Before the Wild

Resolve and Grief

Hyrule Ridge, Zelda

With Hyrule Castle to her back left and Link directly to her right, the Princess of Hyrule felt trapped between two walls. One grants her freedom, under the watch of an eagle's eye, while the other grants imprisonment served to prayer and training. Link had kept to his word; he was at Zelda's side ever since they left the shrine at the Ancient Columns. It annoyed her, but given her two choices, freedom with the eagle was much better than a hassle at a castle.

She didn't mind Link at all; the Sheikah Slate and her journals provided many hours of ignoring the presence of Hyrule's champion. In turn, he hadn't spoken a word to her since their argument earlier in the day... How Father and Sir Ordon became friends is a mystery to her. Maybe it was the fact they were both men, and like most young men, they found a common ground quickly and it grew from there. They also didn't have the end of the kingdom over their heads. Her father was half a decade from becoming king when Link's father was appointed to his service, ready for the job he currently performs.

In a way, harsh as he made it sound, Link was right about her being a princess. "When you start acting like one, you will get that privilege..." Zelda was only Princess of Hyrule in birthright, with none of the training a Queen should have. She didn't even have her "kick Calamity's ass back to the Evil Realm" power yet. But if she wasn't worthy of being called "Princess," Link wasn't deserving of his knightly title. He hadn't done a damn thing to be awarded "Sir Link," and it'll take more than besting adults at a young age or beating a Guardian with a pot lid to make her believe he deserves it. She wouldn't bring that up though. She had enough of arguing with Link and she was enjoying his silence. It suited him best.

Link pointed to their left, down into the lower fields that made up Central Hyrule. "We'll call it a day at the Outskirt Stable, Princess. If we keep our pace, we should hit Death Mountain in two days."

Zelda nodded, as she was excited to return to Death Mountain after many months, though her tone displayed her anger at Link with its shortness. "That sounds pleasant."

"...Princess, I-"

"You need say no more, Hero." And no more was said. Thankfully, Link was occasionally obedient to a fault. The next few hours to the Outskirt Stable was indeed as quiet as the princess ventured out of Hyrule Ridge back into the central region of their land, reaching the Outskirts Stable by twilight. Link attended to the horses' needs while Zelda paid the stable hand for two beds. Once she was shown her pair of beds, she immediately climbed in. She heard footsteps approach her shortly afterward. Without having to open her eyes, rely on her Sheikah instincts, or use her magic, she could tell it was Link.

"Princess, food is-"

"I'm not hungry."

Link made a few movements, Zelda had no clue where, but he didn't seem to back down. "Princess, you need to eat."

Zelda could tell Link was hiding his frustrations behind a false calm tone. She didn't care. She angrily turned around and sat up to face him. "Look, as I have stated many times, I don't need you taking care of me. I will see you early in the morning. Now leave me alone, and let me sleep!" Link stepped back, unable to face his princess' fury. To her satisfaction, he bowed, apologized, and walked away. She watched him exit the stable, a victorious smirk on her face, then looked around at the other lifeforms in the stable. They quickly dropped their glares as the Princess looked at them before she laid back down. "Great. More gossipers. 'She can't find her powers that other princess had, now she mistreats the Hero of Hyrule? Man, we are truly doomed.'"

.........

Link

Zelda was not playing when she said "'I'll see you early in the morning.'" She was up at sunrise and had a stablehand come and wake Link up. The groggy-eyed knight was confused as to why, until he saw the radiant glow of Zelda's hair outside the stable. She had prepped both horses on her own, and sat upon Gaepora, waiting for her companion. As he stepped up to Epona, he could see Zelda's smirk, though it wasn't friendly or compassionate.