Chapter 10

Author's Note: The last few chapters were all on the longer side and I apologize for that. I'll be keeping a closer eye on the length from now on.

Link's mind was in turmoil as he crossed the bridge and headed down the road, letting his feet take him where they would. He wasn't even sure what he was feeling at the moment. Anger? Fear? Betrayal? Yes to all of the above and more. The emotions raging inside made his chest feel tight and his hands clenched and unclenched with the need to do something.

He was a time bomb, ready to go off at any minute. The fact he hadn't lost his mind in the middle of a town and massacred everyone in sight before finding the master sword was just sheer dumb luck. Even now it was still a possibility. What if that child down the road who always asked to see weapons from his grandpa's book had asked to see the master sword while Link was under the Malice's control? If he had been out running errands rather than cleaning his armor earlier... Link couldn't help but shudder at the thought.

How could Zelda have even hoped to hide something like this? What on earth made her think that was a good idea? How was he ever supposed to trust her again? How could she trust him after he'd attacked her like some rapid animal? Link wasn't even sure if he was angry at the princess, himself or both.

And how could he ever apologize enough to Symin? Would the aged researcher even want to see him again? They weren't terribly close, but to be viciously attacked without warning by someone you knew... Zelda said he only had minor bruising, but Link wasn't sure he could believe her anymore. She obviously hadn't wanted him to leave, extracting that promise before giving him the truth. Did she downplay the severity of the wounds to ease his conscience? Or was she telling the truth this time? Although he didn't really remember the closeness of their relationship in the past, something deep inside of him hated that he doubted her now.

Link let out a frustrated growl as he raked a hand through his hair, starting in surprise when a more guttural tongue squawked in reply. His feet had led him to the woods north of town and he'd apparently startled two blue bokoblins awake. The hilt of the master sword was cool in his grasp as the monsters swiped their own weapons from the ground. Link's hand slid reflexively to the slate at his hip, a combination of buttons on the sides swapping the holy blade for a curved scimitar.

The battle didn't last long, both monsters soon collapsing in a cloud of purplish-black smoke and leaving a few fangs and bones behind. Link idly collected the monster parts, relishing the clarity brought by the brief exchange. He was man of action, not analysis. The Goddess had given him the information needed to cure his malady. Worrying about what could have happened was as distracting as it was pointless.

Worrying about how Symin now viewed him was equally useless. He'd make a healing tonic and deliver it with a proper apology in the morning. Anything beyond that was out of his hands.

As for Zelda... Link sighed as the clarity of thought disappeared under an onslaught of conflicting emotions. Anger for her actions, understanding for her reasons, fear he might wound or kill her, betrayal for hiding the truth from him, guilt that he might have done the same had the roles been reversed... He shook his head, sheathing his blade. It was obvious he needed to ponder this matter a while longer. Nervous energy thrumming through him, he set out in search of more monsters.

The soft sound of humming pulled Zelda from her slumber and the savory aroma permeating the air drew her from her bed, her stomach demanding she put something in it. Link was moving a pot from the open flames to the counter as she descended the stairs, his groan indicating perfection as he sampled the stew.

"Good morning," she greeted, smiling slightly as she startled him.

"Oh, good morning," he said, turning to face her. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

She shook her head. "What time is it?"

"Uh, almost eleven, I think," Link answered, checking the slate hanging on his belt before nodding. "You must have been pretty tired after last night."

The smile fell from her face as their discussion came back to her. Relieved as she was that he had returned and seemed to be in his usual spirits, she knew that didn't mean the matter was settled. "Yes, I suppose I was," she agreed softly, dropping her gaze. "Was...your walk beneficial?" she asked, trying to find a tactful way to ask about his intentions moving forward.

"Not as much as clearing the monsters out of the northern woods," he stated, the neutral statement giving nothing away. He stared at her for several long seconds, his eyes lingering on the bruises marring her face and throat. He shook himself slightly, tearing his eyes away from the marks as he pulled the Sheikah slate from his hip. "Let's eat first. It's not nearly as good cold."

