The days following the desert trip were tense to say the least.
On the trip back, Zelda stayed unusually quiet and it worried most of the group, particularly Link.
They didn't stop at the stables on the way through the canyon, nor the one at the other end even after they tried to push her to stretch her legs in what Link called 'safe territory'.
Link was fed up with it by the time they reached a small outpost town two hours south of Castletown. He all but dragged her off the horse to a secluded area to ask her about what happened in the desert. He wasn't heartless, he did get her some much needed food; she'd refused to eat all day and it just wasn't sitting well with him after she had only taken one measly bite from the eggs that morning.
She remained quiet as expected and he simply told everyone that she confided in him and to leave Zelda alone for the time being.
Link gave her time to herself, but by the next day, he was once again asking her to tell him.
And tell him, she did after a few more pushes.
After going out for drinks the evening before, Urbosa had been a bit rough in her delivery when telling Zelda that she wasn't who she was looking for. Link had a feeling Zelda had probably pushed a bit too much, but he wasn't about to say it out loud.
Zelda recounted how she'd fallen asleep a while after crying next to the statue of the Goddess in the small town before being woken up by one of the palace guards in the dead of night and escorted back to the palace.
It tickled the back of his mind how out of character it was for Chief Urbosa to leave Zelda outdoors like that in the dead of night, but he didn't discount the idea that alcohol makes people do funny things.
If Urbosa was already not completely in her right mind when they initially left, she was going to be in a far more fragile state if they continued to walk without drinking any water.
Zelda continued with her explanation that maybe she shouldn't have pushed—which only confirmed his suspicions—but they had apologised over breakfast and the poor Gerudo Chief had been clearly hungover and guilting herself in the morning regarding the entire situation.
The days following, Zelda seemed almost saddened but by what, Link couldn't figure out for the life of him so after a long talk with his friend, he chose to drop the subject for now. Zelda was notoriously stubborn when she was upset, so his efforts would be for naught if he tried now; his plan now would be to approach the subject again when her mood improved, which shouldn't be more than two days if her habits continued as they usually did.
His own schedule returned to its new daily routine of evading nosy councilmembers and other castle staff by relaxing in the small Sheikah lab in the basement of the castle with Purah and Robbie.
The first thing they made him do today was activate the slate as usual, and they inserted it into their pedestal where Link watched all of the swirling blue colours appear and one large drop form and fall onto the slate as he'd watched the towers do.
This was curious.
But what really amazed him was when Robbie tapped the slate and vanished.
Link jumped out of his seat the moment Robbie's physical body vanished into thin air, little blue tendrils of magic flowing up into the air and evaporating as if he was never there.
Link gaped at where the Robbie had just stood. He didn't know what to say. He had just disappeared before his eyes.
"Cool right?" Purah bounded over with the slate, placing it into his hands eagerly.
"Um… sure?" Link said uneasily, not wanting to press anything on the screen.
First, you try to kill me with an encyclopaedia, now you want me gone literally…Never thought my first assassination attempt as a royal would be by the Sheikah.
He placed the slate on the table next to him and took a step back from the energetic genius. "Very um…impressive?" He said, not entirely sure of himself. "I very much like myself in one piece." he swallowed thickly.
"Oh please, it won't kill you." Purah brushed off and picked up the slate and slapped it back into his hands.
"Has that been tested?"
She nodded with a smile. "Twice on Robbie!"
"O-only twice?"
She raised a brow. "Aren't you the same person who launched himself two hundred feet in the air because you didn't want to climb a tower?"
"That is not the same."
"Sure it is. Oh and when you get back, I'll have your treat for you."
"My treat? Hey wait-"
Purah smacked his hand down to press the button on the screen.
Link didn't have time to react before his vision blurred, and went dark, but rather than feel his body hit the floor as it had the last time he'd fainted, instead he felt the ground fall away under his feet and return barely a moment later, like he'd jumped without doing the action himself.
As his vision returned to him, his stomach churned and threw itself around as if he'd been spun around half a dozen times after drinking.
He barely noticed the floor change from stone to wood when he spotted the trash can and emptied the contents of his stomach into it.
"That happens, you'll be fine."
He heard Robbie's voice in the distance.
Why do I smell manure? He wiped the tears from his eyes and spat one last time in the bucket before looking around him.
It was more than familiar. The small pedestal, Purah's scribbly notes all over the research table, her small brewing set in the far corner of the room, the numerous bookshelves.
This was the Lab in Hateno.
"How-what?" Link was speechless. How in the world had he travelled from the Castle to East Necluda? Had he been dreaming when he thought he was at the castle? Was he dreaming right now?
"We've been tinkering with the functions of the slate since we've returned from the towers." Robbie explained, writing down a few notes on a small stack of papers. "The first time, she sent me all the way to a giant pit in the desert."
Link tried to laugh but he felt more fluid come up his throat forcefully.
"But how am I in Hateno? We're so far away."
"Sheikah technology allows us to break down the composites of our bodies and rebuild them instantly at any location with a strong enough magical force." It still made no sense to him but he shrugged knowing he likely wouldn't understand it either way. "The towers act as networks, and we've been able to jump between them and to some shrines you let Her Highness interact with."
"That's great and all, but how do we go back?" Link inquired, taking the outstretched glass of water from Robbie's hands. "And a side note, can you warn me or explain what you're going to do before just doing it?"
