Author's Note: Welcome back everyone to another installment! I hope you've all had a wonderful week and are looking forward to more adventures of our precious Zelda and Link! Early update this week because I'm sick and just want to make sure this goes up on time.
Unfortunately, for the second week in a row, I haven't felt my best - I have some sort of nasty stomach bug that's making my life rough (though not entirely miserable, so that's at least a silver lining). That does mean I'm yet again concerned that this chapter didn't live up to my usual quality. I was slower working on it this week and I wasn't super happy with it at first, but I think I found a nice balance for what I wanted it to accomplish in the end. Let me know if you notice anything off about the chapter, though - I'd still really appreciate hearing that in case my half-sick self missed something big or obvious, or even something small for that matter.
[Slight update on publication day with regards to that last paragraph - I've gotten much more sick than when I wrote and edited this chapter, whatever this is has wrecked me overnight since last night. I hope I can be on the mend properly in a few days, but if I can't, I may have to delay next week's chapter until I feel better. It frustrates me immensely to potentially have to do that, but if things continue as they are for too many days more, I'll never be able to write something I'm proud of. I won't say this is happening for sure, but if there isn't an update next Friday, it's because I was just too sick to write the next chapter yet. I'm very sorry in advance if that happens. To tell you the truth, I'm deeply upset about the possibility - this story is something I look forward to writing every week and not having that while I'm this sick sounds miserable. But life goes on and things will be okay in the end.]
Now! On to much more positive things! Before we get started with the chapter, I have something incredible to share with you! One of my readers, Ayu-san, made something very special for me - she took the time to draw the scene from Book II, Chapter 6 (originally Chapter 15) where Link kisses Zelda on the cheek to show her how much he cares for her following the confrontation with Hilda. She reached out to me to send her works and I asked if she would be willing to post them so I could share them with all of my readers as well, which she agreed to. The scene she drew in particular is such a deeply emotional moment to me and to see it brought to life by such a talented artist is truly one of the most flattering and fantastic things I've ever experienced! I'd like to send you all to her Twitter page (or 'X,' I guess) so you can see the scene brought to life visually too! She drew it in both a black/white manga style and fully colored anime style. I cannot express with words how incredibly happy it made me to see this fantastic art - it absolutely made my week, my month, and probably my whole year too! Thank you so much, Ayu-san! Your art is amazing and so are you!
Please, please take a look at Ayu-san's beautiful art here - [please write the Twitter website header here since FF won't let me]/Ayu_San12/Status/1730699613059821820?s=20 (sorry I have to post it this way everyone, but seriously take a moment to do this - I promsie it's worth it!)
Okay, that's all I've got up top this time! I hope you enjoy the latest chapter! Thanks so much for reading!
Book III – Storm
Chapter 2 – Best Laid Plans
"That's exactly the right idea, Zelda!" Mipha's excited voice rang out.
Zelda couldn't hide the bright smile that crossed her face as her hand shone with a deep, golden glow she hadn't seen since the night Hateno Village had been attacked.
Another week had passed since Aryll's confession and Zelda found herself more in love with Lurelin by the day. The ocean breeze was invigorating like nothing she'd ever felt at the Castle and the sound of the tide lapping at the shoreline was a pleasure to awaken to each and every morning. With the Third Month now more than halfway over, the warmth of spring had returned to the coastal town and the days by the water had become even more refreshing.
These last few days had been interesting to observe for other reasons as well. Mipha had returned from her trip to the Castle and come to see them all the very next day, just as she'd promised. Zelda had paid more attention to Aryll than usual during the Zora Princess's visit and the sights she'd seen made her giddy. Aryll smiled more brightly than usual and doted on Mipha with more intensity than ever before. Mipha likely assumed it was simply because Aryll was happy she was back, but Zelda knew it was really because she was slowly starting to let herself believe that Mipha might not reject who she was, even if she didn't have the same romantic feelings for her.
Of course, she wasn't nearly ready to confess her feelings yet. During their nightly chats, Zelda had learned that Aryll was still almost petrified to tell Mipha the truth, which was entirely understandable. Zelda offered her as much encouragement and support as she could but constantly reminded her that it was okay to take her time and feel things out for a while.
Still, the joy on Aryll's face when the Zora was near was more than enough to make Zelda fervently wish that Mipha loved her back.
But Zelda wasn't entirely content to just sit back and hope, either. She hadn't wanted to spoil Mipha's homecoming with magic training so she'd instead suggested they reconvene a few days later for it, ensuring the Zora Princess would return to Lurelin in short order. She was more than happy to, unsurprisingly, and now sat with Zelda on the plateau overlooking the village. It was the same space Link and Aryll trained in, something they'd already done for the day. And although Zelda felt a little guilty for taking Mipha from Aryll's side, both she and Link had insisted that they make themselves scarce so the two of them could focus fully on working with magic.
And it would be a bit too conspicuous to argue otherwise.
"That was amazing, Zelda," Mipha assured her again as she lowered her arm, the glow vanishing. "You did such a tremendous job applying what we've talked about."
"T-thank you. I…remember all the magic lessons I was given as a child at the Castle. I even remember Hilda describing what it felt like to actually use her Sealing magic after she awakened to it. But…I've never felt what it's like to use magic for myself until recently."
Mipha gave her a warm smile.
"Well, you're doing wonderfully. How did it feel?"
"G-good…I think. It felt the same as it did in Hateno that night. I…didn't have anywhere to focus it this time, but the sensations within me felt similar."
"I found that most of my early success when it came to manipulating water with my own magic was because of trust."
"T…trust?"
"Mhm. Sure, I learned all the basics about drawing magic from within and how to strengthen it, but the best thing for me was learning to trust myself. I had much more success once I was convinced I was capable of actually doing what I wanted to do. And I think that might be true for you as well."
"I have to…trust myself?"
"I think it will certainly help. I know you've had many reasons in the past to doubt yourself, but if you don't mind my saying, you've come so very far since meeting Link all those months ago. I think you have every reason to trust yourself, to let yourself believe that this is something you can do."
"Something…even I can do…"
"Something only you can do," Mipha corrected her gently, her warm smile growing.
Zelda considered her words for several moments. It was something she could never have believed or accepted once…but now, those words were sweet to her ears.
"I'll…approach my magic like that, then. Or at least…I'll do my best to."
"You can do it, Zelda. And I'll be right here to support you every step of the way! So will Ari and Link, of course."
A tiny smile spread across Zelda's lips as she thought back to her first months in Hateno. Her words, her feelings, her very personality had all been so different back then. And even though she still wanted to continue bettering herself in many more ways, she had to admit that things were already much improved.
"Link…really is responsible for changing so very much of my life. It's all thanks to him."
Mipha shook her head, though.
"Not all of it. If you weren't willing to take your life back and improve it for yourself, all his support would be meaningless. I won't deny that he's done a lot to help you, but you're just as responsible for the way things are now. And I'm extremely proud of you for that, Zelda."
She felt her throat constrict for just a moment.
"Mipha…t-thank you."
"That's what friends are for, right? And that's certainly what I would consider you and I. Though…I suppose you and Link aren't just friends anymore, hm?"
