Author's Note: Welcome back everyone to chapter 11!
This chapter came much more effortlessly to me than the previous one. As I said last time, it wasn't because I didn't love writing Aryll or Chapter 10 in general, but starting fresh from a new arc's beginning was a bigger challenge than I'd expected. But this time, I was able to pretty easily catch my stride and keep building off of the things I established at the beginning of Book II which made this chapter flow a lot better. It also has some of my favorite character interactions in the story so far, so I really hope you enjoy reading!
As some of you know, I always try to respond to each and every comment/review I get on both sites I post this story on, but that does mean I sometimes forget to say things like this up top - thank you all so very much for taking the time to read this story of mine and leaving reviews/comments if you so choose to! I really appreciate being able to see your thoughts and feedback and it's extremely flattering to know that people want to take the time to talk about something I've written in the first place. I'm grateful for each and every person who reads these stories - it makes posting works like this even more fun!
Now with all that said, I hope you enjoy the latest installment! Thanks again for reading!
Book II – Family
Chapter 11 – Closeness
Zelda was soaking in the familiar bath yet again a short time after Aryll departed for the night. She and Link had seen the young woman off a few hours ago now and, much like the rest of the day, her departure had been filled with energy. Aryll had attached a lantern to her belt and vaulted up onto the back of her horse before disappearing into the night with a bright smile and a lively wave. Zelda had been worried about Aryll riding alone through the night to get back home to Lurelin and expressed as much, but she set her worries at ease before leaving…with terrifying words.
"Nothing to worry about; I always leave this late! It's a short ride back to Lurelin anyway and if someone tries to attack me on the way, I'll slice 'em to ribbons with my blades."
That thought had sent a shiver scurrying down Zelda's spine. She couldn't help imagining what that might actually look like for a brief moment; it wasn't a very pleasant thought.
Zelda sank down deeper into the water and relished the feeling of warmth wrapping around her like a gentle hug. It was refreshing and comforting all at once, especially after how cold the day had been.
She was still reeling a little from meeting Aryll that day. The girl was intensely energetic and almost entirely unapologetic in her personality. She had a fair amount of tact, though – she knew how to read a room and when to make herself the center of attention or not.
Zelda had been thinking for a few hours now about how very different Aryll was from Link. She was even realizing how different Link himself was when he was with his sister. Usually, in stark contrast to Aryll's outspoken and aggressive personality, he was much more subdued. Though he spoke without hesitation, something Zelda herself could only imagine doing, he never interjected his opinion when it wasn't asked for unless it was something important.
And yet, he had been a teasing, caring, playful older brother to his little sister all day today. That new side of Link was quite endearing and she had enjoyed watching the two of them together all night.
The few times Aryll had come close to telling a story that Link didn't want Zelda to hear, he had taken a bite of the apple he had conspicuously plucked from a bowl of fruit on the table and she had changed course each time, instead choosing a different tale. Zelda did find herself curious about some of those missing stories but she was even more curious what in the world happened involving an apple tree if it was enough to even rein in Aryll.
'Still, I'm glad I got to hear some of what their childhood was like. It sounds like Link was much more rambunctious as a boy. And it makes sense that he met Mipha while accompanying his father out to Zora's domain when he traveled there on assignments; I imagine most people wouldn't usually meet the Zora Princess otherwise.
'I wonder if Aryll also knows Mipha then. Even if they didn't meet when she was a child, I'm sure she's met Link's best friend by now. She used to come out to Hateno every week or two so there's no way they've never come across one another, right? I wonder…if my presence might be undesirable to them the next time they have a chance to spend time together here…'
Zelda frowned as the thought occurred to her. Sure, Mipha wanted to be her friend and Aryll even said she wanted to be her sister…but perhaps they didn't want her intruding on their time together. Just because they were pleasant with her and tolerated her presence didn't mean they needed to include her in everything. She would never be so bold as to assume they should, of course.
'But it might be nice to spend some time together with them both…'
Zelda shook her head quickly, trying to banish the thought from her mind.
'Stop that. You know better than to get your hopes up like that. You tried to be a sister to Hilda for years and it never once worked out. There's just as high a probability that Aryll…doesn't really want to be your sister after she gets to know you. It's…probably too much to ask of her anyway. Why would she want someone like me by her side? I'm so gloomy and unsightly…my presence alone might ruin her mood if she spends more than just a few hours with me…or if Link isn't there to make up for my shortcomings…'
Now feeling very dejected, Zelda decided she had soaked in the bath enough. Exiting the basin, she carefully dried herself and dressed in her nightgown before untying her long hair. Dragging herself through the door and trying to hide her sadness behind a plastered-on stoicism, she returned to the main room.
"How was your bath?"
Link's voice greeted her immediately, a warm smile on his face. He was sitting on the couch by the fire, his own hair down and his usual night clothing adorning him – a forest green shirt with cream-colored bottoms.
Those colors looked good on him.
"O-oh, it was…nice."
"Come sit with me?" he asked, patting the upholstery next to him.
Zelda couldn't hide her surprise but nodded.
"Um…okay."
Placing her things on the dining table, she crossed the remainder of the room and lowered herself carefully onto the couch beside her fiancé, making sure to keep a respectable distance between them. He turned towards her, his bright blue eyes sparkling as the fire danced in them.
"What's wrong? Something's bothering you, isn't it?"
Zelda's mouth fell open in surprise. He could read her that easily?
"U-um…not…really…"
"Hey, you don't have to do that with me," he continued, reaching out and placing his hand atop her own. "If something's upsetting you, I'd like to know. I want you to feel like you can rely on me, Zelda."
"I…um…t-thank you…"
"So," he continued, his smile somehow warmer than even the fire across the room, "tell me what's on your mind."
"I…was thinking about Aryll and Mipha while I was bathing. And…I started to wonder if my company would be…something they'd ever want when they're together. I mean…surely neither of them would want me draining the energy and excitement from their lives, right? Why would they want someone like me…to be around them when they have the option of each other instead…? It would make perfect sense if they thought things like that…"
Her lip trembled as she said those words aloud. It hadn't been real until she'd uttered them in her own voice. But now…now it was as good as set in stone. Everyone in her life learned this about her eventually. Everyone except Link. He was too good a man to ever turn his back on her. But she shouldn't expect the same consideration from anyone else…
"Zelda, I promise you my sister and best friend are far better people than that."
