Author's Note: Welcome back everyone and welcome to Book III of 'Stars in the Darkest Night!' Without overselling anything, this Book is the one I've been most excited to write for quite some time now and I'm very much looking forward to sharing what I have planned with you all! And because of that, I have an earlier post than usual for you today! I finished this chapter before Thanksgiving in the U.S. just in case I didn't have time to work on it after that (but it turned out I did, so it wasn't anything to worry about). Speaking of, if you're in the U.S. and celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, I hope you had a great time. And if you didn't, I still hope you had a great day yesterday!
Unfortunately, I haven't felt my best this past week so I very much hope that hasn't negatively affected this chapter. It was easier to get this one off the ground than the start of Book II (for a few reasons), but I worry the quality might've slipped just slightly as a result of whatever bug I caught last weekend. I've been doing better, especially during the proofing and editing process (and I spent a lot of time polishing this chapter because of that), so I still think this chapter ended up at a similar level of quality as I usually strive for, but I hope there aren't any noticeable issues with it that I totally missed. If there are, feel free to let me know and I'd be happy to adjust them!
Anyway, without further ado, I hope you enjoy the first installment of this new arc!
Book III – Storm
Chapter 1 – Distance
Castle Town was always quiet this late at night. By midnight, everyone had already retired to bed, save for a few guards. But two hours past that meant that the usually bustling streets were silent like they never were otherwise, not a single lantern or torchlight emanating from even one window.
That also meant Reik and his comrade Lieza had nothing to worry about.
Of course, they still couldn't cause a scene – even this late, there was an emergency patrol that could respond to a threat if necessary. But it did mean they were free to slip into their usual hideout to apprise each other of recent goings on without constantly checking over their shoulders.
The two walked the last minutes to the secret entrance in complete silence. Despite the stillness of the world around them, even whispers carried easily in such conditions and they couldn't risk being overheard. Reik followed Lieza down a small alleyway between two brick buildings, casting a wary glance around just to be on the safe side.
It was a force of habit at this point.
Halfway down the enclosed space, Lieza stopped and placed her hand against a nondescript brick, pushing it inwards. In response, Reik leaned his shoulder against a nearby section of wall and felt it give way to him, opening inwards. The secret doorway to this hideout worked particularly well – it blended in with its surroundings near-perfectly and the only way to open it was to know which particular brick needed to be pressed. Of the three bases that had once been scattered throughout town, only this one had endured, thanks in part to its incredible camouflage.
But that also meant they had to be even more careful when approaching it.
Only once the heavy door was securely back in place behind them did Reik allow himself to sigh in relief. He and Lieza continued down a dark stairwell until they reached even footing again, opening another, smaller door and proceeding through it. When it was finally closed and locked securely, Lieza let out a groan.
"It's such a pain that we have to go through that every time we even want to share information."
She took a lantern off a nearby table and lit it, illuminating the dark room enough that they could at least see the furnishings and avoid tripping over them. 'Furnishings' was a bit of a strong word, though, Reik thought. There was a wooden table with plenty of dings and chips in it, several poorly crafted stools littered the space around it, and a few leftover sickle-like weapons hung from a nearby wall. A singular pillow and blanket even adorned the closest corner. Both were moth-eaten and flimsy, but nobody ever chose to spend the night here willingly – it was mostly just a precaution if someone had to lay low or avoid leaving for some reason.
"I hear you," Reik muttered, frowning at the space. "The fact that this is the best place we have to meet is pretty disappointing, too."
Leiza, brushing her shoulder-length auburn hair out of her face, sat down on one of the stools and braced herself against the table as it wobbled beneath her.
"Not like the higher ups could drag anything flashier out here and not catch someone's eye. But still…couldn't we at least enlist a carpenter to make a few chairs that won't give out on us?"
"Kind of makes you wonder just what the Yiga have become over the years since Ganon was sealed away again."
"You can say that again. We used to be feared…but then, I guess you weren't with us yet when that was the case."
"Unfortunately. Speaking of, what are we doing here tonight anyway?"
Lieza gestured to a nearby stool that Reik reluctantly took. He didn't like those things any more than she did, but it was probably awkward talking to someone standing across the room from her while she sat. And she had been among the ranks of the Yiga for a few years longer than he had so he shouldn't just ignore her wishes.
She leaned against the table and spoke in a low voice.
"Same thing as always – discussing how well our fundraising is going so one of us can report to the boss if he shows up and asks."
Reik sighed despite himself.
"You're right – same thing as always. Why even spend the time coming all the way out here then? It's not like anything changed between this month and last month. I can't remember the last time he even asked us for a report."
"I know, I know. It's pretty easy to feel like an afterthought, isn't it? It'd be nice if the boss would bother showing up here once in a while just to offer us a crumb of praise or something. You know, if I'd realized how unappreciated I'd be, I probably would've thought twice about joining."
Reik offered her an awkward smile. Lieza had a penchant for venting her longtime frustrations when they met up like this.
"Well, I suppose the boss is a pretty busy guy – makes sense that he might not have time to visit. And his situation is…precarious. If he came down here to meet with us grunts, it might cause problems."
Lieza huffed an enormous sigh and slouched further against the rickety table.
"Yeah, yeah. 'Sides, why would one of the illustrious generals of the Yiga Clan want to subject themselves to this dark, dank little hovel?" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"Hey, I'd rather man the storefront and chat in this basement than do what he does."
"I guess you've got a point. Anyway, let's get this over with, huh? I have a shift at sunrise tomorrow and I might slit someone's throat if I have to do it on two hours' sleep."
Reik tried to lean back and relax but his stool trembled beneath him and he floundered for a moment, resigning himself to leaning against the table like his ally.
"Sure thing. The restaurant's doing well. I hire just enough people to keep the quality up and draw in lots of customers, so it makes good money. Not including what I need to live and the pay for the employees, I'd say we're coming away with an above average amount to send back to Master Kohga and the main base. I can even scrape a little bit extra off the top at the end of the month if business is exceptional."
"Sounds like you're doing well, Reik. Good work. I'm doing…okay. I try to draw in more customers to the sauna but it's pretty much just regulars at this point. Nobody's stressed enough to want to unwind anymore, I guess. It's all that damned Link's fault. Hilda's too. Everybody in Castle Town is so complacent now that the Calamity has been dealt with. Nobody'd probably even care if we ran out into the streets in our full uniforms…"
"Yeah, you're probably right," Reik conceded.
"What happened to us!? We used to make people tremble in fear! Just whispering the word 'Yiga' would send people into a panic! And now we skulk around in this filthy little dungeon we call a hideout like rats looking for scraps after dinner, barely making enough money to meet our quotas each month!"
Reik didn't have the heart to remind her that he made more than enough to send back to headquarters.
"I know what you mean, Lieza. But…what can we really do about it? We're just grunts. If the higher ups can't change things, then I don't know what we can really manage."
She sighed heavily again.
"I just miss the days when the Yiga had teeth, you know? We used to command respect – that's why I joined in the first place. But now I'd get more respect if I were a street urchin begging for a spare Rupee…"
"Do you want to have that respect again?"
Reik and Lieza leapt from their seats as the sound of a third, entirely unfamiliar voice echoed around the room. They were to the wall in a flash, each seizing a weapon and scanning the room.
The unexpected comment had been spoken in a woman's voice…but Lieza was the only female member of the Yiga stationed in Castle Town right now. Which meant whoever this was could only be an intruder. Not to mention the fact that the room was so small and there was just one entrance – how had someone managed to get inside without them noticing?
"Who's there?" Lieza demanded, her voice sharp and threatening.
A figure emerged from the shadows a moment later. She wore long black robes that obscured every part of her, even the tips of her fingers. All Reik could tell was that she was about a head shorter than he was.
"You never answered my question, Lieza. Do you want the Yiga to be respected again?"
He watched as his comrade snapped into a combat stance, her eyes narrow.
"I'm not going to answer any question of yours until you tell me who you are."
"Oh, come now, just relax. Don't you think if I wanted you dead, I'd have taken you by surprise rather than announce myself?"
Reik considered her words for a moment…they made sense.
