Author's Note: Welcome back everyone! Remember when I said I was probably going to update this story weekly? LOL! No complaints here though, these chapters have just been so much fun to write I'm happy to roll with it for as long as I can!
Anyway, more to say at the end as usual, so I hope you enjoy the latest installment! Thanks so much for reading!
Book I - Meeting
Chapter 3 – Gift
Link walked towards Hateno Village with a pensive look on his face. Behind him, he pulled the cart he always loaded his prey onto, covered by a white tarp. He had been hunting for a few hours and, despite his usual speed and success with the process, he'd been rather slow to finish his task that morning. Six different boars had escaped him before he'd even noticed them passing by, something quite uncharacteristic of his usual focus. Despite the care he normally took, today he had been…distracted.
Zelda. She was…an enigma. When the letter from the Castle had arrived at the beginning of the week informing him of the arranged marriage the King had set up, Link had expected the Second Princess of Hyrule to be someone haughty and arrogant, someone like Hilda. And when the Princess with the golden hair had arrived on his doorstep, he had expected her to scoff at his simple home, roll her eyes at the offer of homemade curry rice for dinner, and criticize the sparse room he'd only just managed to prepare for her. But he had been surprised, to say the very least.
Zelda was nothing like that. If anything, she seemed to feel guilty that Link had done anything at all for her. She had apologized and thanked him time and time again for basic courtesies, bowed deeply to him for things so natural to do for another that his sister would hardly even have acknowledged them at all. That wasn't the most unexpected thing that had happened in the last twelve hours either.
Link was galled by the fact that Hilda had planted the idea in her sister's head that he would abuse her. The thought made him genuinely angry despite his usual stoicism. It was possibly the most offensive thing she had ever said or implied about him, and the Crown Princess of Hyrule had certainly made plenty of disparaging remarks towards him over the years. Her frankly nasty words would probably have gutted the self-confidence of most other people. Luckily for Link, he had long since stopped caring about her opinion.
Hilda was the definition of spoiled Royalty. She had whined every day they'd trained together. She had demanded he do extra tasks for her that, while he had begrudgingly done so to keep the peace in the days before Ganon appeared, he had refused to do any longer once the beast was slain. Once she had realized he disliked her as well, she made it her life's goal to ruin his reputation and image as much and as often as possible. The good thing was nobody ever really took her words to heart, at least not where he was concerned. Most knew him well enough to know her words were hollow. Unfortunately, her words were all Zelda had to go by.
He still grimaced every time he thought about the way she'd prostrated herself before him that same morning. If someone had asked Link if he could ever see the Princess of Hyrule groveling on the floor before him and begging him not to throw her out of his home, he would have responded with an immediate 'no.' And yet, here he was, still reeling from the reality.
What had happened to her? She apologized more automatically than she drew breath. She thought herself a nuisance in every situation. Even now, Link could clearly recall the pained face she'd unintentionally shown him before she went to bed the night before. Perhaps he had misspoken when he told her she didn't have to stay up just because he was awake; he had truly thought she might be worn out from her long trip between the Castle and Hateno. But it had finally dawned on him just before she returned to her room that she thought he didn't want her around.
Truth be told, Link had been making a list while she finished her bath. She needed more than he'd been able to procure for her so far; she didn't even have a rug by her bed. The floor was always freezing on winter mornings and, with those coldest months fast approaching, he wanted her to be more comfortable than that. She had no desk at which to write even a simple letter, either. He'd thought about giving her his own but it was pretty old and beaten up; he just couldn't justify giving a Princess his rickety hand-me-downs.
But after spending just one night with her, he was convinced she would never admit to needing or wanting anything at all. She really seemed to consider herself nothing but an annoyance to himself and everyone around her. Why? What had happened in her life to make her think the way she thought? Feel the way she felt? Have such a negative view of herself?
The answer was obvious – Hilda had happened.
It didn't take a genius to piece together that if Hilda was the one who filled Zelda's head with lies to scare her where Link was concerned, she was also likely the culprit responsible for everything else. Would Zelda ever admit that to him? Probably not…or at least not yet. But until she said otherwise, there was nothing else that explained the situation or made sense to him. Though the bigger question was 'why,' it didn't really matter at this point. Making sure Zelda didn't feel so overwhelmed and terrified in his presence was his far more important priority at the moment.
Arriving back in town at last, several of the villagers waved to him. He offered a smile and waved back, making his way towards the combination restaurant and general store run by Ira and her brother Melo. They were around his age and excited to help Hateno grow even further. As such, they usually handled the meat he procured for the village, preparing it for each family as well as utilizing it in some of the dishes they sold – they were excellent cooks. Link was glad the two were so passionate about their trade; it meant he didn't feel obligated to run a public-facing restaurant in their stead.
He caught himself wondering if Zelda had simply complimented his cooking out of fear the night before. If she had been disappointed in his simple curry rice, would she have actually told him? Not if she feared his wrath the way she so obviously did. Would she still walk on eggshells around him going forward? He didn't expect one conversation to make her entirely comfortable with him, but part of him was hopeful that she might at least feel relaxed enough to speak her mind and engage in conversation now.
After leaving his cart of meat with Ira and exchanging some quick pleasantries with her, Link decided to head back home and check on Zelda. There were a few errands he wanted to run – most of them to figure out how difficult it would be to have certain items delivered or built for his fiancée – but it wasn't imperative that he tackle them before lunch. After hunting for hours, the sun high in the sky, he was quite famished and looking forward to his next meal.
"Master Link!" came a familiar voice.
Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted Glenne, a boy many years his junior, jogging towards him. Occasionally, Link would teach him and several others in the village how to properly wield spears as weapons. He insisted they use spears instead of swords – it kept them further away from their opponents' striking range. They were all amateurs when it came to fighting and he didn't want them risking their safety. They made a respectable effort to defend this safe haven, though, and he always left their training sessions with a smile.
Glenne, however, was quite excitable where Link himself was concerned. And he had a tendency to talk…a lot.
"Hello Glenne," Link replied, his voice calm and soft.
The younger man grinned at him.
