Author's Note: Welcome back everyone! We did it, gang! For the first time in nearly 17 excruciatingly long months, I present to you the next full and complete chapter - Book III, Chapter 3 - for your reading pleasure (hopefully). This was the most monumentally difficult chapter of anything I've ever tried to write in my entire life, but honestly, I'm rather pleased with how it came out. It took a lot of work to get it there, but it's there.
I hope obvious signs of rust haven't made their way into the final posting - I tried very hard to make sure this flows and feels like all the chapters that came before it - but either way, let me know if I managed it or if things felt off somewhere. I'm still kinda relearning how to write this story, so I appreciate any thoughts or feedback you may have, especially if things felt differently where the characters are concerned.
Alright, it's been far too long and I have a tendency to yap. So I'll end this here and simply say thank you all for your patience, support, and kindness for the last year and a half. I hope this chapter finally releasing in full is enough to begin thanking you all for your continued reading of my works. I'm honestly very excited to keep presenting the rest of this story to you at long last and it makes me happy to no end that people still care about it enough to keep reading despite the long hiatus.
We're back! I'm back! 'Stars' is back, baby! And I sincerely hope you enjoy the new chapter!
Book III – Storm
Chapter 3 – Better than the Storybooks
Spring arrived alongside the coming of the Fourth Month and the temperatures across Hyrule warmed significantly at long last, leaving Hilda much more content with the weather. Now that it wasn't frigid every time the sun set, she had taken to leaning against her windowsill nightly before bed and gazing out towards the flickering lights of Castle Town, enjoying the small starbursts of torchlight and lantern glow. It was a small comfort after weeks of silent unhappiness. And tonight, they were especially beautiful – they were heralding something she had been looking forward to for days now.
Something that would be the biggest step towards reversing her fortune.
A knock sounded at her door and Hilda turned away from the window at long last, an anticipatory twinkle in her eye. Crossing the room, she eased the door open just a crack, her eyes falling upon Aisen. His white hair was swept neatly to one side as always, though his usual Sheikah headwear was absent. Likely he had left it behind in his chambers, given the hour. It was quite late at night and normally he wasn't supposed to call on her at this time.
It was okay tonight, though; she had been the one to invite him.
"Good evening, Aisen," she spoke in a soft voice.
The Advisor gave her a calm smile and nodded.
"And to you as well, Hilda-sama. You wished to see me? I never mind responding to your summons, but it's rather late at night, isn't it? I would never wish to disturb your sleep."
"Indeed, it is quite late. But your presence is no disturbance at all, I assure you. Why don't you come in?"
"If you're inviting me, I would never dream of turning you down."
"Excellent."
Hilda opened the door wide and beckoned him across the threshold. Aisen, however, froze completely. It wasn't surprising why – Hilda was dressed only in her turquoise nightgown, the short sleeves and high skirt hem leaving a great deal of her arms and legs bare.
"My, now that I think about it," she mused with a knowing smile, "this is the first time you've seen me in such a state of dress, isn't it? All my usual outfits cover my legs much more carefully than this, at the very least."
Aisen swallowed visibly before speaking again, his voice now filled with hesitation.
"Um, Hilda-sama? Are you…sure I should be here?"
"Of course I am. I asked you to call on me in my tower as the night grew late, did I not? Surely you must have been aware of the implications of that…no?"
Aisen still hadn't moved a step, instead electing to stand awkwardly in the spiral stairwell that led to the top of her tower. Hilda finally reached out and grabbed his wrist, pulling him into her large bedroom before shutting the door and fastening the lock. It was something she usually only did when she was planning to retire for the night and wanted complete privacy.
The Advisor's eyes were wide as he gazed between her and the door, blinking in disbelief. Hilda took a step closer to him and reached out, taking his wrist between her fingers with a gentler touch this time.
"What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost, Aisen."
He opened his mouth and closed it several times before finding his voice again.
"Uh, it's just…I'm quite sure I must be misunderstanding the situation, Hilda-sama."
"Oh? And just what would you be misunderstanding?"
"It…certainly seems as if you intend to…"
"Yes?"
Aisen couldn't manage to finish his thought so Hilda simply guided him across the room at a slow, casual stroll, making sure to brush her arm against his.
"You know, Aisen, you've done a tremendous job as my Royal Advisor for the last five years. Since you arrived at my side, things have gone so smoothly and peacefully for me. I know I'm not always the most agreeable person in the world, but you've even navigated keeping me satisfied on top of all your other responsibilities. I am quite impressed, to tell you the truth."
"I…have certainly always tried to live up to your desires," he managed at last, his eyes still darting around with uncertainty.
"Yes, you have. And you've done that magnificently, Aisen."
Hilda released his wrist and sauntered towards one of the four lanterns illuminating the room. She gave a coy glance over her shoulder as she bent down towards it, lifting the lantern into her hands before smothering the flame and taking her sweet time returning it to its proper place. She could feel Aisen's eyes on her despite his best efforts to look anywhere else.
She repeated the process for another lantern, her movements methodical and precise and so terribly slow. She drew his attention with surgical precision and commanded his gaze as if he were hypnotized to do her bidding. She was a ventriloquist and Aisen her puppet.
At last, only two lanterns remained to light the tower, leaving the room bathed in a dim glow. She turned her attention back to her speechless Advisor.
"This sets the mood much better," she explained with a subtle wink.
"Um…Hilda-sama…" Aisen began before trailing off again.
"Hm?"
"You're not…sleepwalking or otherwise possessed by some kind of spirit, are you?"
Hilda was overtaken by genuine laughter at his comment, caught completely off guard, before recollecting herself and approaching him again. There was a spring in her step that wasn't usually there.
"Of course not, though I do thank you for the laugh. Did it ease your spirits as much as it did mine?"
"Um…no, I can't say it did if I'm being honest."
Hilda placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Are you hesitant?"
"Well…of course. You are my employer and charge, to say nothing of the fact that you are first and foremost the Crown Princess of Hyrule. If anyone found out I was…involved with you, they would likely demand my head on a pike within the hour."
"That's only if I allowed it. You know me far better than that, Aisen. Do you really think I would let something to happen to my Advisor?"
