Chapter Twelve
"I don't want to leave," Zelda sobbed, scrambling to stay awake. "We need to stay and help!"
Link feigned composure, helping her into the bed of an open wagon. He feared another ambush, checking over his shoulder as the Wetland Stables burned as a bonfire behind them. Most of the Wetlanders had given up on the blaze, but a determined remainder flurried around with buckets of water, circling the Lawdons and their children as smoke plumed the air. An orange cast shrouded the grim yard where brutes were stampeding, dragging the thee Yiga-men into the forest for which Link could only imagine as retribution.
He winced, hoping the Princess wouldn't notice.
"Please, Link," she wept, "I have to fix this."
Hearing her plead made him weak - how could this world want her dead? "I'm sorry."
Screams rang out from the apple trees.
"W-What was that?"
"Nothing," Link shuddered, pulling a spare tunic from his pack, deterring their attention. He bundled it into a pillow for her.
"Can't we help?" She begged.
"W-We need you safe," he cooed, feeling the world on his shoulders. He managed to coax her down into the cart and even dared a timid stroke of her shoulder.
She cried into the pillow, "But it's all my fault."
"No, no." Another stroke. "I-It's not."
She closed her eyes, squinching back red, hot tears until her sobs began to dissipate. Her breathing eased. Lids relaxed. She coiled against his pack, and within another minute or two, she was finally asleep after a century and three days of bleak consciousness.
The cut on her cheek stole Link's attention – an urge to caress it plagued him, but he had already done too much. He withdrew his hand from her shoulder, distancing himself to inspect the cart.
The wheels were good. No rot in the wood. Wagon's tongue was intact. And after three big pushes, it proved sufficient, so he clicked for Pony, who he'd yoke to the front. She trotted over dutifully.
"Coffee crash?" they heard from behind – Lawdon. Link turned, finding the outerlander man covered in ash. His family looked on, eating what appeared to be lunch roasted over the flames of his own stable. "Y-You don't have to leave right now, do you? Y-You've got a whole group of people wanting to thank you and help you with whatever you all are gonna do."
Link followed the man's gaze to the sleeping Princess in the cart. He stepped in protectively – he knew.
"Listen, laddie," cautioned the man, raising his hands, "I'm not a religious man. Psh! – I barely know the myths of Hyrule, b-but that castle is free as a bird after a century of monsters and, well – shit, I guess I have no plans now." He cheated out to the bonfire, waving over Box and Blick before returning his gaze, "Link, right?"
Link nodded.
"Look, Link, you just saved my son, and if y'all are who I think you are, we can't just sit by and not help you."
"Hateno is safest," approached Box – he leaned against the wagon. "I hear you're a resident."
"That's a priceless passport," followed Blick. He kicked at the wheels of the wagon, "Fort is only a two day trip from here."
"Wouldn't mind seeing them ladies of the Chu Chu Chambers again," said Box.
Lawdon glared.
"Not in front of the lass, Boxie."
"What? I'm just saying I wouldn't mind coming along."
Lawdon rolled his eyes, clicking for Link's horse. "Yiga can't get past those walls, Link."
"... if you can get past them."
"He's a resident, Blick."
"She's not. You think they'll let in a girl without any papers?"
"They'll let her in if they know who she is," retorted Lawdon, leading Pony to the wagon's tongue.
"No." Link interjected, securing the yoke around Pony's neck. "No one should know. Not until the Sheikah come."
"The Sheikah?"
Lawdon sighed, "Ah shit – that's why you sent a message to Kakariko."
"Lawdie," toted Blick, gesturing to the Princess, "Language."
Another glare.
"And that messenger squealed."
"Probably captured and tortured," droned Box. "You know how it is out here."
A grim silence fell over the three. Lawdon sighed, giving three sober pats to Pony's neck, "They'll probably be more, Link."
Link frowned, reliving the archer's threats in the wagon cart. He believed them one thousand percent.
"And they'll know you're heading to the Sheikah."
"Wouldn't surprise me if they were there right now."
"And some scouts just got extremely lucky coming this far west."
Link huffed, heart swelling as he eyed the Princess in the cart behind him, "T-They were too close today."
"And you'll probably see them tomorrow."
A huff from Princess Zelda stole their attention. She coiled into herself, suppressing a slight whimper. Was she dreaming?
"You've got one hell of an aim, kid." Link heard – Box clasped his shoulder, "But, that place can't fortify the girl. They'll siege that tiny valley."
"And probably murder everyone in it." Hummed Blick.
"And, you're three days out from a fatal wound," Lawdon pointed to his stomach – a line of crimson pressed up against his tunic. He was bleeding again. Lawdon sighed, "Ain't that just the shit, kid?"
Link frowned.
"Lawdie. Language."
"Cool it, Blick! I've been cusssing since they came, and so have you!"
It was then that Link felt the burning. He mourned the adrenaline loss, rolling up his shirt to find that the wound had torn.
"Maybe jumping into the Yiga's wagon wasn't a good idea, kid." He heard.
"Flashy, for sure," noted Blick, "Psyched me up."
"Beedle might be able to help us out," sighed Lawdon. "He's always carrying his wares in that enormous backpack of his. Bet he had it on his person outside when the bombs hit. Be right back."
"And I'll grab you guys some grub," offered Blick. "Does the lady like beef? Do ladies eat beef?"
"We got them bowls already!" Came Leekah – she hustled from the campfire, dragging her two children in tow. Each carried a bowl. "Did they say yes, Lawdie?"
"Working on it, sweets," he answered, taking his leave. "Don't harass them."