"Then could you give us sign you're not our enemy? …maybe tell us your name like Lieza asked," he suggested. His partner elbowed him hard, clearly angry that he was engaging with the intruder, but he stayed composed. If he could avoid a fight that had the potential to get him killed, he'd take it.
The woman in black considered him for a moment before laughing. It was a bit haunting, her laugh.
"I'll give you my title so we can at least address each other directly, then. You may call me the Witch Queen."
"The…Witch Queen?" Reik repeated, unable to hide his confusion.
"Indeed. You're wondering why you've never heard of me despite your organization's rather extensive information network. Let's just say that my presence until now has been very well hidden, perhaps the best kept secret in all the land. But soon, everyone in this Kingdom will know that moniker."
"That doesn't tell us a damn thing," Lieza spat, pointing the sickle at her. "You've heard our names already. How does it help us trust you when we only have a fake title to go by?"
The Witch Queen made no sudden moves in response, continue to watch them from beneath her hood.
"That's rather amusing, considering 'Lieza' and 'Reik' are almost certainly pseudonyms as well. I doubt the two of you are running around in service to the Yiga Clan using your real names."
Lieza grimaced, lowering her weapon just a bit.
"…fine. You have a point."
"There, now we all have titles."
"So what? What I really want to know is how you got inside. You weren't here before us; I'd have seen you with the lantern when we first entered and there's nowhere to hide."
"Ah, that doesn't have a very interesting explanation, I'm afraid. I simply used magic to transport myself here."
"You did…what?" Reik repeated, his mouth falling open.
"Surely it's not that surprising. But I can demonstrate it for you if you'd like."
"Stop wasting our time," Lieza snarled. "If you're not going to tell us how you really got in here, then I'll have to assume you're both a liar and an enemy."
"Oh? But I've already given you the real answer. I get the impression you simply don't like me and would rather make an enemy of me regardless of my intentions."
"Are you surprised? You broke in here where you're not welcome and ambushed two members of the Yiga Clan. You must have some sort of death wish."
"Would that the Yiga still had any teeth with which to bite me. Perhaps I might be more wary of you if that were the case."
Lieza shouted in anger and hurled the sickle across the room. Reik watched in shock as the weapon, perfectly thrown, flew right at the Witch Queen's obscured face. But just as the point was about to make contact with her…she vanished.
The sickle crashed into the brick wall, clattering to the ground a second later. The moment of abject surprise Reik felt was immediately eclipsed by another as the robed figure reappeared, this time directly in front of Lieza. She raised her arm, a pale hand emerging from beneath the long sleeve, and he felt an intense pressure emanate from her. Lieza cried out and was thrown from her feet, slamming into the wall behind her and slumping to the ground where she remained entirely still.
"L…Lieza?"
The Witch Queen turned to him, lowering her arm. Her shoulders seemed to relax beneath her robes.
"Don't worry, she's simply unconscious. See? She's still breathing easily."
She was right. Reik took some solace in that…at least for the moment. The Witch Queen continued, turning her attention fully to him.
"She seemed so unwilling to have a real conversation that I used her attack as an excuse to remove her from the situation. You seem much less averse to having a discussion with me, Reik."
"Um…I'd rather avoid fighting you, if possible…"
"Excellent. That's the type of obedience I was hoping for."
She strolled casually across the room towards him, taking the sickle out of his almost-limp hand and placing it back upon the wall. He was too stunned to even resist. He was stricken by the thought that her hand was shockingly warm despite how pale and cold it looked. A moment later, though, he blinked and she had vanished yet again.
He tensed up involuntarily as an unfamiliar presence forced itself against his back. It was her – she had pressed herself against him from behind. Before he even realized what was going on, that warm, pale hand seized his left wrist and her other arm snaked around him. Her right hand came to rest against his face, four slender fingers placed languidly against his cheek as her thumb anchored itself against his chin.
"Now, Reik. Perhaps you can help me."
"W-what…do you want from me?"
"I simply want your cooperation."
Her grip was strong enough to subdue him but not firm enough to cause pain. She wasn't threatening him, just protecting herself. Though for how powerful she'd already demonstrated herself to be, it was entirely possible she was just toying with him…
"I'm…just a grunt. A relatively new one at that. What can I possibly do for you?"
"Don't worry. I want something even you should be entirely capable of – communicate my desire for a meeting with one of your generals."
"W-with a general?"
"Indeed," she whispered, her voice emanating too closely to his ear for comfort as she pressed herself more tightly against him. "I heard you say your boss is busy earlier. But I assure you, the Yiga Clan will want to be part of what I have planned."
An involuntary shiver trickled down his spine.
"W…what is that?"
"Why spoil the fun? As you've said, you're merely a grunt. What can you hope to do beyond send a letter?"
"True…but…there might be a problem."
She didn't change her grip or tone of voice at all the way he feared she might.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"The only general I know…doesn't really show himself much. And I have no way to contact him either. His mission depends a lot on secrecy so we're forbidden to do anything that might endanger that."
"And you worry that I'm so impatient that I would be unwilling to wait for you to make contact with the other generals at your main headquarters?"
"…yes. You haven't directly threatened me but…I get the sense my life might be forfeit if I can't do what you ask quickly enough."
The Witch Queen laughed, a surprisingly genuine sound.
"My, what an active imagination you have. But I haven't once threatened your life tonight, have I?"
"No…I guess not."
"In fact, only your partner Lieza made any threats. I only want a way to make amicable contact with the Yiga generals and you two happen to be my most convenient way to do that. If you refuse my offer, no harm shall come to you, Reik. Your comrades in the Yiga Clan, however…they might come to resent you. I assure you your Master Kohga will not wish to miss his chance to ally with me."
"Then it's in everyone's best interest to at least hear you out is what you're saying?"
"Indeed. So contact your generals and tell them it is of paramount importance that they meet with me. They may set the time and place at their convenience. They may even bring as many soldiers as they like should they feel wary of me. And, of course, they are free to refuse my proposal without drawing my ire if that is the choice they ultimately come to. But do take care to impress upon them that I will only make this offer once. Should I hear nothing by the beginning of this coming month, I will take it as a refusal and plan accordingly. That should give you plenty of time to handle things."
"I…suppose I can at least do that much."
"Excellent, Reik. You have a bright future ahead of you if you continue to listen to those who can actually affect change in the world."
"…how will I be able to communicate their response to you?"
"Don't worry about that; I'll know how to find you when the time is right. We'll meet here when you have something to report to me. Do we have a deal?"
Reik took a slow, steadying breath.
"Yes. I'll send word to the main hideout about your offer."
"Good boy. That will be all for the moment – you should tend to your ally now. But do take care not to forget about me once I'm gone."
A stinging pain sprang to life on his left cheek as she drew the sharp nails of her three longest fingers across his skin. It wasn't as if she'd left deep gashes upon his face, but she had certainly used enough force to draw some blood. Before he could fully collect his thoughts, however, he realized the hand keeping his left wrist from moving had disappeared.
Wheeling around, Reik was greeted by an empty room. The only other person with him was Lieza, still unconscious and slumped on the ground by the door.
The Witch Queen was gone.
Zelda had come to love Lurelin a lot in the last two weeks.
At first, she had felt a bit overwhelmed – she had only ever lived at the Castle until she was twenty-two, after all. Moving to Hateno had already been foreign enough, but at least she had been able to slowly and calmly settle into life in the small farming town thanks to Link. But now, she was again faced with adjusting to an entirely new place to live only four months after that first massive change.
Luckily, things were very peaceful here. The quiet, seaside town was just as endearing and welcoming as Hateno had always been and Zelda found the people that lived there to be lovely as well. Though she hadn't come to know anyone beyond a surface level, they were still warm towards her all the same.
And despite the fact Link joked about Aryll herself being overwhelming to spend so much time with, his sister had been a delight as well.
Zelda had ended up sharing Aryll's personal bed with her and, even though she had been worried that she would be an inconvenience, their host had assured her it wouldn't be a problem. As it turned out, she was absolutely right. Aryll's bed was, frankly, enormous. She had laughed at Zelda's reaction and explained that if there was one thing in the world she would ever be able to justify spending too much money on, it was her bed. It was every bit as large as the one Zelda had once shared with Hilda in their tower and that meant there wouldn't be any issue of overcrowding.