"You'll need to wait a few minutes unless you want your stomach to do that again." Robbie warned him while kicking the bucket next to his leg. "And to answer your question, telling you you're going to disintegrate and reappear halfway across the country sounds terrifying and we didn't think you'd agree."
No shit. That sounds insane.
"Why does it do that? Can't you guys do something that doesn't unintentionally harm me in some way?" he joked, swishing the water in his mouth and spitting it into the bucket.
"It's got a few glitches that need fixing, but the next time, we hope you won't throw up."
What's a glitch? "I can see that."
"On the bright side, at least you'll have space for the fried rice Purah promised you a few weeks back."
"It's only worth it if I don't immediately throw it back up again."
"You'll be fine." Robbie patted his back. "Are you ready to go back?"
"Before we do that, can I go pick up something from my house?"
"You live here?"
"Down the hill, yes."
"Why not."
It hadn't taken long after Link returned from his sudden adventure back home when he was pulled into one of the many meeting rooms of the castle by Arn. He'd barely had time to drop off what he'd picked up from home when he got pulled into that damn room.
Seeing that Captain Randy and Barnabus were also here, it couldn't have been good, whatever it was they had planned.
Arn looked proud of himself and Randy looked like he was being kept here against his will.
"I have things I need to do. Why have I been dragged here?" Link asked them, trying to make his way out of the door. He did have things to do: court things , things involving Zelda he could make up on the spot, he needed to meet with the council's scribe regarding a few things.
"Your Highness,-"
"Don't call me that."
Arn continued shamelessly with a smile that spoke volumes. "I do hope you remember what time of the year it is."
What time of the year is it? Link didn't recall any special secret traditions they did this time of the year.
"Now that half of the country knows that Princess Zelda is pregnant by your fault,-"
"By my fault? "
Arn's smile widened into a shit-eating grin. "We now have to give you the warm welcome into fatherhood that you are owed."
"I refuse."
Barnabus laughed. "You cannot refuse. You gave me a terrible time when you heard my first was on her way."
"What he said." Arn patted the brunette on the shoulder rather roughly. "There is no escaping your rite of passage."
Link sighed. He remembered this now. It wasn't an annual tradition at all, but it was something they'd been doing for as long as he could remember in the guard. Because most of the upper echelons of command were in their mid-to-late twenties to thirties, that meant that most of them were either having children or on the verge of marriage or doing both.
Fond memories of cracking the worst jokes in existence came flooding back to his memory when he first learned that Barnabus had told them one of his spouses was pregnant. They had pelted him relentlessly with what Arn liked to call 'dad' jokes and Link, having a double key to the poor man's room, had surprised him in the dead of night with a pot and pan and a crap pun.
"I refuse to participate." Link repeated.
"Refuse if you want, we'll do it anyway!" Arn slapped him on the shoulder this time.
"I pull rank. I refuse to do this." Link gulped. Please work, please work…
"Does this mean you'll finally tell the council you completed your bond?"
Link kept quiet.
"Well then, I hope you're ready, kiddo."
"Don't call me kiddo."
"Your Highness." Randy said with a downright wicked eyebrow waggle.
"Fuck, pick something else."
"Alright, back to kiddo then."
What's the use of a fancy title and privileges if they all keep side-stepping what I say?
That afternoon, Zelda was visited by Lady Litha, and her cousin, Duchess Deilia for tea in the gardens.
It seemed quite contrary to what her ladies in waiting were telling her about confinement to the castle, but any reprieve from being told she couldn't do something was welcome.
They sat in one of the many verandas recently set up in the gardens, shaded from the hot summer sun. With the recent hot days afoot, the seamstress got to work making her more flowing gowns as Zelda's stomach grew more and more with every passing week. Not only did it give them less work to do, but it also guaranteed that she could wear some of them again without fearing for the waistline needing to be readjusted time and time again.
The seamstresses suggested an older dress style, dating back to her grandmother and mother's times where a higher waistline had been, one that would accentuate the breasts and less her waist. Zelda had accepted without any complaints, any freedom from the tighter dresses was welcome.
And it seemed to set off a new trend among the higher ranks of the nobility; her cousin wore a similar style and so did Countess Litha and a few other noblewomen.
The thought of being seen as old-fashioned hadn't crossed Zelda's mind, but neither did the thought she might accidentally bring back an old trending fashion.
At least the nobles weren't using her as the butt of their jokes anymore.
With the day as hot as it was today, she was surprised to see them not pulling out their fans as much as they usually did. The less restrictive fashion was likely to thank for that, she wondered.
She watched the servants bring another pot of tea around to the table and took away the first. "Princess, might I just say, this tea is quite delectable, where did you get this?"
Zelda was surprised by the question. "Oh it's from Tabantha I believe, Father has ordered some thinking I might enjoy it, and I do say, I am enjoying it very much." She smiled.
"I'd love to know what herbs are included." Her cousin inquired about the tea.
Zelda sipped her tea and tried to analyse the notes. Hyrule herb was a definite, and maybe something spiced? There was a bitterness that could be attributed to wildberries, but she couldn't say for sure. "I'm not sure, perhaps I can ask and get back to you?"
"I would like that very much." Deilia thanked her and snacked on the few cookies in the tier-tray. "You've missed two of the most entertaining balls, dearest cousin. I really do wish you'd come." She recounted without details.
"Dr. Finri wants me in confinement, I can do nothing to stop him from enforcing this with the guards." Zelda told them solemnly. "But I'd love to know what's happened recently if they were so entertaining."
