Author's Note: Hey everyone, welcome back! I am incapable of writing short chapters, so have another 12K word installment LOL! In all seriousness, there was just a lot I wanted to include in this one. I thought about breaking it up, but it all feels thematically like one single chapter so I didn't really want to. And that's fine, I'm not struggling to write this many words so why not right?
So I learned two things while writing this chapter - the word 'fiancé' does NOT refer to both parties interchangeably. The male partner is usually referred to as 'fiancé' and the female partner as 'fiancée.' I did not know that until the other day. I know it's a word borrowed from French and I took French in high school, so I probably should have remembered that masculine and feminine conjugations exist in that language, but let's be honest, high school was long enough ago that I'm lucky if I remember anything about it at all at this point. Also, I discovered that 'stationery' is the proper way to spell the word when referring to paper, not 'stationary,' though I think I knew that at one point and just forgot it. I can't remember if I made that mistake in the last chapter...I probably did. Might go back and update those two things in the prior chapters, we'll see how much it bugs me.
Now, for a whiplash language lesson - let's talk about Japanese real quick! If you read my last story, 'If Things Had Been Different,' this explanation will be very familiar to you but it involves the nickname Urbosa uses for Zelda. Urbosa uses a different nickname in Japanese than she does in English. This will only come up once this chapter (it's the only thing I'm used to her calling Zelda from my own playthroughs so I just stuck with it) but I wanted to explain it briefly. In Japanese, Urbosa refers to Zelda as:
"Ohisama" (oh-hee-sah-mah).
That word itself is one that a young child might use to refer to the sun - it personifies it in a fun and innocent/wonderous way. So essentially, Urbosa is calling Zelda "Sunshine" in Japanese, or "My Sunshine" depending on how you interpret it. She speaks to Zelda as if she were her mother, using a term that only the mother of a young child would ever really have a reason to say. There's still a little extra play on words too.
In Japanese, "Princess" is:
"Hime-sama" (hee-may-sah-mah).
You can even add the prefix "O" to the front of it for an extra show of respect as well:
"Ohime-sama" (oh-hee-may-sah-mah).
So not only is Urbosa calling Zelda "My Sunshine" but she's also having fun with the fact that Zelda's nickname sounds so similar to her royal title ("Ohisama" and "Ohime-sama"). I found that really fun and fascinating when I first learned it! And hopefully it won't be confusing now when you see it going forward.
All that said, thank you so much for coming back and reading and I'll see you again at the end! I hope you enjoy the new chapter!
Book I - Meeting
Chapter 5 – First Date
The sun was starting to set as Link approached his home again. It had been several days since Mipha had visited and he was still torn on when to ask Zelda to journey into the village with him. He had racked his brain the entire time he'd been out, wondering when the right opportunity to propose such a thing was, inventing scenarios in which she responded in certain ways to make sure he was prepared to react appropriately. Mipha seemed convinced that Zelda really wanted to go into town with him but a part of him was…nervous.
'Why am I nervous? It's just a short walk into Hateno; it's not like we haven't done that twice already. Mipha, why in the world did you have to use the word 'date' before you left? This is your fault, you know…'
As he grumbled inside his own head over how his best friend's innocuous little comment had left him floundering for days, he finally reached his door. Luckily, interacting with Zelda hadn't been made any more difficult by the thoughts he was toiling over. If anything, since he'd helped her calm down after her nightmare the other day, she seemed to be a bit more relaxed around him. That was good; though Zelda was still skittish, he noticed that her voice came more readily now. Perhaps she was finally starting to settle into things in Hateno.
As Link opened the door and entered the house, he was greeted by something unfamiliar. A mouth-watering smell enveloped him in seconds, the scent wrapping around him as if it were giving him a hug. Had Zelda cooked something? Scanning the room to make sense of the situation, his eyes fell upon his fiancée.
She was wearing a casual, cerulean dress, similar in style to the one Lissa had handmade for her. Over top of it she wore one of the many cooking aprons Link owned. Her hair was pulled back again and she had a timid smile on her face as she met his gaze. The difference this time was that her eyes betrayed just how excited that smile really should have been despite the way she tried to hold it back. Those large, aquamarine eyes of hers were shimmering with joy.
Link actually felt his heart leap in his chest. Had she ever shown him such delight? She had expressed her gratitude to him many times and he had even seen her cry from overwhelming joy the day he'd given her those new outfits, but he didn't think he'd seen her like this yet. She was…breathtaking…
"W-welcome home," she managed at last, trying to force her eyes to remain on him.
Link, recovering as best he could, eased the door closed behind him.
"Thanks, Zelda. Did…you make something?"
She gave a timid nodded.
"I…made dinner for us. I wanted you to come home…to something I prepared for you this time."
Link felt his mouth fall agape. She had…cooked for him? Nobody had cooked for him since he'd lived at home with his family. And it didn't look like she'd done it because she thought he expected it either. It seemed like she'd really hoped to surprise him.
"That…I…thank you, Zelda," he managed at last, still trying to collect himself.
He watched as she wrung her hands together nervously before speaking again, her voice a bit softer. Her eyes remained fixed on him, though.
"Then you…aren't upset that I used your cooking tools without asking you first? Or that I stole away one of your opportunities to enjoy your favorite hobby...?"
Link was stunned again. When Zelda had first arrived, she never would have dreamed of taking the initiative like this. In fact, if she had for some reason been forced to cook anything at all, she would have apologized over and over again the second he had returned. But this time, she was holding her head higher even though she was worried about his response. She had wanted to do this for him, no matter what. It was an incredible feeling.
"I'm not upset at all, Zelda. This is your home now, too; you can use anything in here whenever you like, I mean that."
Her smile returned, even brighter now than it had been moments before. He couldn't stop the next question that came from his mouth.
"How come…you felt like cooking for me? I never mind making us dinner, even after I've been out like today."
Zelda drew a nervous breath before she managed to speak again.
"I know you don't mind. It's just…I wanted to do something special for you. You've done so much for me…and I wanted to return the favor in some small way."
Link felt his heart skip a few beats as he desperately tried to keep his cheeks from darkening.
"T-that's so kind of you, Zelda. Thank you; I really appreciate this, more than I can put into words."
Her eyes lit up. They were so beautiful…
"R-really?"
He finally managed a calm smile again.
"Really. Nobody's ever done something like this for me before. Dinner smells amazing, by the way. What are we having tonight?"
She made an eager gesture towards the counter, her voice uncharacteristically excited.
"I made a mushroom risotto I once learned how to prepare at the Castle using some of the fresh ingredients you brought home yesterday. A-and a vegetable cream soup to go alongside it. Um…I also made an apple pie for dessert, if you're interested, of course. And, um, I put together a variety of rice balls you can take with you when you go out…just in case you get hungry while you're hunting or helping anyone in the village…"
"Wow, you really went all out; thank you so much."
"W-was it too much?" she asked, her eyes nervous.
Link gave her a smile and shook his head.
"Not at all. It's very thoughtful and I'm so grateful you went to such trouble for me."
"O-oh, it was no trouble at all…" she murmured, averting her eyes as her smile grew wider still.
"Let me get changed and wash my face and hands so we can get started; just based on the smell alone, I'm in for a real treat."
"T-take your time; I only just finished so it won't get cold that fast."
Zelda watched with bated breath as Link sat down opposite her at the table. She had placed his meal in his usual spot, not wanting to throw off his routine any more than she already had. She was extremely nervous. Would Link like her cooking…?
'I've been expected to prepare all manner of dishes for Hilda late at night when the chefs had already retired. After all those years, I'm not really worried about my ability to cook. I'm more concerned…as to whether my cooking will be to Link's tastes. I really hope he likes it…'
"Thank you again for making dinner today, Zelda," Link told her with a warm smile. He was eyeing the mushroom risotto hungrily.
