POV Zelda

"Zelda, my love, all will be well in the end. You can do anything."

I close my old journal after reading that entry. Coming back here was a terrible idea. I thought I was ready to face all this destruction, but beyond that, I had a morbid curiosity about how things were now.

For the past century, the castle had been infested with Guardians corrupted by the Calamity. Additionally, Ganon's monsters occupied every corner of it. Now, with all that eradicated, only the ruins of the place that was once my home remain.

Returning to the castle was Purah's idea, born out of a basic need: I had only my old, tattered white tunic to wear. After I was ambushed by the Yiga warrior and suffered the shoulder injury, it was simply destroyed from all the bleeding.

That day, Link lent me a change of clothes he carried in his bags. I put them on after a reasonable attempt to clean myself in the lake near the Dueling Peaks inn. However, his clothes were much too large for me. When we returned to Hateno the next day, Purah offered me some of her clothes from when she was at an adult size. "I won't be able to wear them until I figure out how to fix this anti-aging rune anyway!" she said. But she was also larger than me, and her clothes were uncomfortably tight.

"Link, you were at the castle recently," Purah began. "I know many of the rooms are in ruins, but did you happen to notice if Zelda's old room was destroyed?"

The idea of Link inside my room made me uneasy, but I did my best to pretend it didn't affect me.

"There are some ruins in it, yes. Some broken walls, rubble. But a lot survived... The bookshelves are still standing; maybe I can find some clothes for the Princess."

I was irritated by the suggestion that he would go to the castle alone and by the way they were talking as if I weren't in the room.

"Great," I interrupted, acidly. "When can we go?"

Link looked uncomfortable.

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to go too, Your Highness."

Oh, how I hate it every time he addresses me with those titles that mean nothing in this ruined land.

"We haven't returned to the castle since Ganon was exterminated, and we don't know if it's safe..."

"I don't care. It's my room, they're my things. I'd like to maintain the minimum amount of privacy, if possible."

He didn't seem pleased with the idea, but he saw that I wouldn't back down.

"We can leave now if you're ready. The trip is longer than to Kakariko, so we can stop at an inn near the castle. If we head there at dawn, we'll be back in Hateno by nightfall tomorrow."

That happened yesterday. We arrived at the castle without major issues, and as soon as we crossed the gates into Castle Town, I realized I wasn't as prepared as I thought.

Yes, I spent the last century inside the castle. But I was in a trance, trapped in a cocoon containing Ganon. During that period, my awareness of the outside world was extremely limited, and the little energy I had left I used to try to wake Link from the resurrection chamber. My sense of time simply didn't exist during those years. It feels like I was trapped in that cocoon for eons and, at the same time, only for 15 minutes.

So, returning to what was once my home and finding it in this state broke my heart into thousands of tiny fragments.

After passing through the castle gates, we followed the stairs leading to the external exit of my old room. Link explained that it was the safest and easiest way to access it, given the castle's condition. He also told me that while it was easy to access my room, my study was practically inaccessible. The only way to enter it was by climbing the tower from the outside and pulling oneself up through the windows.

Upon reaching the room's entrance, Link stood guard outside and gave me as much privacy as possible—considering the doors and walls were completely damaged—so I could gather what I wanted. As soon as I entered and looked to the right, I saw that my diary was exactly where I had left it on the day the Calamity struck—my 17th birthday.

Did he read my journal?

A mix of shame and humiliation washed over me, making me shrink slightly, as I remembered that I mentioned him in those entries... many times. I decided to quickly read through what was written to check if there was anything too embarrassing.

Reading what I had written so many years ago, I was flooded with intense nostalgia. Even though everything was so uncertain and filled with anxiety and anticipation in those days, my records still sounded so... light.

Well, most of them, at least.

The ones referring to Link, to be more precise.

Those first pages described the period when he was appointed my bodyguard; the episode where he saved me from the Yiga—the first time; the days when I was rude and then regretted it. I fondly remembered all the days we spent wandering the fields of Hyrule—me pretending to read a book while, in reality, watching him practice his combat skills.

But then I came across an entry that tore me apart and paralyzed me.

"Zelda, my love, all will be well in the end. You can do anything."

My mother, who died when I was 6 years old, used to tell me that. And I clung to that mantra, trying to convince myself that I would awaken my powers in time and save the kingdom.

Oh, how wrong we were.

I close the journal and push it away. Coming back here was a terrible idea.

I try to stand to flee this place, so full of memories, so encrusted with unfulfilled hopes, but the walls seem to close in on me and suffocate me. My breathing accelerates more and more, and I lose track of where I am or what is happening. Black spots begin to dance before my eyes, and I fall to the ground because everything is too much—the memories, the expectations, the dreams, the nightmare that became reality.

It's only when Link rushes into the room and lifts me, so I sit on the floor, that I realize I was crying out in a high-pitched wail of pain, like a tortured soul. His touch causes me even more hurt. But it doesn't matter because I can't be alone now. He is kneeling, and I throw myself into his arms, pouring all my grief into him.

Eventually, my tears dry, and my breathing calms. He doesn't say anything the entire time. He just lets me let it all out, without rushing me.

"Thank you," I say when I finally manage to compose myself. "Sorry about that."

"Don't apologize. I understand," he says, and I know he refers to more than just my breakdown. "Do you want to go back to Hateno? We can return here another day."

I consider the suggestion. However, I don't want to come back to this damned place again. Not so soon. So, I refuse.

"No. I'll grab what I need quickly, and we can leave afterward."

