Hey, everybody. I'm here with my first foray into a new fandom.
So, I recently got back into Zelda when I replayed Breath of the Wild again before Tears of the Kingdom came out, and I did some real research on the rest of the franchise and lore of Zelda. I just got Tears of the Kingdom a few days ago and am only about halfway through it, but it may be one of the best video games in history. After all this, I decided to try my hand at fanfictions in the world of Zelda.
So, one thing I've really liked in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is the relationship between Link and Zelda, especially since, as I understand it, there haven't been many similar relationships with between Links and Zeldas in previous games. However, I'm sure that many people wish the hinted romance between them actually bloomed instead of just mild hints from Zelda mostly. So, I decided to write on the concept of the romance between Link and Zelda in Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom. However, I've got several ideas for this concept, so I'm going to be writing a separate story for each idea I have.
Let's get started with the first one. This one starts right before the Great Calamity, and will continue after it. It will start during the memory at the horse park. I am not sure how long this story will be, but I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 1- Secret No Longer
Zelda smiles as she gently strokes the neck of her horse, Snowmane. She and Link are riding up to Sanidin Park, where the great horse statue lies. It's a calm day, and it's a really leisurely ride. She smiles to herself and recants one of Link's pieces of advice to her as she strokes Snowmane's neck, "Make sure to take the time to soothe your mount. That's the only way it will know how you truly feel."
Zelda smiles as Snowmane seems to give a satisfied nicker. She straightens up and looks over to Link, who is riding his horse, Lamrei. "Your advice was quite helpful-thank you. This little one and I are getting along quite well now. At first, I wasn't sure if I should outfit him with all of the royal gear. I thought maybe he should have to earn it first. But it works! He wears it like a true natural."
It takes only a few more minutes before the pair reach the park. The two dismount from their horses and walk towards the statue. Their horses are very familiar with their owners and very well trained, and so the two don't feel the need to tie them up, just leaving their horses to graze.
Zelda walks past the horse statue towards the overlook at the edge of the platform that looks out across Hyrule. Link follows a few steps behind her, his eyes focused on her. For some time now, he has known Zelda and been her appointed knight. He always took his role as her protector seriously. But at times, his heart begins to take hold and he allows himself to be drawn into her beauty and allow himself to think about her not as her appointed protector but as a friend who cares about her.
Zelda walks up to the railing before she stops, sighing a bit as she stares out across Hyrule. After a moment, she says in a solemn voice, "See that mountain. That's Mt. Lanayru."
"I know," Link says in a soft voice.
Zelda is quiet for a moment before she says, "It takes its name from the Goddess of Wisdom. Lanyru's decree is very specific. It says: 'No one is allowed, under the age of seventeen…for only the wise are permitted a place upon the mountain.'"
Zelda pauses, wrestling with her thoughts before she voices them aloud, "I've prayed at the Spring of Courage and at the Spring of Power, yet neither awoke anything inside me. But maybe up there, perhaps the Spring of Wisdom, the final of the three, will be the one. To be honest, I have no real reason to think that will be the case. But there's always the chance that the next moment will change everything."
Zelda pauses once more. Link once more speaks as he says, "There is always hope. We must never lose that hope, or all is lost."
Zelda looks back at Link and smiles gratefully before she looks back towards Mount Lanayru. "Tomorrow is my 17th birthday." She then turns back to Link and says, "So then I shall go, and make my way up the mountain. I will do all I can to finally awaken my power."
"And I shall be with you," Link responds.
Zelda looks intently at Link for a moment before she takes a few steps closer to him and says in a softer voice, "Link…I am very grateful for your companionship and friendship. I have not treated you right in the past, but you have remained by my side all this time. I…could not have asked for more."
"It was my duty," Link responds simply, trying to ensure he remains professional, but feeling a great warm feeling from Zelda showing her gratitude. He had been devoted to her this whole time, but also found himself wishing at times that she would express some gratitude for all his efforts.
"Perhaps," Zelda says before she gives him another smile and says, "But it does not lessen my gratitude, Link. I could not have made it this far without you."
"I'm not sure about that," Link says with a bit of a smile.
"I am," Zelda says back.
The two stand there in silence for a moment, and as they do, Zelda's face falls a little. Link looks at her in concern. Zelda looks at him for a moment before she says, "We have prepared for so long for the return of Calamity Ganon. You have become so proficient with that sword, and the Champions have mastered the Divine Beasts. But defeating it…really depends on me. But I can't access this power. If I can't…what will happen?"
"We can't give up hope. We still have time. And if you don't…the Champions and I will fight with everything we have to defeat him," Link says.
"But what if you can't defeat him without me?" Zelda says in a tone of fear. Although she knows that the Master Sword and the Divine Beasts can devastate Ganon, she has always feared that, if she cannot unlock her power, actually defeating him and sealing him away again will be impossible.
"We cannot afford to think such thoughts. We must always hope," Link says.
Zelda is quiet for a moment, privately marvelling at Link's ability to stay positive in any situation. However, she is also wrestling with something else. Something she has been wrestling with for a few months now.