He tried to meet her gaze but quickly averted his eyes again. Perhaps he found her too close.
"I…suppose not, no."
"Let me give you a bit more certainty, then," Hilda continued, leaning ever closer. "I would never allow harm to come to you by someone else's hand."
Hilda pushed Aisen with surprising force, sending him falling backwards onto the bed behind him. His eyes were enormous now, large as saucers. He raised himself up onto his elbows and watched her in absolute shock.
"And so, as my treasured Advisor, I ask that you take comfort in those words. And rest assured you may entrust yourself entirely to me. I have every intention of repaying your loyalty over the years in spades, Aisen."
Hilda lowered herself onto the bed as well before throwing her leg across him, settling into his lap and shifting around deliberately under the guise of getting comfortable. She met his his gaze with eyes half-lidded. He was finally starting to relax into the moment a bit more, the previous hesitation and disbelief beginning to melt away as his dark eyes fogged over with desire.
"And…you're quite certain, Hilda-sama?"
She reached out and took his chin between her fingers before leaning so close their noses almost touched.
"I'm very certain, Aisen."
With that, she shoved him down onto the mattress, delighting in the surprise on his face. She reached down towards him and took his right hand in her left, threading her fingers between his. Her right hand moved to the hem of her nightgown and began to lift it gradually, more and more of the pale skin of her thigh being revealed to his hungry gaze.
"Hilda…sama…"
She leaned in close and spoke in a breathy whisper.
"Don't worry, Aisen. I'll take wonderful care of you tonight."
The intensity of the moment seemed to weigh down the very air around them. Aisen's eyes were filling with desire and lust like Hilda had never witnessed before. He was finally settling into the carefully curated atmosphere she had worked so hard to create, surrendering himself fully and completely to her control. Her carefully rehearsed show had worked wonders and he had all but fallen under her spell of lust.
'Excellent.'
That atmosphere was shattered in an instant.
Hilda reached beneath her nightgown, pulling a dagger from a holster she had fastened to her upper thigh. In one swift motion, she crashed down atop him, pressing the blade closely against his neck and tightening her grip on his hand with as much force as she could manage. All of Aisen's lust and desire evaporated, immediately replaced by fear and confusion.
"Hilda-sama? What are you doing?" he whispered, his voice near having left him.
She fixed him with an icy stare, making sure he felt the press of the cold steel against his skin.
"Like I said before, I'm repaying your loyalty in spades, Yiga."
Aisen's eyes widened yet again but this time he showed no other reaction, perhaps intimidated by the dagger against his throat.
"Y…Yiga? Hilda-sama, what are you talking abou-"
"Shut up, Aisen," she ordered, her voice still low. He did as he was told. "Did you think I was stupid? Did you think you could hide right under my nose forever? Did you think the Royal Family doesn't have every bit the same level of information coming in as the pathetic Yiga Clan does? I guarantee you we do; in fact, I'm all but certain we have much higher quality informants than you do."
"Hilda-sama, wait-"
"Are you going to try convincing me I'm wrong? I would choose my next words very carefully if I were you, Aisen. Don't forget the position you're in. You can't use your ninjutsu to teleport away from me without the use of your right hand and I promise this dagger of mine can pierce your throat faster than you can strike me."
Aisen didn't move at all, though his initial shock was beginning to settle. He closed his mouth again and waited for the Crown Princess to speak.
"Good. Now. The truth. You are a member of the despicable Yiga Clan, are you not?"
Aisen hesitated for a long moment before she pressed the dagger a little more firmly into his skin.
"…I am," he relented at last.
"I'm glad you finally admitted it to me. Even in this position, you still attempt to serve your master with such dedication. But…that's not all you are, is it?"
Aisen's eyes widened as Hilda leaned in a little closer and spoke in a whisper.
"You're one of their Generals, aren't you?"
Aisen's breath hitched in his chest.
"Don't bother denying it – I already know the answer. You're one of three Yiga Generals and you were sent here to infiltrate the Castle and get close to me. You were only ever my Royal Advisor out of convenience for yourself and your organization. How you managed to infiltrate the Sheikah, I'm still unsure. But I suppose that doesn't matter anymore, now does it?"
Aisen finally spoke again, his voice soft.
"It's true. I've always felt rather guilty hiding the truth from you – I really do have tremendous respect and admiration for you, Hilda-sama. That has never been a lie. But regardless, everything is as you say."
"Isn't it always?"
"Indeed. So…what will you do with me? Use me as a hostage in negotiations? Kill me right here in this tower for my betrayals?"
"What kind of barbarian do you take me for?"
Aisen allowed a grim smile to take his face.
"Of course. The Crown Princess herself can hardly be seen with blood on her hands, can she? Am I to be sent to the dungeons and tortured for information then?"
"You have the most macabre mind, Aisen; it really is unbecoming to see you wilt so completely under my dagger."
"What can I say? You had the advantage from the start and played me masterfully. Even the deceit of a Yiga General was nothing compared to your carefully measured plan this evening."
"I thank you for your flattery, but you're missing the point. I have you alone like this in my tower. If I wanted you imprisoned for your crimes, why would I do this so late at night when everyone else is asleep? Even if I were the only one who could get you to let your guard down, why would I choose then to lock my tower to all others? Wouldn't I have soldiers stationed nearby, ready to rush in the second I subdued you?"
"…I suppose that's a fair point."
"See? This is what I meant, Aisen – your critical thinking and logical reasoning has vanished completely. Come now, where is the shrewd Yiga General who infiltrated Hyrule Castle five years ago? The same one who's lived right beneath the noses of the Royal Family completely unsuspected until now."
Aisen studied her for a moment. It didn't look like he was plotting to make an escape, but rather to assess the situation as she had requested. Even now, he was still obedient to a fault.
"You want me alone like this because there's something I can give you. And it's something you want only for yourself."
"So, you're still in there after all. That's right; I want information that only you can provide. And no one else may be allowed any knowledge of our conversation."
"And what information might that be?"
"Let me answer your question with another question. You and the Yiga Clan – you know of the Witch Queen, don't you?" she asked, her voice suddenly accusatory.