Zelda blushed as Mipha's mischievous side reared its head once more. She was so rarely like this that Zelda had all but forgotten how invested she could be in hers and Link's love life. Memories of the conversation they'd had at the end of the previous year when Mipha had stayed overnight with Zelda returned to her. The Zora's penchant to adopt some of Aryll's mannerisms when asking about their relationship was quite impressive.
And even still, it was a little unexpected.
After Zelda had mentioned to Link that she'd told Aryll of their mutual confession, he decided to let Mipha know too so she wasn't left out. Thankfully, he did it when Zelda wasn't sitting right next to him to spare her the embarrassment of it all, but Mipha had clearly found that information very much worth remembering and bringing up again.
"O-oh…um…n-no, I…suppose not."
"I'm thrilled for the both of you," she insisted, her usual calmness settling over her once more. "And I'm more than happy to support you however I can."
"Thank you…Mipha. I can't say I really…know much about…l-love. So I'd be grateful for your help."
"You're welcome to it! Although…I don't really have much experience myself, so perhaps I'm being a bit too confident," she added with a sheepish laugh.
'Wait…maybe this is my chance to learn something without it being so obvious why I'm asking. Link always says I'm a good tactician…let's see if I can still be one when I'm actually trying to be.'
"H…have you ever been in love, Mipha?"
The Zora Princess considered her for several moments.
"Hmm…that's a bit of a tough question to answer. I've fallen in love in the past, but I've never experienced a mutual interest with someone else the way you and Link have discovered you share."
Normally, Zelda might have blushed at that point of clarification. But this time she was on a mission.
"W…would it be okay for me to ask…who? I've always been a little curious since we last talked about this."
Mipha's cheeks darkened a bit and she averted her wide eyes.
"O-oh, um, n-nobody you would know!" she insisted with a bit too much intensity. "A-and besides, with everything else in my life, I'm not really thinking about romance right now! I'm sure that's not a big surprise to another Princess like yourself, right?"
Zelda couldn't ignore how desperate Mipha seemed to end the conversation. The normally calm and composed Zora was avoiding her questions and blushing like she did when Aryll teased her – it was probably time to give her an out and end things there. She was absolutely hiding something…but it didn't seem to be the right time to press the issue.
"O-of course, I understand that feeling. Even though I'm not a…traditional Princess, I've seen how busy Hilda is for years; I'm sure you're every bit as overwhelmed with your responsibilities, too."
Mipha gave her a calmer smile at last.
"I'm not that busy, really, but…I'd feel rather guilty to involve someone I care about in all the responsibilities I have to the Domain, if that makes sense. Even though my father is the Zora King and handles the majority of our issues, it still feels like I'd be asking any romantic partner to not only accept me as I am but to also accept the entirety of the Zora people as well. And that…doesn't seem like a fair ask. That's one of the more complicated issues, certainly."
'Is another complication the fact that she's in love with her best friend who happens to be a Hylian? I can't exactly come right out and ask her that but…she still hasn't given me anything to go off of yet. I can't tell if she's speaking generally or about someone in particular. And even if she were, I'd still have no way of knowing if she means Ari or someone else…'
Ultimately, though, Zelda decided to let the conversation end for the time being. She wouldn't be able to pry any further without drawing attention to why she was asking and the last thing she wanted to do was betray Aryll's trust after she had confided in her with such certainty.
There would be plenty of other opportunities to see if she could glean the truth from Mipha anyway. And until then, she'd just have to keep using her magic training as an excuse to get the Zora Princess back to Lurelin and around Aryll as often as possible. Perhaps she could learn more by observing the two together…
After four days passed, Zelda found herself presented with another golden opportunity to watch Mipha and Aryll – their host had insisted that it was warm enough for the four of them to share a beach day together, something Zelda had never experienced before but was quite curious about.
To that end, Aryll had invited Mipha over again and made plans for all of them to take an entire day off. Link grumbled about the lack of their usual sparring session, but Zelda encouraged him by insisting he and Aryll had come into such incredible form lately. She also reminded him that rest was just as important as hard work for maintaining his ability to protect her and that seemed to do the trick better than anything else had so far.
When Mipha arrived just after breakfast, Aryll pushed a bag into her hands and told she and Link to head out to the beach and find them a spot before she all but dragged Zelda into their shared bedroom, insisting she put on something more appropriate for the seaside. Zelda wasn't entirely sure what that meant but quickly learned just what Aryll had in mind. She presented her with an outfit that she wanted Zelda to try on and wear for the afternoon if she liked it.
"W-we don't…wear this into the water, right? I'm not a very good swimmer at it looks like it might be a little difficult to move easily in…"
"Nah, you don't have to go swimming at all – it's just meant to look cute. And trust me, you will look very cute."
Zelda stammered and blushed but coudl think of no good argument for why she shouldn't give it a try.
And so, minutes later, Zelda was dressed in what Aryll described as 'the perfect outfit to relax by the seaside.' Around her waist was wrapped an asymmetrical blue skirt, one that brushed against her right shin but ended just a touch higher up her left thigh than she would have liked. The top was a loose, white fabric with short sleeves that felt rather breezy but also cut off just above her stomach…
"A-Ari…this isn't…very much clothing, is it?"
Aryll gave her a bright smile.
"What are you talking about!? You look amazing! And you're gonna send Link into shock when he sees you like this!"
Zelda blushed and felt a tiny smile steal her lips.
"Do you…r-really think so?"
"Sure do! But hey," she continued, her voice softening, "if you really feel uncomfortable, I have other outfits you can borrow. I tried to find a nice balance – flashy but not so little that you'd feel embarrassed. What you have on is stuff most of the shopkeepers wear during the summers, actually! But I completely get it if you feel a little 'on display.'"
Zelda considered herself in the floor-length mirror across from her.
"Well…I do really like the colors. A-and…if you think Link will like it…then I don't really mind wearing it…"
Aryll squealed and jumped up and down.
"You really are in love! I'm so happy for you!"
A scarlet blush was the only answer Zelda was capable of giving.
"Okay, gimme a minute to change and I'll be right behind you!"
Zelda stepped out into the main room to give Aryll some privacy and, true to her word, she emerged from the bedroom a minute later wearing an entirely different outfit. Her chosen attire was a pair of white pants that looked as if they'd been hacked off at the upper thigh, leaving most of her legs exposed. Zelda grimaced at the thought of being asked to wear something like that herself. The much more athletic Aryll, however, pulled it off well. Her top was nearly identical to Zelda's except it was a pale blue instead.
"You look v-very nice," Zelda offered.
"Really? Aw, thanks! Wanna try it on sometime!?"
"N-no, t-that's okay."
"Aw, you sure? I think you'd look great!"
"M-maybe…some other time."
"I'll remember you said that!"
With that, the two girls left the lovely cottage and headed towards the shoreline. It was much warmer than it had been in a while as the Fourth Month approached. The sunlight washing over Zelda's pale skin felt delightful and the crisp coastal breeze kept her from getting too warm, an invigorating feeling. Her attire was rather suited to a day by the water like this, she thought to herself. She did keep unconsciously folding her arms across her stomach, though, in an attempt to shield herself a bit. Nobody in the seaside village would care even if they saw her, but imagining Link seeing her like this was a bit nerve wracking.
