New post! It's a shorter one so I may do an extra chapter mid week to make up for it :)
Guest: Thank you for the kind words, twice! I am really glad you are enjoying the story! I likely will do a sequel but maybe not right away so stay tuned!
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After the feast, Zelda made her way out to the fountain in the center of the domain. She hadn't been able to eat very much since her mind was occupied elsewhere. King Dorephan had asked her a few obligatory questions and other guests had also spoken with her. She had been sure to answer politely but soon, the conversations went their separate ways and left the princess behind. Several had wondered where Mipha and Link had gone off to and there was some speculation further down the table that Zelda couldn't quite make out but she knew their guesses had little to do with the lynel.
She gazed at the glowing structures before her. The way the domain was crafted was truly incredible but she wasn't quite able to appreciate it in the way she had hoped. Her eyes wandered up the mountain. Polymus mountain, where Link and Mipha had headed towards was where this fearsome lynel was. She knew Link could handle his own against the beasts. She had seen him take down three at once but he'd also been injured so she worried about him.
At least Mipha will be there to heal any wounds… Zelda thought with a tinge of jealousy. When her knight had been injured before, Zelda couldn't do anything to help. Everything she had tried to do just seemed to hurt him even more.
She walked toward the railing around this level of the domain and leaned against it. The two had been gone for quite some time now and Zelda began to wonder if someone should go looking for them but a part of her also wondered if they really wanted to be found. The princess had heard the rumours about the beautiful, red-scaled Zora princess and her own courageous, handsome knight. The most innocent rumours spoke of their closeness while the more vulgar ones hinted at a physical relationship between them. Her heart ached at the thought of what the two of them might be doing together right now. Had there even truly been a lynel or was that just an excuse to have some alone time?
Zelda straightened, If they are together, there is nothing to be done about it right now. I have no claim to him and he is free to do has he wishes with any woman who will have him. She turned, determined to give the matter no further thought, and headed towards the inn.
Despite her determination, she was awake the whole night, plagued with thoughts of what could be happening between her knight and the Zora princess. As the hours dragged on, her knight didn't return to the inn until the early hours of morning and he snuck into his own bed quietly.
Zelda's tears flowed silently down her cheeks as she watched him fall asleep.
When Link woke, Zelda had already prepared the horses for their journey. She was clearly ready to get going so he skipped breakfast and headed toward where they had kept their horses.
Mipha walked over to them as Link tied his bag to the saddle. "You're leaving already?"
Zelda stiffened, "We must get going. I am to pray at the Spring of Courage before we head back to the castle."
Link frowned toward the princess, noting her change in posture, before his attention was brought back to the Zora. "I'm saddened to see you go. You only just arrived."
Link smiled at his friend and was about to speak before Zelda cleared her throat, "I'm sorry for such a short visit but with the prophecy looming over us, there is very little time to waste."
"I understand. Safe travels and please come back to visit when you can." She said this while looking at Link.
Link just nodded to Mipha and climbed into the saddle.
Zelda spurred her horse forward at a trot and Link hesitated a moment, looking between his charge and the Zora princess before spurring Epona after her. That was strange…
When he caught up to her, the path narrowed so they had to ride single file. He couldn't see her face to determine if something was actually wrong or if she really was that eager to continue on their journey. Link had never been to the Spring of Courage but she had mentioned it to him before along with the importance of praying at each of the springs to unlock her sealing powers.
It wasn't until they reached the wetlands that the road opened wide enough for them to travel side by side but every time Link started to move in beside her, Zelda seemed to speed up so he fell in behind her.
While they had often ridden in silence together, this was not the companionable silence they had grown accustomed to recently. This was a heavy silence that weighed on Link and he couldn't help wondering just what he had done wrong this time or if something had been said to her while he was up the mountain.
Finally, as they were approaching Kakariko Village, the home of the Sheikah, Link finally spoke up. "What is troubling you, Princess?"
She shook her head in response.
He was about to press further when the sound of hoofbeats caught his attention. He looked out into the field they were crossing when he spotted four bokoblins riding horses and galloping their way.
