To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 22 – Travel

The tour began with a small parade through Castle Town. The town itself was not an intended destination on the tour, as the Princess basically lived there already. However, Zelda didn't often get the chance to visit the town, so the citizens there only saw her on rare occasions. Because of this, the Hyrule Council believed that it would be a good idea to lead the procession through Castle Town at the start of the tour. This way, the citizens would get the chance to gaze upon their Princess, as well as the newly named Hero of Twilight.

Naturally, many crowds gathered to watch the procession. They clapped and cheered as the parade of horses, riders, and wagons passed before them. Zelda just smiled and gave small, friendly waves back to the crowd. She also made sure to carry herself majestically, by keeping her posture straight and riding at a delicate pace. This was how the Royal Princess was expected to present herself, and she intended to fulfill those expectations exceptionally.

Zelda always enjoyed seeing her subjects, as it filled her with a sense of hope and purpose. It was just nice seeing all of their smiling faces, and knowing that they supported both her and her father. She knew that they trusted the Royal Family to lead the Kingdom in a prosperous direction, and she did not intend to let them down.

Additionally, Zelda knew that her subjects enjoyed seeing her as well. It was always a special occasion to witness a member of the Royal Family, and the citizens responded with an appropriate amount of enthusiasm to match that sentiment. As Zelda continued to smile at the faces that cheered her on, she was glad that she had chosen not to ride in the carriage with Fost. If she had, then she would have had to greet her citizens through nothing more than a tiny window, which, needless to say, would have likely resulted in a disappointing experience for everyone involved.

Zelda soon glanced over to see how Link was holding up. He rode in step with the Princess, but his demeanor was a bit different. He carried a sheepish smile on his face, and his small waves seemed to be a bit shy as well. She supposed that he couldn't be blamed for this, as many onlookers in the crowd were specifically applauding for the Hero of Twilight. She had to imagine that it was a lot to take in for someone who wasn't used to such popularity.

Fortunately, the Princess managed to catch Link's eye, and she flashed an encouraging smile his way. This seemed to surprise him for a bit, but he soon relaxed and focused his attention back on the crowds. From that point on, his nervousness faded away, and his behavior seemed much more confident and genuine. It turned out that all he needed was a little support from the Princess to help set him at ease.

Before long, the procession reached the southern gate of Castle Town, and the travelers took their first steps out into the wide-open expanse that was Hyrule Field. Here, the tour would officially commence as they left their home behind them. The crowds continued to cheer and applaud from inside the walls of Castle Town, but the enthusiastic sounds soon faded away. They were eventually replaced by the softer, more soothing noises of the field. The sound of a gentle breeze blowing over them. Birds chirping in the trees. The subtle babbling of a creek.

Zelda took a second to breathe deeply, absorbing the fresh air into her lungs. It had been far too long since her last journey outside of Castle Town's walls, and it felt wonderful. Reina gave a loud whinny, also pleased with her newfound freedom.

"You seem happy," Link noted as he and Epona trotted alongside them.

"Of course," Zelda replied. She soon reached down and rubbed Reina's neck a bit. "It's not every day that we get to venture outside of our home, so we've been really looking forward to this."

Link gave her a curious look. "Really? How long has it been since your last trip?"

"A few months at least," Zelda replied. "The last time was when you and I escorted Midna to the Mirror of Twilight."

Link gawked in surprise. "Seriously? That long ago?"

"Yes, I'm afraid that my duties as Princess prevent me from adventuring outside the castle whenever the mood strikes me. And even when I do get to leave, it's usually only for diplomatic reasons."

Link conjured up a sympathetic frown. "Oh. That's…kind of a shame."

Zelda just smiled back. "I don't mind, though. If anything, my lifestyle just makes me treasure moments like these all the more. I probably wouldn't appreciate this journey nearly as much if I could just go whenever I wanted."

"That's true," Link agreed, soon smiling as well. "At least you have a positive way of looking at it."

Zelda nodded before glancing down at the field of grass slowly passing beneath Reina's hooves. She truly missed seeing sights like this. "You know, Link, there are admittedly times where I find myself envying you a bit. You always get to travel so much."