Zelda yanked her eyes up from the hardwood floor beneath them and watched him in wonder. He kept his gentle gaze fixed on her.
"I don't consider very many people 'close,' but I'd trust those two with my life. I'd trust them with yours too. They're good people and they would never think such terrible things about you, Zelda. No matter what you've been told in your past, no matter what lies and poison Hilda may have filled your head with, none of that will ever be true here."
"L…Link…"
"And besides, if either of them ever said something to hurt you, I'd come down on them harder than an iron sledgehammer."
His smile never once faltered but Zelda was taken completely by surprise at the sudden intensity of his comment.
"O-oh, y-you don't have to do that just for my sake," she insisted, waving her hands in a panic.
Link took those hands in his and met her gaze with certainty.
"Then they'd better never say a bad thing about you."
"I…um…"
"They never would, though," he continued, his smile returning. "Aryll and Mipha love you, Zelda. You saw how upset Mipha was the day you were taken by the Yiga. And Aryll…well, I know you just met her today, but I've never seen her taken with somebody so quickly like she was with you."
"R…really…?"
"Really. I know it might be hard to believe right now. I know your mind might be whispering terrible things to you, making you doubt them, making you think you don't deserve them."
Zelda felt her eyes sting a bit and averted them from his, trying to fight back tears.
"But it's not true," he insisted, squeezing her hands in his.
After a moment to regain her composure, she slowly raised her glassy eyes towards him again, this time in amazement.
"If you've ever trusted a single thing I've said, then trust me on this. Aryll and Mipha love having you around. They care about you a lot, Zelda. And so do I."
She was taken entirely off guard by his sudden admission.
"Huh…?"
"I mean that. You don't ever have to feel like you're not welcome here, no matter who walks through that door. Because it's our door now, not just mine, and you'll always have a warm home in here with me."
Zelda couldn't fight the overwhelming sense of gratitude any longer as a single tear rolled down her face.
"T-thank you, Link. M…m…may I hav-" but she quickly interrupted herself and shook her head hard. "Um, n-never mind."
Link, however, wasn't content to let her be alone with her thoughts.
"Zelda, would you please ask me that question anyway? I'd really like to know," he insisted, watching her with gentle curiosity.
She took several moments to collect her thoughts, the crackling of the fire the only sound that interrupted the otherwise silent room.
"Um…I…it was a little too…presumptuous to say out loud, I think. I was just…losing myself to a moment of weakness," she deflected, averting her eyes.
"There's nothing wrong with that. You don't have to pretend your emotions aren't real with me."
Zelda tried to gather her thoughts and her courage…but she just couldn't force the words from her lips. Try as she might, she sat in total silence, the war happening inside her head between what she wanted and what she deserved unseen to her fiancé.
But Link was always perceptive of her and it seemed this time was no different.
"Can I take a guess what I think it might've been?"
Zelda nodded, a timid gesture.
"Would you like a hug?"
Her heart was racing nervously as she finally forced herself to nod again, this one miniscule even by comparison to the last. She wasn't sure why the thought had so suddenly come to her before. The idea of Aryll and Mipha not wanting her around had upset her, sure, but it wasn't anything she wasn't used to feeling. But hearing Link reassure her like that…had made her feel desperate for some form of physical contact with him. Just like his words, his embrace was always intensely comforting.
"Y-you…don't have to, though," she whispered. "I know I-"
She gasped lightly as Link's arms wrapped around her and pulled her in close, his smile never fading. Now that Zelda was in his arms again, she felt a little awkward. But slowly, her racing heart began to calm as he spoke to her in a tender voice.
"You're not being presumptuous at all. And I'd be happy to hug you for as long as you'd like. Whenever you'd like."
Though her anxiety was calming down again, she suddenly felt a new sense of panic overwhelming her. What was this…?
"And you can hug me too if you ever want or need to, Zelda. You don't even have to ask," Link promised her. She would have gazed at him in abject shock if she'd been able to turn her face towards him…but if she did that, they would be far too close.
"I…I…don't know that I could ever…put you through such sudden inconvenience…" she muttered, trying her best to not sound as overwhelmed as she felt.
Link squeezed her a bit tighter. His warm, caring embrace sent shivers down her back and arms that had nothing to do with the temperature.
"You're never an inconvenience to me. And reassuring you like this when you need it isn't an inconvenience, either."
She could barely find a modicum of composure anymore…but part of her was starting to feel like it didn't matter.
"T…thank you…so much."
"Of course," he murmured, his steady embrace unwavering.
The feeling was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before and Zelda tried to relax, gently placing her own arms around his midsection.
After a few minutes of settling into Link's embrace – Zelda growing more and more calm by the second – they finally parted. Link's face was a little red and she once again chastised herself for causing him to feel overheated. He had been sitting by the fire a lot longer than she had; odds were good he was much warmer as a result. But still he had offered that warmth to her.
He was truly a special person.
"Are you feeling a little better now?" he asked, his voice barely louder than that same crackling of the fire she had noticed earlier.
"Y-yes. Thank you…"
"Any time. You must've been feeling a little lonely, huh?"
"I…um…I was…"
"Hey, it's okay. I feel lonely too, sometimes. You don't have to hide that from me. I'd much rather you be honest."
"I…I'll do my best."
Link gave her another warm smile.
"Thank you for trusting me. Hey, I wanted to ask – how are you feeling after meeting Aryll? Was she too much? Are you a little worn out from the day?"
Zelda shook her head quickly.
"N-no, not at all. She was lovely. I really enjoyed hearing the stories she told earlier."
He laughed and shook his head in mock exasperation.
"She really does like to talk, doesn't she? I know we may seem pretty aggressive with each other, but I'm really glad she took to you so quickly. She's my sister after all and I want her to like you and be good to you too."
"I…really was glad to meet her. I'm happy she visited today."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about her before. It really was just something that slipped my mind with everything else we've been figuring out since you got here."
Zelda shook her head and offered a small smile.
"I understand. She…was much more upset about that than I could ever be."
Link laughed and leaned back into the couch cushions, an amused glimmer in his eye.
"Yeah, she's definitely no stranger to making her opinions known. She's pretty much an open book."
"Um, o-on that note…I caught myself wondering about something earlier."
