Warnings: SLIGHT Spoilers for Skyward Sword
"Water Dragon, you say?" Link prompted.
"Yes, she is a servant of the goddess," Zelda tugged at her arm, still entangled with Link's, "She might be able to help us reach Hyrule more quickly. Let's follow that creature!"
The creature, which resembled a seahorse in some ways, had skittishly begun swimming through the water. Link and Zelda hurried along the rock, following the creature's path from above the water. A sudden splashing from behind them caused the couple to turn around. "Master Link! Princess Zelda!" Thorolf sputtered as he flailed through the water, "Are you alright?"
Link helped Thorolf out of the water, "We're fine, Thorolf. Where are the other men?"
"They're coming," Thorolf coughed as he stood to his feet, "We had no choice. After you disappeared…we heard it…in the woods…"
Thorolf hunched over, spitting out lake water as Link and Zelda exchanged worried looks. "Heard what, Thorolf?" Zelda inquired.
"War cries of the Gerudo," Thorolf finally explained, "I'm afraid that they're closer than we thought, Master Link."
Link's arm tightened around Zelda's as he said grimly, "Then we best move quickly before they recognize our trail."
One by one, the other soldiers surfaced in the cavern. "What of the horses?" Zelda asked quietly.
"Epona knows the way to the castle," Link reassured her, "They'll be fine."
Zelda met Link's eyes, her sorrow evident, "Link, I'm so sorry."
"None of this is your fault," Link squeezed her hand gently as he laced their fingers together, "It'll all be fine, you'll see."
"So, eh, where are we, exactly?" Thorolf questioned, gazing up at the ceiling with awed wonder.
"This way," Zelda motioned to the men, resuming the path she'd begun with Link. The creature was nowhere to be seen, but it was evident where it had fled.
After clambering over a gate with Link's assistance, Zelda landed in an enormous chamber, gasping at the splendor of it. Link and the other soldiers soon joined her, their jaws hanging agape as they marveled at the room. "Ack! How did you get in here? Get out! Leave now! Shoo!" the creature snapped from the water, surfacing at Zelda's feet.
"We'll leave as soon as we can," Zelda knelt down, addressing the creature, "But if you please, may we speak to the Water Dragon, Faron?"
The creature bowed its head lowly, "Her excellence, Faron, passed on a century ago today."
Zelda could not mask her disappointment, her face falling. The creature continued, "We Parella, her servants, have continued to live here since, and we hold a grand feast each year to commemorate her excellence. Were you friends of hers?"
"I'm afraid we've never met," Zelda explained, her voice cheerless upon noting that they would not be receiving any assistance after all, "But I am descended of the line of Hylia."
The creature squeaked, bowing low in the water, "A thousand apologies! Had I realized who you were, I would have guided you here right away! I am Anemon of the Parella, at your service."
Zelda smiled halfheartedly, "Thank you, Anemon, but such cordialities are unnecessary. My friends and I, I'm afraid, are being pursued by a nasty foe. Is there perhaps a separate exit from which we might leave unnoticeably?"
"Oh, but you must stay for the feast!" Anemon insisted excitedly, "Faron would have been honored to have a descendent of the goddess present, I know she would! Whoever's pursuing you would never find you here—only we Parella and friends of the goddess can find the way! You can leave tomorrow after a refreshing night of food and sleep—please, you must stay!"
Zelda stood once more, turning to Link. She typically made decisions on her own, without hearing any input from Link. After all, she was the one who had been raised in royalty and best knew the workings of the court and the law. But she felt more at ease around Link now, and she thought it only fair to allow him some say since he had recently saved her life. "What do you think?" she questioned, hoping he'd politely decline. Frivolous merrymaking seemed like a waste of valuable time, and she was sure Link would see that as well.
To her surprise, Link shrugged, suggesting lightly, "I think a night of rest would do us good. The men are still stressed from our mission, and I'm sure one night wouldn't be enough time for the Gerudo to make any progress."
Zelda frowned, and Link sighed, noticing her displeasure, "Do what you think is best, Zelda."
Zelda glanced past Link, taking in the worn expressions of the soldiers. Even Link's own eyes still seemed weighted with exhaustion. She turned back to Anemon, "We'd be honored to attend, thank you."
Link smiled brilliantly at Zelda, and Zelda couldn't help but smile back. Even though her stomach churned with worry at losing time, she couldn't deny that the recent changes in her relationship with Link were welcome ones. They were friends again now, just as they had been as children. Zelda hoped to keep it that way for as long as possible.
"Wonderful! Prepare yourselves for a night of music, cuisine, and celebration!" Anemon chirped happily.
Zelda watched transfixed as the Parella swirled through the water, their movements delicate and light. The Parella had treated all of them to a fine banquet of different sea dishes, some of which the baby did not seem to care for. Nonetheless, most of it had been delicious, and Zelda could tell that the men were the most relaxed they'd been in days as they ate and joked together.
After the dance was completed, the Parella invited the soldiers to dance on the large floor which had once been Faron's throne room. Zelda herself was far too full and pregnant to dance, but she grinned brightly, laughing as she watched the soldiers clumsily imitate the graceful movements of the Parella, most of them tripping over their own feet. After several minutes of upbeat dancing, many of the men laughed at themselves and left the floor with reddened cheeks. The music then transitioned into a slower tune. Link, with his own cheeks scarleted from exertion and his breathing heavy, approached the sitting princess, bowing low before her after offering her a lazy grin. "May I have this dance?" he panted, his charm prevailing despite his disheveled appearance.
