New Home - BotW Link x Reader (Undergoing Revisions)

Chapter 34

Holding you close in his arms, Link ran from the campsite. Reaching the clearing where the horses were resting, they raised their heads when they heard him coming. Nickering quietly, they gazed curiously over you. Coming in and out of consciousness as you were, you couldn't really say anything to them, but either way, what would you say to a horse?

Link set you down gently on the ground before throwing the saddle onto Epona. Nayru approached you, nuzzling your cheek with her snout, wondering why you hadn't greeted her. Realizing that something was touching you, you lifted your hand but she was led away before you could reach her. Link led Nayru to Epona and tied her reins to his mare's saddle.

He picked you back up and mounted as carefully as he could with you with him. He let you sit in front of him, and he leaned most of your weight onto him. Your legs were to one side, your head resting on his shoulder on his other side. He wrapped his arms around you tightly, grabbing the reins.

You briefly wondered why you were riding Epona- you thought she was injured, the foolish boy- but then you remembered that it had been a week since that incident and she was already healed. Link kicked into Epona's sides and grabbed his slate simultaneously. Looking over the map, he looked for the closest village. He knew little about healing- only small tidbits that he had picked up from watching you.

Link urged the horses to go faster- he knew that they were tired, but now was not the time to falter. He couldn't let you die.

Right now, you were unconscious. Your eyes were closed, but you were breathing. There was a steady trickle of blood running down the side of your face, burns on your skin, and your breathing was labored- but you were alive. That was all Link could ask for right now as he raced to find someone, anyone, who could help you.

His own breathing quickened as his doubt grew. He could attempt to heal you himself, to ease your pain, but he'd likely only make it worse, and he hated that he never paid attention to what you did when you assisted him when he was injured. He'd gotten burned before- by a Lynel, by being too close to a fire during a fight- but every time, you had been there, with a smile and usually a teasing remark, to heal him.

He hated to admit it, but he had taken your presence for granted. He appreciated you, of course, but he just assumed that you'd always be there for him. And you were, each and every time, but now, he paid the price.

You had sacrificed your own safety without even realizing you were doing it. You hadn't cared that you were possibly in the blast radius of the bomb. If you had acknowledged it, if you had even humored the thought, then it was in a part of your mind that had been ignored. Thinking logically had always been your strong suit- so what happened here?

Link's heart sunk at the realization that you'd sacrifice your life for him. His heart used to beat for himself, for the destiny he had been given. But now, in the past few months, his heart began to beat for you.

He didn't know what that meant at the time he realized it. He was naïve. Looking down at you now, at your injured form, he realized that the signs he thought he had been misinterpreting actually meant what he had always hoped they would. But that made things so much worse.

Link made it back onto the road, and turned southward, away from Zora's Domain. He had a new destination in mind. Riding quickly, you'd arrive there the day after this one. And then you'd be safe. You wouldn't have to sacrifice yourself for him any longer.

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Sometime just before dawn, Link stopped. He brought the horses to a walk, and guided them towards a small grouping of trees. They were growing tired and irritable. He needed rest as well, and to check up on you.