"First, Lady Hyaki was found unchaperoned with another woman."
"Huh?" Zelda stopped sipping her tea. "That's fine isn't it? What's the problem?"
"She was found embracing her ladies' maid." Deilia whispered closer.
"In a hug, you mean?"
"No no, closer than that. Intimately embraced. "
" At someone else's ball? " Zelda nearly choked on air. If this was becoming a common occurrence, they'd soon need a chaperone to see just about anyone… "Did she not think they'd get found out?"
"I'm not sure, but her mother's laid off the poor thing. They seemed so heartbroken at the time." Lady Litha revealed. "I know them well, but Lady Hyaki isn't taking it well, she's sequestered herself in her bedchambers for nearly an entire week already."
"Let them be together if it doesn't hurt them," Zelda muttered to herself as she poured herself some more tea. The lesser noble's daughter was known for being a bit out of the box when compared to most of the others, but she wasn't in the inheritance line for anything big.
"On another note, Your Highness," Lady Litha sipped her tea with delight and snack on her biscuit. "I'm hosting a private ball of sorts a fortnight from now and I wanted to extend a personal invitation to you." She smiled.
Zelda blinked and looked down at her stomach perplexed. She was to stay in confinement for her pregnancy for her and the baby's safety according to Doctor Finri's advice. Surely a Countess would know that, but even her cousin wasn't pointing anything out of the ordinary.
Oh but then again, her cousin was always a bit of an odd ball no matter how strict her parents had been.
"An invitation for me ?" Zelda asked, perplexed. She had already mentioned confinement and it was the norm amongst most pregnant nobles to pull themselves out of society's judgmental gaze until the baby's born.
Lady Litha smiled and nodded, putting her teacup down. "Oh yes, Princess. I'm sure you would enjoy the evening very much, it's a simple 'ladies gathering', you could call it." The woman emphasised discreetly, earning a quiet giggle from the Duchess next to her.
"What would this evening entail?" Zelda inquired further. Any opportunity to leave the palace's strict eyes was welcome, even if it meant going horseback. With the way the Countess had phrased it, it peaked her interest. What did she mean by 'ladies night'? Did that mean she couldn't bring Link?
Her pulse picked up at the thought of being unattended again like she had a few days back.
"Princess, do you know of Madam Sela?" Lady Litha raised a brow. Paired with her devious smile, there had to be something about the woman that was off.
Madam Sela? The most Zelda knew was that she designed clothes for women, but that was it. Did she do something else? She operated in Castletown but Zelda couldn't figure it out for the life of her if there was something else she did.
"I know of her, yes, but is there something special about her that you're not telling me?" Zelda asked as she poured herself and her cousin a new cup of tea. "She designs clothing, doesn't she?"
Her cousin and the Countess snickered quietly. "Oh she does so much more than just that." her cousin informed her. "She has a special line."
A special line? What is that even supposed to mean? Are there special clothes? What is that supposed to be? Undergarments? No, they're saying it like it's a secret, it can't be that.
"Lady Litha, are you sure you want me to attend your ball? I am pregnant and the doctors want me in confinement— Link ?" Zelda caught sight of Link coming around the corner, smirking as though he'd just successfully stolen a giant hunt of meat from the kitchen. He pulled up in the free chair next to her, out of breath but grinning like a cat.
"Randy's wife showed up." He told her, pointing over at the pillar of stone in the distance. The Countess and the Duchess looked at each other with quietly growing smiles and looked to where Link was pointing.
Zelda gasped audibly. "She showed up here ?!"
Link nodded, clearly elated at the new addition to the latest gossip of his guard-friend.
"Might I inquire whom we are speaking about, Your Highness?" Duchess Deilia asked curiously to Link.
Zelda didn't miss the way Link cringed at the title, but he didn't say anything about it for once.
"Captain Randall of the Royal Guard, he's the one with the dark hair hiding behind that pillar over there." He shifted to the side and pointed to a far pillar where they could see someone crouched behind, just a bit of his clothes revealing him.
"The divorced captain?" Zelda specified.
Link nodded vigorously. "Well, in the midst of one but yes."
When he didn't continue, the two nobles shared a quick glance with a bit of a snicker. "Could you… elaborate a bit?" Lady Litha pushed a bit. Duchess Deilia leaned forward, waiting for more information with a renewed interest.
"Oh he—Wait I'm interrupting your afternoon, I'm sorry, I'll head off." As he was about to stand up, the two women across the table grabbed his arm and pushed him back on the chair. "Princess?" He looked at her unsure.
"You're not going anywhere, this is fantastic gossip for them." Zelda also leaned forward, ready to take in whatever good gossip he was about to spill. "Now tell us everything."
The two ladies nodded enthusiastically with their tea ready in their hands and biscuits on their small saucers.
"Oh-Are you sure?"
"Yes, now spill please, sir." Lady Litha nodded. "What's this about a divorced captain? Tell us more!"
"Link, this is Lady Litha, Countess of East Faron and the wife of Earl Bram." Zelda introduced him to the first woman. "And you know my cousin on my father's side, Duchess Deilia of West Faron." The two women waved and stood, curtsying briefly before taking their seats once more. "Now tell us!"
"It's nice to meet you both." He greeted them both. "Eight months ago, Randy tried to drag a few of us to the eastside of Castletown and-"
"Wait, wait, what's on the east side of Castletown?" Duchess Deilia cut him off.