She couldn't hide the anxious smile that stole her face.
"Y-you're very welcome. Um, please, enjoy before it gets cold."
"I'd be happy to. Let's eat."
"L-let's."
Link took his spoon and lifted a sizeable bite towards his mouth. Zelda's own spoon lay forgotten beside her plate as she watched him rather obviously. She wanted nothing more than for him to enjoy this meal. Had she done well enough? Would he be disappointed with how she prepared his food just the way Hilda had always been? Her sister had never once enjoyed anything she'd made for her. Perhaps Link would feel the same way…but at least he'd let her down gently if that were the case…
"Zelda, this is fantastic," he told her at last, a sparkle in his eyes.
Her mouth fell agape.
"R…really?"
"Really! This is some of the best food I've ever had in my life, seriously!"
Zelda felt her throat constrict a moment later. Link had told her many kind things since coming to Hateno but this…
"Z-Zelda? Are you okay? Did I say something to upset you?"
She checked her face with her hands and found tears falling down her cheeks. She hadn't even realized they were there, just like the day she'd received her new clothes. She wasn't beside herself or completely distraught, but she was overwhelmed that her gesture had been met with such kindness.
"I-I'm fine," she insisted. "Nobody has…ever enjoyed something I've cooked for them before and I…really wanted you to like this. I'm just…so happy."
Link fixed her with the warmest gaze she'd ever seen.
"Thank you for spending time doing this for me. And anyone who hasn't appreciated your cooking in the past has no idea what good food tastes like."
Zelda managed a tiny laugh before sniffling and wiping her cheeks.
"Thank you," she managed. "B-back at the Castle…I would sometimes make food for…my sister. Sometimes I just wanted to do something nice for her after a hard day preparing to face the Calamity but…"
"She never appreciated it," Link offered.
She shook her head, remembering that Hilda had not only rejected her kindness every time but usually thrown the fruits of her efforts near or at her.
"I'm glad you don't have to waste your kindness on someone so undeserving anymore," Link asserted, lifting a spoonful of his vegetable soup towards his lips. He sipped it before smiling brightly at her. "This soup is incredible too."
"Thank you. B-but…I…I don't think that Hilda…doesn't deserve my kindness…"
"I do."
"Huh?"
"She doesn't deserve it."
"B-but…I…"
"Don't get me wrong – I'm not telling you how to think, I promise. That's just the way I feel about it."
Zelda didn't know what to say. She simply nodded, almost too stunned for words. She knew Link didn't get along with her sister but to hear him be so outwardly negative about her was something she'd never really experienced before. Most people sang Hilda's praises as if she had written a script for them to read from. But Link was unapologetic in his feelings about her…and they weren't very complimentary, to say the least.
"Zelda, do you mind if I change the subject on you?" Link asked suddenly, after finishing another bite of the risotto.
"N-not at all."
"I had something I wanted to ask you."
"Of…of course."
Link hesitated for an uncharacteristically long time. In that interim, he stared at his dinner and drew small shapes into it with his spoon. That was something she had never seen him do before. Something must have really been weighing on his mind for him to be that distracted. Perhaps…she had done something wrong and he didn't know how to tell her…
"I was planning to go into the village for the afternoon this coming weekend," he began. His voice sounded unusually hesitant.
"O-oh, of course. Is there…anything you'd like me to do here while you're gone? I…can prepare dinner for you again if you'd like."
Link shook his head.
"That's…sorry, that's not why I brought it up exactly. I'd…like for you to come with me."
"Huh?" Zelda's mind ground to a halt.
Luckily, it seemed Link had found his voice again and continued with more certainty than before.
"I've been meaning to take you into town for a while now but…I didn't want to pressure you so suddenly. I know how hard it is to meet lots of new people at once, believe me. But, if you're willing to, why don't you come with me?"
Zelda could barely find her voice.
"B-but…won't I just be in your way? I'm sure you…have plenty of things to do while you're out and I…"
"You won't be in the way at all, Zelda; I want you to come with me. We haven't really had the chance to spend any time together outside of the house since you got here unless we actually count that short little trip to Lissa's. I…thought you might enjoy it."
"M-me?"
"But if you're not ready, I completely understand," he added quickly, glancing awkwardly down at his plate.
Now Zelda felt herself panic. She was denying his kind offer. No, she was all but spitting in the face of his consideration. How could she say and do things like this after she had deliberately avoided going into town with Mipha specifically so she could go with him?
"I…I'd love to!" she managed at last, her voice high and trembling.
She had squeezed her eyes shut as she said it. She was sacred to utter words so presumptuous and selfish but even more scared to dismiss Link's wonderful kindness.
"Really? That's great, then. We can make a day out of it," Link insisted, his voice steady.
Once she opened her eyes though, she noticed that his cheeks were slightly red. Was he too warm perhaps? She had kept dinner nice and hot until he had been ready to eat; perhaps the temperature was getting to him.
"Um, that sounds…thank you. I'll make sure I'm ready w-whenever you'd like to go this weekend."
Link shook his head, his face settling again.
"You don't have to feel so much pressure about it; this is just a fun little trip into town. We'll have a good time."
"A…good time?"
"Yeah! I can finally introduce you to Ira and Melo, we can eat at their restaurant, I'll show you some of the secret spots in the village I know about - things like that."
Zelda was awe stricken.
'He…wants to have fun with me? Nobody has ever wanted to have fun with me before…not since Mother. Why does he want to…do that? It's rude to ask him that question but I…no. Not after such a selfless offer. I will join him in any capacity he wishes.'
"I'm…looking forward to it," she managed at last, finally managing to smile again.
"Me too," Link assured her with a warm look.
As she watched him continue eating his food with vigor, she was overcome by feelings of wonder. How Link had decided she was deserving of his kindness was something that was truly beyond her ability to comprehend. He was a wonderful, selfless man, and she had never once thought herself worthy to stand on equal footing with him. Yet, he wanted to go into town with her this weekend. He wanted her to stand at his side and enjoy an afternoon with him.
'Do I…deserve such a thing?'
Try as she might to resist the idea, Zelda found herself becoming excited for their trip into the village together. She felt, somewhere deep down, that this couldn't last forever, that something would come to spoil her joy. That was what always seemed to pass in her life. But even if she was ultimately destined to only experience his kindness for a limited time, she wouldn't take a single moment for granted. If Link's happiness would come from showing her consideration like this, then she would be rude not to accept.
And even though she believed herself undeserving of such exceptional kindness…she couldn't deny the existence of the little voice in the back of her head that was shouting at her to accept and enjoy it just this once.
Zelda spent the remainder of the week panicking over how to behave while they were out in Hateno. Should she remain behind Link? Would he be embarrassed to be seen with her at his side? He would likely never tell her something like that, but nobody had ever wanted her by their side. Her father and Hilda certainly never did and most others at the Castle followed their example, loathe to incur the wrath of the Crown Princess in particular. Perhaps Link felt the same way but simply couldn't express it because he was so kind…
Should she introduce herself as his fiancée? He had so easily named her as such to Glenne when first they'd met but perhaps it had been because his hand was forced. It was likely better for her to remain silent and let him introduce her however she saw fit, responding accordingly.
Should she wear something he hadn't seen before or something he had? Did he have a preference with regards to her appearance? Should she tie back her strangely colored hair? Would the villagers be offended if she didn't? She had no hat she could wear but perhaps tying it up so it drew less attention was the best course of action. There was nothing she could do about her eyes except avoid sharing someone's gaze directly for too long...