And although Aryll almost nightly threatened to cuddle Zelda so hard she would eventually prefer her to Link, she never once did anything more than give her a warm hug goodnight. In fact, Zelda had come to look forward to her embrace each evening before settling into bed – she had very restful and pleasant dreams as a result of it.
Sometimes they even took to chatting before bed, lying in the darkness and talking about whatever came up. While sometimes it was just about the days or their pasts, Aryll had also tried her hand at learning more about Zelda's relationship with Link. But Zelda hadn't been able to bring herself to admit she'd confessed her love to him just yet. It was still very new and equally overwhelming to think back on. Neither she or Link had managed to utter the words again just yet, though Link had made reference to their confession a few times. He was likely giving her a little time to adjust to the feeling.
He was always looking out for her like that.
That was immediately evident in his response to the mysterious Witch Queen's attack on Hateno. Since they were staying in Lurelin during a quieter time, there wasn't much they could actually help the community with. Aryll herself explained that this time of year was relaxed and lazy for everyone in the village so they may as well just kick back and enjoy themselves.
Link, however, had other plans.
After that fateful night, he had decided he needed to get back to the peak of his combat abilities just in case the Witch Queen resurfaced sooner than later. He claimed he was out of practice and that had put Zelda in danger. She tried to assure him that anybody would have been taken by surprise in such a situation, but he was adamant that he wanted to be ready for anything that might come to attack them again so next time he could properly defend her.
To that end, he had asked Aryll to train with him daily.
Their sparring sessions happened each morning on the low cliffs overlooking the village – it was always incredible to behold. Despite the fact that neither were using their real blades against the other, they moved and crossed wooden training swords with impossible speed and deftness. Having watched enough of Link's training sessions since Urbosa had visited Hateno, even Zelda could tell how much more confidently he was moving. Aryll, too, had improved thanks to her consistent sparring with her brother.
Zelda, thanks to the inspiration she'd gained from watching them, had spent plenty of time trying to figure out what in the world she had done to stop that tower from falling on Link the night of the ambush. It was certainly some kind of magic – she had felt an unfamiliar energy pour forth from the depths of her body, just the way Hilda had described the sensation when they were children. She wanted to learn how to actively use it so she might be able to help Link should he ever again need it. She didn't want to be so unable to protect someone she cared so deeply about. She hated that feeling of powerlessness.
And so she had devoted herself to solving the mystery of her new magic.
Her theory was that she might be able to do more than just freeze objects in place; she might even be able to move them in reverse. It had felt like there was an instinctual part of her that had been attempting to move the tower away from Link, like something deep within her knew what that power could really do. But perhaps because the object in question was too massive or she was simply unfamiliar with this new magic, she hadn't been able to manage it that night. She had also been too scared of anything happening to Link that she hadn't allowed herself to change focus for even a moment until he was safely out from under the tower and by that point she had been exhausted.
Despite her commitment to figuring out her abilities, however, it was becoming apparent that she would need some help. All she had managed to do so far was make a spoon rattle on the table. She hadn't manifested the same golden glow she had achieved the night of the attack and wasn't yet sure how to replicate it. Luckily, there was someone who used a control-type magic of their own that she had come to know well over the last four months – Mipha.
Mipha had the ability to manipulate water at will. Zelda had never seen the Zora Princess do battle herself but she had heard stories over the years of the way she summoned geysers and imbued her weapons with blades of water. It was likely that the principles she used to control it were at least somewhat similar in nature to Zelda's new magic that could manipulate solid objects. She would take any advice and instruction she could get if it meant figuring out the solution to this puzzle.
And even more fortuitous was the fact that Mipha happened to be visiting Lurelin that morning.
Following his sparring session with Aryll, Link had asked Mipha to come with him for a few minutes so he could talk to her about something in private. It wasn't like him to be so vague, but Zelda didn't press the issue. It seemed like he had his reasons and he was certainly allowed his own secrets. Perhaps he was asking Mipha's assistance in preparing a surprise to thank his sister for housing them. When she thought about it like that, who better to ask for help than Mipha? She and Aryll were the best of friends and extremely close. The thought of doing something nice for Aryll made Zelda smile – she hoped she might be asked to be a part of it when the time came.
Aryll, meanwhile, had returned home with Zelda and immediately started making lunch. Though Zelda insisted that she wanted to help, Aryll was adamant that she relax since she was in charge of dinner later anyway. They had taken to splitting up who would cook each meal, with Link handling breakfast, Aryll taking lunch, and Zelda preparing dinner…though Link always offered his assistance with dinner all the same.
So Zelda had taken the time to practice with her magic a little more, thus arriving at the conclusion that it was time to ask Mipha for some help when she and Link returned home. And as luck would have it, the front door to Aryll's cozy cottage by the sea opened a few minutes later, Link and Mipha entering the main living area.
"W-welcome back," Zelda greeted them with a smile.
The one Link offered her in return was warm and bright; it filled her stomach with butterflies.
"Thanks, Zelda. How are you doing? Feeling good about your magic?"
"Not really…"
As they spoke, Mipha went to Aryll's side, her soft voice earning the blonde girl's attention effortlessly. But Zelda's ability to notice anything else evaporated as Link joined her at the table, leaning close and taking her hand. With him so near, she felt her heart skip several beats and tried to maintain her composure as he spoke.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up. What you're trying to do is really hard, especially without anyone to properly teach you. You're doing great."
"T-thank you…I had an idea of something that might help, actually."
"Oh? What's that?"
"I…think Mipha's magic might be similar enough to mine that I could learn a bit more about controlling it from her. Do you think…she'd mind helping me…?"
"I wouldn't mind at all!" came the Zora's supportive voice from across the room.
Zelda flushed, not realizing her voice had been loud enough to overhear.
"R-really?"
"Of course! I was lucky that manipulating water is something many Zora have been capable of throughout our history, so my teachers were all well versed in the subject. But if I'd had to learn it all by myself, it wouldn't have been easy at all. I know our abilities aren't interchangeable, but I'd be happy to help you in any way I can."
Zelda felt her heart soar.
"T-thank you, Mipha. I really appreciate it."
"In that case," Aryll interjected, "wanna stay for lunch, Micchan? I'll whip you up something real special and then you and Zel-chan can spend some time working together. Maybe we can all have some fun after that, too! Or you and I can slip away and have some alone time."
Aryll's energetic smile was infectious as always and she teased Mipha as naturally as she breathed. But although the Zora Princess blushed, she also gave Aryll an apologetic look in return, guilt obvious on her face.
"I would really love that Ari, but…I'm afraid I actually have to go back home early today. I'm sorry."
Aryll's face fell for a moment before her smile returned in full force. Zelda noticed it seemed a little stiff, the same way she had always felt when she had smiled at the Castle. She was convincing enough, though, that the others didn't seem to notice.
"T-that's okay, Micchan! Don't fret about it. What's going on back home?"
"I have to finish preparing for a trip to the Castle, actually. I'll be gone for four days starting tomorrow."
"The Castle?" Zelda repeated, wondering why she would be heading there in the first place.
"Mhm. See, in addition to being the Zora Champion, I'm also the representative of our people. That means that once in a while I meet with your father and we discuss ways of bringing our races closer together in this new era of peace. One of the things Hyrule struggled with before the Calamity was every individual race feeling disparate and isolated, concerned only for their own longevity. There was no unity. But since then, we four Champions and the King have been trying to devise ways to bring the people of this Kingdom closer together."
"Wow, Micchan," Aryll murmured, "that's amazing. And I can't think of anyone who could ever do that job better than you."
"Thank you! But unfortunately, that means I have to turn down your wonderful offer for spending the afternoon together…even though it's very much what I'd rather be doing."
Aryll gave her a soft smile and shook her head.
"Don't worry. We'll just have to postpone until you're back home, that's all. Come visit again after your trip and we'll make a day out of it, okay?"
Mipha's guilt finally dissipated and her usual warmth returned in full force.
"I would love that, Ari. Thank you."
