Chapter Text
An army of Guardians possessed by Ganon’s malice were quickly ascending upon them, and Link was near death. He felt himself slipping out of consciousness as he kneeled protectively in front of Princess Zelda.
“Link, save yourself! Go! I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me!”
Link staggered to his feet with the legendary sword in hand, in his continued attempt to shield her. He could barely hold himself up, but one was closing in on them now, and pointing its beam. There was no time to think.
“NO!” Zelda cried.
She threw herself between Link and the Guardian as blinding light emanated from her palm. The swordsman watched vaguely as every enemy within radius was struck from her light before falling to the ground, presumably dead. His knees buckled beneath him, and his vision went dark.
The last recovered memory of his time from 100 years ago was Zelda crying over him.
…
The strange, burning pain on Link’s back and side became too difficult to ignore, and so slowly he began to stir from his nightmare. He was struggling to breathe. Wherever his head was resting felt soft, but he didn’t have the mental energy to move or open his eyes. Remembering what led up to this was a struggle. He could remember awakening in the Shrine of Resurrection, and freeing the four Champions. It took several more moments of groggy effort before the despair swept over him.
'I failed her… I went to the castle… I was trying to save Zelda…I should not be here.'
A range of emotions were circling him now. It vaguely registered that quiet voices were coming from somewhere close, and getting clearer for him to hear.
“...you enough for everything you, Impa, Robbie, well really everyone-”
“Princess Zelda, you really must take a moment to relax. You’ve not stopped thanking me since you and your … escorts… arrived with him on that horse. The sight of you both safe and alive is more than we could ask for.”
Zelda.
Link shot up in his bed. The movement made him wince and suck in sharply through his teeth. With a look of utter bewilderment, he gazed beyond the railing at the two figures sitting in his kitchen.
“Oh Link!” A frantic voice rang.
The princess couldn’t have looked more out of place in her white gown, as she rose from the table and practically sprinted up the stairs. She was on the edge of his bed instantly, and appraising his condition with worried hands. He watched in disbelief as Purah joined their side, now donning a preteen appearance instead of a child-like one.
“How are you feeling?” Zelda asked him softly.
She brushed a few strands of hair away from his eyes. He shook his head vaguely and glanced down at the bandages around his torso.
“I have…questions,” Link uttered finally.
“You’re well enough to speak, that’s certainly encouraging,” Purah said. “No one from Kakariko knows what’s happened yet, and I need to figure out how I’m sending word. Please excuse me.” With that, she hurried down the stairs and out the front door into the night.
There was a small pause between Link and Zelda as they took in the sight of each other. It was a surreal revelation to him that despite the length of time that had passed, Zelda’s appearance had remained exactly as he remembered the day he nearly died. She could see the relief in his eyes at the image of her. Her expression fell, and she glanced away before speaking.
“I am truly sorry that you are awakening in such a state. Had I realized you were struck by one of Ganon’s attacks and losing blood, I would have spared you the speech. Your horse is an incredibly intelligent creature… she came to me after you collapsed. The only person I knew with the medical knowledge to help us was Purah. I met some kind people at Dueling Peaks Stable who offered to lead us the remaining distance after I addressed your wounds. Purah has since stitched you up and applied antibiotics…but you’ll need a potion soon, undoubtedly. You’ve been unconscious for nearly twenty four hours.. I’ve been…beside myself with worry.”
Zelda’s eyes were brimming with tears now but his expression was kind.
“Thank you, Princess Zelda… Have you had a chance to rest yet?”
She swallowed thickly and shook her head.
“I've had more than enough rest…When you needed my guidance, I found enough awareness to call to you, but I was truly asleep like you all this time. The abilities I possess offered more than I ever imagined possible, though they’ve since weakened. I woke up when you defeated Ganon…” Zelda took both of Link’s hands in hers and inhaled unevenly.
“...I am so grateful for everything you’ve done, for this kingdom, for my father and our friends, and for me. All I want for you now is fulfillment and peace. You can live the life you want to. The transition for us both may be difficult, but I find solace in the fact that we are going through it together.”
Link squeezed her hands gently and offered an unexpected smile. Her heart eased considerably at the reassuring expression, though one question still lingered.
“Do you really remember me…?” Zelda whispered.
As reasonable as her uncertainty was, it was still disheartening to hear. The sight of her was almost too unbelievable but the joy he felt was overwhelming. His kind smile grew.
