**Warning: Nudity**
"And... there," the young Sheikah woman said, pulling her arm away from the large stone orb that resided under the stairs.
She stepped away, inspecting the cleaning she had just given the orb, ensuring that even the orange line of light that circled its diameter was immaculate. With a satisfied smile, she gently clasped her hands together and closed her eyes in prayer. From the platform, the orb rested next to, the much older and shorter Sheikah of the house–sitting on top of a tall stack of pillows–glanced over.
"You know, dear Paya, you aren't required to clean the relic every day," she said.
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, Grandmother!" Paya said, turning to her grandmother with a gentle smile. "It's been passed through our family for generations. You said that one day, it'll be important, and that it's my task to watch over it. I need to make sure it's ready, even if that means simply keeping it clean."
"If you insist, my dear," the elder chuckled. After a giggle in return, Paya clasped her hands together and gave her grandmother a quick bow.
"If you'll excuse me, I must tend to my other morning duties," she said, to which the Sheikah elder waved her away.
The old lady watched as her granddaughter headed toward the double doors of the home with a wrinkly smile on her face; a smile that faltered when she felt something. She turned her head slightly, the heavy steel adornments on her large hat clanking, before muttering a few words.
"So... you've finally awakened, hm?"
"Did you say something, Grandmother?" Paya asked, turning to look back at her elder with a hand on the door. Taking a moment to ponder, the elder looked back at her granddaughter with a smile similar to the one she had before, except, this one seemed slightly more cheeky.
"Nothing, dear, though... I do have a request for you," she said. "Please keep an eye out for any... special visitors today."
"Eh? O–okay," the young Sheikah woman said. "I–I mean, yes, I will."
After receiving a nod from the elder, she gave her grandmother a strange look, but bowed in agreement before opening the door and stepping out onto the elevated porch of their home. The older her grandmother became, the harder it was to tell when she was teasing her. It also didn't help that her teasing became more frequent the older she became. Regardless, Paya took a deep breath of the refreshing springtime air before trekking down the large staircase that led to the pathways of Kakariko Village.
Before beginning her morning duties, she said hello to the two guards that stood in front of the stairs— who returned her greeting kindly— then stepped aside and knelt in prayer before the five stone frog monuments displayed in a line beside the stairs. She always gave an offering of apples to each one, and yet one always seemed to go missing.
Once she finished her prayer, she cleaned off the statues before taking a rag out from her clothing and dipping it into the water behind the frogs. Turning back, she passed the guards again, and headed back up the staircase to clean the floorboards of the balcony surrounding the raised house. With the wet rag in hand, she lowered herself onto her knees and began wiping the wood.
"Hm... What did Grandmother mean by keeping an eye out for a strange visitor today?" she wondered out loud.
She was so lost in thought, she hadn't heard the commotion from the guards below, nor did she hear the footsteps of a person walking up the staircase and stopping behind her. It wasn't until she saw the shadow across the balcony floor that she finally looked up to see a figure standing over her with his hands on his hips. Her body vibrated as her eyes grew wide at the sight. Terrified, she quickly pushed herself to her feet and took a few steps back as she covered her face with her hands.
"A—a man?" she cried, shrinking before the person, and yet, he didn't say anything.
Plucking up as much courage as she could, Paya peeked between her fingers to get a better look at the man before her. He was a short man, dressed in tattered pants that were clearly too small for him, a raggedy doublet, and a head full of shaggy, sandy-colored hair that was tied back into a ponytail. Despite his diminutive size, he seemed to be a warrior, for on his back was an assortment of different weapons, all of which looked old and worn.
Though he appeared to be a fighter, his facial features didn't seem to match. His face was round, with large, bright, blue eyes filled with purity and curiosity; the embodiment of innocence. Behind his eyes was a sense of pure wonder, as if having just awakened into this world, and funnily enough, his clothes certainly matched that. It was due to the innocent aura he radiated that Paya found the courage to lower her fingers ever so slightly, trying to get a better look before she finally noticed the rectangular piece of stone hanging from his belt—one that oddly reminded her of the relic she had just cleaned earlier that day.
"Huh? Is that—?" she wondered out loud before lowering her hands to get a clear view of the relic. "It's... a Sheikah Slate!"
After staring at the slate on his hip, she looked up at his face in surprise.
"Could you be the hero my grandmother told me about? Um... What was his name...? Uh..."
Suddenly, her cheeks flushed as she did her best to recall the name. Her embarrassment to taking over, she again covered her face with her hands.
"I... I think it was L... Li... Lin... Um..."
"Link," the young man said simply. "It's Link."
"R–right... I'm sorry," Paya stammered shyly. "It's not that I forgot... I'm just bad at speaking. A–as for me, my name is Pa... Paaa... Paaay..."
The girl whimpered in discomfiture. Of all the times to forget how to speak, of course this was one of them. After a few moments, it finally clicked.
"Oh! My name is Paya!" she said excitedly, peeking from her hands in pride. Realizing this wasn't exactly something to be proud of though, she hid behind her hands again in shame. "R–right... My name's Paya..."
She could feel her face burning, expecting him to be put off by her odd behavior; yet, all she heard was a light chuckle. Slowly lowering her hands, she looked at her visitor's cheerful face.
"Paya! So that's your name, huh?" he asked with a large smile. "You managed to say it."
"Y—yeah... I—I got it out..." she said. It was as if all the awkwardness had departed, leaving only the slight embarrassment from not remembering even her own name. He smiled at her again.
"It's nice to meet you, Paya."
Rendered speechless, she simply stared at his kind face in awe. To look so gallant, yet be so kind... It took a few moments before she realized what she was doing and attempted to continue their conversation.
"T–thank you. I know I should be able to say that easily, seeing as how it's my own name and all," she said. "I'm so... sorry."
