Warnings: SLIGHT Innuendos, SLIGHT Spoilers for Ocarina of Time
"So tell me more about these Gorons," Link said to Zelda, the two of them leading a small band of soldiers up the side of the mountain.
"Well, there's been little contact with them since the ancient times," Zelda explained, "But I believe they're known for eating rocks."
"Rocks?" Link's nose scrunched with distaste, "Well, we'll have to politely decline if they invite us to feast with them."
Zelda laughed, even though the joke was hardly funny. Link smiled proudly at his accomplishment, Zelda shyly smiling back as she tried to stifle her giggling. She bashfully looked forward once more, gasping as she abruptly fell to her knees. Her arms flew around her waist, hugging herself tightly as her eyes clenched shut with pain. "Zelda!" Link was kneeling beside her within moments, "Zelda, are you alright?"
Zelda couldn't bring herself to speak with the throbbing sensation, so she focused her mind on Link, "I'm fine."
"Is it the baby?" came Link's silent answer which only Zelda could interpret.
"No, just…stomach pains," Zelda felt her concentration wavering.
"Maybe that means it's the baby, Zelda." Zelda could feel Link's hand rubbing her back soothingly.
"No! We've got a little over a month still. It's not time!" Zelda could practically feel the panic spreading throughout her body. It was too early; she could not give birth to her baby on a mountain! She could not become a parent when she was only just recently on speaking terms again with her husband!
"Master Link," Thorolf and the other soldiers had encircled the couple, "do we send for help?"
Zelda gasped, gradually finding her breath once more. "I-I'm fine," to her surprise and relief, she felt the pain fading from her body, "Just a…bad cramp, I suppose."
Link shook his head subtly in reply to Thorolf and the others, turning his attention to Zelda once more. "A little over a month?" he whispered, "I thought it was closer to two."
"It could be if the baby runs late," Zelda explained, gripping the side of the mountain as she unsteadily stood to her feet once more, "But if she arrives on time, it could be as soon as a month."
"That's…really soon," Link murmured, rising alongside Zelda, his hand never straying from her back as she tried to regain her footing.
The group kept on in silence after the incident, though Zelda couldn't help but wonder if Link was fearful of the same things she was. Raising a child beneath the guise of a loving marriage. But she knew that was ridiculous; Link wasn't scared of anything.
Zelda was growing exhausted once more, and her back was beginning to ache again after walking for so far. They had wrapped around the supposedly dormant volcano multiple times it seemed, but there was still no sign of any sort of settlement. "Maybe, we should turn back…" Zelda whispered to Link.
"Zelda!" Link's eyes were gazing past her, bright with hope as he pointed beyond his wife, "Look there! At that cave! See anything unusual?"
Zelda squinted, shaking her head, "No, I do not."
"Look at the corner there! See something coming out of the cave?"
Zelda nearly laughed with joy, "Smoke! I see it!"
Link looked equally elated, "There must be someone inside."
"Maybe not someone friendly," Zelda added, her smile faltering seriously.
"We'll send scouts," Link promised, "We need to go back to pack up camp anyways. But based on the scouts' reports, we might be spending tonight in a cave with Gorpo the Goron!"
"Gorko," Zelda corrected, rolling her eyes but grinning in spite of herself.
And Link merely grinned in return.
Zelda sat, folding the fabric of the tent she shared with Link neatly. Link had gone with the scouting party to investigate the caves, so that left Zelda some time to herself as the rest of the soldiers took down the camp. She caught herself smiling as she thought of her recent friendship with Link and how it only seemed to grow stronger since their conversation in the woods. At least their daughter would see that her parents were good friends. Zelda knew she couldn't complicate things now. As Link had said, it wouldn't be long until their child was welcomed into the world.
Zelda mulled over her friendship with Link. She felt confused upon realizing that she actually missed his company at the moment. She certainly had never felt this sort of…longing for a friend before. But Zelda shook her head, assuring herself she only felt that way because she'd never had a real friend before. And she only missed Link because she enjoyed the sense of security and safety she felt around him. But there was still that bizarre, warm sensation she got around Link sometimes…
Zelda couldn't explain it; she didn't know what it was. And she didn't necessarily like it. She felt—dizzy, hot, perhaps even feverish. It wasn't pleasant, and yet she felt…happy, when it overcame her. Whenever she felt it, she was overcome with lightheadedness and a sense of childlike giddiness, and it truly did bewilder her. How she wished Impa was there with her! Impa would probably understand the symptoms of whatever was troubling her.