“While there are many things that I still struggle to recall, please be at ease… My memories of you are what fueled my efforts...” His expression fell. “I couldn’t handle the thought of you being trapped there alone. I knew you were suffering and it agonized me. I’m sorry…I made you wait for so long.”
The composed she’d maintained faltered at his statement. She squeezed her eyes shut and allowed the trail of tears to pour down her cheeks. Link tentatively reached across, and pulled her into his arms. She held him carefully, away from his bandages, and her heart fluttered from the contact.
They held each other in silence under the moon glow through the windows and the single lit lantern on the kitchen table. The only sounds to be heard outside were the crickets chirping. Zelda was wiping the tears quickly away after they broke apart.
“I’ve made arrangements with Prima at the Ton Pu Inn for the moment, while I decide where I’ll be living from now on. Your injuries make me rather anxious, so being close will make it easy to check on your condition in the morning,” She told him, then quickly added, “Are you still tired? Are you hungry? Can I do anything for you at all?”
He found her concern endearing, albeit unnecessary. It made him chuckle as he swung his feet off the bed. The only true restriction he had was his breathing. His legs worked fine and the pain was something he could ignore. “Princess Zelda, I can’t let you concern yourself so much over me.” He rose to his feet steadily, and gestured for her to follow him downstairs. Whatever he was up to was a mystery but she was curious. She found herself sitting in his kitchen once again, watching as he began rummaging through cabinets and drawers.
“Please do not overexert yourself,” Zelda insisted.
Link extracted a piece of flint from the drawer and sparked a fire beneath the cooking pot before grabbing a few more things from the cabinet. “Am I right in assuming you haven’t eaten since you woke up?” He glanced over his shoulder at her sheepish expression, and she nodded.
“You know, it wouldn’t hurt you to allow others to take care of you occasionally… although…I really have missed your cooking,” She admitted.
They were both aware that the Princess’s knowledge was a bit lacking when it came to preparing food. Before the calamity, it became the unspoken arrangement during their travels that dinner was Link’s job. Zelda’s curiosity led to entirely too many failed creations, and plenty of wasted ingredients much to Link’s dismay.
She’d happily let him prepare anything just to see the bliss on his face while eating it. He’d always been such a glutton.
“What are we having?”
“Guess.”
Zelda flitted beside him and peeked at the contents inside the pot as he stirred. The simplicity of being together for a meal after so long resonated peacefully within them both. Link had begun humming to himself when she lit up with delight.
“It’s Risotto, isn’t it?”
He cracked a smile in confirmation.
“Um…I can’t exactly remember which dishes you like. I’m sorry if this isn’t…” He trailed off.
“Thank you. It’s one of my absolute favorites,” She replied.
“Good,” he chuckled.
The front door swung open abruptly and Zelda jumped. They saw Purah lugging an open crate over to the table, then dropping it with a loud ‘THUD’.
“Excellent! I’m so glad to see your appetite has finally returned, Princess Zelda. I was worrying about you. I set these clothes aside YEARS ago for your return, it just took me a while to find them. Everything here will fit, and there’s a lot more you can go through later. Symin borrowed your horse by the way Linky, hope you don’t mind. We're still unsure why the Sheikah Slate won’t warp anymore, and we felt this was rather urgent news. At least Kakariko’s close.” Purah shrugged, then yawned.
Zelda made her way over and leaned down to hug her friend tight. “I know you’re sick of me thanking you, so I’ll simply say, what would we do without you?”
“Likely perish,” Link said lightly, despite the literal truth of the statement. He grabbed a few bowls from the high shelf and filled one with the steaming rice dish before placing it at the table. He gave Purah an inquisitive look.
“None for me, thanks. I’m dead on my feet,” she remarked. “I’m heading back to my lab for some shut-eye, I’ll see you two tomorrow morning.” She yawned again before turning to leave, waving over her shoulder as she exited. The door shut with a click, and it was just the two of them once more.
Link carried his own bowl to the table and sat adjacent to the girl he’d fought so hard to see once more. It seemed impossible to him that she was really here. She was averting her gaze, and it was unclear to him if it was out of embarrassment or something else, but it gave him the chance to admire the precious way her cheeks tinted pink as she took her first bite. Her eyes shut contentedly as she savored it, and he couldn’t help but stare a moment before directing his attention back to his own food. He didn’t want her to catch the expression on his face.
Link was mid-bite when Zelda began to speak.
“My heart refuses to relax. I wonder if I’ll ever feel tired again.”