Link cursed and Zelda gasped as she spotted them too. "Ride towards Kakariko. I'll take care of them and give you a head start."
"I won't leave you behind this time." Zelda responded flatly.
"Just go!" He yelled, exasperated but the enemies were almost upon them so Link spurred Epona forward as he drew the Master Sword. He didn't hear whatever Zelda said and soon, as the nearest one raised its bone spiked club, his blade struck home in the monster's side. It dropped the club as it held its side and shrieked in pain.
The next one raised its bow and took aim at Link as he circled around. He could see Zelda in the same spot as before, trying to hold her mount steady. Link raised his shield in time to deflect an arrow then spurred Epona into a gallop towards Zelda. He smacked the white stallion on the rump as he went by and the horse cried out as it launched forward. Zelda screamed as she tightened her grip on the reigns. Link turned back to fight the pursuing bokoblins and took out another one along the way. The swipe with the sword didn't hit in a way to kill it but the impact knocked it from its seat and Epona's hooves finished him off.
The remaining two were archers and Link dodged a couple of arrows in his approach. The first one was knocking another arrow when he reached it and Link swung his sword through the wooden bow, breaking it and continuing through the bokoblin. The last one had knocked another arrow and was taking aim again. Link saw it aiming for his horse so he steered his mount in an erratic path towards his target so the arrow flew wide, landing harmlessly in the grass. It tried to quickly prepare another arrow but Link's sword dispensed of the bokoblin before it could get a chance.
Link rode his horse around to gather the reigns of the other horses and tied them to the horn of his own saddle, leading them along with him.
Zelda had managed to get her horse under control at this point and rode back towards him. He could almost see the steam shooting out her ears but her anger dissipated when she spotted the four horses he was leading.
"What do you plan to do with them?" She asked as she pulled her horse along side the others.
He nodded toward the steps leading up to the village. "I'm not sure where those monsters got them from but I'm sure the Sheikah would be able to give them good homes."
That seemed to calm the princess somewhat as she examined the horses. The signs of abuse at the hands of the bokoblins were obvious. The horses' ribs and hips were protruding and there were sores where the monsters had beat them into submission.
Her expression softened with pity for the poor beasts. They rode together in a more comfortable silence and as they approached the village, several Sheikah ran out to meet them.
"Princess! Champion Link! We didn't know you were coming." One of the men said as he ran up to them to take the extra horses. He looked the beasts over quickly and looked up questioningly towards the princess.
"Please have these creatures wounds cared for and give them a decent meal. They have been through quite the ordeal and deserve a tender hand now." Zelda replied to the silent question.
The man nodded and handed the reigns off to the others as they approached. A small boy ran out to them as well and the man turned to him, "Baile, run to the inn and have two rooms prepared for the Princess and the Hylian Champion."
The little boy nodded and ran back toward the village. "I hope you did not have too much trouble reaching us…" the man said with concern as he watched the horses plodding back toward the village.
Link shook his head in response and Zelda chimed in, "Just those four bokoblins. Link was able to dispense with them easily, though."
The man nodded and walked with them to the village.
The excitement of a royal visit had set the village abuzz as they walked in. The horses had been led to a stable behind the inn and the message of their arrival was spreading around them as people stopped to look up at them as they passed. Link still wasn't comfortable with all the attention but Zelda handled it with the ease of a lifetime of practice.
He didn't know if she was still upset with him or if she had moved on but he decided to wait and see how the remainder of the day went before he would decide to bring it up again.
They dismounted in front of the inn and passed the reigns off to the Sheikah who worked there. Zelda rubbed her rear and did a little stretch before walking up the steps and into the building. Link hesitated a moment before following her. Inside was packed with Sheikah. Rooms had been prepared for them and a hot meal was being made. Link hadn't eaten since the day before and he didn't know if Zelda had eaten anything for breakfast so the aroma that reached them certainly was welcoming.
The Sheikah didn't have chairs and instead had pillows they would kneel on around a low table for eating at. It wasn't the epitome of comfort but after a full day of riding, he was thankful not to have to sit normally.