Link just blinked, once again looking surprised. "What? You mean when I travel between the castle and Ordon?" He then smiled and shook his head. "That trip is more of a chore, if anything."

"Surely it is more exciting than just sitting around in a castle though."

He shrugged. "I don't know. Castle life can be exciting too, but in a different way."

"I suppose," she agreed. She could see how a world of politics and discussions could be overwhelming for the Hero who was newly introduced to them, although the Princess herself found the tasks to be a bit mundane after all of these years.

"Honestly, travel can be a bit boring at times," Link continued. "Once you've done it enough, it can really get old having to see the same sights over and over again. Not to mention it always takes forever to get where you need to go." He then paused before releasing a sigh. "Truth be told, I kind of miss our old method of travel."

"Old method?" Zelda repeated.

"Yeah, the way that Midna and I used to get around," Link explained. "Things were easier back during the Twilight Invasion. Midna could just use portals to teleport us from province to province, and it saved a lot of time."

"Ah, I can see how that would be nice," Zelda said with a nod. She then smirked a bit. "But personally, I think that I prefer the peace and safety of the Kingdom, completely free from the influence of the Twilight."

Link just gave the Princess a blank stare. He soon frowned as he started to apologize. "Er, sorry, I didn't mean to say that…"

Unable to keep a straight face, Zelda soon laughed at him. It was always amusing to see how easy it was to make him feel guilty. "Relax, Link. I was merely joking. I know that you would never wish for the Twilight to make a return."

Link just blinked again before scowling. "I swear, you really do scare me far more than I would like."

"What?" Zelda asked innocently. "Is a Princess not allowed to make jokes?"

Link allowed his expression to soften into a smile. "I'd prefer that they weren't at my expense."

Zelda ended up producing her own playful smile. "Forgive me, Link, but there are times where I feel it necessary to test the wisdom of our Kingdom's brave Hero. Unfortunately, you seem to fall for my trickery far too easily."

"Just wait, I'll wisen up eventually," Link said confidently. "And when that time comes, I'll know to just ignore every word you say."

Zelda smirked again. "Goodness, has my reputation sunk so low? I never intended to make you distrust me."

"I still trust you," Link said, before subtly grinning. "But you're on thin ice."

Zelda couldn't help but giggle at this. It was nice, casually trotting across the field and enjoying some playful banter with the Hero. It was almost enough to make the Princess forget her true feelings for the man and simply enjoy herself. But alas, the situation wasn't that simple. Even now, Zelda couldn't help but glance at him with a small stare of affection. She appreciated that the two of them were friends, but her heart truly wished that they could be more.

Zelda soon shook her head, pushing such thoughts away. She wasn't going to allow her negative emotions to ruin this moment. Instead, she preferred to keep things light. She soon decided to continue toying with the Hero using her words.

"Let's move back to the subject of the Twilight for a moment," she said with another playful smirk. "I know that you would prefer to use the powers of the Twilight to traverse Hyrule, but tell me something, would you also prefer to be covered in fur and running around on all fours?"

Link just rolled his eyes as he caught her meaning. "Ha ha, very funny, but being a wolf wasn't nearly as bad as you might think."

Upon hearing this, Zelda decided to drop her playful act for a moment and replace it with a genuine expression of curiosity. "Is that so? You didn't mind being stuck in that form?"

"Not really," Link said with a shrug. "It definitely had its uses. My senses were stronger than ever before, and I could move more quickly too. Not to mention, having a big fur coat was nice. It actually managed to keep me warm throughout our entire trip to the Snowpeak Province."

"That does sound rather impressive," Zelda admitted as she recalled how frigid that region could get.

Link gave a small laugh. "Although, I will admit that having to travel in the desert with that fur coat was nothing short of torture."

"I can imagine," Zelda said, allowing her playful smile to return. "And did you mind the fleas, as well?"

"I never had fleas," Link stated adamantly. "I may have been a mutt, but that doesn't mean that I was a mangy one."