"Ah, you don't have to thank me for that."
"That said," Mipha continued, leaning towards the window and checking the position of the sun, "I should probably get going. It's a bit further between Lurelin and home than I'm used to traveling and I don't want to worry my father."
"Y-yeah," Aryll agreed, her smile faltering just the slightest bit. Zelda noticed it was much more forced than earlier. "Don't let us make you late, okay?"
"You're so thoughtful, Ari. I promise we'll have a wonderful time once I'm back. I'll come see you the day after I get home."
"We'll be waiting."
Mipha gave Aryll a tight hug, one she easily settled into despite the strange tension Zelda had seen on her face for the last several minutes. As Mipha released her and crossed the room, however, Zelda noticed a look of melancholy eclipse Aryll's face – she'd never seen her wear that look before.
'Why does she seem…so sad?'
Despite her worries, Zelda was snapped back into the moment when the Zora Princess hugged her too, something that would once have made her more than a little nervous but now made her feel very calm and cared for. And finally, she embraced Link as well.
This time, though, Zelda heard her speak to him, her gentle voice very low in volume.
"Don't worry – I'll take care of your letter."
Link just gave her a nod in response and Zelda pretended like she didn't hear anything – it seemed like that was part of their secret meeting. She didn't want to draw any attention to them just because she'd happened to be close enough to overhear. Whoever this letter was for, it was clearly meant to be a secret from she and Aryll. Maybe it really was a surprise for his sister.
Maybe…it was a surprise for her too…
Saying her last goodbyes to the group, Mipha left the house, easing the door shut behind with a last smile and wave. Link, still in his armor from their training session earlier, almost immediately went to go change into a casual outfit for the afternoon, squeezing Zelda's hand once more before promising he'd be back in a few minutes. Once the door to his temporary bedroom had closed, Zelda chanced another look at Aryll.
She had turned back towards the cooking pot where she was stirring the food absentmindedly. She looked rather distant though, as if she were in another world entirely. And her eyes were still so very different than usual. They looked…so dejected…
"A-Aryll?"
She jumped as Zelda's voice interrupted her thoughts and quickly tried to play it off, laughing awkwardly as a forced grin spread across her face.
"O-oh! Zel-chan! You scared me! I thought you'd gone with Link for some reason."
"I-I'm sorry to startle you."
"Nah, don't be. It was my fault anyway for spacing out like that. But what's up?"
Zelda had known Aryll for a few months now and had lived very closely with her for the last two weeks. They shared a bed every night and chatted before they slept. She was very familiar with Aryll's energy and personality now.
And this wasn't like her at all.
It felt like she was wearing a mask, just the way Zelda had done for most of her life. It hurt her to see Aryll like that. But the question that plagued her was…why? Was it just because Mipha hadn't been able to stay for the afternoon? Something that small usually wouldn't have gotten to her like this. She would normally have teased Mipha, insisting that she would prepare a special date just for her once she returned.
Maybe it was something else? But before Link and Mipha had returned, Aryll had seemed just fine. Zelda was confused…but also unsure enough about what might be bothering Aryll that she wondered if she should bring it up at all in the first place.
A tiny voice in the back of her head kept whispering to her that Aryll probably wouldn't want to talk to her about any of it anyway…
"O-oh, it's nothing. I was just curious what you were making for lunch."
That was a complete lie, of course, but she had hesitated for too long at this point. She had to say something.
"Just a stew – I figure it'll only be cool enough to really enjoy something like this for a few more weeks anyway. The afternoons are already starting to warm up a lot. Soon enough, we might even be able to hit the beach without freezing."
"T-that sounds nice."
Usually, there would have been a lot more energy in what Aryll had said, but she seemed so defeated and subdued right now. Zelda silently scolded herself for being a coward.
'You've known Aryll for months and you talk with her every single night – there's no way she would ever be upset with you for making sure she's okay. She isn't Hilda. Stop thinking like she is. And if she really is upset about something, then you owe it to her as her friend to check on her and be there for her if she needs it.'
About that time, though, Link returned to the room, that familiar forest green sweater of his drawing her eye. And for as close as Link and his sister were, Zelda didn't want to upset Aryll by shining a spotlight on her if she'd rather not discuss what was on her mind right now. Reluctantly, she decided to put a pin in it for the moment.
'I'll…try talking to her later. Maybe whatever it is will just go away after lunch and she'll be back to her usual self. But if not, hopefully Link and I can cheer her up, even if we don't know what's really going on.'
As Zelda quickly learned, though, that wasn't going to happen so easily. Aryll had seemed distant and somber all afternoon, keeping mostly to herself for the first time since she and Link had arrived in Lurelin. Link didn't seem to think much of it, theorizing that she must just be worn out from their constant training sessions, but Zelda found herself worrying about Aryll all day, even as she prepared dinner. She had almost burnt the mushrooms she was working with as a result of her preoccupied mind.
She just couldn't stop herself form wondering why Aryll was so upset. Maybe she really was just sad that Mipha hadn't been able to stay for lunch…but this was a rather extreme reaction if that were the case.
When Aryll announced after dinner that she was going to go for a walk and watch the sunset, Zelda finally decided she just couldn't ignore things any longer. Even though Aryll had kindly insisted they go ahead and have their baths first while she was gone. Even though she might not want to talk at all. Even though Zelda might very well be overstepping her place.
She couldn't let someone who wanted to be her sister be sad all by herself. So when Link approached her with a kind offer, she knew what she had to do, no matter how nervous she might be about doing it.
"Did you want to take your bath first, Zelda?"
She took a steadying breath. It was now or never.
"Actually, would you mind going first? I was going to go find Aryll."
"Ari? How come? Is everything okay?"
Zelda nodded quickly, offering him a light smile.
"Everything is fine, I promise. We were…in the middle of a chat last night before we fell asleep and I only just remembered we never got the chance to finish it." It wasn't even close to the truth…but she was still trying to avoid drawing too much attention to Aryll.
Link offered her a warm smile in response, though.
"That sounds nice; I'm glad you're getting along so well with her, really. I don't mind taking my bath first at all. You go ahead and find Ari."
"Thank you, Link. T-try to relax some, okay? You've been working really hard lately."
"I promise I will. And you do the same and enjoy your chat."
"I…promise I will too."
The warmth in Link's eyes was enough to send shivers of delight down her back and she left the house moments later feeling much more confident in herself. She was intent on searching out Aryll at long last. It was obvious she was sad about something…and Zelda just couldn't keep herself from acknowledging it any longer. And maybe Aryll wouldn't mind opening up to her while it was just the two of them.
The sun was close to setting, already hanging low on the horizon as the endless expanse of ocean threatened to swallow it whole. For now, though, its golden light still illuminated the white sand and made the shoreline seem as if it were glowing.
'Aryll said she was going for a walk down the beach. I doubt she went towards the center of town if she wanted some time to herself, so she must've gone to the east.'
Zelda walked down the sand towards the large peninsula that rested just beyond the end of town, her eyes scanning the area for Aryll. She had made it almost to the base of the long sandbar before she finally found who she was looking for. The blonde girl was sitting near the ocean, drawing small circles in the sand with her finger as she stared out towards the horizon. Her hair fluttered in the gentle coastal breeze, accenting the still-melancholic expression on her face.
Zelda approached as quietly as she could so as not to startle her…but then decided to call out and announce her presence just in case.
"Um, Aryll?"
She didn't jump or whirl around this time. Instead, she just glanced over her shoulder and offered Zelda a small smile when she saw it was her.
"Hey, Zel-chan. What brings you all the way out here? Wanna come join me?"
"S-sure, thank you."
Zelda sat down beside Aryll, the sand beneath her soft and cool. Aryll turned towards her and gave her a grin. It wasn't nearly as bright as usual.
"Did you get bored while Link was taking his bath? Sorry, I know Lurelin is a little quiet this time of year."
"N-no, actually I insisted Link take his bath first. I was…looking for you."
"You were? What's up?"
Zelda hesitated for a long moment before forcing herself to speak up at last.
"Um…I was…worried about you."
"Worried? How come?"
"You've seemed…a little off since this afternoon, that's all."