When the day of their outing finally arrived, though, Zelda was no closer to answering any of her questions than when she'd started pondering them. She and Link had enjoyed breakfast together as usual, both of them slightly quieter than routine had dictated as of late, before retiring to their individual rooms to change and ready themselves to leave.
Zelda ultimately settled on the same blue and white dress Lissa had been so proud of, the one Link had first presented her with. It would soon be too cold to wear this dress for many months and she was enamored by its quality and beauty. She gazed at herself in the mirror, hoping she was presentable enough.
'Somehow, even I can make it look decent…though perhaps it's more accurate to say that the dress sparkles despite its wearer…'
"Zelda, you ready?" came Link's gentle voice.
"I-I'll be right there."
She committed to tying her hair back, pulling her long, golden locks into a ponytail. At least this way if people saw her from the front, they wouldn't be subjected to her garish hair color…
Exiting the room, her eyes fell upon Link. He had chosen a handsome blue sweater with a high neck – it was getting a bit colder lately, after all. The color was remarkably similar to her own dress, she noticed.
His rather long, sandy hair was pulled back into its usual style, that well-worn hair tie contrasting just noticeably enough with the blue earrings he wore to draw her attention. Hopefully she would be able to prepare a hair tie for him as soon as Lissa's order came in…
"That dress really does look wonderful on you," Link told her.
Zelda felt her heart skip a beat. He was…complimenting her?
"T-thank you…I…um…I think that color is a…great choice for you."
Link gave her a smile, though his cheeks had darkened just slightly. He was probably a little warm wearing it inside. They should hurry into the village so he wasn't uncomfortable.
"Thanks. Hey, can I ask how come you tied your hair back? I know you do that when you're working on something but I've never seen you do it otherwise."
She panicked for a moment, reaching up and touching it.
'Maybe it isn't good enough...maybe I should have tried harder to hide it...'
"Um…I…thought it might look…more presentable this way…"
"Well, I do think it looks nice," he admitted. "But only if you're doing it because that's what you want."
She chewed her lip.
"I…um…I am…"
A strained silence fell over the room for just a moment, but the several seconds it lasted felt like a month to Zelda. Link finally spoke again, his voice more gentle than usual.
"Zelda…I really try not to pry into your life and your past, but…you're not really wearing your hair like that because you want to, are you?"
Her eyes widened and she met his gaze, dumbfounded. How did he know that? How could he know that? She had never said anything about her hair to him…right?
"I…I don't…"
"Sorry, I know I'm overstepping here. You just looked…really sad when I asked why you were wearing your hair up today."
She had betrayed herself, then. Link had deduced the truth from her eyes alone. How thoughtless…to burden him with such concerns after he had tried so hard to plan a nice outing for them. Should she just be honest with him instead of hiding the truth then…?
"I...was sad…"
"How come?" He watched her with concerned eyes.
She didn't want to speak ill of her family. They had every right to resent her, Hilda especially. She didn't want to whine and complain like a child. Just because she was told something that made her unhappy didn't make it untrue…but…something about Link's voice – how warm it was, how gentle, how inviting – was drawing her in. She…wanted to tell him. She…didn't want to be all alone with the truth anymore…
"M-my hair is…strange. This…deep, golden color is…gaudy and unsightly. I shouldn't force people…to look at it. I even feel bad to wear it down in front of you when we're inside but…"
Link slowly began to close the distance between them. His eyes were focused solely on her and she began to panic again. Now that she'd drawn attention to it, he agreed. He felt the same way. He was going to tell her she was right and that he had a hat for her to put on. He would be kind about it but even Link would-
"Do you mind if I do something a little presumptuous?"
"You can…do anything…" she murmured, her eyes cast downward. She braced herself for his deft hand to place a hat upon her head.
A moment later, however, she felt a gentle tugging against her hair. Looking towards him, she saw the hair tie with which she had haphazardly fastened her ponytail being removed, allowing her long hair to fall free. It cascaded across her shoulders and down her back once more as Link finished untying it, closing the material in his hand.
"Wear your hair down. It's far too beautiful for you to be ashamed of it."
For perhaps the first time in her entire life, Zelda felt a deep blush color her cheeks. It wasn't the all too familiar sensation of shame washing over her, but instead a feeling of flattery and appreciation that she had never experienced so deeply.
'He…he thinks my hair is…beautiful? That…that can't be…surely he's just being nice to me…'
"L…L-Link…" she managed at last, averting her eyes and all but covering her face with her hands.
He placed the hair tie on the dining table before gazing toward her, his own cheeks a little red.
"Sorry about that; I don't really know what came over me. But I'm not just flattering you – I've thought your hair was beautiful from the night I met you. You should never feel embarrassed of it, Zelda."
"…r…really…?"
He nodded.
"Really."
"B…but…"
Link stepped just a bit closer, his gentle voice washing over her ears.
"I don't care what Hilda told you – she's wrong."
Zelda gasped in surprise. How had he known Hilda had been the one to tell her those things? He had deduced she was the person who hadn't appreciated her cooking at dinner the other night too. He continued, his voice drawing her attention effortlessly.
"There's nothing gaudy or unsightly about your hair at all. You prefer to wear it down like this, right?"
All she could bring herself to do was nod.
"Then please, wear it down while we're out today too, if you're comfortable with that."
"…I…will…" she managed at long last, her mind still reeling.
Link really didn't think her hair was ugly…?
"Wonderful. Now, shall we head out? Are you ready?"
It took Zelda a few moments to come back to reality, but when she finally did she managed a hurried nod.
"Um, y-yes…I am…"
"I figured we could start by just wandering the village and I can show you where everyone lives and what vegetables they grow. We can think about lunch later once we've worked up an appetite."
"T-that sounds…lovely."
He gave her a gentle smile and gestured to the opposite wall.
"Let's go, then. Stay close, okay?"
She nodded.
"O-okay."
As they approached the front entrance of the house, Zelda found herself absentmindedly running her fingers through her hair. Link…didn't think it was ugly. He wanted her to wear it down…did he want her to do so for her own sake or for his? Was it…both?
As Link opened the doorway and the bright sunlight streamed across the hardwood flooring, Zelda found that her heart felt lighter than it had in a very long time.
'Amazing that those simple words…could affect me so deeply. What a truly wonderful person he is.'
Link was worried he was being far too forward with Zelda. The thought again took hold of him as he pulled a chair out for her on the terrace of Ira and Melo's shop, offering her the seat before taking his own.
When he thought about the things he'd said and done that day, he almost wanted to bury his face in his hands and melt into the ground. It had started with complimenting her dress so directly. But that was nothing compared to untying her hair. What an overconfident action that had been. He should have just shut up and let her do what she wanted with it. After telling her for weeks she could do anything and didn't need his approval, he had gone and questioned her about her hairstyle for the day. What if she had just wanted to wear it up one more time before winter?
But then she had admitted something about her unsurprisingly bleak past to him. He hadn't been wrong about her motivations. And she didn't seem upset by what had happened before they left, but then…would she ever have expressed her feelings if she was? The only saving grace of his action was that she had smiled and run her fingers through her hair all morning as a result.
The next thing he'd done was continually introduce her as his fiancée to everyone in town. He had toiled over how best to announce her while lying in bed the night before and had eventually settled on making the truth known to everyone, no matter how awkward it might be at first. He didn't want to share that she was one of the Kingdom's Princesses just in case she didn't want that information spreading around. But regardless of any title or heritage she possessed, they were engaged to be married by order of the King himself, so it wasn't inaccurate to introduce her that way.