"It smells delightful," Zelda said, unsure whether she should feel anxious or relieved. Was putting off the conversation a good sign? Or was he simply giving himself time to find the words she didn't want to hear?

Link placed a glass bottle on the table in front of her as she sat, the dark red liquid nauseatingly familiar. "Um, what's this?" she asked, eyeing the vial with some trepidation.

"It's called a hearty elixir," Link replied. "It tastes awful, but it should take care of those bruises, and any other damage I might have caused."

"Oh, you need not have troubled yourself over that..." Zelda hedged, trying to convince herself that this wasn't a similar concoction to the one the fairy had guided her through making just the day before.

"I don't like seeing you injured and knowing I did that to you. It's very potent, so you shouldn't need more than a sip or two," Link explained, ladling some soup into a bowl and setting it in front of her. "The least I can do is try to make reparations, even if I wasn't in control of myself at the time."

Naturally he was doing it as some sort of penance; there was no getting out of drinking it now. "Very well," Zelda whispered. She could feel her insides shriveling at the thought of what she was about to do. With only a slight tremor in her fingers, she removed the cork and lifted the bottle to her lips.

Link was already back at the counter pouring soup into another bowl for himself. "Unfortunately, I'm all out of fairies or else I would have made you a fairy tonic," he continued after a moment, rejoining her at the table. "This isn't as fast-acting, but the bruising should be gone in an hour or two." He paused, noting her eyes were tightly shut and she had one hand covering her mouth. A shudder ran through her, as if she were trying not to retch. "It's...not that bad, it is?"

Zelda shook her head sharply, keeping her mouth firmly shut until the mixture stopped threatening to come back up. She opened her eyes after her stomach had settled, taking a deep breath. "It is just- I mean, the ingredients-" She pursed her lips as another shudder ran through her frame, shaking her head again as she pushed the cork into place and thrust the remaining elixir back at him.

Link sighed in frustration. "If you didn't want to drink it, you should have just said so. You didn't need to force yourself."

"No, it is fine," she assured him. "You were only trying to make amends. The issue is the knowledge of... Well, it is my own fault for using your last fairy, so I am in no position to complain." And, fairy or not, she'd forced him to drink something similar the day before. She quickly suppressed the memory, suddenly understanding why the royal healer never told her what was in her medicine.

"...we're getting nowhere like this," Link muttered.

Zelda blinked, her confused gaze meeting her knight's. "What?"

"You, me, constantly tip-toeing around each other." He gestured between them. "I'm not so delicate that I can't bear to see the marks I left on your body, nor would I take offense if you refused the elixir."

"I...I'm sorry."

"And there are those words again." Link closed his eyes, brow furrowed in irritation. "I'm not looking for an apology, princess, just...say what's on your mind. Tell me if you don't want to do something. I'm not made of glass- and I'm pretty sure you're not, either," he said, his lips quirking in a half smile. "If there's no danger involved, to you or anyone else, I'll let it go."

"You make it sound like such a simple thing."

"Isn't it?"

It was Zelda's turn to sigh. "No, but you are correct. I'm also tired of tip-toeing around each other. I can't make any promises, but...I shall try."

"That's all I ask." Link picked up his spoon turning his attention back to the steaming bowl in front of him. They still had larger problems to be addressed, but those could wait for a bit longer. "Well, I'll apologize for the elixir then, and hope that this soup will make up for it," he said, changing the subject as he gestured to the bowl in front of her. "I actually got the recipe in town."

Zelda obligingly dipped her spoon into the soup, blowing on the steaming lumps before putting it in her mouth. "It is delicious!" she said, eyes widening at the flavor as the vegetables practically melted on her tongue. "What it is?"

"Pumpkin stew."

She glanced at him in surprise. "Surely not those rock-hard pumpkins Kakariko is so proud of?" she asked.

Link chuckled, understanding her disbelief. "The very same. Took me awhile to figure out how to cook them right."