"Oh? What's that?"
"I…really haven't asked much about your life. To be honest, I'm not even sure what most of your days look like. I feel…guilty that I've been so focused on myself that I've never thought to take an interest in you the way you have in me…"
"Don't beat yourself up for that," Link reassured her, his voice gentle. "You've gone through a lot, more than I can even imagine. I'm not offended at all. But if you really want to learn more about me, I'd be happy to start now."
"R…really?"
"Of course. You mentioned you're not sure what my days really look like. You mean when I go out and help the village, right?"
Zelda simply nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"Then why don't you come with me tomorrow?"
"Huh?"
"Tomorrow's one of my rare winter hunting days. Unless the idea of hunting upsets you, you're welcome to come along with me if you'd like. I promise nothing will happen to you."
Zelda watched him in surprise for several seconds before finally collecting her thoughts.
"O-oh, um…I wouldn't be upset to go along at all. Um…I…won't cause any problems for you…?"
"Not at all. It gets pretty lonely out there actually, sitting in silence for hours and hours. It'll be nice to have your company."
Zelda felt her cheeks heat up a bit herself. Why did she always get so bashful when he said he wanted her around…?"
"U-um, in…that case…I'd be happy to come along with you."
Link's smile widened as he took in her words.
"I have to say, I'm suddenly looking forward to tomorrow a lot more than I was a few minutes ago."
"I…I'll try not to get in your way," she promised, nodding with as much confidence as she could muster.
"Don't worry about that at all; you're never in the way."
Zelda and Link stayed on the couch by the fire for a bit longer before retiring to bed that evening. The entire time, she caught herself wondering many things. How should she behave in order to not disturb Link's routine? Was it possible for her to help him in some way? If not, was there at least a way to ensure her presence didn't scare any of the wildlife away? She didn't want to make things harder for him.
But the biggest questions she had kept playing through her head from the moment he invited her along to the moment she fell asleep that night – why did Link want her to come along with him? And why had he smiled so much when she said yes…?
The late morning air was brisk as Zelda and Link traveled through the dense forest near Hateno. Snow had begun falling the night before and the ground was covered by a fluffy, white blanket. The landscape was picturesque, Zelda thought. The bright snow seemed to sparkle beneath the placid sunlight that peeked out from behind grey clouds. Occasional gusts of wind sent puffs of loose powder scattering into the air as if they were dancing on the breeze. It felt like someone had taken a paintbrush and covered the familiar sights and sounds of Hateno Village with the soft strokes of winter. And those sights only compounded in their majesty as they continued deeper into the thicket, an abundance of nature enveloping them.
Zelda felt as if she had walked into a storybook.
"This is…beautiful…" she murmured.
"It really is," Link agreed, walking closely by her side even as he dragged his hunting cart behind him. "I've seen this place in the winter for three years now and it never fails to take my breath away."
"I see why."
Link was wearing a color she wasn't used to seeing him in – white. In response to the snowfall, he had changed his planned outfit. Whereas he usually wore a green tunic to hunt in, today he donned a white coat to better blend in with his surroundings. At his suggestion, Zelda had done the same, her now-familiar jacket with its fleece collar shielding her from the biting cold of the First Month.
She had even gone so far as to put a knitted white cap atop her head and tie her hair up beneath it. It was partially to keep her ears warm but also to hide her hair from sight. Link had been worried that she was trying to obscure it just like the first time he had taken her into town but for once she had been able to muster the confidence to reassure him.
"Zelda, you know you never have to hide your hair around me."
"I…I'm not, don't worry. I just thought I'd stick out against the snow less if my hair was hidden. It's very brightly colored, after all. I don't want to scare anything away without realizing it."
Link had been impressed with her assessment of the situation and thanked her for putting so much thought into it. His praise filled her with a sense of pride that she wasn't used to experiencing. She had never gone hunting before but the fact that Link was happy with her efforts was encouraging.
"This should be far enough," he noted, gesturing to the forest around them.
They were so far from Hateno now that the usual sights and sounds she had grown so accustomed to since first arriving felt as if they were a world away. Here, she and Link were isolated and alone in the wilderness, with nothing but their warm outfits, the wooden wagon that trailed behind them, and Link's sturdy Lynel bow.
He stepped from the path they had been following, leaving the wagon behind and offering Zelda his hand to help guide her through the underbrush. She followed silently, careful not to lose track of her footing and stumble. Link, of course, was an excellent guide and made sure she was balanced and supported each step of the way.
"Alright," he said at last, kneeling down and gesturing for Zelda to do the same.
She quickly followed suit before tilting her head.
"Here?"
A small clearing in the forest was visible nearby and she figured that might be why he had chosen this area. It turned out there was a bit more to it than that.
"It's far enough from the main path that we won't be spotted easily. And in the years since I've settled down here, I've noticed this area of the forest is the most populated during the winter months. A lot of the wildlife is hibernating this time of year, but I usually have decent luck coming to the northern part of this area."
"That makes sense. So…what do we do now?"
Link grinned over at her.
"We make our own fun until something wanders by. Usually, I just imagine practicing some sword techniques. Or sometimes I'll let my mind wander without any focus at all if I'm really bored."
"It does seem like this could be fairly tedious alone," she noted.
"You can say that again," Link agreed. "But I never mind doing it to help the people of this little village. They've been good to me and I want to return that favor to each and every one of them."
"That's very admirable of you, Link."
"Thank you. And besides, I have the pleasure of your wonderful company today so it won't be nearly as hard to pass the time as usual."
Despite the cold, Zelda felt her cheeks heat up yet again. She was becoming well aware of the fact that she reacted bashfully whenever he expressed his desire to spend time with her so directly. She hadn't figured out why just yet, though.
For now, it was probably best to focus on the situation at hand rather than wonder about things like that. Zelda took a steadying breath before speaking again in a low voice.
"Link…may I ask a question? It's something that's been on my mind since Aryll left yesterday."
"Of course, go right ahead."
"I know it's your bargaining chip with your sister so I'm not asking for specifics…but is the apple tree story really that bad?"
Link blinked in surprise several times before laughing in amusement, almost losing his balance. Once he finally recovered, he met her curious gaze with a bright grin.
"Nah, it's not too bad – just a story about kids being dumb. But Ari gets really embarrassed about it even still which makes it pretty handy for me."
