Free to Love - A Zelda x Link Fanfiction

LXI: Love at Sunrise

Zelda's Perspective:

Being shaken awake by somebody you love is not nearly as nice it sounds. Granted, I never thought it did sound nice in the first place. But i can say with the utmost certainty that, now that I've experienced it, being shaken awake by the person you love is no different than being shaken awake by any other shmuck.

"Zelda, Zelda, wake up!" The voice started soft but it gradually grew louder, as Link leaned closer, hands shaking my arm a bit in an attempt to wake me up. I groaned and tried to roll away, finding his hands holding me still enough to shake me.

I couldn't ignore him. Granted, I wanted to. It was way too early. I opened one eye lazily. Link was sitting on the mattress, staring down at me with a soft smile on his face. "Wake up, I wanna show you something," he murmured.

"Will this something still be here in a few hours because if so, I'm sorry but I feel like I should decline," I said tiredly. He chuckled softly, rubbing his calloused hand on my exposed arm.

"No, it won't be here in a few hours," he responded, smiling a bit more. "Now get up." Well, that was not the answer I was looking for. I sat up reluctantly and stretched, fingers cracking as I yawned dramatically.

"Happy?" I asked sarcastically, slowly slipping out from underneath the thick blanket. The gerudo desert tended to get very cold at night. It felt like an escape of bliss to step onto the cold wooden floors with my bare feet.

He smiled again, this time more exhaustion in his expression. His grin was lazy and easy going, but J could tell he had something planned. I instantly felt guilt begin to weigh on my chest, like my heart just stopped. "Have you looked out the window?"

I blinked but turned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and turned towards the grand window of the room. Wow...

Now I could understand why he wanted to wake me. The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, the stars scattering away from its brightness. The sky looked like it had been painted, yellow light beaming brightly far in the distance, gradually turning to orange and then a dark red, mixing with the last few hours of nighttime, the purple pushing against the dark, Star-flecked, navy sky.

"Wow..." I breathed. I felt Link's arms encircle my waist, my body pressed against his as he rocked me back and forth.

"You once said that you always wanted to watch the sunrise..." he murmured to me, head resting in my shoulder. I hummed in agreement. I was so entranced in the view, I couldn't fully listen. "Lemme Show you one thing," he added. I blinked and turned back to him curiously.

He upped past me and open the window, sliding the glass back and, before I could even react, jumped out the window. I opened my mouth, prepared to scream in terror, when I heard his soft voice again. "Come, look."

I walked with shaky legs and looked out the opening. Thank god there was a garden trellis. It was thick and sturdy enough to support him, many vines cleared away from the center of the crisscrossing boards. He grinned at me again, climbing nimbly up. Show off.

"Come on, I'll help you," he said, trying to calm my nerves. I smiled at him, trying to hide my anxiety, as I slipped my feet out of the window frame, sitting on the sill, and allowing my feet to find steadiness one the trellis below me. "Careful," Link warned.

I sucked on my teeth as I managed to slip myself through the window successfully, clinging to the trellis and looking up at Link for help. He reached his hand down and I took it quickly, allowing him to help pull me up.

I blinked, looking around and trying to calm the adrenaline that was still in my system. I caught sight of the sunrise again, finding myself grabbing into him for support. He laughed breathily, helping me into a sitting position, allowing my legs to dangle off the edge of the roof.

I didn't know how long we sat there, just stating at the sky as soft pink clouds began to drift by. I could hear the center of town begin to set up, like white noise in the distance.

"Zelda... Honey?" I blinked and turned to him. Something about his voice made my nervous. Maybe it was because this one fo the few times he didn't sound sure of himself. His face reflected his emotions, tense and thoughtful, before easing into something that resembled passion.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"You've always been there for me," he said slowly, voice soft. "You've been my best friend for as long as I can remember. I don't think I could live without you. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you by my side."

His voice began to get deeper as louder as he began to get more emotional. "When we first left the castle, I didn't think things would go this way. I just expected normal adventuring, nothing like this. I think... I met the love of my life on this journey. Well, not met. I always knew she was there. I guess I just finally admitted how I felt.

His eyes were wide and he took my hands gingerly, helping me stand up. Why were my legs shaking? My heart was hammering in my chest and he held my hands briefly, before kissing my knuckle, then bending down on one knee.

Oh my goddess...

"Zelda Tetra Hylia the first, princess of the United kingdoms of Hyrule, will you marry me?"

I couldn't think. It was like my entire body shut down and all I had was one word rushing through my head, as happy tears rose to my eyes.

"Link... yes, yes, I will marry you!"

His face broke out into an wide grin and he slipped the silver band on my finger, the diamond in the center catching the warm lights of the sunrise.

Then he stood up, wrapped his strong arms around me and kissed me.