Link simply shook his head, dismissing her apology.
"A–anyway, my grandmother's been awaiting your return since I was little," she said, resisting the urge to get lost in his smile again. "Plea... please hurry inside."
Still smiling, he gave her a nod and a simple wave before walking past her and toward the door. She couldn't take her eyes off of him as he passed by. He hadn't condemned her for being unable to speak, nor did he seem put off by her in the slightest. He only laughed alongside her and accepted her greeting with utmost kindness. His smile was so bright, it was almost blinding to the heart.
This was Link, the man who met her eyes with ease.
...
To Paya's dismay, he didn't stay very long his first time there. He stayed in their house for a few days to get him up to speed, something that embarrassed Paya to no end, but she managed to hide it well so he would prolong his stay, though she knew he had to leave eventually. He had a mission: to free the legendary Divine Beasts Paya had been told about in her youth—the same ones that were depicted on her grandmother's tapestry—along with a secondary mission; to restore full functionality to the Sheikah Slate. With proper clothing on his body and a clear goal in mind, he left without a trace, leaving Paya with something new to add to her prayers every morning.
After that initial visit, Link returned a few times in the following weeks. His first return visit was to inform the elder that he restored the slate enough that images had appeared. He hadn't remained for even a day after receiving his new task of visiting each of the places depicted in the images, something the elder hoped would restore his lost memories. As time went on, his visits became less and less frequent, only stopping by to inform her grandmother of when a Divine Beast had been freed, or if a certain recovered memory intrigued him enough to inquire about it. Each time, something felt different about him.
That innocence and purity behind his eyes slowly vanished, and Paya felt it wasn't the fighting nor the beasts that were weighing on him. It was the memories that pieced him back together as time went on. The innocent, lost visitor that smiled brightly at her when he first arrived had become more stoic and focused. His goals had become more personal the more he remembered, and his conversations had grown to consist more about the princess from a hundred years ago than anything else. Regardless, this didn't change Paya's view on him.
In fact, she only seemed to admire him more. It became easier to speak with every visit, and though it wasn't as carefree, Link still smiled and talked with her. While she hated the pain that weighed on his smile, deep in her heart, she actually loved it even more than the carefree one. He was a man with heart, a man of care, a man who would face anything to protect those he loved. He was practically her opposite, and in his presence she felt safe, as if everything would be okay.
Yet, she couldn't ignore the constant mention of Princess Zelda every time he visited.
It didn't bother her, not at all. She admired both the princess and the hero. The princess was someone her grandmother valued as a close friend, and wanted to save so desperately, but there was still something nagging deep in her mind. She noticed she paid more attention to his features than anyone else she had ever met, always internally commenting on his perfectly parted hair and sideburns, or following his gorgeous gaze in his eyes with her own. Every time he was around, her heart wouldn't stop beating a mile a minute. It was a feeling she couldn't put into words, even disregarding her speech problems; that was, unless she was writing at her desk.
"I wonder if Master Link is in love with Princess Zelda..."
She hadn't meant to say that part aloud as she sat at her desk one evening, nor did she even realize she had. Lost in thought, she continued to write, speaking out loud as she did.
"If so, I think they suit each other quite splendidly. If they became a couple, I'd give that pairing my full support..."
She paused her quill for a moment before adding, "though, just the thought of that makes my heart hurt..."
Months passed since Link's first arrival in Kakariko.
The trees around the village had all fully grown their leaves in order to take in the summer sun that beamed down upon them. Again, Paya found herself early that morning, starting her day cleaning the relic under the stairs with a smile on her face and a tune in her voice. She had figured it out, or at least, she believed she had; the purpose of the relic. It was for Master Link to offer, and it was her responsibility to give it to him. The voices that spoke to her in her dreams, the ancient text, it all pointed to that conclusion.
"I can be useful to Master Link..." she hummed. "I wonder when I'll see him next."
"Soon," her grandmother said from on top of her pillows.
Though Paya's face burned with embarrassment, she eagerly looked over to the elder. Everytime she said something like this, it meant Link was on his way and her grandmother would have a smile on her face. But this time, there was no such smile. This time, there was a frown as her old eyes stared firmly at the double doors in anticipation.
"G–Gran... Grandmother?" Paya asked nervously, but before she could properly ask her question, the double doors flew open to reveal the foretold guest, now dressed in a bright blue tunic and form-fitting pants.
"Impa," Link said from the doorway, the moment his eyes laid upon the Sheikah Elder.
"So, you finally found it," the elder replied.
Confused, Paya looked between Link and her grandmother before finally noticing the sword on Link's back. It was different from any other weapon he had carried before. It was a beautiful sword, purple–winged with golden accents; even Paya could tell that it wasn't an ordinary sword.
"Did the sword reveal something to you?" Impa asked in a low voice.
"Yeah, it did," Link said, stepping forward as the doors closed behind him. Paya watched as he drew closer. His eyes were even more confused than when he had first arrived, though instead of that blissful ignorance, now there was only truth and pain. "Impa... How did Princess Zelda feel about me?"
"That's a strange question for someone who just pulled the sword that seals the darkness from its resting place," Impa said, watching as the knight came to a stop before her. "Why do you ask about the princess instead of the sword on your back?"
"Because what's most important is what it showed me," Link instantly replied. "It matches a song I heard before too."
"A song?" Impa asked. Link nodded.
"Impa... Is the woman I'm trying to save— the woman who's waited a hundred years for me to return— in love with me?"
At this, Paya's heart ached as it never had before. She had always wondered if Master Link had loved the princess, but never had she thought the princess actually loved her knight in return. Sure, she wrote that she would support it if it ever came to fruition, but to hear it from his own lips...
"Impa, please, you have to tell me—" Link urged the elder, but Impa cut him off.
"I can't."