The small talk continued throughout the meal, only petering off once they had both finished. "So, about last night," Zelda prompted, idly pushing a small chuck of carrot around her bowl.

Link propped his elbows on the table, putting one hand on top of the other as he rested his chin on them. "I'd like a bit more detail about what happened in the lab," he said, jumping right to the heart of the matter. "You said you used the sealing power to stun me long enough for Symin to tie me up, right?"

"That was not my intention, but yes."

"What were you trying to do then?"

"Everything happened so fast, I...lost myself in the moment." She licked her lips hesitantly, reluctant to tell Link she'd mistaken him for evil incarnate. "I...thought I was back in the castle, my limits again being tested by the Calamity. My reaction was call upon the sacred power to drive him back. It wasn't until you screamed that I realized I was purifying you instead."

"You can do that?" Link asked, sitting forward intently. "You can purify the Malice inside of me?"

Zelda shook her head adamantly, already knowing what his next question would be. "I refuse."

"Why?" There was no accusation in his question, just simple curiosity.

In response, Zelda stood and retrieved a bag sitting near the door. Returning to the table, she turned it over and dumped its contents onto the wooden surface. It looked like a pile of scrap metal, some edges jagged and sharp while others were corroded as if they'd been exposed to some sort of acid. A few whorls and symbols here and there marked them as the remains of some ancient Sheikah tech.

"The armor you were cleaning yesterday had traces of Malice along the seams and stuck in the crevices. This is what was left after I purified it."

Link's eyes widened. Not only was it unrecognizable, but he'd been cleaning almost his full set of armor. There was barely enough scrap left over to make the greaves. "I see," he said, leaning back in his chair thoughtfully. "How serious were my injures, exactly? You said you had to use a fairy to heal me, right?"

Zelda nodded, sitting down once more. "Serious enough," she replied, staring at the pile on the table. "Your arm was badly burned, almost to the point of disfigurement. Blisters were still forming right up until you drank the fairy tonic. From the swelling and discoloration, I assume there was internal damage as well, though I do not know how severe. I...feared I may have cost you the use of your dominant arm."

Silence stretched between them, Link lost in his thoughts while the princess tried not to dwell on hers. After a moment or two, the swordsman nodded. "Alright," he said at last, his decision made. "I intend to travel to the Lanayru Promenade and to Lake Floria to finish gathering what I need to make a cure for the Malice. What will you do?"

Zelda blinked, taken back by the sudden shift in the conversation. "I...would travel with you, if you will allow it," she answered slowly. "The Master Sword-" Her eyes widened as they automatically darted to the ever-present hilt over his shoulder only to realize it was missing. "Where is the sword?!" she cried, panicked eyes darting around the room.

"I have it," Link said, halfway to standing as he reached an arm out to calm her. "It's in the slate."

"You must keep it on you at all times," Zelda explained frantically. "Even if it is not likely you will have another episode today or even tomorrow, if the madness overtakes you once more-"

"It's fine," he assured her. "The Master Sword will keep that from happening, even if it's in the slate."

"How do you know that?" Zelda challenged. "We did not even know what was wrong until yesterday, but suddenly you-" She broke off as something clicked in her mind, eyes narrowing as she stared at him intently. "Who told you not to use Naydra's scale? And how to make this other cure?"

Link winced slightly, dropping his hand as he sat back in his chair. He'd been hoping that particular topic wouldn't come up again. "I didn't know what I was supposed to be looking for at the spring," he said, his gaze dropping to the table. "So I prayed for guidance."

"The Goddess?" Zelda asked, her voice soft.

Link nodded. "She explained a lot of things, like what the Malice does to me and how to rid myself of it."

"And why you should not use Naydra's scale," Zelda finished, nodding pensively. "Well, if she told you the Master Sword will still protect you from within the slate, then it must be true."

"You're...not angry?"

Zelda blinked in bemusement. "Whatever for?"

"Well, you spent ten years waiting for an answer from the Goddess..."

