Promises : A Zelink Story

Chapter 2

In that moment, Zelda felt as she was back in that courtyard giving the speech all those years ago, but something was different. The man with the blonde hair wasn't smiling at her.
He was glaring.

Suddenly she snapped back to reality, and there was no mistaking it, the man standing in front of her, the Prince-General of Termina, indeed was Link. She could recognize those eyes anywhere.

"Link..." she began, unsure of what to say. It was 7 years ago again, and Link was in her chambers for the first time.
"Your Majesty." Link cut her off, as he took a bow, trying to force a smile but failing badly. His voice was still the same, older, but the same. Filled with coldness and distance, but still the same.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Link Harkinian, the crown-prince and general of Termina." 
Zelda wanted to scream, she also wanted to laugh, and cry over the absurdity and wonderfulness of it all. On the one hand Link was alive. She always assumed that her father sentenced him to the worst, as he refused to give any answers whenever she brought it up. In time, she learnt to stop mentioning it.
His last name had changed, but then she connected the dots and realized he was the one who the Terminian royal family had adopted.
"Link, I-" she tried again, only to be cut off by him again. "Prince Harkinian, if you please. I think it's best if we don't get personal in times of war, don't you." the knowing look in his eyes, designed to hurt her.
Not that she didn't deserve it.

"Of course... Prince Harkinian. I'll take you to your room then if you come with me." 
"That's alright Queen Nohansen, don't bother yourself with me. I'm sure you have other things you'd rather do."

Another jab. Zelda tried her best to maintain a calm composure. "Al-Alright, Jorulph if you'll take Prince Harkinian to his quarters then. Jorulph?" 
The captain was startled, obviously very confused by the conversation he just witnessed. "Right, uhm, Prince Harkinian if you'd just follow me then."

Link looked at Zelda and slightly bowed, "Queen Nohansen." as he followed Jorulph out of sight. 

Zelda instantly retreated to her room, holding back the tears as best as she could, leaving a very confused Impa.

•••

"Zelda, can I come in?" Impa asked from outside her room.
"Uh just a second!" she maintained a calm tone, but she was just wiping her tears and turning her cushion upside down so Impa couldn't tell that she had been crying.
"Come in!"

"Impa, what brings you here?"
"Who is he?"
"Didn't you hear him introduce himself, Prince Li-"

"You know that's not what I meant."
"Actually, I don't Impa. Now, I'm exhausted after the battle, please leave me so I can rest."
"Come on Zelda, you don't have to hide anything from me. Who-"

"I DONT KNOW HIM IMPA!" shouted Zelda, letting out all her built up pain. She sighed, gathered herself together, and apologized, "I'm sorry Impa, I shouldn't have shouted."

"No, you are entitled to your secrets. But if you ever change your mind, please know that I'm always there."
"I know Impa... I know"
"As long as you do." said Impa with a warm smile, "Now I'll leave you alone." she said as she exited the room, closing the door behind her and leaving Zelda alone with her feelings. 

***

It was nighttime when Zelda finally left her room again, only to be told by Impa that she and Link were to have dinner together and discuss strategy. Fat chance of strategy being the topic of the very painful dinner about to come.

She took a deep breath to prepare herself, and entered the room to find Link waiting by the table. He hadn't sat down yet as a sign of respect, but that may have just been to maintain normalcy in front of Impa.

"This is where I leave you." said Impa, "Ring if you need anything." she bowed and left the room, but not before she gave a knowing look to Zelda.

"Link..." began Zelda for the third time.
"I told you, address me as-" he was cut short as Zelda had pulled him in for a tight hug. He didn't reciprocate, but he didn't reject it either... well not at first. Suddenly Zelda felt his muscles tense as he pulled away.

"Queen Nohansen, this is-"
"Come on Link, I'm not gonna sit here and pretend that I have no idea who you are."
"Why? You didn't seem to mind doing that 7 years ago."

Zelda opened her mouth to respond, but she had no retort. He was right. 
Link sighed, "Let's just eat dinner, and discuss strategy as we're supposed to. Once this war is over, you can go back to ruling Hyrule and I'll be back in Termina. We only have to act civil for a few weeks." he said as he sat down, and started eating, but it wasn't because he was hungry.

Zelda sat down too, subconsciously. She reached out her hand to put on his cheek. He didn't move for a moment, as they both just gazed into each other's eyes, until he broke away and removed her hand.

"You don't get to do that anymore."
"I know..." replied Zelda, internally celebrating the small victory of getting him to start talking. Baby steps. "I'm sorry."