Link, Learn to Take a Sick Day

You Need More Than Some Sleep 2

A/N Hey! So, here's chapter two! Hope you like it, and tell me what you think of it. I have tried writing sick stories before, but I feel like they never feel natural. Like, I over play and over talk about their symptoms. Hopefully that doesn't happen J

They stopped at a stable and grabbed Zelda her old horse that luckily showed back-up, after she lost it on their last journey, and Link reclaimed his horse. Lucky for them, they found a traveling merchant who sold them food and water, and they knew they would need it for the hot Gerudo desert.

Normally, Link would be fine with this weather, slightly uncomfortable, but he felt even if he chugged a whole water, he would still be parched and light-headed. Plus, the humidity in the air seemed to fully awaken the cough which he half hoped, half wished wasn't allergies. Several times he would find his head quickly falling to one side, and he would have to quickly jerk it back up.

Earlier, Zelda had offered him a soft bed, but he had declined, not wanting to waist the day away, but now, he was regretting it. It was now around 6:30 judging the sun's location. Along with a cough, the heat also made his stomach feel like he ate ten gallons of ice cream that was jiggling along with Epona's hooves.

He hoped Zelda had dropped any notions for his well-being. He didn't want to make a big fuss. Too many times Zelda had forgotten how thin the castle walls were when she would cry at night. Link couldn't imagine if he wasn't able to wield his sword. This was a chance to somewhat sooth that feeling of failure for her. He didn't want to mess that up.

After being on the horse for about an hour, he was slowly starting to feel even more horse sick from riding so long. His stomach growled. He became scared to open his mouth to breathe from his stuffed nose out of fear of what disgusting projectile might come out. After about another 30 minutes, he spotted an inn. The owners had laughed to find they had horses instead of sand-seals. Yet, they still took them in and doubled as their inn for the night.

When Link had suggested the idea of calling it a night pleased Zelda. It was only 8:30, but earlier he had declined stopping. Whether he liked it or not, he was going to have to rest at some point. She could tell he was trying to hide it, but his eyes looked ill, even on her separate horse, she could hear his strained breaths.

Even though he was annoying to have to bring all the time, she hated how broken he always seemed. He never talked much, he didn't have any family, and making him her own personal knight had taken him away from all the people he had known. It wasn't like she had specifically asked for him, but it was still somewhat her fault.

They stepped inside, and unfortunately for Link, it was one big room. He felt the need to hold back his coughs, and laying down only made his feelings of nausea worse. When he went to the bathroom to change, revealing more skin than usual to the air, made chills run through his skin again. Before he could have thought the rest of his symptoms were dehydration, and maybe allergies, but he couldn't use any lies like that in the cool indoors and he had already chugged a great deal of water. Even if he was sick, he wasn't going to stop doing his duties.

"Anything you need before bed, Princess?" He hoped she would say no, because he didn't know what he would do if she said yes. But he always had to say that no matter what, every night.

"It appears I have everything I need. Hmm, actually," oh no, "could you grab my book from my bag?" Ok, not too bad. He leaned down to snatch it, but instead he fumbled, and if it weren't for his hands, he would have face planted.

"Link!"

"I'm fine, just- clumsy?"

"Says the man who murders monsters for fun..." She said unbelievingly. Now Zelda was sure he was sick. He handed her her book and he crashed into bed. Zelda's book felt hot where Link had touched, and every so often some of his mouth exhales transformed into coughs.

In the middle of the night, he woke up, feeling his absolute worst. Every cough he wasn't sure if it would be air, or, something else, coming out. He quickly rushed to the bathroom, but unsuccessful was his main descriptor. Throw up littered the floor like an unwanted gift. His energy seemed to have left him and all he was left with was shaky arms, and an unwanted aroma. Before he could clean it, Zelda was already on her feet and rushing over to him. "Suspected as much seeing the state of you." She propped his head on her lap, and dabbed his mouth with her blanket. "Why didn't you just tell me? I could have set you up better before bed. But nooo, Link didn't say anything." Even though she was frustrated, she laughed at her last bit, and her anger slowly faded at the pathetic look on his face.

Link tried to speak, but found his voice hadn't had proper time to warm up then, which resulted in a series of dry coughs, which caused his stomach and throat to hurt even more. She tied his long hair in a bun, and in the process, her fingers hit his forehead, which was on fire. She didn't say a thing, probably to not make him feel worse or feel like he had to respond. Instead, she hummed her lullaby, which put her knight at ease. She grabbed the hand towel from the bathroom, wet it, and draped it over the top half of his face, which included his eyes in hopes that it would make him rest. She knew she had to get him back to his bed, but how? At first, she tried to pick him up like a baby, but that didn't work at all. It felt wrong, but she just dragged him by his arms and heaved him into his bed.

Suddenly, Link found his voice. "I-I'm sorry. I thought I could maybe sleep it off. That didn't work we-" he was cut off by his coughs. And every cough, his body convulsed and made his throbbing head whip up and down.

"Save your throat. First thing tomorrow we're going to go see Mipha. She can heal you, I'm sure. Your voice sounds scratchy enough without you trying to say your two sentences per week." She chuckled. She noticed his body shivering under the covers. So she gave him her remaining clean blankets, plus the one she brought from home. His expression seemed to thank her.

Before she hoped back in for the night, she dragged a trash can over to his bed side, left a glass of water out for him, and most disgustingly, cleaned his- the floor.

Zelda felt bad for thinking this, but every time she was about to fall asleep, Link would have a cough and sniffle, which made her want to drop kick him outside. At the same time, she pitied him, and she took out a special elixir she was saving for a rainy day, which provided instant deep sleep for eight hours. She wasn't sure what time it was then, but she carefully let it slide down his throat.His body seemed to go limp, and she heard a light snore of mouth breathing. She sighed, knowing he was well taken care of for now.

And that was chapter 2! I hope you liked it and don't forget to tell me what you thought of it. Stay tuned for the next chapter!