"But what if we cannot stop Ganon without my power? What do we do if we have only days or weeks before all things end? What do we do if we are doomed to destruction?" Zelda ask Link.
Link is quiet for a moment. He knows that he cannot truly relate to Zelda's plight. She has even more personal responsibility for defeating Ganon, and on top of that has the burden of being her kingdom's princess charged with protecting it from destruction. And she has had to face that pressure almost her entire life, while Link has only had to deal with it for about a year. He can deal with it much better than her. He wants to try and comfort her, but is unsure how to do so. He's not the best at emotions, and is unsure how to comfort her in a way that will work.
However, he sees Zelda take a few steps towards him so she is standing right in front of him. She looks at him in the eyes before she says, "Link…I want to believe that everything will work out. But I must face the truth of our situation. If I cannot unlock my power, we may not be able to defeat Calamity Ganon, and Hyrule will fall."
Link wants to say something to try and raise her spirits. However, he is surprised when Zelda reaches out and takes one of his hands in hers. She looks deeply into his eyes and says, "I want to have hope Link. But, if we fail…I don't want to have any regrets." Then, before Link can react, Zelda leans in, bringing her other hand up to the side of his face, and her lips gently slide onto Link's.
Link stands there stunned for a moment, unable to believe what is happening. Zelda is kissing him. Princess Zelda herself. He never imagined that she would do something like this. He had no idea she had feelings for him like this. Nor did he imagine that Zelda would ever be so bold to do something like this. His mind races as he tries to process what is happening. Then, almost as if a switch flips, his heart takes control, and he wraps an arm around Zelda and returns the kiss. He had known for some time that he was attracted to Zelda. But, had Zelda not made this move, he would never have had the strength or courage to admit he had any kind of romantic feelings towards her. Perhaps even to himself. But now, it is as if the denial he has kept within him in order to better fulfill his role as Zelda's appointed knight is gone, and he can finally allow himself to be in touch with his feelings.
The two remain in their embrace for several long moments, allowing themselves to finally express the feelings they have kept bottled up for so long. Finally, as gently and slowly as Zelda had initiated the kiss, they separate.
Zelda looks deep into Link's eyes, the affection she has for him no longer able to be kept from her face. "Link…I have kept my feelings to myself, because I felt it was for the good of the kingdom. I felt it would help our mission. But…I cannot hide it anymore. If we are to die soon from Ganon, I could not bear it if we did so before I told you how I feel. I have tried to deny it to myself, but I cannot anymore." She looks at Link with passion for several seconds before she says, "I love you, Link. I have for some time. And I needed to tell you before the fight that lies ahead of us. If we are to die, I needed you to know that I love you."
Link looks at Zelda, his brain still trying to digest what has just happened and what to do next. Then, he thinks to himself, She's right. I have nothing to lose. He then opens his mouth and says, "I cannot deny my feelings either, Zelda. I have had feelings for you, but kept them hidden, even from myself, to make things easier. But, I cannot keep them down any longer."
Zelda looks at Link with such love that Link can't help but smile what is perhaps the biggest smile of his life. Then, she says something that shocks Link: "Link, marry me, please."
Link stares at Zelda in shock. "What?" he mutters.
"Please, Link. You mean the world to me. You are one of the few true friends I have ever had. I need you by my side. I could not bear it to lose you. And whether we are to die or not against Ganon, I wish to spend whatever time we have left in our lives together," Zelda says firmly.
"But…your father…the kingdom…our mission…" Link all but splutters, still trying to catch up what Zelda is asking.
"I don't care about any of that. All I care about is you. If we are to die against Ganon, it will not matter who knows of our relationship. And if we do not, then I will leave the castle and live alone with you in a hut in the woods if I have to. Please, Link, I wish to be with you forever," Zelda pleads with her Champion and love.
Link stands there, his mind trying to grasp what Zelda is asking. Yes, once Zelda turns seventeen tomorrow, it will be legal for them to be married. And he cannot deny that marrying Zelda would bring him great joy. But he still wonders if making such a decision in haste and desperation is right. He wonders what consequences such an action could bring. However, once again, his heart wins out over the logical part of his brain. He smiles at Zelda before he says, "Yes, Zelda. I will."
Zelda lets out a sob from pure happiness and wraps her arms tightly around Link, hardly able to contain her joy. Link smiles as he embraces her and says, "We will go to Kakariko Village tomorrow. The Sheikah have always been our friends, and I believe we can trust them to keep this secret. Once we are married, then we can go on to Mount Lanayru. But tomorrow…tomorrow will be a day for us."
Zelda laughs with joy and holds Link even tighter. At last, she had found the courage to admit her feelings, and now, she will be able to spend the rest of her life, however long that may be, with the man she loves.
And, I'll end the chapter there.
I hope this was a good first chapter. I also hope it didn't seem too out of the blue with them admitting their feelings. We know from various sources in Breath of the Wild that Zelda loved Link by this point. And, with the pressure of everything, I could see Zelda being pushed to move so quickly if she found the courage.
Next chapter will be the wedding. It'll be up soon. Until it is, please follow and favorite, leave a review with your initial impressions, and stay tuned for more!