Link's face fell as Impa took a deep breath.
"Ever since her mother's death, the princess kept her emotions very guarded, even from me," she continued. "I believe the only person she spoke to about her inner thoughts and worries was you, Link. Even Lady Urbosa never had the privilege of peering into her heart the way you were allowed to."
"But, I... I can't... Even with..." Link stammered, leaning forward, his hands on the raised platform Impa's pillows were stacked on. He lowered his head, unable to finish his sentence, but neither Paya nor Impa needed him to for them to understand. He couldn't remember. "She's been waiting... She's been waiting so long..."
"Regardless of if it was love or merely a close friendship, the princess cared deeply for you," Impa said sorrowfully. "While I hate placing this on your heart, this should only act as more encouragement to save her from her self-imprisonment with the Calamity. You now have that sword on your back, and the Divine Spirits are freed. All there is left for you to do now is hone your skills and temper your soul in preparation for the final duel between you and that monster."
Link didn't look up. He continued to stare down at the platform he leaned on, his face covered by his bangs. After a few more moments, Impa spoke again.
"Take some time to collect yourself," she said. "Whatever it is that sword showed you, allow yourself to process it before continuing your journey further. I believe that would be in your best interest."
After another few moments, Link nodded before picking himself up. Slowly, he turned and walked out of the house, disappearing behind the double doors again.
"Keep an eye on him, my dear Paya," Impa said to her granddaughter. "Ensure he doesn't leave for at least a few hours. He needs time."
"Y–yes, Grandmother," Paya said with a slight bow. Despite her exterior calm, her mind was in shambles.
Regardless, she did as she was told, keeping an eye on Link as the day went on. This wasn't a difficult task, for Link simply stood on the balcony, overlooking Kakariko Village until long after the sun had set. Eventually, after repeated visits to check on him out there, she finally found the courage to ask something.
"A... ar... are you alright, Master Link?" she asked quietly. Link simply nodded without taking his eyes off the village. "I–if there's anything you need, please, tell me. I—I can do my best to be of use..."
"Thanks, Paya, but I'm fine," Link said. While his voice was still gentle, Paya couldn't ignore the pain behind it. Lowering her head, she nodded.
"It'll be okay," she said quietly. "She may have been waiting for quite some time, but... anyone would stay hopeful if it were you who was coming to save them."
Link didn't verbally respond, but again gave a light nod. Deciding it was best to leave him alone, Paya gave another slight bow before heading back into the house, head hanging low.
"I wish there was more I could do for him," she whispered under her breath, glancing up so she could look at the heirloom across the room. "I wasn't even able to tell him about the heirloom's purpose—"
Her sentence was interrupted by her own piercing scream. Immediately, Link burst through the door with his legendary blade drawn. Finding Paya on her knees in agony, he ran to her side with his sword at the ready, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong? What happened?" he asked, looking around the room before his eyes landed on Impa, who was still sitting on her pillows.
"It seems we've had a break-in," Impa answered sternly, glancing over at her petrified granddaughter.
"A break-in?" Link asked, furrowing his brow. "But... Who could get past you—?"
Before he could continue, he felt a tug at his tunic. He looked down to see Paya's tearful eyes looking into his.
"Link, I swear I only took my eyes off of it for a second!" she cried. "I only went out to the balcony, that's it!"
"You took your eyes off what—?" Link began to ask, looking around once more before finally noticing the empty space under the stairs where the orb used to be.
"What should I... What should I do?" she asked.
Her breathing had become too quick, and she could hear a ringing in her ears along with the sound of her own rapidly beating heart. Looking down at the hyperventilating woman kneeling on the floor, Link's face became stern.
"What you need to do is take a few deep breaths," he said, lowering his sword to focus on her. "Calm down. It'll be okay, I promise."
"But... But the heirloom," Paya stammered. "It's—It's been stolen!"
With a wail, Paya stood and shoved her face into Link's chest, bawling as she clenched his tunic in her hands.
"I had just discovered its secret!" she said. "I finally discovered it... It was for you... You needed it...I failed..."
"The hero, as chosen by the Sheikah heirloom, will be gifted the blessing of antiquity," Impa suddenly spoke up, as Link comforted Paya the best he could. Looking up, he met Impa's gaze. "Paya thinks that hero is you, so she stayed for nights on end researching the heirloom's mysteries. She thinks it has to do with one of the shrines you've been known to visit. However, before she could tell you, it was stolen."
"No... She couldn't tell me, and it was stolen, because I was sulking," Paya heard Link mutter quietly.
"It's the middle of the night... Someone came here so late..." Paya managed to say as her sobs grew weaker. "This place is off-limits to outsiders, and no one from the village would do such a thing... Would they?"
"It's best not to worry about the specifics just yet," Impa said. "For now, we need to ensure our safety until morning. Then we can investigate."
"I'll find it," Link said suddenly. With tear-stained cheeks, Paya looked up into Link's eyes. Noticing this, he met her gaze directly. "And I'll protect you."
"What about Grandmother? T–they were able to get past her as well..." Paya managed to say, but Impa shook her head from her pillows.
"Worry not about me, dear Paya," she said. "I will be just fine. Link, why don't you stay with Paya for the night? I think that would be our safest option."
"B—but, Grandmother—!"
"I'll stay," Link said. Before Paya could argue, Impa nodded.
"Head upstairs and rest, Paya," she said. While gentle, her voice was firm; a sign not to argue. "We'll let Link handle this in the morning. If what you found during your research is true, then it could simply be the gears of fate beginning to turn. Rest now."
Reluctantly, Paya nodded. Gently, Link guided her up the stairs and to her bed. For hours she lay awake, clinging to her pillow as Link sat on the floor next to the bedside, his sword sheathed, but leaning against his shoulder for quick access. While this normally would have made Paya extremely nervous, that particular evening she felt calmer than ever, considering the event that had just taken place.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, causing Link's ears to perk up. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this... and have to watch over me as well. It's so embarrassing, and yet... I feel safe when you're around."