Aisen's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Where did you hear that name?"
"From the same excellent sources that uncovered your identity, Aisen. Do you know of her?"
"Your sources must be even more clever than you yourself, Hilda-sama. That is quite an impressive feat."
The time for games was over, though. Her gaze grew cold and her voice authoritative.
"Enough flattery. I can sense you don't wish to answer my question."
"Would that I had the luxury of choice."
"And yet, still you hesitate. I will ask you one more time; I will not repeat the question again. Do you know of the Witch Queen?" she demanded, pressing the point of her blade into his skin until a small pinpoint of blood appeared on its silver tip.
"…yes. I know of the Witch Queen."
Hilda's eyes narrowed and she lowered her voice even further.
"Tell me everything you know about her, down to the most insignificant detail. Now."
Aisen hesitated for a long moment before meeting her gaze with a bit more resignation. Though he always wished to please Hilda, this was a question he clearly didn't wish to answer. The stalwart point of her dagger no doubt helped to sway his decision, though.
"…as you wish, Hilda-sama."
Aisen took a slow breath before beginning, his mouth only moving as much as necessary so Hilda's dagger didn't cut further into him.
"About a month ago, a woman calling herself the Witch Queen appeared at one of the Yiga hideouts in Castle Town. She confronted two of our grunts and demanded a meeting with a General, proposing an alliance. One of them felt threatened by her and drew their blade, but she used her magic to render them unconscious without so much as a shred of effort, according to the report. The remaining grunt was tasked with sending a letter to the higher ups. I'm told she vanished at the end of their conversation, as if she were never there to begin with.
"After that, the second grunt arranged a meeting with Sooga, Master Kohga's right hand and the General responsible for your sister's near-kidnapping at the end of last year. Sooga was given but one mission – to discern whether or not the Witch Queen was someone the Yiga should form an alliance with. I wasn't there personally, but I heard that Sooga attempted to test her in combat and was quite soundly defeated.
"Following their encounter, Sooga decided to ally the Yiga Clan with the Witch Queen. She claimed she had a plan to overthrow the Royal Family and conquer the Kingdom of Hyrule under her own banner. There were two options for the Yiga when presented with that ultimatum – side with her and gain power in the future or refuse her offer and later be annihilated as a precautionary act. The choice was an easy one."
Hilda's eyes hadn't changed at all while Aisen had told his story. Her dagger hadn't shifted even a miniscule amount. Finally, after sorting through the information in complete silence, she spoke in a low voice.
"So, this mysterious woman appeared out of nowhere, slapped around the highest ranking General of the Yiga Clan, and coerced your assistance in her bid to overthrow my father and I?"
"…that about sums it up, yes."
"Amazing that she saw any use in you at all."
"Even though she's a more powerful witch than we are ninja, I wouldn't say the Yiga are entirely useless to her. Our information network is extremely vast, as you're well aware, Hilda-sama. And I do think if myself or Sooga managed to get in close, she would have a much more difficult time against us in battle."
Hilda raised an eyebrow, her dagger retracting slightly.
"Oh? Have you noticed some sort of weakness of hers then?"
"Only in theory. I've never witnessed the Witch Queen's powers in person, after all."
Hilda leaned in even closer, her eyes boring into Aisen's. To his credit, he didn't avert his gaze nor balk under her withering stare. Few could have managed that level of composure in this moment. But Hilda was done with theatrics. There was only one piece of information she wanted.
"A theory is good enough. Tell me. Now. What do you think the Witch Queen's weakness is?"
Zelda wasn't sure what to expect for the coming day. All Link had told her the night before was that he had a surprise for her. She had been so curious about it she had even stayed up a little later than usual with Aryll theorizing about what it could possibly be. The girl with short blonde hair had delighted in hearing those theories, but the twinkle in her eye and the sly grin on her face led Zelda to believe that she already knew exactly what the coming day held for her.
The next morning, Link prepared breakfast as usual. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, though a quiet feeling of nervous excitement kept Zelda's eyes from resting on one singular point for most of the meal. The morning proceeded as usual with cleanup following breakfast and everyone preparing to ready themselves for the coming day.
Before Zelda returned to her shared room, though, Link said she should dress comfortably and in something she wouldn't mind wearing outside for a while. To that end, she had chosen that gorgeous white and blue dress he had gifted her so many months ago now. It was her favorite outfit and it was finally warm enough to wear it again. It seemed rather appropriate too, given that Link was once again surprising her with something she had no chance of being prepared for.
Link himself wasn't without his own surprises, though. It was close to midday when a knock at at Aryll's door drew everyone's curious eyes. Mipha was standing on the other side, which itself wasn't a shock given how often she'd been visiting lately. But Link met her bright-eyed smile with a guilty face. Evidently he had forgotten to tell her that he was stealing Zelda away from their magic training that day for his surprise. He insisted he would make it up to her for being the reason she had wasted a trip down to Lurelin, but Mipha, unsurprisingly, took it all in stride.
"That's perfectly okay, you and Zelda go have a wonderful afternoon! Besides, it's hardly a wasted trip if I get to spend the day with Ari!"
Zelda had to suppress an enormous smile as she watched Aryll blush and fidget from the other side of the room. For an instant, she felt her mind begin to scheme of innocent ways she could push them closer together. But all her thoughts of Mipha and Aryll disappeared in a single moment as Link turned to her and offered his hand, the other supporting a sizeable bag he had slung over his shoulder.
"Shall we get going, Zelda?"
She approached timidly and laid her palm in his, that feeling of nervous curiosity surging to the forefront of her being yet again.
"O-of course."
As they left the house and began walking down the beach, she heard Mipha and Aryll call their goodbyes from the porch before dissolving into excited whispers and giggles. She was quite clearly the only one who didn't know what was happening at this point…but that wasn't so bad. Especially if Link had gone to such trouble to prepare such an afternoon for her. She knew she could trust anything he had put together for her.
Link reached out and took her hand as soon as they were out of sight of Aryll's porch. Zelda's heart leapt before she took a steadying breath and threaded her fingers between his. There had been a time she couldn't have imagined holding his hand like this but now it felt strange if she didn't do it. It had taken so little time to become entirely comfortable approaching him with such familiarity. In fact, it was such a natural response these days that she hardly even blushed.
