Hero by Heart

Chapter 2

As Link stepped in he noticed the awkward look on Zelda's face. She had not been here in over one hundred years. Impa had been young when they last met. He looked at the old lady through different eyes now and felt a wave of sadness, thinking of how she might have looked in her younger days.
     He didn't remember her from before the Calamity, but he could imagine how Zelda must feel. One of the last people from her -their- past that still lived, being this old. It was a disturbing thought.
He gently put a hand on her shoulder, to reassure her, but she seemed to shrink away from him. With a sad smile he dropped it, letting her go by herself.
The princess slowly stepped forward, taking in her surroundings, a glint of tears in her eyes.
'Now, now, Princess,' Impa's old voice sounded. 'At last we meet again. No need for despair, child.' She slowly pushed herself up and Link rushed to help her. Zelda looked down at the tiny lady and showed a wavering smile.
     Impa stopped before her, extended a hand and placed it on Zelda's folded ones, applying soft pressure until she released herself. Zelda then went down on one knee and buried her face in her hands.
'Impa... I'm so sorry... I—'
'Stop it, child,' Impa said, her face strict. 'You have done all you could. You have succeeded. And you even did it in my lifetime.' She produced an uncharacteristic giggle and winked at Link, who was still holding her elbow. He smirked back at her, but then glanced worriedly at the princess.
Zelda slowly looked up with teary eyes. 'You've changed so much, Impa. It's been so long.'
Impa nodded. 'I have changed indeed. Time has passed, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, my dear. These things needed to happen. You, on the other hand, have not changed at all. You can still live a life.' She squeezed Zelda's hands gently and looked her straight in the eye. 'Go live your life. I have lived mine. It was a great life and a long one. But you have spent one hundred years stuck in a battle, so be thankful it's finally over! Don't linger in the past. Now is the time to form new memories, my dear.'
Zelda nodded and wiped at her eyes. Link looked at her and saw her determination slowly return. He smiled to himself as she straightened her back and nodded again. She then glanced at him and for a second he forgot how to breathe. She looked so beautiful, so strong. He smiled hesitantly, before casting his eyes down.
     Link slowly helped Impa back to her cushions and he and Zelda then sat down at her feet, next to each other, but far enough apart so they didn't touch. Impa raised an eyebrow at him, but he smiled apologetic. She then turned her attention back to the princess.
'So what have you been up to these two months?'
     Link saw the hurt return in her eyes and knew that it was another sore topic, but Zelda bravely smiled and pushed it back.
     'I've been exploring the castle grounds. I wanted to see what was left and if there was anything to be saved. Sadly, there wasn't much. Just a few of my old journals.' She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. Then she looked back up, a hopeful expression on her face. 'But I also found one of my father, so maybe there is something in there.' A hint of her old adventurous, curious self came back to the surface and Link found himself staring at her. It felt so familiar, like he had seen that side of her a thousand times before.
He thought back to the memory he did recover, the one where they were out in the fields and she discovered a frog. She had that same enthusiasm of discovering something new and interesting. He smiled fondly at the memory, until he noticed her glancing at him. He quickly wiped his face and listened to her as she continued.
     'There were a lot of dead Guardians scattered around, which made me a little nervous. I kept thinking they could come back to life just as I walked passed. I was careful, don't worry', she quickly added, as she saw the expression on Links face. He nodded, but felt a little uncomfortable knowing she had been close to Guardians. It was his job to protect her, and yet he had let her go to the castle all alone, for years the most dangerous place of the kingdom. Even though Ganon was gone, how could he have allowed her to go there?
     'When the building company came at my request, we started planning the rebuild of the castle and its town. So they are now busy with that. I decided they could do it without me and came to see you.' She smiled at Impa.
     'I have to admit, I'm glad you're back, Princess', Impa stated. Link couldn't help but agree with her. 'I think it's important for the people to see you again, to know you survived all this time and that you two finally succeeded.' She glanced at Link. 'You both bring hope to the kingdom. You are a living legend. I know you probably just want some peace and quiet, but many people out there are dying to meet you.'
     Zelda nodded. 'I know my duty, Impa. I have never forgotten. I think it's time for a long trip. I can't wait to be out in the wild again!' She smiled broadly and looked over at Link. He smiled back and for a moment it felt as if everything was going to be alright. They were both excited to travel again, no matter the awkwardness between them.
     'We will leave as soon as possible!' Zelda exclaimed, already getting up to walk out.
     Impa chuckled at her excitement. 'I think that won't be as soon as you wish, Princess. My people are dying to throw you a big welcome home celebration. You wouldn't disappoint them, would you?' She winked at Link, knowing the princess would never forsake her duty, especially not if it included a feast.
Zelda stopped moving and looked back at the pair still on the ground. Her expression was shocked and uncertain. 'I am honored, but I honestly don't know what to do. I haven't been around people for over a century! What if I don't know what to say? Or what if I'm a disappointment to them? They think so highly of me, but they don't even know me!'
Link stood up and stepped towards her. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. 'You'll do fine, Princess, I'm sure of that. Just be yourself. They want to get to know you better. They will love you, and you will love them.' He gave her his most assuring smile and nodded.
Zelda looked at him and slowly the worries ebbed from her eyes. She nodded and took a deep breath, before turning to Impa. 'I think that's it then. I look forward to the feast. I'll be staying at the inn if you need me.' With that she turned around and walked to the door, her back straight and head held high.
Link hurried after her and waved a short goodbye to the old lady on her stack of cushions.
     As he and Zelda came out into the night sky, they both stopped in their tracks.
