Chapter 19- Keep Up

Link galloped down the road. Sweat sticking to his skin underneath the rays of the hot mid-afternoon sun. His horse panted heavily and looked beyond desperate for a rest and a drink but there would be no breaks, not yet.

It had happened again. His morning had been going quite well, the weather had been perfect, he had gotten some training in and the royal chief had managed to sneak him some of the leftovers from the King's table. After all that Link finally got the chance to sit back and relax in what felt like forever. Then the familiar sound of the messenger's voice reached him and the day was ruined once again.

Just like the last time she had left unaccompanied and had gone without telling the king. Of course if she had, the King would've sent Link with her. It was all too obvious the Princess couldn't stand his company and the feeling was mutual. But, an order from the King was hardly something to refuse and once again Link found himself galloping after the princess in a frenzied manner. She was far too easy to track and seemed to be making her way towards the Rito village.

Link suddenly felt very sympathetic to all those who had suffered under his childhood mischief. The past week had felt more chaotic than the past two years of his life, and that was really saying something.

When he finally arrived at the stable by Tabantha Great Bridge the sun had already turned orange on the horizon. Sure enough the Princess' white mare stood there looking at him blankly. Link dropped off his own horse and fell to the ground exhausted. Ciela looked in a similarly awful state and immediately went over to the troughs. He was going have to get her a lot of apples to make up for that sudden trip.

"Master Link!" the stable master gasped falling over a bucket as he frantically scrambled to give Link a hand up.

"Tess!" he called back into the stable. "Get some stew on the flames… actually second thought get all lot on the flames; Link's here."

Link dusted off his trousers and replied with an earnest: "Thanks."

The Stable Master moved over to Link's horse and grabbed his reigns. He was a sturdy looking man, as broad and clumsy as a soldier.

"She's inside, we told her to go back but I don't think she's really one for listening."

"Tell me about it," Link muttered underneath his breath.

The stable's common area was empty, save for one slightly amused princess sat by one of the tables. Link moved over to the washing basin and cleaned the sweat off his face, putting the Master sword to one side. If acting like she wasn't there was petty, then Link was perfectly willing to be petty. It helped a little to subside the burning irritation.

"You're certainly dedicated," Zelda mused as Link shook the water from his face. It helped his sheer exhaustion a little.

He picked up the Master Sword and moved over to the table sitting down across from her, continuing to pay no attention. All he wanted was some food and a little quiet rest, was that really too much to ask?

"I appreciate the fact you take your duties seriously but I am in no need of babysitting," she said staring at him from across the table. The triumph in her voice had been overturned with a tone of annoyance at Link's lack of attention.

The stable master eagerly brought over a loaf and the pan filled with carrot stew. He looked down the bowl in front of Link nervously. Then with an embarrassed look towards the princess he took the bowl and placed the whole pan and loaf of bread next to Link. The good man knew Link's appetite well, and tonight it was ravenous.

"I know that we both don't want to travel together. Just go back. Say I got some other escort along the way, I'll back up whatever you say to my father."

Link took his anger out on the Hebran bread ripping a chunk off and dunking it in the stew. How could she be so foolish about all this? Sure Link wanted to be anywhere else but, with the Yiga at their height and more and more monster attacks, the roads of Hyrule were not in any way safe. The only person Link could really trust was himself now. He was unlikely to find a contingent of guards that would not be infiltrated in a matter of days and there was no way he was going to take any more chances with the other Knights. Not after Alfonzo.

"Of course you say what you always say," Zelda said arms shaking as she gripped the sides of her stool. "Nothing."

Link continued to eat the stew, emptying like he had pulled the plug at the bottom of the pan. Even without his new responsibilities there was nothing for him to say to the princess. She would eventually just have to accept his presence.

"This just clearly isn't working is it…" Zelda muttered as Link continued to pay her no attention. "It would serve both out interests for us to simply… simply…"

She stood up in rage. "WILL YOU STOP EATING!"

Link glanced up and met her furious eyes with his own cold stare. Then with the same sass that would make even Epona proud, he lifted the pan and finished the remaining food.

"That's it!" Zelda announced. "I'm going to bed. Watch me while I'm sleeping again and I swear I'll kick you with so much force that you won't be in a saddle for weeks."