It certainly helped that he always encouraged it, giving her hand a gentle squeeze every time she slipped her fingers between his.
"Sorry for all the secrecy and excitement this morning," he offered, an apologetic smile on his handsome face.
"O-oh, not at all. I've…rather enjoyed trying to guess what this surprise might be."
"You have?"
"I actually stayed up a bit too late with Ari last night talking about the possibilities," she admitted with a sheepish smile.
"I'm glad you're looking forward to it," Link offered with a warm twinkle in his eyes. "Feel like sharing some of those guesses with me as we walk?"
"I-I don't mind. Well…first I thought maybe it was a surprise for both Ari and I, but the way she was grinning and laughing made it pretty obvious that she already knew what was going on."
Link let slip an amused chuckle.
"Yeah, she's about as subtle as a flying brick, that one."
Zelda couldn't help but laugh in turn at his colorful comparison.
"I…admire that honesty of hers. I've always been so withdrawn and guarded that it's amazing to see someone be themselves so unapologetically."
"You've come a long way yourself, Zelda," Link assured her. "There was a time you never would have walked beside me like this and I'm so glad you've reached a point where you're comfortable with that."
Zelda felt her cheeks heat up.
"I…really am happy too. Thank you for…showing me that I can be myself with you."
It was Link's turn to blush rather obviously.
"Always, Zelda. And besides, I'd much rather have you right next to me than anywhere else."
The two continued through Lurelin Village, Zelda offering her other theories to Link as they walked. She had thought maybe they were taking a trip down the beach, but that didn't seem to be the case given their current direction. Perhaps they were going to have lunch at one of the restaurants in town. Though they'd partaken in the local cuisine a few times since arriving, they usually cooked at home with Aryll so it would still be new and unfamiliar at the very least. But even that didn't seem to be the case as they passed each building without a second glance.
Her last theory had been that it was something outside of Lurelin itself, though she wasn't sure where or what that might entail. When she suggested this one, Link gave her a satisfied smile and nodded at last.
"That's it! See? You're a strategist at heart."
"Where are we going outside of Lurelin though?" she pondered, more to herself than Link.
"It's not far," he promised. "But we do have a little more walking to do, as long as that's okay with you."
Zelda felt a smile steal her face.
"I don't mind at all," she assured him. "It's a beautiful day and…walking with you…makes it even better…"
Zelda felt her face grow hot. Lately, she and Link had only managed to steal short moments alone while Aryll was in the bath or otherwise preoccupied. She had loved every second she'd spent with Aryll since coming to Lurelin; she really had become a sister to her. But these quiet moments alone with Link were a different kind of special. And they really hadn't had enough time together since the attack on Hateno had displaced them.
After leaving the village's main gate, they walked in a comfortable silence, taking in the sights and sounds of the landscape around them. Occasionally, Link would point out a particular plant or animal and Zelda found herself dazzled by the nature around her. She had only gone into the forest near Hateno with Link a few times and it always felt as if she had stepped into another world.
This was different, though. There were no towering trees, no enormous thickets or sections of underbrush. This landscape was much more open and accented a marvelous horizon filled with mountains and cliffs and waterfalls in the far distance. It was more than enough to fill her with wonder.
They quickly veered towards the west, though, following a winding path up a nearby mountain. It wasn't a very steep climb and Zelda found her eye wandering again, gazing in awe at the magnificent vistas around them. In the back of her mind, though, she was aware of the feeling that she wouldn't have enjoyed this view nearly as much if she hadn't been walking hand in hand with Link.
It wasn't long before they arrived at the end of the path. Zelda was a bit surprised; they hadn't gone all that far in the grand scheme of things. In fact, a quick glance from the small mountain's summit showed Lurelin Village resting just below. If she looked closely enough, she was convinced she would be able to spot Aryll teasing Mipha like any other day.
There must be some reason he had picked this particular mountain then, right? Surely it wasn't just the landscape; they could view the ocean from Aryll's front porch.
"So, uh…" Link began, hesitating in a way uncharacteristic of him. "This is, uh…this is a place Ari told me about a few days ago. Apparently it's called…'Lover's Pond'…"
Immediately, Zelda's face caught fire. So that was why he was hesitating so much. Though neither of them had chosen the name, it certainly didn't leave much to the imagination. It was a rather strong implication, after all…
When she calmed down and actually thought about it, though, was it so inaccurate? She had confessed her feelings to him back in Hateno and he had happily admitted his own in turn. Since then, they had even tried adjusting to saying those magical words to each other slowly but surely. So…perhaps the moniker 'lovers' was appropriate after all.
"I thought it might be nice to have a picnic together up here," Link revealed at long last, a warm smile on his face even as his own blush refused to fade. He gestured to the bag he'd been carrying that now rested on the ground. "Ari didn't have a picnic basket so I had to improvise a bit."
This earned a light laugh from Zelda, her nerves finally starting to calm again. Why was she so anxious anyway? She and Link had already been through so much together; this wasn't anything to panic about. It was something to relax into and enjoy.
Even if her heart was doing flips and twirls in her chest at the thought of Link willingly bringing her to a place called Lover's Pond.
"S-so," she began, meeting his gaze hesitantly, "why…do they call it 'Lover's Pond?'"
"I think that's the reason," Link offered, gesturing to a spot behind her.
For the first time since arriving at the summit, Zelda turned her gaze to the mountaintop itself. Resting at its center, surrounded by all manner of magnificent flowers in full bloom, was a pond that formed the shape of a heart. There were even a few Fairies dancing around the center of it, their pink glow strong even in the bright sunlight. She couldn't help but marvel at the sight.
"Wow," was all she could manage.
Link chuckled as he stepped beside her.
"It's amazing that this is a natural phenomenon, isn't it? Ari told me that people come from all over Hyrule to visit this place. Some pray for their feelings to be returned. Some visit together with the person they love and wish for a happy future. And I'm sure some just want to see the sight for themselves."
"I understand that," she murmured. "I never knew something like this existed."
