It had been a few days since Ganon was sealed away, and Link spent every moment in the hospital with Zelda. Though she seemed to be doing well, she still hadn't woke. From time to time, she muttered in her sleep, and occasionally, the heart monitor would quicken, causing Link to panic. But then it would slow once more, and Zelda would let out a soft sigh as her dreams seemed to move to something less frightening. At times, she would even mutter his name, and this seemed to calm her as she slept.
Link didn't do much of anything as he waited in that hospital room. If he wasn't passed out on the chair, he was studying her features, watching her carefully, and even sitting next to her in an attempt to help pull her from one of her nightmares. He would hold her hand tightly in his and let his head rest against hers. His fingers traced down her warm face, brushing strands of hair out of her eyes. Rarely, did he find the will to pull himself away from her bedside, and it was usually only to silence the growling in his stomach.
He moved rather lifelessly down the hallways until he found a machine to shove his coins into. He'd watch as the machine groaned to life and slowly, teasingly, spit out his selected snack option. He tried to keep a healthy balance of salts and sweets paired with a choice of soda from the neighboring machine. He couldn't really recall the last time he had a decent meal. He could practically hear his mother scolding him, but it was hardly the most important thing to worry about. Perhaps, should he survive Impa's impending wrath, he would be able to have a meal worthy of a hero.
It was on the third day when someone other than a nurse entered the room. His legs were draped over the arm of a chair and he rest his cheek against a fist, his elbow propped up on the other arm. His eyelids were heavy, but he watched Zelda carefully as she slept soundlessly. Her chest rose and fell delicately with each breath she took. The heart monitor beeped in steady rhythm. Link didn't acknowledge the visitor that entered the hospital room, and for a moment, the visitor didn't speak, but simply stood in the doorway. He was awake and alert now, feeling the eyes of the visitor on him.
"How is she?" Impa finally asked.
Link didn't answer. He turned his gaze to the old Sheikah leader. Her eyes seemed to be glazed over, her expression unemotional. His brows furrowed together in a combination of anger and confusion. Considering the last time he spoke with Impa, he wasn't sure if she was pissed at him or not. It seemed likely, however, that she would not let him get away with what he had done so easily, even if he was Hyrule's hero.
"As soon as she is discharged," Impa said, "I want you both to come to Kakariko." Impa hesitated, her gaze hard on his. "You understand what awaits for you there."
Link narrowed his gaze at her but said nothing. Impa turned her gaze to Zelda, then left Link alone in the room. Link turned back to Zelda, biting his lower lip. It seemed she had not forgotten, and even worse, she fully intended to carry out her earlier threats. Though the war was over, it brought no relief to Link. He knew what was in store for him as soon as he stepped foot into Kakariko.
Zelda blinked against the painfully bright lights when she awoke. She squinted, waiting for her eyes to adjust. When they did, she scanned the ceiling, studying the shapes of the tiles. Her eyes moved across the room to the wall on the other side, then shot to her left, startled by a shuffling sound. Link was sprawled out, asleep on the chair next to her bed. One leg hung over the arm of the chair while the other foot was on the floor. He used one arm as a pillow for his head while the other dangled. Zelda grinned, then giggled at the sight, but the laughter brought pain with it.
Link opened his eyes slowly, sitting up quickly as he noticed Zelda was awake.
"Hey," she said softly.
"Hey."
"Is it... is it over? Did we do it?"
Link hesitated. "Yeah," he said. "We did."
Zelda let out a held breath and closed her eyes. "Well, that's a relief."
Link smiled. "Tell me about it." He stood up and stretched his arms over his head. "How do you feel?"
"Um." Zelda hesitated, inspecting her body. She wiggled her fingers and her toes. "I'm all there," she said with a grin.
Link narrowed his eyes at her and sat on the edge of the bed. "Really?"
"I feel fine, I guess," she said with a shrug. "A little sore and tired."
Link simply nodded.
"How long have I been here?"
"Few days," Link said.
Zelda said nothing. She rubbed at the back of her hand absentmindedly.
Link let himself settled against the bed beside Zelda, kicking his feet up and crossing them over at the ankles. He turned his gaze to the ceiling and Zelda let her head rest against his shoulder.
"You must be well beyond twenty-six-and-oh now," Zelda said. She turned her gaze onto Link, but his mind seemed elsewhere.
"I stopped counting," he said after a moment. "I realized it was the number on the other side that mattered more."
"Well," Zelda started. "It's zero, isn't it?"
Link shook his head. "Four. And at one point, dangerously close to five."
