Free to Love - A Zelda x Link Fanfiction

XIII: Rise and Ride

Link's Perspective:

I felt somewhat bad ushering Zelda out of her bed. She was normally not a morning person, most of our early encounters resulting with a pillow thrown at my face and an angry screech that said something like "Holy Hylia, get the fuck out!" She was so dead to the world this early that she barely could make sense of what I said. She kept interrupting my manic monologue with "Huh?" and "Wait, repeat that." It was bizarre to see her so exhausted that she couldn't even muster the energy to be angry.

She stumbled out of the room now, eyes half-opened and mouth mid-yawn. I already had our belongings, my sword strapped across my back and a pack of food I had already bought at the market while I waited on her tedious morning routine. She waved half-heartedly at the inn's owner as I pushed her out the door and towards Storm.

Storm met Zelda's eyes with an equally-exhausted stare, while Epona decided to sneeze directly on my face as punishment for waking her up early. Zelda chuckled as I wiped the spittle from my face, Epona shaking out her mane while giving me a menacing side glare.

"Why are we..." She paused to yawn, stretching one arm upwards while her other fist gripped the reins. "Why are we up so early?" she said, rubbing an eye. I ushered Epona forward, who reluctantly began to trot, glancing back at Zelda.

"I don't..." I shook my head, unsure of how to phrase what I meant to say. "I don't know what to do, honestly."

She glanced at me before her eyelids drooped once again and she hunched over Storm, resting her head against the annoyed horse's neck. "I'm sorry, I don't understand," she mumbled. I debated re-explaining her power, but just shook my head.

"I will tell you later," I responded. She hummed in reply, as what I could only assume to be a form of agreement. She slid side to side on the saddle in her wooziness and I figured I might as well prevent her from toppling from her horse, no matter how amusing I would find it.

"Ah, well," I said, "I suppose I'll have to eat all this food by myself." As predicted, the princess straightened immediately, her eyes focusing on me blearily.

"You have food?" she repeated. I would call her a foolish glutton if she weren't the princess. She blinked at me, eyes slowly traveling to the sack I held in my hand.

"Would you like some?" I asked dumbly. She nodded quickly, reaching out an arm to wave impatiently at me. I placed the sack in her hand, which was immediately snatched to her chest as she dug through it. She pulled out a loaf of fresh bread, sniffing it, before tearing off a chunk. She continued to ruffle through the bag, bread chunk in hand.

"You bought cheese!" She exclaimed excitedly, holding out the carefully-wrapped Brie I had purchased.

I didn't feel bad for rushing her this morning anymore.