"Even though I'd heard a story or two about it, I had no idea where it was until Ari pointed it out form the porch the other night," Link admitted with another laugh. He paused for a few moments after that before continuing in a much more subdued voice.
"I hope I…haven't made you uncomfortable bringing you to a place called 'Lover's Pond,' though. I don't mean to imply anything or pressure you in any way, Zelda. But I wanted to bring you someplace special while we had the chance. And I figured…I don't want to pretend like my feelings for you aren't just as special."
A crimson blushed exploded to life on Zelda's face, but she smiled despite the heat in her cheeks.
"I…don't feel any pressure or discomfort at all, Link. Thank you…for bringing me here. I think…it's a perfect place for the two of us to have a picnic together."
Link sighed in relief before an enormous smile eclipsed his face. Seeing him look so happy filled Zelda's heart with unparalleled warmth. When he spoke again, his voice was soft and inviting.
"I really do too."
A short time later, Link had spread a large picnic blanket out near the pond. Though he insisted Zelda didn't have to help him set anything up, she still wanted to. As she had learned countless times over the last several months, they really did work well together. She had felt it even more strongly these last few weeks, especially after they had made lunch together on their beach day with Aryll and Mipha.
It didn't take much to convince Link and so Zelda set about taking their lunch out of the bag. Apparently it was from a local restaurant Aryll had recommended that they hadn't tried yet. Unsurprisingly, it was a seafood dish, this one made with fresh fish, rice, and a generous assortment of complimentary vegetables. The containers the food had been placed in did an excellent job of masking the aroma, too. For how inviting and powerful the scent was, Zelda was amazed she hadn't even caught the tiniest hint of it for their entire walk.
Finally, their picnic was prepared. Link was already sitting towards the center of the blanket, smiling back at Zelda as he patted the spot beside him. He wanted her that close to him while they ate? Usually they sat at their own places at the table, had their own space to work with, but…
Zelda lowered herself onto the checkered blanket next to him, relishing in the closeness. There was something special about the air here that she couldn't quite put a finger on. Maybe it was just the fact that they were completely alone for the first time in a month that was making her feel this way. Whatever the reason, she wanted to preserve this atmosphere as carefully as possible.
"Is everything okay as far as the food goes?" Link asked. "I'd like to think I have a decent idea of your tastes at this point, but we don't really have seafood very often in Hateno."
"O-oh, this is perfect," she assured him. "And it smells wonderful. T-thank you…for going to such trouble just to surprise me today."
"It was no trouble at all. I wanted to do something special for you while we were here. But just because we'll be going home to Hateno soon doesn't mean moments like these have to stop."
"I…I'd like to keep doing things like this, too…"
"Ari…called it a date…" Link admitted, shifting awkwardly.
Zelda felt her face flush for the twentieth time that afternoon.
"A…a date…I…I s-suppose that's exactly what this is…isn't it?"
"Y-yeah…"
A brief silence fell between them before Zelda took it upon herself to break the uncertain atmosphere. Even as she opened her mouth to speak, she was fully aware of the fact that she would never have been able to manage such a thing when she had first met Link.
"W-well…I guess the next time we play Confessions with Ari and Mipha, w-we'll be able to say we've actually been on a real date together now, won't we?"
Link blinked in surprise a few times before a warm smile stole his face.
"I guess we will, yeah," he agreed, unguarded happiness in his voice.
Zelda felt that warmth and joy wash over her like the waves of the ocean lapping at the shoreline below. It was infectious and delightful. Just that singular moment alone was enough to make her glad she had come out of her shell around Link more and more over the last many months. That she could help him smile and relax like that was something she had never thought herself capable of. And yet here they were, both helping the other to feel calm and settled, even in an unfamiliar moment.
It really was a special feeling.
A blanket of calm settled over them as they ate their lunches in earnest. As opposed to the walk to the summit, Zelda was only somewhat aware of her surroundings now, so wholly was she enthralled by this moment with Link. The world always felt so different when she was next to him like this. Whether they were sitting by the fire at home, watching the stars from Aryll's porch, or next to each other in a wagon or carriage didn't matter – just the fact that he was there made every second incomparably wonderful. It filled her with joy the likes of which she'd never known.
Their conversation during the meal was fairly sparse, but it wasn't awkward. Once upon a time, Zelda would have considered this terribly uncomfortable. In fact, the first night they'd shared a meal together, she had been convinced his silence was because she was such an unsuitable conversation partner.
But these days, she had come to bask in the quiet comfort they had found together. She wasn't the most confident person in the world, even disregarding the lingering effects of her relationship with Hilda, and that extended naturally to conversation too. And she was well aware that Link was generally a man of few words, even if he had less qualms about speaking more freely when surrounded by those he was closest with.
No, these types of silences weren't off putting in the slightest anymore. There was something powerful about being able to sit next to Link, to eat a meal by his side like this, and not feel guilty for the quiet that surrounded them. In fact, it was almost reassuring. The fact that they were so relaxed with one another that they didn't have to try to fill the space with noise was a feeling that was still so foreign to her, but one that seemed to signal a deep and ever-growing trust between them.
This was the most intensely she'd felt the sensation so far and it was truly a delight.
After they finished their meals, Link tidied up the bowls and utensils they'd used and set them to the side to worry about later. Zelda watched as he stretched lightly before lying down on his back, his hands tucked away beneath his head.
"Want to join me?" he offered with a serene smile.
Zelda had never really done anything like this before, not that she could remember at any rate. As a little girl, she'd been expected to keep her dresses and hair clean and couldn't be out in the gardens rolling around in the grass. As a teenager, she had toiled away as Hilda's servant each and every day, leaving her no time to appreciate the world around her at all. And even in her twenties, she hadn't taken many chances to just enjoy a quiet moment in nature like this.
It looked heavenly.
Zelda followed Link's lead, lowering herself to her back and scooting upwards just a bit so her head was aligned with his own. She mimicked what he had done with his hands, folding them behind her own head. It was surprisingly relaxing.
"I've…never done something like this before," she admitted, her soft voice almost lost on the wind.
Link turned his head just enough that he could gaze towards her.
"It's nice, isn't it? I haven't done this in a long time, actually."
