Hero by Heart

Chapter 30

Link held up the torch higher to see more of the dark room. It was littered with broken furniture and some very old, rusty weapons, but that was it. Nothing interesting about the place.
He turned and left through the door opening, careful to avoid the crooked door hanging loosely in its hinges.
'Nothing here,' he said to Merina, before continuing towards the next doorway.
Their group had decided to search the citadel, while they were there. On one hand they needed to know if there were more monsters, but on the other hand he and Zelda still hoped for some answers to their research.
They had split up in groups of two, but Link insisted that Zelda stayed in the living room where he knew she would be safe.
Link had proposed that he would stay too, to protect her, but Zelda wouldn't have it. She stated that one of them should go, because the Gerudo women didn't know about their research, and if it wasn't going to be her, it had to be him.
So Link begrudgingly gave in. Laine would stay with her in case of any form of attack and that should be enough security for him.
After checking another empty room, Link joined Merina again in the hallway, where they made their way towards the corner.
'So,' she suddenly started. 'You and the princess, huh? When did that happen?'
Link looked up in surprise, but Merina didn't look back, instead keeping her eyes forward.
'What?' He then mumbled.
'Oh, come on!' She exclaimed. 'We're not blind you know. You made it quite obvious back there.' She pointed over her shoulder, back to the room where Zelda had stayed. 'Is it serious?'
Link looked down at his feet. He knew the Gerudo wouldn't stop until he answered. They were known for their stubbornness. So he shrugged and sighed deeply, before lifting his head back up. 'I think so.'
'Was it there before the Calamity?' Merina asked, casting him a curious glance.
'In a way...' Link said thoughtfully. 'There was something there, but I don't remember much of it.' He smiled sheepishly at the tall woman. 'I know that it would likely have become more.'
'That's both sad and good to hear,' Merina said. 'I mean, it's sad to think that you two were robbed of what could have been a beautiful relationship, and that you now remember so little of it.'
Link nodded, before looking around in an empty side branch of the corridor.
'On the other hand,' the Gerudo continued, 'it's nice to know that you still get your chance together.' She threw open a wooden door and cast a glance around, before continuing her way. 'After everything that has happened, to think that you can still share a life is beautiful. I think you both deserve to be happy.'
Link nodded and smiled at her. 'Thank you. That means a lot.' He took a look around the next room, before turning back to her. 'I believe Zelda doesn't always feel like it.'
'That she deserves to be happy?'
Link nodded.
'Why wouldn't she? She saved us all! Don't think we have forgotten that.' She looked at him incredulously. 'You too. I don't think there would ever be a couple that fitted better together than the two of you.'
Link laughed. 'That's nice to hear. Sometimes it's hard to believe that.'
'Believe what?'
'That we can really be together. I mean, it's all still so new. I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm terrified of making a mistake and pushing her away.' He looked down in shame. 'It wouldn't be the first time.'
Link smiled sadly and started to walk back, since they had reached a dead end. 'I hurt her before. I could never forgive myself if I messed this up.'
Merina smiled at him. 'I'm sure you'll both make plenty of mistakes in the future. But the trick is in sticking together through it all. Would you forgive her for hurting you?'
'Of course!' Link exclaimed. 'She would never do anything to hurt me. Or anyone for that matter.'
Merina chuckled. 'Exactly. But she is not perfect, despite what you might feel. Everybody makes mistakes. If she truly cares about you, she will forgive you and fight for you.'
Link nodded thoughtfully. 'I'm just so scared of failing her. I have to protect her, keep her safe. If I fail I might lose her completely, no matter if she forgives me or not.'
'You can't expect to keep her safe forever. She might get hurt sometimes. You will have to learn to live with that,' Merina gently said. 'I think she knows that you will do everything in your power to protect her. Heck, we all know that!' She laughed.
     Link chuckled softly. 'It's hard to accept.'
     The warrior nodded solemnly. 'You wouldn't be you if it wasn't.'
     Link halted and leaned against the wall. They were almost back at the beginning, having checked their part of the building and finding nothing but rubble and dust.
     He sighed deeply and dragged a hand through his hair. 'I'm terrified to be honest. She is the princess of Hyrule. She will be queen.' He looked at the Gerudo woman in despair. 'I don't know what she expects of me. What if she wants me to become king?'
     Link took a shaky breath, feeling his heart pounding in his chest as he spoke the words for the first time out loud.
     Merina smiled at him reassuringly, placing her hand on his shoulder.
'I suggest the two of you have a good talk sometime. You both need to figure out what you expect from each other. Be honest with her, that will bring you the furthest.'
Link nodded, bending his head down. 'Thank you, Merina.' He then looked up at her with a crooked grin. 'It sounds like you have a lot of experience.'
The Gerudo woman chuckled. 'I have life experience, yes. Unlike most of the vai in Gerudo Town, I did travel the kingdom far and wide. I know more about voe and relationships than most of those fools combined.' She laughed, bending closer to Link. 'Don't tell them I said that. After all I am still single.' She stood up straight again and winked.
Link laughed softly. 'My lips are sealed.'
Merina nodded, before starting their walk again. 'Don't worry, I won't violate your trust either. Everything you told me will remain between us.'
Link nodded, just as they walked through the open doors and back into the room with the campfires.
Zelda sat at one of the fires, one of her notebooks in her lap, a steaming mug in her hand and a slight frown on her face. As soon as she heard them, however, her head snapped up.
The firelight illuminated her bright smile and the sparkle in her eyes when she realised who it was.
Link couldn't help but smile back at the sight. She looked so beautiful, and luckily not as frustrated as when he had left her here.
'Find anything?' Laine interrupted his thoughts.
She was standing a little further into the room, near a table that was still intact, and was tending to a shallow wound on her leg, courtesy of a Moblin.
Merina shook her head, while Link walked over to Zelda and sat down next to her. 'Nothing but ruins.'
Laine nodded slowly, before returning her attention to her previous business.
'Really?' Zelda asked with big eyes, giving Link a penetrating look. 'Nothing else?'
Link shook his head, looking at her apologetically.
Zelda sighed, but then nodded resolutely, apparently accepting the disappointment.
     Not much later the other Gerudo warriors entered the room. They looked a little disheveled, but unharmed.
     'And?' Merina asked them, as they all searched for a spot around the fire.
     'We ran into a couple more monsters, but we dealt with them,' Kotta answered. 'They didn't really pose a threat.'
     Merina nodded and it went quiet again. Until Zelda cleared her throat, immediately drawing everybody's attention.
'I was thinking,' she started slowly. 'Since there is nothing of interest here, we should continue as soon as possible. The sooner we get to the desert the better.'
As Link looked around he saw all the women nodding along. Whatever this situation in the southwest was, they obviously wanted it handled as soon as possible.
'I suggest we stay here for the night and set off at sunrise,' Zelda continued.
Everyone agreed, so they made their preparations and settled in for the night early.
Link searched out a place close to Zelda to lay down. In the dimly lit room he searched for her hand and squeezed it once.
Despite not talking about it, he knew it bothered Zelda that she couldn't make any progress in their research.
That feeling only got confirmed when she gently squeezed back and never let go of his hand, until they had both fallen asleep.