daydreamer
i. Zelda is a terrible cook. She would love to cook Link a nice, homemade meal, but the last time she stood in front of a fire pot, she almost set the entire South Akkala Stable on fire. And the trees in the surrounding area. Since then, she's resigned herself to only making sandwiches and salads.
Despite this, she adores Link's meals. In the short time since he woke up memoryless to when he saved Hyrule, he managed to perfect his cooking in ways that she isn't even sure are possible. He can throw in the most random ingredients, but somehow she's impressed every single time.
No meal has gotten a score of less than ten, and all of hers have barely crossed above zero, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
ii. Zelda is an early riser. She wakes with the sun, greets the birds, and gets a lot of her tasks done before the children of Hateno have even began their lessons for the day.
Meanwhile, Link is lucky if he can get his sorry butt out of bed before lunchtime nowadays. After all the trouble he went through to save Hyrule he should be allowed to sleep in every once in a while.
The princess makes sure she is there, at his side, every afternoon, so he doesn't have to relive waking up alone, like he had in the Shrine of Resurrection.
iii. It's basically a quick and natural decision when it comes to Zelda moving into Link's house in Hateno.
For a while, she was bouncing around the stables and inns, but then she decided to open the school in Hateno Village. At first, she stayed at the local hotel while Link stayed at his house. After a few weeks of this arrangement, Zelda slowly began to bring some of her clothes, her findings, her research.
Link silently bought a second set of dishwares, setting them on the table across from his.
Eventually, Zelda stops staying in the inn and comes home to their house every evening.
iv. Link still goes out and patrols certain regions of Hyrule. Very rarely does Zelda stay behind. She'll climb onto the back of Link's horse, wrap her arms around his waist, and talk into his ear about where they are, who this mountain is named after, where that river leads to.
The Hero sometimes has to shoot a glare at one of the other guards when their disgusting whispers get too loud. Zelda doesn't seem to notice, but just in case, he would much rather nip it in the bud before her temper could flare.
v. There is one specific goal the two of them have.
To go and pay their respects to their fallen comrades.
The four pilots have long been laid to rest, and Zelda has yet to even visit their graves. While Link has had their help during his journey, it is about time Zelda finally says her goodbyes and send their souls to the goddesses.
It is somber, but the two have each other.
vi. Zelda, as a princess, always had more than enough clothes to wear.
But seeing Link's accumulated wardrobe is a shock.
He's got clothes from every corner of Hyrule, for every possible weather, a vai outfit (which Zelda doesn't even have time to get into). He's got masks she's never seen before (except the Korok one, and it's so cute), multiple armor sets and boots made for snow and sand. She is so amazed at how truly massive his collection is.
And she's so glad they have similar builds, because that vai outfit looks so good on her.
vii. It is a silent agreement for them to start sharing a bed.
Link had graciously given his bed to her and taken their travel cot downstairs. He won't outwardly admit that it's uncomfortable (he won't outwardly admit most things), but Zelda had used it once, and that was enough times for her.
He lays in bed, ready for his dreams, every night before Zelda gets home from her daily tasks, and he can see how exhausted she is with trying to rebuild Hyrule. It's only been a few months, but progress is being made, even if the princess doesn't see it moving at the pace she wishes it would.
One night, she comes in, throws her research papers on the table, kicks her shoes off, and unceremoniously falls into the cot right next to Link. He's shocked, hands as far away from her body in respect, but she snuggles up into his chest, sighs, and melts into him.
The next evening, Link is in the bed upstairs and when she comes in, just as exhausted as the night before, he opens his arms and she crawls right into his embrace.
It's literally so simple between them.
viii. Link gifted her the beautiful white stallion he'd found roaming around in Central Hyrule. She was ecstatic, gently petting the horse's face while cooing at him.
Zelda hesitates when she spots the large, black stallion with a red main still in its stall. "Is…that a nice horse?" she asks.
Link nods. Zelda reaches a hand out and the horse huffs, leaning into her palm. "Calamity," Link says softly, "his name."
The princess snorts in laughter, "of course it is, you creative doof."
Link chuckles and flushes.
ix. One day there's a loud boom that comes from the direction of Purah's lab. It shakes the entirety of Hateno, causing the farm animals to panic and run into their respective stables.
Link and Zelda run to the research lab. It is still completely intact, no structural damage whatsoever, but there was cackling coming from inside. Opening the door, they are greeted with a teenager adjusting her glasses on her nose. "Oh, hey," she greets with a grin. "Finally figured it out!"
Zelda blinks and Link just stares, slack-jawed. "Purah!"
"Snap!" the researcher responds. "It feels so good to be back in this age!"
"How did…?"
