The Legend Says I Love You | Zelink

Chapter 22: Broken Memories

Link definitely remembers, but doesn't know if Zelda wants to after overhearing her prayers to the Goddess. He sleeps next to her after a nightmare and recalls the first time he did, all those years ago.

*

Whereas Paya had so subserviently tried to sacrifice her bedroom to Link without thought or regard for her own sleeping arrangements, Impa had simply grunted and nodded towards a spare corner of the living room next to some pots. Zelda had already retired to the spare upstairs room for the night, but Link was still on high alert after the shrine's revelations. He knew what he really should be doing was standing guard outside her door, or even at the foot of her bed like they used to do at the inns they'd stayed at. But things were different now. Things were safe. Supposedly.

So, he decided to sleep underneath Impa's house. Except it wasn't really sleeping, and more just lying awake underneath Zelda's window while hugging his sword in full stealth armour - face mask and all to muffle his breathing. But, despite all of his gear, he could still feel the cold and the dampness of the long undergrowth seep into his bones. He pushed the sensation back. Ignore it. Focus. Is that a whisper of trees or parchment? Yiga or Korok? Political assassination attempt or pure paranoia? He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. But then -- Had mail been intercepted?

He knew Impa was writing to the Zora, Rito, Gerudo and the Gorons to let them know of her safe return. Surely the Yiga would know now, too? Plus, it wouldn't be their first attempt on her life.

He kept his eyes screwed shut, chasing another memory. Zelda had told him that he'd saved her. That she had been alone and it was her fault, not his, but he knew that to be a lie. But there was something else about Gerudo. A turning point, maybe. Not just the fight, but something before it. A crack of lightning. A thin veil of sweat that covered them, that stuck her hair to his skin. He threw his eyes open. No wonder Rhoam had spat on him. But that was after. After what?

Cold skin against his warmth. Shivering, but not from the water. Zelda, three times. Her name was the only holy trinity, the only triforce he worshipped. And suddenly, like a key being turned in a lock, he fucking remembered. He exhaled shakily, and sat up in a crouch with his head in his hands, staring wild-eyed without seeing. "Fuck," he whispered, and almost immediately lost balance as soon as he heard a window crack open. He was sure Zelda had heard him, and if not the whisper then all the blood that was rushing to his head by the hammering of his heart.

"Are you there?" came her quiet, gentle voice into the sleepy village air. He winced. Caught. But, before he could crawl out into the open she continued with her speech, barely more than a whisper, and he realised with a punch of guilt that it wasn't for his ears. "It's been a while since I prayed. Even longer since I did it out loud, outside of the springs. But, I...I don't know how else to make you listen. It feels blasphemous to say, but," her voice dipped quieter, "it doesn't feel like you're here anymore. And I know that's ungrateful of me. I know you've already done enough. I should be thanking you, for giving me this power. For blessing me and saving Link. But he..." she trailed off. He pictured her biting her lip to stop it from trembling, the way she used to. "...he doesn't remember. Is that, too, a blessing?" His heart resumed its fretful hammering.

"Either way, after everything, I still have one more favour to ask. Please. You helped me seal Ganon but--" she broke off again, and Link's ears pricked up at the sound of tears building in her throat. "Please make the nightmares stop. I'm not strong anymore." Tears began to punctuate her sentences, and Link used everything in him to stop himself from scaling Impa's glorified hut there and then. "I can't do it on my own. I never could. But now, now it's like I have no choice. Now it's just me and you, and I don't know if you're even there. I can't feel the power anymore." The heavy, lingering silence that followed was more dreadful than the tears, but Link could still feel her presence at the window. He waited, on a knife's edge. "Was I ever worthy?" she asked, breaking the silence and his restraint. The knife tipped. He couldn't bear to listen to her torture herself any longer, and stepped out into the open, making sure to rustle and make as much noise as he could. He heard a thin gasp and the shutters clack shut.