He took a moment to respond. “I definitely understand that. Um… This is entirely your decision, but after this, would you like to go out somewhere and sit with me?”
“As long as you promise you’re not in too much pain to do so,” she agreed.
He nodded. “There’s a small pond at the top of the hill behind the house and a pretty straightforward path leading to it. It took me a long time to recall…but I actually grew up in this cottage.”
Zelda’s face lit up with curiosity. “You almost never spoke of yourself or your past during our travels together. Please tell me more.”
He awkwardly rubbed his neck. “...When I was a kid I would occasionally camp on that hill with my bed roll and look at the stars. It’s…nice up there.”
She smiled hugely at that in response. He still felt uncomfortable discussing himself, but her interest was genuine, and he could tell she was still waiting to hear more.
His eyes darted away, and he cleared his throat. “My father and I moved to Castle Town when I was eight. This place reminded him of my mom and it was hard for him living here. I was only a baby when she died.”
“I’m so sorry. Was she sick?”
“Ah, well…” he hesitated.
“Please forgive me. We don’t need to discuss it.”
“It’s alright, there’s just a lot to it. My mother’s death began a chain reaction that steered the entire course of my childhood. Our family was attacked while on a journey away from home, and my father was unable to protect us both. He did his best to hide how much it tormented him.”
“Oh Link…” Zelda whispered.
“I’m okay, please don’t worry” he reassured. “I was lucky to have him as a role model. My father was a skilled swordsman, and for him it made sense to become a royal knight just like his father.”
“Then of course you did the same thing,” she concluded.
“My father never pressured me to become a knight. He taught me the basics when I was four or five so I could protect myself in a dire situation, but my ability surpassed his expectations. I enjoyed spending that time with him training. I saw him rise to commander of the royal knights in such a short period of time, and we traveled all over Hyrule. He was always helping people, and it was a noble cause I wanted to dedicate myself to as well.”
“There truly is no one more dedicated than you.”
Link wasn’t sure how to reply, and when he realized how cold his food was getting, he began shoveling it in his mouth. Zelda had finished eating all she could. She placed down her utensil and tried to hide her amused smile.
“It makes me happy seeing your mannerisms have not changed. I’m grateful you opened up to me. I know that isn’t something that comes easily for you,” she said.
Zelda hadn’t anticipated a response, but he glanced up at her from his bowl and murmured, “You can, um, ask me questions about myself anytime. I’ll do my best to answer them.”
“Do you realize the gravity of what you’ve just permitted?” Zelda giggled. “I’ll push you if I receive one worded responses.”
He laughed quietly and replied, “Yes ma’am,” before he resumed eating.
Zelda rose from her seat and made her way over to the clothing crate. “I’ll return in a moment,” she said, retrieving a neutral toned garment from within it.
Link had already been a few bites away from finishing his food when Zelda made her way out the door headed towards the bathroom. He left their empty bowls in the sink and grabbed two bed rolls from a storage tote beneath the staircase, before running up them to get dressed himself.
Zelda reentered to the sight of her knight pulling his arms through the sleeves of his sleep wear as he descended the stairs. He tucked the bed rolls beneath his arm and gestured for her to follow him back outside.
The clouds had momentarily pulled away, allowing the full moon to illuminate the entirety of their surroundings and it was breathtaking enough to stop Zelda in her tracks.
“The shrine’s glow seems to be changing. It’s almost purple….” She murmured. “I wonder if Purah noticed.”
She gazed across the bridge towards Hateno and Mount Lanayru and let out a sigh before continuing on alongside him towards the back of the house.
“I can only imagine how hectic tomorrow’s going to be...” Zelda said. She could feel the grass brush the tops of her sandaled feet as she made her way alongside him. They walked through unkempt foliage towards the pond beyond the fence and corral.
“It’s as you said before. We’ll help each other through this,” he replied. “Oh, um,” he continued, “Do you know the time? I forgot to even check.”
“At this point, probably around two a.m..”
He glanced over and smiled. “I hope stargazing helps you relax. It always does for me when I can’t sleep.”
She reached over for a moment and squeezed his hand gently. “I’ve no doubt it will. Thank you.”
The path leading up the hill really was as straightforward as he said. She lit up when the cherry blossom tree came into view. He led her towards it and said, “I would lay over here so I could see the ocean too. Is this…?”
“Perfect,” she answered.
He began fixing their beds up. She glanced over at the pond a moment, and frowned. “Oh…”
“What?” He said, looking over in confusion, then quickly muttered, “Oh yeah…My dad didn’t like coming up here. He told me it was a sign we needed to move, but I think it’s just an unfortunate coincidence it had to be shaped that way. It really does look like a broken heart, doesn’t it?”