"Still as quiet as ever, eh Master?"
"And yet you hang on my every word," he noted with a small grin.
"Touché, Master!"
Link sighed lightly.
"I've told you before – I don't expect you to call me 'Master' just because I'm teaching you how to hold a spear."
"But how else can I properly show my respect?"
"By listening to my request and not calling me 'Master.'"
"Hmm…okay, I'll try, Master!"
Link caught himself before he sighed again.
"So, something on your mind?"
Glenne blinked several times before gasping.
"That's right! I wanted to ask you – who's that pretty lady with the golden hair that came to see you yesterday? I was standing by the sign on guard duty even though I know you told us we don't have to be. But then a carriage pulled up in the distance and dropped her off. She didn't look like someone dangerous – she was wearing that fancy blue dress so I figured she was important. But I wanted to make sure anyway so I greeted her! But I think my spear scared her so I put it down real quick. But then she mentioned you and how you were expecting her so I told her how to get to your house. I might've told her not to fall off the bridge in the dark too. But…she doesn't really look like she belongs here with us farming types. That dress was really nice."
Despite how overwhelmed Link found himself when Glenn started rambling like that, he was now confronted with a more important question – how did he explain who Zelda was? All he had told the villagers that aided him in preparing her new bedroom was that he needed a guest room for someone. Nobody seemed to know she was the Second Princess of Hyrule. Nobody even knew her name. Would she be embarrassed or upset if he revealed any of that information without asking her first? She would probably tell him he didn't need her permission, but he wasn't just about to volunteer her personal information without at least getting to know her better and gauging her feeling on the matter first.
Luckily, most people in Hateno very kindly didn't pry into his personal life. But Glenne always showed a very obvious interest in Link. He wasn't annoying in that interest – just persistent.
And oh, so talkative.
"Oh, uh," Link began, trying to buy himself a little time. "She's my…well, she was sent here by the King himself."
The young man gasped loudly.
"Wow! The King himself, huh? She must be pretty important then! I'll have to make sure I'm not rude to her or anything!"
Link breathed a sigh of relief. He had hoped mentioning the King would distract Glenne from his single-minded focus on his personal life and it had worked like a charm for now. It did raise the question though – why didn't anybody know or recognize Zelda? She wasn't the Crown Princess but she certainly was a Princess. And yet, even he had been entirely unaware of her existence until Hilda's letter had arrived, despite the amount of time he'd spent at Hyrule Castle prior to the Calamity. Why had she been hidden away so?
"Uh oh, the sun's that high already? Sorry Master, I have to get back home to help my mom with lunch!" Glenne cried out suddenly.
Perhaps it was a blessing from the Goddess that the conversation ended before he had to figure out a more graceful way of handling it.
"Don't be late on my account," Link offered with a small smile.
"Thanks for chatting, Master! See you at training!"
Link waved as the young man darted off towards his family's home. He was a good kid – only sixteen but quite worldly and carried himself well. All he wanted to do was protect his mother and make sure she had a good life. Link frowned as he remembered the reason Glenne had originally begged him to teach him to fight. He had lost his father in a monster attack on their home during the days before the Calamity was defeated. He had been too young to do anything then but still blamed himself for not being stronger. Link could somewhat relate to that feeling.
Before he realized it, he was crossing the familiar bridge to his house. It was far enough removed from the heart of Hateno Village that he sometimes wondered if the townspeople found him even more unapproachable than he really was. Ultimately, he had settled down here to avoid the public eye his role in stopping the Calamity had earned him. Link hated to be the center of attention; he would much rather sit at the side of the room and listen to others converse than speak himself. But he had learned over the years the necessity of maintaining appearances and relationships and so had forced himself to get better at speaking to others.
He still didn't much care for the process.
His surprises for the day weren't finished just yet, though. An unfamiliar sight greeted him as he raised his eyes to his home – the front door and every window were wide open, curtains drawn back so the fall air could enter. Winter was fast approaching and the breeze was brisk; perhaps Zelda had wanted some fresh air for herself?
"Zelda?" he called out as he walked through the open entrance.
He heard a squeak from somewhere above him and, a moment later, the Princess with golden hair popped up from the floor of the loft, surprise evident in her eyes.
Even from the poor vantage point he was at, Link could tell Zelda looked different than she had the night before or that morning. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and those bright blue hair clips kept the rest from falling forward into her eyes. Her cheek had a black mark on it, some kind of dirt or dust perhaps. What was she doing up there?
"O-oh! Link! I, um, w-welcome…back."
"Thanks, it's good to be home. What are you up to?"
"Um! I…thought I could make myself useful…I was doing some cleaning."
"This whole time?" He had been gone for several hours now.
"…I…am sorry if I overstepped my station here…"
Link shook his head quickly, beckoning her down from the loft. She began collecting her things.
"Not at all; I really appreciate that you put yourself to so much trouble. You didn't have to."
Zelda shook her head quickly.
"I don't mind. I…I wanted to do something that wouldn't cause you inconvenience."
As he glanced around the first floor, he saw it sparkling like it hadn't in a long time.
"Did you clean this entire place?" Link murmured, his eyes wide in surprise. He didn't let his home get unbearably dirty but the last time he'd spent a day deep cleaning it was…well, maybe never…
"I did. O-oh! But, um, I didn't dare to clean your bedroom, of course. I would…never presume to enter your private space without your permission…"
"I wouldn't have been angry if you had, don't worry," he assured her. He appreciated the gesture though; he was rather private, after all.
Zelda finally made her way down the short staircase again. She was wearing a pair of extra gloves Link had stashed in the kitchen once upon a time and had even snagged one of the several cooking aprons he had lying around. In those gloved hands, she carried a bucket and large sponge he recognized from the bottom-most drawer in the cabinet next to the cooking pot. She was quite the sight right now – Link tried not to smile at the thought of one of the Kingdom's Princesses being right at home in this simple farming village.
Something caught his eye at last, though. She wasn't wearing old clothes or something more fit to get dirty. She was wearing that same lovely blue dress she had arrived in yesterday, the one Glenne had commented on before.
