

So he tried to keep her innocence in mind while answering sheepishly, "Twice."

"What!"

The incredulity in her voice finally snapped his restraint, a loud laugh filling the cavern around them that she shoved him for letting.

"Don't laugh at me!" she grumbled. "It's not funny."

"No, it's just cute," he returned with a warm smile. Still, her reaction was bothersome, prompting the question, "Why? Does it upset you?"

Eyes going wide, Zelda shook her head. "No, not at all! I'm just … I got the feeling there was something between the two of you, but I never would've guessed it was so … significant."

"Significant?" he asked, shaking his head. "Masita and I were never serious about each other, Zelda. We were just having fun."

Having fun? Zelda bit her lip, unsure how to feel about the things he was telling her. Perhaps if she had more experience in intimate affairs, it would be easier to understand. But though it was difficult to imagine having sex just for fun, it was relieving to know he was never in love with Masita.

Still, she was curious about the act itself, but almost too afraid to ask.

The look on her face must've said as much because he curiously asked, "What's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh! Nothing, I was just wondering … well, I mean um … ."

As she stammered, it became increasingly obvious that she was approaching the subject as if she were a … well, a blushing virgin. The thought nearly made her eyes roll. Perhaps she had no experience, but that didn't mean she couldn't conduct herself like an adult.

So she finally stated her question with as much poise as she could muster.

"Was it fun?"

Link nodded, not at all surprised that she'd ask. But he had no idea how to sum up the experience in words, and truth be told, it was probably the worst question Zelda could've asked if only because of his feelings for her. That wasn't to say he had any qualms with her knowing, and yet his answer brought to mind the curiosity of what sex would be like with her.

The mere thought of it had him struggling for an ounce of composure.

With Masita, it was precisely as he'd said—fun for the sake of having fun. They'd taken an opportunity to explore, and neither were displeased by the results. But their feelings for each other didn't extend beyond friendship, and the notion of doing those same things with a woman he loved as much as Zelda was … indescribable.

He must've drifted off a little too deeply into thought about it because he soon found her nudging him and urging, "Well?"

"Sorry," he started, waving a hand with the words, "I was trying to figure out how to answer, and all I can think to say is yeah, it was fun."

She pursed her lips. "That's it?"

Shrugging, he qualified, "It was … satisfying?"

Satisfying? Zelda hid her disappointment, having hoped for a more detailed answer, though she had to question just how much she really wanted him to talk about his affair with another woman. Still, his past didn't upset her for as surprising as it was, and instead, she was genuinely curious about the act itself when reading books devoted to the subject only provided so much information.

Then again, perhaps the only way to discover more was through personal experience, and if so, she certainly wasn't ready to jump in and find out.

So she settled on giving a generic response instead of pushing for information. "Oh, well at least it's not bad then. Right?"

"No," Link returned, adding, "it's just hard to explain how it actually … feels. Still, that's the reason I know anything about kissing."

She'd definitely gotten her answer on that score at least, nodding as she turned to join him on the only dry blanket available. She was just thankful her shyness wasn't strong enough to leave her feeling uncomfortable, though a bit of pesky embarrassment was still clinging to the situation.

Still, as soon as she settled next to him, she reached up and covered her mouth with a loud yawn, then rubbed her eyes. Perhaps fatigue was the reason she couldn't bring herself to care about timidity, and after their overnight ride to Misty Falls, her lids were definitely getting heavy.

Yet she wanted to continue their conversation if only because it was helping her to relax.

So she leaned back against the rock wall next to him and pointed out, "By the way, you told me the Gerudo are practiced thieves."

"Yeah, what about it?"

As he asked the question, Link slipped an arm around her lower back, and she had to fight to focus instead of giggling like a silly girl. Thankfully, she managed, asking her next question with relative ease.

"Did you ever steal anything?"

"No, though I did ask Nabooru to teach me how to pick people's pockets."

Confused, Zelda asked, "Why?"