Zelda took a second to recall an image of the Hero's animal form and fondly smiled. "Yes, I suppose your coat was rather well-kept, now that I think about it. Was Midna the one who was responsible for that?"

"Pfft," Link scoffed. "As if. Whenever I became a wolf, she would usually just start barking orders and riding on my back. There were times where I honestly wondered if she thought that I was nothing more than a dumb, clueless animal."

Zelda just giggled, easily imagining such scenarios. "Yes, that sounds just like her."

Link nodded. "She brought a lot of chaos into my life, but…it was fun too." He then softly sighed before producing a sad smile. "I know it's been a while since she left, but I still miss her."

Zelda gave him a sympathetic nod. "Of course. I feel the same way."

Link soon looked down at the ground. "There are still times where I wish that I could see her again, but I know that I'll never get the chance."

Zelda stared at him for a second before smirking. "Perhaps, but I wouldn't be completely sure about that."

Link glanced over at the Princess. "What do you mean?"

"There's always a chance that you might encounter Midna again. I definitely wouldn't say that it's impossible."

Link just gave her a blank stare. "What? But...how? Midna destroyed the Mirror of Twilight, didn't she?"

Zelda patiently nodded before she explained herself. "That is true, but who's to say that the Mirror was the only means by which one could access the Twilight Realm? Can you say with certainty that there aren't other methods of traversing the realms? And even if you couldn't cross over into the Twilight Realm, there might still be something that would allow you to communicate with someone there. The world is a vast place, Link, and it might have more solutions to offer you than you realize."

Link just gawked at the Princess, feeling awed at what she was telling him. "Wait, so does that mean that you have an idea of how I can talk to Midna again?"

Zelda smiled as she shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. There are no viable solutions that I am aware of. I'm just claiming that it might not be impossible to discover one."

Link just looked down again. "Oh, I see…"

"I know it's not much to go on, but I hope that the idea provides you with some inspiration, at least. As long as you keep an open heart and an open mind, you may eventually find a satisfying solution."

"Of course," Link said with a nod. "Trust me, Zelda, you've definitely given me some hope. Just knowing that our farewell to Midna might not be our last…well, it certainly makes me feel better."

"I'm glad to hear that," Zelda told him sincerely. "And by the way, if you want a helpful place to start, I would suggest visiting the castle's library. There are numerous tomes there, some of them as ancient as the castle itself. They might be able to provide some clues and point you in the right direction."

Link simply frowned a bit at this. "You mean I'd have to do a lot of reading? It would take forever to scour through all of those books for clues."

Zelda smirked at him. "What's the matter? Is Midna not worth the effort?"

Link sighed. "Well, I'd like to see her again, but I don't want to lose my mind in the process."

Zelda laughed. "Oh please, it is not as bad as you think. The books are all categorized, so it is easy to sort through them and find the topics that you are looking for. Besides, it can be rather exciting to start reading and discover an interesting part of history."

"If you say so," Link said with a glum smile. "This definitely seems more like your area of expertise. To me, it just sounds like a lot of work."

"And it will be," Zelda assured him. "But no one ever said that contacting the Twilight Realm would be easy."

"I suppose not," Link agreed. He then gave the Princess a pleading stare. "Still…will you at least consider helping me so that I don't have to shoulder this burden on my own? I know that you'll have an easier time with this than I will."

Zelda blushed a bit, surprised that he was asking for her assistance. Nevertheless, she didn't intend to turn him down. "Very well. If my schedule permits it, then I will lend you a hand. After all, I would enjoy seeing Midna again as well."

"Thanks Zelda," Link replied, his voice full of sincerity. "You may not realize it, but you truly are a lifesaver."

Zelda just laughed as she shook her head. "You know, reading never killed anyone, Link."

"There's a first time for everything," he insisted.

Before long, the procession of horses and wagons picked up their pace as they journeyed further across Hyrule Field. They had planned to travel casually at the start of their tour, but now they needed to speed things up in order to maintain their schedule. Link and Zelda didn't mind, simply spurring their horses into a light run as they continued to traverse the fields.

