I struggled with this chapter for so long, then today I just sat down and it all just happened. I hope you enjoy it and that it was worth the wait :)

Zelda's first semi coherent thought was that she was finally, pleasantly warm after the near constant chill that had plagued her since stepping out the castle gates the previous morning. She shifted and felt around for her human heat source, finding only goats wool blankets. Her brow creased and she stretched, wondering where Link had gone and how long ago. Rubbing at one eye with the back of her hand she blearily blinked open the other.

Link's house was bathed in the pale yellow of early morning sun coming through the trapdoor in the ceiling that had been opened, the storm seeming to have blown itself out going by the sounds of birds singing and the lack of wind and rain battering the walls. She glanced around, pushing herself up to a sitting position as her eyes settled on Link sitting at the table by her feet. He was reading a book and sipping from a steaming cup, dressed in a clean shirt laced to the top and a pair of light tan trousers in what seemed to be his usual style, apparently too engrossed to notice her stirring. It wasn't until she stretched and let out a yawn, perhaps a little noisier than she would have normally, that he lowered his book and gave a shy smile.

"How long have you been awake?" Her voice sounded slightly croaky even to her and he got up and stepped lightly around her pile of blankets to fetch her some water while he answered.

"About an hour, maybe a little more. I didn't want to wake you." She took the cup and sipped it gratefully as she watched him put more water on to boil. "Thought you could do with the rest after yesterday, seemed like you'd been through it."

"It was a trying day." Zelda agreed, sipping more water and inwardly delighting in the fact that Link grabbed his tea from the table and then sat on the floor with her rather than reclaiming his seat. Still covered in his woollen blankets, she could finally see the patterns woven into them in the sunlight, using her free hand she pulled and straightened the top most blanket to better see the design. Dark muted colours, a green field with the black, simplified silhouettes of what was presumably Ordon goats with their halo of horn. Black, bare trees lined the woven pasture and a yellow sun hung over the centre of a red sky. Red, green and black lines of patterns separated one pasture from another further down the blanket.

"This one's my favourite." Link said quietly as she examined it, playing with the corner that was nearest to him. She could see why, it had been so obviously, painstakingly, lovingly made for him by someone who seemed to know and love him very much. Thinking that it would be quite interesting to meet the people who raised Link, she sipped her water and traced the patterns with her fingers as he got to his feet to see to the water boiling in the fireplace. Would he reflect those who had nurtured and taught him? She couldn't imagine he looked much like them but did his behaviour, his softly spoken yet clearly somewhat educated words, his kind yet cautious demeanor and shyness, did he get that from them? Or were they perhaps the result of his trials. He'd said that he didn't feel like he fit in here anymore, was it him that was different now and the people around him remained the same? Had he been a different person before the Twilight War? Perhaps he had laughed more freely and easily, or he had been loud and obnoxious like the young men of Castle Town looking to prove themselves and find their place in the world. Or perhaps he'd always been quiet and softly spoken, but with the quest had come the caution, the strength and keen senses a fighter would have to develop in order to remain alive.

She looked up when his leg purposely leaned into her shoulder from where he stood next to her, holding a mug from the top by the tips of his fingers so that she could grab the handle from him. She murmured her thanks and he dipped his head with a smile as he turned away back to the kitchen just behind her. He had always been kind she decided as she blew across the surface of the tea to cool it. He had so freely and willingly given up his home to her, his clothing, his bed. He had been nothing but respectful toward her, and although part of her suspected it was because of her social status, a larger part of her knew that it was just Link, and the desire to meet the people who had instilled in him these traits grew stronger.

"What would you like to eat? I have Cuccoo eggs," Zelda turned to watch Link move around the shelving unit at the end of his kitchen workbench, opening jars and uncovering bowls and baskets to see what provisions he had before disappearing down the ladder that lead to his cellar. He reappeared a moment later. "And that's about it for breakfast things. I can run into the village for some more bread and maybe some bacon?" He rubbed the back of his neck as though embarrassed at having been caught unprepared for company. "I thought I would be gone a day or two returning the sword so I didn't bother buying food in case it spoiled while I was away."

"I don't want you to have to go through any trouble for me." He was already moving towards the door.

"It's no trouble, I'll only be a minute." He had just finished putting his boots on when he paused and looked up at her. "Don't lock me out this time."

Zelda offered a sheepish smile. "I won't." He nodded and unbolted the door. "Link?" He turned back to look at her. "Is there perhaps somewhere in the village where I can take a bath?" He blinked at her a few times before nodding slowly.

