Zelda woke up with a start. She pushed herself up in the bed, allowing the blankets to fall from her shoulders. Rubbing her eyes, she looked out the window. While birds could be heard chirping in the distance, a light snowfall had begun to fall. Yawning, she made to do her usual drill of climbing over Link so as to not wake him up. She quickly noticed, however, that he was nowhere to be seen. Disheartened, she looked around before realizing that the bed was no longer the way she had left it the night before. She had left it messy as she knew Link preferred it. It soon dawned on her that at some point during the night, Link must've fixed it for her.
With a saddened sigh, Zelda pushed the covers off before placing her feet on the floor. She continued with her routine, doing her hair and putting on her clothes for the day. She chose her usual black pants and sweater, something she figured would be good enough instead of her entire royal winter gear. Afterward, she headed down the stairs to find a cup of warm tea and a pair of rice balls sitting at the table waiting for her.
"Oh, Link," Zelda said quietly as she sat down at the table.
He was still nowhere to be seen, even when she went outside after eating to see if he was in the yard. With a frown, she walked around to the stable house, where she could see both horses in their usual places.
"Well, he's still in the village at least," she told herself.
She paused at her comment before frowning. She opened the gate to her horse's stable and guided him out. After placing and preparing Storm's saddle, Zelda leaped up and gently tapped on the horse's neck and began trotting across the bridge and through the village. She waved at the shopkeepers who knew her and ignored the glances of the Amira and Nikki, who sat at their usual spot near the well.
"Hello there, Zelda!" a voice called out as she trotted deeper into town.
Surprised by the sudden call of her name, Zelda pulled on the reins and brought her horse to a stop. She looked around before realizing she was next to the inn, where a familiar man sat on the high-raised balcony, leaning over the snow-covered wooden railing with a cup in his hand.
"Teli!" she called back, looking up at the balcony. "Good morning. What are you still doing here? I figured you would have gone back to your scavenging travels."
"While business is important, one as myself needs to stay rested in order to keep my dashing looks," he answered with a laugh, waving his cup around as he hiccuped. "If you want my advice, it looks like you could go for some better rest yourself!"
"Much appreciated, Teli," Zelda said with a frown. "That's most certainly what I needed to hear. Are you drunk?"
"Only just a little!" he said with a grin. "Come on, lighten up! It's all in good fun. You must have never had a drink before."
"You'd be surprised…" Zelda muttered, but Teli wasn't paying attention.
"Prima!" he shouted. "Prima? Can I get another drink?"
Silence filled the air before the door to the inn swung open, revealing the innkeeper. She was a pretty young woman, with silky brown hair that went just past her collarbone and large, yet sharp, dark eyes. Her long blue and white dress billowed as she crossed the balcony before grabbing Teli by the ear.
"You're being extremely loud this early in the morning!" she said angrily.
While she gripped Teli's long ear tightly, to Zelda's surprise, he barely flinched.
"Says you," he groaned. "Look at you shouting in my ear. I just wanted another drink."
"Again, it's morning," Prima said sternly, releasing his ear. "I've got way too many things to worry about besides babysitting you. Goddess, you do this every time you stay here."
"Come on, Prima, you love it when I visit!" Teli chuckled. "It keeps Manny from hitting on you when I'm around."
"Wonderful. I go from one annoying flirt to another," Prima groaned, rolling her eyes. "How lucky can a girl get? Hm? Who's this?"
"H-Hello," Zelda called from below, still sitting on her horse. "I believe we've seen each other in passing… I'm Zelda. I moved in not too long ago with-"
"With Link!" Prima said with a smile, clapping her hands together. "You're the princess everyone has been talking about the last few days!"
"That's me…" Zelda said with an awkward smile.
"Hey, she doesn't like to go by that title of hers," Teli corrected.
"Teli, stop trying to come up with a way to flirt with the princess," Prima said angrily.
"Actually, he's right about that," said Zelda. "I'd rather be treated like any other villager."
"Is that so?" Prima asked with a raised eyebrow.
"See? She basically gave me permission to flirt," Teli said with a grin, only to be hit over the head by the innkeeper.
"That's not what she said," she said before turning her attention back to Zelda. "Well, it's nice to finally meet you. I'm so busy these days, I don't go out to greet people much."
"Does it get busy during the winter?" Zelda asked.
"It does," Prima nodded. "It's much harder to keep food and drinks ready during this cold, not to mention the cold also brings in more villagers for drinks and travelers to rest. For example, this one right here."
Prima pointed her thumb toward Teli.
"With it just being me, it can get a bit difficult at times."