With that the princess stormed out of the main room and towards the stairs leading to the premium rooms.

Link struggled not to smile as he placed a hefty pouch of rupees on the table. The owner clearly deserved it after that. The Stable Master was looking off at a blank wall, trying to pretend he hadn't heard a thing. Link nodded to him and made his way to his room.

He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Link shot awake as he heard the whinnying of Zelda's horse outside.

Grabbing his sword Link vaulted out the window and rolled across the grass. Zelda lay on the side of the dirt road rubbing her head. Her face turned sour as she saw Link running over to her.

"Leave me alone! Don't you get it, I-don't-need-your-help," Zelda pushed herself to her feet and sighed.

Link stared at her expectantly.

"Look I'm sorry, I know this is as annoying for you as it is for me and that I'll just have to accept that you'll be here from now on…" Zelda said. "Please, I've hurt my head, do you mind getting me some herbs from your saddlebags?"

Link nodded. It finally felt like they were getting somewhere and it was beyond mature for the princess to say that despite her frustrations.

He shuffled through Ciela's saddlebags and finally came across a bunch of Hylian herbs. They weren't an elixir of any kind but they would have to do.

Come to think of it her words were even more mature after Link's actions the previous night. His silence was important, but it was time to break it, as least for a little bit and apologize to the princess somewhat, it had to be difficult having an emotionless shadow following her. He now fully regretted acting in such a juvenile way.

"Good luck keeping up!" Zelda yelled as she flicked the reigns of her horse and galloped across the bridge.

As Link touched the saddle it came loose and fell off the horse: sabotaged.

Never mind those thoughts, she fully deserved the silent treatment, his actions last night were completely justified and she was about as mature as a renegade pup. Link had never met a more arrogant, annoying and brattier girl in his whole life.

"Sorry kid," the Stable Master rushed over to help with the saddle. "But she's got you there."

"Just give me a hand…" Link grumbled.

The nerve on that boy.

Zelda had spent days preparing to get out of the castle unnoticed. She had gotten old maps of the castle's paths and tunnels, recorded the guard's patrols and how to distract them, and managed to get her own boat to get around the walls of the city. All of it would have made the Link she used to know proud. After all, he had infiltrated the Castle enough times to get every guard removed from the forces.

Then he just had to come along and ruin it all. She had no clue how he had even managed to find her. Zelda had only told Revali of her trip and he was hardly fond of answering to the King. Yet Link had still managed to come trotting along, worst of all those eyes managed to find her. Zelda hated the fact they affected her so much.

What was worse was how unbalanced her emotions were around Link. She had spent years training like her father to give little to nothing away and had spent even longer trying to hide her own failures away, but when she was around Link she found it almost impossible to not lash out. She was so out of control around him.

Two Rito warriors glided down to where she waited near the first bridge to the Rito Village.

She'd never seen something quite like the village. It was a huge stone stack reaching into the sky and around it spiralled small quaint huts. Far above on the side of the giant pillar sat a large windmill slowly turning in the gentle breeze of the surrounding area.

"It really is beautiful isn't it?"

Zelda jumped as Revali appeared behind her with that pleased grin. Like always he was probably just pleased with himself. Zelda counted herself glad that she was one of the few he wanted to gratify rather than the many he looked down upon.

"I first came her when I was just a baby so I didn't remember but yes… it really is," Zelda smiled as she looked over the peaceful village.

It seemed so detached from the outside world and completely removed from the constant worries and fears that lay there. It was no wonder she began to feel envious of the Rito for being able to live in such a place.

"I hated it when I was younger," Revali murmured. "I hated all the people here and all the empty space around but now I see the beauty of it all. It's something I'm glad I'm protecting."

His soft gaze suddenly sharped and he added: "Though the people of Hyrule must feel beyond safe under my sharp eyes."

"I'm sure they are," Zelda agreed. She found it was better to just go along with it.

Revali flexed his wings out impatiently. "I'm surprised to not see that Knight with you, not doing a great job is he?"

"Actually Revali…" Zelda didn't really know how best to explain it. "He's not too far behind and I was hoping you might be able to-"

"Say no more," Revali gleamed. "I'll make sure he doesn't get into the village."