Link worried, though, that she might feel like he was stripping away her individuality and identity by following her name with the words 'my fiancée' during every introduction. So he had tried phrasing it differently – 'my fiancée, Zelda.' Was that worse though? Placing a title that sounded like it made her his possession before even stating her name was awfully rude, wasn't it? Why hadn't Mipha given him a bit more guidance on this subject? Why hadn't he even thought to ask her for advice was a better question…
Luckily, the day seemed to be going fairly well despite his rather arrogant missteps. Zelda had delighted in finally seeing the town, from Syd and his family's home all the way to the general store. She had met the former carpenter and his daughter, Celene, as they had been preparing to deliver some vegetables to Ira and Melo. Link was still quite grateful for Syd's assistance with Zelda's desk and the older man had quietly assured him that it would finally be finished before the end of the weekend.
After that, they visited Glenne and his mother, Anya. The young man had, of course, greeted them with intense enthusiasm and had even tried to tag along with them, but Anya, who no doubt could parse the obvious situation unfolding between he and Zelda, called her son away and left them to their outing. Their…date.
Though Link had deliberately not used that word with Zelda, he was sure she understood it to be the truth of the situation. She was smart and didn't need him to spell things out for her; that would be yet another way he could be too pushy and risk offending her. As it stood, though, things had been going well so far. Once they had left the house, the nervous, awkward feeling that had engulfed his heart all morning had begun to dissipate and settle down again.
Until now.
Zelda gazed upon the quaint little village with wonder as she took in the sights and sounds around them. Her eyes were sparkling, that breathtaking shade of green causing his heart rate to quicken. He didn't dare do something as brazen as compliment her eyes after he had been so bold as to do the same with her dress and hair earlier. But it didn't stop his appreciation. Nor did it stop that racing heart of his from skipping two full beats as she turned those hypnotic eyes upon him once more.
"Link…this place is so beautiful. Thank you…for bringing me with you today."
"Of course," he managed, surprised that he had kept his voice steady. "I'm glad you're having a good time. Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
She offered him a small smile and shook her head.
"No, I'm okay. I am a little hungry, but we'll be eating rather soon anyway."
She was speaking so much more confidently with him today. He was used to her stammering and hesitating through most sentences she spoke to him but this was an entirely new experience. It was also…quite delightful. Her unguarded voice was mellifluous. It reminded him of the symphony he had once been asked to attend at the grand theatre in Castle Town alongside the other Champions – utterly beautiful and captivating.
"H-have you been feeling all right while we've been out, Zelda?" he began, almost kicking himself for stammering so obviously.
Even if she was feeling more relaxed today, it was his job to maintain his confidence so she could hold onto it if she needed to. He also didn't want to betray just how captivated he was in case it made her uncomfortable...
"I have been," she answered, her tiny smile growing just a little. "I'll admit…I do struggle meeting new people sometimes. But everyone in this village is so lovely."
Link chuckled, finally starting to settle into the conversation.
"I understand – meeting too many new people at once exhausts me faster than fighting a field of monsters would."
Zelda giggled. That was something Link hadn't heard her do before. His skipping heart loudly insisted he give her cause to repeat the sound.
"I can only imagine how difficult that would be, but…if anyone would be able to handle such a task, it would certainly be you."
Link felt his cheeks burn at her sudden compliment. She had never done that before either. Zelda had praised his cooking and thanked him profusely for many things but she had never uttered anything close to that level of commendation. Evidently, she realized it as well from his reaction.
"O-oh! I, um, forgive me for saying something so brazen. I…um…only meant it as praise for…your skill with the Master Sword."
She was hesitating again.
'Great, now look what you did? She's worried she upset you.'
"Please, don't apologize," he assured her hurriedly. "I appreciate that a lot; I was just caught by surprise a bit, that's all. Don't feel bad."
"O…okay."
"While we're waiting for our food, though, can I ask – have you ever been to a place like Hateno before?"
Zelda managed to calm herself down again before responding.
"I…haven't, no. In fact, I've been to very few places in my life. To be able to walk through a beautiful village like this is…truly amazing. Thank you again for bringing me out with you today."
"I'm glad we finally did this. I've been meaning to show you around and introduce you to everyone for a while now but…I didn't want to overwhelm you or force you to meet too many new people at once."
"Thank you, that was…extremely kind of you. But I'm very glad to have met them all at last. This place, these people, your home, all of it…it's just incredible. To be welcomed here the way I have been by you and everyone else…is honestly a dream come true."
Link gave her the warmest smile he could.
"I suspect you may not have had a say in coming here, but this place can be your home too if you'd like it to be, Zelda."
Her eyes widened.
"It…can be?"
"It already is, don't you think?"
"I…well, to tell you the truth…I still think of myself very much as a guest in your home…t-through no fault of your own, of course."
"That makes sense – you've only been here a few weeks, after all. But when you're ready, I think it's perfectly fine for you to call this place home."
"I'll…I'll do my best to do so once I settle in a little more," she promised, her smile growing noticeably.
"The house, too," he continued.
"The…house?"
"You always refer to the house as mine. But…given our situation, I think it's fine for you to think of it as yours when you're comfortable with that."
"O-oh, I could never! You are the one who decorated it so lovingly and opened it to me. I have no claim to what's yours."
Link laughed lightly.
"You really think I decorated it well? I feel like I don't know the first thing about making a room look nice. Mipha always makes fun of me for the plain white curtains and boring brown upholstery. She says it matches the floor too closely."
Zelda giggled again.
'Nicely done.'
"I like it, personally," she assured him.
"Thanks. But if you ever have anything you'd like to add to it or change, feel free to. I'm not attached to anything outside of the kitchen area."
"That would…be okay with you?"
"Sure, I wouldn't mind at all. I want you to feel at home there. Besides, the nicer the decorating, the nicer our home will feel, don't you think?"
"…o…our…h-home?" she managed at last, her cheeks flushing badly.
The magnitude of his blunder sunk in almost immediately as her eyes dove for the table between them, covering her face with her hands. After an entire morning of overstepping, that had been the most egregious example of it yet. Now she was completely embarrassed and overwhelmed…of course, he was too. But before he could even attempt to save face, Ira appeared, carrying a tray with their lunches.
"What's this now? Is Link coming onto you too strongly, Zelda?"
"Ira!" he scolded, his own cheeks burning now.
Ira was a very confident person. She warmed up to people right away and never let anyone be less than a friend to her; her meeting with Zelda upon their arrival had once again proven that to Link. She carried herself that way too. Standing close to a head taller than he or Zelda, sporting short brown hair and a near-constant eager smile, Ira was the picture of social confidence. Unfortunately, that also meant she didn't mind teasing people or sticking her nose into situations it didn't belong.
"Oh relax, Link," she sang with a devilish grin, "I'm just teasing! Don't be mad - I brought lunch!"
Link sighed heavily before recovering some semblance of calmness.
"Thanks."
"Yes, t-thank you," Zelda managed at last. She, too, seemed to have collected herself again, at least somewhat.
Ira placed two plates of curry between them, each containing an exquisite cut of meat Link had procured for she and her brother the day before. Zelda's eyes lit up as the store owner set a pair of wildberry crepes alongside them for dessert.
"This…looks wonderful. Thank you, Ira," Zelda said.
Link was a bit surprised; Zelda rarely if ever initiated conversation like that. Ira, oblivious to her timid personality, just grinned.
"Of course, Zelda! I had to do something special to celebrate meeting you today so I went all out on the crepes! You like dessert, right?"
"I-I do."
"Great! People tell me they enjoy the desserts I prepare so I hope this one is to your liking too!"
"I-I'm sure it will be."
"Thanks again, Ira, we appreciate it," Link assured her.
"No problem! Hey, Link, can I ask you for a favor after lunch?"
He raised an eyebrow, curious now.
"Sure, what's going on?"
She waved a dismissive hand.