"It really did seem like she didn't want me to hear it."
"She probably just wanted to make a good first impression on you and was worried that story would make her look bad."
"I would…never think less of Aryll for being a normal child."
Link gave her a gentle smile, even as his eyes scanned the horizon.
"I know that. But she's more insecure than she lets on. She may not have acted like it, but I'd bet she was pretty nervous to meet you yesterday."
"Really?"
"Not enough to make her behave, mind you," he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "But enough to worry that you might not like her, yeah."
"You really know her well," Zelda murmured, a strange sense of both envy and tranquility washing over her.
"I suppose I do. We've been through a lot together, after all."
Zelda hesitated for a long moment before forcing the next question from her lips.
"What…was your childhood like from your perspective, Link?"
"Hm?"
She waved her hands hurriedly.
"Y-you don't have to answer if you'd rather not, of course! But I was…curious after Aryll's stories yesterday. I'm sure she only told me the funny or exciting ones to entertain me, but I was wondering what you thought about your life growing up. All of it."
Link, still watching the forest clearing nearby, allowed a gentle smile to cross his face.
"It wasn't all that special until I pulled the Master Sword from Korok Forest when I was twelve. Until then, I was just a normal kid. Sometimes I'd go with Dad to Zora's Domain when he went on missions to the east and, like Ari said yesterday, that's how I met Mipha. But outside of that, I had a pretty standard childhood. Went to school, played with friends, the usual stuff."
"You make it sound so ordinary but it all sounds fanciful to me," Zelda admitted, a soft smile of her own on her face. "I was never really around people my own age before coming here. It was just part of being raised in the Castle."
"I'm sorry if I said anything to upset you, Zelda."
She shook her head quickly.
"Not at all! Would you…tell me more, please?"
"Sure, ask any question you like."
"Where did you live growing up?"
"Mostly in Castle Town, but I was born in a little village down in the Faron region called Ordon. I didn't live there for long so I barely remember it from back then, but I've visited it again in the last few years. It's a quiet little village. Unlike Hateno, though, they mostly prioritize livestock instead of vegetables, so it's a much more active community in some ways."
"Did your family move to Castle Town when you were little then?"
"Yeah. I only know all this from the stories I've heard, but my parents and I moved there while Mom was pregnant with Ari. Since Dad was a knight of the Kingdom, they both decided that the journey from Ordon to the Castle was just too far to make regularly. They didn't want him to miss out on me and Ari growing up so they decided to move a lot closer to the Castle itself so he wouldn't have to travel and be separated from his family when he was between assignments."
Zelda had latched onto a particular comment Link had made though.
"Um…I've never heard you mention your mother before. I've heard a bit about your father from Aryll and my own actually, but…what kind of woman is she?"
Link's smile turned a little wistful.
"I can't actually tell you from personal experience, I'm afraid – she passed away during childbirth when Ari was born."
Zelda gasped and drew her hands to her mouth.
"I'm…I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked such a thoughtless question, please forgive me." She lowered her head and squeezed her eyes shut.
Link pulled his eyes from the clearing and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, squeezing and drawing her attention.
"Hey, it's okay. You don't have to worry at all; you didn't upset me. I'm happy to answer every question you have. Besides, I was only two when it happened. I can hardly remember spending time with her; I was just too young. So it's not really a painful memory for me. Of course, I'm not happy she's gone, but it's just the truth of the world, I suppose."
Zelda finally raised her gaze back to Link's.
"Still…I'm sorry to bring it up."
"Don't be. I'm not sure I would have known when to mention it myself so I'm glad you asked."
"Then your father…had to raise you and Aryll all alone? And he still managed to be a knight?"
Link squeezed her shoulder one last time, a supportive gesture that she very much appreciated, before turning his gaze back to the clearing and scanning the horizon again.
"Not all alone, no. My grandparents on my dad's side lived in Castle Town already so they came over and took care of us a lot. It was part of the reason we moved in the first place, or at least that's what Dad told me once. He didn't want to put all the pressure of taking care of our family solely on Mom's shoulders when he had to be away. He wanted her to have as much help as she needed even when he couldn't be there to help her himself."
"I'm…starting to understand where your thoughtfulness comes from," Zelda mused.
"He's a good man, my dad, and he raised me about as well as I could possibly have asked. He's always gone above and beyond for his family. Sometimes a little too much. But his heart's in the right place."
"You respect your father a great deal."
"Sure, I do. But we've always had a more casual relationship than the word 'respect' makes it sound. He's treated me like an equal since I was a kid. I think that's a big reason I never had a rebellious phase against him the way Ari did."
"Aryll clashed with your father growing up?"
"Only when she was a teenager."
"Did they not see eye to eye on certain things?"
Link chuckled lightly before glancing at her again.
"No, she's just a brat."
Zelda felt her heart grow light as Link joked with her, a laugh slipping from her before she even realized it. He was so good at making her feel relaxed with him. It was such an unfamiliar sensation that she couldn't quite wrap her head around it. But she relished every moment.
After her laughter died down, she found herself wanting to ask more questions. She didn't want it to seem like she was interrogating him but she was just so curious to hear his stories in his own words. And she was really enjoying their conversation.
Before she could speak again though, Link's eyes locked onto something.
"Shh," he cautioned, drawing his bow deftly and seizing an arrow.
Zelda fell silent, turning her attention to the nearby clearing. A large boar had wandered into the snow-covered area, sniffing around for something. It was probably searching for food amidst the fresh winter blanket. Link knocked his arrow and leveled it, his eyes sharp.
Before he could let it fly, however, the boar trotted several steps forward and turned its back to them, still sniffing the ground. Zelda watched with some confusion as Link clicked his tongue and lowered his weapon. A few moments later, the boar meandered back into the underbrush, its nose still pressed to the snow.
"Was there something wrong with that particular boar?" Zelda asked, curious to understand the process more.
Link, returning the bow to the ground at his side, turned his attention to her and gave her a soft smile.
"I couldn't drop it in one shot."
"Huh?"