"Thank you for doing all this," Link told her with a smile.
He didn't expect her to wait on him or act as his servant, not at all, but it was a very sweet gesture all the same. If it helped her feel a bit more at home then all the better, too.
"I-it was nothing…" she murmured, averting her gaze.
It appeared it would still take some time before she could speak to him comfortably…not that he had any room to judge in that department.
"You must be starving after all that. Would you like to have lunch with me?"
Zelda nodded quickly.
"I-I would be…honored to join you."
"I was planning to make some fish; we can finish off the last of the rice from this morning alongside it. Does that sound decent to you?"
"Anything…is fine by me."
It would take a lot more than one night and morning for her to feel more relaxed, evidently. But that was okay.
"Then why don't you go wash your face and I'll get started on lunch?"
"My…face?" she repeated, confused.
Link touched his cheek, mirroring the spot where dirt had sullied her own.
"You've got a little spot on your cheek there."
Immediately, her face twisted in horror and she bowed her head.
"I am terribly sorry for my unkempt appearance! I must look so unsightly…"
'That escalated quickly…'
"I'm not pointing it out because I'm upset," Link promised her. "I just didn't want you to accidentally get any on your lunch later."
"O-oh…"
"Sorry if I made you think otherwise."
"You didn't…"
"How about we get ready to eat then?"
She nodded her agreement, evidently not trusting her words any longer. As she crossed the room towards the south wall, Link couldn't help but be reminded of the blue and gold Royal dress she was wearing. The most prominent article of clothing she had on and yet the most unfitting for the things she had elected to do.
"Oh, Zelda?" Link called before he could stop himself.
She turned back towards him.
"Y-yes?"
"How come you wore that really nice dress while you were working so hard? If you're worried I'd be upset if you wore something more casual, I promise you that's not the case. You can wear whatever you want here; that's entirely your choice."
Zelda's eyes widened in surprise but she cast them down a moment later. When she responded, her voice was even smaller than it had been before.
"T-thank you, Link. But…that's not the case. I simply…wore this dress because…I like it. It makes me feel more…comfortable."
Link nodded and offered her a smile.
"Then please don't let me talk you out of wearing it. I just wanted to make sure it was what you chose instead of thinking I expected it."
She actually offered him a tiny smile in response.
"I…trust your words. Thank you."
Despite the fact that Zelda had begun to trust Link's words, however, after four days of her wearing that same Royal dress, he was starting to think her own words weren't revealing to him the whole truth. He didn't dare ask her directly for fear of mortifying or upsetting her, but Link was starting to suspect that blue dress might be the only clothing she actually had outside of her nightgown.
'That…doesn't make much sense. You would think a Princess, a member of the Royal Family, would have rooms filled with various dresses and accessories for all manner of important meetings and events. But her bag was so small. Maybe she chose to travel light? If she was truly worried I would throw her out so quickly, perhaps she didn't believe it smart to bring too much? Or…what if she left all her possessions behind because she was worried about being an inconvenience to me…?'
Regardless of all her worries, the last four days had been rather uneventful. Zelda had at least begun to trust that Link wasn't going to treat her cruelly and had somewhat settled into her new home. She still apologized for everything except the breath she drew, but at least she wasn't so terrified she couldn't smile a little. In fact, Link noticed that every time he made food for them, she seemed to be holding back a very wide smile indeed. Once in a while, it almost eclipsed her entire face. Every time that happened, Link felt his heart flutter. He hadn't yet chosen to dwell on what that could mean…
Otherwise, Zelda kept mostly to herself. He made it a point not to force his company on her for too long for fear of overwhelming the poor girl again. Though he had suggested that talking more would help them understand each other better, he hadn't yet been able to manage doing any better in initiating conversation with her. She seemed far too timid to ever start chatting with him first but Link still didn't know exactly how to approach her. He toiled over that fairly regularly, for now settling with small talk over meals that usually resulted in a sentence or two of dialogue before uncomfortable silence descended over the table again.
In the meantime, Link continued going about his usual duties in the village, from hunting for Ira and Melo every other day to training Glenne and the others to defend the town should it ever be necessary. Of course, if something really did come to threaten Hateno, Link and the Master Sword would stand between it and the people who had graciously given him a private, secluded place to call home, the people who had accepted him into their tightly knit community with open arms. But he didn't need to tell the younger, more excitable town guards that truth. They were growing stronger so they could protect themselves and he didn't want to rob them of their motivation or imply it wasn't worth working hard for.
And Link had his own goals to work towards, as well. Between his tasks and returning home the day prior, he had requested a small desk and chair be built by Syd, the local carpenter. Though he preferred farming these days, the older man had been more than happy to honor a request from Link, promising to have the job done before the end of the month. That was more than acceptable given carpentry was more of a hobby for Syd these days than an actual responsibility.
Link had also kept a sharp eye on Zelda's outfit choice. Every day, she exited her room in that Royal blue dress. And every night, she would emerge from her bath in that same pale blue nightgown. There was never any variation. And, on the fifth day of Zelda's time with Link, she emerged from her bedroom wearing the dress yet again.
So, when Link departed that morning under the guise of running a few errands, he headed directly for Lissa's tailoring shop. Even though Hateno was extremely small, everyone needed new clothing from time to time. With all the manual labor they did, Lissa stayed busy repairing ripped garments or replacing old, worn-out ones. Every time Link ordered something from her, he made sure to slip her far too many extra Rupees so she could have new fabrics delivered to the village. She always protested but he knew it made her extremely happy to have new material to work with, so he never took 'no' for an answer.
"Link, good morning!" came Lissa's excited voice.
She was older than Link himself, likely by two decades or so. Though her face was still plenty young, she sported the demeanor of a sweet, old grandmother. Sometimes Link wondered if she should have a bowl of small candies to offer her customers; it would fit the feel of the place quite well.
"Good morning, Lissa," he answered, nodding.
"What can I do for you today, Link? Do you need another hunting tunic repaired? Or perhaps you're coming to order a nicer outfit for that Champion's Ball at the Castle next summer?"
