Lost in Time- A Zelink Story

Chapter Ten

I wake up in a cool, dark place, water trickling softly somewhere nearby. The surface underneath me is warm, and I feel comfortable and safe. I don't want to get up. After a while, though, I reluctantly open my eyes, the events of the battle against the Moldugas slowly returning to me. My head hurts, and I feel a strange weakness, like I couldn't stand up even if I wanted to.

Painfully turning my head to the right, I see other beds like mine, some occupied, lined up in the space we're in. It seems like some sort of underground room. Soft candle lighting flickers against the mossy stone walls, and a natural spring runs directly out of the wall opposite of me, filtering into a small carved basin. I must be in some sort of infirmary.

I hear a small sound to my left, turning my head and immediately trying to sit up. Unfortunately, my body simply will not let me. Sitting in a chair near my bed, exhausted and dirty, is Link, fast asleep. He looks like he hasn't showered or even slept since he returned from his trip. There are scratches on his face and arms, and mud in his golden hair. His eyelashes flutter on his freckled cheeks, almost as if he's having a pleasant dream.

I think, briefly, about saying something and waking him up, but I decide against it. He obviously needs his rest. I sigh, laying back. It feels like a burden, or rather a consistent worry, has been lifted off of my chest. I close my eyes again, but a new worry replaces the old one. What will I say to him, even when he does wake up? Our last conversation wasn't exactly friendly. I just hope he'll still want to be around me, after what I said.

I lie there for a while longer, drifting in and out of consciousness, until I finally hear footsteps on the stone floors, coming our way. I look up to find a healer walking in, a basin of cool looking water in her arms. Link starts awake beside me, sleepily greeting the healer as she tends to another patient nearby. He doesn't notice that I'm awake. After a minute longer, he stands, prepared to leave the infirmary.

"Link," I say in a weak voice, "I missed you."

He pauses suddenly, crouching down next to my bed and grabbing my hand in his. I try, and possibly fail, to keep from blushing. Why am I like this?

"Zelda," he says, eyes widening with relief, "I- I missed you too, more than you know. I was so worried when they told me you had... how are you feeling?"

"Ok," I reply unhelpfully, "tired. Very tired."

He shakes his head, and then, a few moments later, "I should never have left like I did."

"No," I say, breaking eye contact, "no, it was my fault. I'm sorry for everything I did and said. You definitely had a right to be upset."

He closes his eyes, squeezing my hand. A few seconds pass in silence before I ask warily, "how long was I out for?"

"Well," says Link, softly, "you fainted after the battle. I arrived two days later. So I suppose it's been... three or four days?"

"Four days?" I yelp, trying to sit up again and failing.

"Yes," he says, pushing my shoulder gently back down, "four days. But don't worry, okay? You used up all your strength fighting the Molduga. Even Sonia had to rest for a long time afterwards. It takes a lot out of you, especially when you don't have much experience."

"Experience," I mumble bitterly, "I have about a hundred years of experience."

"Yes, with your light powers, but not with time," says Link, laughing softly, "I'm glad you're back to your old self, though."

He sits with me, chatting about his trip and my time at the castle while he was gone. I notice, though, that he entirely avoids telling me anything about the success (or failure) of his mission; to find the spring of power and restore his master sword.