The Heroes' Rebirth | BOTW Sequel/Zelink (The Legend of Zelda)

Chapter 5: Zelda and Link

The sun was almost all the way down when Link and Zelda returned to Hateno Village. They trotted over the wood bridge to the house and towards the small stable. Link stepped off and grabbed Zelda to help her off the horse. He set her down on the ground facing him with his hands still on her hips. He couldn't help but look at her. It had been a long time since he had seen her up close. She—

"Link?"

He blinked a few times and realized what he was doing. His cheeks started to burn.

"Yeah?"

"I think I'll go check on Purah right now. I won't be long."

Link let go and put one of his hands on the back of his neck and nodded. Zelda turned and started walking across the bridge. He sighed as he watched her leave for the lab. He took Leighton into the small stable next to Epona. He patted her.

"Tomorrow girl. I promise."

He looked at his house and thought about heading inside. They had been inside the castle all day. Maybe it was time to spend some outside.

—————

"Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yes Zelda, I'm fine," Purah responded. She was looking at some notes that were on her table. "Don't waste your time up here, princess." She shooed her always with her child sized hands. "Go to Link! I'm sure he'll be more than happy to be with you."

"O- ok. If you're sure-"

"Go princess," Purah said with a smile.

"You're sure you're fine?"

"Princess!" Symin exclaimed. "We're all fine! Now go."

Zelda walked down the hill and back into the Viallge. There were still some people sitting on their porch even though it was rather dark. She eventually made it back to the house but something caught her eye. Link was sitting on the roof of the house on the side where the stable and pond were.

"Link?"

He looked over to Zelda. He patted the roof below him, telling her to come up. It took her a while to figure out how to get up there. It amused Link to watch her struggle to get up so he went over and took her hand to pull her up. He had the blanket from his bed draped over his back like a cape.

"Thank you, Link."

"You're welcome."

They both sat down in the middle of the roof facing out; Zelda was to the left of Link. He had brought another spare blanket for Zelda. She wore it over the front of her body, while Link still had his on his back.

They were close to each other: their shoulders were touching. It was the closest they had been for 100 years, that's for sure. They both were quiet for a while, but it wasn't awkward. It was... peaceful. It was like they were remembering what it was like to be together. Zelda was the first to talk.

"I missed you," she started.

"I missed you, too," Link replied. "I feel like it's been forever."

"It has! We've had no time at all! We were thrown into everything right after we finished Ganon off."

Link nodded, agreeing. "It's crazy."

A short silence.

Zelda glanced over to Link. "You know, I could sometimes see you in your travels after you awoke from the Shrine of Resurrection."

His eyes went wide. "Really?"

"Yes. Every time I saw you, you were always helping someone in a village. Or you were freeing the champions." She paused and looked over to him. "Or you were taking pictures with the slate," she laughed.