silent memories // botw link x reader

h/n vs. link

you then spent the whole day learning how to ride a horse with link being your mentor. he was kind and patient with you, which you thought was really sweet of him. obviously, link had taken you to a safer place to practice. hyrule field was getting way to dangerous at this point, he didn't want to see you get hurt. he took you past orsedd bridge and beyond crenel hills. however, he did stop to do the shrine there, you didn't mind. after an hour or two, the hero climbed out of the shrine with barely any scratches. 

"it was an easy test of strength."

link then took you near wetland stable and stopped.

"i'll train you here."

it took you a while to get the gist of riding a horse, you kept falling off! your bottom hit the ground hard and you groaned while rubbing your backside. link chuckled and got a pout from you, this only made him smile more. link's smiles always brought brightness to your heart, he filled it with so much happiness and joy that you couldn't even imagine what would happen if you never have met him. your mind wandered to the past, the day when link saved you.

you remembered a bright flash of blue, appearing in front of your shaking frame. you remembered the loud 'clang' from the two weapons and you remembered seeing your saviour running towards you as you fainted. you remembered everything going fuzzy and black, but saw two bright blue eyes in the darkness of it all.

"y/n? you alright there?"

you snapped out of your thoughts and stared up at link. he cocked his head to the side and placed his hands on his hips. you sighed and nodded at him, telling him that you were just fine. the corners of his mouth lifted a bit and he reached out one hand to you. you gladly took it, gently wrapping your fingers around his gloved hands. he lifted you up, barely making an effort, while you tried to stay on your feet.

but alas, of course you tripped.

you fell right into link's arms and you couldn't help but feel...protected? you didn't want to leave his embrace, it was nice and warm, welcoming even. link's cheeks started to have a pink hue cover them and his nose and he could feel his heart beat thumping out of his strong chest. you slowly looked up at him and smiled. 

"thanks."

you let go of him and went to h/n. you patted your black stallion and brushed his long mane with one hand. link walked towards his horse and did the same, but then pouted as he turned around to face your back.

"hey, y/n?"

you didn't respond.

"y/n."

you were humming to yourself, too invested in brushing your horse to hear link.

link swore he saw your horse making a smirking face towards him when you didn't answer. he wasn't sure how he could possibly see a horse do that, but he did. your horse neighed into your shoulder, as if he was giving you a loving hug with his head. the horse looked back at link and neighed. link scoffed and turned back to his own trusty steed.

he patted epona and gave her an endura carrot and smirked to himself. he climbed onto her back and grabbed the reigns in both of his calloused hands. he spoke to you in a loud and clear voice, getting your attention this time.

"y/n."

you spun around to his voice, shocked by the fact that you've never heard him raise his voice before. at least, not to you.

"yes... link?"

-

"let's race. how about first one to reach the end of the wetlands, near that sheikah tower over there, wins."

link pointed to the orange tower not far from you two and you raised an eyebrow. you looked back at h/n and gently whispered to your steed.

"hear that, h/n? link wants to challenge us but i know you're faster than epona, even when i'm not directing you. how about we show him how it's done?"

h/n neighed happily at you and you smiled sweetly. you plopped yourself on top of h/n and breathed in and out. 

"alright, link. i'll race you but i'm warning you, there's no way you can beat good old h/n here."

link smirked and chuckled mischievously to himself.

"we'll see about that, y/n." 

you waved him off and started to search for something in one of your pouches. link took this as an opportunity to talk to your horse. he mouthed a 'i'm going to win' and your horse neighed out of annoyance. 

"hm? h/n, is something wrong?"

your horse stared straight at link with eyes like daggers and you brought your e/c orbs on to the hylian. the blonde quickly spun around and waited for you to line up with him. you eyed him suspiciously as you neared him but eventually shrugged it off. 

"ready, y/n?"

-

"please, i'm ALWAYS ready."

link counted down from three and as soon as he said one, your horse sprinted without you even telling him to. the race was started off easy, you were in front of link by a mile and you laughed loudly. the splashes of the wetlands beneath your horse's hooves filled your pointy ears and you couldn't help but look back at the losing opponent. link saw you grin and he smirked again, while whipping epona's reigns three times. she neighed loudly and sprinted right past you. link turned around and poked his tongue out, showing that he was going to win but you still had some fire in you. you raised the reigns and slapped them onto h/n sides and his hooves began to hit the ground faster. you whispered good things to h/n, encouraging him to keep going. the horse shook it's head and ran with unspeakable speed. it started to rain, but you nor link cared. the only thing you both cared about was winning the race.

you and link neared the small opening of the river, going into a small area with two towers in it and you grinned widely. 

"c'mon h/n!"

your horse neighed and eventually caught up to link, running right next to epona. link looked to his left and saw your cocky face, one arm leaning on h/n's head and propping your head up with your palm and the other holding the reigns. you smiled at him and gave him a small wave, getting an annoyed face in return. h/n ran past link, and before you knew it, you had reached two small bright blue towers looking over a small bridge.

you had beaten link!

you climbed off your black stallion and praised him by giving him shiny red apples. link stopped epona right next to you and panted slightly. you placed one hand on your hip and waited for link. 

the young hero jumped off, he smiled at epona and praised her too, even though he lost. he then crossed his arms and walked towards you.

"how did you even win?! you've never even ridden a horse before AND you didn't even give him an endura carrot! but i did! and yet..! i still lost! stupid carrots, they probably made epona slower not faster!"

you blinked a few times and link shut his mouth instantly.

"wait, what?"

-

"you know what, never mind! you won! fair and square. let's get going!"

-

"now wait just a minute-"

you were suddenly cut off by another voice. a male's voice.

"say, hey there! young ones! above you!"

you and link looked up, and saw a red looking being jump in front of you from one of the glowing towers.

"pardon the entrance, but you're both hylian's, aren't you?"