Chapter 29: Horses (I'm getting SO creative with these titles (AAAHH PLZ HELP ME COME UP WITH A BETTER TITLE! THIS IS REALLY A BAD!))

It was only a few more days before the medics allowed Link to ride a horse. Despite being slightly worried about him, Zelda immediately suggested going to Zora's Domain, and her knight did not seem to mind. In fact, he seemed excited by it, though he wouldn't voice or show it.

Zelda hadn't really had very many moments to speak with him. Yes, she had seen him around the castle, but he had reverted to his silent knight mode. It scared her, how quickly he could act so relaxed and carefree, then shift to someone who was tense and silent.

But he had already revealed why that was to her. He found it necessary to look like the hero everyone sought.

He wouldn't have to try so hard if I did my own part better. Zelda thought bitterly. He has to suffer because of my foolishness.

"Princess." A knock on her study door. By the sound of it, a servant had been sent to give her whatever the message was. "The horses are prepared."

"I'll be there in a moment," Zelda called, sorting through her books. I'm most likely going to need these ones on Sheikah technology. They may help with my notes on Vah Ruta. Cited evidence will also help when Purah reads over them.

It wasn't long before Zelda had managed to balance all of the books (There were only six books, one of which was the book she had written notes on the Divine Beasts in, the other her diary) in her arms.

She made her way to the stable, and it didn't take too long to arrive.

Link was already there, rubbing Storm's snout. The horse seemed fond of Link.

The scene reminded Zelda of something that had happened what seemed like ages ago. "Now, Sir Link, you wouldn't happen to be bribing my horse, again, would you?"

Her knight turned his head towards her, his face blank. "Of course not, Your Highness," he said emotionlessly, with only a subtle emphasis on "course."

Zelda smiled slightly.

After approaching her horse, Zelda carefully packed her books into the saddle bags. "Well, I suppose we ought to be off, then," Zelda said as she placed her foot in the stirrup of Storm's saddle.

Storm reared his head around and snorted in her face. Then he walked forward, causing Zelda's foot to lose its grip, sending her tumbling toward the ground.

She felt arms catch her. After taking a few rapid breaths, she looked up at Link's piercing blue eyes. "Thank you," She said breathlessly.

Link merely nodded silently before pulling her to her feet.

"Well, you said you would help me with this one." Zelda gestured towards Storm, who snorted once again.

Link nodded again and stepped towards the white horse. Storm looked at him warily, but leaned in as Link rubbed its snout. "Patience is key," Link whispered so quietly Zelda's ears strained to hear it. "Merely yelling at the horse will not help you in the end." Zelda winced slightly at those words.

Link looked at her. "Try petting him."

Zelda walked to stand beside Link very cautiously. She realized that she hadn't ever really pet the horse.

Zelda raised her hand slowly, but hesitated.

A leather bound hand touched hers and pressed it softly onto Storm's snout. The horse's hair was bristly on her exposed fingertips, warmth spreading through her hand.

Link's hand retracted itself slowly, before he spoke. "Be sure to take time to soothe your mount. That's the only way it will know how you truly feel."

Storm blinked at her with inky black eyes eyes.

She felt Link's presence at her side leave her. She looked over to see him mount Epona with ease. I guess it's time to go.

She hesitantly mounted Storm, but instead of rearing his head and snorting at her, the steed merely let out a low rumble. Zelda looked over at Link.

Her knight was nearly as blank as he could be, but unless her eyes were deceiving her, there was a slight tug at the corner of his lips.

"So this will be your first time riding in a few weeks?" Zelda asked.

Link nodded.

Not getting a more detailed response, Zelda faced forward set Storm into a trot as they left the stable. Her father had said that she and her knight should ride through the streets so that the people could see them.

"It's always uncomfortable for me when I ride through town like this." Zelda said quietly. She turned her head around to look at Link, who was nodding.

Zelda faced forward again and steered Storm to the streets.

The people parted to allow their princess and hero to pass.

Link didn't go into public very often, so it was logical that so many gaped at him. Their whispering wasn't met by deaf ears, and she blocked out the ones about her failures. However, one conversation intrigued her.

"He's so young." One voice gasped.

"You know, I heard a rumor that he fought off fifty Yiga soldiers!" An enthusiastic voice butted in.

"Nah, that's impossible." Another, thick with country accent, replied.

"But it's true! Lady Purah told me herself!" A new voice chimed in.

With the mention of Yiga, Zelda had to suppress a shiver. Then she glanced back at Link, drew in a deep breath, and turned forward again. He's the one who was stabbed. Yet here you are, more shaken by that event than he is.

Then again, Zelda had learned that Link was extremely skilled at hiding emotions. But he still didn't seem like one to be frightened easily.

After they had passed the limits of town, with few to no travelers, Zelda glanced back at Link. His stoic gaze had melted, replaced by one of relief.

"So you don't like the crowds, either?" Zelda chuckled slightly.

Link nodded. "It's far too tense. And Purah has been spreading rumors about me, if my assumptions are correct."

Zelda laughed. So Purah is the one who started those rumors. Why didn't I guess before?

Zelda wondered why Purah would do that. She wasn't one to start rumors, usually seeking out proof that she was absolutely correct before telling anyone. Probably some experiment on how quickly rumors spread, or how much people will believe if a scientist told them. That seemed logical.

