Hero by Heart

Chapter 19

When Zelda woke up she was greeted by the smell of cooked eggs. The sun shone through the cloth that made her tent and warmed the air around her. She was comfortable, wrapped in her thin blanket, enjoying the peace and quiet of the early morning. In her half dozing state she smiled at the memories of the previous night.
Before long it was getting too hot to stay there, though. With a soft sigh she disentangled herself and crawled out of the tent.
     The first thing she saw was Link crouched near the little fire, cooking eggs in one of his pans. His hair was tied together in a bun in true Sheikah fashion, and he wore his characteristic blue tunic and Hylian trousers.
     As Zelda looked at him in the bright morning light she felt her heart flutter. He was incredibly handsome without even making an effort. And those eggs he was making almost looked better than he did.
     She sat down next to the fire and smiled, suddenly feeling rather nervous. She didn't quite know how to act around him after what had happened. It suddenly felt like a feverish dream.
     Link looked completely at ease, though, as he smiled at her. 'Good morning, Zelda,' he said, his voice a little croaky. 'How did you sleep?'
     'Very well.' She stretched her arms above her head. 'And you? Wasn't it too cold out here?'
     He shook his head. 'No, I slept great. I love the night air, no matter how cold.'
     Zelda smiled at him, even though he didn't see it with his attention on the eggs. She wondered whether he would have wanted to join her in the tent.
It was quiet for a while. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she hardly noticed what the knight was doing, until a few minutes later, when he handed her a plate full of a delicious smelling breakfast.
'Thank you.' She showed him another smile, unable to think of anything else to say. It was all still so new to her.
     They ate in silence, Zelda's thoughts eventually wandering to her research, as she looked up at the impressive Divine Beast.
     Would Link be able to help her find something? Was there truly something hidden there at all? Maybe she was wrong. There was no way of knowing where she was headed. Maybe they would have to search forever.
     As her mind filled with doubts she absentmindedly chewed on the end of her fork, until Link gently placed his hand on hers, dragging it away. 'If you're going to ruin my gear, please do it for something useful.' He laughed. 'They are quite difficult to make, you know.'
     Zelda gaped at him in shock and quickly put away her plate. She shot him an apologetic look.
     'It's alright,' Link said. 'I get that you're a little stressed. But we will find it. If it's there, we will. Don't worry.' He gave her his most reassuring smile and Zelda actually felt herself calm down. 'Let's get our stuff cleaned up and then we can start. There is no need to delay.' Link brushed off his hands, before getting up.
      Zelda quickly helped him pack up the gear and store it neatly in their bags. She started to feel anxious of going in there again, her actions becoming more frantic as she urged Link to hurry up.
He chuckled. Before she knew it his hand was on her cheek, his eyes gazing into hers. 'One last thing I need to do,' he said. Then his lips were on hers, gentle and soft and perfect.
All too soon he pulled back, leaving Zelda slightly bewildered and aching for more.
'Now we can go.' He smirked.
She blinked at him. She struggled to match this confident, teasing Link to the one she had gotten to know the past few months. It felt much more like the one she had known before the Calamity.
She wasn't about to complain, though. She loved the way he made her stomach flutter.
Link then grabbed her hand, getting her out of her stupor by pulling her along towards the entrance of the Divine Beast.
As Zelda's focus shifted, the excitement inside of her bubbled up in full force. She couldn't stand to wait a second longer. With the sound of Link's laughter in her ears she ran for it, dragging him along.

The rest of that day they spent inside, searching every nook and cranny. Link pointed out things that stood out to him so that Zelda could investigate them in great detail.
     She wrote everything down in her journal, but couldn't determine what was or wasn't important. It was frustrating to feel like there was something there, ready for her to grab it but just out of reach.
     It led to a journal full of scribbles of her thoughts, descriptions of the area, and even little drawings of designs and mechanisms that she encountered, all mingled into one big jumble.
     It was greatly interesting to investigate all that ancient Sheikah technology. She knew she could spend days doing nothing else, but her goal was not to learn more about the controls. She had to find a clue of something bigger.
     Eventually, when it was already late in the afternoon, she decided they had looked into everything they could find. Even though she didn't have a clear breakthrough, she knew it was time to head out.
     'I think I might have it in here,' she said to Link, holding up her journal as they walked through the massive hall. 'I just don't know what it looks like. Maybe it's best if we try searching in one of the other Divine Beasts. I could cross reference my findings there with these, which may lead me in the right direction.'
     Link nodded. 'We should head back to the Domain anyway. I don't have any more wood left, so we cannot make a fire. It will be too cold to stay up here.' He looked at Zelda with regret in his eyes, telling her he was sorry that they hadn't had the results she wanted, but she shrugged it off. Most research wasn't completed in a day.
