I'm Falling

VI. Doubt

Link pulled back his hair into its usual ponytail after drying it. He put on his nightshirt and pants, then exited the bath. The Hateno house was drafty and cold as the winter snow from Mt. Lanayru fell onto the grass outside. He checked the fireplace and made sure there was enough wood to last all night. Afterward he climbed the stairs to his bed and saw Zelda already there, peering out the window at the Dueling Peaks in the distance. The candlelight flickered against her soft countenance. Link climbed into bed beside her.

"It may be cold but it sure is peaceful." Zelda sighed. She wrapped her arms around her swollen midsection.

"A-Are you sure you're warm enough?" Link asked, his face flushed.

"I'm fine." She chuckled. "You get more nervous by the hour."

"Aren't you?"

"Of course. It's our child, after all." Zelda glanced down. "But...above all else, I feel happy. Blessed, even."

"I'm surprised…"

"What? That I became with child so fast?"

Link blushed. He put his hand behind his head. "N-no! I meant…"

"I know." Zelda laughed. "I'm ready. I have a feeling this child will be here by the end of the week."

"R-really?" Link's heart pounded. His palms became clammy at the thought.

"I think so. I know you're nervous now, but when you meet them you'll be so relieved."

"I don't know."

Zelda grabbed his hand and placed it on her midsection. His face flushed as he ran his rough hand over her bump. She smiled up at him.

"You're going to be a great father."

Link woke. Sweat beaded down his back and leaned up in bed. He clutched his head as it pounded. He realized was in his chambers at the castle. He groaned and tried to get up.

"Easy there," Riju called out to him. He stopped.

"Riju? What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Someone has to look out for you while Zelda's away." She chuckled. "Lean back in bed. It's late and I've got another dose of relaxant elixir to give you."

Link compiled. She handed him a small bottle and he drank it.

"I was with my researchers. We were using Zelda's lab to conduct more tests on the extract, since the technology here is much more involved. I was just about to head back to Gerudo Town when I heard you had collapsed."

"I found two undercover Yiga in the dining hall," he said. "One admitted to poisoning Rhoam."

"I heard from the guards that escorted you here. I must say, a father's wrath seems to be impenetrable."

Link flushed. "Am I that vengeful?"

"It's not a bad thing." Riju shook her head. "The Yiga deserve to face your wrath for all the suffering they have caused the citizens of this kingdom. I'll be happy to join you in the fight once again."

"One of them said they were working for Master Kohga's son."

"I see. We'll find him, Link. We'll tear all of them to shreds." Riju narrowed her eyes, then snapped out of it. "You need to rest through the night before I let you go riding off again."

"Why did I collapse?"

"The healers said it must be shock and pure fury. Your adrenaline ran high and you crashed quickly. I can only imagine, especially after finding out the truth." Riju sighed. "But I beg you take care of yourself, Link. Zelda and Rhoam will still need you once this is all resolved. Don't exhaust your power."

Link bit his lip. "Riju…"

"Yes?"

"Do...do you think I'm a good father?"

"Of course. Have you ever seen the way Rhoam looks up at you? He adores you and Zelda both, and you both adore him. Why ask?"

"I don't want him to grow up seeing me as a wrathful person."

"He won't. He sees you as a protector. I know because he's told me."

Link's eyes widened. "What?"

Riju nodded. She smiled softly. "He told me while you were recovering from the courtyard battle. He said his daddy saved him from the scary men."

"I still couldn't protect him…"

"Link, you've done everything you can. We'll find them and destroy them."

Link returned to Zelda in Tarrey Town. He found her and Kapson praying over Rhoam at sunset. When Kapson saw him he nodded and left them alone to have a moment of privacy. Link kissed Zelda lightly on the lips and took a seat in a spare chair beside her at Rhoam's bedside. She studied his face.

"What happened?" she asked with a voice of concern. "I can see it in your eyes."

"I found them." Link clenched his teeth. "I found the Yiga in the castle."

Zelda's breath hitched. "How?"

"They were in the dining hall. I overheard them. They were tracking us when we went to the Spring of Power, but lost us during the downpours. The chef was making the poison, which he supplied to a guard. He also planned to poison us by brushing the extract on fruit in the castle kitchen."

"W-what happened?"

Link dropped his head. Zelda wrapped her arm around him in concern.

"I-I killed them," he admitted in hoarse whisper.

Zelda sighed. "I can't say I wouldn't have done the same."

"I was filled with more wrath than I have ever felt in my life. My adrenaline and shock caused me to collapse. Riju looked after me while I rested."

"Please don't push yourself too hard," Zelda coaxed. "I worry about you, Link."

"How is he?