"Why ride so far behind? And I thought I was slow. Aren't you second only to the Hero Chosen by the Gods with horses?" Zelda added with a grin.

Link scoffed. "I didn't say that, Princess. If I recall correctly, I said that I am most certainly not the master of horses. Especially when compared to the hero."

Zelda shrugged. "If you say so. Even so, why won't you ride beside me?"

Link paused. "Well," He began slowly. "I always rode behind you in case I showed any unwanted emotion. Now it's habit."

"And old habits die hard." Zelda laughed, turning to face the path in front of her. "Well, you've been wanting to ride out here for weeks, right?"

A pause. Then; "Yes," Link admitted slowly.

"Then ride ahead if you wish." Zelda looked back, her green eyes meeting his piercing blue ones. "I certainly don't mind."

Link opened his mouth, as if to protest, then closed it. Instead, he launched Epona into a gallop, passing her with ease. Storm let out a snort, and Zelda yelped as her own steed increased its pace to follow.

Zelda stiffened her legs and sat up as straight as she could, remembering the lessons she'd had as a child. The horse wasn't galloping, thank goodness, it was cantering. The bouncing was still uncomfortable.

Ahead, Epona was steering around, and Link looped around Storm. When he passed, Zelda saw a lopsided grin on his face, and a sparkle in his blue eyes, making them warmer than their usual coldness. His smile was contagious, and Zelda couldn't help but smile back.

After weeks when they were kind of supposed to be doing something productive, they were finally heading for Zora's Domain.

Sorry it isn't super exciting. Hopefully next chapter will be more exciting. If you'd like a hint, they're going a kind of longer route- stopping at Woodland Stable. HINT, HINT! And I know that it says the Silent Princess memory is before Mipha, but that literally makes zero sense. So that's going to be afterwards. SORRY.

SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG! FOUR DAYS! ACK! I'VE BEEN READING, AND COMPOSING REALLY WEIRD MUSICS, AND ICE SKATING, AND BINGE WATCHING THE SHE-RA REBOOT! When I was little, I watched the original a bit too much, despite it being before my time. It was kind of like my current obsession with Zelda. And this new one is AMAZING! The old one was completely lacking of a real plot. Those of you that have seen it and think it SUCKS, I HATE YOU! Hah, J.K.! Everyone has their opinions, and I will respect that. I just really don't like yours.

REPLIES! (Uh... Secret review phrase? NAH, we're going to do a CHALLENGE. This challenge shall be to use ZELDA PUNS in your review!)

MeaninglessMayhem: Ah, puns. There is no truer art. Uh... maybe a LITTLE bit. I'm glad you liked it! I myself love it, but I'm usually slightly biased. Either in the way that I love it to death, or I want to kill it with fire. You know what? I... don't know. I'll have to look it up later. NO ONE LIKES YOU, GRAMMAR!

The-Fallen-Spirit: *clapping* Yay! Gold star for you!

Catseye: I really liked writing that chapter! I was kind of rushing at the end, but it was easier because I liked it! I thought it would be funny if Zelda and her horse had similar personalities. Because Zelda is REALLY stubborn. Kind of. Not sure I wrote her stubborn side very well at all in any of this story, but whatever. Hey, no one EVER does horse romance! And I thought it would be funny! So yeah. Love Link's character. Real fun to write! Not so fun when he's all stoic, though. So that's why his thoughts are usually really funny. FRIENDSHIP! I'm going to be really honest with you- I've never understood dialogue rules. The way I've been writing them is me guessing and stuff. So THANK YOU! It's REALLY appreciated! Like, SERIOUSLY! I'm so glad you like it, because there are some chapters I want to kill with fire.

Catseye (2.0): Don't worry! I have to sort of "Okay" guest reviews before they show up! So yup, it posted!

bladeofthebookworms: So glad you liked it! One of my favorite chapters, but I'm slightly biased. I guess the beginning wasn't super rushed, but the end was. I'm glad it worked out, though! I love Epona. I need to include her more in this story.

SmokeyMirrors: That's cool! I just used the name Storm because it was in this weird Zelda comic, but it sounded good. If I wasn't *cough* completely copying other people's names for consistency *cough* I probably would have named him something like that in this. I certainly looked at them! I was going to have them get attacked by Yiga or something, and Epona's alertness was what told Link, but then I thought "The poor guy need a break." So... yeah. Mistakes in her riding? I was kind of looking more into the interaction between her, because she was probably taught how to ride from a young age. But SURE! I mean, she hasn't galloped very much. I think. Probably. Uh... well, the rumors DID come up again in this chapter (XD)! Sleep is important! SLEEP! I mean, lack of sleep has kind of turned me insane, sooooo... yeah. Having fun is good! I'll TRY to keep writing, but I might end up busy composing really strange music things. ACK, BUSINESS! Hmm, yeah, I suppose they are.

SmokeyMirrors: Uh... I was getting kind of desperate. XD

RhymingRobin: YOU SHOULD GET YOUR SLEEP! SLEEP IS IMPORTANT! Well, I'm glad you liked it! I'm not sure all the chapters are the best (KILL IT WITH FIRE!), but as long as you liked it, it'll be FINE.

EDIT: Guys, I almost forgot! I wrote a BoTW oneshot, and I have a poll on what game I should do a oneshot from instead. Those of you that are guests, just write it in a review instead! I'll make note of it! ONESHOTS!

There you go! Thanks guys!

Sincerely (Most probably),

Ari