the legend of zelda Age of Calamity

chapter 9 A Glimpse of Light

The early morning light filtered softly through the windows, casting a warm glow across the quiet room where Link rested. The castle had been hushed overnight, allowing him the space and silence to heal, and now, the first hints of movement stirred as Zelda's footsteps approached the door.She paused, hand resting on the doorframe, gathering herself before she entered. Her thoughts had been restless, filled with concern over his recovery, and she had spent most of the night wondering if he'd pull through.Slowly, Zelda opened the door, stepping in quietly. The faint scent of herbs from the bandages lingered in the air, and she saw that his breathing was deeper and more even. Relief washed over her as she moved closer.Then, to her surprise, a faint mumbling came from the bed. Link stirred slightly, his hand twitching. His eyes were still mostly closed, but he was mumbling something...something strange."...bread... curry...." His voice was soft, hoarse, but insistent, as though the hunger was pressing through his fogged mind. "...fire..."Zelda blinked, bewildered, before realizing he wasn't fully conscious. She covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.Link shifted again, his brow furrowing. "...need...FOOOOOD," he mumbled a little louder, his voice laced with the longing of a man deprived of a hearty meal.Zelda's quiet laugh slipped through, and she took a step closer. "Link...?""...mm...bread," he mumbled again, this time with a slight smile, as if envisioning the taste. "The...curry... too...." His voice trailed off, but he was still clearly caught in his half-dreaming state.She felt a rush of relief, mingled with amusement. "If you wanted a feast, you only needed to ask," she murmured, her tone soft but playful.He stirred, eyes half-opening. There was a groggy, distant look in them, his gaze sliding past her before landing somewhere near her shoulder."Zel... Zelda?" His voice was a raspy whisper, his eyes still bleary. For a moment, he seemed puzzled, then he blinked, as if trying to fully wake up. "...'m hungry...""I noticed," she replied, her smile gentle. "Don't worry, we'll get you food soon."A faint grin tugged at his lips, though he was still far from fully awake. "I like... fire..." he muttered randomly, his head lolling slightly to one side.She chuckled. "Fire? Are you sure it's not the curry you like?"Link's eyes fluttered again as he tried to sit up, though his strength was clearly still returning. "Fire's...good too." He chuckled, then winced as his hand brushed over one of his bandages. "Easy, Link." Zelda gently placed her hand on his arm to steady him. "You're still healing. But if food is what you need, I'll see to it that you get a meal."Link gave a half-smile, his eyes finally sharpening as he began to register his surroundings. "Thanks..." he murmured, the stoic warrior now simply a tired, hungry man.Zelda nodded, stepping back toward the door. "I'll have something brought for you right away. Bread, curry, and maybe a little less fire."As she turned to leave, Link managed a tired chuckle, murmuring one last time, "Curry... lots of it..." before he let his eyes close again, drifting off with the peaceful anticipation of a well-deserved meal.Outside, Zelda called for the kitchen to prepare the feast he'd asked for, smiling to herself. This moment was small, maybe even a bit silly—but it was a sign of hope. He would recover, and as long as he was hungry enough to demand curry in his sleep, she knew he was well on his way to being his old self again.