"I'm a terrible hunter, to be honest," he admitted, a resigned grin replacing that gentle smile. "I won't take a shot unless I have a clean one. If I can't put my target down without causing it any pain, then I won't fire at all. That boar turned its back to me so I couldn't land the shot I had been aiming. And I refuse to shoot it in the leg and incapacitate it first. It wouldn't have to suffer long, but it would be in pain and gripped with fear the whole time I approached. I'd rather not force another living thing to feel those sensations if I can avoid it."
Zelda marveled at him for a moment. He took it upon himself to hunt for food for the villagers' sake despite having such a kind, gentle heart. He felt empathy for every creature, not just those categorized as highly intelligent.
"You are…truly one of a kind," she murmured.
Link's cheeks reddened at her words and it was only then that she realized she had spoken them aloud.
"O-oh! I'm so sorry to say something so forward! I should be more careful with my words! I-"
Zelda fell silent as Link took her gloved hand in his and shook his head.
"You don't have to apologize at all; it's very flattering of you to say that. Thank you."
"O-oh…um…you're welcome…"
He returned his gaze to the clearing before laughing lightly.
"Well, now you know why I'm usually out here for so many hours."
"A-are there any other rules you follow?"
He laughed lightly before waving a hand.
"You don't want to learn hunting from me; like I said, I'm terrible at it."
Zelda shook her head emphatically, though.
"I…don't care what proper hunting looks like. I want to know how you do it."
Link seemed a bit surprised for a moment before settling back into things with a half-grin.
"If you really feel that way, then I don't mind sharing. I won't shoot baby animals; I just don't have that in me. Never have, never will."
Zelda smiled.
"That seems very like you."
"And I won't shoot a parent traveling with their young either. I can't know for certain if every individual animal I see has children or not and if I invented a story or circumstance for each and every one, I'd never come home with any meat for the village. But if I witness that story with my own eyes, I just can't destroy it."
"You have such a kind heart."
"I'm definitely too soft to be a real hunter," he conceded, laughing lightly again. "But I'm the best person in the village to go out and do something like this so I'm happy to. Nobody else here has any real training with weaponry of any sort, with the exception of Glenne and the others."
"I still think that's very admirable of you," Zelda assured him with a soft smile.
"Thank you. I do what I can to give back to this place."
"M…may I ask another question?"
"Please do."
"You…sound like you have a great deal more gratitude towards Hateno Village and its people than someone who simply moved to a new place would. Is there…a reason for that?"
Link scanned the clearing as he sorted his thoughts.
"I guess I really do, huh? If I had to put it into words, it's because everyone here gave me a place to restart."
"Restart?"
"Mhm. See, after the Calamity, Dad, Ari, and I all still lived in Castle Town. We lived on the outskirts so we weren't right in the heart of things, but by that point it didn't matter; everyone knew who I was. I hated that I was popular before I used the Master Sword against Ganon, but after? I was like a celebrity."
Zelda considered him for a moment.
"That must've been really difficult…"
"It was more aggravating than anything else, to be honest. Everyone wanted to get close to me to curry some sort of favor. Noblemen and women approached me with marriage proposals, offering their own daughters as some sort of prize. All too often, those daughters were insufferably rude people who looked down on my family and myself for not having the same high status as they did."
"I…seem to recall Hilda saying something about you having dealt with a lot of female suitors in the past."
"For once, she's not entirely wrong. But I'm not exactly proud of the way I handled some of them. One kept insulting my family behind their backs. I told her to stop each time and she'd pretend she was apologetic and then do it again an hour later. I was a lot less comfortable with personal conflict back then so I didn't say more for a while. But when she talked down to their faces and almost reduced my sister to tears…I yelled at her. Told her she was a terrible person and demanded she get out of our house and never come back."
Link's face was stony now, his frustration from that day darkening his bright blue eyes. Zelda felt guilty for bringing up such an unpleasant memory for him. She wanted to reassure him. She wanted to make his past go away the way he always seemed to manage for her. She wanted to be the one to offer some comfort. What was the best way to do that…?
"S-she deserved it!" Zelda blurted out before she even realized what she'd done.
Link gazed at her in surprise for a moment, the frustration on his face evaporating. It didn't take long for an amused grin to appear on his lips though.
"Thanks, Zelda. I think she did too. Still...I probably could've handled it with a bit more tact."
"I…think you and Aryll are two of the most amazing people I've ever met. I can only assume your father is very much the same way to have raised you both. For someone to treat people as good as the three of you like that…is terrible. She didn't deserve your tact…"
"That makes me feel a lot better, really. Thank you."
"O…of course," she murmured, her confidence evaporating from her body just as quickly as it had appeared.
Link continued in a calmer voice, his face more relaxed again.
"Basically, things like that kept happening. I tried distracting myself by teaching some of the knights at the academy at your father's suggestion, but even that only helped so much. Though there were some good people there, most of the knights just looked down on me for never really having been one of them. It was frustrating.
"To tell you the truth, though, I could deal with that frustration and even the fame to some extent. But when it started spilling over onto my family even more, that's when I got angry. Ari was teased and made fun of at school all the time because of me. She was never outright bullied – at that point she was fifteen and could've put most people's faces in the dirt thanks to Dad's training. But I knew it was getting to her.
"Dad, too. He had retired from being a knight by then, but despite all he'd accomplished in his life, he still constantly dealt with criticism that his lineage wasn't respectable enough for someone like me to be the Goddess's chosen hero. Garbage like that followed him around for years after the Calamity. He took it all in stride, but I knew it upset him to hear such stupid comments about his own family."
Zelda watched him with a somber gaze as he frowned again, remembering those unpleasant times that had fallen to he and his loved ones. She wanted to interrupt, stop him from having to relive anymore, but he continued before she could find her voice. His own was steady, though; perhaps he wasn't as badly affected as she was worried he might be. At least not anymore.
"So when I was almost twenty, I decided enough was enough. Castle Town wasn't someplace we would ever be able to live without being the center of negative attention. So I told Dad and Ari we should move. A colleague of mine had mentioned their cousin was settling down in a young farming village south of Zora's Domain called Hateno. It sounded perfect – there weren't many people there, it was close to Mipha's home, it was so far from Castle Town that people wouldn't find me easily, and it would give my family some distance from all the fame.
"But Dad surprised me too and said he was going to move back to Ordon. Ari had finished school and wanted to go with him for…a few reasons. Ultimately, I figured it'd be a good thing. If they had a little more distance from me, at least for a while, then maybe all the annoying focus on them would go away. After a few years, it seemed to work too. I visited Ordon several times but Dad and Ari assured me things were peaceful and calm there. That made me feel a lot better about my decision to settle here."