Zelda, too, nodded, wanting to know. Link never really seemed to talk about the cultural sides of their capital city.
He seemed to hesitate before whispering quietly. "Bars, pubs, clubs, entertainment ." He emphasised.
"Entertainment?"
Link pinched the bridge of his nose. "Em… Brothels. You didn't hear that from me."
The two other ladies gasped and shared a glance before nodding and waited for more details. "Go on."
"Anyway, Arn told him that was a terrible idea,"
"Who's Arn?"
"That's my uncle's guard." Duchess Deilia told LadyLitha.
"Thank you. My apologies, Your Highness. Go on."
"Captain Arn told him it was a bad idea, and he decided to go despite everyone telling him not to. That was also the day his wife happened to come to the palace to find him."
"Oh that couldn't have ended well."
"It didn't." Link looked off in the distance. "She demanded to know where he was and she stormed off to find him."
"Is this not a common thing when one's husband is bored?" Duchess Deilia asked curiously. "You speak as though this is out of the norm, Your Highness."
Link looked at Zelda with a questioning air. "Is that normal?"
Zelda shrugged."It's ingrained in us that if we cannot properly satisfy your husband, they'll go looking elsewhere for it." She shrugged.
"Oh," Link was surprised, "Well, commoners aren't in the habit of doing that, especially in love matches." He specified. "Most common born families don't have that sort of money to just throw around like that." He told them.
"Understood, what happened after? Did she find him?"
"She found him in the brothel." Link recounted. "She stormed up to him for nearly two weeks following the incident and she was everywhere, but there hasn't been much since then."
"So what's new today?" Lady Litha inquired.
Link looked back at the pillar the pitiable captain used as a hiding place. "Well, he's trying to escape without being seen, but she's hiding at the base of the hill for him."
"Oh goodness, what do you think will happen?" Zelda asked.
"Knowing Randy's wife? She might throw him into the moat for a good laugh. It'll take him about a half hour to get down there so I'm going to run and get a better view on the bridge," Link stood out of the chair and bowed his head, but before he could leave, the two ladies stopped him.
"May we watch? This sounds entertaining." Duchess Deilia seemed curious enough to be gathering her things already.
Link looked at Zelda briefly.
"I, too, want to see." Zelda admitted, a smile creeping onto her face. The first time the man's ex-wife has shown up the captain had been smacked by a folder full of papers in the middle of training almost a year ago and had been sworn to so crudely, Zelda had felt it was almost inappropriate to not cover her ears like a child might.
"We have to hurry, I want to see everything." Link told Zelda.
As they made off towards the castle, Zelda felt her cousin approach her and lean to her ear.
"Bring him next time, I don't see nearly enough these days." Her cousin grinned deviously. "And you should come to Litha's ball, it's always fun."
"I shall think about it."
Peace and quiet in the afternoon was so rare and a much appreciated time to relax for Zelda.
The letter that sat on her desk was anything but.
It had arrived from Hebra just a few hours before, and Zelda found it sitting on her writing desk in her room, signed and sent by Revali himself.
Nothing good ever came from correspondence with the prickly Rito Champion.
To Princess Zelda,
I'm not sure what to make of this, but Vah Medoh is behaving quite strangely. I, of course, have put the Divine Beast through its paces, but her canons have misfired twice and she turns in the opposite direction that I will her to. Thanks to my mastery of the air, not a soul was harmed, however, even a warrior such as myself might find a repeat of this incident disturbing.
As you yourself stated, a Divine Beast and its master must be in perfect harmony to function perfectly. While I remain in fine health, I fear Medoh is in dire need of your attention. I will not have the Beast's malfunctions reflect upon my own capabilities or reputation.
-Revali
Zelda let the letter fall from her hands onto the desk.
Another Divine Beast malfunctioning? Six months ago, it was Vah Rudania but there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary; Vah Ruta hasn't had any issues up to date since they last checked the Zora's Beast at that same time, but now both Vah Naboris and Vah Medoh were behaving strangely.
The Guardians from the temple still haunted her nightmares with the powerful blasts, the occasional flash of Link plummeting to the ground from the blast, the monster invasion of Vah Naboris and now Vah Medoh… the Divine Beast in the sky was malfunctioning now?
Zelda almost wanted to pull a sheet and write 'Sorry, pregnant, can't.' but the Divine Beasts had been hugely her idea from the start.
She could still see the arrows flying her way, electric keese flying overhead and shocking Purah and the guard, moblin screams and bokoblins growling left and right.
She felt it was far too soon to be stepping into another malfunctioning Beast, and far too soon for that same one to be so far into the sky, she couldn't possibly jump to safety.
I have to find Link .
Zelda moved her blanket onto the edge of her bed and slipped into her shoes, letter in hand, and left. It wasn't terribly hard to find Link anymore these days. She walked as quickly as she could to the Councilroom, two guards behind her struggling to keep up with her pace at the same time.
Coming up to the door, she was greeted by two royal guards and an older gentleman.
"Your Royal Highness," The gentleman bowed his head briefly. "How may I be of assistance?"
"I need to see my alpha." Zelda said confidently, standing straight. She tried to shake the weirdness of referring to Link as such, but this seemed to be the only way the old councilmen ever listened to her.
The councilman stuttered. "Ah-well-there is currently a session in progress."
"Now. I wish to see him now ." She repeated herself more sternly, glaring at him. She took a step forward, but was blocked by the councilman stepping in front of her. The audacity.