He beckoned for her to come and sit on the roll beside his own, then he removed his shoes before lying down. The mid-summer air was still reasonably warm despite the time of night, and Zelda was thankful she didn’t need to climb inside the sleep sack. She pulled her long hair to the side before lying down next to him.
“This was the best thing you could have suggested,” Zelda uttered. Her eyes were brimming again as she gazed up at the sky, but she blinked them away. The relief of being freed, and the despair from being trapped after so many years was having a polarizing emotional toll on her that she was doing her best to suppress.
“Could I hear more about your father?” She asked him.
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
“Anything really.”
He took a minute to reply.
“He always stuck by his word. When his mind was set on something, he always saw it through. It is an honorable trait, but a dangerous one when your purpose is to protect people. His desire for revenge…never lifted…and I never knew. That determination was what killed him.”
Zelda had no words. She’d asked him about this once before and received no real answer. She turned her body to face him, but his eyes were still directed up above.
“The surviving members of his infiltration team told us...they had found the Yiga clan’s hideout, but they’d failed in their mission to stop them. I lost both of my parents because of them, and it’s something I can't let go of.” He took a deep breath. “There’s still so many of them left I haven’t encountered, but they know I’ll never stop looking.”
His demeanor had shifted considerably, and it was distressing to her considering they were there to relax. She placed her palm on his shoulder and he turned to meet her gaze. The expression on her face eased the tension in his. His eyes drifted away once more when he spoke.
“He was a really good dad,” he said quietly.
“I know he was. He’s still with you, just know that.”
Link turned his head back towards the sky again so she did the same. They gave each other a long moment of peaceful silence. The wind was light against their faces and the sound of rustling branches was calming and lulling.
“Thank you for letting me know more about you. You really don’t know what it means to me,” Zelda said.
“Ah, yeah. No problem,” he replied.
Zelda found herself listening to his breathing rather than looking at the stars after a while. It was more relaxing than anything else.
“When you’re tired, I’ll walk you to the inn. Just let me know,” Link said. When he received no response, he glanced over.
She’d quietly fallen asleep. He didn’t find waking her to be necessary, so he simply shut his own eyes and allowed himself the same rest.
. . . . . . . . . .
Fragmented images of swirling red and purple inflated and expanded the furthest reaches of his mind. Searing hot agony torched his lungs, and he realized he was drowning.
…
An abrupt shoulder shake and Zelda’s frantic voice beside his ear startled Link from his Waterblight Ganon related nightmare.
“Someone is screaming down by your cottage.”
He was abruptly on his feet, pulling her up alongside him. The downhill walk was brisk and the shrieking was becoming more clear the further along they went. “Someone must be under attack. Where is the sword?” He asked her quickly. He was certain there were other weapons within reach inside the front door if necessary. She interrupted his train of thought.
“It’s still at the lab, I’m sorry,” she cried.
They were nearly at the house now.
“WHY are you DOING this to me?!” Came a guttural screech from around the corner.
Purah stood several yards away before the Shrine, Sheikah Slate in hand, furiously pounding on the erratically blinking pedestal with her unoccupied fist. Link and Zelda exchanged similar expressions. Purah’s head whipped around and she frantically gestured for them to come over.
“The shrines and towers ARE SINKING and I have no idea why! The slate is still alive but nothing responds! If I can dismantle this terminal, maybe I can figure out how to prevent the rest from disappearing! I don't know how much time this one has left,” She wailed.
Zelda dashed over to grab the slate, so her friend could use both hands, while Link hovered a few feet back in case of being called upon. Tools Purah seemingly procured from thin air went to work at the base of the pedestal for several minutes.
Without any prior buildup or warning, the earth abruptly, and violently began to tremor everywhere around them, scattering rocks and debris as both Purah and Zelda began sinking, along with the shrine. Link barely had time to act. He lunged, wrenching his arms out to them both and yanked until they were all falling backwards, away from the forming hole. Rocks crumbled over and closed in, dust and debris settled, and for several moments all they could do was sit and stare at the landslide where the shrine once was.
The first one to speak was Purah.
“My sister and Paya came in this morning to see you both. I think you two should probably head up to the lab without me.”
The swordsman and Princess both helped the young scholar to her feet.
“Are you alright?” Zelda asked.
“Don’t…ask me that question right now,” Purah said unevenly.