"It sounds like…you came to Hateno then to escape the world you were forced into and to take care of your family?"
"That's a good way to put it," he agreed, his face relaxed again. "Most of the people of Hateno knew who I was right away though they also understood I just wanted to be left alone. Nobody pressured me for anything. But I also wanted to contribute to the young village I'd just moved to, so I took up hunting to make sure everyone had enough food when the harvests were out of season. They were really grateful for it. It wasn't long until I found myself getting to know most of the people here. And it was a much more pleasant experience than it had ever been in Castle Town.
"Then, about a year ago, Ari moved out to Lurelin. She had always wanted to live by the ocean growing up and she finally took the opportunity to make her dream a reality. There were a few other factors in her decision to move away from Ordon too, but I think that was the biggest one. Things were pretty great after that. I saw my sister and my best friend regularly, I wrote to my dad often, I liked the people I was living around, Hateno itself was quiet and peaceful, and I never had to deal with any obnoxious fame I didn't want. I was pretty happy from then on."
Zelda smiled at him.
"That is…truly wonderful to hear."
"I'll admit, I was a bit worried when I got that letter from the Castle about our arranged marriage," he added, a light smile on his face. "I thought the ghosts of my own past were coming back to haunt me. But as it turns out, there was no ghost. Just someone I'm extremely grateful to have by my side every day."
Zelda's cheeks caught fire again. How could he compliment her so readily and effortlessly…?
"Sorry, did I overstep?" he asked, turning away from the clearing, concern etched in his blue eyes.
She shook her head quickly.
"N-no, I'm okay. Um…thank you for sharing your story with me…I'm sorry if it was painful to relive…"
Link reached out and squeezed her shoulder again as he seemed more than comfortable doing these days. She always appreciated the gesture.
"Don't be sorry at all. I'm glad you know now; I can't exactly expect you to trust me with your past if I don't also trust you with mine, right? Besides, it felt good to get all that off my chest. Thanks for listening."
"O-oh, of course!"
A comfortable silence fell between them as they watched the clearing once more and waited for any sign of movement. Minutes passed and nothing stirred, not even leaves in the winter breeze. Finally, after a short while longer, Link spoke again.
"Can I ask you something now?"
"O-of course."
"You mentioned you liked history the day I took you up to the plateau overlooking town, right?"
"I…I did. I've always been fascinated by history."
"Does that same fascination extend to the ancient Sheikah technology lying around all over the Kingdom?"
Zelda felt a spark ignite inside her heart. It was something she hadn't experienced in a long time. Nobody had mentioned Sheikah technology to her in years…but the feeling of interest she had always had towards it had never once faded.
"Um…I've always wanted to study it, to be honest. I was never allowed to back at the Castle, but all of it is incredibly interesting to me. The Shrines, the Guardians, the Divine Beasts themselves. Not to mention the Sheikah Slate…I was once told that Purah-san at the Ancient Tech Lab had succeeded in activating it and that's why we were able to awaken the Divine Beasts in the first place. But apparently there were several mechanisms inside the Slate that she couldn't enable herself no matter what she tried. Part of me has always wondered what that object might hide and what the key to unlocking its true potential is. I've even had dreams that I might one day be able to figure it out and share those findings and discoveries with the Kingdom at large, perhaps even use them to improve everyone's lives. I…"
Zelda trailed off as she realized she was rambling. It was something she hadn't done in more than a decade…but she was suddenly recalling many times with her mother where she had prattled on and on about whatever topic had fascinated her so much. Mother had always listened with a steady smile…and right now, Link was doing exactly the same thing.
"I think that's the most I've ever heard you talk about something that interests you," he noted, an easy smile on his face.
"O-oh, I'm sorry…if that was boring for you…"
He shook his head quickly.
"No, no, not at all. In fact, I'd love to hear even more if you're willing to share."
"Y…you are?"
"I think that's a great sign that we're on the right track towards finding you a hobby you'll really enjoy. You don't want to come out to this forest every time I do and watch me let animals I should be hunting walk away, right?"
"I…would never be opposed to accompanying you."
"That's very kind of you, Zelda. I'd feel terrible though; there's no way you'd be having fun out here after maybe the first few times. So even though you're always welcome to come with me whenever you like, I'd love for you to have your own hobbies so you can do something interesting for yourself too."
Zelda found herself gazing at him in wonder yet again. He was always so considerate of her.
"I…um, thank you."
"Actually," Link continued, his face thoughtful, "something just occurred to me. I think I have a little surprise for you when we get back to the village."
"You…do?"
"Yeah, it's something that completely slipped my mind till now and something you might be very excited to see. What do you say? You interested?" he asked with a grin.
Zelda collected herself for several moments before nodding firmly, an eager little smile on her face.
I…am very interested, yes."
"Then I'll show you just as soon as we get back," he promised.
Zelda settled in next to him again, helping him watch the clearing. She tried to maintain her focus but her mind kept wandering. Link had already surprised her many times, but this was something that was related to history and perhaps even the Sheikah technology? Whatever it was sounded fascinating…
'I…can't wait to see what Link's surprise is.'
Link tried not to betray how amused he was as he and Zelda returned to Hateno Village at last. Zelda had been visibly excited since he'd told her about the surprise he had for her. She had been smiling incessantly even though she tried to hide it and there was the tiniest spring in her step once they had started their trek back.
It had been a strange hunting trip this time. In the end, he hadn't achieved much success over the last few hours, but a stray pair of boars had eventually wandered through the clearing. Usually that would leave him feeling like he'd wasted his time for very little reward.
But today, that wasn't so - this outing had been far more pleasant than he'd ever experienced.
At first, part of him wondered if Zelda had simply felt obligated to ask him about his past after realizing she didn't know much of it, but the fact that she seemed intent on asking so many follow up questions as well had convinced him that maybe she was genuinely interested. The thought made him smile. He hadn't meant to get frustrated telling her about some of his own past, but she seemed to understand his feelings and even offered her support to him, something he knew was rather difficult for her even still.