And…somehow a little exciting as well.
"Ah, there they are!"
Zelda followed Aryll's energetic gesture and saw Link and Mipha sitting together on a large blanket they'd spread out on the sand. Mipha looked the same as ever, though the Champion's Wrap she sometimes wore wasn't with her today. Link, however, looked much different.
He was wearing a pair of loose white pants that cut off at his shins and a breezy blue tunic with a white lobster drawn on its front. Evidently, Aryll had once picked it up from one of the merchants for her brother because she thought it seemed perfect for him. Zelda had to agree with her judgment – he looked right at home by the ocean in that outfit. His hair was down too, the hair tie she had made for him months ago no doubt resting at his bedside inside the cottage.
He looked very handsome with his hair untied…
"Hey big bro! Hey beautiful! We're here!"
Link and Mipha turned their eyes towards them and Zelda felt herself wilt a little under the attention, averting her gaze awkwardly. But she hesitantly turned her face back as Aryll nudged her encouragingly.
Link's cheeks had darkened a bit and his blue eyes were wide as he gazed upon her. Aryll very deliberately took a large step away from Zelda before scurrying to Mipha's side and nudging her as well, the two dissolving into excited, hushed whispers. Zelda's own cheeks began to burn red as she timidly crossed the last of the sand towards the group.
She half expected that Link would say something to diffuse how awkward the situation was rapidly becoming but…his own mouth had fallen open and seemed unusable at the moment. She sat down on the blanket with the others and fidgeted awkwardly for a moment before Aryll cleared her throat loudly.
"You stared enough yet to burn that image of her into your mind for the rest of your life?"
Link snapped from his daze at once, his face burning a deeper shade of crimson than she'd ever seen.
"S-sorry, Zelda. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable…"
"O-oh, it's…it's okay. You…didn't."
"U-uh…you look…wonderful," he managed.
Zelda flushed the same shade of red he was before managing to respond in a tiny voice.
"T…thank you…"
"Alright lovebirds," Aryll interrupted with a bright grin, "before one of you passes out from the blood rushing to your heads, why don't we get started?"
"Get started?" Link repeated, slowly coming back under control.
"It's still not quite warm enough this early in the day for any of us to get in the water so I figured we'd play a game first!"
Link sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Of course you did."
"Ari always has a game or two ready, just in case," Mipha giggled, a smile on her face.
"You know me so well, Micchan!"
"I'd certainly like to think I do after all this time together."
"W-what game are we playing today?" Zelda asked, slightly nervous about the prospect. Last time Aryll had talked them all into a game, she and Link had been the focus of quite a bit of it.
"The King's Game!"
"W…what is that?"
"I'm so happy you asked, Zel-chan! To start, I have these four specially prepared straws with me," she began, reaching into the bag she'd sent Link with earlier. She emerged moments later with four carefully-crafted lots.
"So you've had this planned for days then," Link muttered.
"Are you surprised? Anyway, each one is marked with a number between one and four. We'll all draw but we won't share which number we got except for whoever drew number one, because that person is the King for the round! And the King commands two of the remaining numbers to do something without knowing who's who! Simple, right?"
"C-commands?" Zelda repeated, even more nervous than before.
"That's right! And the King's orders are absolute! More or less," she amended. "None of us are the type to suggest something that goes too far anyway."
"Says you," Link whispered to Zelda, earning a small smile from her.
"But just like last time, you don't have to do anything you're really uncomfortable with. I think we all know each other well enough to know where that line is though."
"W-well…that doesn't sound so bad."
"Yay, Zel-chan is into the idea! What about you two?"
Mipha gave Aryll a relaxed smile.
"I always enjoy your games, Ari. Some of them are familiar to me from my childhood but this one is entirely new – I'd love to play and try it out!"
"Thank you, my sweet Zora angel! Link?"
He gave her a small grin.
"You're just going to guilt me into it if I say no. But yeah, sure. I'm in."
"This is gonna be great! Here, let's try a test round!"
Aryll gathered up the four straws and held them in her fist, presenting them to the group. Zelda, Link, and Mipha each took one and studied their numbers in secret. Zelda was number four. She, of course, had no idea what number anyone else had drawn except…
"Looks like I'm the King first," Mipha revealed, holding out her straw with a number one on it.
"Perfect! So Micchan will command two of us blindly to do something! What's your order, gorgeous?"
Mipha's cheeks reddened yet again courtesy of Aryll's teasing. At first, Zelda had been rather surprised that Aryll still acted the exact same way around Mipha as before, but it was probably out of a sense that changing her behavior would draw more attention to it than just continuing with the way she'd always treated the Zora. But Zelda found herself a bit more melancholy about it now. Aryll had always done this to hide her feelings, to make others laugh at them so she could deny them a little more easily.
Hopefully that wasn't lingering in her heart so much these days.
"Hmm…okay then," Mipha began, studying the group. "I'd like number four to pat the head of number three."
"I'm three!" Aryll sang.
"A-and I'm four," Zelda admitted, revealing her number.
Aryll immediately lowered her head and scooted closer to Zelda.
"Tell me I've done a good job while you do it," she teased.
Zelda felt her cheeks heat up again but slowly extended her hand, placing her palm atop Aryll's head. Her hair was soft and silky, thinner than her own even for how short it now was.
"G-good job, Ari. Th…there, there."
Link couldn't help but chuckle as he looked on, Mipha joining him a moment later. Zelda felt a little awkward still but was at least glad they were amused. And Aryll grinned as bright as the sun the entire time before withdrawing.
"Thanks, Zel-chan! Nothing was wrong but I feel even better now!"
"I'm…glad!"
"So that's how the game works? Any questions?"
Link shot a grin across the circle at his sister.
"Can we play with a special rule that forbids you from ever being King?"
Aryll gave him a mischievous smile in return.
"Not a chance, big bro. And just for that, I'm gonna do my very best to make sure I catch you in all of my orders!"
Unfortunately for Aryll, Link was the King next. He studied the straw for several moments before issuing a calm, composed order of his own. Zelda had the passing thought that he would actually make for a wonderful King in reality for how regally he delivered his command.
"Numbers two and three, compliment each other."
As it turned out, those numbers belonged to Mipha and Zelda herself. The Zora Princess gave her a warm smile before her unwavering voice sounded.
"Zelda, I think you are one of the most inspirational people I've ever met and I hope that I can one day be the same way myself."
She blushed at Mipha's compliment but she also had to admit…it felt really good to hear that. Once upon a time, she would have denied such words with everything she had but now, to hear someone she considered a close friend say them to her, she couldn't hide how happy it made her.
"T-thank you, Mipha. Um…you are…an incredibly reliable friend, someone who cares deeply for the people important to her. I want to…be more like that, too. I want to aspire to…be there for people and show them that they can count on me no matter what, just the way you always make me feel."
Mipha reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I think you very much already are, Zelda. And thank you, that's such a sweet compliment to hear!"
Link and Aryll both wore satisfied smiles, nodding in unison as things finished up.
After that, a few more rounds passed without much incident. The order were innocuous and simple, nothing beyond what might just happen in a normal day. But soon, as Zelda had expected, Aryll started to ramp up the level of her demands.
