Notes at the end of the most recent chapter.
Zelda had tied her horse next to Link's. She untied the leather strap secured the steed to a rock outcrop and climbed onto its exquisite saddle. Link did the same, and the two were off. Zelda led with a slow trot, completely devoid of words. The boy could hear light sniffles and hitches in her breath, which was no doubt caused by his reckless actions up on the mountain. He knew that he was being destroyed, internally, and it was only a matter of time before he had to vent some of his anguish. Link cursed himself for not confiding in the princess; she and Sikumar were the only ones he could truly trust.
The pair slowly descended the red, rocky cliffs until they reached a calm river at the foot of Death Mountain. Zelda gradually slowed her pace, eyes glued to the ground as she continued to emit brief gasps. She came to a halt, which Link expertly mirrored. The boy was slightly confused about their halt, yet he slightly dreaded he knew why they'd stopped.
He scanned the surrounding area, not a single person in sight. She was probably going to talk to him…
"L-Link," she started, trying to suppress her sobs.
The princess dismounted and beckoned the knight to come closer. His unwavering loyalty resulted in zero hesitation, but to some degree he was reluctant. He couldn't tell her what the real problem was. It's nothing for a person of her status to be concerned of—especially when it concerns someone as lowly as a muted orphan.
Link had recently found it customary to refer to himself as a mute, an orphan, while thinking introspectively. As far as he was concerned, his fallacies seemed of far more importance than his successes.
"Why?" was all she could manage between sobs.
Link felt a wave of guilt wash over him, knowing precisely what she was talking about. He simply studied the ground and distracted himself with observations of dirt patterns.
Zelda stepped closer, placing her hands upon his shoulders. The sudden contact made his head snap up and meet her eyes.
The princess whispered, "Please, Link, tell me… Why?"
He finally lost his composure, face melding into a frown and posture slumping. As always, he spoke very quietly in his butter-smooth, seldom used voice:
"Princess, I… I've failed for the last time. It's nothing to be worried about, I was acting selfishly and foolishly. I'm sorry," he stated, tears threatening to drop. Link wiped them away, cursing himself for feeling anything. Of all that he could feel, pain seemed to be the most intense variety.
Zelda's hands dropped from his shoulders.
She sighed.
"Fine. You don't have to tell me, I understand. But, please, Link… you aren't alone in this. I need you. Not just as a bodyguard, but…" she wiped tears from her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"I need you as a friend."
His facial expression was nothing short of shocked. Why would someone like the heir to the throne care for someone so feeble, weak and complicated as him? Link could only nod, deciding he'd always be loyal to his duties, whatever they may be. If Zelda required more than a protective companion, he decided that he would serve as any sort of tool she needed.
"Answer me, Link, truthfully. You don't have to be more than my protector, but… I think… there really isn't much else to do at this point. You've been my protector for many months, isn't it time we at care about each other? You might not know it, but I enjoy your company. Even in your perpetual silence I find peace in knowing that you're listening to every word. It's just… sometimes I wonder what you have to say. And I wonder what you think. Maybe I'm being greedy. Maybe not. I don't know, honestly, but…what you almost did today could have got you killed. No matter what, Link, you are worth saving. Thoughts and words can be just as painful as arrows and cuts."
Link considered her words at the heart. Is this what he wanted? The knight knew he faced some kind of internal turmoil, but he assumed it was a problem only he had to deal with. Could Zelda genuinely want to talk to him, or did she want to see how easily he disregarded the Oath? Link still concerned himself with the Oath when situations like this arose; he could never put his happiness and needs above an ancient protocol that favored nothing of the like.
He decided he'd need to tell someone about what he felt, but his duties prevented him from doing so. Being vulnerable around the princess—whom he swore to protect at all costs, in any circumstance—was not one of his favorite practices. How could a feeble boy possibly communicate his feelings in the right way to someone raised with an air of elegance and propriety? Surely, someone of his weak mental caliber would mess up and say the wrong things or in the wrong way. It would be best to only do as she asked; never more.
The knight stepped back and fell to a knee. Zelda almost gasped at the abrupt change of tone.
"Your majesty—" he began.
Zelda hissed. "Stop. Do not call me that."
He stiffened.
"I'm serious, Link. If you favor destroying yourself more than doing what's right, that's your choice!" she shouted, storming away.
The boy finally lost his entire façade. His head fell to the ground, and he tipped over like a petrified goat. He stared blankly into the sky, regretting everything and begging the goddess for a do-over.
Zelda seemed to notice his rather uncanny behavior, whirling around and gasping.
"I forgot about…" she trailed off, tears beginning to fall yet again.
"It's not your fault, princess," Link stated quietly.
"What are you talking about?"
"I will… answer all of your questions. Absolutely anything. I swear on my own life, I will. But… not yet. I'm not ready."