"Because it was a helpful skill to have in some of the places we visited, like at a ranch called Lon Lon. It was a nice place, quiet, and there weren't many shady types about, except at their pub where we'd stopped for something to eat. I'd left my satchel at the table to place an order at the bar, and noticed someone sneaking a rupee out of it while I was there."

Smirking, he concluded, "But they didn't know I saw them, so on the way back, I just stole it back."

Smiling, Zelda found herself turning toward him without thought to rest her head against his shoulder, her grogginess growing stronger. At the thought, she quietly regarded their surroundings, the cliff sides rising up through the foggy mists created by the waterfalls. It was definitely peaceful for their idle chatter, made even better by the way Link tightened his hold on her as his own eyes drifted shut.

And she didn't think she'd ever been so comfortable.

But before she closed her eyes to rest, a thought struck, and she lifted her head to inquire, "I almost forgot to ask, why was Lyonel in Engleton?"

Realizing he hadn't relayed that information, Link's eyes cracked open and he looked down at her with his answer. "He took me to see the lake and the guardian that's been unleashed by Zora's Domain."

"Guardian?"

Yawning, Link nodded. "It's some kind of fish or … something. I saw it jump from the water like one of those whales I've heard stories about, so the lake's not safe to travel right now. Lyonel said to consult Myriad about it, and told me there's a stone hidden somewhere in this area."

"Hmm," Zelda drew out, though her groggy state didn't allow for much consideration over it. But it didn't matter. Whatever mysteries they needed to solve could wait until they'd rested—though Link had another surprising piece of information to relate.

"It also seems Arden knew Lyonel a long time ago, long enough to know who his wife is."

As she turned a questioning gaze up to his face, Link supplied, "Lyonel is married to Myriad."

With her lips parting in surprise, she asked, "Myriad?"

At his nod, Zelda lowered her gaze again, frowning as she unwittingly rubbed her cheek against Link's shoulder. "How sad … to know she's trapped within the Sacred Realm and … ," trailing, she sighed and drew out, "Poor Lyonel."

They'd both questioned whether Myriad had family in this world, but learning the truth didn't make either of them feel any better. To know Lyonel had literally lost his wife was heartbreaking, and it couldn't have been easy for her to have given up her husband just to save him.

"Yeah," Link agreed, yawning once more before groggily musing, "but still, maybe we can find some way to change things for them."

His thoughtful suggestion made her smile, and she lifted her hand to rest against the center of his chest, focusing on the rhythm of his heart beating beneath her fingertips. Whether there was a way to help Lyonel and Myriad or not, she loved him even more for considering the possibility, and was grateful that—for now at least—they'd gotten this chance to enjoy a little downtime together.

Her only regret was that it couldn't last longer.

Yet she paid such regrets no mind, and when she felt Link's arm growing lax around her as he drifted off to sleep, she whispered meaningfully, "Sleep well, Link. I love you," before swiftly following him.

As the Palace of Hyrule awaited news, silence became the music of choice for the throne room.

Despite the increased unrest throughout the kingdom, Ganondorf wasn't concentrating on elaborate plots or schemes. With one ankle crossed above the opposite knee, his fist beneath his jaw and elbow resting upon the arm of the throne, he merely enjoyed the silence of contemplation, knowing the key to what he needed was just within his grasp.

Lyonel. Myriad's husband.

Arden's failure to stop his true nemesis at the Temple of Time was a disappointment, and yet Ganondorf couldn't bring himself to be entirely displeased by the outcome. Dragmire said the Triforce halves Link and Zelda possessed were necessary to open the Sacred Realm, meaning if Arden had killed them as commanded, the search for those pieces would've taken much longer to accomplish.

Instead, the Captain delivered Impa, a weak but well-informed foe of Dragmire's who'd provided some surprisingly useful information—not that Ganondorf was impressed initially. Yet Arden mentioned his surprise to learn that Lyonel still lived, and also related his marital status.