"I'm afraid I cannot interrupt the current session, Your Highness. Perhaps the matter can wait?"
It can, but I don't want it to.
"What's your name sir?" she asked, putting on a sweet air.
The man sputtered indignantly.
He must've been a regular around the castle then.
"M-my name, Your Highness?"
"Yes."
"Lord Bornas," He bowed his head. The smell of sweat began permeating the air around them.
Zelda didn't bother thanking the man, instead she stepped around him and threw open the door, halting the discussion that had been happening.
The councilmen rushed to stand from their seats, bowing their heads in respect with a few "Princess," and "Your Highness" echoing through the hall. Her eyes scanned around the room for Link, only to find him half asleep in his seat and trying to keep up with what was happening. He was somewhat present in the moment. Seeing her made him stand and move around the table to find her.
"Did something happen?" He asked her quietly as he surveyed the room. The councilmen's heads were still bowed, but they were quiet.
"Revali sent this." Zelda whispered and gave him the letter. "Link, I can't. Not like this." She said, pained. She couldn't climb to the Divine Beast nor would she voluntarily go into the high skies with it in case of a repeat event with Vah Naboris.
Link held her gaze for a moment before scanning the letter briefly, then turning to the room. There was a hard light in his eyes, and Zelda took a deep breath. He clearly understood the severity of the situation.
"You're all dismissed." Link told them, voice firm but loud enough for the room to hear.
Zelda watched the men glance at each other uneasily. "But sir-"
Link pivoted on his heel almost robotically, the paper ruffling and crinkling as he did so. "Dismissed."
Zelda was shocked by how quickly the councilmen nodded and left hastily. Link's voice had boomed in the hall, extending far, unmuffled and deep .
That… That's attractive… The last time she'd heard his voice so loud, clear and far-reaching was during their last military presentation the summer before. Was that what using your diaphragm was?
He didn't move until the last councilmember had left the room with the door closing firmly behind them. He turned back to her with a smile. "Let's figure out what we're doing about this now." He said calmly.
Zelda blinked at him, her words stuck in her throat. "What?"
"The letter?" He glanced between the letter and her.
"Oh right." Zelda looked at the letter in his hands. "Um... I don't quite remember what I wanted to say." I think I need to check myself. Curse these damn hormones, maybe it wasn't the hormones talking, but Zelda had an inexplicable urge to crumble the paper, throw it to the side and drag Link off somewhere.
"Zelda?"
"Yes, yes," Zelda bit her tongue and tried her best to focus, "Revali said something about Medoh, and I wanted to see you, the cannons," she explained, her details all in the worst of orders. She tried to forget the way his voice had sounded giving that order to the room, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.
"Zelda? Are you feeling alright?"
Her eyes snapped up to see his eyes dancing with mirth. He knows.
"What—um—what were you all talking about?" she tried to ask casually. She took the paper from his hands and played with its edges.
"Something about importing, I wasn't here mentally." Link explained and took a step forward, much closer to her. "Did you want to talk here or-"
"Elsewhere."
He chuckled. "Oh? Why the rush?"
Oh you know why, you dumbass. Zelda looked at him with a sigh, and crumpled the paper in her hands in defeat. She'd have to say it. "You've put me in a predicament… One that only you can take care of," she said slowly and quietly in case someone on the other side of the door was eavesdropping.
"And how may I ease this predicament of yours?"
"By ordering me around. It is quite urgent, if I do say so myself."
He leaned forward to her ear. "Hurry to your room and wait for me." He whispered, his voice dropping deeply like it had earlier.
She did not have to be told twice.
...
Still in her sheets, Zelda anxiously watched Link read the letter, then reread it another two or three times. With each skim, she could see his brows furrow more.
The Divine Beasts concerned him just as much as her, even if he wasn't a champion chosen for one of them.
The fighting inside Vah Naboris four days ago seemed enough of a bad omen to involve Link separately, even if Revali hadn't mentioned him by name anywhere in his correspondence.
Zelda's eyes glazed over the small red-blue bruises on Link's abdomen and ribs.
Those monsters had gotten him a couple times even if they were lighter hits and Link claimed they didn't bother him.
"I don't think I want to go to Vah Medoh," Zelda told him, laying her head against her arm on the pillow.
"I can see why." Link said, not taking his eyes off the page. "I don't think it's a good idea." He hesitated a bit before flipping the letter to the backside for the tenth time. "Revali wasn't very clear."
Zelda shrugged. "This is clear for Revali."
Link made a face as he put the letter aside on the nightstand. "I'm surprised he even admitted this might be beyond his scope."
"That's what terrifies me." Zelda admitted quietly. "And what happened in the desert, it terrified me, Link." she settled in closer to her lover. "I don't know why this is happening, and I admit that I haven't the faintest idea of how to stop it. The fact that multiple Divine Beasts are malfunctioning… I can't help but fear this is an omen." Her hand rested protectively over her belly.
Link exhaled and sat next to her. "I… didn't want to seem selfish, but I don't think I want you to go in the Beasts anymore." He hesitated briefly, avoiding her eyes. "It just seems too dangerous."
"I can't believe the day's come where I agree with that statement." Zelda huffed out a quiet sigh. She was also agreeing with her father by proxy by admitting the beasts were dangerous… Had she been a braver woman, she would've laughed at the irony of it all.
"Why are we still using them?" Link asked, stirring her from her gloomy thoughts on divine humour.