At her words, Link looked back and gave her a slight smile.
"It's my job," he said, noticeably glancing over at his newly reacquired sword. After a pause, he looked back at her. "And even if it wasn't, I'd still do what I could to protect you both. I... I won't mess up again."
Behind his eyes, Paya could see a tiny glint of something. Of course... He was thinking about Princess Zelda. She only realized that tears had reformed in her eyes when Link's face became solemn once more.
"Are you alright?" he asked, only for Paya to hold a hand out to him.
"You'll really find it? The heirloom?" she asked. "I want to be useful to you... even if it's just this once..."
Link stared at her, taken aback by her sincerity before his tiny smile returned.
"Keep your chin up. I'll find it," Link said confidently, reaching past the sword and over his shoulder to take her hand. "I promised, didn't I?"
Allowing a single tear to fall, Paya did her best to smile in return.
Early that next morning, the young Sheikah awoke with a start. As her vision cleared she looked over at the bedside to see Link standing and tightening the belt around his shoulder, securing the legendary blade on his back. She could just barely see his determined gaze, where the fire behind his eyes burned fiercely. It was different from his warm and calming smile, his softening aura, or even his innocent, lost gaze of the man who hadn't any memories only a few short months ago. This was a man with purpose; one with a goal in mind. This was the man she admired and loved. He was going to find the relic and protect Kakariko. He was going to protect Hyrule. He... was going to save Princess Zelda.
This was the hero, the hero who would never match her gaze.
...
The volcanic air of Death Mountain burned as cinders drifted through the breeze, floating past the rivers of lava and stone houses the Gorons had crafted, supported and entwined with steel to create a city that felt strong, but homely as well. As the evening sun began to set on the mountain, Zelda and company stood in front one of the largest rocky huts while they explained the agreement they had helped broker between those in Tarrey Town and the boss of the Gorons.
"So yer tellin' me that a man by the name o' Hudson will take all this stone from us?" Bludo asked. "An' not only will he take that, but he'll actually need more o' it?"
"That's correct," Zelda said. "He said he'll take as much stone as you can get."
"It's true! That's what Hudson agreed to!" Yunobo said cheerfully. "He needs all the stone so he can help the princess rebuild Hyrule!"
"Help the princess rebuild Hyrule?" the boss asked, stroking his long shaggy beard as he looked down at Zelda. "Yer tellin' me you really believe this is the princess from a hundred years ago?"
"It's true! She's the reason Link jumped into Rudania that day! To save her," Yunobo said, gesturing his large hands toward Zelda. "She's the real deal!"
"If tha's the case, why didn' you come back and tell me what you found out about Rudania last time you were here?" the boss asked. Zelda gulped. "Tha's right, I remember. You were that little Hylian I said could go check on Rudania! You also said you'd bring back some o' that Fairy Spice you made for me before!"
"I–I apologize for that. Truly, I do," Zelda said. "Things got a little hectic for me all those months ago, but I assure you I'll make you some. I–If you need some now—"
"Well, yer lucky Link brought me the bottle you made for me a few days ago, otherwise I would be a bit rocked up," Bludo laughed. Zelda blinked.
"Link brought you some?" she asked.
"He sure did. Made my shoulder feel much better. Said it was from you," the boss said cheerfully. "Was it not?"
"It—It was, yes," Zelda said, taking the hint as Celessa lightly patted her back. "I'm glad it helped ease your pain."
"It did, but... to call yerself the princess. Tha's a lot to take in there," he said. "How do I know you ain't craken' my stone?"
"Well, we have a Sheikah here," Zelda said, gesturing to Paya who had long been nervously staring at the Goron boss's rough and intimidating features. "If anyone would know, it would be them, hence the reason Paya has accompanied us on our quest."
"A Sheikah, huh?" the boss asked, leaning down to look more closely at Paya. "I hear the Sheikah are a peaceful, but proud tribe. You don' look all that prideful... or even confident for that matter."
"I—I—I—" Paya shook nervously. After a few moments, Yunobo stepped forward again.
"You have to believe me, she is the princess!" Yunobo said. "Even the Great Daruk called her the Tiny Princess!"
"That ol' story again?" Bludo asked. "You really think ya saw the Great Daruk up there?"
"It's true, he did," Zelda replied. "To tell you the truth about Rudania, it was Daruk that had the Divine Beast fire that attack on the castle. It was all to defeat the Calamity Ganon all those months ago. I know it's hard to believe, but I promise you, we're telling the truth."
As Zelda bowed in plea, the Goron boss stroked his beard in thought before sighing.
"It's written in the Great Daruk's diary that he knew the princess personally o' course," he said, "an' in that journal, it's stated he called the princess 'Tiny Princess'. You've never read Daruk's diary, have you, Yunobo?"
"N–no, sir, I haven't," Yunobo replied. "You said I wasn't ready to..."
"Then tha' means if you know what he called her, then you had to have heard it from him..." the Goron thought. After a few more moments, he sighed. "If the Sheikah here says it's true, and you know what Daruk called the princess, then I can only imagine it's so. But you—"
He pointed a finger at Paya.
"You need to straighten yerself out and speak confidently. No one'll believe ya like that," he finished. Scared and shaking, Paya nodded vigorously. "Alrigh' then, Princess, if tha's who ya really are, who's gonna come grab the stone ya need? Will it be Hudson himself?"
"No, it'll be one of his colleagues," Zelda answered. "They named themselves the Hudson Construction Company. They'll be handling the stone orders."