Zelda handed back the slate and squeezed the girl’s shoulder gently. Wordlessly they headed in the direction of the Hateno Tech Lab. They were a reasonable distance away but still able to hear when Purah let out one more anguished bellow.
“I’M GOING TO DIE!”
Zelda looked at Link anxiously, but he just shrugged nonchalantly.
Symin was outside of the lab when they approached, observing the teleportation circle on his hands and knees. A carriage and Link’s horse were stationed several feet away from him. He rose as soon as he noticed their presence, nodding curtly. They all went to greet the other two inside.
The lab was in total disarray. Papers, books, and ancient materials were strewn across the floor, table and chairs, and the terminal was in pieces. Symin shuffled in quickly, ignoring the mess. Zelda’s eyes fell on a familiar looking hat. She fell down to her knees and hugged her dear friend tight.
“Impa…I can’t thank you enough for guiding Link throughout his memory loss. I haven’t the words to fully express how terribly I’ve missed you all.” Impa weakly returned the gesture, and Zelda broke away gently to stand again.
“Symin already told me how many times you’ve thanked us and I’ll hear none of it. I’m so pleased that this moment has come and I’ve lived to see it,” Impa said with a faint smile.
Zelda directed her gaze at the shy young woman several feet back and smiled kindly. “It is such a privilege to meet you Paya. Thank you for assisting your grandmother in making this journey…” Zelda looked to Impa again, “...though I do wish I could have come to you instead.”
“I-I insisted she wait for you as well, but you know how headstrong she is,” Paya stammered before adding, “It’s such an honor to meet you as well Princess Zelda…h-hi Link.” Paya looked directly at the floor then squeezed her eyes shut.
Symin yawned and cleared his throat awkwardly. “It’s unfortunate the teleportation system is down. Purah’s dedicated nearly her entire life to researching and understanding this ancient technology, and it’s getting ripped out from under us. I can’t help but wonder what’s become of the divine beasts as well.”
Purah burst through the door, and everyone but Link jumped. Wet red and black makeup streaks were seen running down her face and neck. “I highly doubt the divine beasts function correctly anymore. All of the ancient technology is failing us now.”
“Aunt Purah, you’ve aged again…” Paya said awkwardly.
“Last week I thought I’d finally configured the anti-aging Rune just right, but just like everything else, that failed too,” Purah complained.
“You’re throwing a tantrum,” Impa retorted.
“Wow, it's lovely to see you too. So anyways. My life’s work is now entirely obsolete.”
The angsty teen threw herself in a chair and let her head hit the table with an uncaring whack. Paya was quickly at her side with a tissue in a gentle attempt to clear the tear streaked makeup. Zelda flitted to her other side to sit, and began rubbing soothing circles on her back.
“Purah, it’s as Symin said,” Zelda began, “You’re the brightest scholar I know, and you understand this technology better than anyone. You could easily replicate all of this. The slate, the teleportation circles, and with enough ambition, the towers and their function too. Your research is all right here!”
“Princess Zelda, I admire your go get it attitude, but that would mean completely starting over from scratch,” Purah said monotonously.
“At least consider the idea. I know you could pull it off, I have complete faith in your abilities.” Zelda then turned to address the room. “I’ve been thinking to myself about what my plans are now that I’ve returned…Most of you know I’ve never been one to sit idle when there’s so much to do. The calamity left this kingdom scarred and broken, and so many countless lives were lost. I wish to honor the victims, and bring hope to our survivors. Those that survived this tragedy carried on and found their own ways to rebuild. I know there’s so much to be done out there still, and it would benefit this kingdom greatly if I assisted in Purah’s research. That starts with the divine beasts, and that means I must head to the closest one at Zora’s Domain.”
Purah sat up and gave the Princess an agonized look. “Your confidence in me is…too kind. I will do my best to earn it.”
“You’ll accompany her, won’t you,” Impa directed at Link.
He was mid response when Zelda interrupted. “Link is relieved of his duties as my personal knight. He nearly died twice protecting me from Ganon.” She looked at him pleadingly. “I meant it when I said you can live the life you want to now.”
Link hadn’t uttered a single word since they’d arrived at the lab. Everyone turned to look at him. His face masked the sadness her statement caused him well.
“My duty is to protect you. I take my job seriously,” he said simply.
Zelda lingered on several unspoken thoughts, but ultimately decided not to push the subject. He was capable of making his own choices, and deep down she didn’t want to be alone during this trip. She could continue to tend to his injuries in this case as well.