"Okay, I want number three and number two to hold hands."
As it turned out, that was Zelda and Link. While she was quite familiar and comfortable with holding Link's hand now, she did feel a little awkward doing it in front of Mipha and Aryll. It seemed Link felt the same way, so they elected not to interlock their fingers this time. Thankfully, Aryll's blind guess hadn't landed them in hotter water.
A few more rounds of Aryll being King though started to make Zelda believe that she was cheating somehow. Each of her orders wound up being for herself and Link no matter what their numbers were and while they were still fairly tame, she could only imagine when they would get more intense. Link had been made to hold her in his arms and the most recent one had seen her clinging to his left arm for a short time. They were both red in the face, even as Mipha and Aryll smiled and giggled in delight.
The nice part about it, though, was that Link didn't ever feel uncomfortable enough to refuse Aryll's orders…
And the next time Aryll was King, Zelda finally realized what was happening – Mipha was signaling her number. It wasn't as if she were doing so in an obvious fashion, either. No, Mipha was simply blinking between two and four times each round, quietly telling Aryll which number she was so her targets could be Zelda and Link.
It wasn't that surprising – the two of them had long been loud proponents of hers and Link's relationship and tried in many ways to help strengthen it. But the fact that they were so in sync about communicating their numbers like this without ever having to established what they were doing in words made them a very dangerous combination.
But…that also gave Zelda an idea.
The next time she was the King, she winked at Aryll before announcing it. The blonde girl seemed taken aback for several seconds before realization dawned on her. She blinked twice in Zelda's direction, though it was fairly subtle. Did that mean she really was actaully number two? Maybe she could use this to set up something between Aryll and Mipha…
It was still a gamble since she had no way of knowing Mipha's particular number – unlike Aryll, she was trying to pick out two specific numbers, not just eliminate one. But her chances were that of a coin flip and there wasn't a way to get better odds than that at the moment. It was a risk she was willing to take.
"O-okay. I want number…four to hold hands with number two."
Perhaps her scheme was being sanctioned by the goddess herself as she got exactly what she wanted, much to Aryll's surprise. Mipha, indeed, was number four and Aryll had accurately signaled her number just as Zelda had hoped.
"It looks like that's us, Ari," Mipha began, extending her hand.
Aryll shifted a little awkwardly but didn't let it show otherwise.
"Y-yeah! Hope I don't make your heart race too much, my love!"
Zelda got the sense Aryll's own heart might be the one racing and for a moment she felt a little guilty. She wasn't trying to tease them; she just wanted to see if Mipha held the same feelings for Aryll as she did for the Zora Princess. And maybe she could even push them a little closer together the way they always tried to do for she and Link.
Luckily, everything seemed to be fine once it actually happened.
Mipha placed her hand in Aryll's and the two sat together like that for the next round. Zelda was sure Aryll's cheeks were a bit redder than normal but both of them seemed content otherwise. If it was anything like the first time Link had held Zelda's hand, she had to imagine that Aryll was enjoying herself quite a bit at the moment. It made her very happy to see.
And then Aryll was King again and immediately got her revenge.
"Number two, lay your head in number three's lap!"
It was Zelda and Link again, just like all of her commands had become since enlisting Mipha's help. Link might not have realized his sister and best friend were cheating yet, but Zelda was entirely convinced now. That was okay, though – she was cheating too and it hardly seemed fair to call them out for it. But unfortunately, the results of Aryll's specific number choices were likely the opposite of what she had really wanted.
"Guess that means I'm the one lying down," Link murmured, his cheeks turning red again.
Zelda stifled a small gasp as Link rested his head upon her legs. It was…a surprisingly intimate position. Her legs weren't bare like Aryll's but neither of them had ever done something like this until now.
Before her embarrassment could overwhelm her entirely, she heard Aryll click her tongue in disappointment – as Zelda had suspected, she was the one who had been meant to place her head in Link's lap. This, actually, was a bit easier on her. At least this way she didn't have to do anything but stay still and let Link position himself comfortably.
But there was something…nice about it too. It was comfortable and relaxing in an unexpected way. She suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to run her fingers through his thick, untied hair…but decided against doing so in front of Aryll and Mipha. That was far too familiar to do in the company of others…
As the game continued, nothing got more intense than that particular order, though Zelda successfully got Mipha to hold onto Aryll's arm for a round. She hoped she wasn't embarrassing or teasing Aryll by doing so, but her reactions had all seemed positive so far. Perhaps the fact that Mipha had little to no hesitation about any of it was also a good sign…
At the very least, it meant she was incredibly comfortable with Aryll, right? But Zelda still wasn't sure if it meant anything more than that…
During the very last round, Zelda lost her gamble and accidentally made Link and Aryll hug, which he did stiffly. Aryll wasn't bothered by it at all, but Zelda had come to understand that Link was a bit awkward when it came to physical displays of affection, especially in front of a group. For the first time in her life, she, like Aryll had earlier, clicked her own tongue in disappointment.
'She was meant to be hugging Mipha…at least I got the handholding right.'
Finally, Link suggested they stop for lunch, which everyone else agreed to, and so the King's Game came to a quiet end. All in all, nobody had been asked to do anything too embarrassing even though three of the four players were cheating. And Zelda had even managed to push her targets a little closer together. The fact that Aryll kept blinking at Zelda as a signal seemed to imply that she'd been okay with it, as well.
'Maybe I should ask her later if I was overstepping…it's possible she just got caught up in the moment and did what I wanted just because I asked her to, not because she really wanted to…'
"Okay," Aryll began, moving to rise to her feet, "since I'm usually the one who makes lunch, I'll go get it started."
"W-wait!" Zelda began suddenly, earning everyone's curious gazes. She wilted again under their combined attention but stayed strong all the same…as much as she could manage, anyway. "S-since Aryll has been so wonderful letting us stay here, w-why don't Link and I go prepare lunch instead? As a sort of…thank you."
Aryll gave her a smile.
"Aw, you're so sweet! But it's really no big deal."
"I i-insist," she continued, doubling down. "It's such a beautiful day a-and I'm not much of a swimmer anyway. You should…stay here – enjoy the water and relax for a change since you've taken such good care of us for w-weeks now."
"Well…it is a lovely afternoon for swimming, isn't it? You sure, Zel-chan?"
"P-positive."
"Then I guess I'll just say 'thank you' and leave it at that! You're the best!"
"Y-you're welcome."
Link rose to his feet and offered Zelda his hand, hoisting her to her own. She was once again stricken by how very natural it felt to have her hand in Link's.
"We do good work together when it comes to preparing food – just leave it to us, Ari. I want to repay you a bit, too."
Mipha, ever polite, spoke next.
"Do you need any help from me? We could all three pamper Ari for a while."
"N-no, that's okay," Zelda insisted perhaps a bit too quickly. "You've been…working so hard helping me with magic; I want to treat you, too."
'Why are both of them so determined to ruin my plan…?'
"Thank you, Zelda. Then I suppose Ari and I will just have to stay out here and make sure your efforts to treat us don't go to waste."