"The Hudson Construction Company, eh? Sound's a lot like the Bolson Construction Company," Bludo said. "I heard ol' Bolson was retirin' soon. He must've passed it onto one o' his own. Happy fer him... maybe I needa take a hammer outta his tool belt and do the same soon. Alrigh' then, if tha's it, I'll be waitin'. Yunobo—"
"Y–yes sir?" Yunobo asked, standing straight as if ready for an order.
"Good work. You're becoming quite the worker. Keep it up," Bludo said, surprising Yunobo with the unexpected compliment.
"T–thank you, sir," he replied after a few blinks.
"Good. Now get outta here, all o' ya. All you darned Hylians like comin' so late in the evenin'," Bludo muttered, waving his large arm at them as he disappeared back into his rocky hut, presumably to prepare for bed. The moment the Goron boss disappeared, Celessa and Yunobo cheered.
"You did it, Princess! We have stone and people to help rebuild!" she said, but Zelda frowned.
"Yes, but we didn't get to discuss joining the kingdom, or who will go to the festival in Lurelin..." she said. "That was the main reason for coming here..."
"I'll go to the festival!" Yunobo said proudly. "And I can convince the boss to join, too! If he knows there's business, then it'll work out! You can count on me!"
At the sound of this, Zelda smiled.
"I'd love it if you could be there, Yunobo," Zelda said. "If you could convince him, that would be great. The boss seems to have a lot of faith in you."
"Y–you think so?" Yunobo asked sheepishly, placing a large hand behind his considerably smaller head. "I think I still have a lot to learn. I've met so many amazing people today, like Hudson and them! To start your own company... and you! You, who's restarting the kingdom! I still have a lot to work on before the boss has faith in me. Regardless, I'll do my best!"
"Will you all shut yer yaps? I'm tryina sleep in here!" a voice shouted from inside Bludo's home, causing Paya to shriek in fear.
"U–Uh... maybe I'll try to convince him tomorrow..." Yunobo said nervously, backing away from the hut. "You guys enjoy your stay in Goron City, and ask me for anything while you're here!"
"Oh, before you leave—!" Celessa called out, stopping Yunobo before he could roll away. When the young Goron turned in response, she asked, "where's the hot springs?"
"Ah, down that path! Link was in them just a few days ago!" he said proudly. "They're a Death Mountain wonder! You guys go enjoy to your heart's content!"
With that, Yunobo curled into a ball and rolled away. Excitedly, Celessa turned to Zelda.
"Hot springs!" she said giddily, practically bouncing on her toes as she took Zelda's arm. "Finally! We were supposed to go there yesterday!"
"You wish to go now?" Zelda asked, to which Celessa nodded excitedly.
"Of course I want to go now!" she replied. "I'd rather go in the evening and watch the moon rise! Besides, that means no Gorons will be in the springs with us."
"That is a good point," Zelda said. "Paya?"
"I... I don't mind," said the Sheikah in a tiny voice. While she took note of Paya's lack of excitement, the princess nodded.
"Then, it looks like we're enjoying an evening soak."
...
Taking a deep breath of the warm, misty air that surrounded her, Zelda reached up and unclasped the button that kept her collar tight around her neck. Sighing in relief as the light pressure on her neck released, she undid the buttons at the cuffs on her sleeves. With each undone button, her blouse loosened until it began to slide off her shoulders entirely. Revealing her shoulders and collarbone to the hot spring's haze, she pulled the top of her royal gear off entirely, allowing her torso and chest to breathe freely.
"You seem pretty happy to be out of those," she heard Celessa say. The princess turned to see the pilgrim standing behind her, removing the jacket she wore over her tunic and shorts. "I thought you liked your royal traveling gear."
"And I very much do," Zelda replied, allowing the blouse to slip further down to reveal her shoulders. "But, while the material is far more sturdy and protective, I guess I never realized how tight-fitting they were. I must've gotten used to wearing those dresses Prima gave me, or even the simple Hylian-made tunics I used a few months ago."
"That'll do it," Celessa giggled as Zelda pulled her blouse off entirely. Watching as the princess began neatly folding it so she could move on to her black pants, Celessa added, "You know, Link is one lucky man."
"Hm? What makes you say that?" Zelda asked as she placed her neatly folded blouse on a rock nearby.
"Your figure is perfect," Celessa answered nonchalantly as she began removing her green, outermost tunic. Zelda blinked.
"My figure?" she asked, confused by the sudden compliment. "Where's this coming from?"
"As I just said, it's perfect. I wish I was blessed with a body like yours," Celessa repeated, pulling off her white undershirt. Noticing Zelda's perplexed silence, the pilgrim gestured toward her. "Perfect waistline, amazing hips, fantastic legs, and of course, your amazingly clear skin. A princess inside and out."
"You make it sound as if my body is something special," Zelda said as she began undoing the leather wrap around her hips. "I feel fairly normal, though. If anything, doesn't your body look similar to mine?"
"Yeah, right," Celessa said, now unbuttoning her shorts. "I wish my waist could be that thin and still have hips like yours."
"I'm not sure, Celessa. I've actually been thinking maybe I should lose a bit of weight, specifically around my waist and thighs—"
"Don't," Celessa said instantly. "Don't you dare."
"But—"
"Don't. You. Dare," Celessa said menacingly. "Many would kill to have a body like yours. You're just fine, really."
"Hm... If you say so..." Zelda said, now unbuttoning her dark, fitted trousers.
"I swear. I feel as though I just did Link a favor," the pilgrim said, pulling off her boots before stripping her shorts off her legs. "Or maybe I just saved myself. Link might make me fight a lynel if he found out I was the reason you lost weight."
"W–what makes you think that?" Zelda asked.
"Princess, don't tell me you didn't notice?" Celessa asked, placing her hands on her hips while she now stood completely bare to the hot spring's steam that coiled around her. When Zelda gave her a confused look as she removed her boots, the pilgrim sighed. "Do you remember the celebration we threw for Link at the inn?"