"I can run you a bath." He moved back across the boards of his house, disappearing down into his cellar again. Zelda heard faint sounds of him shifting things around, suddenly feeling like she was making work for him she made to get up to limp over to the banister and tell him not to bother when he appeared, slowly making his way back up ladder one handed yet again he hoisted a modestly sized, well used looking metal bath over his head and back. He stepped onto the flat and put it down in the space at the back, then as he walked back towards her he lifted the lid from the barrel and placed it on his workbench, grabbing the pot from his fire, he filled it with water and placed it back on to warm. Fetching a bucket from the bench near the door he filled that with water too and went and gently tipped it into the metal bath. He did this a few more times, filling the bath partway while he waited for the water over the fire to heat. Zelda had never known so much work went into preparing a bath. Her baths back at the castle were always prepared for her by her maids, and were always ready by the time she reached her rooms.

Link filled the bucket once more and placed it on the floor next to the bath before walking towards Zelda. He shot her a quick smile as he stepped around her and fetched the stool he'd tucked under the table out of the way. He took it back over to the bath and placed it near the bath. He then seemed to rethink something and returned for a chair as well, moving the stool and bucket to the other side of the bath. He disappeared downstairs again before returning with a wooden box under his arm. He placed this on stool and retrieved from inside of it a towel which he flung over the back of the chair. He also removed a small wooden jug and dropped it into the bucket of water, the rest of the things he left inside. He stood and looked at his work for a moment as though making sure he hadn't forgotten anything before fetching the almost bubbling water from the fire. He carefully carried it over to the bath and tipped it in bit by bit, occasionally stopping to test the water. When he finally deemed it fit, he returned his pot to the fire and held his hands out to Zelda to help her to her feet.

Taking his hands and feeling more than a little spoiled, she allowed him to help her to her feet and support her as they moved over to the bath. She could see it steaming slightly but it didn't look too hot, in fact it looked incredibly inviting, she couldn't wait to wash away the previous day. Sitting down on the chair she listened intently as Link pointed out the things he had brought for her.

"The towel is there, and there's soap and a cloth in the box," He pointed to the stool where he'd left the box, "there's a comb in there too I think. Uh, it should be hot enough but there's cool water in the bucket." He turned to look over at where he'd hung her dress to dry the night before on one of the ropes crossing his walls. "I think your dress may be ruined." Zelda couldn't see it from where she was sitting but was inclined to agree from what she remembered of the state of it. "I'll find you some clothes more suited to you while I'm in the village." Zelda thanked him while wondering exactly what he meant.

"Will you need any help?" Her head shot up and he coloured immediately from the tips of his ears to the bridge of his nose. He tried to speak and it came out raspy so he cleared his throat before trying again. "I can ask someone in - a woman- in the vill- Uli could- to help-" He took a deep breath and closed his eyes momentarily. "Would you like me to ask Uli to help you, if you need it?" Zelda's face felt warm but she tore her eyes away from the flustered hero to look over the bathing set up.

"Uhm, I think I'll be fine. Thank you." He nodded his head.

"I'll, uh, leave you to it then." He retreated, still sporting a rosy hue and loosed the curtain to give her more privacy. She sat staring after him until she heard the door open and close behind him. Taking a deep breath Zelda turned her attention back to the bath. This was going to be interesting, but if she made it down two ladders in the dark on a bad ankle she was sure she would be able to bathe herself. She stripped off her borrowed clothing and carefully stood, leaning on the edge of the metal tub as she braced herself, quickly lifting her good leg and placing it into the bath so she could take the weight off her bad leg. Releasing her breath she used the sides of the tub to lever herself down into the water.

It felt glorious. The water was on the warmer side but she hardly minded. The hotter the better to soothe her aching muscles and help relieve some of the pain in her ankle. Sinking down as low as she was able in the modest tub, she sighed happily. She wanted to stay here in this hot water forever. After a few minutes of just soaking her troubles away, she sat up again and looked over to the box Link had left her. This must have been where Link kept the tools necessary for maintaining his personal hygiene. He used these things. He took baths in this very tub. Trying her hardest not to think too much on that and banish any mental images that came with that realisation she reached over to explore inside the box. Inside sat a wooden comb, a small wooden box with the word 'Soap' carved into the top, a soft washcloth, two small tins of what appeared to be some kind of white powder, one smelling pleasantly fresh, a wooden handled straight razor, and a small wooden handled toothbrush.

Zelda understood quickly that the bathing routines of princesses and goat herder -turned-heros were very different. Zelda was expected to be pristine and immaculate at all times and a lot of work and maids fussing went into making her so. Lotions for her skin, lotions for her hair, all heavily perfumed so as to remain sweet smelling all day, makeup applied to cover her more human aspects and to give the impression of perfection, almost divinity. The products that lined her shelves in her room were numerous and expensive but she doubted Link would find them in any way necessary given his small box of effects. Did he use this soap to wash both hair and body? She supposed it made life easier, especially when out traversing the country, not having many things to carry and using as little as possible. She almost envied his simpler way of living. Almost.