Aryll laughed lightly.
"Ah, don't fret, Zel-chan. I'm probably just worn out from having that hard-headed brother of mine around every day, that's all! I don't know how you do it!"
It was obvious she was deflecting, but even as she laughed and joked, Zelda noticed Aryll's eyes looked hollow. For the first time all day, she didn't lose her nerve.
"Are…you sure? Because it seems like…you've been sad all day. S-since…Mipha left."
Aryll's laughter vanished and she looked at Zelda in wonder. A resigned smile stole her lips a moment later.
"You really are too clever to hide things from. You're right – I guess I've been a little down since then, yeah. You noticed before lunch, huh?"
"I…I did. And, um, if you…feel like talking about it, I'd be happy to…listen. You've been here for me f-for months. I…want to return the favor if you'll let me."
Aryll looked at her with warm eyes before a much more genuine smile spread across her lips.
"You are just the sweetest thing in the world. Thank you."
She took a long, slow breath before speaking again, her voice soft and her smile vanishing.
"I guess…hearing about Micchan's trip kinda threw me off. With how relaxed she and I are together, sometimes I forget she's a Princess, you know? She has so many responsibilities to her people. She's the Zora Champion who pilots a Divine Beast and fought against the Calamity six years ago. She's the representative of her people who meets directly with the King of Hyrule and discusses ways to deepen the bonds between her race and the others…and I'm sure that's only a small part of what she actually does at the Domain. I guess when I heard all that today, it made me feel…like she's really far away from me…"
Zelda's face fell and she almost reached out to take her hand before realizing it wasn't Link she was talking to. She didn't think it was her place to approach Aryll with such familiarity…even though the girl never minded hugging and even nuzzling her.
"I'm…sorry you've been feeling that way, Aryll."
"Ah, it's okay. It's not your fault. And it's not Micchan's either. Just…sometimes I wonder why someone as amazing and impressive as her would ever even bother being close with someone as plain and dull as me…"
"Y-you aren't plain or dull," Zelda insisted, drawing Aryll's gaze. "There's so much about you that makes you exceptional! Y-you care about people like no one else I've ever met. You have s-such an enormous heart. A-and you're wonderful in so many other ways too - you're a warrior of the same incredible caliber as Link, for example. Please don't…say such bad things about yourself. It makes me sad to hear you put yourself down like that…"
Aryll was gazing at her in amazement, her mouth slightly open.
"Zel-chan…thank you. That's so nice of you to say."
"I…just don't want you to berate yourself like that when you're already upset; I…know how bad that feels. A-and besides, no matter the differences in your lives, Mipha is still your best friend, right? I'm certain she would never let any distance come between you."
Aryll's eyes seemed to fog over with sadness and she turned away, gazing out at the horizon instead. When she spoke again, her voice was small…and pained.
"You're right…I know Micchan would never let our roles in life put any real distance between us. But the truth is…she couldn't be any further away from me than she already is…just for the simple fact that she's a woman…"
Aryll's voice sounded so haunted…but Zelda wasn't entirely sure why.
"A-Aryll?
It was almost as if she snapped from a daze, her eyes widening as she shook her head.
"S-sorry about that, Zel-chan. Forget I said anything. It was nothing…"
"Um…i-if you really don't want to talk about it, I understand. But…a-are you…sure?"
"Yeah, it's…it's nothing you need to worry about…"
Zelda drew up all the courage she possessed before trying one last time.
"Y-you know, I've felt…really lonely for a long time. Until I met you and Mipha and Link, I basically had nobody I could trust. But now I do. A-and…I'd really like to be here for you. I don't…want you to be alone with whatever's making you so sad…"
"Zel-chan…"
"I-if you'd really rather not talk to me, I would never dream of trying to force you to. B-but…I just wanted you to know that. You probably have more people to confide in than I can even imagine, but…I'd like to be one of those people, too. And if you ever need to talk about anything at all, whether that's right now or not…I'm here for you. And I'll…always support you."
Aryll gazed at her with wide eyes, word failing her for several long moments.
"Thank…you. That's really so wonderful of you. It means the world to me that you care so much. So…um…I'm going to…trust you with something nobody else in the world knows. Not even Link…"
Aryll hesitated for a long time after that, but it didn't seem like she was upset. It felt like she was doing exactly what Zelda always had to do when she spoke to someone – gathering up all her courage to force her words out. Finally, she took a rather shaky breath and spoke.
"All those things I say about Micchan…all the little ways I tease her…every word I use to make her blush…none of it's actually a joke. It's all true, Zel-chan. I secretly mean every single word of it, even though I pretend I don't. I really do love her…but much more deeply than just as a friend. I'm in love with her…romantically…"
Zelda was caught off guard – she hadn't expected those words from Aryll but suddenly things made so much more sense. She had always thought Aryll's teasing was just a game, the same way everyone else saw it. But now she was starting to remember all the times it quite obviously wasn't. In fact, Zelda could even recall more than a few times where Mipha's genuine compliments had reduced even Aryll to a blushing mess. And now it was obvious why. The fact that she had such strong feelings for the Zora Princess made Zelda want to smile uncontrollably – they were such a perfect match for each other.
But she was also very curious as well. Though the Castle was at the center of the Kingdom and hosted many guests from all walks of life, she had never personally met someone attracted to the same gender as they themselves were. Several questions swirled around in her head, but she recovered as quickly as she could and spoke. She didn't want it to seem like she was ignoring something so important, certainly not when Aryll had trusted her enough to confide in her.
She decided to start with a question that Aryll might actually enjoy answering rather than bombard her with invasive, personal ones.
"I-I'm sorry to freeze up like that; I was just trying to organize my thoughts. C-can I ask when you fell in love with Mipha?"
Aryll's face grew wistful.
"I've been in love with Micchan for years. From the moment I met her in Castle Town when Link brought her over for dinner the day after the first Champion's Ball, I've had a massive crush on her. I actually thought they were in a relationship, you know, and I got pretty jealous. But when I asked him about it, he told me they were just really good friends and that's all they'd ever be.
"From there, I got to know Micchan myself…and I've been hopelessly in love with her ever since. I'd never had more fun talking to someone in my whole life. She was just so…mesmerizing. I could never get her out of my head. Even though I didn't get to see her too often when we still lived in Castle Town, I thought about her every single day – how beautiful she was, how kind she was, what a genuinely good person she was. I would hear her soothing voice in my dreams every night, see her gorgeous face smiling at me…even imagine her soft hand in mine. I've had it bad for years now…"
Zelda couldn't keep the tiny smile off her lips even as Aryll continued, her blue eyes almost shimmering now.
"After I moved down here to Lurelin, I got to see her a lot more thanks to Link. That's part of why I started going to Hateno all the time; I would try to plan my visits for days I knew Micchan was going to drop by. I…know I could have invited her over to my place too – we were more than close enough by then. To be honest, though, I was just too scared to do it. But I knew how I felt about her long before I moved out here. Now I just get to be around the person I love a lot more often."
"M-may I ask you a question?"
Aryll gave Zelda a gentle smile.
"You can ask me anything at all, Zel-chan; I promise I don't mind answering. I really do trust you and I'm sure I've just given you a lot to be curious about."
"W-well…I was just wondering…um, i-is it…just Mipha you're attracted to? Or is it…women in general? I'm sorry if I…shouldn't ask that…"
"That's not a rude question at all, I promise. Even though I've only had eyes for Micchan these last five years, yeah, I'm attracted to women in general. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm only attracted to women. At the very least, I've never felt any desire for men. I went on some dates back in school like we talked about during that game of Confessions, but they never felt like anything more than just two friends spending an afternoon together. That's why I never went on a second date with anyone – there was never any spark or romance, not once. It just felt…pointless and stifling, like I was doing what I was supposed to do instead of what I actually wanted to."
"That…must've been so lonely."
"It was sometimes, yeah. Hey, um…I'm sorry to be dropping all of this on you so suddenly…"
Zelda shook her head.
"Don't apologize! I t-think it's wonderful!"
Aryll looked at her with wide eyes.
"You…do…?"
"O-of course I do! A-as long as you're happy, then I couldn't be happier for you! And I think it's amazing that you have someone you love so much!"