It was only then that Aryll seemed to key into what was going on. Her cheeks darkened an almost imperceptible amount and her eyes grew wide as she met Zelda's gaze. Was she…upset?
Zelda's worries were vanquished a moment later as Aryll subtly mouthed the words 'thank you' to her when Mipha was turned away saying something to Link.
'I hope she knows I'm not trying to pressure her…I just want to give her some time alone with the person she loves. I'm not trying to make her confess before she's ready…'
From what she could glean, though, it seemed Aryll completely understood that.
A few minutes later, Zelda found herself walking alongside Link back towards the cozy little cottage they'd called home for the last many weeks. He gave her an amused smile once they were out of earshot of the others, taking her hand in his.
"You were a little more forceful than usual back there," he laughed, his voice light.
Zelda felt her heart skip even as she laced her fingers between his – had she given herself away?
"O-oh, I just…wanted to thank the two of them in some small way for being so good to me."
"That's very sweet of you, Zelda. I'm sure they'll both really appreciate it."
"Do you really think so?"
"I do. Besides, this works out great for me, too – I don't mind swimming but I'm happier stealing a little time alone with you."
Zelda's cheeks flushed yet again.
"I'm…looking forward to that as well. T-thank you for coming with me."
"Always. We're a team, you and me."
"A…team?" Zelda felt her mouth fall open at his words.
"Of course. And after everything we've gone through together, I don't think it's a stretch at all to say we're a pretty good one."
Zelda's lips spread into a bright smile before she even realized it.
"A…team. I…I really like the sound of that."
"I do, too."
Once they arrived back at the house, Zelda and Link set about cooking lunch together. It was so easy to work with him like this. It almost felt like they were so in tune with one another that they hardly needed to speak. She had worked hard for months to learn how to cook alongside him properly – the first night they'd met, he'd told her he enjoyed cooking by himself and she had wanted to make her contributions significant enough to warrant intruding on his hobby.
But it felt like it went deeper than that, even – like Link was intrinsically aware of how to work alongside her as well.
'He said…we're a team. I suppose we really do work like one, don't we? And not just with cooking either…but when we stopped Duke Nell's scheme to separate us. Or even when the Witch Queen attacked Hateno.'
As they prepared ingredients, Zelda stole a look out the window towards the ocean. Aryll and Mipha were playing around in the water, splashing each other and laughing merrily. A small part of Zelda kept wondering just how Mipha really did feel about Aryll. She could never broach the subject so directly, but she had at least hoped to glean something small from their time studying magic together. So far, though, she'd been left with nothing.
But still, from what she knew about Mipha's personal life, there was nobody closer to her than Link and Aryll. Perhaps she could even count herself among that exclusive group now. And if that were the case, she felt it unlikely that Mipha had a secret crush on someone in the Domain and had never once shared it with her closest friends. Perhaps she didn't have anyone at all in mind that she had romantic feelings for at the moment…perhaps she had simply been speaking in hypotheticals during their training the other day.
But that was something Zelda was intent on sniffing out. Carefully, of course.
It was surprising to her just how much she had become invested in this. She had once thought Aryll's and Mipha's interest in her relationship with Link was hard to fathom, but now that she had a better frame of reference, she truly understood them. It wasn't about teasing or having a bit of innocent fun at someone else's expense – it was about wanting someone you cared about to be happy. All she could do for the moment was hope that things would turn out for the best between Aryll and Mipha.
And continue supporting them as best she could from the sidelines.
As Link passed Zelda a few bowls to work with, she brought herself back to reality. There would be plenty of time to worry about her two friends later and they were more than capable of handling themselves in the interim. For now, while she was alone with Link, she wanted to enjoy every moment of it…especially because he thought she was good enough to be on a team with him.
That thought alone was enough to make Zelda beam and bring her fully back into the wonderful moment happening right before her eyes.
"Zel-chan. Zel-chan! Wake up!"
Zelda snapped back to reality suddenly, her eyes shooting open in the dark of the night. She took a moment to try to figure out what was going on – her breathing was shallow, her hands felt sweaty, and the blanket she covered herself with was twisted wildly around her as if she had been tossing and turning.
"What…happened?" she murmured.
It was Aryll's voice that drew her attention next. She was leaning on her elbow beside Zelda, her face concerned and her eyes wrought with worry as she gazed down towards her through the dim light of the moon that spilled across the bedroom.
"You were having a nightmare, Zel-chan. Are you okay? Sorry I woke you up so suddenly."
Reality came rushing back to Zelda at once. It was still the day of their beach excursion. Even though it had been relaxing and delightful, it had also exhausted her to a point that she had fallen asleep almost immediately after her head hit the pillow. And unfortunately, she had been having a nightmare. It wasn't unfamiliar, just the same old one about the night Hilda had thrown tea in her face and yelled at her. The time she had said their mother would be disappointed in the person she had become…
"I'm…I'm okay, yes. I'm sorry…I woke you and worried you," Zelda murmured.
Aryll reached out and brushed Zelda's hair off of her forehead – it was a little sweaty and sticking to her skin.
"Don't be sorry at all, I hadn't managed to fall asleep just yet anyway. Do you…want to talk about anything?"
Zelda considered her for several moments before uncovering herself a bit. It was rather warm beneath the blanket right now and she could probably stand to cool off some.
"Um…I don't want to force you to listen to my problems…when you have your own…"
Aryll raised an eyebrow.
"Force me? What are you talking about? I'm here for you just like you're here for me, right? And besides, after you let me confide in you about Micchan, I want you to feel totally comfortable doing the same thing with me, no matter what it's about."
"W-well…I suppose…that makes sense…"
Aryll laid back down on her side, facing Zelda and scooting a bit closer.
"Tell me what's on your mind. Is something bothering you enough to give you nightmares?"
Zelda took a steadying breath before choosing to trust Aryll the same way Aryll had trusted her.
"No…nothing new, at least. Um, I…have nightmares a lot. I've had them for years now."
Aryll's eyes grew sad and she spoke in a very gentle voice.
"What do you have nightmares about, Zel-chan?"
"My sister, mostly – Hilda. We've had…a really bad relationship for a long time now."
"I knew things were pretty rough between you and her before you came to Hateno, but I didn't realize it had gone on for so long…"
"Yes…since we turned nine, she basically pushed me away from her. Father told me to give up on trying to manifest my Sealing magic once my it didn't happen for years after Hilda managed to. It was then that she started to resent me. She always said she was angry and insulted that I wouldn't fight the Calamity alongside her but…I think she was hurt. I think she felt…like I abandoned her."
"That's not your fault, though," Aryll murmured. "It was your father who told you to stop. Why would Hilda think you abandoned her in the first place?"
It had been more than ten years since then, but Zelda could still vividly recall her life back then.
"I think…it's because Mother passed away when we were six. It affected both of us, of course, but I don't think Hilda's heart ever truly recovered from losing her. So when…when Father told me I wasn't to study magic any longer, that I wouldn't be by Hilda's side going forward…she probably felt like she'd lost someone else who had promised to be there to support her."
"I guess I can understand being sad about that…but she was still wrong to take it out on you."
Zelda gave Aryll a tiny smile.