"I would never!" claimed the woman. She clambered into the wagon – a blanket with a singed hem hung off the crook of her arm. Her children followed. "Link, I already promised I'd keep your wife safe! And a wild woman's promise is a promise until death!"
Link flushed.
"Don't think she's his wife," droned Box.
"My Malayna, Leekah." Lawdon sighed, returning with a potion, "I literally left you alone with them for one moment."
"Oh, aren't we a bunch of snuffs today!" Sneered the woman. She looked around sheepishly, cupping her mouth in a low whisper, "But don't tell the others because we're gonna need those seven hundred rupees in my pocket if we want to get back into the stable business, Lawdie."
Lawdon scowled, guiding Link to the back of the wagon as he uncorked the potion bottle, "Go on. Sit."
Link complied, rolling up the hem of his tunic for what was hopefully the last time.
"Linus?" cued the man, turning over his shoulder to his son, "Why don't you give Link that bowl? Hopefully, I'll be done by the time he finishes it."
Linus, the freckled boy, waddled over – he seemed shaken from the incident but stable, to Link's relief. The boy bowed shyly, offering a blackened bowl of stew, "D-Don't worry – we, uh, washed the bowl after getting it out of the fire."
Link smiled, taking it kindly.
Beyond them, people were packing up what remained of the Wetland stables. Burnt items, flame-bitten chests, and scavenged trinkets were loaded into wagons while men and women grabbed anything with a sharp point for the journey – rusty swords, blunt spears, burnt rakes, and brooms.
"We'll be ready to move out in thirty," said Lawdon, finishing. He pocketed the empty potion bottle. "Anything else you need?"
Link tensed, unfurling his tunic, "A-All of you?"
"We've got nowhere else to be, and we can get you and the lass to Fort Hateno safely."
"We can't – "
"No, no, Link, don't give me that - "
"Yiga, they'll be trailing us - "
"C'mon. Who hasn't been trailed by the Yiga?"
"I-I can't offer protection."
"Don't need it," came Box, unsheathing a knife from his holster. "Lawdon's a bit of a cry baby, but I'll take care of him."
"Same, same," winked Blick.
"Thanks," droned the man.
"I'm sorry, but we can't."
"C'mon, Link," pressed Lawdon, brown eyes sparkling, "Think of the lassy – she's technically ours too, ain't she?"
Link frowned, turning around to find the Princess of Hyrule asleep in Leekah's embrace. She stirred, frowning. Anguish fluttered on her face, cueing Leekah.
"Looks like a nightmare," said the woman. She began to hum, welcoming her son and daughter into the cart with the tune. They gathered around the Princess.
Humming – it enraptured Link, a distant memory beckoning.
Her Highness tensed, stealing his attention. Her brows furrowing, flush draining from her face, she suppressed a scream with tight lips before fretfully flipping into Leekah's arms.
"Why not take her, Link?" Leekah laughed, calling him over. "Are ya strong enough to lift her? I'll make her some sorta bed back here so she can be comfortable on the ride."
Link climbed into the cart, a strange familiarity dawning as he scooped the Princess of Hyrule into his arms - it was warm, enveloping, and comfortable, deepening the memory.
"Got no experience with women, huh?" He heard. It caught him off guard. He stumbled clumsily.
Leekah laughed, "Just don't hold her like a sack of potatoes. Support her head, yeah?"
Link faltered, drawing her head to his chest. She curled into him, suppressing a whimper. Her nose brushed his collar, triggering goosebumps. They fanned throughout his chest and neck, spreading to his whole body as he fell prey to the wonderful weight of the Princess of Hyrule in his arms.
He looked down at her pretty face – the memory swelling as Leekah's tune carried on, bringing him to the foot of his home in Hateno.
The Firly Cottage sat among the morning mist. Lilacs peered in from the kitchen windowsill, pinkening a woman as she baked shortcakes in the kitchen, humming. Sneaking in was easy – she's always lost in a tune, but tricking the young girl at her mother's feet was harder, so he waited for the chorus of the woman's tune before letting himself in. He was cladded in armor – as if it was a surprise visit from the Fort's barracks. An excitement to show off the steel tempted him, but he basked in the mere moments of savored secrecy, beaming from the doorway as the woman retied her long, brassy hair. The young girl dragged her yarn doll across the stove as if it were some sort of adventure. Only when she spun did the girl notice him. She gasped, running over. Her mother turned, "Link?! Honey, is that you?"
Mom, Link recited to himself, coming out of the daze. A memory. A real memory. His eyes twinkled. A tear spilled.
"Y'alright, honey?" Link heard - Leekah looked up from the wagon cart.
He nodded, letting the weight of the Princess take him back to the Firly Cottage. Home. A mother and her daughter waited to be recognized - their silhouette sharpening as Princess Zelda nestled against his neck. It was his mother. And a sister. Around them circulated a feeling reminiscent of the Princess in his arms. Belonging. Comfort. Love. Home.
Another tear fell.
Princess Zelda stirred. He brought her closer to his chest, and when the Missus began to hum, he joined in, finding his mother's tune.
Author's Note: Geez, Link, obvious much?
Lol, thank you all so much for reading! This chapter concludes first of five arcs. It's been an absolute pleasure writing this fic. A favorite part has been reading the reactions, so if you like the story, please let me know! If you'd like art, why not request a scene? I'll draw it up and post it to the tumblr page "slice-of-the-wild." In the meantime, I'll be taking a break to start the school year, and then hopefully resuming the fic later on this year, BUT encouragement always helps with the process, so comment below! Thanks again, all!