Aryll's face fell again as she turned her attention away from Zelda, beginning to draw little circles in the sand again.
"It's…not all that amazing…"
Zelda couldn't help but feel like she'd rubbed salt in a wound she didn't even know was there.
"W…why not?"
"I know you grew up in the Castle and rarely spent time outside of it, Zel-chan, but I'm sure you still heard whispers. People in Hyrule…don't really think very highly of same-sex relationships or anyone attracted to their own gender. Most everyone in the Kingdom…feels pretty negatively about it, actually."
"O-oh…I'm sorry…I-I didn't-"
"Don't feel bad, okay?" she interrupted, her voice gentle and reassuring. "I know you didn't say that to hurt me. You're such a good person and I know you're genuinely happy for me. But it's usually pretty hard to be happy about it myself. I've felt that way for a long time…that's why I don't ever really tell people about this…"
"T-thank you…for trusting me enough to tell me. I would…never think badly about you because of who you love. N-never."
Aryll gave her a small smile.
"I know. I was still a little scared to tell you but you've been so amazing and sweet to me for months - I knew I could trust you."
"Um, Aryll?"
"Yeah?"
"Have you…always been alone then…? Until…today?" Zelda felt her throat constrict as she imagined Aryll being isolated for so long.
The blonde girl shook her head, though.
"Dad and Link know so I'm not completely alone. They've known for a long time now and they're both incredibly supportive of me; I'm really lucky to have them. When I said not even Link knew, I just meant he didn't know I'm in love with Micchan. But yeah, aside from them, you're the only other person I've ever told."
"I'm…really glad you've at least had your family to support you."
"So am I. And thank you for being here for me and accepting me too. But actually…I kinda lied to you just then. There was one other person I told once…but now I wish I'd never done it." Aryll's face looked sadder than it had all night.
"If you…need to talk about it…I'm here to listen. I…always am."
"Thank you, Zel-chan."
Aryll hesitated for several moments before gazing out towards the sea again.
"Back when I was in school, I had a different best friend. Her name was Jana. We'd been close for years at that point and she was like a sister to me…right up until she wasn't. I'd tried to go on dates with a bunch of boys at that point and none of them ever amounted to anything. But then I started to feel nervous and excited about being around Jana…I felt butterflies in my stomach when she was close and I caught myself thinking about her when I was lying in bed at night. That was the first time I started to wonder if maybe I was attracted to women instead of men. And at some point, I realized I'd fallen in love with her. She was my first love, actually.
"After the Calamity was defeated, I was just as thrilled as everyone else. I felt like the whole world was mine for the taking, like my future could be anything I wanted it to be now that the world was saved. So I…confessed to Jana. I told her I loved her and asked if there was any possibility that she might feel the same way. She didn't."
Zelda reached out and took Aryll's hand on instinct. If it surprised her, she didn't show any signs of it, continuing her tale in a soft voice even as she squeezed Zelda's hand in her own.
"That was okay, though; I didn't really expect her to return my feelings. And she let me down gently, too. I went home that night pretty sad but I was still glad I'd gone through with it…even though I probably shouldn't have. At least now I knew for sure, no matter how scary it had been. But the next day…she didn't talk to me at all. She basically stopped being my friend overnight. I thought maybe she just needed some space to figure out how to act around me again, so I gave her a few days. But after a week of her pretending I didn't exist, it finally got to me enough that I confronted her about it.
"When I asked Jana why she was ignoring me…she told me she couldn't be my friend anymore after finding out how I felt about her. She said…she would always feel like I was lusting after her. She called me a freak. Said I was repulsive. Said there was something very wrong with me. Told me I should just grow up, find a man to marry, have a few kids, and forget about this silly little phase of mine."
Aryll wasn't crying but her voice was less steady than usual. Zelda was surprised she could even hear for how loudly her heartbeat was thundering in her ears; she was angrier than she could ever remember being.
"And then, just before she left…she told me I was lucky we'd been friends first before I confessed such vulgar feelings to her. She promised she wouldn't ever repeat them for the sake of how close we'd been…but warned me that if anyone else ever found out, it would ruin me. She said…I'd bring shame to my family for being so disgusting. Then she walked away and never spoke to me again. I kinda hate to admit it, but I cried myself to sleep for days after that."
Zelda wasn't even aware that she had moved at all until she threw her arms around Aryll and hugged her tight. It wasn't a timid hug, but one with the same intensity she had embraced Link with after her kidnapping. Aryll gasped in surprise but didn't resist or pull away, instead wrapping her own arms around Zelda's midsection after a moment.
Anger forced words from Zelda's mouth before she realized what she was saying.
"S-she's stupid!"
Aryll's eyes widened in amazement but Zelda pressed on before she lost the fire of rage in her heart.
"That Jana girl! S-she's…she's an idiot! There's nothing wrong with you! You're one of the most wonderful people I've ever met! I-if anyone would bring shame to their family, it's her for being such a…such a…bi-bi-bigoted, narrow-minded idiot!"
Zelda was trembling from anger and heartbreak. She felt awful that Aryll had been forced to listen to such foul things being said about her. For just a brief moment, she hated the Kingdom that she had always wanted so desperately to be of use to growing up. If it were really filled with people that thought like Jana and agreed with her wholeheartedly, then there was something deeply wrong with her home.
"Zel-chan…" Aryll murmured.
"D-don't ever think that way about yourself! You're…you're amazing, Ari."
She hugged Zelda a little harder.
"That's…the first time you've called me 'Ari.'"
Zelda wasn't quite sure what to say after that. She was scared she had overstepped now that her anger had abated slightly. This wasn't her place to be speaking; she couldn't possibly understand what Aryll had gone through over the years. But the blonde girl in her arms…didn't seem upset by her words.
Aryll pulled back and met Zelda's eyes. Her own looked much calmer now.
"Thank you, Zel-chan. I must really be rattled tonight; that doesn't usually get to me so much anymore. But it's really nice to have you here to support me like that. I never thought anyone in the world but Dad and Link would."
"Of course I support you. I…always will. And for what it's worth…I think Mipha would, too."
Aryll grimaced and looked away again.
"I…I don't doubt the fact that she's a good person – I know she is. I know she would never hurt me like that. But there's this tiny, irrational little part of myself I really hate…that still wonders 'what if,' you know? I never thought Jana would treat me badly either…but she did. If…if Micchan were to find out I'm in love with her…I'm scared to death that even she might reject me, no matter how wonderful she is. I…Zel-chan, I don't think I could handle it if she…told me there was something wrong with me. I think…I'd rather die than live through that…"
Zelda looked on with sad eyes but Aryll continued before she could even speak.
"But I just love her so much…I can't take hiding my feelings completely. That's why I tease her so often…because it's the only way I have to express my love for her without telling her the truth. Nobody knows the truth but you. Nobody knows I hide behind jokes and make everyone laugh at my feelings on purpose…because I'm too weak to bury them even though there's no hope of her ever returning them…"
The last light of the sunset vanished as Zelda felt her heart break even more for Aryll. She had been alone and sad for so very long…and nobody had ever even realized it for how well she masked her true feelings. Maybe the only reason she'd opened up to Zelda this evening was because she'd caught her at a vulnerable time. Maybe there was nothing she could do after all…
But even though Zelda knew it probably wasn't her place to try convincing her otherwise…there was still something she had to make sure of. Something she had always taken for granted. Something Aryll might not know.
"Um…Aryl-ah, uh, I mean…Ari? Why…are you so sure Mipha would reject who you are like that?"
"It's just…the way people are. You're a rarity in the world, Zel-chan. The fact that you accepted me and got angry over the way Jana treated me isn't very common. Dad and Link are the same way, but it's less surprising since they're family. Everyone else, though…the people of Hyrule…they don't feel the same way you do. To them…I'm just disgusting…"
"B-but I don't think any Zora would ever see you that way – they don't have the same views on gender and romantic relationships as we Hylians do."
"…huh?"
Aryll looked genuinely confused. So she really didn't know…
"I…back when I was in lessons at the Castle, Hilda once asked our instructor why there wasn't a Zora Queen at the moment. And that eventually led us into a discussion about the Zora Royal Family and their customs as a race. I…still remember it because it was so different from what I'd grown up around.