She couldn't help the incredulous laugh that bubbled out of her throat. "The Goddess speaks to whom she will, when she will," she chuckled, shaking her head. "You need not feel guilty that she favors her chosen hero over the distant descendant of her ancient bloodline."

Link grimaced. "Somehow, it sounds even worse when you put it like that."

Zelda laughed, shaking her head. "I now understand why she turned deaf ears to my pleas all those years ago," she said, her smile turning a bit wistful. "Though painful at the time, the lesson it taught me proved invaluable over the last century."

"I...see."

"In any case," she said, clapping her hands together as if declaring the matter closed, "We were discussing where to go from here. Someone merely asking to see your sword or the slate while you are incapacitated would have disastrous consequences. I would like travel with you, to protect you when you are unable to protect yourself."

Link inclined his head, having anticipated that might be the case. "I will allow you to accompany me on two conditions: First, if there is another incident, I expect you to tell me everything," he said sternly, his tone brooking no argument. "No matter how bad it may be."

Zelda lowered her eyes but nodded. "I will."

"I also want you to swear to me that, if I do lose the sword, you will stop me by whatever means necessary," he continued, deadly serious. "Even if that means killing me."

Zelda's head jerk up, shocked green eyes meeting his hard blue gaze. "No!" she exclaimed, shaking her head as she all but leapt out of her chair. "I will retrieve the sword from wherever it may be, or, or restrain you until you come back to your senses if I must, but I refuse to even entertain the thought of killing you!"

"Death isn't my first choice either," he stated with deliberate calm, watching her agitatedly pace back and forth across the table. "But if it comes to that-"

"It will not! I will not allow it!"

"Zelda!"

She jerked to a standstill, the harsh tone and the use of her given name shocking her out of her denial like a slap to the face.

"If it comes to that," Link repeated quietly, enunciating each carefully measured word, "I need your oath that you will stop me. Whatever the cost."

She shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself. "How could you ask something so awful of me?" she whispered.

"I don't want to murder anyone, and refusing to use lethal force would put you in just as much danger as anyone else," Link said. He hesitated slightly, lowering his voice as he dropped his gaze to the table. "And I'm not sure anyone but you can stop me." Even Calamity Ganon had fallen to him while in such a state. While he would be brought down eventually, the carnage he caused before that would be devastating. And in a town like Hateno, made up of farmers armed with pitchforks and farming hoes with no battle experience to speak of, the death toll would be incredibly high. He caught her gaze once more, blue eyes begging her to understand. "Please."

Zelda resumed her pacing, holding herself tightly as her emotions warred with logic. How could he possibly ask this of her? To murder the one her heart longed for, the one who had occupied her thoughts constantly for one hundred years? Conversely, Link was not the only one to challenge Ganon. There were many strong warriors who had braved the denizens of the castle over the past century, not one of which had reached the Sanctuary, much less the Calamity contained within. She could not deny Link's incredible skill in battle, nor the devastation he would leave in his wake should the worst come to pass. They both knew she was likely the only one capable of bringing him down before there was a massacre.

She bit her lip as her thoughts continued racing in circles. She was here because her knight needed her help. How could she deny him this request? Yet, how could she kill the man she loved? How many innocent lives was she willing to trade for his?

Link remained silent, giving her time to make her choice. It was a hard decision to make and all he could ask of her was that she seriously consider it instead of dismissing it out of hand.

It was several long minutes before Zelda finally stopped, her back to him. "Very well," she breathed, "I swear it."

Link nodded solemnly, understanding the difficulty of his request. Although he honestly didn't expect it to be a problem, he felt better knowing she was ready to do what needed to be done. "Thank you," he said gratefully.

She whirled around before he could continue, eyes flashing. "You had better not lose that sword!" she said, pointing at him threateningly. "I will never forgive you if you do!"

He huffed out a surprised laugh at her unexpected counter, feeling the remaining tension in the air dissipate as he dipped his head in acknowledgment. "As you command."

To Be Continued

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