BotW Zelink Oneshots

Submersed in Sorrow (G)

"Curse you..."

I started at the harsh collision of her hands and the water, which contrasted her ever meagre tone of voice.

"I've spent every day of my life dedicated to praying. And still the holy powers have proven deaf to my devotion." The princess had requested that I take her to the Spring of Power with the hope that it would finally awaken something within her. As always, she was praying with every living fibre in her body. My grasp on the hilt of my sword hardened. Although I didn't consider myself a particularly spiteful person, I was starting to share her resentment toward the spirits for their cold disregard of her in this time of desperation. "Please, just tell me... What is it? What's wrong with me?!"

At hearing the sheer hopelessness and self-doubt trembling in her words, I turned around without even thinking, seeing her with her head lowered and her arms wrapped around herself, trying her hardest not to break. Before long, her shoulders began to shiver, and I could barely make out, over the constant roar of the waterfalls surrounding the spring, the sound of gentle weeping.

Without sparing a thought for whatever deity claimed to inhabit this spring, I sheathed my blade and rushed to her side. I placed a hand on her shoulder and realized she was cold as ice. She turned around to face me with tears in her eyes. "Link...?"

I held my arms out to her, and she shuffled into my embrace with the mannerisms of a young child who'd lost her way. She held onto me with all the strength she could muster. Her body trembled violently with every gasp and sob. All I could do, as her tears soaked through the fabric of my tunic, was hold her close, hoping it was enough to give her a little bit of comfort.

"All I want..." she started. "All I want is to be of use to you." I gave her a gentle squeeze, her face buried in my shoulder. "What if, because of me, the Calamity...gets the best of you and the other champions? Then everyone will—" She was cut off by the frailty of her own voice, causing it to break. She held onto me even tighter, choking back a sob. "I'm so afraid..." My heart took a dive. "I don't want to be the reason f...for you and so many people to..."

"You won't, Princess," I interrupted as another bout of sobs overtook her. "You mustn't worry about me. The others will have my back, and I'll have theirs." She looked me in the eyes through her own swollen and red ones. I held her damp cheeks in my palms, tucking a few strands of hair that had adhered to her face behind her ear. "All I want," I whispered, caressing the soft skin of her cheeks, "is to keep you safe from harm. That is my only wish."

I placed a kiss onto her frigid, quivering lips. She returned it with another, one that lingered for far longer than the previous. When it ended, her eyes met mine, and she began crying all over again, falling limp in my arms. That night, I made a silent vow to always be there for her, no matter what circumstances would befall us.