     Back at their little camp they now packed up the tent as well. They worked in comfortable silence, but now that her mind returned to other things she became hyper aware of Link's every move.
     She wondered what would happen now. How were they going to go on? They hadn't discussed what any of this meant and it started to grate on her nerves.
     Eventually, once everything was packed, Zelda followed Link to the edge of the peak. She stopped beside him and took a moment to look out over the lands below, marveling at the view.
     Link glanced at her. Even though she didn't look at him, Zelda could tell he was smiling. He stepped sideways, then rested his warm hand on her back.
     Zelda's heart went into overdrive.
     Slowly his hand slid over her shoulder, until he had his entire arm wrapped around her. 'It's beautiful, isn't it?'
     She just nodded. She tried to swallow, her mouth suddenly dry. With a nervous flutter in her chest she leaned into his side. It might be new and unexpected, but she felt so safe there in his arms, high above everyone else.
     Slowly but surely she truly started to relax, enjoying the feel of him and the enormity of the view before them. Just for a minute she could forget about the past, about the Calamity. She had gotten her knight back, was now finally able to live her life, to build a future.
     Still, it stung to know it wasn't how she had always pictured it.
     She would have to do it without her father, without her friends and the champions that she had grown so close to. Worst of all, she had to live this life without the wise counsel and warmth of Lady Urbosa, whom she had loved like her own mother.
     Urbosa had known all her secrets, all her struggles. She had known how Zelda had taken a liking to her appointed knight and how she struggled to let him know. Zelda now wished more than anything that she could tell her that it had worked out. Even before the Calamity, when they had finally kissed, she had never been able to tell Urbosa.
     Zelda wanted to talk to the Gerudo, to see her and hold her one last time. To tell her how she'd had to wait one hundred years for Link to return, only to have everything shattered into pieces when he told her he didn't remember her. She wanted to talk to her about the despair she had felt, about the loneliness and helplessness. She wanted to tell Urbosa that she needed her.
     But she couldn't.
     Who could she talk to now? Everyone she had known was dead.
     While Zelda looked at the beautiful land under the warm rays of the sun, with Link holding her close, she felt happy. She knew she had a lot to be grateful for. But at the same time her memories left her feeling alone and grieving for what she had lost. Everything was different now.
     Tears had formed in her eyes and now slowly made their way down her cheeks. She hardly even noticed, until Link reached up with his free hand and gently brushed them away. He offered her a knowing little smile, then pulled her even closer.
     He didn't say a thing.
     Zelda's heart swelled at his compassion.
     Finally, after quite some time of taking in the view and replaying old memories in her mind, Zelda felt herself calm down. She took a deep, shaky breath. Reluctantly, she glanced at Link and nodded, almost imperceptible.
He turned to pull her into a hug and softly kissed her forehead. It no longer felt odd and unfamiliar to be so intimate with him. It felt like she belonged there. She felt at ease with him and loved the warmth and the strength of his body.
     She was so lucky to have him by her side.
     After a short moment they broke apart and Zelda nodded, more determined this time. 'Let's go,' she whispered.
     Link smiled at her and nodded. He took out and unfolded his paraglider. 'Will you be okay gliding down with me?'
     She smiled. 'I'll manage.'
     Without any more delay she grabbed onto him tightly, her stomach twisting uncomfortably as he jumped off the ledge. She kept her eyes closed and instead focused on the feel of his muscles under her fingers, of the softness of his skin, of the smell that clung to him. It wasn't long before they landed on the path of Ruto mountain, near the peak.
     Link packed up his glider again and started walking down towards the Domain, but Zelda grabbed his arm and pulled him back. 'Wait.' She swallowed hard, trying to push her nerves away. At his questioning look she shuffled her feet a little. 'I don't think we should tell people yet. About us.' She chuckled nervously, feeling weird saying that. Was there even truly an us? Maybe Link didn't want to make it such a big deal.
     He looked at her with his gentle, thoughtful eyes and nodded. 'I understand. It's all still very new. We can just take our time getting used to this first.'
     Zelda nodded, looking down at her feet. A wave of relief washed over her. She had no idea how she deserved someone this sweet and selfless. With renewed determination she then looked up at him and smiled. 'That does mean that we never know when the next opportunity will be,' she said, 'so...' With a smirk she pulled him closer by his collar, then wrapped her arms around his neck.
     At the startled expression on his face she smiled lovingly and closed her eyes, leaning in to kiss him.
     For a split second Link seemed frozen, but then she felt him melting in her arms. He wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her even closer, returning the kiss enthusiastically.
