The Legend Says I Love You | Zelink

Chapter 8: A Premonition

《Quick A/N: thank you everybody who left a comment or voted, I really do appreciate it and it motives me to keep writing - even when I'm convinced that what I'm writing is a hot mess leading nowhere a.k.a.... this chapter. Hope you enjoy it!》

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Zelda explains to Link that in order to properly fulfil his role, he needs to exercise caution. She then expresses her unease about the growing numbers and types of monsters that have been seen recently in Hyrule.

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Link insisted that they return to the castle straight away. Zelda was in no place to argue: she'd learned that the attack was not a chance encounter with a lone spy, but a meticulously planned ambush. Had she not gone to the roof and spotted the banana peddler who, in actuality, had been a Yiga scout, then there was another Yiga ready to gain access to the inn under the guise of restocking its fruit supply. Another, near the oasis, acted as a lone traveller looking for directions. On top of that, a relentless troop of a number Link estimated to be in the dozens had intercepted him in the desert and kept him busy until reinforcements, in the form of Urbosa and two other guards, arrived. They'd pursued the remaining surviving Yiga in an attempt to locate the exact position of their headquarters, whilst Link made a beeline for Kara Kara on a guard's sand seal. The three Yiga he faced upon arrival had been short work for him compared to the earlier battle, even in his exhausted state.

And so after all he had been through, Zelda didn't dare make a whimper of protest at his plans to cut their Divine Beast repair trip short. She quietly endured Link's relentless vigilance and march back to the castle, only ever stopping to replenish supplies and let her sleep. However, despite his obvious urgency, he still hesitated whenever they passed a Goddess statue, and looked to her for an answer of a question he never ever verbalised: do you want to pray? Each time, she had been tempted to ride past him, feigning obliviousness. Each time, her duty had wrangled her back to her knees, begging in front of cold stone for even the smallest sign of the Divine. Before, when she prayed she'd felt a lightness. Albeit, not the shining glory of the Goddess, but a lightness nonetheless. Her spirit could float; she could pray, and lose herself in it. But, this time around she felt hopelessly tied to the earth, rooted to her mortality. She had almost died. The Yiga could've taken her out as easily as snuffing a candle, and Ganon would've came bounding back into existence unhindered. And what did she do? What could she do? She closed her eyes and waited for death.

And now each time she prayed, she couldn't help but feel like she was doing the same.

How could she save anyone, when she couldn't save herself?

She sighed in frustration, clutching Ciela's reins tightly as they journeyed on. They weren't too far from the castle now; they had just passed a stable and entered the plains of Hyrule field.

Link, who was leading in front with Epona, glanced behind to check on her.

"Tired," she explained with a small shrug, feigning nonchalance. It wasn't technically a lie; she was tired, and in desperate need of a break - just not from the journey.

He stopped Epona instantly and gestured back to the stable, lurching to grab hold of Ciela's reins once Zelda tried to pass him.

"Really, it's alright. The castle isn't so far. And if we stop now..." She squinted at the sun. They had a few hours until sunset, at least. They would make it back to the castle before nightfall, but not with an added break.

Link nodded. He knew she was right. Yet, he hopped off Epona and before Zelda could even question what he was doing he was sitting behind her, with his broad chest flat against her back, and legs lined against her own. "Oh," she exclaimed at the sudden proximity. She was afraid of getting used to it; of getting too comfortable only for it all to be yanked away by custom and formalities, Link coming back to his Knightly senses, or the end of the whole world.