Getting to Know You~BotW ZeLink post-Calamity Fanfiction

Part One Section Three: Made up Misjudgments-Zelda

Zelda shot up, sweat soaking the sheets, and her chest rising and falling. She looked around, then remembered where she was. Zelda closed her eyes and breathed in, everything was fine, she was fine. She slid out of bed and stepped into her boots, still leaving her in a white tunic that might have been a half a sized to big and the pants she wore the night before. Walking down the stairs, Zelda realized the knight was nowhere to be found. She shrugged it off and went outside wanting some fresh air to help her heart slow down. It was a cool morning, and a slight breeze played with her hair as the sun rose. She looked over and saw Link, with his eyes were closed as he lay under a nearby tree. She approached him and his eyes flicked open, and before she could even blink he was up with the master sword drawn, the tip of the blade pointed right at her throat. Only a few inches from drawing blood. Zelda gasped. Half of her was scared, but the other half wondered how he managed to get on his feet so quickly. Links eyes widened and he sheathed his sword, getting to one knee, his head held low.
"My deepest apologies princess. I wasn't aware it was you and I feared an enemy." He said, fists tightened almost as if frustrated.
"No, no need to apologize, it was a misunderstanding is all." Link rose and nodded swiftly, shoulders straightening. She looked around. "Were you out here all-night Link?" He looked down at where he just lay then up at her and gave Zelda yet another swift nod of his head. She turned up her nose. What a strange thing to do. Why would he subject himself to sleeping outside when there was an at least, she hated to talk down about it, but livable house to sleep in. Especially right after fighting the calamity. Wouldn't Link want a space that was comfortable?

"Why?" He shrugged.

"I don't mind it. It's been a normal occurrence to sleep outside since the calamity, and I feel more at ease being around nature." Zelda looked at him, not sure of what to say. This was a moment where the stoic knights figure crumbled slightly. Showing a vulnerable side to her. It wasn't even that vulnerable. It really showed how closed off he was that this one thing was a surprise to her. A side that she's only seen once before. She remembered that day, 100 years back. They were growing a little bit closer to each other after she stopped snapping at him and actually got to know him. He was a really good listener. Sitting there silently as she spoke then when she was done talking he would put a word or two in of his opinion or how he could see how she felt about the situation spoken of. So on this particular day, Zelda wanted to ask why he was so quiet. Not like the other knights she noticed. When they wanted to go to castle town on their free time, or get together and speak of, well Zelda didn't know. All she knew was Link would stay behind. Training late into the evening hours practicing attack maneuvers and other such things. She would see him sometimes out there passing by training grounds Even before Zelda knew his name, she would wonder who that blonde haired Hylian was. He stood out from everyone else to her and she couldn't see nor understand why? He never spoke, did anything that really stuck out to her. Almost as if Link wanted to go unseen. So on this day, Zelda and Link rode on horseback to Hateno village. Intending to speak about Guardian mechanics to a few researchers there. And Zelda had a thought cross her mind.

"Link?" He looked from the road and to her. "Why are you so quiet all the time?" She asked. Zelda truly did wonder what his silence was about. Sometimes you can learn a lot about a person even if they don't speak any words, but with Link, it was a completely different story. She couldn't understand him at all. What was in his mind? What did he think about. He never would say anything unless spoken to, all he would do is sit there and survey the area with those eyes of his. Link's hardened expression faltered slightly, but then it returned, except for his eyes. Those blue eyes softened and trained back onto the road.

"I feel as if I must keep my emotions on the inside because if I outwardly express them people will see me as weak. Everyone, all of Hyrule is counting on me to defeat the Calamity. I must bear that burden, even if it means keeping how I feel inwardly, private. This isn't a choice. I can't change it, so I stay quiet. I stay aloof so I don't show others my feelings towards the matter at hand." She was shocked by that answer. Zelda always thought that he just didn't like talking or he was raised that way. It made her think. Was she talking too much about how she felt? Then a new question arose.

"So how do you feel?" She had asked. Link looked towards the road, but she knew he heard her. By the way his head lowered just slightly and how his hand tightened on the reins a little more. Zelda knew not to bring up the subject again.

She sat down next to the cooking pot that sat next to the tree, and watched as he struck some flint with the edge of his sword. Setting a pile of sticks under the pot ablaze. Zelda looked up at the hero of the wild, feeling a question brewing.

"Do you remember?" Link looked up at her.

"I'm not sure I fully understand Princess." Zelda sighed, fidgeting around.

"Do you remember everything? Before the calamity." Link looked at her. His eyes, those bewilderingly blue eyes, searching hers. Those eyes always got her, every time. Never ever not making her feel anxious and on edge. As if he could see right through her.

"Some things are still fuzzy, but I believe so." Zelda had hoped he hadn't, she wished he had forgotten some things she had said to him. Things she still regrets to this day. Zelda looked down at the fire. They got along now, but back when he was first made her appointed knight, their relationship was-well there was no good word for it. They started off on the wrong foot was not even half of it. He didn't do anything accept exist and she managed to find a way to be unfair and unkind. Zelda was mad at herself; she was frustrated that the sealing magic she so desperately needed to access wasn't appearing. She prayed, worked, and prayed some more. But even if she prayed for days on end. Stood in that pool and clutched her hands together, there was no accessing it. And that knight. The chosen hero of Hyrule, who pulled that magical sword out of the pedestal at a young age, was a constant reminder to her that she was nothing but a failure. To Hyrule, the other champions, her father, and to herself. At the time, she fully believed that he hadn't worked one day in his life for the great honor he had. The Triforce of courage lingered inside him and showed copiously. A complete and utter mockery to her years of tireless training. The birthright she held seemed to evade her. Even though as the princess of Hyrule, her own power she was born with wasn't there. Even after ten years of training day and night, it wouldn't awaken. And as Zelda worked he just stood there, silent as the day turns to night and as still as a talus waiting to strike. But those eyes, big and blue always bore into her. She couldn't take it, any of it. Sick of him, his stupid swordsmanship, his natural talent, and blue eyes. So one day she managed to slip away from his undeterred stare and went to Gerudo Town where he couldn't enter. And for those few hours she hid away, Zelda felt at peace. Later on in those passing days, she heard that he did manage to enter Gerudo Town, but couldn't find her. At the time, that was a moment of celebration, but now it was just a moment of guilt for Zelda. That was wrong of her to run away from him because what he did next saved her life. That day lingered so vividly in Zelda's mind. How she ran and fell, and how the Yiga Clan stood above her. But the moment she remembered most clearly, as if it was yesterday, was how the Knight stood over her, sword readied and prepared to battle. Even all that she'd done to Link, avoiding him, relentlessly punishing him with an invalid hatred, and walking away when he followed her around. He still saved her. She would have been dead if he wasn't there to protect her. So for that, Zelda's opinion changed about him changed.