"R-Really?" Zelda asked curiously. "W-Would you like some help? I- I'm sure that-"
"Not at all!" Prima said quickly, waving her hand out in front of her. "I've got everything under control."
"She doesn't," Teli said under his breath.
"I do," Prima reiterated, giving Teli a threatening glance. "At least I would if you stopped bothering me during my downtime. Regardless, I am fine. No need to worry about me."
"I-Is that so…" Zelda said disheartened. "Alright then. Well, I better be off. I was heading off to meet someone."
"You take care now!" Prima said, waving as Zelda and her horse began to trot away.
"You know you're overworking yourself, Prima," Teli said, resting his chin in his arms as he leaned against the guardrail. "Why not accept the help?"
"After my father got too old, I've run this inn for years on my own since I was a little girl," the innkeeper said, turning back to the inn's door. "I'm perfectly fine."
"You're so stubborn," Teli said, watching as she disappeared into the inn. "Whatever you say, I guess."
...
Zelda tugged at the reins, pulling her horse to a stop in front of the bizarre tech lab. She slid down from the saddle and approached the door. With a deep breath, she knocked against the crudely painted blue door. After a moment of clunking and rattling from the inside, the door opened to reveal the tall, older Sheikah assistant.
"Why, good morning, Miss Zelda," Symin said with a cheerful smile. "Good to see you as always. We were just-"
"Symin? Is he fiiiiiiiinally here with my delivery?" a much younger voice called from the lab's interior.
"No, Director. Miss Zelda has come to grace us with her presence!" Symin called back before turning his attention back to their guest. "Please, come in."
"Thank you," she said with a bow of her head, entering the establishment as Symin took a step aside. "Were you expecting someone else?"
"Yes, actually," Symin said, closing the door behind them before guiding her to the usual table in the center of the room. "While we don't usually get many visitors up here—with you being the exception these days— it's become a tradition for the director to receive a monthly order from the innkeeper of the Great Ton Pu Inn."
"From Prima?" Zelda confirmed. Symin nodded.
"That's her. I was sure you had to have met by now," he said as he pulled a chair back for Zelda to sit in.
"We just met actually," she said as she sat. "She says she's been very busy as of late. Of course, I offered my assistance, but again, I was declined."
"Ah, don't allow that one to get to you," Symin said with a chuckle. "She can be rather stubborn. As for her schedule, I'm afraid we have a part to play in that. You see-"
"You seeeeeeeeeee, with how much I have to work on, sometimes this old lady needs a mental shut down to process all the information in order to start anew the next day," the young voice from earlier came again.
Both Symin and Zelda turned to one of the desks in the corner to see Purah. She stood on the desk chair, pushing herself up on her toes in order to properly see the odd machine she was currently working on. Instead of her red glasses, she now had her goggles down, with the blue eye sockets now illuminated.
"A mental shut down?" Zelda repeated.
"Still hard of hearing, I see," Purah said without looking back. "Yes, a mental shutdown. It's a necessity among us researchers, especially the older we get. Even we can overload our brains every now and then and need a certain mixture to keep our heads cool."
"She means she wants to relax and get drunk every now and then," Symin simplified as he took an open book from the table and began to walk away.
"Get drunk? You?" Zelda asked, staring at Purah's tiny figure."But you're just a-"
She immediately stopped talking the moment Purah's large head snapped back. The blue technological eyes stared deep into Zelda's natural emerald ones. It felt as though they were piercing into her soul. She swallowed.
"N-Nevermind," she said nervously. Purah furrowed her brow.
"That's what I thought," the little girl said before turning back to the desk. "Look, if you came to study the Master Cycle Zero, then I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. I have other projects that need to be finished, along with a nice relaxing evening to look forward to once my delivery arrives."
"A-Actually, I came to ask for some advice," Zelda said.
"Regarding?"
"Link…" Zelda said with a frown. "I don't want to say we got into an argument—it was more of a disagreement, really—but I want to know what you would do in this situation."
"Zelda, I am a scientist and researcher in the field of ancient civilization and technology, not in the psychology of a hero chosen by the Goddess with a list of oddities that make me question even Hylia's judgment at times."
"The way you make it sound, one would think you hate him," Zelda said surprised.
"Don't get me wrong, I adore Linky," Purah said as she continued fiddling with her machine. "But even you have to admit that he can be a bit strange at times."
"Okay, I can't argue against that," Zelda said. "But still… He won't rest. He keeps stressing himself about what's potentially to come."
"You already know my thoughts. I told you before that as a researcher who has dedicated-" Purah began, however, Zelda took the fearful leap and cut her off.
"I'm not asking you as a researcher…" she said. "I'm… I'm asking you as a friend…"
Purah did not answer, and though she kept moving her fingers, Zelda could tell that her tinkering had noticeably slowed.
