Seashells | BotW

Chapter 16 -

T.w.
General Mentions of Injuries and Wounds

3rd person POV

Zelda held her arm under Link's head, supporting him. He groaned quietly and leaned against her, his eyes barely open.

"Link, are you alright?" She asked him, not really expecting an answer. Link exhaled sharply, his muscles tensing and he curled himself into a loose ball. Zelda sat with him for a few minutes until he opened his eyes all the way and sat up on his own.

"..." Link almost spoke, but no noise came out of his mouth. Zelda helped him stand up. He wrapped his arms around her neck and she supported his weight. She whistled loudly, and her horse came running. She helped Link sit in front of the saddle, and he rested against the horses neck. They gently rode back to the Dueling Peaks Stable, which was very close by.

Zelda paid for both of them to stay at the Inn, and the owner of the Inn helped tend to Link's wounds. They slept through the night, tired and aching in the morning.

Zelda woke up before Link, and immediately sat next to him in his bed, feeling his chest for a pulse. She smiled when she felt the soft thumping of his heart in his chest. Link's eyes slowly fluttered open and he groaned, shifting his body in the bed. He smiled softly at Zelda and sat up, groaning quietly at the pain he felt on his chest wounds.

"Hey, there, Link," she smiled at him.

"Hi," he said, his voice still quiet, raspy and shaking. He cleared his throat and threw his head back, exhausted.

"Do you want to head back to Zora's Domain today, Link?" She asked him. "I know you've grown quite close with their Prince." Link nodded.

"Yeah," he said. "We should head back there." Zelda stood up and began speaking to the Innkeeper at the counter. Link threw his legs over the side of the bed, wincing.

"Can you walk, Link?" He heard Zelda ask him from the counter. Link pressed his feet against the ground, groaning quietly as he tried to stand. His legs shook, but he managed to stand on his own. He took a few slow steps, careful not to fall or slip. Zelda rushed over to him and supported him as he walked.

"..I don't think I can walk all the way back to the Domain," he said. "Or to ride my own horse there. I'm sorry." Zelda hugged him loosely.

"We can both ride my horse," she suggested. "Like we did when we rode here." Link nodded softly and they walked outside to Zelda's horse. She helped Link on and sat behind him. Link sat up this time, supporting himself on the horse.

It took a few days to get back to the Domain. They stayed at stables at night, and Link's injuries began to heal up more. Zelda decided not to ask him about the Malice or the Dark Knight thing, or how he was even alive until he was in a batter physical and mental state. Although she was very curious, she didn't want to overwhelm him, and she wasn't even sure if he would remember.

When they arrived at the Great Zora Bridge, Zelda instructed Link to stay out there on the horse.

"I am going to go in and speak with King Dorphan and Prince Sidon," she told him. "I don't want you to startle them. They, uh..." she tapped her foot on the ground. "..they think you're dead." Link frowned and looked down at the grass.

"I understand," he said. Zelda turned to cross the bridge, but Link spoke and she stopped. "Uh, Zelda?" She turned towards him. "I understand that you don't understand what's going on with me, either. I promise, I will tell you, and the King and Prince, and everyone. Just give me some time to process it myself." Zelda hesitated, but smiled at him and nodded firmly. She finally turned and crossed the bridge.

"King Dorphan," she called, entering the Throne Room. "King Dorphan, Prince Sidon-" she nodded at the Prince. "I have news." She took a very deep breath. "Ah.. I might have figured out what was happening with the Blood Moons these last few months." Sidon smiled at her.

"That's great, Zelda!" He said enthusiastically. "What have you discovered!?" Zelda hissed through her teeth and scratched the back of her head.

"Agh..." she tapped her foot again, anxious to tell them what she assumed she knew. "I believe Ganon's malice had taken over the mind of another Hylian, which had kept the Blood Moon rising and saved that Hylian from his demise." Both King Dorphan's and Sidon's eyes widened with surprise.

"Well, that's certainly interesting.." Dorphan said. "Do you happen to know if that malice is a threat to the rest of Hyrule?" Zelda shook her head.

"I don't believe it is," she said. "But, I suppose we have to wait and see. I don't know how else we can find out." Sidon hummed.

"Well, is there more Malice anywhere?" Sidon asked. "And, is the Hylian alright?" Zelda nodded firmly.

"Ah, Sidon," she smiled. "Yes, the Hylian is alright. In fact, he is here with me. Come, I wish to show you." Sidon followed her out to the Main area of the Domain, and she stopped him.

"What's the matter, Zelda?" He asked her.

"..Sidon," she said. "You remember how Link was covered with Malice when he got here?" Sidon nodded hesitatantly. "..I believe he is.. well, was.. the cause of the Blood Moons. The malice corrupted his body and his mind, and the Blood Moons rose because of Ganon's power still being in the world." Sidon's eyes widened.

"So, they were Link's fault?" He asked. Zelda quickly shook her head.

"No, no," she quickly corrected him. "Not his fault, but he did cause them." Sidon thought for a moment, and Zelda sighed. "The Blood Moons bring all of Ganon's dead Minions back to life, remember?" She grabbed his hand and pulled him across the bridge.

They got about halfway across when Sidon suddenly stopped moving. Zelda glanced back at him. He was staring across the bridge at the small Hylian sitting on a horse on the other side.