Free to Love - A Zelda x Link Fanfiction

XV: A Tranquil Dawn

Zelda's Perspective:

The rest of the ride was surprisingly forgettable. Not that I minded, of course. After the whole event yesterday, the Yiga attack, it felt nice to return to what I considered normal. The day was nice for the vast majority, although it grew windier and cloudier as afternoon shifted to evening.

Link didn't talk much. My mind was swimming with so many thoughts, that I didn't feel as though I could talk until I had cleared my mind. I couldn't tell the thoughts behind Link's eyes, but I figured it was something about the power that he had awoken.

I couldn't help glancing at the Sheikah Slate, at first held in my lap, until I had slipped it into my satchel. I couldn't help but hope it would begin erratically beeping, a sign that we absolutely had to investigate the destination on its screen.

When I glanced at the Slate for what I assumed to be the hundredth time, a cold breeze swept though the path. My teeth chattered as my arms tucked inwards, attempting to store body heat.

"It's getting dark," Link commented absentmindedly.

"Wow, such a keen eye," I replied sarcastically. The comment slipped out before I could stop it, but his only reaction to my response was a half-smile that formed on his face.

"We should find shelter," he continued, hand over his eyes as he stared at the setting sun. I managed to keep my lips closed this time as we rode until we stumbled upon a cave.

"Perfect," he muttered. I raised my eyebrows, remembering yesterday, the attack, the snap of the Yiga's leg that played behind my eyes before I could stop it.

"Wouldn't that be unwise?" I responded slowly. "After all, I suppose the Yiga Clan is tracking us and a cave would be idiotic, considering they managed to attack us there last time." I hugged my body as another breeze rattled my bones.

"I wasn't referring to the cave," he chuckled, nodding his head at a cluster of trees just slightly behind the rock cluster that formed the mouth of the cave. They were lovely trees to be rather honest, several big willow trees of some sort. Small pink buds formed closer to the branches, in between the vines that hung. Several more trees, these ones much more similar to the surrounding forest, blocked the majority of willow, making it seem like a secluded spot.

I climbed off of Storm. The base of the tree had several thick branches, although they were spaced farther apart than I would've preferred. Link walked around the trunk, probably examining the best way to climb up it.

"I don't think I've climbed a tree since I was a girl," I commented absentmindedly. It was true. Back when I was much younger, when I had first spent time with Link, I had a habit of climbing trees in my spare time with him. If I remembered correctly, I had also been oddly good at scaling them. This also came in handy, I remembered, when guards were trying to find me to stop me from sparring. I'd simply scale a tree and hide.

Link, thoughtfully, gripped a branch, tested its strength, before gripping it and climbing. He pulled himself up surprisingly quickly, sitting on the thick base of the branch for a moment as he used the knots in the trunk to steady himself as he stood on his feet. He considered where to go for a moment, then jumped to the next branch, pulling himself up, muscles straining, until he sat on the branch. He painted slightly, waving me over.

"Are you coming?" he asked lightly. I could tell he was joking, although the comment agitated me slightly.

"I... I don't know if I still know how to climb trees," I confessed shyly. "I haven't done it in so long." I walked towards the first branch, climbing onto it with little difficulty.

The second branch was more intimidating. It was higher on the trunk, meaning it was out of my reach. To grab the branch I would have to jump. Link scooted closer to the trunk, reaching his hand down.

"It's just like old times, alright?" he said, smiling softly. I sighed, shaking my head.

"Just like old times." With his hands outstretched to catch me, I jumped.