My one and only

Another chance

It was bright and warm out today. After the Zora tragedy, Sidon told us we should hastily make our way to try and help the gerudo whom were sick. Link and I waved goodbye traveling on horse. We rode for quite awhile before getting a ping on the slate "it's Paya, she's about an hours ride from us" link nodded and we started in the direction towards her. Link pet his horse a little, I smiled petting mine too. I remember when I taught link how to care for his horse and make a bond. He use to ride just because it was a means of travel, now him and Epona were inseparable. Sometimes he would be out in the stables whispering to her softly and laughing, feeding her treats or taking care of her mane. He found a piece of him again with his horse, and life was brought back to him. I smiled at the memory. My thoughts were interrupted by Paya racing over, I guess I had been daydreaming so long it passed time by fast.

"Princess" she yelled, yielding her horse in protest to a stop. She looked panicked, "Paya?" "Princess..they....they..." "died yes I'm aware" "how...yes they died but we tried everything!" "Out of all the villages you visited..not one survived?" "No princess." She looked sullen and sad, her faces looked down as she said that. "Paya it's not your fault, when someone's soul gets tainted like that we can only hope...we can only pray they be saved" "I'm sorry princess." I got off my horse handing the rein to link, walking over to Paya I helped her down and get her a hug. She teared up a little hugging back, I hadn't seen Paya cry in quite a long time. I can't imagine the guilt she must feel. She looked up at me "your not a failure Paya, I promise" "thank you princess" "I want you to return to the castle, take care of the people making camp in old castle town. I want you to research new methods and get back to us via Sheikah slate" she nodded. "Yes princess" she got back on her horse and waved goodbye as she started back for home.

Link and I kept going to the gerudo dessert, I couldn't get those Zora, or Paya out of my head, I felt guilty for not being able to help much and for leaving Paya so defenseless in her independent journey. I could hear the soft patter of the house hooves, and the sounds of our pouches filled with small items clinching together, our rupee bags dangling next to the pouch heading the soft tussle of rupees inside. The wind blew my hair around a little, I took a hair tie and tied it back into a high ponytail, listening to the small animals around me. I felt anxious and this was the only way I knew how to regulate myself before I'd start crying which I could feel I was on the verge off. I closed my eyes letting my horse guide me, I heard link look over moving his horse closer to mine. When I opened my eyes he had his hand held out smiling, I took it gently squeezing it and smiling back. Many May see us as corny, but for link and I this was our forever, this was our one and only way to feel happy, and I prayed my gratefulness to the goddess each night. We were a pour halfway there by nightfall, stopping at a small set up cabin for the night. Link started a fire to cook a small stew, he went out and caught a little boar getting it ready to roast. I cut up some vegetables adding them to the water in pot along with his freshly cut meat chunks. I saw down next to link watching the flames engolf the small pot, leaning my head into him and closing my eyes. After the stew was done he scooped it into bowls for us, making sure there were no leftovers, then we went into the cabin laying down a soft Matt and the blankets we packed.

I laid down with my head on links chest, he wrapped his arm around me holding me tight, giving my small kisses on the side of my face and I giggled. He moved his hand down my back a little gently rubbing it and massaging some of the sore spots. I saw our freshly washed clothes away on the clothes like outside the small cabin window. We were close to the desert so the temperature was warm and we didn't need to build a fire inside, a warm blanket did us fine. "I hope we find a cure, you know for anyone else suffering from the illness" I heard links head shuffle meaning he agreed, he grabbed my hand squeezing it a little bit. "I hope so too Zelda" I quietly felt a gasp in me, again surprised by him talking. "Listen tomorrow I'd like to talk to you about something if you don't mind" I felt my eyes get wide and my cheeks start to blush, I hide my face into him pulling the blanket over it a little bit. "Of..of course we can talk in the morning" link nodded his head giving a small chuckle. "Goodnight my princess" "goodnight link I love you" "I love you too zelda." Link gently held his hand under my face, using his thumb to lightly stroke my cheek. It put me right to sleep, I felt the cool breeze wash over the warmth of the blanket, I've never felt more at peace, I've never felt more at home.

IM SO SORRY I got so busy with finals and started working full time for the summer 😭😭 eventually I'd like to keep working on this but thank you to those who have started reading it!!!!