Taking out the soap box and washcloth, she let the cloth soak in the water while she fumbled open the box with slippery wet fingers. Finally managing the pry the box open she found a bar of white soap. Giving it a sniff as she set its box aside she was pleasantly surprised with a clean and fresh smell, like laundry that had been recently washed. Lathering the soap she decided to start with her hair, using the bar to rub the suds into her tresses. When she thought it was sufficiently cleansed she reached for the jug and used it to pour water over her head to rinse the soap out of her hair. Pushing her hair back and away from her face she fished the cloth from the water and concentrated on lathering it with the soap.

"Link?" Zelda jumped so badly she dropped the soap and cloth into the water. She hadn't heard the door open and the sound on an unfamiliar female voice had her heart racing. Link really needed to stop leaving her alone in his house. "Link?" Zelda heard the dull thud of bare feet on the wooden floor and realised with a jolt that whomever was there was heading her way.

Feet could be seen under the hem of the curtain and it had just barely lifted aside when Zelda managed to choke out "He's not here."

The stranger foze. Zelda held her breath, subconsciously covering herself. "Who... I mean, do you know where I can find him?"

"He went into the village a short while ago." There was a pause.

"Thank you, uh Miss…?" Zelda panicked. Should she tell them who she was? They were clearly a friend to Link if they wandered into his house unannounced. But still, she felt uneasy giving away her identity.

"I'm a friend of Link's." She settled for. The stranger paused again.

"A friend from his travels?"

"Yes, you could say that." Another pause, painfully long this time.

"...Midna?"

This time it was Zelda's turn to pause. Midna? How did this girl- woman- stranger- know of Midna? Surely Link wouldn't have told her. He hadn't told Zelda and she'd been there. She knew Midna before he did.

"No. I'm not Midna." Zelda hadn't meant for that to come out so cold.

"Oh, sorry, uhm...What's your name the-"

"Ilia?"

Link's voice could be heard faintly as though coming from outside. Zelda saw the girl's feet facing the other way, the curtain swinging slightly where she must have dropped it and assumed she must have jumped and span on the spot to face the door she had left open. He called again and the girl's feet disappeared.

Sitting completely still and breathing as shallow as possible, Zelda strained to hear their conversation.

"There you are, I've been looking for you."

"I was looking for you too, I have Epona at the spring in case you wanted her. Fado said he found her in the barn this morning. Wet and muddy, might I add." This last bit was tacked on sharply and Zelda could imagine the sheepish look on Link's face.

"Yeah uh, we got caught in the storm."

"'We?' You mean you and your friend?" Zelda cringed at the almost accusatory tone in the girl's voice and wondered who this girl was to Link. She didn't want to cause any trouble in Link's life.

"Have...have you met her?"

"We've spoken."

"Why are you saying it like that? You weren't rude to her were you?"

"No, I was not rude!"

"Ilia…" Link sounded slightly exasperated.

"I wasn't!"

"Wait, come back I need to ask you something!" Their voices faded as Link had obviously followed after where this Ilia had gone. Zelda took and held a breath for a moment before pushing it out slowly. This complicated things. It wasn't so bad that Link knew who and where she was. It suddenly dawned on her that Link was actually the only person to know where she was. For all her council knew, she had gone missing and perished in the storm. That was an urgent matter that needed addressing. Quickly scrubbing herself down and nobbling out of the tub, she wrapped herself in the towel and sat on the chair waiting for Link to return with any clothing he may have been able to find for her.

Just as she started to get cold from sitting in just a towel with wet hair, the sound of boots on the ladder startled her into awareness. The door had been left wide open she suddenly realised. She hoped it was Link. Please let it be Link.

"Zelda?" Thank the goddesses.

"Yes?"

"Are you alright? Sorry I was so long."

"I'm fine."

"Sorry about… if my friend offended you." Her clipped tone must have registered with him and she immediately felt guilty.

"She didn't. I was just taken by surprise."

"Yeah she sort of just does what she wants. She means no harm though." She could hear him sigh and move around a bit on the other side of the curtain. "She's going to bring you some clothes in a minute."

"That's kind of her." Link remained silent and Zelda hoped that didn't mean Ilia was forced into it. Link didn't seem like the kind of person to do that though. "Did you explain to her why you needed them?"

"Sort of. I wasn't sure if I should tell her about who you really are so I just said you were someone I met in the storm and needed help." At least that fell in line with what she had told Ilia. A friend from his travels didn't have to mean one he met during the twilight war. Zelda was distracted by the sound of a pan sizzling and a few moments later the delicious smell of bacon permeated the air. He stomach rumbled and she hoped she would be able to dress and eat soon.

Enter Ilia!

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If you notice any glaring errors let me know and I'll fix them, otherwise I hope you enjoyed it