Forged in Malice

Chapter 14

Link was foraging around the Lanayru region and stocking up on supplies, as the marketplace usually caters to an all fish diet. The sun was shining brightly in the sky as he managed to collect various mushrooms and some eggs stolen from a couple bird nests. Not a massive haul, but the day wasn't over yet and it gave him a "reasonable" excuse to avoid the charming and tall Zora prince for a while longer. Last night's...incident was going to haunt him every time he sees that all too familiar shade of red. Even the gold of his Gerudo voe armor may cause his face to burn with embarrassment.

While yes, exploring one's body should not bring any amount of shame, it was more of the subject matter that was used causing the young hero to feel utterly mortified. Sidon is his friend, why in Hyrule did he think of those things?! And for it to manifest into a full blown illusion was like rubbing salt into a wound! Link was determined to keep this whole event a secret, going so far as to take it to his grave in order to not risk Prince Sidon finding out somehow. The Hylian wouldn't be able to return to the Domain if Sidon ever caught on, unable to handle any sort of negative reaction from his closest and most treasured friend.

Without realizing it, Link had stumbled upon the winding and formerly monster infested path leading up to Zora's Domain, picking up a silent shroom as his pointed ears perked up slightly from a strange noise down the road. The noise itself wasn't inherently strange, in fact he knew it to be the sound of hooves trotting against the slightly overgrown dirt path. The issue was that there shouldn't be anything hooved but goats this far within the lands of Zora's Domain, and whatever was approaching from around the bend of the hill was much heavier than any goat Link has ever seen. Surely this wasn't a lynel, as the one on Ploymus Mountain was taken care of during the last blood moon, and the beast didn't travel far from what they consider is their territory. Equipped with the only weapon he had on hand, a simple traveler's bow, Link hides behind a large tree and nocks an arrow into place.

Breath in.

Link assessed his surroundings. Despite the approaching intruder on his once peaceful early morning, the birds continue to sing their sweet songs, undisturbed by the now growing tension he is unable to ignore.

Breathe out.

If this was indeed a lynel, then it shouldn't be too difficult to handle, even with the lack of proper weapons. The champion was more annoyed with the idea of facing any kind of lynel without a sturdy shield to parry.

Breathe in.

He draws his bowstring back, taking aim to where the arrow should hit the nose of a lynel. It was the most sensitive spot and he needed the added stun time to come up with a half baked plan of attack. The subtle birdsong amongst the trees died down as the creature finally came around the bend.

And as Link breathes out, the arrow is sent flying over a Clydesdale horse, causing the mare to rear up in shock and knocking her rider off. He sucks a bit of air through his teeth - not exactly his finest moment. With a sigh he straps the bow onto his back and quickly makes his way over to the traveler in hope that they weren't injured, never mind how they managed to get a horse this far into the Domain as is.

Link's tongue feels too thick as he speaks. "I am so sorry, are you al...right?" He pauses, his hand already outstretched to help the blonde traveler back on her feet. Tired, emerald green eyes stare back at him, and for a moment Link actually felt a twinge of fear freezing up his body. Saying that there was some tension in the air was an understatement.

Princess Zelda was traveling to Zora's Domain.

Link nearly shot the princess down.

What did he do to deserve this kind of torment from Hylia?