Zelda blushed, never expecting such a request. Feeling slightly better and not in the mood to disappoint, she stood and curtsied deeply, smiling back at Link, "But of course." She figured that the baby would not object to one, slower-paced dance.
Link's hand was sweaty as he led her to the floor, but Zelda didn't mind as much as she thought she would. She allowed Link to lead, the two of them twirling gradually from one corner of the floor to the next. Zelda's smile shone as she moved, giggling whenever Link spun her around. Yet, as the dance progressed, Zelda noticed that the few dancing soldiers remaining had now completely evacuated the floor, leaving only Link and herself. Her smile faded as the lighthearted and joyous atmosphere from before dissipated into something deeper. More serious.
Link's smile had also disappeared, as he instead watched Zelda's face closely, the music still playing softly in the background. Then—silence. The song ended and Link and Zelda froze, Zelda still wrapped in Link's arms. Link grinned shyly and ducked his head down, and Zelda realized exactly what he planned to do.
Zelda turned her head to one side hurriedly, biting her lip as Link's brow furrowed with confusion, sadness gleaming in his eyes. "Please, don't," she struggled to say, prying herself free and slowly walking back to her seat. She held her head high, hoping to convince the soldiers that she simply did not want to display affection publically. Hoping that they wouldn't recognize that actually, there wasn't any affection at all. Link stared after her retreating figure before also leaving the floor.
Thorolf cleared his throat awkwardly as Link returned to them, "Um, should we set up camp then, Master Link?"
Anemon swam up to the men, cheeping an interruption, "Camp? Nonsense! Help yourselves to our gigantic lily pads—they're most comfortable!"
Thorolf frowned, "You mean that we're to sleep on the lily pads?"
"Of course! It's quite an honor, you know! The lily pads are of the Faron herself's garden!"
Link shot Thorolf a look of disapproval, warning him not to be rude to their hosts, "Thank you; we'd love to."
Link and Zelda did not share a lily pad. Zelda stared up at the rocky ceiling above her as her makeshift bed floated through the water. She hoped the men wouldn't talk—about her and Link not sharing a lily pad, about her not allowing Link to kiss her. She sighed, glancing to the right to see Link also gazing upwards, his own lily pad a short distance from her own. "Link," she whispered.
Link responded immediately, rolling onto his side and facing Zelda, "Yes?"
"I'm sorry…about earlier," Zelda said quietly, "I just—we're finally friends, after almost a year of being constantly on edge with each other. I don't want to hurt you, but I don't want to ruin our progress—it wouldn't be wise."
Link smiled gently, "You haven't hurt my feelings, Zelda. In front of the soldiers and the Parella was no place for my actions, and I apologize."
"I'd prefer it, Link, if we, er, didn't kiss…at all," Zelda stammered out, feeling uncomfortable at her own request, "Is that alright?"
Link nodded, "Of course, Princess. It won't happen again."
"Thank you," Zelda returned to studying the ceiling, one hand tracing the outline of her stomach idly. The next day, they would proceed with their journey, and Link would still be her friend. Everything would be alright.
Zelda bit her lip. Anxiety was an emotion with which she was not well-acquainted, but she certainly was growing familiar with it now. "Go on," Impa coaxed, "It must be done. It's your duty, and you've insisted this is the only alternative with which you are satisfied."
Zelda nodded silently, leaping down from her horse, Impa's standing alongside it. She tried to ignore the haunting familiarity of her surroundings—it seemed like only yesterday she was here, scampering through the streets as a girl. She knocked on the cottage door, her hand shaking as she did. The door opened, and his eyes widened upon seeing her. She knew he recognized her, even after all the years that had passed. "Your highness!" he bowed respectfully, dropping to one knee.
"Please," Zelda begged, "There's no need for that. I-I have a diplomatic proposition to make to you. May I please come inside?"
Link nodded, confused as he allowed Zelda into the cottage. A woman's apron still hung in the small kitchen as Zelda seated herself at the table. A pair of boots too small to be Link's guarded the door. Zelda swallowed down her nervousness as Link sat across from her. "L-Link, I know that this is hardly a good time, but I'm afraid I've no time left," Zelda stammered, "I understand we know next to nothing about each other, but I hope you'll consider my offer all the same."
Zelda told him that she must be married, according to Hyrulean law, within a month. She told him that all of the suitors were terrible, and that she had yet to choose one. She apologized for his loss, apologized once more for the horrible timing of it all. She promised that he was not expected to love her, only expected to be loyal for her. "I just pray you consider and understand if you refuse," Zelda finished, her throat tight.
Link nodded slowly, his eyes distant as he spoke, "I will be whatever my country needs me to be, Your Highness. I only wonder if I'm…worthy?"
"No, you're perfect, really," Zelda assured him, "You're not arrogant and pompous like the many royals I've met, and you're a skilled swordsman, as the king is expected to be. I know it's…awkward, since we've not seen each other for so long, but we need only be friends, friends willing to protect Hyrule together."
Link nodded once more, speaking slowly, obediently, "Then I accept my duties, Princess Zelda."
"Please, I'll just be Zelda, now."
"Alright, then I accept your proposition. Zelda."
SURPRISE! Don't expect this to become a regular thing because I'll have to work extra hard to get that chapter up in time this Friday, but I thought you deserved some kind of reward for always putting up with my tardiness. See you all in two days I hope!