The Sheikah bites her lip sheepishly and refuses to make eye contact.
x. The princess of Hyrule, by title alone, receives a massive amount of respect. It came before the Calamity, and will continue until the day of her death. She takes it all in stride, years of teachings drilled into her head by her father.
But Link's experience is far different. He was always content with being her appointed knight, her shadow, but after quelling the Calamity, people were beginning to bow their heads to him. And it was a change of pace, he wasn't expecting.
He's used to being looked over, to being just the 'knight', Zelda's little follower. Being called the Hero, the Savior…now that's just weird.
At least he has Zelda to help traverse this new change, because he would have floundered by now.
xi. Sidon always greets the two of them with wild arms.
He quickly bows to Zelda, and then runs off with Link's arm tight in his grasp. The princess giggles at the sight of the Hero being dragged away by his best friend. She is there to take a small break before the pair trek up to the top of Mount Lanayru to pray at the Spring of Wisdom. She glances at Muzu and holds up her knapsack. "His Zora armor is in here, if His Highness wants to go swimming, Link is going to need this to keep up."
Muzu huffs but takes the knapsack, hobbling his way to try and catch up with the Zora prince. Zelda then turns to the other Zoras. "Where are we staying?"
xii. Link has been teaching Zelda to shoot. She has been grasping it decently well, but is still struggling to hit a target in a weak spot to take it down. Or to just hit the target in general.
Thankfully, Link is a very patient teacher. When she misses, he just hands her another arrow and tells her to relax, because being tense is not going to help her succeed. He'll point out another animal that she can nab, whisper for her to take a deep breath, and just try again.
And when she finally hits a deer and takes it down, he hugs her as she simply just points at the felled creature.
They bring back the deer for gutting to Hateno Village. The entire trip back, she's yammering his ears off about how exciting it was to do it.
xiii. Yunobo falls on his face when he bows in greeting.
The other Gorons are quick to stand him back up, and he stumbles out an apology, while Link claps a hand on his arm with a smile. The young Goron greets Link with a nervous smile, asking quietly about Daruk's gift to the Hero.
Zelda just stares in awe at how close the resemblance is between this Goron and the one she knew one hundred years ago. At the same time, it's a completely different person, with how he's twiddling his thumbs, nervous even though he is soon to be chief.
Quietly, quickly, and with her head ducked down, she walks up to Yunobo and gives him a hug. His strong arms remind her of Daruk.
xiv. Children go to her to experience magic.
Zelda's light power is fascinating for everyone, but especially for children, who are always excited to see any type of magic. And she's always willing to give them a little bit of a show whenever she has the time.
Link catches these shows every once in a while, from a distance, and admires the strong, talented woman. He could watch her for hours, not just use her powers but do literally anything.
He's still curious as to how exactly she unlocked her power. She had prayed at every spring with no result, studied the previous sealed magic users, but couldn't figure it out. But when he's on his seeming deathbed, suddenly she has full control?
He just wants it to make sense.
xv. Link gives Zelda her diary one day.
When he was going through Hyrule Castle prior to facing the Calamity, he'd grabbed Zelda's diary from her study as well as the silent princesses that were strewn about the small room. He'd forgotten about it over the course of the last year.
Initially, she's surprised, and she gently takes the worn book into her hands. "Did you…read it?"
He shakes his head, and quietly adds, "no, it's yours."
Zelda smiles, her green eyes glistening with tears. "Thank you," she whispers, running her fingers over the cover. "It's crazy that this survived everything."
Link doesn't respond to that, and she rests her head on his chest. They remain like that for a short while.
xvi. Teba greets them in Rito Village, with his son Tulin at his side. Zelda gets over her shock over practically seeing Revali back alive (not without a quick hug, of course), and goes with him to go see Vah Medoh.
Link and Tulin remain at the landing platform, with the young Rito staring at Link's lynel bow in awe. "Where did you get that?" he asks.
"Lynel," Link replies, crouching down and taking it off his back. Tulin takes it, feeling its massive weight in his hands. He grins, assuming a shooting position, drawing the blank string back in glee. The blond smiles, remembering his own childhood when he first held a bow.
He doesn't give the boy any arrows, though. He knows better than that. It is tempting, though, especially when Tulin begins using his big eyes on him.
xvii. The Skeikah slate is picky. Picky with who uses it, at least. Zelda can use the camera, the teleporter, map and can open shrines, but only Link can use its other abilities. And only he, for some reason, can use the compendium?
She does notice that none of the pictures she took one hundred years ago have been deleted. Including the group picture Purah got of them.
It is hard to believe that the four champions are no longer a part of this world. It looks like they can jump out of the picture on the slate's screen.