"They're powerful and they prove an advantage against the Calamity." Zelda , looking up to his eyes.
"But are they still an advantage if they turn against us when we need them most?"
Would they turn against them in their hour of need? Zelda didn't think so, but the worry was settling in as more incidents were happening.
The terrifying accuracy of the Beasts and guardians was something out of this world, but they proved equally as deadly in the way they eliminated hordes of monsters, lynels, hinoxes and other menaces. They were a weapon that could be utilised, but were they still worth the effort if they started to malfunction?
Link was right. The advantages they previously showed were withering away by the weeks that went by, but in her eyes, they were still very much a necessity. Link has always had his reservations regarding the robotic creations of the Ancient Sheikah, but his first contact with them was a malfunction, so perception had been screwed from the start. And the fact remained that she—that all of Hyrule—knew more about the ancient tech than they did about Calamity Ganon.
"I think we should still use them." Zelda told him.
Link bit his tongue for a moment and studied her face. "Just… please stay out of view of the cannons." He asked her. "I have very little trust in them anymore and I'd like to avoid any mishaps if possible."
"Wait, but you're fine with me still going?"
Link hesitated again, but he nodded.
He's not fine with it.
"I know you still like them very much, and you know so much about them but what you can do can't be done from a distance so I'm not quite sure what should be done." he ruffled his hair vigorously. "Sure, we've got Purah and Impa and Robbie and all those other researchers, but you're still a vital part of the operation and you shouldn't be overlooked."
"But what happens if there's an incident again?"
"If it's Vah Medoh, then we're in the sky until Revali retakes control or the Rito can get you and the researchers down. If it's Vah Rudania, then we've got to contend with an active volcano around every corner, but the only one I'm somewhat fine with is Vah Ruta. She's sitting in the reservoir. Jumping into the water isn't bad, but from that height, it'll still hurt you regardless if you have the stamina to make it back to shore, but the Zora can easily bring you to shore in the blink of an eye."
"So what do we do?"
"First we figure out what's wrong with the giant flying bird."
"I can't tell if you're referring to Revali or the Divine Beast."
"Maybe it's both," Link joked with a silent cackle. "But in all seriousness, I might bring a few more guards with us. I don't mind going up myself in case of more fighting, but I'd like you to still be sufficiently protected."
A few more guards… It was a good idea even if she was sacrificing the liberating feeling of a small group of guards. If Link thought it necessary, then there had to be a concern he wasn't voicing, but he's said it himself; he didn't mind going himself, but he wanted her protected.
"Can I ask you something? You have to be honest with me, even if you think it'll hurt."
"Alright."
"If you could choose, would you keep me away from Sheikah technology?"
"As a whole? No." He didn't hesitate with his answer. "It makes you happy to talk and interact with it and I could never take that away from you, but the Beasts and the guardians are a different story." He groaned uncomfortably. "I would probably prefer you stay at a safe distance or be properly protected."
"You said prefer?"
He nodded. "I won't stop you if you desire to go into them but I can advise you as best I can. I know better than anyone that if I tell someone they can't do something, it'll only increase the chances of such a thing happening. It doesn't matter if I'm telling you, a child or a grown man, it just becomes temptation and I'd rather you be able to do what you love, but within a safe limitation until we've figured out what's happening."
The answer satisfied Zelda's curiosity; it was well-thought out, explained properly and it wasn't borderline insulting either.
Not good with my words, you're a liar. Zelda thought with a smile. Link had greatly improved in his verbal deliveries over the last few weeks. Six months ago, he was pretty bad at it but he was more articulate than he initially thought.
A loud growl echoed through the room, but for once, it wasn't coming from her.
"You hungry? It's almost dinner time." Link asked, throwing the sheet off himself to go gather his clothes.
There's my Link, that will never change. "Sounds good to me."
Later that evening, there was a knock on the door. Zelda looked at the grandfather clock in her room and wondered why in the world anyone would be knocking on her door at eleven at night. She had slid into bed around an hour ago with a good book, unwilling to extinguish the lantern on the nightstand. She set down the book, pulling her night braid over her shoulder.
I hope it is Link, she thought, her heart skipping a beat.
"Princess?" another heavy knock on her door. Not Link. A guard, then.
"One moment!" She shouted, hoping out of her bed and grabbing one of her robes. She slid into a comfortable pair of flats and opened the door, revealing Captain Arn. "Good evening Captain, what can I do for you?" she smiled.
"His Grace is requesting your presence." He said curtly, bowing his head.
Zelda didn't miss the way the guards and staff had changed the way they addressed her father, but they'd never done it straight to her face before. While 'Your Grace' was technically correct, they weren't calling her father King anymore. They were starting to slowly revert him to his address as an old Duke instead of a Prince Consort—what he was in actuality—and it was starting to be obvious.
"Oh? What does my father want with me so late at night?" She asked curiously. It couldn't be good, late night talks like this were never good, and she had yet to speak to her father in almost an entire month apart from 'good mornings', 'good evenings' and 'how are you today?'.
"I'm not sure, Princess." Arn answered. "He simply asked that I bring you to his study."
Bring me to his study… This can't wait until morning then.
"Should I change?" Zelda asked, feeling her content evening slipping away from her, piece by piece.
Captain Arn shrugged. "I think you're fine. Most of the castle staff have retired for the evening."
Zelda sighed and briefly looked at her night-shift guards. "Let's get this over with."