The group followed a dirt path leading south before it slowly started to curve to the east, heading towards a distant mountain range. That was where their first two destinations resided: Kakariko Village and Death Mountain. They expected that it would take at least an entire day's worth of travel just to reach the village, so they tried to keep a steady pace.

At midday, the party stopped for lunch by a small pond. The chef that accompanied them started a fire and prepared a meal using some of the provisions from the wagon. He worked at an impressive pace, cooking enough food for the entire company in a surprisingly efficient amount of time. And in spite of the rush, the meal was no less appetizing for it. Everyone in the procession gladly gifted the chef their thanks, and looked forward to experiencing his cooking again.

The group also used the break as a time to relax and recover. The horses were given ample time to graze and drink the pond's cool and refreshing water. While this was happening, the guards on staff kept a close eye on their surroundings, making sure that there would be no surprise encounters during this brief respite. Even now, there were still occasional sightings of monsters or Bulblins in the general area, so they could never be too careful.

It was around this time that Fost decided to approach the Princess and check up on her. "So, how are you enduring the journey so far, Your Highness?"

Zelda just swallowed her food before wiping her mouth with a cloth. Admittedly, riding around on Reina all day had been a little tiring, but this stop by the pond had allowed her to recover without it bothering her. "I'm doing well, thank you."

"Is that so?" Fost asked skeptically. "And has all of this horseback riding started to take its toll on you?"

"Not particularly," she answered, being honest yet vague.

Fost scolwed a bit. Clearly, this wasn't the answer that he had been hoping for. "I see…Well, in any case, would you be interested in joining me in the carriage for the remainder of the journey?"

"No," she replied bluntly.

Fost just frowned some more. "And why ever not?"

Zelda closed her eyes and smiled. "Forgive me, Fost, but I am simply enjoying my time riding across the fields with Reina. Your offer is doubtlessly appreciated, but I wouldn't trade this experience for the world."

Fost just stared at the Princess, looking both dumbfounded and frustrated. He soon composed himself before turning to Link, who sat beside her. "Very well then. And how about you, Master Link? Would you care to join me in the carriage? I'm sure that one of the guards would be happy to lead your horse for you."

Link just shook his head. "Sorry, Minister, but I'd rather not. I'm afraid that Epona and I enjoy each other's company too much."

Fost just stared at the Hero, looking like he was at a loss for words. "But…But this simply won't do!" the Minister insisted. "One of you must join me in the carriage! Won't you please reconsider?"

Zelda just stared at the short man, amused at his sudden agitation. Clearly, there was something bothering him. "What is the matter, Fost? Why do you need one of us to join you in there?"

Fost frowned, and soon dropped his voice to a whisper so that no one else in the travel party could hear him. "I could really use some better company. I'm not sure that I can endure my current companion alone."

Link just raised his eyebrows. "You mean the chef?"

"Exactly!" Fost exclaimed quietly. "I hold nothing against the man, but he's been silent for almost the entire trip! Every time I try to start a conversation with him, it falls flat after he gives some blunt response, and then the two of us just end up sitting there in uncomfortable silence. It's been unbearably awkward!"

"He must not be one for conversations," Zelda said with a shrug. "There's nothing wrong with that."

"Yeah, he's only here to cook, isn't he?" Link asked as he took another bite from his lunch. "And I'd say he's doing an excellent job of it."

Fost sighed. "Yes, but it still doesn't help my situation. I can't stand riding alone with him in that carriage for any longer."

Zelda just smiled as she shook her head once more. "This situation hardly seems as dreadful as you make it sound. The brave people of our Kingdom have survived far worse horrors than something as meager as 'awkward silence', so I'm certain that you will survive as well."

Fost just sighed. He knew that she had a point, but he couldn't resist begging for her help one last time. "Won't you at least reconsider? For my sake?"

As she stared at the tiny old man, Zelda admitted that she did feel a small pang of sympathy for him and his plight, but she remained resolute in her decision. "My apologies, Fost, but I believe that you were the one who put yourself in this situation, so I see no reason to interfere and save you from it. You'll just have to endure it on your own."

