Post Calamity

Lanayru

As time went on and Link fully healed, him and the princess grew even closer than they were before. They ate every meal of the day together, had their rooms built next to each other, and traveled throughout the kingdom during their long days.

The reconstruction of the kingdom was finally completed, and it looked better than ever. Castle Town was thriving, the castle itself was tall and magnificent once more, and many young villages full of travelers began sprouting around the land. Hyrule was flourishing and healthy. Everything was perfect.

As spring slowly began to inch into a warm and beautiful summer, Zelda and Link spent more and more time outdoors in the realm they called home.

The morning was calm and tranquil, and the princess and her beloved knight strolled across the warm mountaintops of Lanayru. After finding their favorite spot, they sat down together and looked at the glorious Divine Beast Vah Ruta. They took a moment to bow their heads in respect for Mipha before beginning another long and meaningful conversation.

"Hyrule is blossoming again, Link. Just like it used to. The whole kingdom is prosperous! And there's no one to thank but you, our hero."

"Seeing Hyrule ripe with success once more makes me terribly happy."

"Link?"

"Yes, Zelda?"

"Do you remember when you would escort me to pray in the Spring of Wisdom in attempt to unlock my power each day?"

"That was just before the Calamity... yes, I remember. You would always beat yourself up over your power. You were just confused and frustrated..."

"What were you thinking when you would stand by and watch me intensely plead to the Goddess Hylia to grant me my power?"

"All I could think of was how terrible it must have been for you, with your father expecting perfection. But it wasn't up to you. It was up to Hylia to grant you the power when the time was right. The whole kingdom, Zelda, had their eyes on you. They were entrusting you with their very lives. People thought you were hiding it in. People were disappointed in you, their own princess. I was disgusted with those people. Zelda, you are incredibly strong and brave, and your heart is nothing less."

"Wow, I... Link... thank you."

At that moment, Zelda could confirm she loved Link. She had experienced feelings of affection for him in the past, but she couldn't tell if it was love. Now she knew. This courageous, brave, diligent man who she used to be jealous of was now her biggest desire.

Link had never experienced feelings of non-platonic affection or romantic attraction. Without parents, Link grew up with his adopted family in Castle Town before moving into the castle at a young age to train competitively to be Zelda's appointed knight. After he won, he began slaying beasts daily. A life like Link's did not have time for love.

But now that the land was peaceful, maybe there was.

Link's heart thumped in his chest, and he didn't know why. This was all so new to him.

They spent the next hour in silence, thinking quietly to themselves, sitting closely next to each other, both helplessly falling.