"The one we had a few weeks ago? The one where he got drunk and decked Manny in the nose—"
"—after you left him," Celessa added.
"A–after I left him, yes..." Zelda repeated as she removed her pants. "How could I forget? Though, I almost wish I could, to be quite frank..."
"Well, didn't you realize how he wanted to spend time with you?" Celessa asked.
"While drunk?" Zelda asked, as she folded her pants. After a moment of thought and a hum, she added, "I guess he seemed rather insistent to keep me in his lap. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, he did seem to enjoy me sitting on him..."
"And why do you think that is?" Celessa asked, bending down to pick up and fold her own clothing. Zelda furrowed her brow, trying to understand what her friend was getting at before her eyes widened and a furious blush appeared on her cheeks. Celessa grinned. "Now she realizes."
"Y–you mean he...?" Zelda asked, bringing her now folded pants up to her bare chest as she shrank in embarrassment. "He likes my... my—"
"Yes, he likes your behind, Princess," Celessa said bluntly, walking over to place her neatly folded clothes next to Zelda's on the large rock, "and it's no wonder as to why. I bet he dreams of how round and soft it is. Honestly, it's amazing he hasn't touched it yet— actually, it's amazing he hasn't touched you properly at all yet."
"I—I feel like we've made some progress," Zelda said, now hugging her folded pants as her blush deepened further. "In that regard, I mean. It just hasn't felt like the proper time yet..."
"As much as I hate hearing that, you're probably right, knowing how the last few months have been," Celessa said, leaning her lower back against the large rock they stood near. "But, hey! Maybe you two will finally be able to in Lurelin!"
"Do you really think that's the best time?" Zelda asked. "That's for Link to heal mentally and see how much we appreciate him, along with all the arrangements we need to set for the future—"
"Princess, if having your first time next to the beach after a nice long celebration isn't the right time, then I'm not sure a proper time exists," Celessa said sternly, pushing herself off the rock. "And really, if Link can't find the courage to finally enjoy an intimate moment with his lover in one of the most romantic places in Hyrule, I dunno if he'll ever have the courage."
"I can think of a certain armor that would..." Zelda mumbled before feeling her cheeks burn even hotter. "N–not that he doesn't already have the courage!"
"He better. I'm sure he's the only person in this kingdom who could resist giving in to those temptations with a woman like you in front of him," Celessa said, heading for the spring water. "Honestly, you have such rare perfection behind you and—by the goddess, does everyone have a better figure than me?"
Again, the Sheikah was so quiet Zelda had almost forgotten she was there. At Celessa's exclamation, the princess noticed she was looking at Paya, who was silently taking her own clothes off, apparently lost in thought. Similar to Zelda, the Sheikah also had an amazing figure, though she was a bit taller. Reacting to Celessa's voice, Paya turned, snapping out of what Zelda could only assume were some very deep thoughts, before her face glowed as red as the volcano's lava. Realizing her back was turned to her two companions, she quickly tried to turn to hide it but Celessa smiled.
"You have a wonderful behind as well, Paya!" the pilgrim said excitedly. "And it has a birthmark! It's cute!"
Still glowing, Paya tried to respond through her intense stammering. After a few moments, she finally managed to say, "I–I–I w–was n–n–named a–after it..."
"You were named after it?" Zelda asked curiously as Celessa's smile grew wider. Noticing her cheeky grin, Zelda made a futile attempt to stop her. "Wait a moment, Celessa—"
"Does it look like something?" the pilgrim asked before wondering out loud what her name could stand for. "Paya... Paya..."
After a few moments and now hiding her scarlet face behind her palms, Paya managed to squeak out, "a–a–a p–p–pap–papaya s–seed..."
"Really? Let me take a look—" Celessa began, only stopped by the princess's scolding.
Once Celessa had been calmed and Paya's voice had somewhat returned, Zelda released a tense sigh before stepping toward the water. Coming to the spring's edge, she hovered her foot above the water before slowly dipping her toes inside. She gasped lightly at the warmth, taking a second to adjust before lowering the rest of her foot in. Soon, her entire lower half was submerged in the steamy water. The spring felt like bliss around her body. Her body tingled all over as she felt the cleansing of her skin and the healing of the scrapes that had accumulated across her body from the journey. As Zelda closed her eyes and rolled her head back in relaxation, her ears twitched at the sound of water shifting, a signal that Celessa and Paya were joining her. She heard the pilgrim sigh as the water settled.
"Yeah, that feels better," she said peacefully. "My neck's been sore ever since that lizalfos wrapped its gross tongue around me."
"That doesn't sound enjoyable at all," Zelda replied with her eyes still closed, listening as Celessa hummed in confirmation.
The three sat in silence, allowing their (thankfully) minor injuries from the guardian attack and any other inconvenience from their journey to heal. They listened to the whispering hiss of the spring's rising steam as they watched the large, bright moon rise higher into the dark evening sky, while stars dotted the aerial void to assist with brightening the night with their delicate glow.
"The skies are becoming clearer with each passing day," Celessa said, lazily looking up at the sky as she sat next to Zelda in the water. "Even in Eldin, that's truly a sign winter is coming to an end. Spring is upon us."
"Spring, hm... I haven't truly thought about it until now but..." Zelda repeated, revealing her emerald irises to look up into the starry sky above. Noticing her absent tone, Celessa glanced over at her friend. "Spring really is coming..."
"Hey... Back at the inn, during the stories you would tell me about the past," Celessa began to ask. "Didn't you say the Calamity started in spring?"
"It did," Zelda answered simply, looking up at the bright half-moon above them. "On the first day of the new season."