"Ah, nothing important. That lousy brother of mine hasn't been here since this morning and Syd and Celene dropped off this big box of beautiful vegetables earlier. But it's way too heavy for me to carry downstairs by myself and it's just sitting in the middle of the store eating up space."
"Oh, that's all? I'll take it down for you after we finish eating, sure."
"Oh, I knew I could count on you! If only Melo was reliable the way you are, Link, maybe he'd be opening a shop with his own fiancée instead of running one with his little sister," she jabbed, grinning the entire time.
With that, Ira disappeared back inside the shop, humming as she went. There was a spring in her step, as if she'd delighted in interrupting them. Even though Link sighed at the thought, he also couldn't help smiling. In a village where most people were notably older or younger than he was, Ira and Melo were the only two near his own age. He felt a strange kinship with the two of them as a result and accepted her teasing a lot more readily than he might have one of the younger kids. Now that he thought about it, though, perhaps that pertained to Zelda too…?
"Hey, Zelda?"
"Y-yes?" Link stifled a laugh as he glanced up at her.
She was already eating her crepe, a few stray bits of frosting stuck to the corners of her mouth. Try as he might, he couldn't fight back the smile that stole his lips. She looked so happy.
"Dessert already?"
Her rosy cheeks darkened but she managed to respond with more confidence than he'd expected.
"It'll…go bad if I leave it out in the sun for too long. But the meat should be fine until later…"
"I'm not making fun of you, I promise. I never realized how much of a dessert lover you are, though."
She smiled at last.
"To be honest…I love desserts, especially things with frosting."
"I'll have to keep that in mind," Link murmured.
Her eyes widened.
"Y-you don't have to go out of your way for me," she assured him.
Link just laughed.
"Don't worry, I like desserts too. Besides, I'd never mind going out of my way to make things you like after the meals you've cooked for me lately."
Indeed, Zelda had taken it upon herself to prepare either lunch or dinner, whichever he'd return home for first, on the days he ventured out into the forest to hunt, as well as making snacks for him to bring along while he was out. It was one of the kindest things anyone had ever done for him.
"I…I'm glad you're enjoying the things I prepare for you."
"I really am. But hey, a thought just occurred to me. Can I ask you something?"
"O-oh, certainly."
"Even I know you're never supposed to ask a lady her age, but do you mind if I ask yours anyway? I was just realizing how little we know about each other."
"I don't…mind at all. I'm twenty-two as of now."
"Look at that, we're the same age."
"How nice…to have that in common," she noted with a small smile after finishing another bite of her crepe.
Link decided to follow suit, eating a bite of his own. It was remarkable as always. Across from him, Zelda's eyes widened in surprise.
"D-did I make you feel pressured into eating your dessert first too? I'm sorry if I did…"
"You have nothing to apologize to me for," he reassured her. "I just thought it'd be a fun way to remember our first outing together, having dessert before the main course."
Zelda gazed at him in wonder for a moment before laughing lightly.
"Indeed! I don't recall any other time in my life I've had dessert so early in a meal!"
She really was dazzling. The way the sunlight glinted off of her smile was mesmerizing. Link had never seen her smile as much as she had today. He didn't recall ever seeing her smile so widely that her pearlescent teeth were in full view…but he really wanted to give her reason to do it more often.
'What an absolutely stunning woman she is…'
After enjoying a leisurely lunch, Zelda and Link returned to the general store inside. She remembered the promise Link had made to Ira and followed him towards the counter the owner was waiting behind.
"How was lunch?" Ira sang, her eyes glowing.
"W-wonderful," Zelda replied, catching herself off guard by how readily she responded.
She worried for a moment that Link would take offense to her responding for him, but he just gazed upon her with a warm smile. It filled her heart in a way she had never experienced before. Almost every moment of the day had done just that.
The way he introduced her as his fiancée so readily had made her heart race so fast she was afraid she might faint. The fact that he wasn't embarrassed to be seen with her was nearly overwhelming. At the beginning of their outing, she had been trailing deliberately behind him, but he slowed down quite pointedly and fell into step next to her, insisting she stay by his side and relax more. Nobody had ever done that for her. It was incredible, truly.
"Ira, you wanted me to move a box for you right?" Link asked.
The young woman's eyes lit up.
"Oh, that's right! Yes, please! Sorry to ask; that lazy brother of mine still isn't back yet. I just don't want customers to accidentally trip over this thing," she explained, gesturing to the box.
As Zelda glanced at the object in question, she had to admit it was quite sizeable.
"It's no problem; I'll take it down to the cellar right now."
"Thank you so much, Link!" she sang.
Before the conversation could finish, though, Zelda stepped forward, summoning all the confidence she could muster.
"U-um, i-is there anything I can bring downstairs? I would…love to help too."
Ira looked at her in amusement for a moment before glancing behind the counter.
"Ooh, you know what, there is!" she reassured Zelda, crouching down out of sight before jumping back to her feet, a grin on her face and a small box in her hands. "This is a little collection of fabrics I've been meaning to take downstairs and add to my collection of crafts but I keep forgetting to do it. Would you just be the biggest dear and take it alongside Link for me?"
"I would be h-happy to," she promised, taking the box from Ira's hands.
It was very light. Part of her wondered if she'd just found a random item to give to her to make her feel better. But a request was a request.
"Thanks, you two!" Ira called as they approached the large box.
"Thanks for keeping me company," Link told her, a comforting warmth to his tone.
Zelda felt her cheeks heat up just a bit but played it off as best she could.
"O-of course. And it's nice to be able to help someone as pleasant as Ira."
Link stretched for a moment before stepping forward.
"Okay, stand back just a bit please, Zelda. I don't want to accidentally bump into you as I lift this."
"O-oh, certainly."
As she did so, Link hefted the wooden crate into his arms as effortlessly as if it had been made of paper. Of course, Zelda wasn't surprised by his physical strength – the hero who had wielded the Blade of Evil's Bane against the Calamity itself was surely on a different plane of physical ability altogether. Still, it was charming that he used that otherworldly strength to help the people of Hateno Village so readily and with such mundane tasks. He really was such a good man…
"Stay close, okay? It's a pretty short walk down to the cellar but the stairs are hidden behind a wall; they're a little tricky to find," he explained, stepping forward.
"I-I'm right behind you."
The two set off, hauling their individual boxes towards their destination. Indeed, the stairwell was craftily hidden behind a strange corner. It would have been nearly impossible to notice if Link hadn't shown her exactly where to look. Of course, his usual confidence wasn't misplaced at all.
He disappeared from her sight and she heard his footsteps begin descending the stairs. Hurrying after him, she rounded the corner, excited to see what kind of crafts Ira had amassed in the storage area. But as Zelda followed Link onto the steps, her heart sank before she could even prepare herself.
'W…what is…this place…?'
It was dark down there…so very dark. There was likely a door at the bottom that separated the cellar from the upper level meant to cordon off the storage area. But that made the descent…nearly pitch black. The steps disappeared into absolute darkness about a third of the way down…
'Just like the dungeons…'
Except there wasn't a torch at the bottom to even give her the semblance of sight.
Zelda's breathing quickened before she realized it. Her hands were trembling and she couldn't bring herself to take a single step more. Frozen at the top of the stairs, her panicked eyes staring ahead, she watched as Link disappeared into that cursed darkness bit by bit.
'Don't…don't go…don't leave me by myself…'
Hilda had left her in the darkness, abandoned her completely to fend for herself. Link wouldn't do that to her too…of course not…right? He wasn't trying to trap her here…so then why did she feel so cold? So alone? So…trapped…
'Help me…somebody help me…please…Link…'
The voices of the prisoners in the dungeons from all those years ago were starting to echo in her head as her body shook worse and worse by the second. She couldn't go down there again. If she went back, they'd grab her and force her to be their hostage. She had to stay here. It wasn't safe down there.