"He told me he's having nightmares," she continued. "I'm sure he can't sleep well; he woke up before even me today. How do I convince him to rest and not do anything?"
"Young people…" Purah muttered under her breath before speaking up. "I believe these questions are better suited for my younger sister… But…"
"But?" Zelda asked in anticipation. Purah sighed.
"Zelda, from what I can tell, you are trying to control eeeeeeeeeeverything he does. You are right, constant stress can lead to a decrease in cognitive thinking, but he has to find his own way of releasing that stress. He is not a child, nor is he your knight, or even your citizen anymore. The best you can do is convey what you believe to be right, and keep an eye on him so he doesn't do anything reckless."
"But he's always reckless," Zelda said. "I just wish he weren't for just a bit."
"Well then, you must not know who you're acting all lovey-dovey with," Purah said.
Zelda couldn't respond.
"Look, all I can tell you is to do your best to convey why you want him to rest and hope that convinces him," Purah finished after a moment of silence. "But you also have to accept that sometimes it takes more than just being told to do something for the other person to recognize its benefits. If he's smart… then he'll come around in due time. Maybe not as fast as you'd like, but it's ultimately up to him. Is that a good enough answer for you?"
"Y-Yes…" Zelda answered. She folded her arms on the table and rested her forehead between their folds.
"It's also important–" Purah continued, surprising Zelda, who had thought she'd finished. "-to recognize when maybe you're taking something too far yourself."
"Too far?" Zelda asked, lifting her head. "What do you mean?"
"That's for you to figure out, I don't have all the details or answers," Purah said almost agitatedly. "I'm just giving my personal advice that has only one source of information and it's incredibly one-sided. You're supposed to take that advice and find the answer for yourself. You're a researcher too, aren't you?"
"Yes…" Zelda answered, looking down at the table.
"Then you should understand full well why the rest is up to you. Is that all you wanted?" Purah asked.
"Y-Yes…"
"Woooooonderful," Purah said excitedly. "Then I have a task for you."
"A task?" Zelda asked, lifting her head again.
"Yes, a task. That's what I said," the little girl said. "I want you to go pick up my delivery from the Great Ton Pu Inn. Teli usually delivers it for us when Prima finishes preparing it, but, seeing how it's this late, I can only assume it's not Prima's fault, but Teli's depending on if he drank or not."
"I actually saw him earlier when I met Prima," Zelda admitted.
"Was he drunk?" Purah asked.
Zelda nodded.
"Not surprising," Purah said.
"But, why do you have Teli get your deliveries?" Zelda asked. "Usually you like to do things yourself…"
"Do you believe that in my current form I could go to the inn's front desk and request three large bottles of wine?" the researcher asked.
Zelda chose to stay silent.
"Right," Purah said after a moment. "Now if Teli is too drunk, then you'll be going in his stead. I'll assign this little quest to you as payment for my therapeutic services."
"A-Are you sure that's all you want, though?" Zelda asked. "That seems like a pretty trivial assignment…"
"Congratulations, you now understand Link's thoughts about 80% of the tasks he has logged in the Sheikah Slate," Purah said nonchalantly. "Now go on. I want that delivery here in a snap."
"Y-You want me to go now?" Zelda asked.
"Yes. I said in a snap," Purah said, once again becoming agitated. "The delivery is already late! Go!"
"O-Okay!" Zelda said, jumping at Purah's sharp tone.
She hurriedly stood from her seat before dashing out the doors. Purah lightly shook her head as she continued to work. Symin, who had been reading in the corner the entire time, finally lifted his head from his book.
"You're oddly… sour… with her, Director," he said. "May I ask why?"
"She's a princess who is used to having many daily tasks taken care of for her," Purah said calmly. "Even when she was out praying, she usually had Impa or even worse, Link, who, dare I say, can be a gentleman when he wants to be. She wants to get a job here in a commoners town a hundred years after the monarchy has fallen and people barely know how royalty used to be treated… We might as well prep her for what's to come if she does get hired somewhere."
...
Zelda stopped yet again at the Great Ton Pu inn. This time, however, she came to a halt just in front of the steps that led to the front door. She practically leaped from the saddle and hurried up before quickly pushing the doors open.
"Hello? Prima?" Zelda called out as she hastened to the front desk. She looked around and over the desk, but Prima was nowhere to be seen.
"Prima?" she called out again to no avail.