Though he kept his winter hunting excursions shorter by design, the biting cold usually made them seem much longer than they really were. But the conversation today had been more than enjoyable enough to offset the seasonal woes and had even left him content in a way his solo trips never had. It had been a successful outing, no matter how little good fortune he'd had with the actual hunting aspect.
He left the cart with Ira at the restaurant like he always did, the talented chef thanking them for dropping by before taking his donations to her cause inside to be prepared for storage. And after she vanished again, Zelda turned to him with a curious face.
"S-so…your surprise is somewhere in the village, then?"
Link gave her a smile.
"It sure is. Here, follow me."
Link, trying to keep his own excitement under wraps now, led Zelda towards the bridge that would bring them home before veering off of the familiar path to the left. She followed him closely, timid curiosity accenting every step and breath. Finally, they arrived at a small cave-like opening in the cliffside.
"I-in here…?"
"Yeah. Don't worry, though, there's lots of natural light that gets in through the cracks so it's not very dark at all. The entrance is a little steep though; take my hand and stay close, okay?" he asked, extending his arm towards her.
"O…okay."
Zelda's cheeks turned red as she reached out and placed her hand in his. They had to duck down to make it through the small opening and he kept his eye on her to ensure she didn't stumble. Fortunately, she handled the terrain just fine and they made their way down to the base of the cave where the floor leveled out.
"W-what exactly is in here-"
She stopped short as he gestured to a structure before them.
"This."
It was something Link had long forgotten about. When he had first moved to Hateno, Glenne and some of the younger kids had excitedly told him about a secret in the hillside near his house. It had never mattered to him that it was here and he hadn't paid it a second thought after seeing it once. But now, it seemed like the perfect discovery to share with Zelda.
One of the ancient Sheikah Shrines sat unassumingly within the cave, its oblong structure pointing towards the hidden sky above. It was dormant and not a single light was aglow, a stark contrast to the massive Divine Beasts he had seen for years prior to the Calamity. But perhaps this relic of the past might be of some interest to Zelda now that he knew of her fascination with Sheikah technology.
"I…is that….a Shrine?" she managed at last, her eyes wide.
"It sure is. It's like all the rest – it doesn't open or respond to anything at all. But I thought it might be a little fun for you to get your hands on some real Sheikah tech. No one else even cares that this is here so it's not like you're disturbing anyone if you spend some time with it."
Link couldn't suppress his own joy any longer. Zelda looked adorable – her green eyes were shimmering with wonder, her mouth slightly agape, and she kept blinking as if to clear her vision. He was a little surprised she didn't reach up to rub her eyes…until she did exactly that a moment later.
'She seriously has no idea how cute she is…'
"You okay?" he asked, a light chuckle following his question.
She managed to tear her eyes away and give him a look he could only describe as spellbound.
"I…just can't believe something like this has been so close. And…and…I'm so grateful that you would bring me here and show it to me. T…thank you."
"Of course, Zelda. I was the one who said we should find you some kind of hobby to occupy your time."
"Hobby…? Y-you mean…I can come back here after today?"
"Of course! You can come here as often as you want. Just be careful; I never want anything to happen to you."
Zelda's eyes were sparkling like he'd never seen.
"L…Link…that's so kind of you. I-I'll be careful not to get too caught up in it…but I have to admit I'm really excited to actually be close to one of these Shrines."
Zelda's smile was growing by the second and Link couldn't contain his own. He took a step forward and gestured to the structure.
"You've never had the chance to even look at one up close?"
She shook her head.
"No…I've seen the Guardians a few times on the Castle grounds and of course I've witnessed the Divine Beasts before, but I was never permitted to journey to any of the other structures we've uncovered. I…always wanted to examine one of these Shrines…"
"Well, you can try to figure this one out to your heart's content," he assured her. "I can't say I ever really paid attention to what these things are. What do you know about them?"
He was trying to encourage her to indulge her fascination a little and to his immense delight it seemed to be working. Zelda's eyes widened as she glanced between himself and the Shrine before drawing her hands up in front of her, making excited little fists.
"W-well, I've read about them in the textbooks I had during my studies growing up. Apparently the ancient Sheikah left them to guide the future generations of heroes against the Calamity after the last awakening was averted. Legend has it…that the Shrines themselves are training grounds meant to guide the hero and strengthen them in preparation for Ganon's return. Aside from that…all I know is that we've never succeeded in opening any of them, despite Purah-san having access to the Sheikah Slate. The Sheikah themselves even believe it to be the key to interacting with these relics but no progress has ever been made."
Link smiled the entire time she spoke. In truth, he didn't really care what was inside the Shrines at all. If that legend was correct, then they were likely meant for him since the Master Sword and the Goddess herself had chosen him to stand against Ganon. But the Calamity had already been averted so they were all but useless now.
Still, her intense curiosity and excited desire to discover the truth was more important to him than any secret they might be hiding. It was even enough to take most of her hesitation when speaking away, too, something that had rarely happened since he'd met Zelda.
Those Shrines could hide whatever they wished; he just cared about what they represented for his fiancée – a chance to indulge in something completely for herself.
"O-oh, I'm sorry. I started rambling, didn't I…?" she murmured, glancing back at him at last.
Link shook his head and made sure she saw him smiling in the dimmer light of the small cave.
"Not at all. I really enjoy hearing you talk about all this. Thanks for sharing what you know with me."
"O-oh, of course. Um…c-can I…touch it…?"
"You can do whatever you like!" he encouraged her, unable to disguise the excitement in his voice or the still-growing smile on his face. He was amazed his cheeks didn't hurt yet.
Zelda timidly crossed the cave, reaching out towards the pedestal that rested by the closed door. She gasped lightly as her hand came into contact with the likely very cold structure. Even through her black gloves, she was probably feeling how frigid it was. Undeterred, she ran her hands across it, leaning in close and examining each individual twist and turn of its architecture.
Link watched as she knelt down by the pedestal and brought her face close to a few different points. He had never seen her so wholly fascinated like this. In fact, he was beginning to wonder if he'd ever seen her like this at all. She was always so withdrawn and reserved that, until now, he'd had a difficult time imagining her reveling in something for herself. It made his heart flutter, watching her like this.
For the next little while, Link said nothing. He was afraid if he spoke that Zelda would snap from her reverie and apologize profusely, likely feeling bad for what she perceived as getting carried away. Link, however, wanted her to do exactly that and refused to risk disturbing her.