"This is silly," Zelda muttered to herself with frustration, rising with the folded tent. As one of the wisest Hylians in all of Hyrule, she should be able to identify something as absurd as a mere feeling. She pondered over the many books she'd read in the royal library at the castle. Come to think of it, her feelings did sound akin to the few romance stories in the library, the ones where the princess would…
"No!" Zelda nearly dropped the tent as awareness smacked her in the face. She couldn't be…in love with Link! What a preposterous notion! The eight months of their marriage had been a horrific ordeal for her, and he'd always been little more than a stranger to her until the last few weeks. There was no reason for her to love him!
Zelda shook her head stubbornly at the outlandish idea, only to find herself blushing as she did. How foolish! Was she truly beginning to fall in love with her husband? Now—of all times? After eight months of misery and quiet resentment? "No, I can't be! That can't be it!" Zelda murmured furiously to herself, storming over to a huddled group of soldiers to deposit the tent.
"Is…something wrong, your highness?" one soldier inquired timidly.
Zelda's blush worsened upon recognizing that the soldiers had heard her. "Er, no. Nothing at all," Zelda mumbled.
"Master Link," Thorolf approached the hero, who was currently examining the dirt surrounding the cave, "I—we're friends, of course, aren't we, Master Link?"
"Yes, of course, Thorolf," Link replied inattentively, studying the ground instead, "Someone has walked by here recently."
"Well, I don't mean to meddle, Master Link, but I was a bit concerned for you this morning. Is…is everything alright between you and her highness now?" Thorolf asked gradually, taking his time to enunciate the question.
"Of course it is, Thorolf," Link stood, dusting off his hands, "There was no reason to be concerned; everything's fine."
"Well, you just looked mighty pale when she fell, Master Link…" Thorolf's voice trailed.
Link's expression hardened defensively, "Well I certainly wasn't expecting that to happen. It caught me off guard, is all. And she's my wife! I have reason to be fearful of her well-being!"
Link turned to enter the cave, but even as he walked ahead, Thorolf's voice echoed softly behind him, "Are you sure that you're not in love with her highness, Master Link?"
Anger tainted Link's expression as he turned around, "Of course I'm sure, Thorolf! Have I ever lied to you?"
"No, Master Link," the general caught up to the prince, "But I can't help but wonder, sire, if you've ever lied to yourself?"
Link's brow furrowed with irritation and confusion, "What are you speaking of? Why would I lie to myself?"
"You wouldn't—inwardly deny your own feelings, would you, Link?" Thorolf's use of Link's name without his title signified the sincerity of his question.
Link's eyes softened as he cast them downwards, "It would be—improper for me to love Zelda. She's been very clear that she does not desire a relationship of that kind with me."
"But Master Link! You said yourself she longs to be loved!" Thorolf protested.
"Well, not by me, Thorolf!" Link snapped, his frustration evident, "I try as I might to please her, but I always end up pushing her away. Only just now have we resolved a conflict between us, and I'd appreciate it if things could stay that way. Without my feelings spoiling everything!"
"And what are your feelings about the princess, Master Link?" Thorolf ventured softly as Link began to leave once more.
Link sighed, shoving a hand through his hair agitatedly, "I—I suppose I find her to be very…attractive? And I enjoy her company. And I like her laugh."
"And does she know any of this?"
"She knows that I don't love her," Link replied stiffly, "And that's what she wanted, after all! I don't intend on saying anything that might ruin the companionship between us."
"But Link!" Thorolf objected pleadingly, "If you love her, you must—"
"I never said that I loved her," Link responded sharply, "I know hardly anything about love, but it seems to be something one's sure of when one feels it. I'm not saying anything about love until I'm sure of it."
"But then—when you're sure of it—you'll tell her?" Thorolf questioned hopefully.
Link sighed once more, "That depends on what she wishes. Now come along, enough talk over Zelda. We've exploring to do—summon the scouts! They've no doubt fallen behind again!"
"Zelda!"
Zelda jumped, not expecting to find Link back so soon. "Link," she turned around, facing her husband.