"Right..." Celessa said, looking down at the water they were reclining in. After a pause, she looked back at Zelda with a light smile. "Let's make this season a much better one than the last one— at least— better than the last one you saw."
Finally tearing her gaze away from the moon, she looked into Celessa's dark eyes and returned the smile. Giggling lightly, Celessa pushed her shoulder against Zelda's, forcing a giggle from her as well.
"Come on, this is supposed to be a relaxing soak," she said. "We can think about the past later. Speaking of relaxing, Paya—!"
At the sudden call of her name, the Sheikah— who was sitting next to Celessa on the opposite side of the princess— jolted in the water and looked over at her.
"Y–y–yes?" she asked shyly.
"What's going on with you?" Celessa asked. "You've been quiet—quieter than usual. Is the guardian incident still getting to you?"
"E–eh? O–oh, n–no... I–I m–mean, m–maybe? I... I'm no–not entirely s–sure—" Paya tried to explain, but Zelda spoke up in a calm voice.
"Are you thinking about Link?"
Surprised, both Celessa and Paya looked at Zelda with wide eyes. An element of fear passed through both of their chests– Celessa for knowing just how Zelda had reacted the last time someone else felt affection for her knight; Paya for not having expected to confront her feelings—to the princess herself no less— so soon. More distressing than the question itself was just how tranquil Zelda's gaze was, making her eyes completely unreadable. The pilgrim glanced nervously between the two women as Paya visibly began vibrating with fear.
"P–Princess, I don't think—" Celessa began, noticing Paya couldn't form any words, but before she could finish, Zelda cut in.
"Celessa, how are your wounds?" she asked. "We've been in here for quite some time now. Have they healed?"
"Huh? Oh, y–yeah, they have—"
"Then, would you mind giving me some time alone with Paya?" Zelda inquired politely. Before Celessa could deny her request, or even ask why, she added, "I'm sorry to ask you of this when you've been looking forward to the springs, but we can always return tomorrow."
Celessa looked worriedly into Zelda's unnervingly calm eyes. While she had worded it as a request, it was clear she wasn't asking. This was an order– an order from the Princess of Hyrule. Still, Celessa was hesitant to leave. Wordlessly, she peered directly into Zelda's eyes, silently asking if things would be alright.
"You can trust me," Zelda said. "I've learned."
At these words, Celessa's eyes softened. She looked back at Paya one last time before nodding. To the Sheikah's horror, the pilgrim stood from the water with a splash and stepped back onto the rocky edge. Drying herself with a rag Zelda had left out for them before dressing herself, she glanced back at Zelda one final time before disappearing up the road toward Goron City again. With the two now alone, Paya continued to quake in fear as Zelda turned her attention to her. Surprisingly, the princess gave her a slight smile.
"So then, was I correct?" she asked softly. "Are you thinking about Link?"
Still unable to form words, Paya continued to stare into Zelda's calm, emerald eyes with her own unsteady ones. After a few moments, the steam of the spring water rising between them, the Sheikah finally managed to speak.
"Wha... What m–makes you ask...?" she asked in a whisper.
"You spoke his name last night," Zelda said, looking back up at the moon. "I woke up to a bit of your rustling while you slept, and you appeared shaken. Were you dreaming about the guardian attack?"
She looked over at Paya again, and when their eyes met, the Sheikah nodded apprehensively.
"I see," Zelda said kindly. "I apologize. I didn't realize you were still in shock from the encounter yesterday. I had hoped my words of comfort would suffice, but... I guess a first-time experience so terrifying would be hard for most to process. I should've noticed."
"N–no... I... um... I just needed som... some t–time..." Paya replied shakily. "I... U–um... a–about M–Master L–L–Link... U–um..."
"He makes you feel safe, doesn't he?" Zelda asked calmly. "Even when he's not around? It feels as though, no matter where he is... Link will find a way to save us, right?"
Slowly, Paya nodded. The princess smiled.
"He gives me that feeling, too," she said. "No matter how big the danger is, or how injured he may be, he'll always find a way to succeed. He is Link, after all."
Still smiling slightly, Zelda leaned back and looked once more at the sky. Paya, however, kept her tense, muddled gaze on her.
"Aren't y–you upset?" she whispered. "Y–y–you must know..."
"I was able to piece it together," Zelda replied calmly, still looking up at the sky above. "To answer your question... no. I'm not upset at all."
Lifting her head, she looked back at the agitated Sheikah.
"I'll admit that, earlier this morning, I was a little thrown off. It caught me by surprise, realizing how you felt about him and all, and... I was a bit frustrated. But—"
Taking a deep breath of the warm mist around them, Zelda closed her eyes and exhaled.
"— I've allowed petty jealousy to consume my thoughts before and... It almost cost me, to say the least. So this time, I decided to take some time and think about how I wanted to handle it."
Opening her eyes, she looked down at the water, watching as it rippled at her slight movements.
"Today, we helped someone," she said, "and we were only able to help someone because of Link. His heart is so large, he helps those around him even in the most minor of ways. It's no wonder people think he's special. It made me realize that... instead of believing he should be mine and mine alone, I should be grateful he's chosen me to be by his side. So..."
She glanced at Paya with another gentle smile.
"I'd rather ask how others feel about him, and take in the good that he's done."
Paya stared into Zelda's kind eyes. The two sat in silence, listening to the low, continuous hissing steam of the spring's warm water.
"I... I've always admired him," Paya finally said, looking down at the water. "The way he smiled, when he first woke from his deep slumber to even when things got hard. I loved how ready he was to help. He helped everyone in my village..."
"He did, didn't he? Like that little girl, Koko," Zelda said. Paya nodded, closing her eyes in remembrance. "He's always been like that; always wanting to help however he could."