A few minutes later, we are once again on our way to Hateno. The bags are full of my clothes that survived. They're all dirty and dusty but wearable. And on top of everything, my diary. I thought about leaving it behind... but at the last second, I decided to bring it. It represents a part of me that was dreamy, curious, and full of hope—despite not being able to see it at the time. Leaving it behind would be like letting that version of me die, and I believe I still have much to learn from her.

A few hours have passed since we left the castle, and we're just a few minutes away from Hateno. We're each on a horse, trotting side by side. The Zelda in the journal wasn't afraid to communicate with Link, so, following her example, I muster the courage to start a conversation.

"I'm sorry about that day in Kakariko," I begin, embarrassed. "I felt... I felt jealous of you with Paya."

Surprise stamps his face upon hearing my abrupt statement. He looks confused for a few seconds.

"Jealous...? I was just keeping watch to make sure no Yiga would invade the house again that day."

"Yes, yes... But she said that... well, that you talked all night. And you never talked much with me, so... yeah, I felt jealous of your connection."

Link chuckles softly.

"I don't know if I'd call that a conversation," he says, and, seeing my frown, quickly adds, "It was basically a monologue. Paya is quiet at first, but when she starts talking... well, she has many stories. I was mostly just listening."

I remember the episode in Kakariko and find myself agreeing. Yes, she really did talk a lot that day, once her initial shyness passed. A weight lifts from my shoulders as I understand what really happened.

We remain silent for a few more minutes. We pass under the archway to Hateno and head towards the cottage.

"Link?" I say as we cross the bridge.

"Yes?"

I take a deep breath, summoning the courage to touch on a more sensitive topic.

"Once, you told me you were quiet and reserved because of your responsibilities that... suffocated you."

It wasn't exactly that, but I think I summarized it well. His shoulders tense, and he nods slightly. Our horses stop as we arrive at the house.

"Now that Ganon has been destroyed... well, you no longer have responsibilities to the kingdom. I wonder... I wonder why you don't talk even to me," I question, feeling I'm becoming bitter but unable to stop.

Link doesn't respond immediately, but I see he's formulating an answer. We dismount from the horses, and he leaves them by the side of the house. I sit at the base of the tree next to the chalet, showing that I won't let the matter drop. I need answers.

He returns and sits in front of me in silence.

"I don't know," he says simply.

I don't know what answer I expected, but it certainly wasn't that.

"I'm very confused... Zelda."

My heart leaps at hearing him say my name, and I hate myself for it.

"Confused about what?"

"About everything," he says, closing his eyes. "Never in my entire life have I decided anything. My path was mapped out and defined by others, and no one ever asked for my opinion. And now, suddenly, the next step seems to be my choice. I simply don't know what I should do now."

I frown, intrigued. For me, the next steps are clear—rebuilding the kingdom, restoring the government, destroying all those damn Guardians to prevent them from turning against us again. Doesn't he see himself doing that too?

"But what about... the kingdom's reconstruction?"

He opens his eyes and looks at me, seeming embarrassed.

"I don't know if... I want that," he admits. "Of course, I hope the kingdom is rebuilt. And I'm sure you will do it without any difficulty if that's what you want. But... I don't know if I want to be part of that now. Actually, I don't know anything... I don't even know who I am, besides 'The Chosen One,'" he says, making air quotes with his fingers in an ironic gesture.

I can't understand what he means by this or where he intends to go with these ideas. However, he's speaking much more than he ever did before, and I don't want to lose this opening. I can't lose this opening.

"Alright... so you plan to seek another profession here in Hyrule? We'll probably need people to help rebuild houses and villages," I try to joke.

He gives a sad smile.

"Zelda... I've been to every corner of Hyrule. I've seen everything it has to offer. I don't think I'll find what I need here," he says, looking away.

Link runs his hands through his hair, as he often does to calm down. Then, in an atypical gesture for him, he starts picking at his nails, seeming to try to distract himself.

"I don't... understand. Are you thinking of leaving?"

He doesn't answer for a few moments.

"Maybe."

I feel as if the ground opens up and swallows me. In fact, I wish that would actually happen. Despite everything, Link is the closest thing I have to a friend. And I hoped that, eventually, he might become something more. Impa and I were very close before the Calamity. But now we have over 100 years of difference, and she has already lived a whole life. Purah too. Paya is close to my age, but we come from completely different worlds and generations.

If Link leaves, I'll be alone.

"How long have you felt this way?"

"I think since always," he confesses. "But I only started accepting these thoughts recently."

"But if... if you feel this way, why are you still here?"

I see his ears turn red, and he continues staring at the ground. After what feels like an eternity, he says, "Because of you."

I get instantly irritated.

"I've already said I can protect myself, I don't need you sacrificing your life just to be my bodyguard and..."

"No, Zelda," he interrupts, looking at me worriedly. I get lost in the sea of his blue eyes that look at me intensely, and I feel my heart race slightly. "I... I need you. You make me feel... happy even in this whirlwind of emotions and doubts. You're the only person I've ever trusted with my thoughts. And I love your company... or do you think I always followed you just because I was your bodyguard? In theory, when you ordered me to stay away, I should have obeyed. Why do you think I always ignored those commands?"

My face heats up, and the air around me feels charged with static.

"But..." he continues.

Oh no, not a "but." Nothing good ever comes after a "but."

"But it wouldn't be fair... to you or to me... to ask for something beyond what we are. Not when I'm barely a complete person. Not when I don't even know who I am outside of this damned sword."

And I hate how much sense he makes. He looks away, and together we watch the sun set along with my dreams.