"I've…come to really understand that, I think. Link spent a long time trying to convince me that Hilda was wrong for the things she said and did to me. I…even told him I don't really want to see her anymore after our last run in with her at the Castle."
Aryll reached out and took Zelda's hand in hers, squeezing it firmly.
"You don't have to keep trying, you know. You've done everything you can for more than a decade. If she won't accept you and your kindness, then it's not your responsibility to keep trying all alone. All it'll do is hurt…trust me, I know."
"You…do?"
"Mhm. I have a pretty bad relationship with my grandmother on my mom's side. Nothing like yours with Hilda, but its strained and we don't get along well."
"May I ask…how come?"
"Of course you can. First, though, Link's told you about what happened to our mom, right?"
Sadness clouded Zelda's eyes.
"She…passed away during childbirth, right?
"Yeah. I never got to meet her. I used to feel a little guilty for what happened, but Dad's told me since I was old enough to understand that it wasn't my fault and I really do believe him these days – I was just a baby when it happened, after all. But Grandmother doesn't feel the same way."
"She…blames you for what happened?"
"She does. I can't say I don't understand it some – her own daughter didn't survive but I did. I must be a living, breathing reminder of the daughter she lost twenty years ago, the most important person in her world that she absolutely adored with all her heart. It's probably even worse for how much I look like her – at least Dad's told me I do."
"Then your…grandmother pushed you away like Hilda did to me?"
"Yeah. She's still pretty much normal with Dad and Link, though; it's just me she doesn't like. It was that way growing up, not that we saw her much in Castle Town. She lives in Ordon and didn't move there with us. So I spent a lot more time with Grandma and Grandpa on Dad's side as a kid. But when she did come around, she'd go out of her way to make me feel left out."
"I'm…so sorry."
Aryll gave her a small grin.
"Hey, it's okay – Link never let it happen anyway. But to tell you the truth, I tried to fix things between us for a long time and nothing ever changed. Now, I don't really care to waste my effort anymore. You can only do so much by yourself; at a point, the other person has to want things to improve, too. And if they don't, you'll never be able to fix it alone. Same with you and Hilda, I'd bet – you tried for years to make her happy, right?"
"I…did. I've missed my twin sister for…a long time."
"She's never once tried to meet you halfway, has she?"
Zelda gave Aryll a sad smile.
"Not even a quarter of the way, to be honest."
"Zel-chan…I'm sorry. I wish she had been better to you."
Zelda felt her throat tighten just a bit. She hadn't thought about Hilda in such a way in a long time.
"T-thank you. I…know there's no real hope of salvaging my relationship with her but…sometimes it's a bit overwhelming how much I miss my twin. We used to share a bed in our tower at the Castle; maybe sharing one again has me remembering what things were like back then."
"If I could wake her up and make her realize what an idiot she is for treating you so badly, I'd do it in a heartbeat."
"Thank you…Ari. I have to admit, it really is nice to have someone who wants to be my sister next to me now," she added, forcing a small smile to her lips.
Aryll gave her a knowing one in return, though. It was still somber.
"Hey, it's okay. You don't have to do that with me. You don't have to hold back. It hurts; I know it does. It hurts me to remember the way things are with Grandmother, too. You don't have to pretend it doesn't, Zel-chan."
The tightness in her throat became stronger as her eyes started to sting. Aryll understood. And her buried emotions threatened to overwhelm her at long last.
"Ari, I…I know she's been terrible to me but…I still care about her. I just don't understand…why she doesn't want to be my sister…"
As the first tears spilled from Zelda's eyes, Aryll moved forward and wrapped her up in a tight embrace, cradling her head against her chest. The anguish that Zelda had pushed to the side for years poured from her as Aryll stroked her hair and held her close, her steady heartbeat grounding Zelda even in the throes of misery.
"It's okay to let go. It's okay to mourn your relationship with your sister. It's all okay, Zel-chan."
Zelda had never heard Aryll like this before. She was aware somewhere in the back of her mind that it was undoubtedly because of her relationship with her own grandmother, but her mind wasn't working well enough to appreciate any more than that at the moment.
Talking about Hilda with Aryll was different than talking about her with Link, though. Link saw Hilda as the embodiment of every single thing that was wrong with Zelda's life…and rightly so. It really was Hilda's fault that Zelda had been living at what essentially amounted to rock bottom for so many years now. He also had a history of working closely with her during the Calamity and harbored his own resentment of her, something that she had not only come to accept but to truly understand.
But no matter what…she just couldn't find it in her heart to hate Hilda. She was angry with her, upset with her, hurt by her…but she could never hate her twin sister. Even if they hadn't lost their mother, she would never have been able to bring herself to do that. And Aryll understood that.
Aryll knew that Zelda didn't want to give up on Hilda, just like she hadn't wanted to give up on her grandmother. Aryll also knew that there was no other choice but to accept the cruelty and try to move on from it as best she could. But more than anything else…Aryll knew how badly it hurt.
For the first time in her life, Zelda let down the walls she had so dutifully built around the heartbreak she had ignored for more than a decade…and cried her heart out.
As hot tears streamed down her cheeks, Aryll pulled her in even tighter. Zelda didn't realize she'd done it, but she wrapped her arms around Aryll and clung to her as hard as she could as the feelings of abandonment, betrayal, and heartbreak roiled within her. For several minutes, she lost complete control of herself, breaking down over her sister like she hadn't for a long time.
Finally, Zelda managed to regain some control over herself. Aryll hadn't once let go of her, silently supporting her and hugging her close. Even now, Zelda was reminded of the night she had lost her mother…the way Hilda had clung to her and sobbed into her nightgown, holding on for dear life.
'But that sister…is gone now. She's been gone…for a very long time.'
It was something she finally had to admit to herself. It was the truth, after all, no matter how much she wished it wasn't.
Aryll's gentle voice broke through her dejection.
"You okay, Zel-chan?"
Zelda sniffled and nodded, pulling back and wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
"I'm…sorry about that."
Aryll just gave her a warm smile.
"Don't be. Sometimes what you really need is a good cry. It helps get all those bad feelings out so they don't suffocate you from the inside."
"I've…never thought of crying as cathartic before," she admitted, her voice a little sheepish.
"Right? It's kinda weird, isn't it? But every once in a while, it really does feel amazing to just let it out. Don't you feel a little better right now?"
Zelda considered herself for a moment. Strangely, her heart and body felt much lighter.
"I…do, actually."
"I'm glad to hear it. I thought it might help some so I encouraged you to let go. I'm sorry if I pushed you a little too far, though."
"D-don't be sorry, please. I really…appreciate you being here for me. I'm sorry…for crying all over your nightgown…"
Aryll gave her a small grin.
"What, this old thing? Don't even fret over it. In fact, I'm glad to know it's still absorbent in case a big wave ever crashes through my windows!"
Zelda couldn't help giggling a little as Aryll did her best to cheer her up; it was a very sweet gesture. When the laughter died down, Aryll met her eyes directly.
"Just so you know…I would never dream of trying to be your replacement sister or anything like that, Zel-chan. A real sibling bond is a special thing – I know from how Link and I are. But I can imagine that the bond between twins is special in a different way even from that. So just know that even though I really do want to be your sister, I'm not trying to replace Hilda. I want to be your second sister."