While they were inside, the villagers had kept themselves busy. The deer had been dragged away and now hung beside the canopy. The grass in front of the house, where it had lain, was suddenly littered with tables and chairs. In between were multiple little campfires, and together with countless little fireflies they lighted the surrounding area. Decorations were hung from houses and over ropes across the road, together with a few lanterns. Scattered over the area, between tables, on chairs, next to the fires and on the adjacent porches were the villagers, quietly talking among themselves. The constant hum of voices, the clattering of water behind them and the crackling of the fires gave Link a feeling of complete peace.
He looked sideways at Zelda and saw tears filling her eyes, reflected by the lights. He was touched as well, so he quietly grabbed her hand and rubbed the back of it a few times with his thumb. She looked at him and sent him a thankful little smile. They looked into each others eyes a little longer, until Zelda gently pulled back her hand and started to descend the stairs. Link looked after her for a few steps and then followed.
Down below a few people had noticed them and the voices grew louder. A crowd started to form at the bottom of the stairs and they all laughed or cheered as their heroes came closer.
Link saw a broad smile appear on Zelda's face, the most genuine he had seen up til now.
As she reached the last step of the stairs, she was greeted by a man with bushy eyebrows, a big moustache and a goatee, his hair white as that of all Sheikah. Link grinned to himself as he recognized the man. Dorian. Considering their past it seemed only fitting that he was the one to officially welcome Princess Zelda in their midst.
'Princess! It is an honor to welcome you here to our humble home. Please make yourself comfortable and consider us friends. We are all so very thankful for everything you did!' He bowed his head deeply and all Sheikah behind him mirrored the movement. He then looked back up and his eyes flashed towards Link for a split second. 'As a token of our gratitude we wanted to give you this.' He reached inside his tunic and produced a small satchel. With both hands he presented it to the princess and bowed his head down as she took it.
Link looked over her shoulder as she gently pulled it open, revealing a glowing item. She took it out and it now clearly showed a small black ball, lined with orange that gave of a faint light. On either side of the line was another dot of glowing orange. Link smiled as he regocnized it. He looked past Zelda to Dorian and couldn't help but chuckle as the man suggestively wiggled his eyebrows at him.
Zelda finally took her eyes off of the miniature orb and looked back at Dorian, before letting her eyes glide across the other Sheikah gathered. 'Thank you!' she exclaimed, with a genuine look of appreciation. 'It's beautiful.' She looked back at the ball in her hand and smiled.
'Now, Princess,' Dorian said, 'if you would be so kind, will you join us for a few conversations?' He gracefully extended a hand towards her and looked up expectantly. She let out a melodious laugh and took his hand, equally graceful. He guided her towards a table at the centre and all Sheikah followed, chattering excitedly.
Link smiled to himself, as he was forgotten halfway down the stairs. He didn't mind though, for he had had enough attention from these people already.
     He quietly walked down and followed the crowd towards the tables, where he found his way to a chair somewhere at the edge of the gathering.
     When everybody had found a seat, people started asking Zelda questions. At first they were hesitant, trying to give her space and time to clear her head, before dragging her back to the past, but as the night progressed, she was being bombarded with questions and stories.
In the back, Link sat quietly listening. He liked hearing her talk, to hear her recall memories of events and people. A lot of it was quite new to him too, so he was intrigued.
Bit by bit, people started to get up and leave for bed. First the little children were taken away, then the elder ones followed. Eventually there was just a handful of people left, sitting comfortably near the last remaining fire. Link had scooted closer, but still kept to the background.
With his hand on his fist, elbow on the table, he looked at the princess. The firelight reflected in her eyes and made her skin glow warmly. Her hair seemed to dance in the rithm of the flames. While she was talking she made gestures, some big, some small, but all exactly right. She moved gracefully and spoke politely. Link caught himself staring at her more than once, but it was hard to keep his eyes away from her. She was beautiful.
In the back of his mind he knew they had a complicated past. He remembered bits and pieces of her, some more positive than others. He realised that their relationship had started out rocky and had slowly developed into friendship, but something deep inside him told him there was more. He had no actual memories, but there was a feeling. Had he actually liked her? And had she liked him back? He couldn't remember and that was killing him. It made him feel weird and she probably noticed it too. He just didn't quite know how to act around her.
He was abruptly shaken from his thoughts when he heard her call his name. He looked up and realised that the last of the villagers were gone. They were alone. The thought made his heart hammer in his chest and he awkwardly got up, dragging a hand through the hair at the back of his head. He grinned at her sheepishly and felt his face heat up as she gave him a beaming smile in return.
'You were right, Link. I had so much fun! All these people are so incredibly nice!' She grabbed his arm and started pulling him along, as she made her way towards the inn. 'Thank you for reassuring me. I think I just needed to remember how to be me, you know?' She stopped at the door and smiled at him again. He smiled fondly back at her and nodded. She started to open the door, but stopped, looking back at him with a shocked expression. 'I completely forgot to ask and just assumed, but do you even stay here? I mean... I just dragged you... I'm sorry!' She started stammering, while she covered her mouth with her hand.
Link laughed at her adorable expression and nodded. Zelda sighed in relief and pushed the door open further. 'That's good. Well then, thank you for everything Link, but I'm off to bed.' She made her way to the bed that had been prepared for her in advance and gave him a small wave. 'Goodnight.'
'Goodnight, Princess', he replied. He looked at her one last time, as she turned around and her blonde hair flowed over her shoulders. He sighed and then turned towards his own bed. If only he could remember.