"The Zora…don't really care about the distinction between men and women. It's…apparently not at all uncommon for women to be romantically involved with other women, n-nor for men to do the same with other men. There are…plenty of relationships between women and men as well, but I was even told some Zora are attracted to both. Their views on things like that…are very different from what you might be expecting."
Aryll looked as if she had been struck by a shock arrow.
"Are you…serious…?"
Zelda nodded vigorously.
"I would never lie to you about this. T-that's why…I was curious why you were so convinced Mipha would reject you…for being attracted to her…for being attracted to women. T-then I realized…maybe you just didn't know."
"You mean…she wouldn't think it's strange?"
"I r-really doubt it. I'm…not sure if she has the same romantic feelings for you as you do for her…but even if I didn't know her well enough by now to say she would never hurt you the way you're worried about…I would still be confident enough in how close you are with her to know that would never happen. A-and even more so because of what I know about the Zora people. I don't think she would ever hate you for being in love with her. Mipha isn't Jana. I'm sure she'll always care about you, no matter what."
Aryll gazed at her with wide eyes, her voice having failed her. She blinked several times, taking in everything Zelda had said.
"Then…you mean it's even possible…that Micchan could feel the same way as me?"
Zelda gave her a soft smile and nodded.
"I…think it could happen, yes. S-she hasn't ever told me anything…but there's still a very real chance she could feel the same way…at least that's the way I see it."
Aryll let out a small laugh.
"Heh…after all this time letting myself think such awful things about her…"
"I d-don't think she would ever be upset about that after what you went through. You were…hurt so badly by someone you trusted and cared about. If anything, I'm sure…she'd just want to be there for you."
"Thank you, Zel-chan."
"Of…of course."
"You've given me a lot to think about tonight. I really owe you."
Zelda just shook her head.
"You d-don't owe me anything. I just…want you to be happy. And I'll be here to keep supporting you…if you want me to be."
"Of course I do! You know…I'm starting to realize just how long I've tormented myself over this. I wish I'd known sooner…that maybe she wouldn't think I'm strange for feeling the way I do about her. Now I'm…starting to wonder…if she would accept me…accept my feelings for her…"
Zelda gave her the most encouraging smile she could.
"I…may not know the answers, but I'll be here for you if you decide to find out."
"I…think I might want to…as long as it doesn't ruin our friendship. But in the end…there's really only one way to find out, isn't there?"
"W-what's that?"
Aryll's usual grin returned to her face…though it was a little more subdued than normal.
"I'll just have to finally tell her the truth, confess my feelings to her after five long years. Well…I say that like it's easy. But I've been so scared for so long to even admit what I feel for Micchan to someone else that it might take…a long time for me to be prepared to tell her."
Zelda smiled at her and took her hand again.
"I'll…do everything I can to support you but…I don't think you have to rush yourself. It's scary to put your heart out there like that. I…know how it feels, too. The night of the attack on Hateno, I confessed that I…l-l-love Link after I saved his life…just before you and Glenne arrived."
"You did what!?"
Aryll's eyes were wide as saucers now and her mouth had fallen open. Zelda blushed fiercely.
"Um…I…i-it's true…"
"See, this is the stuff I live for! How come neither of you told me!? Augh! I'm so happy for you, Zel-chan!"
"T-thank you…um…I'm sorry I never brought it up, especially after you trusted me with something so important today. I'm…happy to talk about it with you right now if you like."
Aryll gave her a warm grin. It was the first time since Mipha had left earlier that afternoon that she really looked like herself again.
"I'd love to hear about it! And you know what? Let's make a deal, too – if you tell me about your confession to Link…I'll work up the courage to confess my feelings to Micchan. But I can't promise it'll happen right after she gets back or anything like that…"
Zelda shook her head and smiled.
"I don't mind telling you w-without any strings attached. Besides…you shouldn't feel forced to confess your feelings. You should do it when you're ready."
"You're so sweet. But at this point, I think I may never do it if I don't force myself to…no matter how scary it may be. So this is a good opportunity to do that, don't you think? And you're not the one attaching strings – I am! So don't feel bad about it, okay?"
"Well…if that's what you really want."
"It is! And it helps that I have such a supportive person in my corner now!"
"I'm v-very happy to support you however I can."
"Thanks! Now! You have to tell me about this confession of yours! Did you say it first!?"
"Um…I…t-technically yes…"
Aryll squealed louder than Zelda had ever heard.
"Ahh! Look at you! I'm so proud of you! …wait. That idiot said it back, right?"
Zelda giggled lightly.
"L-Link…said it back, yes. I'll tell you the whole story. T-then should we head home after that?"
Night had fully enveloped them now, the bright glow of the moon dancing off the ocean's gentle waves. The world seemed so peaceful and serene despite their lively conversation. Aryll gave Zelda a dazzling smile and nodded.
"That sounds perfect to me. And…Zel-chan?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you. Seriously. You're one of the best people I've ever met in my entire life – I mean that."
Zelda blushed badly but maintained eye contact.
"I'll…always be here to support you, Ari. That's…what sisters are for, right?"
Aryll looked like she might tear up at long last before she pulled Zelda into a tight hug.
"You are just the best. I love you. But! Enough about me – you have to tell me about how Link loves you too!"
As she began her tale, Zelda found that the idea of sharing such a story with Aryll wasn't that intimidating compared to how much it would have been the first day they'd met. In fact, she was quite looking forward to it. And after everything Aryll had trusted her with, sharing her own emotions felt a little easier than it once had. It might even be a little fun.
…but despite the fact that it was, she quickly realized it was still plenty embarrassing too.
"She told you about that, huh?" Link murmured, his voice a bit amazed.
"S-she did. It was a little surprising to learn, to be honest."
Zelda and Link were sitting on the front porch while their host was in the bath. Zelda had returned arm in arm with a much happier Aryll after their conversation earlier. Link had noted that they really were starting to look like sisters, something that made Zelda blush and Aryll light up. She had all but pushed Zelda into the bath after that, insisting that she go first and enjoy herself.
Now, however, Zelda found herself alone with Link, the two of them gazing up at the stars over the ocean. On the way back, Aryll had told her she didn't mind if Zelda told him what she'd learned about her. Given that Link was one of now three people who knew of Aryll's attraction to women, knowing that Zelda was in the loop meant he didn't have to be as careful about things where she was concerned.
Aryll did ask that Zelda keep her specific feelings for Mipha a secret, though, even from her brother. She wasn't ready to tell him just yet.
So, Zelda had sat down with Link and told her about her chat with his sister…sort of. She felt a little awkward withholding the full truth from Link, but she wanted to respect Aryll's wishes. Link would have been entirely understanding as well, something that helped ease her guilt some.
"I can imagine how something like that might come as a bit of a shock," Link offered, placing his hand atop hers.
Zelda smiled at the now-familiar feeling and rotated her wrist, allowing their fingers to slip between each other's. This style of handholding had rapidly become her very favorite.
"I wasn't shocked in a bad way, though."
"Oh, I know that. I never thought you would be. You're one of the kindest, most supportive people either of us have ever met. There's a reason Ari felt like she could trust you with that after just two months."
Zelda felt her cheeks heat up at Link's direct compliment…but a giddy smile stole her lips as well.
"T-thank you. I want to keep being there for her, too. She…must've felt so lonely for such a long time…"
"I can't say I have any idea how to relate to what she feels, honestly. I don't think I can even begin to imagine," Link murmured. "She's my sister and I always want her to be happy…but aside from supporting her, there's not much more I can do. I feel guilty for that sometimes."
"I…don't think you should. J-just the fact that you and your father are there for her means the world to Ari."
Link gave her a warm smile and held her hand just a little tighter.
"You're part of her support system now, too. Just imagine how good it must feel to have the person you want to be your sister have your back with something you're scared for others to find out."
"I…I'm just glad she's comfortable enough with me to trust me."
"I'm not surprised in the slightest."
"Did she…tell you about what happened to her in school after the Calamity?"
Link's face darkened.