"You'll never guess what we found!" Link said, his voice betraying his excitement, "There's an entire city in that cave! And the Gorons were so kind! They've welcomed us to stay as long as we like—and we didn't even ask! The view up there is incredible; you'll love it, Zelda!"
Zelda smiled shyly, "I suppose we'd better get going then."
Link nodded eagerly, taking her hand, thinking nothing of the gesture, "You're ready then?"
Zelda nodded, glancing away as she felt that feeling return, her cheeks flushing. With that, Link gently tugged her forward, making an announcement to the soldiers and then setting off towards the mountain path, Zelda close behind him.
"Milady," Impa bowed as Zelda examined herself in her mirror, preparing to face the royal courts. Even if they were only seventeen, princesses were still naturally expected to look their best for all occasions.
"Yes, Impa?" Zelda did not turn her attention from the mirror, fixing a stray hair behind her ear.
"I bring an invitation from the countryside of Hyrule Field," Impa said, "It's to the wedding of two people named Link and Patia. Do you know them, your highness?"
Zelda's hand stilled in her hair, and after a few moments, she spoke, "Yes, they are acquaintances of mine."
"Would you like to attend, your highness? The invitation expresses their understanding if a figure like yourself cannot be present," Impa elaborated.
Zelda strode across the room, receiving the letter from Impa and examining it briefly. "No," she finally replied, "Send them two hundred rupees along with my best wishes for their happiness, but no. I'd rather not."
Link and Zelda chatted gaily at the head of the procession, Link clasping Zelda's hand tightly and helping her up the steep path. "Almost there now," Link took both of the princess' hands for a particularly large incline, hoisting her up to the surface above with ease, "See that wasn't too terrible, now was it?"
"No," Zelda agreed wearily, not bothering to remove her hands from Link's, "But the baby might think otherwise."
Link's eyes instantly filled with worry, "Is she alright then?"
"I think so, I'll just need to rest once we're inside the city," Zelda forced a smile, hoping to relieve Link.
Her ploy seemed to work as Link smiled back, releasing one of her hands but lightly holding the other as he led her to the cave, Thorolf and the others soldiers still following behind. "Here it is," within the walls of the cave, Link led Zelda to a large opening, tugging her inside. He seemed to recognize the wariness within her eyes, reassuring her, "Don't worry. I know it looks dangerous, but they're a perfectly safe people. Trust me, Zelda."
And Zelda did just that.
"I cannot express how honored we are to host you, your highness," Darun, the current chief of the Gorons, exclaimed once more.
Zelda nodded courteously, refraining from replying due to her own exhaustion. Darun clapped Link on the back forcefully as he laughed, "Tonight, we feast! We feast in honor of the royal couple visiting our Goron City!"
Link nodded, rubbing his back absently and exchanging a look with Zelda. "No rocks for you; the baby might not like them," he reminded her humorously with their telepathic connection.
Despite her tiredness, Zelda giggled once again.
That evening, Darun had gathered all of the Gorons together in the center of the city, spreading rugs all across the floor so that the entire company might dine together. After a quick nap in a hut designated for Link and herself, Zelda had spent the afternoon conversing with several of the Gorons, fascinated by their advanced culture and their tales of the olden days with Hylia.
Thankfully, the meal was not entirely composed of rocks. Zelda's bird had been properly cleaned and cooked along with some other fowl that the rest of the hunting part had shot as they retrieved Zelda's prize. Link had also found some wild berries on the path that were served as well. Zelda was in the midst of a conversation with one of the Gorons when Link stood from his place beside her, clearing his throat to signal an announcement.
"I would like to thank the Gorons for so graciously having us as guests this night," Link began, "But I'd also like to acknowledge a special event that unfortunately went unnoticed due to the chaos of these past few weeks. Two weeks ago, Princess Zelda was kidnapped and a week later, rescued. This past week has been spent ensuring her safety as we rush for Hyrule to regroup with a larger army and oppose her captors. But in the midst of all our panic and haste, we finally have found a brief moment of rest and true peace here with our Goron brothers. And I'd like to take advantage of this momentary peace to acknowledge that her highness, Zelda's, birthday was forgotten in the tragedy of the past weeks and went uncelebrated. I'd simply like to show her our appreciation for all she's done tonight, if at all possible."
Zelda's eyes widened as Link sat down once more, Darun immediately leaping to his feet. "You heard the prince!" he roared, "Begin the chants of old to honor one's birth! Come along now!"