Zelda couldn't fight the smile that spread across her lips.
"I…would be very lucky to also call you my sister. I…I think we're already getting a lot closer, don't you?"
"I sure do! You know my biggest secrets and you're even trusting me with some of yours. If that's not how two people get close, then I don't know what is!"
"Me neither. Um…Ari?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. I've…never really acknowledged those feelings before. I always thought…it was my fault that Hilda hated me. I never realized…she would have to try to fix things too."
"It's hard to try changing people like that; it never really works, either. Link's told you I moved back to Ordon with Dad when we all left Castle Town, right?"
"Yes, he mentioned that."
"I did it to try fixing things with Grandmother one last time. Our grandfather on Mom's side passed away just before the Calamity so she was all alone in Ordon…I felt bad. I felt guilty, honestly. So I moved there with Dad and tried to fix things with her. But I was just wasting my time. And in the end, I decided it wasn't worth it to keep tormenting myself trying to fix a broken relationship when the other person didn't want to fix it at all. And that's when I left and moved here."
"You…really do speak from experience," Zelda murmured.
"I guess so, not that I can understand what it's like for your twin to treat you so badly. If Link were ever that way with me, I'd probably punch him as hard as I could…but then I'd cry by myself later."
"W-well, luckily Link would never do something like that to you."
Aryll grinned at her.
"Yeah, you're right. We may butt heads all the time and argue, but that's just the way we show our affection. Always has been, really. And I know when push comes to shove, he's always got my back. Just like he's always got yours."
"He…really does."
"And I've got your back, too! But I'll just be standing behind Link so I don't get in the way of any spontaneous hugs or hand holding!"
Zelda felt her cheeks heat up but couldn't help laughing as well.
"Thank you, Ari. Speaking of h-hand holding…I hope my orders didn't make you uncomfortable during the game earlier today…I wasn't trying to pressure you or anything."
"Are you kidding!?" Aryll insisted, her eyes wide and her smile bright. "I got to hold Micchan's hand because of you! She clung to my arm because of you! You're the best! …though my heart was beating out of my chest the whole time. I wonder if she could feel it in my wrist…"
"I'm glad I didn't overstep, then," she admitted with a soft smile. "I just noticed you and Mipha were sharing your numbers so I thought I might be able to help you out if you did the same with me."
Aryll grimaced and averted her eyes.
"Yeah, I thought you might've figured it out…sorry about that."
"D-don't be! I thought it was very kind of you both! Even if…I was a little embarrassed sometimes."
"Hey, give yourself some credit – you never once turned as red as Link did today!"
As the two girls dissolved into fits of laughter, Zelda felt her heart lighten even further. She was no stranger to nightmares, certainly nightmares involving Hilda, but this was the first time she'd ever had somebody to wake her in the night and comfort her after them. It felt…like she really did have a second sister.
She also couldn't shake the tiny curiosity in the back of her mind – would Link also wake her up and hold her like that in the middle of the night if they shared a bed together…? The idea of it made her heart race and flutter in a very different way.
A few days after their relaxing day at the beach, Link sat on the porch of his sister's house looking out towards the ocean and watching the sunset. Zelda was in the bath already and he was taking some time to unwind and sort through his thoughts. Nothing had come up concerning the Witch Queen since the attack on Hateno and for now it seemed that things were calm again. That didn't stop him from worrying, of course, but Zelda had made a good point – rest was equally important to maintaining his health and strength as hard work was.
Relaxing with Zelda in Lurelin had been a nice change of pace for the last many weeks, too. They had received a letter from Ira just yesterday telling them that repairs on their house were going well and they would be complete in another two weeks. That meant that they could go back home relatively early into the Fourth Month. And for as grateful as Link was to his sister for opening her home to them, he was also a bit impatient to have some time alone with Zelda again.
He hadn't realized it before having Aryll around every day, but he had very much come to enjoy his quiet evenings alone with his fiancée. He was very much looking forward to sitting down with her after their baths and chatting together once more, maybe taking a photograph or two with the Sheikah Slate before dinner or bed. Of course, those familiar pastimes weren't gone – they just looked a little different right now. They still spent time chatting after their baths each night while Aryll took her own and Zelda had taken plenty of photographs of the three of them since arriving in the seaside village.
Honestly, their current routine was quite nice.
Zelda had become very close with Aryll across the past several weeks. Watching the two of them start to look like real sisters was something that brought a constant smile to Link's face, especially for how long it had been since Zelda had experienced a relationship like that. He knew Aryll didn't do it out of pity for her, but it still made him feel deeply grateful to her all the same.
She had also made some progress using her magic with Mipha's help. She was still figuring out the specifics and had a ways to go before it became natural to her, but she could now call upon it more easily and had managed to move a few small objects. As it turned out, the theory she had shared with him weeks ago was correct – she was able to move objects backwards to where they had started, almost as if she were reversing them through time. And her own training had given her reason to become even better friends with Mipha than she had already managed.
He was very happy to see Zelda becoming so close with the most important people in his life, even more so since she had rapidly become one of those deeply important people herself.
'Hmm…I wonder if I can do something special for her to make her even happier…'
Link heard the door open behind him and glanced over his shoulder, his eyes falling on Aryll. She leaned against the frame and gave him a smile.
"Am I interrupting?"
"Not at all. Something on your mind, Ari?"
"Nah, just thought I'd come out and chat. How're you holding up after being stuck with me for a month?"
"I've been through worse," he shot back with a grin.
"Thank you, thank you."
"How about you? I'm sure you got used to living by yourself just like I did – how are you managing with Zelda and I crowding you all the time?"
She closed the door behidn her, strolling across the wooden porch and sitting down on the steps next to him.
"Are you kidding? I'm having the time of my life! I love having you and Zel-chan here!"
"I'm glad. I was worried we'd been imposing on you for too long now."
"You don't have to worry. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if the two of you just stayed here forever; I'm gonna be lonely when you both leave. But I bet that'd start to wear you out even sooner than it would Zel-chan, huh?"
Link gave her a smile.
"If the three of us actually lived together long term, we'd all be just fine. But we'd probably need a few more rooms to keep us all comfortable."
"Comfortable? Is that code for 'places I can be alone with Zel-chan where you won't find me?'"
Link rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, you can think that if you want."
"Sorry I can't avoid you very easily – it's not like I have the biggest place in the world, though."
"It's not your fault. We're both grateful you took us in while our house is being fixed up."
She raised an eyebrow at him.
"You really don't miss having time alone with Zel-chan? You know, without me?"
"Well…sure, I miss it. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate what you're doing for us."
Aryll's eyes lit up and she leaned a bit closer.
"Hey, hey, I have an idea, then! Since you'll be here a few more weeks, why not take Zel-chan on a date in the meantime? You can create a little alone time somewhere special!"
"A…date?" Why did she and Mipha love that word so much…?
"Yeah, a date! Don't you know what we're close to?"
"I don't think so."
"Lover's Pond!"
Link felt his face immediately heat up.
"…I guess I do remember hearing a story about that place, actually."