Zelda noticed his quivering body—obviously, he was telling the truth. He never let his guard down. When he did, he felt alien in his own skin. He felt like an outsider in his own body. The discomfort of lowering his walls made him physically incapable of being calm. The princess regretted putting him in such a state. Surely, this must be a factor in what's tearing him apart. His condition was far more apparent to her, now: he liked being silent and listening to others. But he was simply blind to what it had done to him. He wasn't ready to accept it, not yet, but Zelda's words were of divine truth. Thoughts and words can be just as painful as arrows and cuts. Link's agony was invisible from the outside unless he spoke from the heart, which he seldom did, resulting in more pain—a deadly cycle of suffering.
"I… I understand. I'm…" she furrowed her brows in thought.
"Let's do something fun for once. Come with me," she said with a new, lighter tone. Link removed his right glove, making sure his mark was still well-hidden, and wiped the tears from his eyes. He felt self-conscious about every mark on his body, especially ones with significant events behind them. His abdominal scar, from when a faceless figured assaulted him for being a disloyal slave. His mark, which began this entire journey and silenced him for good. And now, recently added to the collection, the scar on his forearm where an arrow had impaled him in his fit of grievous rage. Maybe, one day, he could bare such imperfections to someone he trusted. Maybe he could find the heart to trust someone. Actually trust someone, on an intimate level with mutual understanding and importance. Not romance, per se, but something real and tangible, something of an unbreakable bond. Link never felt urges to pursue another romantically or sexually—at least as far as he knew.
Link stood up and followed an excited princess back to their horses. She took off at a full gallop, which the knight happily matched. The boy actually found himself smirking at Zelda's hasty maneuvers. He enjoyed the thrill just as much as she did.
Zelda slowed down, gesturing for him to ride abreast her. He trotted up next to her, grinning madly.
"I've always loved doing that. These horses are so well-trained and receptive. Incredible how well the stable hands can train these mighty beasts…" she patted her mount, who whinnied happily.
"Link, do you like flowers?"
His smile faded into a look of confusion. She eyed him with disbelief.
"No way. You've never seen a flower?!"
His face reddened, and he nodded affirmatively.
"We're quite close to a meadow. Follow me!" she called, returning her steed to a gallop. The knight did the same, following her closely, skillfully.
She dived through a small gathering of trees and raced up a shallow hillside, then hopped off her mount. Link wasn't sure why until he scanned the vast rolling hills of Hyrule Proper, north of the impressive castle that housed this land's rulers. He was in awe at the number of colors that dotted the landscape.
"Look, Link, there are new blooms everywhere!" she said gleefully.
"Look, there's one! And another! The flowers we have in Hyrule aren't just beautiful, they're also quite useful as ingredients for a variety of things."
The princess retrieved the Sheikah Slate from her hip and snapped a couple photos of the lovely, vibrant petals. She turned a bit more, but stopped at the sight of something odd.
Her expression melted into something mixed between sorrow and disbelief.
"This one here is called the silent princess. It's a rare, endangered species."
She lowered onto her knees and crawled to the white flower. Link mirrored her actions, but remained a respectable distance from her.
"Despite our efforts, we can't get them to grow domestically yet. The princess can only thrive out here, in the wild. All that we can hope is that the species will be strong enough to prosper, on its own."
Zelda smiled sadly, and Link thought that her little speech about this Silent Princess seemed strangely like an homage to her own struggles trying to harness her divine powers. She had no teacher; her mother passed many years ago. All that she could do was hope that she could figure out how to save the kingdom on her own. The boy shook the thought from his head, knowing she was perfect and never thought ill of a situation. Sure, she'd told him her worries about not being able to use her sealing power, but of course she would have it under control, right? His thoughts were nothing more than the desperate thoughts of a peasant still trying to know his place. Someone like the heir to the throne could never understand his problems, much less care. And Link thought he was right in dismissing his pain as petty selfishness. Even when he was feet from death's door, fighting a hundred assailants at once, not once did he think that his condition, his grief, was curable.
Zelda's gaze upon the silent princess was interrupted by movement in the grass next to it. She gasped and dashed forward, covering the creature with her hands.
"Is that what I think it is?! Look at this!"
She picked it up and crawled to Link, who was now very aware of her proximity.
"I don't believe it, but I actually caught one! This delicacy is known to have very, very potent effect under the proper circumstances."
Zelda extended her arms to him and revealed her catch: a toad. Apparently, it was some kind of special breed, but a toad nonetheless.
"Research from the castle shows ingesting one of these can actually augment certain abilities. We wouldn't be in a controlled environment out here, and with your level of physical fitness, you'd be a perfect candidate for the study! Go on!"
She scooted even closer to him, and he shot her a pleading look, raising his arms in helplessness.
"Taste it!"
Link yipped in fear—or disgust, it didn't really matter—and fell onto his back. He was now in an odd position, laying on his back with his legs folded uncomfortable beneath him. Zelda laughed merrily and set the frog down, who hopped away in terror. Link couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he sat up.