"The same. He wakes long enough for me to feed him, then falls back asleep. He sometimes wakes sportically a few times a day, but only for a couple minutes at a time."

"The Yiga are working for Master Kohga's son. I'm going to hunt him down."

"I know...but…" Zelda bit her lip. Her brows furrowed.

"What?"

"I've been studying the extract myself as well. I'm trying to find a elixir or extract that may be able to combat it."

"Have you found anything?"

Zelda leaned over to the nearby nightstand and grabbed a notebook off of it. She flipped it open to a creased page full of scribbles and diagrams.

"The extract is made of lynel parts and malice. These are materials of monstrosities and hatred. We might be able to reverse the effects with an elixir of holiness and light. I need a shard from the horn of one of the divine dragons. I also need materials that are known for their healing effects, perhaps truffles or radishes. But these things are so rare I-"

"I'll find them." Link nodded, his voice full of determination.

"Link, I don't know…it might not even work!"

"Every day we wait is a day that his condition could worsen. The prayers at the spring offered us a blessing but not a cure. We have to try it."

Zelda lowered her eyes. She shut the book. "Let me go with you."

"No." Link shook his head with disapproval. "He needs you, Zelda. One of us has to stay and look after him. I'll go and get the materials, you stay here and continue your research."

"Okay. You're right."

"I know where to get the materials. I'll get a shard of Naydra's horn from Lanayru bay. There are hearty truffles in the woods to the south of Divine Beast Vah Ruta. It won't take long."

"If that's the case, then I want to go to Zora's Domain. I've been researching, and Kapson told me there's an old recipe for a healing elixir for Zora ailments. It's extremely potent for a Zora, so he thought he it might work for a Hylian as well. However, it's a well guarded formula, and I would have to ask the King of the Zora's for the permission to get the healers to make it. Kapson said it's like this because Zora ailments are so rare, and the elixir is extremely effective. It's worth a try if the other doesn't work."

"Alright. That's worth a try as well. We'll leave in the morning."

Zelda rose off of her chair and grabbed Link's hand. They climbed into bed with Rhoam in between them. Zelda sighed, her palm leaning on her cheek. Link mimicked her position and gazed at her.

"I know it might not be the most appropriate time to say this…" He swallowed. "But you're so beautiful, Zelda. You're such a strong and wise mother...sometimes I worry about Rhoam but I remember he has you."

Zelda cradled his jaw. She shook her head, easily reading his mind. "He has you too. I know times are hard but that shouldn't make you question whether or not you're a good enough father."

"But it has. I've tried so hard to protect him-"

"You didn't fail at that. We're not at fault here, Link. This is malice in another form. I-I can't stand to see you doubt yourself like this! You love being a father. If it were up to you we'd already be trying for another child. That doesn't come from someone who doesn't see themselves as parent. It's normal to question it sometimes...but now is not that time. You're ripping yourself apart, rip those who did this to our family apart instead!"

Link's face flushed. He had forgotten his previous suggestion in the chaos they had been thrown into. Now he was stuck falling in an abyss of self-doubt. He inhaled and held his breath for a moment before releasing it.

"Maybe you're right…" he admitted with a whisper.

"I am right." Zelda brushed his hair with her fingers. "I don't regret marrying and having a child with you. I'm glad that when I look at my son I see you in him."

"Thank you, Zelda. I love you."

"I love you too."

They leaned into a kiss. When they pulled apart they heard the sheets rustled underneath them. Rhoam stared up at them with half-lidded eyes.

"Mommy!" he groaned. "I want a kiss too."

Link blushed and turned his head away. Zelda smiled and chuckled, kissing Rhoam on the forehead. Afterward, Rhoam giggled and tugged on Link's arm.

"I missed you, daddy," he whispered.

"I missed you too, Rhoam," Link whispered back.

"Are you still going to teach me to use a sword?"

"Yes. As soon as you're better. Mommy has a medicine she wants to give you, but I have to search for the supplies. We're leaving for Zora's Domain tomorrow, okay?"

"Do I get to see Uncle Sidon?"

"Sure." Link smiled. "Mommy and I are going to do everything we can to get you better."

"Okay." Rhoam yawned. "Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"Can I have a kiss, too?"

Link's heart pounded as he leaned his head down and placed a kiss on his forehead. Afterward, he fell back asleep, leaving him and Zelda alone to talk amongst themselves again. He couldn't tell his son part of "getting better" was hunting down those that had caused him harm in the first place. He couldn't say he had left for a few days to search for the traitors within their home. Link bit his lip. Rhoam had already saw him fight and get injured. He was aware of his father's strength. But was he aware of his wrath? What he had done at the castle to the traitors could never come to the attention of his son. Link refused to let his wrath show to him, despite it's presence pounding at his brain in full force.