"It's just up that mountain there," she sang, pointing off towards the rapidly darkening horizon. "You should take her on a picnic before you go back to Hateno!"
"Do you…really think she'd be interested…?"
Aryll punched his upper arm with slightly more force than he'd expected.
"Don't be an idiot. She loves you, right?"
He felt the blush in his cheeks deepen even more.
"Y…yeah…"
"Then take her to Lover's Pond! I promise she'll have the most amazing day with you!"
"I…was thinking about trying to surprise her with something…"
Aryll squealed next to him and kicked her feet, bouncing on the spot.
"I've never seen you like this before! I'm so happy for you!"
"T…thanks. And thanks for being so good to Zelda."
"You don't have to thank me for that – I seriously love her. She's so sweet and kind and wonderful. Good job winning her over, big bro!"
That comment was enough to turn his ears red, the heat even spreading down to his neck.
"Ari…do you have to say it like that?"
"Sorry," she offered, her face softening. "I'm just really happy. For both of you. I always hoped you'd find someone who actually made you smile after that whole mess with the noblewomen a few years back."
"I can't say it really had anything to do with me…but thanks. I'm really glad she seems content with things, too. If I can make her happy after everything she's been through…then I really couldn't be more grateful."
"She's much more than content, big brother. And she's very lucky to have you."
"I'm just as lucky, honestly."
"I'm glad you feel that way; you deserve happiness just as much as she does."
"Thanks."
"And if you really feel that lucky…why not show her?"
Link considered his sister for a moment before chuckling and leaning back.
"I can't argue that it's not a great idea. Alright, I'll take your suggestion and bring Zelda on a picnic up to Lover's Pond. When do you think I should do it?"
Aryll lit up at his words.
"Whenever you want! I'll stay out of your hair all day and the two of you can make a really special memory together! Maybe further that relationship of yours a little more, too, hm?" she quipped again, winking this time.
Link's blush returned in full force.
"Ari…"
"Come on, you know I had to tease you just a little! But I promise, no teasing or interruptions whatever day the two of you go out. I'll even help you get everything prepared in advance if you want!"
"Actually, I guess I could use some help – you know this area a lot better than I do."
Aryll gave a mock salute and grinned at him.
"Just leave it to me! I'd be happy to support my brother and his fiancée as they begin their foray into the true depths of romance!"
"…you get it all out yet?"
"Almost!"
As Link laughed alongside his sister, his mind wandered back to Zelda. They hadn't managed to actually say the words 'I love you' much since their initial confession weeks ago but the few times they'd said it filled him with incredible warmth and happiness. But she seemed equally happy about the development, if not a little skittish and embarrassed still. And it hadn't gone unnoticed by him that Zelda was entirely comfortable interlocking her fingers with his these days. Every time she did it first, Link's heart began racing and cartwheeling.
They really were growing a lot closer as time went on.
Maybe she really would enjoy going on a real date with him – not just a walk through Hateno and lunch at Ira's but something unique and special that neither of them would forget. Link worried it might be a bit too forward to take her to a place called 'Lover's Pond' but…they had already confessed their feelings to one another. What real harm was there in doing it?
And besides, now was the perfect opportunity. Maybe it was time to trust his sister and take a step outside of his comfort zone for the sake of Zelda's happiness…and his own.
12/1/2023
Post-Chapter Note: Welcome back everyone and thank you so much for reading!
You know, I was worried this chapter felt a little aimless at first and didn't know how to tie it all together, but in the end I decided on two ways to do that: 1) Zelda taking her tactician brilliance and using it for Aryll's sake, and 2) Zelda and Aryll steadily growing closer and closer. The chapter title was the last little cherry on top I wanted in order to bring the themes of the chapter together with how much kind-hearted scheming everyone is doing - Zelda trying to help Aryll, Aryll and Mipha still being the biggest Zelink shippers out of anyone (lol!), Zelda and Aryll discussing how to approach mending relationships, and even Link planning something for Zelda.
However, I'm sure you've all noticed that Link has taken a bit of a backseat these last two chapters and while that was by design to build up Zelda's relationship with Aryll at long last, don't worry at all! There's tons of Zelink goodness to come, as you can probably tell from that hook at the end of this chapter! Anyone who's read my stuff before knows Zelda and Link at Lover's Pond is *prime* real estate for me to write relationship development! I won't tell you how just yet, but I hope you're looking forward to reading it as much as I am to writing it!
As a quick little acknowledgement - I've written Zelda training scenes before, magic training scenes before, and even Zelda training specifically with magic scenes before lol so I decided I wouldn't focus on that so much in this story. Obviously, it's important to show that she's working with Mipha on her new Recall powers, but I figured the content of this chapter was better served writing more about the relationships between the characters rather than rehashing the magic system since I've already done that in the past. Hope nobody is thrown off by that!
The biggest mystery Zelda wants to solve right now is, of course, whether or not Mipha is in love with Aryll and, unfortunately for her, she doesn't really get a clear answer ever beyond the fact that Mipha is a kind person who is very close and comfortable with Aryll. I've read some stories in the past where once the main couple gets together, the drama shifts focus to another couple and the main couple is the basis for the wholesome, adorable romance, and that's obviously what I'm trying to emulate here. Since Zelda and Link have already confessed their love for one another, the only thing left for them is to further that love and grow as a couple together. So now the emotional stakes comes from the potential for Aryll's love to either be returned or rejected. I wonder which it'll be in the end...
Aside from that, I thought it was about time for the four main characters to have another fun game day courtesy of the resident fun-lover herself! I really have a lot of fun writing these four in goofy, relaxed situations where they just mess with each other - I'm really happy with the way I've built their dynamic together and it makes me happy to no end to write the four of them together like that. And it was so nice to have Zelda at a point where she was finally willing to come out of her shell just a bit more than last time, even trying to set up situations for Aryll the way Aryll was setting up situations for she and Link. I also just love the idea that Link is the only one not cheating by the end lol!
I also felt like it's been a little while since we've explored Zelda's relationship with Hilda so I wanted to bring that back in a meaningful way. The last time they met was Book II, Chapter 6 back at the Castle and the last time Zelda really thought about her "on screen" was Chapter 7 of the same Book. But of course, a few months isn't enough to remove that anguish from her heart entirely. It was also nice to give our soft-hearted Zelda a different perspective to bounce off of. Link has very strong feelings about Hilda and supports Zelda loudly and fiercely, which is just wonderful! But Aryll doesn't really know Hilda, aside from disliking the way Zelda was treated. She has a much softer approach to the situation based on her own experiences in life as well, which is a perspective Zelda has never embraced before. And, as you all perhaps have known for a while, Zelda may not like her sister or want to be around her, but she just can't bring herself to *hate* Hilda. She has far too good a heart for that. As a tiny spoiler, Book II was (very unsurprisingly) not the last time Zelda and Hilda will meet so I wonder if this shift in perspective and understanding will affect the way she interacts with her sister going forward.
Anyway, that's enough out of me for now! Thank you all so much for reading and everyone brace yourselves for the Lover's Pond date - I've been waiting for this one since Book I and I hope you're looking forward to it! Until then, have a wonderful weekend and coming week and I'll see you all again hopefully next week! Take care!