“You two will need to return the sword to the pedestal as soon as you’re able,” Impa advised, then directed at everyone else. “Link and Princess Zelda will investigate the divine beasts. We’ll get Purah on track in the meantime…her fit won’t last.”
“You’re speaking like I’m not here.”
“Act your age and I’ll address you.”
Zelda and Paya giggled at the two sisters bickering.
After confirming the plans being set in motion, Zelda went around the room to hug everyone goodbye, before she and Link exited the lab together to gather their supplies. They agreed to meet back at his cottage.
Zelda made her way to the East Wind General store while Link rode his horse back home. Several of the villagers had come outside after the commotion Purah had caused, and every one of them stopped in their tracks at the sight of Zelda, including a handful of children.
When Link had finished gathering most of the supplies he had stored away, including two bows and an additional sword, he made his way back out to the horse corral. He could hear the buzz of townspeople across the bridge greeting Zelda warmly, and it made him chuckle. He patiently waited for her return.
She said her goodbyes with a satchel in hand as she made her way back to Link. He was tending to his horse when she approached with an embarrassed smile.
“Ready?” He said, before taking the satchel from her to include with the pack.
“You never did tell me your horse's name. I’ve been curious,” Zelda said to him.
“Pig.”
She looked at him incredulously and his expression was straight.
“You… you named this beautiful white horse…Pig? Can I please ask why?”
He looked at her as though the answer was perfectly obvious.
“She loves to eat.”
“She was destined to be yours,” Zelda laughed.
He cracked a bit of a smile at that as he helped her mount Pig’s back. He found his own place at the front, and she gripped on to his leather straps anxiously. Their close proximity flustered Zelda considerably. Despite his own hammering heart, Link could only stare straight on as they made their way out the front gate of the village, Zelda waving to villagers as they went.
“Keep an eye out for any wild horses, Link. I want to try my hand at taming one and I think I know how from watching you. It’s not fair for poor Pig to carry us both,” She said close to his ear.
“I actually know exactly where we need to go,” he replied.
Being the Hero of Hyrule required a great deal of traveling, and Link had tamed dozens of wild horses during that time. He knew all the typical spots they’d likely be, and one of those spots was across a rock bridge nearby. He guided Pig in that direction with ease, and before long it came into sight.
“Crouch when you approach, and don’t sneak up directly behind one. The last thing we need is one of them kicking you,” he told her as they made their way to the grassy outstretch across the bridge. He quickly added, “I can step in at any point if you need help.”
“I’m confident I can do this,” she said as Pig gradually slowed to a halt.
Link got down first to help with her descent, and motioned vaguely towards the edge of the cliff. “I see three,” he informed her.
She set her sights on the smallest brown horse in the direction he pointed. She gave him a fleeting glance before crouching low and inching her way forward. He stifled a laugh.
Her heart picked up rapidly from the anticipation as the horse got within several feet of her. The moment to sprint for it came, and she hesitated just a second too long. The creatures all caught sight of her and startled, running off in three separate directions to Zelda’s great dismay.
She wearily glanced back at Link who was failing miserably to conceal his amusement. She blushed bright red before fixing her gaze in the direction the brown one ran off to. She came around from another angle, only for the horse to notice her again and dart quickly off.
Link was giving Pig a carrot when Zelda came to the realization that there was a better way to approach this.
She made her way back over and filled her arms with some apples she’d tucked inside the satchel. Her posture straightened, and with a new look of determination, she cautiously approached the horse once more.
“Hello there, Una,” Zelda cooed. The small horse snorted at her but remained still. The name she'd chosen was ancient Hylian for 'One' and she realized how silly it probably was to him too.
She cautiously held an apple out for the animal, who approached her slowly. She couldn't help the grin from spreading as she took every apple from her extended reach.
Zelda finally gained the courage to pat her new friend and gracefully mount her. She beamed at Link.
“Impressive. I’ll consider that method next time,” he said humorously while climbing on Pig’s back.
“You like the thrill of the chase too much,” She replied strenuously. Riding without a saddle was more difficult than Zelda could have anticipated, and it was making guiding the horse off the plateau challenging. Pig took the lead towards Dueling Peaks stable, with Una close behind.
Everything, from the warmth of the sun to the smell of the air, brought Zelda an overwhelming sense of peace she’d almost forgotten existed within her. She was cherishing this new adventure with her noble knight more than she was ready to outwardly express.
She wondered if he felt the same way.