The walk to her father's study felt more like a prisoner's march to the lockup. Captain Arn reeked of stress and sweat, the poor guy, and her own guards were clouding the air with their nerves as well. It did nothing to calm her down as she came up to her father's door.
Be strong. Don't let him get to you. She repeated to herself before knocking with a shaky hand.
"Come in." She heard her father's gruff voice resonate through the door.
She slapped a smile on her face as best she could and opened the door. She could only see her father's back, but she could read his mood before even looking at his face. It reeked of the smell of smoke—something Zelda's come to associate with frustration and anger—and Zelda immediately knew it was bad.
She could feel sweat collecting on her brow already and he hadn't even said more than two words.
Be strong, don't let it show on your face. Link had taught her well how to hide her emotions when something was far more overwhelming, but as of right now, Zelda felt her walls were crumbling and she hadn't even spoken more than three words to her father all day.
"How are you feeling?" Her father's voice was heavy and slow, almost as if he didn't want to speak with her.
He hasn't spoken to me in nearly three weeks… Three long weeks since Nayru's Day, her father had barely spared her more than a morning's greetings on the rare occasion they walked by each other and the reasonings still escaped her.
"I've been well, thank you Father." Zelda tried to smile. "I hope the same goes for you as well?"
There was a quiet grunt. That had to mean yes.
A cough echoed through the room. "Take a seat." He said, continuing to face the wall.
Zelda almost didn't want to move from her spot but she forced herself to move forward to the small comfortable chairs facing the lit fireplace.
"How's the," without looking at her, Rhoam motioned to her stomach. "Going?"
Can you not even say baby? Are you so repulsed by the idea of my pregnancy?
"My baby is fine, thank you for asking." She replied back dryly. "Is anything new?" The conversation felt forced and unnatural, but Zelda pushed through regardless.
"Nothing, but I wanted to speak on a matter with you." He still avoided her gaze.
Three whole weeks of dry greetings and he still wasn't facing her or speaking in informal ways? Zelda hated everything about the conversation, she wanted to cry.
"Has something happened recently?"
"Some noblemen are concerned about your wellbeing,"
Great. Fantastic.
"And what are they concerned about?" She inquired further with no interest whatsoever. "Link has made himself rather clear, hasn't he?" She smiled to herself when she remembered what he told the men in the council room the evening of the ball.
She'd been told by Sir Balar one night that Link had walked in with the confidence of ten men and had asked half the room who wanted to raise his baby. The audacity of such a statement had Zelda wheezing on the floor at simply imagining the reaction of the more traditional members.
"They wish to know if you plan on marrying your knight and when."
"Why? So they can try their shot?" Zelda chose not to address the misranking of her bonded. Deliberate disrespect like that wasn't worth her stress at the moment and she didn't want to fall prey to a trap like that so quickly.
Zelda composed herself. "You can tell them sooner or later."
"Don't pull that insolence on me, young lady. I am still your father." He snapped. "I can still dissolve this arrangement you have with your hero."
Haven't acted much like a father as of recently. Zelda rolled her eyes. She'd love to see her father attempt to dissolve something that was impossible to break. "Perhaps you should speak with Link regarding this matter? I'm sure he'd have choice words." She tempted him.
Her father let out a laugh. "No, I won't bother myself with such a thing."
Why? Why won't you bother yourself with such a thing? Was her father afraid of Link? What was keeping him from throwing those words at Link? Half of the castle already acted as though Link was the go-to authority, why didn't her father see that as competition?
"I'd like to see you try to rid Link of my life, I think that would be harder than you think," Zelda threw at him. "I'm pregnant, we are together, it's the end of story and there's nothing you can do about it. I'm having this baby." She stood up from the chair with a huff and began walking to the door.
If her father was only going to talk about how he disapproved of Link and her relationship, she wouldn't stand around and let it ruin her mood.
"So you've chosen to keep the child then, I presume?"
She stopped in her steps. Wasn't that what she just said? She was keeping the child.
"Yes, Father." If it wasn't already obvious by the way she was growing rounder by the day.
King Rhoam sighed, his hand coming to rest against his forehead, but he seemed to want to avoid her gaze altogether.
"I had allowed him to assist you for the sole purpose of making it easier on you, but now you've come to bear his child… And this is what you've decided to do?" Zelda stayed silent as her eyes drifted to the pristine floors of the study. "And what of your powers? I had previously thought they had awakened, but clearly I've been mistaken and you're content throwing it all away for a sliver of fleeting happiness. There is simply no way you'll be able to unlock your powers while you carry this thing in your womb."
This thing? This thing is your future grandchild…
Hidden by her dressing gown, Zelda clenched her fists until her palms stung from the bite of her nails. "This will not take away from my focus, Father. I will still continue my pilgrimages and-"
"And what? When you're so heavy with child, how will you make your way to the Spring of Wisdom? You can barely do it as you are now. I expect you to focus much more on your prayers. I forbid you to look at anything the Sheikah are making with those… guardians or beasts."
Never mind the fact she'd been turned away by many priestesses as of the last few weeks with the excuse that she was impure and pregnant, Zelda had attempted to follow her prayers in private. The accursed Calamity never left her mind, but she had made the decision to stash it as far back as she could for the sake of her and her baby's health. What good would it be for the both of them if she constantly worried for Calamity Ganon's return? Was it worth risking her child's health for something that had, thus far, proved itself non-existent?