"I can just imagine a younger you lying in the grass and gazing up at the sky."
"Ari and I used to do this from time to time when we were little, yeah. But at a certain point it became something I only did when I was alone, at least until the Calamity was sealed away again. I don't think I've done this since then. But before that, it was a way I could just escape from the world and let my mind wander wherever it wanted."
Zelda smiled as she imagined the sight for herself.
"What kinds of things did you think about?"
"When I was a kid, I was worried about school. Was I smart enough? Would I embarrass myself? Would I be able to talk to the other kids? I was plenty quiet back then. A lot more awkward than I am now, if you can believe that," he added with a chuckle.
"I'd almost certainly have felt the same things."
"When I was twelve, I would try to wrap my mind around the ways life was going to change because of the Master Sword. I started doing this more often after I pulled it from the Sacred Grove in Korok Forest."
"Do you mind if I ask…how did that happen exactly? You pulling the Master Sword at such a young age," Zelda murmured, making sure to meet his gaze with as much confidence as she could muster.
"I guess I never really shared that story with you, did I? I'm sorry about that; I don't mind telling you at all."
"A-are you sure?"
"Of course. It's just never come up before; I have nothing to hide from you, Zelda."
Her cheeks warmed a bit but the smile that stole her face far eclipsed it.
"Then…I would be honored to listen."
"Well, you already know that I used to tag along with my dad back when he was still your father's military ambassador to the four regions. Usually it was just to Zora's Domain; the other regions were too dangerous for a kid, really, with all the extreme weather. But during one of those trips, we stopped in Korok Forest on the way back. The King had asked that Dad's squad check in on the Master Sword in the Sacred Grove and see if the Great Deku Tree had any new wisdom to offer regarding the person who would inherit it.
"We traveled through the Lost Woods and eventually arrived at the Sacred Grove. It was one of the most unbelievable things I've ever seen with my own eyes, Zelda. Lush and green like you've never even imagined. Flowers and plants that feel more alive than some people I've met. And the Great Deku Tree himself is a sight to behold; he towers over the entire forest and has this almost otherworldly air about him. I felt like an ant when I first laid eyes on him."
Zelda tried to conjure a visual in her mind but found very quickly that she couldn't do his words justice, even on the canvas of her imagination. That was okay though; it was more fun to listen to Link retell it than anything else. She relaxed even further into his words as he continued, his gaze turning skyward as he reminisced about the day in question.
"My dad had met the Great Deku Tree a few times by that point; I'd almost go so far as to say the Deku Tree was pleased to see him and chat again. What I didn't realize at the time was that all the soldiers with us, my dad included, could only see the Deku Tree. There were these little forest spirits that lived in the Grove too, the Koroks. I kept waving to them and they'd wave back before getting startled and running away, but it turns out I was the only one who could see them."
Zelda took a steadying breath before interjecting in the silence Link left between his thoughts.
"I remember reading about forest spirits called Koroks when I was in lessons as a little girl. I've never seen one myself, of course, but it's…so interesting that only you could interact with them. I wonder if it has something to do with your connection to the Master Sword itself…"
"That was my thinking too," Link agreed, meeting her gaze again. "At the time, I had no clue. But as the years went on, I started to think maybe that was exactly the reason, even before I drew the blade itself."
"Did you draw the Master Sword that day? Or did you come back a different time?"
"It was that day. I wasn't even close to ready for the request either," he added with a light laugh. At least it wasn't a painful memory for him, something that made Zelda smile as he continued the tale.
"The Deku Tree seemed to key into my presence right away. My dad had said I could talk to him if he spoke to me first, but I wasn't supposed to address him directly otherwise. He was probably being more cautious than anything – the Great Deku Tree even now strikes me as more of a grandfather to all of Hyrule than a deity that demands deference and subservience – but that's hard to explain to a twelve-year-old.
"Anyway, the Deku Tree asked me a little about myself and I answered his questions. After learning I was the son of the knight he knew so well, he actually asked my dad for a favor. He wanted me to try pulling the Master Sword from its pedestal. Dad was a bit shocked at first, probably a little hesitant even. Apparently, the Master Sword has an unpleasant penchant for draining the energy from someone unworthy of drawing it if they try. But I swear I saw the Great Deku Tree smile as he assured Dad no harm would come to me.
"So I walked up to the pedestal and the Deku Tree told me to just grab the blade and pull, not to worry about it too much. So I did just that. I even closed my eyes so I didn't dwell on what I was trying to do. I didn't realize I'd drawn the sword at all until he said I should open my eyes and look at what I'd accomplished."
"Wow," Zelda murmured. "I can't even begin to imagine how incredible that moment must have been."
"For as uncertain as I was about things later, I'll admit it was a powerful feeling at the time. I was young but even I knew the stories – every knight in the Kingdom of Hyrule worthy of the King's recognition had journeyed to the Sacred Grove and attempted to pull the Master Sword from its resting place. It felt…like I'd done the impossible, when I pulled that sword into my hands that day.
"Dad was stunned. Every other knight with us looked like they'd been shot with a shock arrow. The Great Deku Tree just laughed and told us he'd sensed something special from me the moment we entered his forest. That was when he explained that only I could see the Korok and seemed to have a special connection to the Grove."
"Did he ever tell you more?"
"No, even the Great Deku Tree wasn't entirely sure why only I could see the Korok; all he knew was that Hylians usually couldn't. But he seemed convinced it was connected to my destiny to pull the Master Sword from its resting place. He said I was predestined to wield it, that it had been decided from the moment I was born."
"I…imagine that was a lot of stress to handle when you were so young."
"It was, yeah. But Dad didn't let me handle it alone. I know you already know this part, but he traded the favor he'd earned from saving your father's life years before to keep me from being drafted as a knight. He promised he would be the one to oversee my training and that I would become a warrior able to fell the Calamity. And he kept his word.
"But he also knew the Knight's Academy would have been a terrible place for someone like me – I was just too withdrawn and shy to ever have responded well to an environment like that. I'll always be grateful that he did that for me. Sure, I've had some struggles in my life because of my destiny to wield the Master Sword, but things could have turned out so much worse if it hadn't been for Dad."