She smiled weakly. It felt exhausting having him around constantly, whenever she decided to even take a step outside her room. Any break from his presence was usually a godsend and she craved for time alone on the road. Yet in some strange way she felt oddly guilty for the way she had treated him.

Regardless she followed Revali as the Rito made an impenetrable wall on the bridge behind her. There was no way Link was getting in that way and it was hardly like he was going to fight through those who were considered part of Hyrule's armed forces.

"I'm afraid you won't be able to see the chief, he's fallen sick yet again," Revali said as he led her across the wooden bridges and up a set of stairs. "Obviously with old feathers in such bad shape, the people all look to me for leadership."

"That's fine," Zelda replied. "I'm only here to see Vah Medoh, when is the best time to get there?"

"I can fly up there at any time," Revali preened. "I could take you but, you are far too delicate and would freeze up there almost immediately."

"There must be some way for me to reach the divine beast perhaps you could just bring it-"

"Fear not," he exclaimed. "The genius of Rito crafts making has allowed us to make you a garment that will keep you warm in even the harshest climates. We'll just need to get you properly fitted first."

He gestured for her to move into the hut with the same sigma as the armourer back at home. As Zelda followed Revali's pointed wing she found herself immediately attacked by small balls of soft furred feathers. The Rito children squawked in happiness as they flapped around her in an adorable whirlwind, Zelda found herself laughing at the sheer energy of them all.

"Give the princess some room to breathe," their mother grabbed the two Rito children and plopped them back up on their perch. "Sorry your highness, they don't know about manners yet, let alone all the complexities of Hylian social conventions."

"It's quite alright," Zelda chuckled. "Believe me sometimes it's nice to get away with it."

The Rito smiled back at her and quickly looked to Revali questioningly. She was covered with beautiful light blue feathers, a colour that matched Zelda's own travelling clothes.

"Frey I need you to fit the snowquill armour for her," Revali said.

"Mhmm," Frey replied. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Thank you…?" Revali replied.

"Don't act dull with me, you know exactly what I mean."

"Frey this really isn't the time to-"

He paused as she raised her eyebrows.

"And… I Love you," he said in defeat.

Frey immediately brightened up and began to measure Zelda. Revali looked beyond embarrassed by the whole thing and quickly took his leave.

"I had no idea…" Zelda mused.

"Most don't," Frey grinned. "Like all men though he's all bark and no bite, all it takes is a little push and he's purring up to you."

"I wouldn't say that about all men…" Zelda muttered. She knew someone who was probably the direct opposite of that statement.

Zelda found herself relaxing immediately under the steady working hands of Frey. She really was a master of her work and moved with great skill as she fitted the warm furs to Zelda's body.

It was funny to see someone so at peace with their work, to the point where it felt like they weren't even taking in the world around them. Zelda knew exactly how that felt. Every time she managed to get into her research it was like escaping from all the terrible thoughts that constantly crowded her.

After about an hour of sitting in still surrender the Rito children suddenly erupted into excited dance, squawking: "Ma! Ma! Someone's climbing the pillar all the way up."

Uh goddess, it can't be.

"Don't be silly little ones there's no way…" Frey paused in shock as she looked out over the side of the hut. "Princess… do you happen to know a Hylian in a blue tunic?"

Zelda rolled her eyes and walked over to see exactly what she expected. Link was struggling to make his way up to the top of the stone pillar behind the shop which led to the village's shrine. He had a strained look on his face, as though he was completely enraptured with pain.

"That's my appointed Knight," She muttered. "I don't even know how that's possible."

Finally he made it to a ledge opposite and doubled over panting heavily. Zelda looked around at the small crowd of Rito that had gathered to watch him from the shop. Each of their faces was priceless and looked at Link in complete astonishment.

"I've never seen a Hylian do that…" Frey murmured.

Link finally recovered from his heavy panting and as he finally returned upright he clenched his hands in front and let out what Zelda could only consider a sigh of self-encouragement. What was most odd of it all though was the fact Link actually smiled when he had recovered, she hadn't seen that smile in some time. Just by looking at the complete unfounded determination on Link's face, Zelda found herself smiling along.

How could he be so irritating, that it wasn't even possible for her to stay mad at him, he was just so damn likeable. Even the other Rito were smiling in admiration and Zelda had no doubt Revali had already been telling them terrible stories about the Hero of the Sword.