Link grimaced. The Champion's Ball, held on the anniversary of Ganon's defeat, was the one time of year anyone asked him to attend an event at the Castle and pretend he could tolerate the attention. In order to keep everyone happy, he agreed to it each time. It did serve the additional purpose of keeping everyone off his back when it came to making public appearances, so it could have been worse. That wasn't the purpose of his visit today, though.
"Not this time, though I'm sure I'll be invited again."
"Then how can I help you?"
"I need some new clothing for…not myself."
Lissa's eyes narrowed as a smile tugged at her lips.
"Oh? What a cryptic answer. Might this be for your guest?"
Link averted his eyes.
"Perhaps."
"I think that's a very sweet gesture!" Lissa sang, her eyes sparkling. "Do you know the measurements I should be tailoring her outfits to?"
"…I hadn't thought of that, to be honest."
Lissa just laughed lightly.
"Not to worry! Just bring here to me and I'll get it all sorted out!"
"Lissa," Link began, beckoning her closer.
She raised an eyebrow but did as he asked, leaning in.
"Yes?"
"She's…very withdrawn. I think she'd feel incredibly guilty if she knew I was doing this for her."
"Understood; I'll keep it our little secret for now!"
Link let out a sigh of relief.
"Thanks. I'll come up with an excuse to get her out here soon."
"Why not just bring her right now? No one else is here and I'm excited to get started on this project!"
"Right…now?"
"Of course! The sooner the better for a gift from the heart, right?"
"L-Lissa! This isn't some…big, romantic gesture or anything…"
"Of course not!"
"…I get the sense you don't believe me."
"I do!"
"…mhm."
"Would you like her outfits to match this lovely green sweater of yours?"
Link cleared his throat.
"…I'll bring her here in a few minutes."
"Perfect!"
Link began to make his way towards the exit but Lissa called out to him before he fully left the shop.
"Oh, Link? What's her name? I hate not knowing how to address my customers."
"Zelda."
"What a beautiful name."
As Link let the door to the shop fall closed behind him, he tried not to think too much about the fact that she was right…
Zelda had been stunned when Link returned, requesting her company into town. She hadn't seen Hateno Village since the day she'd arrived. While most of her hesitations to enter the village stemmed from not wishing to offend Link somehow, there was also an inescapable truth she couldn't deny, the truth that had been ingrained in her for a decade – nobody would want to meet her.
Hilda had assured her time and time again that she was doing everybody a favor by becoming a ghost in so far as the general public was concerned. It was true, really. Her unnatural hair ends eyes would draw too much attention and, once they noticed her, they would all realize just how ugly and worthless she was. How unfit their Princess was to stand before them. At least they had one decent Princess they could look up to…
But even knowing all this, she had meekly agreed to accompany Link to the tailor's shop. She vaguely remembered seeing it the day she had arrived over the shoulder of the young man with the spear. She was starting to worry that Link had noticed her lack of clothing. It was only a matter of time, really; she wore her Royal dress every single day. Eventually, he would stop believing that she just did so out of comfort.
Though that was partially true, she had stopped receiving any new clothing once she had essentially become Hilda's servant. At least she had been able to wear those simple garments all the servants at the Castle donned without drawing attention. But with Link? She couldn't look like that. Thus, she had only taken the outfits she actually owned that day she had left the Castle – her dress and nightgown.
"L-Link?" she murmured at last. They had crossed the bridge and were heading down the hill towards the center of town now.
"Yes?"
"Why…are you bringing me to the tailor?"
"Oh," he began, pausing for a bit longer than usual.
Maybe he didn't really want to. Maybe he was forcing himself because he couldn't stand to look at her.
"See, we have this end of year party here and everyone dresses up for it in a special outfit Lissa makes for all of us. I went to see her earlier and she mentioned you'd need one so, um, I offered to bring you to her."
"O-oh…I see."
'A special event. That's acceptable, right? I can't disrespect the people of Hateno by ignoring their customs, certainly not when they've graciously allowed me into their home...even if I don't deserve such a gift. I know I haven't met most of them yet, but they must know of me. The unworthy daughter of the King, come to tie Link to the Royal Family…I should accept this kindness as a means to make amends for forcing my company upon them…'
Zelda was aware of something uncomfortable as they crossed the large expanse between the path that led from Link's home to the storefront – everyone outside was whispering and pointing towards them. She couldn't bring herself to look at anyone. Her eyes remained glued to the ground beneath her. She knew why they were whispering in hushed tones. She understood why they pointed at her as she lagged behind him. She felt so intensely ashamed to be seen near Link.
'He deserves more. He deserves better than me. He is so very kind and selfless. All I do is draw negative attention to him. They see my hair and eye color and state of dress and wonder why their hero is saddled with such an ugly girl…how could I ever blame them? I appreciate at the very least that they don't say it to my face…'
"Link!" came the store owner's voice, waving from the doorway.
Zelda snapped from her reverie and reluctantly pulled her eyes from the ground long enough to safely step across the threshold, following Link inside. The older woman who had greeted him was smiling and filled with energy.
"Thanks again for seeing us this morning, Lissa."
"Oh, think nothing of it! So? This is Zelda?"
'She knows my name?'
"That's right," Link assured the woman, nodding.
The silence that fell over them seemed as if it were nudging her to make an introduction. She bowed her head to the tailor.
"It's…nice to meet you. My name is Zelda," she murmured.
Lissa just flashed an enormous smile.
"It's wonderful to meet you too, Zelda! I'm Lissa! Now! Let's not waste any time; come with me! I need to take your measurements and get you fitted! Ooh, this is going to be so much fun, dear!"
''Dear?' Me? The only other person to use that moniker for me was Beatrice back at the Castle. I wonder if she's okay…? Has Hilda been mean to her because she used to be nice to me? I worry about her now that I'm not there alongside her. Not that I could have protected her from Hilda in the first place. Things are probably the same, honestly. I doubt most people even know or care that I'm gone…'
"Zelda?" Link's gentle voice prodded.
She snapped back to reality before nodding hurriedly, unable to say anything.