The warmth in his voice was unmistakable. Somewhere deep inside, Zelda was almost envious. But beyond every other feeling, she was simply glad that Link had always had such an amazing person looking out for him.
She turned onto her side and met Link's eyes.
"From the stories I've heard about the way your father watches out for you and Ari, I can only imagine the wonderful man he is. I…I would love to meet him…someday."
Link mirrored her actions, turning away from the sky and rolling onto his shoulder to face her, that same serene smile from earlier enough to send chills down her arms when directed at her.
"I'd love to introduce you. Maybe we can plan a trip out to Ordon someday. Or I can invite him to visit us in Hateno."
"E-either…would be perfectly fine by me."
"Then let's see how we're feeling after we settle back in at home. It's been a while since I blew up the house, after all; we deserve a little time to make it ours again after the rebuild."
"I…I like the sound of that."
Link reached out with his right hand a moment later, easing her free hand into his once more. There was a gentleness to the motion that made her shiver again, a warmth that filled her heart to the brim in an instant.
"You know, part of the reason I wanted to do this today was because it's been so long since we've really had any time alone," he admitted.
Zelda felt her cheeks warm up but was surprised that the sensation wasn't as fierce as it sometimes could be.
"I…I've noticed the same thing. I love getting to spend time with Ari, I don't mean to sound like I don't," she assured him quickly, "but I…do miss our quiet evenings at home, too."
"A selfish part of me was hoping you missed those as much as I do," Link told her with a grin. "Well, in about a week we can head home again. Ira said the construction company replaced all the biggest pieces that got destroyed during the attack – the couch, the dining table, things like that. But the rest of the furnishings we'll have to take care of ourselves. So maybe we can make a project out of decorating the place together this time? If you'd like that, of course."
Zelda felt a wide smile spread across her face.
"I would…love that."
"Me too. Ari's always told me I can't decorate to save my life; I'll definitely need your help if we're going to make the place feel like home again. Probably even better this time with both of us working together."
Zelda blushed at his words but found that they felt particularly inviting as well. She missed the place she had come to call home, the place she felt safest in the world. The home she had been welcomed into by the kindest man she would ever know.
"T-to be honest…it doesn't matter what color the curtains are," she began, willing herself not to shy away from Link's gaze. "It doesn't matter what material the bedding is, what shape the dining table is, what size the couch is. All that matters…is that we get to go home…t-together."
For the first time in a while, Zelda watched as her own words drew a fierce blush to Link's face. She had grown used to seeing him respond this way after certain actions or comments of his own, but it was rare that her own words were enough to make him succumb to the same reaction she was so used to having herself.
A moment later, an unguarded smile stole Link's lips. He squeezed her hand in his and met her gaze with unflinching eyes, despite his clear signs of his embarrassment.
"I couldn't be happier that we'll be going home together. Besides…there is no home without you, Zelda. Not anymore."
Try as she might, Zelda just couldn't force her gaze to remain steady at those words and she glanced away, her face flushing an even deeper shade of scarlet. Link just gave her hand a comforting squeeze before letting her calm down again, a gesture she deeply appreciated.
"Zelda?" he began a few moments later.
She turned her gaze back to him and met his intensely blue eyes. They were always so hypnotic.
"Y-yes?"
"I've been thinking a lot lately. About you and me."
"W-what's…been on your mind?"
"Well…I know we're both easing into saying our real feelings out loud. Saying the words 'I love you' without feeling so…hesitant."
The heat in Zelda's cheeks returned yet again but this time she managed to keep her eyes from escaping his gaze. Link cleared his throat and pressed on, his own eyes filled with uncertainty.
"But I've been wondering…if I do enough to show you that I love you as well, instead of only saying it."
"O-oh, y-you always…make me feel…l-loved…"
For the first time since he'd spoken up again, Link averted his own gaze before continuing.
"I guess what I'm asking is…if you'd be against me showing you…like I did back when we were in Castle Town that night…"
She knew instantly what he was referring to – the time he had kissed her on the cheek. It was a moment that had replayed in her mind over and over and over again since it had happened nearly two months ago. Sometimes when she was falling asleep at night, she could still feel the press of his lips against her skin, the sudden warmth it had filled her very spirit with.
"I…um…I wouldn't mind that…" she murmured at last, hoping he could even hear her voice for how miniscule it had become.
"Okay…okay, good. Um…in that case…if you're okay with it…"
"I…I am…"
Zelda's heart began to speed up as Link slowly started to lean in towards her. She had felt his lips against her cheek only once but the memory of it had embedded itself permanently in her mind. She could only imagine what having him do it a second time would feel like. On their first date. Here at a place called Lover's Pond. After they'd both confessed their love for the other once more.
It was sure to feel even warmer and more inviting than even that first time had.
A moment later, however, Zelda's heart nearly stopped in her chest and her mind came to a sudden and startling halt. Link's lips weren't pressed to her cheek. He had pressed them to her own lips. He was…kissing her.
Actually kissing her.
Kissing her the way she had read about in storybooks growing up. Kissing her the way she had seen in her dreams from time to time when she'd read before bed. It was even just as magical a situation as in those stories. They were on the summit of a mountain, a heart-shaped lake, bright flowers, and dancing Fairies nearby for company, the sun glistening off the vast ocean as they overlooked a cozy seaside town.
And the explosion of absolute delight that had filled her chest the instant his lips had met hers was almost indescribable. It was as if the very sunlight above had woven itself into a blanket and wrapped around her body, warming her more thoroughly and completely than at any other point in her life. There wasn't a single facet of herself - body, mind, or spirit - that played host to even a speck of darkness in that moment. The unparalleled light of her fiancé and his embrace had chased any shred of it away completely and entirely.
When at last Link pulled back, Zelda found she was in a daze. It took her a while to come back to reality. She wasn't even aware of how much time had passed. Perhaps it had been but three heavenly seconds. Perhaps it had been several joyous days flooded with sunshine and rainbows.
Had she kissed him back? Had she done anything akin to what she was actually supposed to do in that moment? She had never kissed anyone before, nor had she ever been kissed. What was one supposed to do? She was vaguely aware that her lips had responded to his in some way…but beyond that, she had no idea if what she'd done was right or not.
