Since you came along

Recognition

Back in Kakariko, Link had left her alone to tend to the shop while he spoke with Renado. She hadn't slept a wink as his words ran through her head all night.

'I hope one day, you'll believe me when I say I love you.'

She groaned and tried to push it out of her mind. She put herself to work as a distraction.

In the sanctuary, Link felt hopeless as Renado told him it was possible she would never revert to her old self. "This magic, it's dark and old. There's nothing available to us to break through and I have no information on what it could be."

"She never looks at me directly. Never into my eyes. Does that strike you as odd?"

"It certainly does. Maybe it's purely a coincidence. Maybe, she's scared. The eyes are the window to the soul and she's forgotten what yours looks like. She might be too afraid to see into them and discover that you are speaking the truth to her, that you mean no harm." Link's heart felt heavy as he exited. He walked to her shop but simply stood outside the door. He couldn't bring himself to enter, he didn't want to feel the pain caused by her indifferent gaze. Instead, he simply walked to the side of the shop and slid down to sit. He stayed there, the weight of his thoughts and responsibility keeping him down. Zelda had grown more concerned about the possible threat of Ganondorf's return.

The people searching for them had been suspiciously quiet, but recently they left a threatening letter to Zelda saying Hyrule was conquerable now that her Hero had lost his edge. While she knew this was not true, she wasn't without worry.

"Link, I understand the situation is complicated but we must continue researching. There must be a solution. Who knows what else these people or this shadow is capable of?"

Speaking of, the shadow hadn't made an appearance in a very long time. Not since he essentially told Link he'd never get his love back.

Time had passed him quickly as he finally came back to his senses at the sound of the door swinging open, then shut, and the lock clicking. It was night and she had finally closed up. He heard her sigh and shove her keys into her pocket. "Where is he? He said he'd be here before closing." He stood up silently and was about to walk to her when she spoke again. "What if he left me here? Left me for him to take me?" He felt the guilt come back to him but pushed it back down as he rounded the corner. "All done? Sorry for being late, I had...errands."

She jumped at his voice but relaxed when she saw his face. She seemed reassured until she randomly tensed up. "I want to go back to Ordon. I want to see Rusl."

"Now? It's late."

"Then first thing in the morning." She walked past him straight to the sanctuary where she had been sleeping when they stayed in Kakariko. He nodded and she looked away. "Goodnight, Link." The door shut behind her shortly after.

He made his way to the Inn and couldn't sleep. He was exhausted. The constant inner turmoil he felt about her condition was wearing him down. Every night, he wished for a solution, for something to come down from the sky and magically fix her.

That morning, she was up before him and waiting outside the Inn. She leaned against the wall and nervously looked around for him. "Good morning." She jumped at his voice but relaxed when she saw him sweetly smile. "Good morning, Link." His smile threatened to crack when he heard the tone of unfamiliarity when she said his name. He led her over to Epona who was patiently waiting by the spring, her hooves in the soothing water. "She's beautiful. She's such a gentle horse." Y/n pet her snout and mane as she spoke. Link simply nodded and offered her a hand up onto his companion. She hesitantly took it and hopped up, settling herself comfortably behind Link.