"He always did his best for others," she continued. "But what stood out to me the most was... the fact I could see the love for you in his eyes, even if he hadn't realized how he felt yet. He wanted to save you more than anything... You, who had been protecting us for so long... I admired you as well, hearing the stories my grandmother spoke..."
Again, Paya started to tremble.
"He wanted to save you as soon as possible," she said. "You deserved to be saved as soon as possible, and yet... and yet... He was still willing to help when my heirloom was stolen... He stayed the night by my side... and... and..."
Tears began to cascade down the Sheikah's round face.
"Even though I figured you may love him... Even though I knew he loved you... I was so happy when he held my hand that night."
"Paya..." Zelda said empathetically toward her friend.
"I'm sorry," Paya said in a shaky voice. "I'm sorry... I... I'm in love with Master Link..."
As Paya began to silently cry in earnest, Zelda smiled softly and scooted closer to her, taking the space Celessa vacated between them.
"It's alright," she said gently. "I am too, after all."
"I– I hav–haven't been of any help to you," Paya cried. "I–I keep freezing in danger. I–I haven't convinced a–a–anyone of who you are. I can b–barely even speak. A–a–and I'm in love with your l–l–lover... I would ne—never try to take him from you, but, I... I st–still fee– feel so... so..."
"It's alright," Zelda cooed, taking the crying Sheikah into her arms. Beginning to stroke Paya's silver hair, she continued. "You've been a wonderful help. You notice things in people even I don't. Just you being here, knowing just how scared you are of the world beyond Kakariko, is enough support for me."
"I'll... I'll do better..." Paya said. "I'll become strong like you... To be helpful, just like Master Link."
"Hm," Zelda hummed in agreement, continuing to stroke her hair. "I believe in you."
"I'm sorry for being in love with Master Link..."
"Don't be. There's nothing to be sorry about."
The two sat in companionable silence for some time in the springs, remaining until long after the moon had risen to and past its highest peak in the evening sky.
...
A few days passed since the trio's soak on the mountaintop. After securing Yunobo's place in the Lurelin festival, the group headed back down the mountain, only stopping once they reached the stable situated at the base, beside the forest Link disappeared into several days ago. As Celessa spoke to the stablemaster at the counter, Zelda stood in the middle of the road, surveying the hill where the woods were located.
"D–do you believe he's alright?" a shy voice asked from behind. Looking back, the princess saw the Sheikah walking toward her with a light blush on her face. "M–Master Link, I mean..."
"I do. Otherwise, I would've been lying to that little girl who asked me about him just a few moments ago," Zelda replied cheerfully. "Do you?"
Surprised to be asked for her opinion on the matter, Paya's eyes widened slightly before returning a much shyer smile.
"I do."
The two smiled between themselves before hearing footsteps heading toward them. Turning, they looked back to see Celessa approaching.
"Hey! The horses will be ready in a few minutes," she said before grinning at Paya. "You'll be able to handle it this time, right?"
"A–as long as we start slow, I believe I'll be fine... I think," Paya said nervously, to which Celessa put a happy arm around her.
"That's the spirit," she said before turning to Zelda. "Though... Princess, are you sure you're okay with this? I know you said you wanted to travel across Hyrule on foot, but weren't you concerned about how long it would take for us to prepare?"
"I was, and I still am," Zelda nodded. " But, I've noticed that we seem to make more progress on our detours, more than we could've ever made by simply teleporting everywhere. It turns out, your advice on going at a relaxing pace might be the best way to do things. Besides—"
Reaching down, Zelda took the ancient relic she had strapped to her hip off her belt. Carrying it in front of her, she stepped off the road and next to the river that flowed nearby. Coming to a stop at the water's edge, she looked up at the abandoned castle that was visible in the distance. Holding up the slate, she tapped on the screen. With a click, the view had become a true-to-life image.
"—now we have pictures to take," she said, lowering the slate as Celessa and Paya caught up to her. "Hudson's going to need to see as much of these old ruins as possible. Sure, Karson is out exploring them, but some pictures of the ruins around Hyrule would do the construction company good."
As Paya and Celessa stood at her side, the three looked up at the castle in the distance as a light breeze brushed by them.
To think I'd be trying to rebuild so soon, Zelda thought as she looked at the tall towers she was once trapped in. Father, Mother, Urbosa... Link. I'll make you proud, I promise.
...
Through the darkness, he felt a warm, gentle breeze whisper past his nose. He felt a tingle around his body, tickled by the blades of grass dancing in that same breeze around where he lay. Forcing his eyes open, Link looked up into the forest canopy above.
Did I fall asleep? he asked. How long was I out?
He remained lying in the grass, his energy almost fully depleted, as he stared upward at the ceaselessly dancing leaves directly above him. Hearing a voice within the trees, his ears perked up, finally gaining the will to move.
A friend! A friend! Hee hee!
Slowly, Link took in his surroundings. The trees appeared to be exceedingly old; older than even those in the Lost Woods that surrounded the Korok Forest. The voice was coming from somewhere, yet he couldn't quite pinpoint its exact location. Again, the voice spoke.
How long will he rest, I wonder? Hee hee!
Using what little strength he had recovered from his slumber, he rolled over. Pushing himself up onto his forearm, he looked at where the voice seemed to emanate from, and there, carved into the strangely thick wall composed of stone, tree trunks, and roots, was a cave that led deeper into the woods before him.
...
For the first time... my heart knows what it means to love.
Though it may be a love that is never shared or returned, just having it for myself is gift enough.
Seeing him brings me great joy... I bet he has that effect on everyone.
I have only gratitude toward him for showing me what it's like to feel this way about someone.
...
...
...
...
That puts a cap on Paya's arc! We'll be switching gears for a bit with a focus on Link for a while with Zelda in the background! Lemme know if I should start a P*treon or something? Maybe with art, maybe early release chapters? I even have an original Zelda story idea if you guys want? Just thoughts.