"With her old friend? Yeah, I know that story. I was fully prepared to track that girl down and give her a loud piece of my mind when I found out…but Ari asked me not to. Actually, she grabbed my arm and physically tried to drag me away from our front door as I was about to storm out of it."
"I…know exactly how you felt. When she told me earlier, my heart was pounding so loudly…I could barely hear myself think. I said some mean things about that Jana girl after I heard what happened."
Link squeezed her hand and smiled once more.
"I'm sure Ari appreciated hearing them, especially from you. You're always so sweet to everyone that I'd bet it was a lot more impactful to hear you say something bad about her than for me to do it."
"I…hope so. There's a lot more wrong with Hyrule than I ever realized, even without the Witch Queen or the Calamity…"
"I know what you mean. But as long as Ari has us, she'll never be alone again, no matter what the people of Hyrule may think."
Zelda felt a tiny smile tug at her lips.
"R-right! And I'll keep supporting Ari from now on!"
Link chuckled lightly, scooting just a bit closer to her.
"I noticed it earlier, but you call her by her nickname now too, huh?"
Zelda blushed again but nodded.
"Ah, I, um, used it earlier when we were talking. B-but on our walk home after that, I tried to go back to normal and she wouldn't let me."
Link just laughed and leaned a little closer to her, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"Oh, that's exactly what she does. I came up with that nickname when we were younger so she's less intense about it with me. But after the first time Mipha used it, that was it – she was never allowed to call her 'Aryll' again. I think she sees it as a sign of closeness. So congratulations, she'll be 'Ari' for the rest of your life."
Zelda laughed lightly in turn, her own smile growing.
"E-even if it takes some adjusting, I'm very happy to be getting so much closer with her."
"I'm glad for both of you. But you know…Ari isn't the only person getting closer with someone…"
Link hesitated as he said that, but the next moment he let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her against his side. Zelda felt her heart leap…but also panicked some.
"L-L-Link?"
His own face was red as he turned and met her gaze. He was much closer than normal…
"I'm sorry…was it too soon for that? I don't want to make you uncomfortable…"
Zelda shook her head quickly, timidly nestling against his side.
"N…no. I was just…a little surprised for a moment…that's all."
"We can…stop for now."
Zelda shook her head again and huddled into him, this time unable to form words in response. Link, thankfully, spoke again, sparing her the awkward silence.
"I've just been thinking…we haven't had much time to ourselves since the attack. And we haven't even been able to steal so much as five minutes alone with Ari around every day. But after hearing the way you supported her earlier…it just reminded me of how natural it was to fall in love with you."
Though her face burned, Zelda found it a bit easier to take in those words than the first time he had said them to her. Maybe it was because he wasn't saying them so directly this-
"I do…love you, Zelda. I'm sorry I haven't said it again since that night. I guess I was just…afraid I might've overwhelmed you."
How she managed to form words, she wasn't sure.
"I…am a little overwhelmed, to be honest. But not in a bad way at all. I…think it's because I…l-love…you too. Um…I, uh…um…"
"It's okay," Link offered, pulling her tighter against his side. "We can keep trying out the words until they feel more natural to us. How does that sound?"
Zelda's words failed her a second time so she simply nodded.
"I couldn't be happier, Zelda. Honestly."
She nestled against him a little tighter, finding that the intense fluttering in her chest calmed somewhat when she was this close to him. It was almost enough to make her feel calm again…but then she was reminded of his arm around her shoulder and her heart started racing anew.
"I…never thought I could be this happy. Thank you…Link."
"Always. Just like Ari knows you'll always be there for her, I want you to know that I'll always be here for you."
"I…know. I'll never doubt that. A-and…I'm here for you too."
"I'm the luckiest man in the world that you are."
The night was quiet and calm the second time Zelda heard the words 'I love you' from Link; it was quiet the departure from the first time he'd said them. The gentle coastal breeze ruffled her short hair and the scent of salt in the air mixed with the familiar warmth of her fiancé. Even now, she found herself easily overwhelmed by the strength of these new emotions she was feeling…but it was never scary with him. She had known for a while that she could trust Link with just about anything.
But only recently had she come to realize that included her heart, too.
11/24/2023
Post-Chapter Note: Welcome back everyone and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
I have a bit to talk about with regards to the latter half of the chapter, but I'd like to start by saying writing the Witch Queen is so much fun! Obviously the focus is still on Zelda and her personal relationships with her found family, but showing you all glimpses into what's happening behind the scenes for other characters is a blast. I hope you're having fun watching her schemes start to unfold - there's still plenty to come on that front.
Now, I'd like to take some time to talk about the big star of this chapter - Aryll. Obviously, we learned about her true feelings for Mipha this time around. I've had this planned since the first time I wrote she and Mipha together back during 'Confessions.' The teasing was supposed to be fun and lighthearted, of course, but I tried to sprinkle little hints at something deeper here and there too, like the fact that sometimes Mipha could make Aryll genuinely blush and become bashful by giving her a real compliment, or that Aryll had never once been on a second date even though she'd always been jealous that Link didn't want to go on dates at all growing up and she did. Some of you figured it out too and told me as much! And then I very pointedly didn't say anything about it because I didn't want to spoil the reveal LOL
I took a lot of time to really carefully craft that scene - actually, I've been working on it since the day before I posted the Book II finale. It was such an incredibly important moment to me and I wanted to get it exactly right, to a point that I've been editing basically right up until I posted for the first time in a little while. I also wanted to make sure nobody feel slighted or offended by anything I wrote concerning a gay character since I'm fairly unfamiliar using specific terminology or phrasings to describe them. I have plenty of friends in real life who are straight, gay, and more, but I still did a lot of research into the specific kinds of phrasing that should be used and which should be avoided just in case I wasn't aware of something. I actually learned a fair amount as a result too, some specifics about things I was already aware of and some things that were entirely new information for me. All this is to say, I sincerely hope I haven't misspoken or offended anyone. I certainly don't *think* there's anything like this within the chapter, but if you find something that comes across as disrespectful or ignorant, please let me know and I'll be more than happy to fix it right away. And should something like that exist, please know that it was absolutely not done with malicious intent.
Now, as far as Aryll herself goes, you might notice I very deliberately didn't use the words "gay" or "lesbian" to describe her during the chapter itself. That is simply for the fact that honestly the words feel too "modern" to belong in a Medieval-esque fantasy world. Based on what I looked up, the word "gay" didn't come to refer to someone attracted to members of the same sex until the 1960s, and the word "lesbian" wasn't used as a noun until approximately 1925. Given that, it felt more appropriate in this universe to simply use phrases like "attracted to other women" or "someone in a same-sex relationship," etc. I just want to make it clear that this wasn't done out of some strange aversion to the words but rather out of a desire to make my characters speak with the same dialogue continuity as I've always strived to maintain.
With all that being said, I'm really happy to finally give Aryll her time to shine and present a new aspect of her character to you all! I wrote in one comment that Aryll was going to have a much greater spotlight in Book III and now you can all see why that's the case! I'm very excited to keep writing her and shining that spotlight on her going forward and I hope you all are just as interested to see her arc play out over the next many chapters. I can't exactly tell you exactly why but she's such an important character to me, not just from a writing perspective but from an emotional one. Maybe it's just the fact that I've never attempted something like this before but honestly I'm sure there are a ton of reasons. Whatever they all are, she's very precious to me, just like Zelda herself is.
Finally! From a writing perspective, just like when I write bad things happening to Zelda, I was very sad to write the things Jana said about Aryll but it's so important because it informs so much of how she acts with Mipha and why. And for the first time, she has someone outside of her immediate family who loudly disagrees with those awful opinions. Speaking of, I think I actually managed to find the right balance this time between focusing on a character who isn't Zelda or Link but also still managing to have it help Zelda develop. Obviously, the biggest focus is on Aryll and her struggles, but I also found it to be a nice way to show Zelda supporting her, something she would have been utterly incapable of at the beginning of the story. Writing Zelda in that role makes me really proud of her for how far she's come.
Okay, that's more than enough out of me. So until next time, thank you all so much for reading! Take care everyone and I'll see you again next week for more!