Lissa beckoned her across the shop and into a small room, away from prying eyes. There, she asked if Zelda would change into the much more casual outfit she had laid out for her. It was a simple white shirt and baggy brown shorts. They were both too large on her but she suspected it was just to allow for greater ease of measurement; her dress would complicate the process. Speaking of her dress…
"My, this dress of yours is stunning, Zelda!" Lissa sang, lifting the article into her arms. "The craftsmanship and stitching are remarkable. Might I ask where you got this?"
"Um…my father gifted it to me many years ago," she managed vaguely.
Lissa nodded several times.
"Well, your father has an impeccable eye for fashion! I would love to know where he found this."
"I…um…I'm sorry; I'm not sure…"
"Oh, don't fret over it, dear! I'm just thinking out loud. Though, I notice there are a few loose threads here and there. If you're willing to trust me with this, I would love to sew it all back up for you!"
"Um…uh, I…wouldn't be opposed…but…"
"I understand; let's take care of one task at a time, hm? We can revisit your dress another time!"
"O-okay."
From there, Lissa lifted a long coil of fine rope and unwound it. She set about pressing the somewhat rough material against all sorts of different places on Zelda's arms and legs, jotting down many numbers as she checked it against a measuring stick nearby. This went on for so long, Zelda started to lose track of just how much of her had been evaluated. It had been an exceedingly long time since she'd seen the Royal Family's tailor for such an affair. Perhaps she had simply forgotten how many measurements had been taken back then. But at long last, Lissa rolled the rope again and clapped her hands with a triumphant look on her face.
"Done! Thank you for making that so easy, Zelda! Have you done this often?"
"Um…I…um…used to."
"That explains why you were so patient with me, then. Anyway, I'll give you some privacy while you change back, dear."
"T-thank you."
As Lissa left the small room, Zelda heard her call Link's name. There was a note of delight and mirth in her exclamation. Perhaps she had a project she was working on for Link as well. The woman did seem truly delighted to be able to work with fabrics and clothing. She had even praised her Royal dress. Just like Hilda's, hers was modeled after the dress the Royal Family tailor had prepared for their mother so many years ago; it was very special to Zelda.
Changed at last, she returned to the main room and found Link waiting for her with a gentle smile on his face. After saying their thank yous and goodbyes to Lissa, he opened the door for her and let her pass first, something that made her a bit uncomfortable. She didn't want to be rude towards him and not accept his courtesy, but she felt guilty that he defer to her in such a way. He had already done so much to be kind to her…
Back outside Lissa's store, the brisk morning breeze enveloped Zelda once more. She shivered a bit, having been caught unprepared. Link, noticing this, gave her a concerned look.
"Are you cold? I'll lend you a jacket once we're back home if you like. It's probably a little big on you and it won't really go with your dress but…"
"O-oh, no, that's okay! I was already a little cold from having my measurements taken…you don't need to worry…"
"If you're sure…"
"Master Link!"
'Master?'
It made perfect sense for someone to call Link 'Master' when she really thought about it. He was one of the two heroes who had saved Hyrule from the Calamity, after all. The voice seemed somewhat familiar, though Zelda couldn't quite explain why.
A moment later, she received her answer as the same young guard who had greeted and directed her to Link's house several days before ran towards the two of them, waving happily. Link gave what she could only describe as a defeated grin as he waved back, taking a steadying breath. What was he preparing for?
"Morning, Glenne," he called back.
The younger man all but skidded to a halt in front of them.
"How are you, Master?"
"Fine. You?"
"Great! But I had a strange morning. See, Mom and I made too much for breakfast so I went to share some with the neighbors. And wouldn't you know it – they also made too much! So Celene and I started going around to everyone's doors trying to find someone who might want some breakfast and even though everybody had already eaten and saw we were carrying a lot, they kept wanting to offer us more. I know they were just being nice, but there was already so much food! So we kept having to turn them down. But then-"
Glenne just kept talking. Zelda was a little surprised by his demeanor; he had seemed an entirely different person when he'd greeted her the other day. Perhaps it was simply the difference in the quality of company, though. He clearly idolized Link; that much was obvious at a glance. But even if Glenne didn't revere him to the level he did, he would probably always have been more excited to meet Link than her. He hadn't even seemed to notice Zelda yet...
"Hey, you never told me the other day, though! Who is this?" Glenne was gesturing to Zelda, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"Glenne, you shouldn't point at people like that. And you should just ask her yourself; she's right there, after all," Link murmured, sighing lightly.
It was rather amusing to see Link in a caretaker role like this.
"You're right! Sorry about that, miss," Glenne amended, turning his attention to Zelda. "So…uh…what's your name?"
"I'm…Zelda," was her soft reply.
"Zelda, huh? That's a really nice name! And unique too. I don't think I've ever met another Zelda before. My mom might've, though; I'll have to ask her later. If she's met another Zelda, do you think she has any relation to-"
"Glenne," Link interrupted, sighing again.
The boy smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head.
"Thanks, Master! Sometimes I get so carried away I don't even realize I'm still talking. Obviously, you've heard Master say it enough, but I'm Glenne. Nice to meet you!"
"Uh, it's nice to…meet you too. Um, Glenne?"
"Yeah?"
"How come you…call Link 'Master?'"
His eyes lit up and Link seemed to brace himself for the worst.
"Master Link sometimes teaches me and some other guys in the village how to use spears to defend ourselves and our homes! He's a patient and brilliant teacher! I've learned so much from him that I can't imagine calling him anything less than Master! I just want to show him my respect, you know?"
"I…believe I can understand that quite well, yes."
"You talk funny."
Zelda gasped in surprise, her heart sinking. Link scowled a moment later and stared hard at his protégé.
"Glenne. Don't say rude things like that to someone's face."
He was…defending her? Why? Regardless, Zelda shook her head quickly.
"I-it's quite alright!"
"No, Master's right. Sorry about that, Miss Zelda. I usually speak before I think; this isn't the first time I've put my foot in my mouth."
"I…wasn't offended, don't worry."
