cutegirlmayra
Prompt:
It had been a few years since the two had last seen or heard from each other. But Zelda had recently received a letter from Link, poorly written and not well addressed, it certainly showed his boyhood in his attempt at trying to formally invite her back to the Apple orchards.
"What could he want there..?" She questioned, getting herself ready with a bit of a flushed face.
She had wondered when they would see each other again… it had been so long since their last adventure.
Though the adventures were periled with dangers and puzzles to solve, she had always found that her trust in Link could pull her through regardless. She felt like that feeling was reciprocated in some way…
Making her way to the orchards, she fixed her hair and her blue dress. She was constantly rearranging how she wanted to present herself or at least, this time, formally introduce herself again and strike up a decent conversation. Link wasn't like her normal, royally treated guests from noble upbringings, but she still wanted to somewhat impress him. He had saved her life, what more could she do but at least give him a decent evening?
When coming to the gates of the orchards, she froze to see the strapping boy, fiddling with the long piece of his hat, green with a stripe of yellow at it's banded end that enveloped around his head.
His sideburns were growing wildly long, and she giggled at how misplaced they looked against his now downward, long-ended green cap draped over his face. He was leaning against a wooden post before straightening himself up and jumbling to an upright position.
Maybe… just maybe he was as nervous about all this as she was.
"Princess…" He seemed a bit spooked at first, before bowing a little awkwardly and happily smiling a goofy grin her direction. "It's been ages!"
She smiled sweetly, "It truly has been… Ah-! I received your letter!" she swiped it out, a bit embarrassed at her enthusiasm and speed in which the fluid gesture had happened.
With light blushes on both ends, they began to share a laugh with one another.
"We really shouldn't be making such fools of ourselves." She stated. "We may have been apart for quite some time, but…" she lowered her gaze.
"I don't mind." Link saluted with a wink, "I'm used to being the awkward one. It's nice to not be the only one!"
With that, Zelda's head immediately shot up and she puffed up her cheeks, "Ohh…" she was offended slightly, but not sure why. She spent so long thinking about how to reintroduce herself in a more… well, nevermind! Clearly, he didn't care what she looked like, only that they were both being silly and it made him feel more relaxed!
For some reason, one she couldn't quite put her finger on, she grew a little disappointed at that fact.
"Right… we should examine some of the apples and catch up." She walked right in, knowing that the man who owned the orchards always welcomed young men and women to his fields.
"U-uh… Princess?" A little confused, Link headed into the orchard.
"This sure does beat our first encounter though." Link recalled, "I can't help but seem to remember the smell…"
Again, she paused with a gasp. She turned around in greater bewilderment, opening her mouth.
She decided against speaking, seeing his eyes blink in bafflement at her odd expression.
"Oh!" she huffed slightly, walking on. 'Is that all he associates with me?! Rats and sewer escapes?!'
"Hey! What gives?" Link continued to trail behind her, before lifting a hand up and trying to act more formally as he tried to keep up with her fast pace behind her. "I thought you wanted to catch up…"
She stuck her nose high up. "You seem preoccupied with the past." She concluded.
He seemed a little hurt by that and stopped, "Aren't… you too?"
She stopped and sighed, her pride and anger finally dissipating somewhat. "Well… yes, but…" She turned back around, a more desperate plea in her eyes. "I was hoping this could be a bit more… well… different." She fiddled with her dress again, seeing wrinkles she had hoped wouldn't be on this nice dress.
"Regardless, I would not like to repeat our unfortunate meeting in that way… I would have liked to spend a day talking about something much… happier."
"…Does the past offend you?" He raised an eyebrow, "Because…" he stepped forward, being slightly more bolder than before.
He gazed into her eyes with a warmth she only remembered from absolutely trusting him from the moment she met him.
It melted all remaining feelings away except that memory of feeling safe when someone had rescued her from such a scary situation.
Though she was very calm then, she did worry and panic about her people… her kingdom… even her new friend.
"I may remember it differently than you do." His smile was gentle, but her interest peaked.
"What?"
"Well, I remember a beautiful damsel in distress, asking for my help." He rubbed behind his head, embarrassed a bit, but then continuing on. "You looked a bit spooked but… you made me want to take courage and help you out."
…Spooked?
"I suppose I was a little… worried." She corrected, lowering her head down and closing her eyes. "But I do remember trusting you without a shadow of doubt."
He chuckled a bit, and she opened her eyes, widening them out. Was he mocking her?
"It's only natural to be afraid in a situation like that! Come on, you don't have to play it off. I was a ray of light in that gloomy setting." He patted her back, and it was like he had clicked something on.
"Why you-!" she stomped her foot, "I was thinking of my people! I worried very little about my state, only that the rest of Hyrule wasn't plunged into darkness by a demon lord!" she swiftly turned around and walked on again.
"Woah!" he stepped back, hands up in submission for a second. "Well, … Excuuuuuse me, Princess." He held a slightly annoyed look but walked on after her. "I only meant that any woman would have-"
"I'm not like any woman. I'm my own woman. I'm even to be queen…" she didn't like using her title, but he was just… oh! So infuriating right now!
Seeing the situation wasn't getting any better, the two worried this day might not go as planned… until Link saw the biggest, reddest apple he had ever seen in his life.
"Princess!"
"Just… call me Zelda." She sighed, turning around. "We should at least start somewhere… huh?"
She was amazed at the powerful leap and twist his torso was able to do in the air.
He gripped the branch for a moment, just enough time to swipe the apple off with the tip of his blade, "Hyyahh!" he landed and quickly dived for the apple.
However, the powerful gust of wind and strain on the branch caused multiple leaves and other tree-like substances like pinecones or acorns to fall from some animals storage nests.
Squirrels became furious as Zelda's heart raced with fright, moving so quickly it was almost involuntary over to him. "Link!" she fell to her knees and turned him over.
Laying his head lightly against her shoulder, she brushed the natural debris of the tree off of him and swiped lightly her hand against his forehead.
His eyes were closed… but he seemed to be holding onto something.
"Oh dear… I shouldn't have acted so brash… but you shouldn't have been so rash!"
What she didn't know… was Link was listening and feeling the pulses of her heartbeat. Recognizing their quickened pace, and inwardly smiled at the possibility of her caring about him more than just simply his well-being.
"Link..?" she gently began to lower her hand to his cheek. "Link… do wake up…"
Hero…
My hero…
All of hyrule's hero…
Forgive me…
"F…For what?" Link softly blinked open his eyes, a kind smile coming on his face. "I'm the one that invited you… see?" he showed her the large apple in his bruised hand. "Now, we can eat." He grinned a beaming look of hope up to her.
He was overjoyed when she blushed and looked embarrassed again. She had lightly helped him up and off from leaning on her to being back on his feet, then they both split the apple with his sword.
"Do you miss it?" she asked, "Your old Sword?"
"A lot… actually." He smiled, taking a small bite. "The old man had it shoot beams of light! Who doesn't want to keep a sword like that?"
She wondered with a smile, "Couldn't… you get it back?"
"I could…" he looked away a moment, "If you or Hyrule would ever need my services again."
She looked away, "It would be nice…" she closed her eyes and held in an excited giggle. "If you could stick around for a while longer…"
He leaned towards her ear, knowing full well he didn't have to with the way hyrulians could hear so well. Apparently, even the whisper of Gods. "How about forever?"
In surprise, she quickly reopened her eyes and looked back to him, another gasp as her eyes softened and he laughed lightly with giddy glee.
The two never parted from the other's side since…