But…strangely, not a bit of that mattered as Link rested his head on his forearm once more and gave her hand a comforting squeeze, his face very red.
"Did I…overwhelm you?"
Words failed her entirely. All she could do was shake her head, her eyes still wide with wonder.
Despite his clear embarrassment, Link smiled at her again.
"I'm…I'm glad. I just…I've wanted to do that for a while now…"
He had? He'd been thinking about her that much?
"I…I, um…really…liked that." She forced the words out of her mouth before she lost what little nerve she'd managed to shore up.
"I, uh…me too," Link admitted, his voice just as quiet as her own.
Silence fell over them again. It wasn't uncomfortable, but neither seemed capable of saying anything more at the moment. For as far as they'd already come since meeting, they still had a long way to go as a couple.
'A couple…'
It was the first time Zelda had ever thought of the two of them in that way. She had acknowledged that their relationship had indeed transformed from an arranged marriage chosen by her father into something much deeper. But even since they had confessed their true feelings after the attack on Hateno, she hadn't ever entertained the word 'couple,' even in her deepest fantasies.
'But somehow…it feels…natural. It feels…right.'
The real sunlight enveloping Zelda felt positively frigid by comparison to the unbridled warmth that Link's kiss had filled her with just minutes before. Even now, her mind was barely working, still lost in the throes of his embrace. The way his lips had caressed hers was something she had never been capable of imagining until now. The way her heart raced at the memory was entirely different from any other time in her life.
'This is what 'love' must feel like. Not just the emotions…but the physical feeling of being in love…of being loved.'
"L-Link…" she began, her gentle voice reaching across the silence between them.
"Yes…Zelda?" he managed in return, his cheeks still a little red.
"I…I love you. I…really do."
The smile that Link graced her with in response was dazzling.
"And I…love you. Truly."
Zelda scooted across the blanket until she was by Link's side. It was a daring act of familiarity for her to commit to…but in that moment, she didn't care. All she wanted was to be closer to the man she had fallen so deeply in love with. The man who loved her enough to share so many wonderful things with her. The man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, experiencing each and every day by his side.
Link looked a little surprised at first, but that expression was quickly eclipsed by a warm, content smile. He reached out with his free arm and pulled her closer against him, tucking her head beneath his chin. Zelda felt chills scurry down her arms and back at the incredible proximity they found themselves in. It was almost a bit overwhelming, all the new sensations she had experienced in the last few minutes alone.
But this, too, felt unbelievably right. Like this is where she had been born to be. Here, with Link, with someone who cared about her and wanted her at his side. With someone who made her happier than anyone else in the entire world could ever manage. Happier than she had ever imagined she could feel.
Happier than she had ever thought she deserved.
Once upon a time, Zelda had thought herself unworthy of something as magnificent as love. Truly, she had thought herself unworthy of basic kindness or decency at all. But Link had changed all of that.
Maybe that was similar to her childhood storybooks. The biggest difference, though, was that Link hadn't just swooped in to rescue her from some sinister force, happy to give her everything she ever asked for. No, he had helped her reclaim her own life with saintly patience and supported her in the things she wanted for herself with gentle, unwavering certainty. And he had never pressured her to do one single thing before she had been ready for it, even something as basic as talking.
As Zelda snuggled into Link's chest a little tighter, an uncontrollable smile spread across her lips, the very same lips that had been graced by a first kiss filled with her fiancé's love.
'I wonder if this really is like those books I read as a little girl. Link is so much more wonderful than any prince in those tales. And I'm so much happier than any princess I've ever read about. Maybe those storybooks aren't really like my life at all. In fact, things feel so much more amazing now than any story could ever hope to capture.'
Zelda lost herself completely to the moment after that, relishing in the closeness she and Link shared. It was more perfect than any vision of happiness and love she'd ever imagined.
4/25/25
Post-Chapter Note: Wow, it almost feels surreal that this chapter is done at long last. Thank you all so much for reading!
So be honest - how was it? The fact that this was the big date and first kiss chapter has been planned since fall of 2023 and I'm still mad I got sick before I managed to write it back in December of the same year. But I managed it at long last and I think it turned out about as well as I'm capable of writing it! I did a lot of editing with this one - a lot. The rough draft was something I was very much not happy with. But words on a page are far easier to work with than a blank canvas, so in the end, I'm very happy I managed to write something I could be proud of again where this story is concerned.
It was fun to write all the scenes, too. I missed these characters. Hilda's at it again, though her schemes seem to have taken a different direction this time. Zelda and Link continue to grow ever closer and their imminent return to Hateno is fast approaching. I didn't get much Aryll or Mipha this chapter, but I can't wait to write them again, too! I've said before that this Book is the one I was most excited to write for you all and even though it's taken so long to get back into the swing of things, I am extremely happy to finally be there. Please look forward to more! It'll happen a lot faster this time.
Now all that said, weekly updates won't be happening still, at least not now/not yet. I have a spark on inspiration for this story again, though, one I haven't felt since December of 2023. So I think I can safely say that updates will be fairly regular, but not every single Friday night. It's just by happenstance that this chapter was ready to post on a Friday like they used to be. As far as coming chapters go, though, I still have every single detail of Book III planned out, down to several exact lines of dialogue and choreography. So please look forward to more, coming soon!
On a personal note, if you came back to read this story again, thank you so very much for doing so. Not being able to write in the first half of 2024 was miserable until it wasn't. Eventually it just became the standard state of my life, which is pretty depressing to remember. The second half of the year, I tried writing a few smaller, shorter projects and some of them went fairly well. And until now, most of 2025 has seen me entirely demotivated to write at all. So the resurgence of this story has given me a gift, a spark of inspiration that I can hold onto and chase going forward in my efforts to tell this story in full to you all and become a better writer all the while.
Alright, that's more than enough out of me. Told you I like to yap. Anyway, thank you all so much for reading, I appreciate your continued support and kindness so very much. Take care everyone and I will see you all soon for Book III, Chapter 4! I swear it will not take 17 months this time. Until then, I hope everyone is well and life is treating you wonderfully! Take care and I'll see you in the next one!