"I'm glad. Thanks for being so understanding. But," the young man continued, grinning devilishly at Link, "that's the first time Master has been so annoyed with me for misspeaking to someone else like that. So? How come?"
Link sputtered for a moment before collecting himself, clearing his throat.
"It's simply a harsher way of teaching, that's all. You should never disrespect a lady, to her face or behind her back."
"Oh, that's right; you did say the other day that she's from the Castle."
'He did?'
"Hey, Miss Zelda? Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," she murmured.
"Why are you here in Hateno? Someone from the Castle like you must be really important, right? I figure you're here for Master Link, but are you staying here with us for a while?"
'He hasn't told Glenne yet. Perhaps he hasn't told anyone. Lissa didn't ask what I was to Link, but it's likely she isn't sure either. Should I tell him the truth? If Link doesn't want people to know…if he's embarrassed of me…then I should just make something up and-'
"She's my fiancée, Glenne."
Zelda made a small noise of shock. He had just said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. Even though she was so unworthy of him…even though he deserved so much better…he wasn't hiding what she was. That didn't necessarily mean he wasn't embarrassed of her but…it was at least a decent sign, right?
"What!?" Glenne shouted, his eyes wide and shining.
Zelda felt an unfamiliar sensation of warmth in her cheeks. She was used to flushing from shame but not from…
"It's true," Link added, averting his eyes.
Glenne just clapped his hands together.
"That's amazing! Wow! I never would have guessed! Master Link is so quiet; I never would have thought you were his fiancée, Miss Zelda!"
"What's that supposed to mean, Glenne?" Link admonished, though she could tell by his tone he wasn't actually angry.
The boy just grinned and waved his hands in front of himself.
"Nothing at all, Master! Sorry! You know me and my big mouth!"
"Well do me a favor and don't let that big mouth of yours spread this information around town before I can tell everyone myself, okay?"
"Sure thing, Master! Can I at least tell Mom?"
"That's fine."
"And Celene?"
"…if she promises to keep quiet too."
"What about Ira and Melo? Or-"
"You could just tell no one, you know."
"Okay, okay, sorry! Just Mom?"
Link nodded.
"Just your mom."
"Got it! Thanks, Master!"
"And please don't call me 'Master' anymore."
"But you're my master, Master."
Zelda couldn't suppress the smile that stole her lips. It was…really nice, watching Link like this. And Glenne was a good person. Hilda had called this place a 'wretched hellhole,' but that couldn't be further from the truth. Just the way she'd filled Zelda's head with untruths about Link, she appeared to have done the same with regards to Hateno Village itself. Everyone here she had met so far was lovely; Glenne and Lissa were testaments to that.
"Oh, how come you were visiting Lissa?" Glenne asked suddenly.
Link was still reeling from his last exchange with the younger man, so Zelda decided to answer to give him a break to recover. She needed the same herself quite often so she could relate quite easily.
"Oh, um, Link brought me here…so I could be fitted."
"Fitted? Oh, like she's making something for you?"
"Indeed…um, I was told it's…an outfit for your special end of year celebration."
"Our…special end of year celebration?" Glenne looked decidedly confused.
"Glenne, don't you have some practicing to do before our next lesson?" Link interjected suddenly.
He lit up at once and jumped.
"You're right, I do! I better get back home and practice before I help Mom with lunch! Thanks for chatting, Master! You too, Miss Zelda!"
And with that, Glenne ran off. The village was almost eerily silent without his excitable voice to listen to. Link drew a deep breath before sighing heavily.
"Sorry about him," he murmured.
Zelda shook her head quickly.
"N-not at all. He was…quite pleasant, honestly."
"Say that again after you talk to him more than once."
She could again tell he was joking but there was a tiredness in his eyes that betrayed just a shred of truth.
"L-Link?"
"Yeah?"
"I apologize…that you had to introduce me as your fiancée before…"
"Why? You are, aren't you?"
Zelda felt her mind go blank for a moment before a flood of uncertainty filled the void.
'Link…chose to introduce me like that deliberately? Not solely out of obligation? Perhaps it was simply too complicated to explain that our engagement was arranged by my father and it may not even pan out. But…why say that last part to me then…?
"Zelda? You okay?"
"O-oh! Um, yes, I'm fine…"
"Well for now, would you like to head back home? I can show you around town more if you prefer. But I figured you might be a bit overwhelmed after all that…I know I am," he muttered as an afterthought.
"I…would be happy to return home with you," she managed.
She normally would have left the decision to him but she got the sense he was looking for an excuse to go home. Perhaps in this one instance she might be able to provide what he was looking for.
"That sounds nice," he agreed.
Zelda took a deep breath before centering herself and following him back towards his home. It had been the most eventful morning she'd had in quite some time and she was a little exhausted from it all.
She was somewhat aware as they walked back up the hill, though, that she held her head just a bit higher in Link's presence.
A week had passed since Zelda's trip with Link to Lissa's tailoring shop. Not much had changed since then. Every other day, Link went out hunting and took his prey to the restaurant she had learned was owned and operated by Ira and Melo, a sister and brother team who were quite passionate about their cooking.
She had run out of things to clean inside the house after giving Link's room the same treatment as the rest – she had, of course, asked his express permission to enter while he was out. While she was inside Link's private bedroom, which was modest in the same way her own was, she happened upon a list of his. She had tried hard not to look at it but there were so few things written she just couldn't help but ponder why he made the list at all, allowing herself to read it. She quickly became aware that she wasn't sure what the common theme was. It read:
Desk.
Chair.
Rug.
Ink.
Mirror.
Table?
Clothes?
Zelda had no idea how to marry these items together beneath a single theme.
'Perhaps these are things that Link is lacking? No, that makes no sense. He has each and every one of these items already, several in some cases. Maybe he needs to replace these things. If they're old and rickety, then perhaps he would want to upgrade to something nice and new. I wonder if he might be planning to do so.'
Strangely enough, after asking if it was okay with her, he had placed a mirror in her room while she'd been in the bath the other day. It matched the list; maybe he was writing things down that he needed to find space to store. But try as she might, Zelda couldn't notice anything else that gave credence to her theory and so she let the mystery go, trusting that someday it might make more sense to her.