Eventually, of course, Zelda came back to reality. Though her eyes looked a little guilty when she finally met Link's again, he was surprised and pleased when she didn't immediately bow her head and start listing all the ways she was sorry for wasting his time. Instead, she gave him a smile like he'd never seen before. He'd seen her smile brightly before, certainly after he rescued her from the Yiga. But this was different – there was a depth to this expression he hadn't witnessed until now.
She was practically beaming at him.
"Link…thank you. You've done so much for me since I met you…and this is yet another wonderful gift you've given me. I…don't know how to ever repay you for all the kindness you've shown me."
He stepped closer to her and shook his head, his own enormous smile impossible to hide.
"You don't have to. But if you really insist, you can enjoy yourself as much as possible from here on out. Whether that means coming here and tinkering with this Shrine or doing anything else that catches your eye, as long as you're enjoying your life, that's more than enough to repay anything I've done."
"T…thank you so much."
Link felt his breath catch in his chest as Zelda, in a very uncharacteristic display, quickly stepped forward and hugged him. It wasn't an aggressive motion; he'd go so far as to even call it timid. But the fact remained that, for the first time, Zelda had willingly hugged him, just the way he'd said she could feel comfortable doing the night before.
He was well aware of his own feelings for Zelda. She had captured his attention, his affection, and his imagination across the few months he had known her. He was slowly falling more and more in love with her by the day. He was also well aware that love was likely one of the last things in the world on her mind. She had been through hell and back since she was nine and he wouldn't have been surprised if it took years for her to wonder what her feelings for him really were. Her interest was likely kindness and courtesy, nothing more.
Perhaps that would never change.
And yet, when she hugged him like that, all Link's uncertainties vanished. So, too, did his composure. He felt his heart leap and his body tense in surprise at her sudden display of outward affection. It was the first time the person he was so enamored by had embraced him of her own volition, after all. It would have been more unexpected to have no reaction at all.
Zelda, though, seemed to key into his nervous rigidity and immediately moved to release him, her eyes widening in alarm. Before she could move too far, though, Link snapped out of his daze and caught her in his arms, drawing her in close. She seemed at a complete loss for words for several moments before managing to speak in a very small voice.
"I…I don't know what came over me. I'm…so sorry to have done that without any warning at all. I'm sure I surprised and maybe even upset you…"
"You didn't upset me at all, I promise," he assured her, finally succeeding in finding his voice again. It was rather difficult to maintain his composure with his heart racing away in his chest. "I won't say I wasn't surprised but it certainly wasn't in a bad way. I'm happy."
"Y-you…are?"
"Of course I am. I asked you to hug me whenever you wanted to last night."
"O-oh…um…"
"Thank you for coming out with me today, Zelda," he murmured.
"I…um…thank you for inviting me. And for bringing me here. B-but perhaps I should…let go of you now. I don't want to overstep my place…"
Link instinctively drew her in just a bit tighter, earning a tiny squeak of surprise from her.
"You're not overstepping anything at all. Besides, it's cold out here, isn't it? Maybe…we can stay like this just a little longer. Only if you want to, of course."
It was Zelda's turn to hesitate for a long moment now. He couldn't see her face from his vantage point but he noticed the telltale signs of a crimson blush creeping up her pointed ears. It would have been a miracle if his own didn't look the same to her.
"I…wouldn't mind that at all…if you'll have me," she managed at last, settling into their embrace as best she could.
"I wouldn't want anyone else."
Perhaps it was a little selfish, but Link had been hoping with everything in him that she wouldn't pull away. They couldn't stay there forever of course – they were in the middle of a little cave on a frigid winter day with nothing but an inert Shrine and a large collection of rocks for company. And yet, the environment couldn't have mattered less. Perhaps it was even perfect in its own way.
For the first time, Zelda had reached out and embraced him. And regardless of anything else, Link wanted to savor that moment for as long as he possibly could.
9/29/2023
Post-Chapter Note: Welcome back everyone and thank you so much for reading the latest chapter!
It's been a while since we've had an exclusively Zelda and Link slice of life chapter, so I figured this was a great time for one! I've really had a great time slowly inching them closer and closer to each other. I usually get impatient with "slow burn" love stories, but I've come to realize lately that it's typically because of the manufactured drama that keeps the main couple apart. That's why my goal here isn't to drive artificial wedges between them, but instead to acknowledge that Zelda will likely need time to overcome her past and let them come together slowly as a result of that. Not that there haven't been struggles for them of course, but you know what I mean.
I've got to point out, I'm a real sucker for writing Zelink winter things. Something about the idea of these two sitting by the fire and hugging, wandering through the snow together, all the stuff I wrote in Hateno Winters months ago, it just makes me so happy to imagine. So I keep finding ways to make it winter in my stories LOL! So I hope you enjoyed this little excursion into the snow as much as I enjoyed writing it.
As an extra little side note, I just love Wild Era Zelda so much. It hit me earlier as I was editing this chapter that I just adore everything about her and her character. I dunno how I'm ever gonna move on from BotW/AoC/TotK - I don't think another Zelda will ever be as near and dear to my heart as she is. She's such a treasure.
Anyway, the hunting scene was a lot of fun to write too. I hadn't originally intended it to be about Link's past but it just naturally evolved in that direction as Zelda asked questions and it made sense to me that after learning about Aryll she'd be curious about his life. Plus it's about time we learn a little more about Link himself, I think. Until now, we've known very little about his background and past. So hopefully everyone had fun getting to know him better!
And, of course, I decided to give Zelda a nice hobby at the end of last book and most of you probably aren't surprised that her hobby is indeed the thing she's always been fascinated by in the games. She's a scholar at heart, regardless of anything else, and I love digging into that. So rest assured, there will definitely be a lot more of Zelda finding her own passions in life going forward!
Also she hugged him. That was my favorite through line of the chapter lol, I actually didn't originally set up the scene by the fireplace to pay off at the Shrine, but it worked out so well in the end I just had to do it. So I doubled down on it and edited the chapter to better work around that full circle moment. Those two hugging is always a warm, fuzzy moment.
But for now, that's more than enough out of me. Thank you all yet again for reading the newest chapter and I really hope you enjoyed! I'll be back with more again next week so until then, take care everyone and I'll see you again next time!