Restoration

Chapter Three: Only a Dream...

Link’s POV

The night breeze is cool, it’s a relief from the heat of the day, the night is clear enough, the moon is waning, interestingly there is no ruckus going on, no monster attacks, which has been trending here lately, I’ve been away from the castle for quite some time, but the amount of guards have increased in such a short time it seems like, but my priority is supposed to be standing guard, watching over Zelda…her window is open, she must want to enjoy the cool breeze too, I can hear her movements clearly, she’s writing again. I know she’s upset, she hasn’t spoken much since her encounter with the King from earlier. His Majesty…he was too hard on her. If only he knew how hard she tried, how much this Calamity burdened her. But he’s not the only one who believes Zelda isn’t trying hard enough,the soldiers in the barracks talk of abandoning Hyrule, they don’t believe in fighting a war that they believe they have no chance at winning. Gossip mongers think all she cares about is just her textbooks and not the people. Not even giving her a chance; or just ignoring all the other good she’s done for all of us. I grip the hilt of the Master Sword in frustration thinking back on it. When I hear a loud boom, that makes me briefly forget my fleeting exasperation. I immediately go on the defense, is this it? The Calamity? I don’t see any enemy threats, I feel something fall on my nose, something wet, curious, I hold out my hand, and feel drops cascading on my hand.

Rain?

“Rain?” Did I just say that? No, that wasn’t me that was…

“Link, come inside! Quickly!” Zelda orders, peeking her head out of the window, looking at me with worry, and closes her window. “Inside”? Inside Zelda’s study? Does she want me to get beheaded? Entering a royals room has serious consequences, I don’t think His Majesty would take too kindly if he saw me in his daughters—

“What are you, mad? We’re not in the wilderness Link. Come inside!” Zelda scolds while opening the door quickly, and grabbing my wrist, pulling me inside without me having a second to protest. I look around her room, it’s warm inside, there's a large library of textbooks, with open books spread across the room and on her couch in front of the large fireplace, that has a  roaring fire crackling, at the center of the room. I stay as still as a statue close to her door, Zelda is now sitting at her desk and looks over to me in confusion,

“What are you doing?”

I remain silent, trying to avoid eye contact with her, but I can’t help but look back to see her…reaction. She huffs in annoyance, rolling her eyes at me, and keeps them locked on to me. What is this…? A staring contest? The tension is almost enough for me to break, “Link are you…” she smirks.

“Thinking of doing something…” she says slowly, getting up from her chair to walk closer to me, I gulp in angst, and I feel a heat on my cheeks. She gets close to my face, why is she teasing me like this?

“Perverted?” she asks bluntly. I gasp for air at that moment, enough to make me slightly fumble as I try to back up, but I’ve already backed myself into this wall, and Zelda is less than a foot away from me. I guess my reaction to her accusation was humorous, because she started to chuckle. My face feels hot, she is trying to get a rise out of me…I mean…it’s working. “I-I…” I stutter, ever since we got back to the castle, I’ve regressed, on our journey Zelda and I have gotten to open up to each other more. It’s easier to talk to her than before, she makes it so easy. Being out in the wild was refreshing for the both of us, but it couldn’t erase the looming threat of  the Calamity. Zelda still hasn’t unlocked her powers yet, and with each passing day she’s gotten more melancholy. And I…I have to be stronger for her, for all of Hyrule. Everyone is counting on us. But I still can’t even hear the sword speak to me like Zelda can, and just like her, I don’t even know where to start to learn how. Maybe it could give us answers.