Ganondorf only vaguely recalled Lyonel from his youth, and knew he was the former captain of the royal guards, but not much else. So he was pleased to realize the Hylian might be used against the Sage of Light by forcing her to direct Link and Zelda to Hyrule Palace instead of continuing their hopeless quest to defeat him.

Judging by the stories he'd heard of Myriad, it was difficult to say whether such a plan would actually work. She'd all but thrown her marriage away by allowing herself to be trapped within the Sacred Realm, so who could say whether she truly cared for Lyonel at all.

Regardless, the chance to find out was too good to pass up, and Ganondorf had but one response to give Arden, being a single order. Go to Roshala now and bring Lyonel here.

Any moment, the Captain would return, and as the thought struck, the silence permeating the throne room was broken by the thud of the doors.

Yellow eyes cracking open, he gazed ahead at the soldier who'd entered—and it wasn't Arden. Instead, one of the Captain's officers was approaching the throne, dropping down to a knee in a proper show of respect the moment he reached the landing of the elevated seat of power.

Seeing this, Ganondorf listlessly remarked, "Rise up, tell me your news."

Doing as commanded, the soldier stood straight and spoke, "Arden ordered our contingency to return here two nights ago saying he'd be able to move faster tracking Lyonel by himself. The fugitive was heading toward Lake Hylia, and as we traveled, we heard several rumors of a revolt forming against you, Your Majesty. So Arden believes this is where Lyonel was heading and said to waylay this information to you along with his plans to return with the fugitive once he's ascertained its location."

Ganondorf didn't respond, and hadn't moved a muscle since the soldier started giving his report. But he heard every word, and wasn't precisely impressed. Another revolt? How … quaint.

At most, the notion of hapless citizens once again rising up as if to stop him was irritating—but nowhere near as irritating as the report he'd just received. Still, he showed patience, inquiring, "Is this all you have to tell me?"

"Yes, my Liege."

Giving a single nod, Ganondorf stood from the throne and replied, "Thank you for returning with such worthless information."

Instantly, the soldier frowned. "I'm sorry, my—"

The words were cut off by a loud crack, the sound coming from the floor. Capturing the soldier's attention, he looked down to see several breaks in the marble forming with vines sprouting from beneath. Growing larger and longer in no time, those vines were soon covered in sharp, poisonous thorns—and they were all moving in his direction.

"No! Please—ahh!"

With nowhere to run, the soldier's agonized cry filled the throne room as the vines aggressively grabbed him, winding around torso and limb. His armor provided some protection, but not enough as the thorns punctured the metal in growing larger. Digging deep, his feet left the floor with several droplets of blood spattering against the marble, his body hanging in a tangle of merciless barbs as Ganondorf ignored his cries to issue his own statements.

"You allowed Lyonel to escape and followed him for what?" Each word saw his voice growing louder until it was booming throughout the throne room. "I never asked you to seek the location of some meaningless revolt! I wanted—"

Abruptly stopping himself, Ganondorf straightened his shoulders, realizing this witless worm could never fully comprehend what he desired, even if given a thorough explanation. These fools are simply too weak in body and mind.

Descending the stairs at the thought, he silently rounded the tangle of vines holding the struggling soldier aloft and made his way to the door.

Outside, he issued an order to the two guards standing sentry.

"Gather a group of our most skilled soldiers, but don't be too selective. Tell them I have a gift to provide, and have them brought to the throne room within two days to receive it."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," both replied, bowing to their king before departing their post with haste.

Once alone, Ganondorf stared through the open doors of the throne room at the soldier still entangled in the barbs, considering the news he'd just received. Though displeased by Arden's course of action, he certainly didn't blame the Captain for taking matters into his own hands. So that, at least, could be forgiven. However, Ganondorf's mercy would depend on the status and alacrity of Arden's return.

As for the rest of the soldiers, they simply worked too slowly. So it was time to grant them a taste of power.