She pulled away from the desk and began to inspect the inn. It was a larger building, one even bigger than the mayor's house. The walls were full of bookcases and shelving, especially behind the large desk she had just been leaning over. The wall opposite to her had two door openings with one being much larger than the other. The large one was what Zelda could only guess was the dining area from the glimpse of tables she could see, while the other was a small room with two beds, possibly for the owners. On the wall opposite to the one with the large front doors was a large staircase that led to where Zelda assumed all the guests slept.
Oh, what do I do now? Zelda wondered thoughtfully, worried that she was taking too long.
She turned back and looked at the counter. After inspecting the contents that sat upon it, she noticed there was a little bell that sat near the corner. Hesitantly, she gave the bell a tap, which gave a ring that echoed through the building.
"Coming!" a voice called from upstairs.
She heard a rumble similar to the one at the tech lab before Symin had opened the door before the young lady she had met earlier that day had appeared rushing down the staircase. Now that she was a lot closer, Zelda could make out just how bright her brown eyes actually were, along with how well they complimented the bright blue upper eye shadow she wore. The innkeeper rushed across the hardwood floors and scurried behind the counter, where she took a deep breath and put on a smile.
"Welcome to the Great Ton Pu Inn where- Oh?"
She stopped and raised an eyebrow as soon as she recognized who she was talking to.
"Zelda? What are you doing here? I didn't think we'd meet again so soon… or even today for that matter."
"Hello, Prima," Zelda said with a slight bow. "I'm sorry to bother you."
"Well, usually I'd say it's fine if you're getting a bed, but you're living with Link aren't you?" Prima asked with a perplexed stare. "If you just came to make a friend, I'm sorry but I'm much too busy to chat. I've still got dishes to clean, floors to mop, and to make matters worse, the delivery I had for old-lady Purah has been delayed thanks to that bastard Teli, who has frankly fallen asleep."
Prima gave a vexed glance over at the staircase before blowing air through her nostrils.
"A-Actually, it's that delivery I've come here about," Zelda clarified."I'm actually friends with Purah and she sent me down to pick up her… necessities."
Prima furrowed her brow.
"You know Purah? Like… personally?" she asked.
"I-I do," Zelda answered, confused by the sudden inquiry. "She used to do research at the castle one hundred years ago. Why do you ask?"
"Because no one has seen her in months!" Prima said worriedly. "We only ever see her assistant or some little girl going in and out at times. She used to stop by to get her own wine, but eventually, she just started putting in orders. Even when I took them up myself I only ever got Symin to answer. Is she alright?"
"I can assure you, she's doing perfectly fine," Zelda said as she relaxed. "She had a little… experiment go wrong, so she doesn't like being in the public eye these days."
"I see… Well, that's a relief," Prima said with a sigh. "Still, sending a princess to do the dirty work? Someone as important— and dare I say beautiful— as you shouldn't be working."
"I could say the same about you," Zelda responded with a smile. Prima giggled.
"Why, that means a lot coming from a princess," Prima replied cheerfully.
"Besides, I said before I'd actually like to work," Zelda continued. "I want to be a part of the community, not be put on a pedestal and oversee. Link and I also need… money."
"Why doesn't he get a job?" Prima questioned, folding her arms. "Seems like he should be the one working out of the two of you."
"Personal reason," Zelda said simply. "I assure you, once I get a job I can hold my own… At least, I hope so. Better learn now than never."
Prima stared into Zelda's eyes for a moment before raising an eyebrow.
"You're completely serious, aren't you?" she muttered.
"What?" Zelda asked, slightly furrowing her brow.
"I said, if that's what you want," Prima said, shrugging, covering up her earlier comment.
"It is… If only everyone else in the village could see that," Zelda confirmed with a dejected smile. "It's hard for people to see you as you instead of a title you don't want."
"Really…?" Prima said thoughtfully. "Hm. Well, you stay right there. Knowing Purah, she's probably seething waiting this long for her delivery."
"O-Oh! Y-Yes she probably is!" Zelda said as her eyes widened with realization. "Thank you."
With a nod, Prima moved from behind the counter and headed toward the dining area.
She had the eyes of a hard worker, that one does, she thought as she searched for the box full of wine bottles for Purah she had set aside. To think a princess could be so determined about regular work…
After locating the box, she hurried back over and placed it on the counter for Zelda to inspect before taking it.
"Be careful," Prima instructed as Zelda noticeably struggled to heave the box off the desk. "I saw that you were on a horse earlier. Make sure you ride steady so the glass doesn't break. It'll be on you if they do."
"O-Okay!" Zelda said with a nervous, yet determined look.
As carefully and hastily as she could, she headed towards the doors and used her shoulder to push them open. Prima watched as the doors closed behind Zelda before folding her arms once again. She took a look around at the inn, mentally going down the list of chores she knew she had to complete.
Maybe I could use some help around here…