Fost frowned and lowered his eyes in disappointment. "Very well. Just remember that while the two of you are out gallivanting around on your horses, my poor, lonely little self will be sitting in this miserable carriage alongside miserable company."

Zelda just laughed at this. She knew that he was trying to make her feel guilty, but she wouldn't allow such behavior to phase her. "Oh, don't be so dramatic. And besides, I thought that you were supposed to be the one looking after me on this trip. Not the other way around."

Fost could only stare at the Princess in disbelief before frowning and turning away. "Enough. It is clear that you will not lend me your aid, so I will not bother to continue enduring this unnecessary criticism of my character. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be off." The tiny Minister then walked away, making sure to carry himself proudly.

Zelda just giggled as she watched him go. "Trying to save face, as always."

Link turned to her with a frown. "Is he going to be okay?"

"He'll be fine," Zelda assured him. "He knew that he was in the wrong after I called him out for it. He's just refusing to admit it for the sake of his pride."

"He won't hold a grudge over this, will he?"

"Don't worry. He may be upset now, but he is a man of reason, and he surely understands our decision to refuse him. He just needs to come to terms with it."

"Well, that's good to know," Link said with a nod. "I have to say, you're pretty good at dealing with him."

"Dealing with others in a fair and diplomatic fashion is part of a Princess's duties," Zelda said with a shrug. "Plus, it helps that I've known Fost my entire life. Because of this, it's easy for me to understand his way of thinking and how best to approach the argument."

"Wow," Link said with a smile. "That's really impressive. I wish that I could talk to people as well as you do."

Zelda blushed a bit at his compliment, but simply nodded and continued talking. "I'm afraid that it's not a skill that can be easily forged overnight. It takes years of practice to truly master the art of conversation, but once you do, you'll find that it is a skill well-worth having, as it can get you out of situations such as this."

"No kidding," Link said with a small laugh. "I think I'm lucky that you were here. I probably would've just cracked if Fost had kept pressuring me."

Zelda turned to Link with a surprised look, but then produced a smirk. "Oh, so you wouldn't have had the courage to say no? And here I thought that the Hero of our Kingdom was brave."

Link just frowned at this. "Courage is different from sympathy. I would have only accepted his offer for the sake of helping him. Not because I would be too afraid to say no."

Zelda just nodded. "Right, of course, Link," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She soon returned to eating her meal.

Naturally, Link started getting defensive. "What? You don't believe me?"

"No, of course I believe you," Zelda said, her voice still containing a hint of sarcasm.

Link just frowned some more. "You think that I'm a pushover, don't you?"

"I never said that," Zelda replied before casually taking a bite of her food.

"But you think it."

"Am I not free to think as I please?"

Link just sighed. "Zelda…"

Zelda covered her mouth before swallowing and giving a tiny giggle. "It's all right, Link. I always enjoy seeing your displays of kindness towards others. I know that it's just your nature, and I find it very charming."

Link just stared back at her for a moment, before he surprisingly started to blush. It seemed like he still wasn't used to receiving such heartfelt compliments from the Princess. He soon sighed before looking away. "If that's how you really feel, then why do you have to tease me about it so much?"

"Because," Zelda said simply, "being a little mischievous is my nature."

"Isn't that the truth," Link replied with a big frown.

Zelda just giggled some more. Admittedly, she had initially had her reservations about this tour. She assumed that it might be a bit depressing, having to accompany Link like this all while trying to come to terms with her own feelings. But now, she was honestly surprised at just how much fun she was having, and with the Hero no less. She had laughed numerous times that day, and her mood had been nothing but positive and cheerful.

As her laughter ceased, she turned to Link and gave him a sincere smile. Maybe this tour wouldn't be so bad after all.

The more I write Fanfiction, the more I think that it's difficult, and that I'd be better off just being a reader of others' stories. However, the more Fanfiction I read, the more inspired I am to sit down and write my own story.

It's the duality of being a Fanfiction writer, I suppose.