New Home - BotW Link x Reader (Undergoing Revisions)

Chapter 28 - As Red As Death

The rain was not going to let up soon - this was obvious.

Running through the rain, or even walking, for extended periods were not fun - nor were they good for one's health. Well, maybe for Zora it would be fine. But for two Hylians, it was a sure way to get sick.

Zelda, ever patient, was resting against a rock face, one set just beside the roots of a large tree. Where she was, she was partially protected from the rain. If he knew how to, he'd have made a surer shelter for her, but he didn't, so he couldn't. But Link was growing restless, so he took to training.

It was what he always turned to when he had spare time or energy. This probably wasn't the right moment. They had things to do, other things to think about. But this, at least, helped him to clear his head, helped him to focus when he needed to.

He went through his drills without needing to think, so it freed up his mind for other things. Those other things, of course, being in the surrounding environment. Swinging the Master Sword was something as easy as breathing to him. It was fighting, killing monsters, and taking lives that was exhausting.

Though he did drills, his focus was on what was happening around him. He was ever vigilant for threats and for his charge - the princess - who so loved to disappear on him.

"I doubt this will let up anytime soon," the princess noted. There was a pause - he did not respond, for there was no need to. He only continued his drills, maneuvering through the movements with ease, though not without effort. "Your path seems to mirror your father's. You've dedicated yourself to becoming a knight, as well."

Yes, this was true. His father was chivalrous, honorable, and strong. He grew up with those ideals instilled in him - or perhaps it was with him since birth? He couldn't know for sure. Still, it was true that he was very much like his father in almost all regards.

His father was a model soldier, and an incredible knight.

Anything different about Link - anything that would naturally have been born of him - was pushed down and away, so that he might be exactly as his father was.

So, he was silent.

So, he was chivalrous, honorable, and strong.

"Your commitment to the training necessary to fulfill your goal is really quite admirable," Zelda continued, and then paused, as though wanting him to respond. But how could he do that? He needed to focus, and what was there to say?

He was committed to fulfilling his goal, and when it came to his training, he was told always to bow in respect to the princess, to serve the royal family dutifully. He knew not how to speak to her, other than that he should not. As a regular knight, he would never have addressed the princess - or even the king - other than to thank them. Vocally, there was no other protocol.

Still, he was more than a bit curious because why would he be the center of her attention? What had he done to warrant being spoken to in such high regard? He was only meant to serve her, to protect her and aid her however possible.

He lowered the Master Sword before him, then glanced sidelong towards her.

"I see now," she said slowly, "why you would be the chosen one." She smiled briefly, though it was melancholic, and it faded away as her brows furrowed together and she turned away, conflicted. "What if... One day..."

She was hesitant, and now, he lowered the blade and turned to face her.

"...One day, you realized you weren't meant to be a fighter. Yet the only thing people ever said was that you were born into a family of the royal guard, and so matter what you thought, you had to become a knight."