"Honestly, though. Those things are quite difficult to trap," she said between laughs. The princess patted her legs and picked up the Sheikah Slate.
"Well, Hero, looks like you've got one more champion to meet!"
The boy's heart sank. Mipha. He recalled vaguely one night at a royal feast when she could never keep her eyes off him, a strange look in her eyes, and how she always protected him during recriminations. Revali's cold criticism was always met with a lengthy retort from Mipha and Urbosa. Daruk didn't much care for arguing, but he also agreed with the Zora. Link never got to know the aquatic champion of the kingdom, so he vowed to meet with her very soon.
"There isn't anything planned on the diplomatic agenda for a week, so now's the perfect time to head to Zora's Domain! We should set out immediately, so we can secure a meal and lodging before sundown."
The knight nodded and followed the princess to their horses.
The trip to the grand city of Zora's Domain was uneventful, which both Link and Zelda were grateful for. After so much commotion in their past journeys, a peaceful, quiet ride was favorable.
The pair's horses were stabled nearby at the foot of the mountain. Their mounts wouldn't be able to make the climb, so Zelda and her companion footed the remainder of the journey.
Link, of course, had never been to the Zora homeland, so he marveled at the exquisite architecture and designs of their clothing.
The king of the aquatic people greeted Zelda happily and ignored Link's presence. The princess asked about Mipha's whereabouts, and one of the king's squires pointed to Vah Ruta, high above in the mountains. Link nodded and left the throne room.
He had no idea how to swim up waterfalls, so he decided to take the long way up. Unfortunately, he was met with an unnatural number of Lizalfos with electric arrows along the way. He was so busy fighting that he didn't notice his arm wound had reopened and blood was spewing out. By the time he noticed, his vision was blurring and he felt light-headed. He must have lost too much blood…
As he faded to unconsciousness, he saw a figure running toward him quickly. It wasn't a Lizalfos, but he couldn't quite see their facial features…
The boy collapsed and fainted, lying motionless. Mipha got to him seconds too late, seeing the wound still open and bleeding. If she waited any longer, he would have died from blood loss. The Zora activated her healing powers and sealed the wound. She couldn't remove the scar, but she took away the pain and sealed it for good. He was safe. As long as he drank enough water, he'd replenish the blood he lost. Mipha sighed… she'd have to force him to drink water and use her powers to accelerate the blood production.
The Zora lifted the lightly-muscled (but still immensely heavy) Hylian onto her back and Vah Ruta lowered her trunk for her to set him on. She put him into the recovery position and retrieved her flask. She filled it with fresh spring water from the vast lake that fed into Zora's Domain and forced the boy to drink. He woke slowly, dazed and confused. Mipha sat next to him and began healing him. His vision returned and he was in reality again. He glanced over at the Zora and nodded thankfully.
She looked at the wound, likely wondering what had caused it. Link didn't want to tell her too much, so he simply opted for using his other hand to gesture an arrow impacting him.
The Zora smiled. "I knew it looked like an arrow wound. Looks like it went very deep. That's… dreadfully painful…" she trailed off, grimacing at the thought.
"I was thinking… this reminds me of the time we first met. Well, when I first laid eyes on you. You were always loyal and systematic, carrying out your obligations at all costs. I remember some of the pained looks on your face, and I remember wanting to heal you, just as I'm doing now. I thought it was funny how, being a Hylian, you looked grown-up so much faster than I did. We're actually the same age, in case you didn't know. I was always willing to heal your wounds even back then."
The Zora retracted her arm and Link marveled at her skillful, efficient healing on his body. It seemed she could manipulate his very skin and blood to her will. He shuddered at the thought of her having complete control over what his body does…
"So if this Calamity Ganon does, in fact, return, what can we really do? We just don't seem to know much about what we'll but up against. But know this: that no matter how difficult this battle might get, if you—if anyone ever tries to do you harm… Then I will heal you. No matter when or how bad the wound. I hope you know that I will always protect you. Once this whole thing blows over, maybe things can go back to normal. You know… Perhaps we could spend some time together."
Link smiled at the thought of being in Mihpa's company more often. She truly did seem to care for his well-being and happiness, which even he could not. Even so, he had a duty to protect Zelda, and… well, it seemed the princess felt the same way about him. But it was woefully inappropriate to accompany Zelda in that way, on a personal level.
The knight reminded himself that he has one job: protect Zelda with his life and defeat an enemy that doesn't yet exist.
Oh, how lost the poor boy was, and how blind he was to it…
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock…
Author Note
Poor Link just keeps getting worse, doesn't he? :(
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I know many of you were hoping for Link and Mipha to remain unchanged from the official lore, but unfortunately I had to alter their relationship to make Link's life harder (I promise I'm not a sociopath).
Really, though, we're almost there. 1-2 more chapters, then you're in for the feels. I'm mentally preparing myself for the climax chapter; it will be hard for me to write. I'm going to shoot for 5,000 words, longer than any other chapter I've posted thus far.
Winter is coming…
;)