Zelda hesitated and turned her eyes out the window. The sky was cast ablaze in yellows and oranges, colors that darkened as the sky stretched away from the setting sun. "You can't blame yourself for their deaths," she said softly. "You weren't responsible for their lives. Only mine." She met Link's gaze. "So, that number is still at zero."
It didn't feel like a win to him. His friends had lost their lives, and that was a painful loss, but he still had Zelda, and that was something. More than something. He didn't know what he would have done if he lost Zelda, too. But she was right; whatever number was on the other side of that dash, he couldn't blame himself. Nothing he could have done would have changed that, as much as he wished he could have. In the end, he prevented that number from getting any higher. It wasn't a zero, but it would have to be good enough.
Link's eyes searched Zelda's for a moment. He let his gaze trail down her face, studying her features. They were much fuller than they had been when he found her in the palace a few days earlier. The color had started to return to her soft cheeks, the light in her blue eyes. The pink in her lips. She was alive. His breath caught in his throat as his gaze met her's once more and he pressed his lips against hers.
Zelda's fingers combed through Link's hair as she pulled him closer to her, and Link willingly obeyed. He twisted his body around, leaning on top of her, pressing himself deeper into the kiss, and Zelda's lips parted, her tongue tracing against his lower lip. Link moved his hands on either side of her face, deepening the kiss further, and the heart monitor's pace quickened. Link hesitated, pulling away slightly, and let his forehead rest against Zelda's. She blushed beneath him and let out a soft, trembling breath.
"Zelda," Link started.
"I love you," she blurted out.
Link pulled back at met her gaze, a grin spreading across his face. "You know," he said softly. "I actually met someone. A cute red head."
Zelda rolled her eyes and pushed her hands against Link's chest. Link took her hands in his and pressed his lips against hers once more. After a moment, he pulled back just slightly.
"I love you, Zelda."
Zelda was discharged from the hospital the next day and Impa sent a car to pick them up. Link knew the car would deliver them to Kakariko, and even worse, he wasn't quite sure what was in store for them there, but he knew it wasn't good. Though the war had been won, it seemed there was still trouble in store for him, and he didn't think there was any way he could get out of it.
He briefly considered slipping out in the middle of the night, but he was sure that he would only be prolonging the inevitable. The Sheikah would sniff him out quicker than a search and rescue hound, and he wouldn't stand a chance against them. Not only that, but he couldn't bring himself to leave Zelda's side. He didn't know exactly how wrapped up in this mess they were, and he wasn't going to dare leave her alone and unprotected.
He was quiet as they drove towards the city, his heart and mind racing as he desperately tried to think of a plan. Zelda's hand was on his against the seat, and he could feel her worried eyes on him, but he couldn't say anything to her. He didn't know what he could say to her. But she didn't pry.
The car arrived in Kakariko, navigating the streets through the city until they reached the long, winding driveway that brought them to Impa. The Sheikah driver flashed his badge at the security post and the gates opened. The car moved up the driveway and around, parking in front of the steps that lead to the front door. The Master Sword lay across Link's lap, clean and polished, and he brought it with him as he stepped out of the car. The driver stepped out, opening the door for Zelda, and four Sheikah soldiers fell into step behind them as they ascended the stairs and into the building where Impa was waiting for them.
Inside, they stood before Impa and Dorian, who eagerly took the Master Sword from Link's hands. Link narrowed his eyes at Dorian as he moved to Impa's side.
"You have done well to stop Ganon from rising to power," Impa said. Her voice was cold when she spoke, her expression utterly empty, despite the praise she was giving them. "The Master Sword will rest in the protection of the forest until it is needed again. It will be safest there where dark forces may not enter. Hyrule will forever be in your debt, heroes."
Link narrowed his eyes at the sword in Dorian's hands. He still didn't trust the Sheikah and wasn't convinced that he would bring the sword to the forest. He wasn't so willing to give it up to him, but he was careful of his moves now more than ever. No matter what happened, he couldn't do anything that would put Zelda's life in danger. So he bit his tongue and waited for what was to come next.
Impa turned her gaze to Zelda. "It is your duty to return to the palace and follow in your father's footsteps. Hyrule is now under your command."
Zelda seemed hesitant, but she nodded, ready to accept her duty as Hyrule's new ruler. She looked at Link from the corner of her eyes and relaxed some. Though Link kept his gaze on Dorian and Impa, she let a small smile tug at the corner of her lips as Impa continued.
Impa turned her gaze on to Link. "As for you, Link," she started, her eyes and voice fierce. She let her words hang in the air for a moment, as if in an attempt to strike fear into Link. But he only lifted his chin and kept his hard gaze on her's as she continued. "You are hereby banished from Hyrule to the Wastelands... where you will die."