She had been too nervous to ask Link if she could make lunch or dinner for him sometime and, even though he had insisted she didn't have to do so, she had made sure to be awake as early as he was during the days. She didn't want a repeat of the first morning after she had arrived.
Though Link was usually only gone for half the day at most, she still found herself rather at a loss for what she could do while alone. Link had told her to use his desk and ink at her leisure, likely thinking she might want to send letters. She had been extremely grateful for the offer though as it allowed her to pen such a letter to Urbosa and to write in her diary again. But there were only so many hours she could spend writing and she quickly found herself at a loss once more. On that particular morning, she was lying dejectedly on her bed following Link's departure, pondering the specifics of her situation.
'If I can't make myself useful to Link…then he might rethink his stance on me. What if he decides I'm unbearably lazy and doesn't want me around any longer? Why would he truly want me here anyway? I would simply be a second mouth to feed. Hilda may have been wrong about Link but she's always been right about me. The idea that someone like Link would actually choose to keep a failure such as myself by his side is so laughable it almost hurts. Why would he care about someone like me…?'
"Zelda? You awake?"
Her face twisted in confusion. Link had just left for the morning not ten minutes before. Had he forgotten something? Surely this wasn't another unexpected outing like last week's visit to Lissa, right?
"Um, I am, yes," she managed to respond with, standing from her bed.
Before she could even make her way back into the main room, a gentle knock sounded against her door.
"May I come in?"
"O-of course."
A moment later, the door to her bedroom opened. After smiling at her, Link turned away rather deliberately, entering the room backwards from there. He was dragging a large box into her room, so large in fact that she wasn't sure she would ever be able to lift it herself.
"Sorry to bring this in here. The box won't stay long," he promised.
Zelda just shook her head quickly.
"I-it's no trouble at all. It can stay as long as you need it to," she assured him.
Link just chuckled.
"It's not a box I'm storing in here; it's a box we're going to open together."
"To…together?"
"Of course. Though now that I think about it, I should probably take the lid off myself so you don't get a splinter or anything."
Within moments, Link had removed the top of the box. She couldn't yet tell what was inside but didn't dare move next to him without being asked to. The only thing her unexpected presence had ever caused were shouts of anger or frustration. What if he was the same way?
Link was all smiles, though, as he knelt down beside the box.
"Actually…would you sit down and close your eyes please, Zelda?"
"O-okay…of course…"
Unsure of what was happening, Zelda lowered herself onto the mattress again and squeezed her eyes shut.
Perhaps Link didn't think her deserving to see what was inside after all. He had been trying to deny the voice in his head that told him she wasn't worthy of even viewing whatever was hidden within the container. But ultimately it had won out at last…
Zelda's dejected fantasies were interrupted a moment later as a soft material was placed in her hands. What…was going on here?
"You can open your eyes," Link murmured.
She did as he asked and was immediately greeted by a lovely blue and white material. Eyeing it with confusion, she carefully gazed up at Link. He nodded, urging her to take a closer look. So she did, unfolding the fabric to better see what it was.
When she finished, Zelda found herself looking upon a beautiful blue dress with long white sleeves. The fabric was silky and flowing, quite a bit more relaxed than the proper Royal dress she was so accustomed to. It was soft too, as if it had been woven from silk. But why was he showing this to her?
"I…I don't…understand…" she managed, her confusion mounting by the second.
"That's for you, Zelda."
"W…what?"
"I need to apologize to you – I told you a bit of a lie last week. There is no special end of year celebration in Hateno – we greet the start of the new year like anywhere else but there isn't a specific outfit we all put on to celebrate."
"Then…"
"I needed a way to get you to Lissa without making you feel obligated to turn me down. I figured if I could frame it in the right way, you'd let her measure you. The truth, though, is that I asked her to prepare this dress for you. And every other outfit in this box."
Zelda's heart was already full to bursting. She felt so guilty that he had been caused such trouble. But he had been so considerate of her, thought so hard about her situation, gone to such lengths to help her, even though she was the way she was…
"Every…other? There's more…?"
"Of course! That's not a great dress to keep you warm during the colder months and winter will be here before you know it. So that's what this is for."
Link reached into the box and withdrew a breathtaking white jacket with gold and light blue trim, sporting a cozy, fleece collar. He laid it on the bed beside her.
Zelda was overwhelmed.
"And this, too," he continued, this time pulling a sapphire blue sweater from the mystery box and presenting it to her. "I figured you could use some casual outfits to wear while we're in the house so you can be more comfortable."
He kept going, producing more and more outfits from the box. All sorts of relaxed clothing, winter clothing, several nightgowns, and all manner of pants to accompany each outfit as well. At one point he even produced a pair of warm boots with matching fleece trim to go along with the white jacket from before. Had Lissa even measured her feet? She must have.
By the time Link had finished unloading the box, smiling brightly at her the entire time, Zelda couldn't keep herself under control any longer. Tears spilled down her cheeks without warning and she actually had to reach up and feel her face to make sure she hadn't imagined the sensation. Link's smile faltered for just a moment as he gave her a concerned look.
"Zelda? Are you okay? How come you're crying?"
For the first time in as long as she could remember, Zelda felt her walls break down and she couldn't hold back her honesty any longer.
"I…I…just can't remember…the last time anyone did something so kind for me. I'm…completely overwhelmed…that's all…" she managed between shaky breaths.
Her tears were pouring forth with more vigor now. She hadn't wanted to cry in front of Link but she just couldn't stop herself anymore. A moment later, Zelda felt Link's strong hand come to rest upon her head yet again. His gentle voice seemed to fill her world.
"Maybe this isn't the best time to tell you but I asked Lissa to make you a lot more outfits than just these."
"W-what?" she managed, her throat tightening.
"Once it warms up in the spring and summer, these winter clothes won't help you stay cool. I don't want you to be uncomfortable. So you'll have a lot more to choose from soon."
"L-Link…"
He planned for her to still be here after that much time had passed?