She was only faintly aware of the fact that the small box she held in her hands had fallen to the floor, clattering loudly as it did. She couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't hide. Couldn't run. Couldn't help herself.
Her eyes began to sting badly, tears threatening to overwhelm her.
'Please…save me…don't leave me here again…please…'
"Zelda!"
She was suddenly aware of a familiar face emerging from that darkness, his blue eyes filled with a more intense worry than she'd yet witnessed. It was Link, of course.
'He came back…for me…'
She couldn't stop shivering.
"Hey, it's okay. Come on, come with me." His reassuring voice washed over her effortlessly.
She was struggling to hear him though.
Still reeling from the sight of the stairs that led down into such terrifying blackness, she wasn't even aware of the fact that Link had taken her hand and was guiding her back towards the terrace. In the back of her mind, she faintly heard Ira calling out some kind of concerned question across the store, but he gently waved her off. And a moment later, she was surrounded again by the same bright daylight and brisk breeze she had experienced all afternoon. It helped her come back to reality somewhat.
"Here, sit down, okay?" Link insisted, his voice warmer than the very sun around her.
She allowed herself to be guided gently into a waiting chair, still trembling badly and trying to get her breathing under control. Link held her hand firmly and knelt down before her, gazing into her eyes.
"Zelda, you're okay. I'm here for you, alright?"
All she could manage was a timid nod.
Link didn't ask her what had happened. He didn't pressure her at all. He just stayed like that, kneeling before her, holding her hand in his, resolute in his support. Unwavering. Unflinching. Unwilling to abandon her, even as she struggled not to fall apart right in front of his eyes.
It didn't work.
Zelda finally felt tears begin to overwhelm her. She didn't want to cry in front of Link anymore. She had already cried enough. He would start to resent her eventually...wouldn't he?
A moment later, she gasped in surprise. Link brought a second chair close and sat down beside her, pulling her into a tight hug. Her mind went entirely blank. She was aware of nothing at all except the intensely comforting warmth she was now engulfed in.
"You don't have to hold yourself back, Zelda. Cry if you need to. I'm right here."
She barely managed a nod before she nestled into his embrace, burying her face against his shoulder. She wasn't weeping or wailing but her tears streamed forth without pause. But the entire time, Link's strong arms never left her shaking body.
'When was the last time someone hugged me? I don't think anyone has held me like this since Mother was still with me. I…can't believe he would go so far…for someone like me.'
Link said nothing after that. As Zelda continued to cry steadily into his shoulder, he stayed with her. His hands were resting on her shoulders, pulling her in tight. Once in a while, he would give her a light squeeze, as if reminding her he was there for her.
She hadn't felt this level of care and comfort for decades now. For so long, she had been nothing but her sister's servant, the failure of the Royal Family who deserved the scorn and ridicule heaped upon her. Her father all but ignored her existence, choosing instead to focus on Hilda, the only daughter of his that had amounted to anything. There was no comfort to be had there. And then she had been sent to Link, someone she had feared at first.
But she had been wrong, so very wrong. Link was so much more than she had thought. So much better. So much warmer. He...cared about her. This was the second time he had comforted her in the face of her miserable past. He never left her to fend for herself in these moments and he certainly never made things worse for her the way Hilda so enjoyed. No, Link...wanted to help her...
For the first time in so many years, even as she cried freely against him, she was starting to believe…that maybe she could actually trust someone.
A short time later, Zelda and Link were slowly making their way back home. Link had held her until she had managed to settle down again. She hadn't dared to embrace him in return in case that was too forward of her, but his hug had been the most solacing thing she might have ever experienced even without doing so.
Once he had helped her calm down, he offered to take her back to the house. Though she didn't want their day to end on such a somber note, he promised they could still have fun at home the rest of the day. She agreed, though only after a little persuasion.
Evidently, Link had abandoned the box of vegetables he'd been carrying down to the cellar when he'd noticed she was panicking. He had put her first, before everything else…it was a deeply unfamiliar feeling. Ira told him not to worry about moving it the rest of the way, clearly concerned for Zelda's wellbeing. But Zelda herself, feeling far too guilty, encouraged him to finish the task. Reluctantly, Link disappeared down the stairs and finished moving the box with remarkable speed, only after taking many long moments to assure her he'd be right back. He even insisted she stay outside in the sunlight and wait for him.
Zelda had never felt so cared for in all her life.
Finally, upon returning to her side, Link helped her to her feet and guided her outside again, keeping his body deliberately between her and the stairwell. Once they were back in the village, he kept a guiding arm around her shoulders, taking small steps so as not to push her too fast towards their destination.
"I'm sorry," she murmured at last.
She felt Link's hand squeeze her upper arm.
"Don't apologize; it's not your fault. Are you doing okay?"
She took a deep breath.
"I…I'm doing a little better."
"Good. If you need anything at all, please just let me know."
"Thank…you. Um…"
"What's on your mind?"
"When I was a little girl…"
Link turned his gaze towards her. His eyes were soft and melancholic.
"You don't have to relive it right now, Zelda. You don't owe me an explanation."
"…you're so kind to me…but I…think I'd like to tell you part of it, if that's okay. I want to…trust you with more."
Those sad eyes of his widened in surprise before settling into the warmth he had looked at her with since she had frozen on the stairs.
"Of course. If you're willing to trust me with this, I'm right here to listen."
Their footsteps were quiet as they followed the well-trodden path between the general store and the west end of the village. Though it was the middle of the afternoon, nobody intruded. In fact, the sounds of voices in the village were muted and distant. It was almost as if they were the only two in the whole world for that moment.
"When I was a little girl…I got trapped in the dungeons overnight."
Link's hand squeezed her shoulder tighter but he didn't interrupt, instead nodding his understanding.
"The stairwell that led down to the cells…was dark. So dark I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. There was...a single torch at the bottom, the dimmest light I've ever seen. It was all I had to hold onto. That was probably...the worst night of my life. So when I saw…a similar sight at Ira's…I panicked. My body…and mind…it felt like I was back in that dungeon…"
She trailed off, her voice failing her at last. That was all she could bear to relive at the moment. She couldn't bring herself to tell him that Hilda was the one who had trapped her, couldn't stand to talk about the prisoners who wanted to use her as a hostage to make their escape, couldn't stomach remembering how cold and miserable she was that-
Link's grip on her tightened and he drew her closer.
"It's okay, why don't we stop there? Thank you for letting me in. That must've been so horrible to go through."
She managed a tiny nod.
"I know this doesn't make the memory go away, but you're safe now, okay? And you won't have to relive that anymore today."
"Thank you…"
"And the even better news is there aren't any stairwells in the house, just the ones that lead up to that rickety old loft you can see from the first floor."
Zelda, despite all the sadness and darkness that had gripped her heart for the last little while, actually found herself laughing again. How did he do that…? How did he manage to make her heart feel so...light?
"I'm sorry you had to go through something so awful today, Zelda," Link murmured to her. His eyes betrayed the sadness he felt for her.
"I…it wasn't all bad this time," she admitted. She wanted to offer him a little reassurance if she could, the way he always did for her.
"No? How do you mean?"
She took a breath and steeled herself. She couldn't back out now.
"T-this time…you made me feel safe again."
His eyes widened again. It was a look of wonder tinged with just a hint of disbelief.
"I'm…really glad I could help you, Zelda. I know you've been through a lot so to hear those words from you is really important to me."
