Free to Love - A Zelda x Link Fanfiction

XXXV: A Dip in Ice

Zelda's Perspective:

It took a few attempts to crack the iced lake. My original plan had been to jump on the ice and hope it would break, much to Link's distress. The distress that he made abundantly clear by his initial shouting and then grabbing my wrist and tugging me to the shore.

"What now?" I asked, sitting grumpily on a rock. "Epona and Storm are thirsty and we shouldn't waste our time waiting for the ice to melt naturally."

"If it melts naturally," Link sighed, shaking his head.

"If it melts naturally," I echoed. I turned my head, attempting to shoot an apologetic look at the horses. Storm was too busy kicking a hoof in the dirt to notice my extension of an olive branch and Epona... Well, based on her glare, I'd assume the only way to win back her favor was to unfreeze the lake.

"Here," Link interrupted, shoving the Shiekah Slate in my face. I cast an awkward stare at him and he shuffled, scratching at his hair so loose strands framed his nervous face. "I don't know, but if you can freeze it with that thing, maybe you can unfreeze it." He must've noticed my nerves, because he added, "What's the worst that can happen? We refreeze the lake?"

I chuckled. He wasn't wrong. I held the screen up, aiming it towards the lake. The screen showed the lake's image and I concentrated. I felt the magic and energy drain out of me quickly, almost like the opposite of an adrenaline rush, as a loud crunch was heard from the ice. My eyes darted to the lake, somewhat surprised, as small cracks began to spiderweb across the glassy surface, dividing entire sections off from the center. The chunks sunk under the waves, allowing the waves to dip and rise more as the ice slowly disappeared under the turquoise waters.

It wasn't long for Epona to sniff and nod her head at me in a seemingly-forgiving gesture before marching to the shore and lowering her nose down to the lapping waves. I couldn't help but reach forward and sip a few fingers into the lake. Interestingly, it was still warm, meaning that either the frozen surface hadn't affected the unfrozen water below or that the ice had already melted so quickly that it had nearly entirely been reheated by the sun's glow.

The sunlight bounced reflected and made the lake glitter. I shielded eyes, glancing up to the blue sky and the sun that beat down on my skin. "Is it hot out here or is it just me?" I asked. Link quirked his eyebrow at me, head cocking slightly.

"What exactly do you mean?" he responded. I turned away, trying to ignore the fact that my cheeks burned in realization and embarrassment.

"N— No, it's just hot and I could for a dip," I explained slowly. I didn't glance at him as I began pulling at my clothes slowly. First my blue-overcoat, pulling it over my head and trying to ignore the whines of thee thick fabric as I did. Why was I wearing this when it was scorching outside, anyways? I shrugged off my white turtle-neck loose top next. Despite how it looked, it was relatively loose and breezy, not too uncomfortable if I rolled the sleeves up.

I felt Link's eyes on my back as I laid my top on the ground. I only wore the white, tightly-fit cloth I used to bind my breasts on my torso. I tried to undress quickly to avoid embarrassment, pulling off my riding boots, socks, and trousers quickly, leaving me in my breast burns and underwear, before testing the water with my foot. When I glanced back at Link, I realized he was blushing more than I was.

"Come on," I sighed. "It's hot and the water is nice." I wasn't lying. Even though only my toes in, I already felt tempted to dive deep into the waters and relax under the cool surface.

"I don't think that's appropriate," he said, crossing his arms and trying to avoid my judgey gaze. I wasn't sure if he was responding to the relaxing swim I intended to take while we had work to do or the fact that I had undressed myself in front of him. I figured it was the latter based on how his cheeks were still twinged pink.

"It's a million degrees," I said matter-of-factly. "We're sweaty." I gestured at the lake. "Come swim." He grumbled something and began to yank at the collar of his shirt.

"Ok, fine." I smiled and sat down on the edge of the deck, dipping into the water so the surface lapped at my knees.

Then Link began to, nervously and slowly, undress.