"Lissa wanted me to tell you that a lot of these outfits were things she already had prepared. She's a brilliant tailor, but even she couldn't do all this in a week. But she did ask me to let you know that the first dress and that white jacket she specifically made for you. I feel like she's bragging about this next bit but apparently she was so excited to see you in them that she couldn't sleep from anticipation and wound up working through the night a few times."
"You…you…did all this…for someone like me…"
'What an impossibly kind man…'
"I'm not trying to pry but…I get the sense things have been really hard for you, Zelda. And whether or not that's true, I know that nice dress and your nightgown are the only clothes you have with you."
She gasped despite the tears that still streamed down her face.
He knew…
"But regardless of why that's the case, you deserve more. And better."
"I…I don't…I really don't…"
"You do."
Zelda felt her tears begin to pour forth with renewed intensity. He spoke again, his voice still gentle and his palm still resting atop her head.
"I feel like I'm just adding fuel to the fire here, but I do have one more surprise for you."
"You…do…?"
"My friend Syd has been making you a new desk for your room for a few weeks now and it should be done soon. I'd have just given you mine but it's so old and beat up; I wanted you to have something nice you could use to write letters to the people you care about and keep up with your diary."
That was all Zelda could take. She was completely overwhelmed and leaned forward without thinking about it, her head falling against his stomach as she clutched the blue and white dress tightly in her hands. She would have been mortified if she'd fully realized she was behaving in such a familiar manner with Link, but she wasn't anywhere close to in control of herself at the moment.
Link just placed his free arm around her shoulders, the hand on top of her head slowly lowering to the back of it, and let her cry. She wept like she hadn't allowed herself to in a long time, wailing and wallowing against the kindest man she'd ever met in her life. He never once pushed her away or tried to pull back from her.
'Link…is truly one of a kind. I haven't been shown such kindness…since Mother passed away. I've…forgotten what it feels like to be…cared about. To be told…I deserve anything at all. To be…held like this…'
She wasn't entirely sure how long she cried against Link. Her tears poured forth with such vigor her head began to ache but still his support remained stalwart until, finally, she managed to bring herself back under control, breathing as deeply and slowly as she could manage. Link released her and stepped back, his eyes warm as he met her gaze.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded at last.
"I…am. Thank you, Link. Thank you…so very much."
"You're welcome, Zelda."
"I feel…so guilty accepting all of this from you…"
"It's a gift. You wouldn't turn down a gift, right?" His eyes sparkled as he smiled at her.
Zelda sniffled before nodding again.
"Right. Thank you. And I'm sorry…about before."
"Don't be. Now! How about I give you some privacy and you can try on some of your new outfits?"
"A-are you…sure? You don't want me to…help you dispose of the box? Or do anything else for you?"
He shook his head.
"Nope. I want you to enjoy your presents; that'll make me happy. And it'll give you a reason to use that new mirror of yours too."
Zelda was dumbfounded by that last revelation. He had been planning this the whole time. Without waiting for a response, Link lifted the empty box into his arms and headed towards the door. He glanced back over his shoulder and gave her one more gentle smile.
"Take all the time you want. I have nothing else going on today so I'd love to take you by Lissa's a little later so she can see her handiwork on you, if you're up for it."
All Zelda could do was offer a smile and nod. It was the most genuine smile she'd worn in as long as she could remember.
As Link closed the door behind himself, Zelda set about changing into the first dress he'd presented her, the white and blue one. It was truly one of the most beautiful pieces of clothing she'd ever seen. After removing her Royal dress and replacing it with Lissa's handmade outfit, the gift Link had gone so far out of his way to give her, Zelda felt tears well in her eyes again.
It fit her perfectly, of course, but it also looked right at home on her. The dress stretched down to her calves; she had never seen a more lovely shade of blue. The long white sleeves accented it perfectly. It was beautiful, more so than any other dress she'd ever received, any other outfit or piece of clothing she'd ever owned. And even better was the fact that it made her look like she belonged here. Like she wasn't just some outsider the way she had always felt since she'd turned nine. She had never stopped to think just how comforting that feeling of acceptance would be.
Though it wasn't a winter dress meant to keep her safe from the cold, Zelda had never worn anything warmer in all her life.
8/18/2023
Post-Chapter Note: Welcome back and thanks for reading the new chapter!
I had a ton of fun with this one, from getting inside Link's head a little and exploring the way he sees the world to establishing some new side characters in Hateno Village. Glenne turned out to be one of my favorites to write - I love the idea of a character that just talks and talks and talks and talks to our stoic and reticent Link lol, the contrast there was a ton of fun to write! Lissa is maybe a bit more of a straightforward sweetheart but she was also nice to write given how much she liked Zelda from the beginning. The poor girl needs more love in her life.
Which is why I was also glad to have her experience some of that this time! Obviously we spent half the chapter in Link's head and the second half in Zelda's but I think everyone should have enough of a grasp on each at this point to kind of infer their thinking in scenes where the other one takes the wheel (at least you do if I've done my job right lol). So I decided I wanted to have Zelda's thoughts take center stage for the gift scene since we could probably imagine what Link was thinking a little easier. I also just liked the idea of letting Zelda really open up to Link for just a few minutes and I thought that was pretty important to be done from her perspective since she hasn't had that really since her Mother was alive and with her.
So from here, we'll pretty much go back to the way I was writing "If Things Had Been Different" - jumping between POV characters in different scenes as appropriate to the context or the plot. Though Zelda is certainly the main character here, Link won't be taking a back seat and we'll get lots of internal monologue from each of them going forward! There's also at least one more POV character a little ways down the road - I'm not sure exactly when that'll happen (not very soon) but it'll hopefully be fun when it does!
Also, this was definitely more of a building chapter, obviously, but there is a plot to this whole thing as well. So while there will definitely be lots of sweet, soft fluff throughout the whole thing, there will also be plenty of mystery and intrigue to go along with it!
Anyway, that's it out of me for this one! Next chapter we'll have a fun shake up to the dynamic we're starting to settle into (and probably some cute moments to boot)! So until then, take care everyone and I'll see you in the next one...which will probably happen like...this weekend or Monday at the latest!