Since she's found this picture, Link catches her staring longingly at old memories. And unless she seeks him out, he leaves her alone.
xviii. They kiss for the first time, honestly, completely naturally. Like most of their relationship.
Zelda had come back from a trip without Link to Lurelin Village. She was tired, sweaty, and so incredibly hungry, so the prospect of coming home to one of Link's famous meals is very appealing.
She asked him once if he would be interested in opening his own restaurant, and in response he added more spice berries to her food that night.
She walks through the front door, setting her satchel on the table against the wall, toeing her boots off. Link is standing by the stove, stirring what looks like stew. Zelda walks right up to him and he turns to greet her, and she just…kisses him.
They're both frozen momentarily, before she just does it again for a second longer. And then again, and again, until Link remembers about their dinner and plates it.
They keep this new part of their relationship private.
xix. Zelda insists that they continue to make pilgrimages to the springs so she could continue to pray and hone her powers, even though Link believes that she's honed them enough.
They agree to disagree.
This trip sees them deep in Faron, at the Spring of Courage. Link, ever a man of duty, stands guard while Zelda stands in front of the Goddess Statue with her hands clasped together. His Master Sword is in his hand, ready to be used, and he hears the princess behind him stretch. He looks over his shoulder to see Zelda glancing at him. "Come in," she says.
He sheathes the sword and gets in the water, warm and gentle around him, walking into Zelda's embrace. "It's so nice. Just the two of us."
It's calm until he mentions the Forgotten Temple and giant Goddess Statue inside of it, to which Zelda smacks his chest and practically jumps out of the spring, yelling at him to hurry.
xx. Zelda is a big fan of Riju. Of her attitude, her poise, her mannerisms, everything reminds Zelda of a smaller Urbosa. At least Riju isn't keen on scaring the princess with lightning.
She was initially worried that Link wouldn't be able to join her in Gerudo Town, but he surprised her once again by just donning the vai outfit and strutting in like he wasn't a voe in disguise.
(She would learn later that the Gerudo are aware of his little ruse. They just choose not to do anything about it because he did save them, after all.)
His ruse is so well known, that even Patricia is hyper-aware of who he really is and tries to eat his veil, much to Riju's amusement. The pair of young women just cover their mouths in laughter as Link begs for help, trying to hold onto his veil to conceal his identity.
xxi. Sometimes, Zelda asks if they can take a small trip to go down to Kakariko Village, just so she can sit with Impa and talk over a cup of tea.
Link feels a little for her, because it must be heart wrenching to see Zelda's Sheikah advisor at such an old age, while the princess remained physically a young adult. But the two get on as though nothing has changed, laughing over jokes and anecdotes that Link doesn't really understand.
When they hug, relishing in the final touches before the pair leave back to Hateno, it feels a little longer every time. As though Zelda is coming to terms that her closest confidant has only limited time left and she has to take all the hugs she could get now.
xxii. They love to stare at each other.
While Link is training with the dummy outside their house, or while Zelda is gently taking a silent princess out of one of her pupil's hands, the other is always watching. Zelda has brought up that the two are disgustingly sappy, but Link just shrugs and kisses her temple.
Zelda can also tell when Link is watching her for protection and when he is simply watching her to watch her. The admiring gaze is far less intense, and there's no disruption because Link doesn't have to scan his surroundings.
xxiii. One night, while they're laying in bed, caressed by candlelight, Zelda asks where her father was buried.
"On the Plateau," Link responds. "At its highest peak."
A heartbeat of silence follows, before, "I wish I could have unlocked my powers before that."
Link holds her close, knowing exactly how the grief feels of losing the people you have vowed to protect with your life. He may not remember everything from before his sleep in the Shrine of Resurrection, but he most certainly knows the feeling of knowing she was holding back the beast while he was helplessly watching from afar.
xxiv. Zelda approaches Link one afternoon, saying something about miasma spilling out from beneath the castle, and that she wants to explore it. Under the same breath she also asks if he could cut her hair and he feels like he's been whacked by a lynel.
So he promises to go investigate this miasma while sitting her down on a stool and goes to look for shears.
Link asks how much of a trim she wants.
"To my shoulders."
The Hero blinks. "What?"
"To my shoulders, please."
He doesn't ask again, instead just begins cutting. She knows herself best, and in the years he's been at her side, he's learned not to fight against her. He doesn't believe that Zelda would let her anger out at him, but the risk is still not worth it.
When he's finished, Zelda bends over a nearby water trough, running her fingers through the shortened locks. She smiles widely at her reflection, turning around. "Perfect, thank you!" And kisses him, smooshing his cheeks.
xxv. They go below the castle, optimistic.
Only Link emerges, above the clouds, arm gone, Zelda missing.
The cycle repeats, and the dream of peace is shattered.
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