A loud clamor of baritone voices filled the cavern as the Gorons and the soldiers all recited one of the ancient chants used to honor an important figure's birthday. Zelda felt as if she was red all over, shying away from all the attention even after years of being under the scrutiny of her superiors, typically at large events thrown for her such as balls and galas. This was strangely different from those other occasions in which all attention had been upon her. It was…more intimate, more special.
Link's own face was red with discomfiture as he struggled to follow the melody of the chant, but Zelda privately thought that his efforts could not have been sweeter. "Happy late birthday, Zelda," he told her silently as the chorus ended, thunderous applause filling the caves.
Zelda bashfully met his eyes, her own teary with joy and surprise, "Thank you, Link."
"Thank you, her highness will not be accepting any more gifts tonight, but thank you very much! She wishes she could express her gratitude to you all now, but she's very tired from the day's events and would appreciate some privacy," Link politely shooed the last of the Gorons away from the hut, Zelda smiling up at him as he walked inside. All of the Goron dwellings had been carved into the walls of the cave, and thankfully there had been a few available for guests such as Link and a few of the soldiers to use. The rest of the soldiers were to sleep near the cave's entrance and act as sentries throughout the night.
"What are we going to do with all these rocks?" Link muttered, examining the large piles of stones in each corner of the room.
Zelda giggled, "Cherish them, of course. I never want to forget tonight."
Link grinned, sitting beside Zelda as she reclined on her sleeping mat. "I have a present, too," Link murmured bashfully, one hand having remained behind his back since entering the hut.
Zelda sat up, her expression sobering as she locked eyes with Link. "It's…nothing, it's nothing at all, forgive me," he apologized sheepishly, "Your real present is still at the castle, so I had to make do with what I had and—well, you'll probably not even like it, actually."
"Link," Zelda chided gently, "I'm sure I'll like it."
Link exhaled, removing his hand from behind his back slowly. A small bouquet of wildflowers lay in his palm, tied together loosely with string. "L-like I said, I have a much, much better gift, but they were all I could find in a place like this," Link mumbled sadly, "I'm sorry, Zelda."
The flowers were half-wilted, their petals drooping despairingly, and they looked as if they were in desperate need of water. Yet Zelda took them and lifted them to her nose, inhaling as if they were the most luscious roses. "Link, they're beautiful," she whispered, "Thank you so much."
Link gave a small smile, and in that moment, Zelda considered revealing everything. How baffled she was by what she'd been feeling, what those feelings perhaps meant. She wanted to tell him. She parted her lips, only to have Thorolf's voice cut through the air.
"Master Link," Thorolf's head poked into the doorway, "Ah! Forgive me for interrupting, but the Gorons have just shown the men a hot spring they often use for cleansing as well as relaxation purposes. Would you have any interest in making use of it before we continue on?"
Link smirked at Zelda playfully, "Zelda has been dropping hints about my, shall we say, acquired scent, lately."
Zelda rolled her eyes, grinning as she weakly attempted to swat his arm, "I meant no offense! After all, it's been two weeks, as you said!"
Link cast his attention back to Thorolf, "I will bathe later tonight. Tell the others to go first."
Thorolf nodded and was off. "I can't help it! My senses are naturally keener because of my pregnancy," Zelda teased as Link lay down beside her, his own individual mat a short distance away.
Link scoffed, replying sarcastically, "Oh, I'm sure that's it. I think you actually just want an excuse to tell me that I smell awful."
"Of course I don't!" Zelda found herself laughing once more. After bantering back and forth with Link for a few minutes, Zelda was prompted of why she retired to her hut in the first place. With one last thank you to Link, she let her eyes close as she fell asleep.
When Zelda awoke, it was pitch black all about her. Rubbing at her eyes tiredly, she rolled onto her other side, hoping to fall right back to sleep. The baby gave a stubborn kick as she did. Groaning, Zelda sat upright as the kicks continued. Well then, it seemed that she wouldn't be getting any more sleep for at least a short while.
Zelda assumed Link must be fast asleep near her. Taking care not to step on him, she approached the hut's door, leaning against the frame for a moment. She decided that maybe a brief walk through the small city would tire her enough to return to the welcoming arms of slumber.