"I…I'm sorry I haven't told you more about my life at the Castle…"
"Please, don't apologize for that either. You can tell me someday when you're ready. Maybe you never will be – that's okay too. No matter what, though, just know that I'll never demand those stories from you. I'll never pressure you at all. Only tell me those things if you feel like sharing them with me."
Zelda watched him in awe. He was so considerate of her, so thoughtful. The idea of keeping a life of secrets from someone like Hilda was impossible to imagine – she would drag them out of her no matter what it took. But Link was as patient as he was kind. He never pushed her for more, never made her feel bad for not being ready to talk about her past.
Someday, she wanted to tell him everything. Perhaps he might feel pity for her, maybe even anger on her behalf. She just couldn't bring herself to relive that life just yet, not when she'd finally gotten a small respite from it…not when it would require disparaging her father and sister to accurately tell him the tale. But…she was starting to care deeply about being honest with him. Nobody before him had ever asked her to be so sincere…perhaps one day she would be able to bring herself to tell him the truth of her life. The entire truth.
"Thank you, Link. That means…so much more to me than I can explain," she managed at last.
It wasn't lost on her that, despite the bad memories that had resurfaced that afternoon, she was still able to speak to him with less hesitation than usual.
"Any time, Zelda."
He gave her arm another gentle squeeze as they kept walking, closing in on the familiar bridge that led home.
A week had passed since Link had taken Zelda into Hateno Village for the first time.
Though he had been caught off guard by the sudden terror that had overcome her at Ira and Melo's shop, he was at least glad to have been able to comfort her. And she was actively trying to trust him. That had been the most shocking thing of all. For someone who had been as badly hurt and betrayed as Zelda had, it was a miracle that she had even uttered those words. He would make sure she never once regretted them.
Syd had indeed delivered Zelda's new desk the next day and Link had taken care to position it by the window in Zelda's bedroom so she would have plenty of natural light when she wrote in her diary. And, though they had forgotten to mention their first time at the general store, he returned a few days later and asked Ira if she could prepare a book of blank stationery for his fiancée. She had enthusiastically agreed.
Across the following week, Zelda had settled into life in Hateno even more comfortably. Mipha had visited again and the two had journeyed into town while he was out. This time, nothing affected Zelda the way that stairwell had and she returned in high spirits. Mipha was thrilled by how quickly they were becoming friends, though Link noticed Zelda wasn't as relaxed with his best friend as she was with her. That was okay though; there would be plenty of time for them to become even closer.
Zelda had eased into a stable routine of preparing their meals on the days he was out, excluding breakfast which he happily cooked for them. She was a talented chef in her own right, but Link got the feeling that even if she wasn't he would still enjoy her cooking just as much. Having something so carefully prepared for him by such a deeply kind, dazzlingly beautiful woman was an experience he had never had before. It was overwhelming every time.
And today, with the chill of winter finally beginning to set upon Hateno, Link and Zelda had opted to stay in and take care of some housekeeping. There were several items hidden away in the boxes he'd haphazardly packed before Zelda's arrival and he wanted to go through them to find some missing things. Perhaps there were things Zelda might find useful as well.
As they were sitting in the loft, looking through a box that contained nothing but old quivers that had once served as companions for bows long broken, a knock sounded at the door. It was rare that people called on Link at home but not unheard of. Rising to his feet, he descended to the entrance, leaving Zelda to look through the equipment with ponderous eyes.
It was Melo who was awaiting him behind the door. He was a year or two older than Link and had well kept dark hair. When he and Ira stood next to each other, it was easy to tell they were related, that being their most obvious similarity. But he was a bit taller than she was, despite her already impressive height.
"Sorry to bother you at home, Link," he began with a polite smile.
"Not at all. What brings you by today, Melo?"
"The postman delivered a few letters to the store this morning so I'm just bringing them to the right places. There are two here for you…or, at least for your house. Don't tell Ira I told you but she's making me do this to pay me back for leaving her alone with the shop last weekend; sorry I missed you and your fiancée that day, by the way."
Link took the letters from his outstretched hand and gave him a smile.
"Nothing to worry about; we'll be back. You can meet her right now, though, if you'd like."
"Oh? Is that okay?"
"Zelda," Link called. "Would you like to come meet Ira's brother Melo?"
It took a moment for Zelda's head to pop up from the floor of the loft, but she nodded and quickly came down the old stairs, joining him.
"It's so nice to meet you, Zelda. Ira's had so many good things to say about you," Melo said, extending his hand in greeting.
Zelda tentatively did the same, shaking it politely before withdrawing into herself again. For how much more comfortable she had become around him, Link still fully understood and appreciated that interacting with new people was a challenge for her. He'd keep this brief for her sake.
"I-it's nice to...meet you as well…Melo," she replied, her voice soft and small.
"I never imagined our Link would wind up engaged before me," he sighed, hanging his head animatedly. "I guess my sister's right – I really should get my act together if I ever hope to meet someone who'd want to marry me."
Link grinned at him.
"Don't worry, you're a lot more outgoing than I am; I bet you won't have any problem meeting someone."
Melo just sighed again as Zelda watched bemusedly.
"I hope you're right. I just thought for sure I'd meet someone first."
"You can't win every time, right?"
"I suppose you have a point," he conceded, lifting his head and grinning brightly. "Though you certainly seem to!" he added with a wink.
Zelda seemed more confused than ever as she glanced between them.
"If anything, I'm just lucky. Oh, and thanks for coming personally and delivering our mail to us, Melo. I really appreciate it."
Zelda perked up and inclined her head.
"I…um, I do as well. Thank you."
He waved their gratitude off with an easy smile.
"It was no problem at all! I'll get out of your hair now, but feel free to come back by the shop any time! Ira and I are always happy to make lunch for you!"
With that, the young man turned and strolled away, whistling as he went. Link eased the door closed behind him and glanced at the envelopes in his hand. Indeed, one was addressed to him, the familiar seal of the Royal Family on the envelope. A letter from the Castle?
The other, however, was simply addressed to Zelda. He didn't notice any defining features that might tell him who the letter was from. Offering it to her, Link watched as her eyes lit up, evidently recognizing the handwriting.
"Urbosa was finally able to respond to my letter," Zelda murmured. "I wrote her just after you gave me your ink a few weeks ago…thank you."
"It was no problem at all. I'm glad she responded though. Do you want to go open your letter and answer it now?"
Zelda shook her head gently though.
"No, I'll respond to it tonight. I usually prefer to do my writing after my bath."
Link smiled at her.
"That makes perfect sense. Mine, on the other hand, is from the Castle, so I'll open it now and figure out what's going on."
Zelda's ears twitched at his words and he carefully opened the envelope. Within it was a short letter on extravagant, high-quality parchment, a far brighter color than most other letters were. The penmanship was neat and measured, clearly having been written by a scribe of the Royal Family.
"Want me to read it out loud?" Link offered. He had noticed Zelda seemed more than a little curious about the letter.
"Um…if you don't mind…I'd love to hear."
"I don't mind at all," he assured her. Clearing his throat, he began.
"To the honorable Master Link,
"I hope this letter finds you in good health and better spirits. It has been some time since last I wrote to you concerning a potential marriage to my daughter, Zelda. It is my sincerest hope that, since her arrival in Hateno Village to take up residence alongside you, things have proceeded smoothly and comfortably.
"It is in that spirit that I would like to request your presence at the Castle for a face-to-face meeting. It would set my heart much at ease to hear how your time with my daughter has been thus far. If I am not intruding on any commitments or plans you may already have made, I request your presence at Hyrule Castle on the afternoon of the thirtieth moon of this month. Should this timetable be agreeable, I will have a carriage sent personally to your residence to take you to the Castle. Please let me know as soon as you are able.
"My heartfelt well wishes,
"King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule."
