The following morning Zelda decided to change their plans a little. If they were to really start preparing for a return of Calamity Ganon, she would want to make sure all four champions knew as much about the Beasts as possible. And now with the knowledge of how to operate the weapon mechanisms originally used to defeat Calamity Ganon, she wanted to personally go and speak to the champions. Since she hadn't seen Revali and Medoh in the longest time, they would first make their way West to the Rito Village first.
After a day and a half of near-nonstop travel, Zelda decided to call it time for a break. They stopped on the hill in a nice open pasture. Link brought out some of the food he had with him and gave it to her while he took to attending the horses. He brushed them down and gave them each a few apples and carrots. They happily ate from his hands and nuzzled him.
When he came to sit down by Zelda, he noticed she had yet to eat.
Catching his glance she answered his question. "I wanted to wait for you," she said simply.
He smiled and sat with his legs crossed and pulled out some fried greens to munch on.
"I don't understand how you get those horses to love you so much. Sure I understand Epona: you've known her for a long time. But Malon…. He doesn't even wish to let me feed him some days," she said picking up her plate food.
He shoved some food in his mouth, freeing his hands.-You have to be sure to take the time to sooth your mount.-
"Sooth him?"
He nodded and took another bite. -Stroke him when he follows your orders, pat him when you're about to mount, and brush him after to thank him. That's the only way he will know how you truly feel.-
"Hm." She looked over at Malon who was chewing grass. "I do suppose I'll give it a try."
-I've always been the one to take care of our horses back home. So I got quite good at working with them.-
Zelda smiled as she payed close attention to his hands as they moved quickly.
-Epona and I became fast friends. I sign to her a lot. I know she can't read my hands, but it still helps, and I do feel as if she understands in a way.- He took another big bite.
"I'm sure she at least understands your feelings, at least it certainly appears that way. What is it you usually discuss with her?" she said leaning forward a little, nibbling on her food.
He stuffed a large piece of carrot in his mouth. -What I'm frustrated or concerned about—which consists of much.-
"What is it you've to worry? You're the 'Great Chosen Hero' as declared by the sword." She leaned back with a puzzled look on her face.
He swallowed and sighed. -There is so much at stake here with the threat of Calamity Ganon…. I feel like everyone I pass is staring me down, waiting for me to fail….I can't let myself be happy in front of them or they will say I shouldn't be satisfied. If they see me angry, they say I need to control myself. If they see me sad, they tell me I should be happy about my role. And so I hold it in like a fairy in a bottle to keep them from saying anything…. On the days it's too difficult I go on rides with Epona to nowhere. And I complain to her, and she nuzzles me for some more apples and then brings me home.-
"Oh Link…" she breathed. "I… I never realized…."
He just shook his head and slowly finished his food.
"I want you to know you're allowed to discuss anything with me," she said sincerely.
He breathed slowly and sat back thinking.
"Might I ask you something?" she started slowly.
He looked up at her.
"Did you talk in your younger days? As a child? Or have you always had trouble?"
-I did talk some, but I was always quiet. But after coming upon the Master Sword a few years ago—that's when people started to put all that pressure on me…. I learned to hold my tongue in training and soon how to hold it around my father who saw me as nothing but a sword…. Eventually the mental strain took hold. My father grew increasingly frustrated with me…. And it wasn't until I met an old man that I learned of signing. He taught me everything I know. And so I never need to talk anymore.-
Her gaze turned soft and somber. "I see… I'm sorry to hear that… but I am glad that you are telling me this. Thank you," she said assuringly.
He smiled just slightly and finished his food.
Zelda sighed softly and finished her food as well. She then pulled the Sheikah slate from her hip and looked at the map briefly to check on their course then looked at the image replication device. "I do love capturing images with this." She took a picture of some periwinkle flowers. "Let's see if I can take one of a butterfly." She looked through the tablet. "There's one!" She snapped a photo that mostly was comprised of flowers. "Oh, and another!" The slate clicked again as she focused then on the flowers. "The flowers we have in Hyrule aren't just beautiful…." Another photo. "They're also quite useful as ingredients for a variety of things." Click. Click. Then she paused and smiled softly. "This one here is called the Silent Princess. It's a rare endangered species." She put the slate back on her hip and slowly moved on her knees towards the blue and white flower. She gently touched its petals.
Link crawled froward on his hands as well to get a better look at the stark blue stain in the center, contrasting against he pure, white petals.
"Despite out efforts, we can't get them to grow domestically yet. The Princess can only thrive out here, in the wild." She sat back and looked out to the field. "All that we can hope… is that the species will be strong enough to prosper on its own." She looked back at the flower then gasped before pushing herself forward, pouncing on something. "Oh! Is that what I think it is?!" She peaked in her fingers. "It is! Look at this!" She turned to Link and waddled on her knees towards him with her hands cupped together, hiding something. "I don't believe it, I actually caught one! This delicacy is known to have very, very potent effects under the proper circumstances." Lifting her top hand she revealed a green frog with orange feet. "Tada! Research from the castle shows ingesting one of these can actually augment certain abilities," she said quickly with excitement. "We wouldn't be in a controlled environment out here, but with your level of physical fitness…" she went on thinking aloud, "you'd be a perfect candidate for the study!" The frog croaked as she thrust it towards Link. "Go on!"
He recoiled back in surprise.
"Taste it!" It hopped a little and croaked again.
He pulled back again, but seeing the bright smile on Zelda's face made him relax and smile a little in return. Slowly he looked down at the Hot-Footed Frog and held out his hands.
"I can't remember the precise methods of acquiring its abilities, but I do know it had to do with ingesting. Similar to those fireproof potions we've had in Goron City. Those are made with very special lizards."
Its big yellow eyes stared into Links as he really thought about what he was about to do. Glancing back up at Zelda's bright smile, he took a deep breath and licked down the frogs back.
"Oh!" she called in surprise.
He immediately recoiled back at the slime and bitter dirt taste of the creature. The frog croaked and quickly escaped his hands, clearly not enjoying the experiment.
"I didn't…" she said stifling a giggle. "I didn't mean for you to truly lick it!" she laughed.
He shook his head vigorously as his face scrunched up. -But you told me to!-
She tried to quell her laugh. "I'm sorry," she said with a hand over her mouth. "I had no reason to believe you would actually do it!"
Picking up a bottle of water he quickly gulped it down then relaxed. -Well you wanted to test it.-
"That didn't mean…" she sighed with a smile. "I do suppose it is my fault…. But…" she trailed with a smile. "Do you feel anything? Different at all?" she asked with big eyes.
He paused to think. -My heart is beating faster.-
"That could be from the shock of actually tasting a frog…" she said thinking. "Hm. I'll have to find out if anyone back at the castle has researched them recently." Link could see her mind was already spinning with ideas and theories.
-Perhaps we should get moving. Before you make me lick a flower or a butterfly.-
She chuckled. "That's probably best."