It'd been a little while since Zelda had used magic, but she was easily able to conjure a light glow within her palm to light her path as she walked. She passed hut after hut, sometimes with loud snores thundering from within. It was easy to differentiate Goron from Hylian, and Zelda made a game of it to amuse herself as she walked. Suddenly, she heard a different sound: the sound of running water. "Ah, the spring!" Zelda thought to herself.
As she neared the source of the noise, Zelda wondered if perhaps she herself should take a bath. Of course Link hadn't complained, but she knew he never would even if she did smell atrocious. At least she had rinsed off any blood or dirt on herself when she had taken a dip in Lake Floria. But that had been a week ago already! A bath would probably do her good—and possibly relax her enough to return to bed.
There was a large gap between two dwellings, and Zelda slipped inside, the sound of the water instantly growing louder. Zelda rounded a corner and discovered the source. She gasped with shock, her cheeks instantly coloring at the sight before her as she swiftly extinguished the light in her hands.
The spring was lit by a few dim candles. It was a large hole within the cave's rock fall, and a small waterfall trickled into the pool, leaking from a crevice in the wall. But at the center of the pool, oblivious to Zelda's presence in the shadows, stood Link, washing himself idly in the waters of the spring.
Zelda blindly tried to fumble away in the darkness, but she stopped, knowing she wouldn't be able to bear the humiliation of falling down and being discovered. And to her horror and embarrassment, she couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from Link. From the way his muscles flexed as he scooped water into his hands and allowed it to pour over his body. From the way his wet hair clung to his face as he scrubbed at it with his hands. From the water droplets glimmering on his eyelashes, accentuating his deep, blue eyes, or the relaxed and lazy smile on his face as he lost himself in his thoughts—the entire scene gave Zelda goosebumps. Of course Link was handsome—even the most unintelligent of simpletons could perceive that. But Zelda wondered how she could have allowed herself to go so long without fully comprehending how beautiful Link really was, body and soul alike.
Link stopped after pouring another handful of water over himself. "You were thinking of me?" he asked silently, a small grin on his face.
Zelda squeaked with surprise, hating her thoughts for betraying her, and Link jumped with surprise in the water, looking completely startled. Oh, Link must've thought that she was thinking of him from their hut! And now she'd revealed her location as well!
"Z-Zelda?" Link's voice was both uneasy and puzzled as he called out quietly to the darkness.
Zelda gulped, anxiously stepping forward and allowing the candlelight to expose her, "L-Link, I—I'm so sorry! I didn't realize—I didn't know—I mean, I never meant to…"
Link quickly covered himself with a towel as he stumbled out of the spring, his body still wet. Zelda tried not to focus on the way the water ran within the contours of his muscles as he shivered slightly in the night cold. "Did you need something?" he asked earnestly.
Zelda shook her head shamefully, shutting her eyes. "Did you…want to discuss something?" he tried again.
Zelda shook her head once more. Link's brow furrowed, his voice completely bemused, "Then…what did you want?"
Zelda blinked, gazing up at Link with her own moist eyes. She truly loathed being embarrassed, and she was perfectly mortified at the moment. Fear entered Link's voice as he acknowledged Zelda's tears, one of his hands flying to rest upon her cheek, "Zelda! What's wrong, Zelda? Please, tell me!"
Zelda shut her eyes again once more. Without giving her instincts a second thought, she reached up, each of her hands cradling Link's face. She leaned upwards swiftly and did what she had never dreamed of doing before. Ardently, she kissed him.
Bah, late again. Go figure. But the events of this chapter make up for it right? Right?
Yeah, tardiness is a serious character flaw for me, but hopefully you can still enjoy the chapter despite its late arrival! AND IMPORTANT NOTE: there will unfortunately not be an update next Friday (or Saturday, for that matter). I will be out of town and without internet for one last hurrah of the summer all of next week. Am I not terrible for leaving you hanging with that ending for two weeks? I know, I'm an awful person. But with any luck, you'll all find it in your hearts to forgive me and I shall be reunited with all of you lovely readers not this Friday, but the next! Happy reading!
P.S. Don't know if this was clear, but Zelda was meant to have been within Takoume's lair for slightly over a week, and the group as a whole is supposed to have travelled back to Hyrule for about a week as well, as was stated in this chapter. I feel like I might've misled you into thinking Zelda was captured for much longer than that or that the group had only been travelling for a few days. I might have to edit previous chapters to fix this. Sorry if there was any confusion!