They stood and walked slowly through the room to stretch their stiff legs until food was brought out a short time later. They kneeled and both ate heartily at the delicious meal of seafood stir fry over rice. Link finished his first and a second bowl was brought out. Zelda finished hers and headed up to her room in silence.
Link finished the second bowl and went up after her. He knocked on the door but there was no answer. Maybe she is just tired… it was a long day… he thought before turning in to his own room next door. As he settled into his bed and started to fall asleep, he could hear faint sobbing in the room next door.
The day had not been easy for Zelda. She was hurt but couldn't even really explain why to herself. She had no claim to him and he hadn't made any indication that he was interested in her back as anything other than a friend or as part of his duties as her appointed knight and yet…
After tossing and turning for most of the night, she finally got up and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and stepped out of her room. She tip-toed towards the balcony and gasped when she stepped out and saw fireflies floating on the air above the stream that trickled through the village.
The lights on the little bugs flickered as they seemed to dance to the music of crickets with the odd owl adding its own notes as accompaniment.
She hadn't heard him approach but looked up at him when he reached his hands out to rest on the rail beside hers. She picked up her own hands and drew the blanket around herself tighter, feeling a sudden chill from the damp air.
He looked back down at her and gave her a small smile that made her heart ache all over again. She had been unfair to him yet again today. He had known something was wrong and had even asked her about it but she couldn't possibly tell him what she was upset about when she knew she had no right to be upset about it in the first place.
She gave a weak smile back then looked back out towards the fireflies. She could feel his gaze upon her for a moment longer before he, too, looked out as the insects performed their aerial dance.
The view gave them an excuse to remain silent despite the growing chasm between them though Zelda knew that she couldn't ignore it for long and would need to come up with something to tell him.
"Couldn't sleep either?" Link finally asked, breaking the silence and the magic of the fireflies' dance.
Zelda shook her head, "I… couldn't turn my mind off." That was true at least.
Link nodded. There seemed to be more he wanted to say but couldn't bring himself to say it. They were silent for a moment longer but then Link spoke up again, "I'm sorry… if I've done something to upset you."
Zelda blinked back tears and waited for the lump in her throat to dissolve, "It's not… I – I'm just nervous. About the Spring of Courage." She lied.
He eyed her sidelong as though he didn't quite believe her but didn't question her on it. "You're worried about your powers…" He said finally.
Zelda looked down, embarrassed. This was the first time he had ever directly addressed her inability to access her birthright.
"I don't know when or how you'll be granted those powers but I can't imagine a goddess you're descended from keeping them from you when the world needs them most." He said softly.
As always, he managed to address her fear on the subject without adding any pressure for her to pray harder than she already was. He never made her feel like she was inadequate with regards to her own role in the prophecy. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and he met her eyes before she leaned into him. He hesitated then wrapped his arms around her as soft sobs shook her small frame. He held her until the tears stopped and she pulled away. She wiped her eyes on the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. "I'm sorry…" She whispered, embarrassed.
"Don't be." He replied, soothingly. She couldn't look up to meet his gaze but she could feel the warmth in his eyes as he gazed down at her. He looked out at the night again and spoke, "We should go back inside. Whether we continue to the Spring of Courage tomorrow or not, I have a feeling it will be a long day."
Zelda nodded and led the way back into the inn. He walked with her to her door and she turned to look up at him. "Thank you, Link."
He nodded and looked down at her. Tension seemed to pull them closer together as they gazed into each other's eyes. Link leaned in and Zelda tilted her face up toward him but he reached past her and opened her door. "Good night, Princess."
She blinked a couple of times before blushing then stepped into her room. "Good night, Link…" she said before closing the door and leaning her forehead up against the wood. /What just happened?/
A moment later, Link walked into his own room and sat down on his bed before letting out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. /You fool… you almost kissed her! She is the princess and you are just a knight. You can't forget your place, you idiot!/
He lay back on the bed and for the second night in a row, neither of them got much sleep.