Guided by Spirits

Before the Calamity: Escape

Zelda, staring at the holographic movie coming from the orb, watched in suspense as Link led the girl to the opening of the cave. She wanted both of them to survive, of course, yet something inside her wished that she was that girl. That Link was protecting her, not someone else.

In that instance, the tent sheet flew open and Link had a panicked look on his face. Zelda immediately closed the orb and was about to tell Link off when he suddenly grabbed her wrist. He pulled out of the tent and ran to Storm with her in hand.

Monsters.

Zelda could see them in a hoard coming towards them. Bokoblins and Moblins. A lot. 

They were approaching fast. Link threw Zelda on top of her horse while he gathered the important supplies: Some food, ancient artifacts, and the weapons. 

Before he could get on top of Epona, the first Bokoblin arrived. It swung at Link, who ducked, and tried to jump on him. Link swiftly moved out of the way and jumped on the back of Storm's saddle, which startled Zelda. 

Reaching around her, he grabbed the reins and kicked his feet, sending Storm flying forward, and leaving Epona behind. However, Link put his fingers on his lips and whistled, to which Epona came running behind them. 

Despite the fast legs of the royal horse, the Bokoblins were still on their tail. Link's head came almost over Zelda's shoulder and he focused ahead on where to go. She looked straight forward, not even acknowledging him. 

Suddenly, there was a cry behind them. Epona.

Noticing his horse was in danger right away, Link jerked his head back to see what was happening. The Bokoblins were swinging their weapons as Epona tried to kick and buck them away.

Link grabbed Zelda's hands and shoved the reins into them before jumping off and running back to Epona.

Zelda turned the corner, so Link and the hoard of monsters were out of her sight. Worry began to rise in her body, she continued on with Storm until they reached the other end of the Breach of Demise. She came to an abrupt halt and dismounted her horse, waiting for Link. 

Her hope came back when she heard Epona's footseteps coming around the corner, but it all washed away when she realized that Link wasn't riding her. 

She grabbed Epona's reins, trying to calm her. Scratches and blood coated her fur on her back legs and hips. There was a giant gash in her front right shoulder, as well.

"Where is Link?" Zelda asked the wounded horse, not expecting a response.

So... she waited.

She took some healing ointments from one of the bags still attached to Epona's saddle and treated to her wounds. She stayed with Epona for the next ten minutes, though it felt longer than that. After Zelda became nauseous with worry, she began to mount Storm with the intention of going to find Link.

Just as she was putting her foot in the stirrup, someone turned the corner. Zelda stopped in her tracks. Link.

She sprinted towards him. Only when she was a few feet from him did she realize that he was covered in blood and dirt. Some of it was his own, as he had various scratches on his arms, legs, and torso, and some of it was not, as there were no more monsters left.

Though, in that moment, Zelda didn't care.

She ran towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. However, Link didn't return it right away. His arms weren't fully at his side, but they weren't around her. They hovered openly to his sides.

"Link I'm so sorry! I shouldn't been faster or I should've helped. I though you were seriously injured... or... dead!" Zelda felt tears welling in her eyes. He had only risked his life for her one other time against the Yiga Clan, since there hadn't been any other trouble, but he had no injuries and didn't even fight. This time... he was hurt. Because he fought for her.

Link slowly put his arms around her waist, reciprocating the embrace.

"I tended to Epona's wounds, I can help yours too," She took short breaths to keep the tears from falling.

"Don't cry."

Zelda's breath caught. She pulled out of the hug and looked at Link, baffled.

"This is my job. I protect you," Link spoke softly, making sure to keep Zelda calm.

"You've... never spoken to me," Zelda mumbled. A smile broke through her tense face.

Link walked passed her grabbed her wrist, leading the way back to the horses. The moon was enough light for them to see their way on horse back to a safer place to camp. Link went back to get the supplies they lost, and they set up camp in between the West Hyrule Plains and Seres Scabland.

Now calm from the incident, but still shocked after hearing Link's soft voice, Zelda was tired and ready to go to sleep, when she remembered the events happening with Link in the future.

Trying to fight the temptation, she put the orb in her bag, but lost to her curiosity and opened the holograph.