Link looked across in shock as he saw Zelda and the whole Rito village, gathered in the tiny shop, staring directly at him. As he waved at them the entire whole village erupted into cheers.

One of the guards turned to Zelda, "Do you want us to remove him your highness."

Zelda looked down at the hopeful eyes of the village. It was the adorable little Rito children who broke her.

"No it's quite alright."

"Master Revali has asked for you to join him on the landing platform to make journey to the divine beast."

"Of course," Zelda nodded. As she followed the guard she already felt Link's presence behind her. Even if her and Link didn't get along it was important for there to be as little bad blood between the champions as possible.

"Link?" she turned slightly back to look at him. He looked a little surprised by her tone. "Please, I know Revali can be a little much, but try to not to get on his bad side too much while I'm up there?"

Link nodded at her. Chances were he was just going to be quiet and surely that was going to work, though it seemed unlikely that anything was going to purge Revali's jealousy. She just hoped nothing awful would happen between them on that landing pad while she was gone.

Link roasted away the fish in silence. Like always he felt at peace when he was cooking. He felt a little less annoyed at Revali's taunts to him earlier. The oversized bird had only performed his self-gratifying show to get under Link's skin and wouldn't have dreamed of saying those things in front of the princess. In that moment he was perfectly willing to show him just how worthy he was, by slamming his annoying beak into the wooden floor of the pad.

Nope, we're cooking now forget about that.

Of course Zelda was there at the back of his mind. She was safe and lying down on the floor just across the pot from him, scribbling something in her journal and staring at the strange slate. It looked like she was actually beginning to tolerate him. Instead of glaring at him she had looked up and smiled a few times, he had pretended not to notice but he had.

He made the final finishing touches. The chef had taught him the recipe after Link kept eating all the dishes, Salmon Meunier, the fish he caught earlier in Lake Totori would help take the dish even further than the castle cooks could manage. The marbling on the salmon was incredible.

He served up two plates, one admittedly quite a bit bigger than the other but he hadn't eaten all day. Neither had the princess, she had to be starving and it didn't look like the great Revali was doing anything about it.

She looked up at him as he handed the wooden plate to her.

"Oh Link I can't…" Zelda began, but quickly saw he wasn't going to take no for an answer and took the bowl.

She ate quickly, a little too quickly than normal. It seemed hunger had gotten the better of her royal etiquette. To be fair Link wasn't much better and like always he wolfed the plate down like it was nothing.

He sat back satisfied and looked curiously at the princess as she finished her meal.

"I got to admit I was a little worried. You looked so at peace while cooking I didn't want to ruin it by not liking your food, but…"

She seemed to enjoy the fact Link couldn't help but be drawn in. Food was something he just felt a little too passionate about. Even the Master Sword couldn't take that away.

"I loved it, where did you even learn to cook? With skills like those you probably could've been a chief instead of a knight."

Link shrugged. He couldn't even imagine ever pursuing another goal for himself. Ever since he could think he wanted to be a Knight. Even before he even knew what a Knight actually was, the word just sounded kinda nice to him.

"Look Link I'm sorry about running away from you all those times, I mean it this time, no tricks. It just frustrates me sometimes that-" she stopped dead in that sentence. "I'm just trying to say that I'll try to be more accommodating of you in the future."

Link wanted to smile so badly but something in his mind stopped him. He just nodded, grabbed the empty bowl and placed them on the side.

"Our next location will be Goron City, I've written ahead to Daruk. He doesn't know you're coming but I'm sure he'll be more than happy to see you."

Link nodded again. Daruk was a good friend, one he had only met once, but still a good friend.

Zelda continued: "It seems an age since I last saw Rudania, I wonder what mysteries I'll uncover now we know so much more about the divine beasts. Of course we will need to make sure we gather the proper ingredients to be able to make some elixirs for Eldin, I'd hate to wear the huge protective armour."

Link paused and drank up the image of the village at night. He would have to catch up on the sights and sounds of Lake Totori some other time, yet again the princess had left him feeling exhausted and he would need his strength to keep an eye on her when they hit the road.

If he was to say one thing of the village, it was a complete opposite reflection of its champion.