Existent or not, it didn't stop her from the pursuit of her powers, albeit Zelda would only admit it to herself that she hadn't been as dedicated to the effort since the words of her mother's spirit had told her prayers were not the way to go. Whether it was a hallucination or not on her part, it had to mean something.
"But Father-"
"There is a good side to becoming your knight's broodmare, I suppose."
Broodmare? Her resolve began slipping. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. As soon as Zelda felt as though she might have a lick of courage to stand up to her father, it seemed to vanish like droplets of water to a fire.
Broodmare. That's all she was right now to him. A Goddess-damned horse.
Zelda stared at him in mingled astonishment and outrage and… and grief. There was nothing left of the father she had once known. This was a paranoid, broken, wrathful man. A wounded animal lashing out at anything nearby.
"At least the Goddess' power will continue to flourish if yours remains stubborn."
Only if it's a daughter… Am I only useful if I have magic or bear a daughter? Is that all I'm ever good for?
The words stuck in her throat, but she tried to speak nonetheless. "I'm not a broo-"
"Quiet. You do not understand the gravity of this situation, Zelda. The Crown princess is with child, out of wedlock, and your powers refuse to manifest. Instead you galavant with your knight in hidden corners and the gossip mongers continue to whisper of your incompetence to the throne."
Zelda obeyed as her father let out a sigh of disappointment. Her father turned to look outside of his window, over the distance of their kingdom.
She was beginning to believe he was lying about the gossip mongers. The noblewomen she spoke with all seemed thrilled that she was pregnant and many were eager to hear more from her, but at the same time, what if it was just fuel to the fires of their tea party entertainment?
"I hope you have begun praying for a daughter. Imagine what the people would say if you birthed a son and the Goddess' dormant powers ended with you. An heir is fine for the Crown, but for Hylia's sake, you must bear a daughter."
Tears threatened to spill from the Princess' eyes.
A new load on her shoulders, one she had no control over. On top of the stress of Calamity Ganon's return, her image as Crown Princess, her relationship with Link and her dormant powers, now she had to fruitlessly hope for a daughter over anything else?
I just want it to be healthy… Her hands silently went to her belly, her father still watching out of the window.
"I do believe you have time for evening devotions, do you not?" Her father reminded her, not even turning to face her.
Zelda silently nodded and took her leave without a single further word.
Once the door closed behind her, she looked to see if anyone else was around. When she saw nobody else. The tears that she had mustered back now flowed freely down her face.
Disappointment. Failure. Princess to a throne of nothing. The words were agonising, painful every time she thought of them, yet she was powerless to stop them.
Father always takes away anything that brings me joy… even if it's a child… She had been happy about the baby growing inside of her, a feeling of some accomplishment had been there. She could be a mother to something beautiful, a future she wished to look forward to, but even now her father found ways to ruin it for her.
"Imagine what the people would say if you birthed a son and the Goddess' dormant powers ended with you?"
He would never be happy about anything she did. Never would he see the efforts she churned out for the Kingdom. She wondered if anyone apart from Link, Impa and the Champions took notice of her hard work.
She slowly made her way to the residential wing of the castle, no efforts to stop the tears were made on her slow trip. She passed numerous guards, but all remained silent as she walked back to her hallway, silent hiccups and weeps coming from her.
Eventually, she made it to her hallway, head hung low and tears still falling.
She heavily debated going to sleep immediately, but her mind drifted to Link.
Her knight. Her confidant. Her best friend. Her partner.
At the very moment, she really only wanted one thing.
And so she did only that. She made her way to his door and dismissed the nightguard there with a wave of the hand and knocked quietly. She heard a quick rustling inside the room and footsteps approaching before the door opened, Link rubbing his eyes and peeking into the entryway.
As soon as he lay his eyes on Zelda, his eyes widened and immediately, he was fully awake. He quickly pulled her into his room and closed the door behind her. He quickly wrapped his arms around the Princess, engulfing her into a hug. "Zelda? What happened? Are you alright?"
No, I'm not alright.
She didn't say a single word, opting to stay quiet to stop the ball in her throat from making her cry harder. She didn't want him to hear her voice break or to listen to stutter through words.
He didn't push nor did he try to decipher what had happened. He stayed as quiet as the Princess in his arms, allowing her the simple safe space for tears that she so desperately needed at the moment.
"May I stay with you tonight?" she asked between broken sobs.
She heard him snort before being lifted off the ground, his arm picking her up behind the knees. "You never need a reason to come find me." He reminded her as he walked over to his bed, Zelda still in his arms. She shifted uncomfortably and made some room for her nightgown around her belly. Being held with her knees so close to her chest was getting a bit cramped.
He put her down carefully on one side of his bed before hopping in next to her, bringing the sheets over the two of them.
"Now what happened?" He asked, opening his arms for her to come in.
She didn't have to think about that offer, instead she snuggled in close to him and brought an arm across his bare torso and laid her head on his shoulder. She felt some warmth return to her as his arms came around and embraced her closer.
"Pregnant women cry for anything, feel free to use anything as an excuse and it'll pass."
"It's… It's silly." Zelda muttered into his skin, brushing away the tears. She didn't want Link to worry, but she knew he would be able to tell in the morning if she was a wreck; he was far too good at reading her.
"Tell me anyway." She felt him kiss the top of her head.
"It's just a nightmare." She told him, shrugging it off.
She heard a hum deep in his chest. "If you say so." He was far too hesitant, Zelda realised. He wasn't buying it, but he also wasn't pushing the topic either and for that, she was thankful.