     Zelda felt like she was floating.
     She put one hand through the back of his hair, while the other gently rested on his face.
     They stood like that for what seemed like forever, both completely lost in time, until she finally made herself pull away.
     She looked Link in his eyes, which seemed to sparkle with joy. With a broad grin on his face he hugged her tightly once more. Then he let go completely and stepped back.
     Zelda instantly felt his absence like a cold breeze, making her wish she could stay like that forever. 
    'Ready?' Link asked.
     She nodded. 'Ready.'
     Together they turned to walk down the path, the knight half a step behind her, guarding her back as always.
     Zelda didn't look back at him, but was aware of his every move. Somehow, she couldn't seem to wipe the smile off her face.

Once they entered the Domain again, they were greeted by Sidon, who stood close to the statue of Mipha. He looked up expectantly and turned towards them. 'So?' He asked. 'How did it go? You found something, didn't you?' He turned to Zelda, who still had a smile on her face, but she shook her head.
     'Not really. I want to investigate the other Divine Beasts to see if there is a connection.'
     Sidon seemed a little confused, put off by the contradiction of her words and her expression. He then looked at Link and suddenly squinted at them suspiciously.
     Link kept his face neutral, but clearly averted his eyes.
     'Well, I'm going to freshen up before dinner, if you don't mind, Sidon,' Zelda said, deliberately ignoring his pointed look with a friendly smile.
     The prince nodded and stepped aside to let Zelda pass, but as Link followed close behind, he held out his hand and stopped the knight in his tracks.
Zelda smiled to herself. She wondered how hard the Zora prince would have to work to get an answer out of him. She knew Link would probably tell him everything, eventually. Despite her earlier words, she was glad the knight had someone to confide in. She figured it was only right, considering Sidon was the one to push him to leave the past behind.
While the two men talked somewhere else, she freshened up and put away her stuff, before heading out into the Domain again. She had no true purpose, but figured she could take a look around or have a bit of a walk.
Before she could really go anywhere, though, she was stopped by Link, who looked a little flustered as he ran down the stairs opposite her.
'Zelda!' He called out, quickly making his way over. He stopped in front of her and smiled. 'Sidon has invited us for dinner tonight. I told him we will probably be leaving tomorrow, so he wants to spend some time together. Are you okay with that?'
Zelda smiled back at him. She couldn't help but admire how good he looked in the afternoon light, surrounded by the sparkling of the Domain. She tried to shake herself awake. 'Of course, that sounds great.'
     Link nodded once and turned back, presumably to go and tell Sidon. 'He'll be happy to hear it.' He glanced down at his rumpled clothes. 'Hopefully I'll have some time to freshen up.' With a grin he started to move back towards the stairs, but Zelda stopped him with a hand on his arm.
     'You go clean up, I'll tell him.' She said. 'No need for you to be late. I have time enough.'
     Link looked her in the eyes, causing a nervous flutter to course through her body, but then he nodded. He glanced down, where her hand still lay on his forearm, then reached out to grab it. After a quick, gentle squeeze, he turned and walked off towards the inn.
     Zelda looked after him until he disappeared from view, trying to still the butterflies in her stomach. Finally, she took a deep breath and turned to head up the stairs.
     As she expected, Sidon stood close to the entrance of the throne room, watching her approach. He grinned and waved. 'Good evening, Princess!' He called out with his usual enthusiasm.
     'Good evening, Prince Sidon.' She smiled. It seemed impossible not to, around him.
     'I assume Link has talked to you about dinner?'
     Zelda nodded, biting back a nervous laugh at the look on his face.
     'Great! I look forward to catching up with you two,' the prince said with a wink.
     This time she really did laugh. 'I take it Link told you what happened up there.'
     Sidon nodded eagerly, his eyes twinkling. 'I'm glad he took my advice, to be honest.' He grinned. 'I wasn't sure he would go through with it. But I am really happy he did.'
'Me too,' Zelda whispered, her cheeks burning.
Sidon's expression grew serious, as he reached out to place a hand on her shoulder. 'You both deserve to be happy. You've had so many troubles already.' He gave her a blinding smile. 'And you two look really great together.'
     Zelda smiled back, feeling rather awkward but strangely giddy at the same time. She had no idea what to say or do, but still she appreciated Sidon's kindness.
     'Don't worry, by the way,' he went on. 'I won't tell anyone. I know it is not my place. You should handle this your way.'
     Zelda nodded. 'Thank you, Sidon. That means a lot.'
     The Zora prince beamed down at her. He then bent closer, so that he could look her straight in the eyes. His were a mesmerizing gold in this light, sparkling with joy. 'Anything for my friends.'