Link sighed heavily as he skimmed the letter again. Why did the King want to see him at the Castle? Wasn't a letter informing him that he was perfectly happy with Zelda enough? Did he really have to make the nearly seven-hour journey to Castle Town and back so close to the end of the year?
"I…um…I'm sorry my presence is inconveniencing you again, Link…" Zelda murmured.
He snapped from his thoughts and shook his head quickly, smiling at her.
"It's not your fault at all. It's also not that surprising that the King would want to make sure things are going well. I'll admit though, it's times like these that make me wish I hadn't settled quite so far from the Castle."
Zelda managed a light laugh in response.
"It…is a rather long journey," she agreed.
"Well, at least that'll be the only undesirable part," Link continued. "It'll be my pleasure to inform the King that everything is going wonderfully between us here in Hateno."
Zelda's cheeks darkened.
"R-really? You…really think so?"
"Of course I do. Don't you?"
She considered him for a moment before smiling.
"I...do as well."
"Then it'll be no problem to just tell him the truth. But for now," he said, folding the letter and setting in on the nearby table, "why don't we head back upstairs? We haven't even gotten to the fun things yet!"
Zelda giggled that adorable giggle that always sent his heart racing before setting her own letter down next to his.
"You've already shown me plenty of interesting things I've never seen before; I'd be happy to see more."
Link and Zelda returned to the loft together, laughing lightly and chatting about the different trinkets and long-forgotten items they might find in the storage crates. It seemed like they were in for a delightful afternoon together.
Link was exceedingly happy that those were becoming more and more common for them.
The moon was high in the night sky as Zelda lowered herself into the chair that sat before her new desk. When Link had presented it to her, she had nearly cried again from gratitude. It was quite possibly the loveliest piece of furniture she'd ever seen or used, much less been given. How such a talented carpenter like Syd was all but hidden away in Hateno Village was a mystery to her – he could have made a very comfortable living with his incredible skill.
She had already bathed and wished Link a good night. He was waking up fairly early the next morning and had retired for the evening already, leaving Zelda to read and respond to Urbosa's letter at last. She had been waiting for a response for several weeks and was impatient to finally read the words of the woman who had served as something of a surrogate mother growing up.
Breaking the wax seal, Zelda unfolded the letter and began to read.
Ohisama,
I hope this letter finds you well. I was, perhaps unsurprisingly, shocked to learn that you had been promised as Link's fiancée and that you had been sent to live with him in Hateno Village but hearing that you are safe and sound eases some of my worries. The suddenness of this situation sits ill with me but unfortunately I am in no position to affect things, as much as I wish I could.
In the time I spent training and fighting alongside Link, I have come to know him decently, I feel. He is rather quiet and withdrawn but he is also a fiercely loyal ally and a frighteningly powerful swordsman. As long as you are by his side, I have no fear that your safety is guaranteed. What I do fear for, however, is your own comfort around him.
I know things have not always been easy for you at the Castle so perhaps relocating to Hateno is a blessing in disguise. I certainly hope that is the case. But if perhaps this is not true, I pray that you will let me know and I will do all that I can to help you. Though our meetings have been frustratingly limited over the last many years since the Calamity was averted, I am always thinking of you and wishing the best for you.
On that subject, I apologize that I haven't yet journeyed to Hateno to visit you. Unfortunately, the Yiga Clan has begun moving in the outskirts of the desert again and I have had my hands full keeping my people safe from harm. Things have quieted down lately, though, so I am hoping in the next several weeks I will have much more freedom with which to take personal journeys of my own again. Should that continue to be the case, I would very much like to visit you and Link in Hateno Village, perhaps after the start of the new year.
Alas, my time at the moment has run short so I must say goodbye to you, Ohisama. Though I am certain you feel overwhelmed by how quickly things have begun moving around you and how drastically different your current circumstances are from your old ones, know that I am wishing with all my heart that things have changed for the better. I have always told you how deserving of kindness and love you are and I hope that you are finally starting to experience those things for yourself. I will be counting the days until we meet again.
Love always,
Urbosa
Zelda smiled as she read and reread the letter. Urbosa had a habit of being vague in her writings just in case her letters were ever seen by someone at the Castle other than Zelda herself. She always made sure not to directly name her father and sister to spare her any potential trouble. Though there were hints of that old caution in this letter too, she had clearly been much more direct this time. It was wonderful to read.
The idea of meeting Urbosa away from the Castle was a thrilling thought too. Their prior meetings had always been marred by the presence of Hilda. Though Urbosa had cared for both of them together when they had been younger, around the same time Hilda had run Zelda out of their shared bedroom, she had distanced herself from the Gerudo woman. After that, she had made it her mission to intrude upon Zelda's reunions with Urbosa whenever possible, leaving them very little time to discuss things honestly with each other for fear of being overheard or, in Zelda's case, punished. And after the Calamity, Hilda had deliberately tried to keep Urbosa from visiting for any reason aside from official gatherings and parties like the Champion's Ball.
Now, she was presented with the unique opportunity to meet with the woman who had all but helped raise her as a young girl without those pressures and shadows looming overhead. Would Link be okay if Urbosa visited? Most likely the answer was yes. She would never invite someone to Link's home without his approval first, of course, but the fact that he knew Urbosa and had fought alongside her as an ally in the past would likely count for something.
She just couldn't imagine Link cruelly denying such a personal request, either. That was very much not who he was. She never wanted to appear selfish, though.
One particular line of Urbosa's letter stuck out to her, though, and she caught herself reading it over many times – "I have always told you how deserving of kindness and love you are and I hope that you are finally starting to experience those things for yourself." Zelda couldn't suppress the smile that stole her lips as she reached into the desk and produced her own stationery to respond with.
'I think I really am starting to feel those things, Urbosa. And it's all thanks to Link.'
Her smile wider than it had in a long time, Zelda began writing her response, eager to share her growing happiness with her oldest friend and caretaker.
8/26/2023
Post-Chapter Note: Thanks so much for reading the new chapter!
Lots of lighter, sweeter moments this time around! It took me some time to be really happy with all the emotional payoffs and developments, but I think I managed to get there in the end. I was really happy with the way the scene where Link told Zelda she should wear her hair down turned out in particular. From there, I made a conscious effort to focus more on Link and Zelda's relationship rather than them interacting with other characters so much this time. They're at a point where I think they can emotionally handle being alone together for an extended period of time and I wanted to push that more this chapter to further their relationship rather than focus on their meetings with Syd and Celene, Anya and Glenne, or even Ira and Melo. Barring the first pair though, I hope you have a clear enough idea of the other characters that you can likely imagine how those initial introductions went. And we still got to see some of Ira having fun teasing the two of them!
Of course, poor Zelda had to relive her worst trauma again, but that was important for a few reasons, some of which won't be obvious until later. The biggest reason it happened, though, was for Zelda to get her first hug from Link. I've wanted that moment for a long time now and was really happy to finally write it, but I also don't think it could happen at this point if it wasn't from a place of consoling her. Neither of them are that forward or confident. Regardless, the poor thing deserves all the love and comfort in the world and I'm happy I can finally start writing her having it. Obviously their relationship is moving quite slowly, but it's been a unique challenge (and a fun one) to write them this way. I'm not used to doing that but it's been a very enjoyable undertaking so far so I hope you'll stick around for more! There's much, much more development to come there.
And finally, we have our hook for the next big event. I wonder what will happen at the end of the month for Link and Zelda...? Don't worry - you'll find out very soon! We're closing in on the climax of this first Book and I hope it'll resonate in a fun way for everyone!
Anyway, that's enough out of me. So until next time, thank you again so much for reading! Take care everyone and I'll see you again in the next one!
