┋| • LINK. • |┋
———— ♕┊ THE RIGHT WORDS had always served an important purpose to him—— for words had always carried a BURDEN upon them ( with expectant eyes upon him ). But even with shards of memories delicately placed together in his mind, the burden before had LIFTED. Yet Zelda still many times rendered him…speechless. For what could he say to her? For months he endeavoured to look upon her smile once more, but…would it be HIM that she would smile toward?
Could he ever hold a candle to the man he once was?
Yet first and foremost, her care was his priority and not even a royal decree would deter him from PROPERLY taking care of her. Dismounting his chestnut coated horse, he’s quick to offer her a hand to help the princess off as well. EXHAUSTION wracked his body yet her own well being was first ( he couldn’t even imagine how fatigued she was ).
WORRY flitted through his mind as azure hues set upon the small cottage. It was no place suited for…royalty… especially for one as divine as Zelda. But it was the only place he had for the time being. It was no time to be FLUSTERED over sharing a home with her when anxiety instead slowly crept up. Worries of whether this was adequate enough or not. Would she grow tired? Was it HIM that she wanted to be with…? Or did she want him to return back to the ever stoic, ever loyal knight he once was.
He was the same knight but…he nearly felt stranger to his own body. As if he RIPPED away the opportunities and life of the one he once was.
Attention settling upon golden tresses spun of gold, there’s HESITATION but a small nod. Perhaps if the question had been posed a century prior…then he would have struggled. But in his journal…in his mind…in his words, he had always referred to her as ZELDA. …Zelda, the true hero of Hyrule.
❝ I will draw you a bath then and start the fire. ❞ A pause as he opens the door to the home ( a quaint, tidied place with a table set for two ). ❝ Please make yourself comfortable…Zelda. ❞
WARMTH ghosted over his cheeks and he’s quick to turn away, gaze cast elsewhere from her. ❝ I…I will be back soon. ❞ And quick as ever, he’s out of sight and toward the back of the home. Now was NOT the time to have thoughts improper to the situation!
◦┋| •♕• |┋◦
The closer she drew to the home, the more Zelda’s heart felt at ease. Of course, the size and the grandeur were little compared to her castle home; but that place was now left in ruin and rubble, and a small quaint place... was exactly what she needed after the events prior. Hateno village was a place that Ganon had not been able to touch, and dwelling on that fact reassured her even more that she hadn’t failed her kingdom fully.
Smiling warmly as Link spoke her name, she couldn’t help but feel humored as well. She was all too familiar with his mannerisms at this point in time, noting the flush in his cheeks and how he was quick to withdraw from the intimate situation out of embarrassment. Years ago she would have been the same, but now... she’s spent such a vast amount of time yearning for him that she was going to take any chance that presented itself to her.
With a soft ‘thank you’, the princess allowed Link to retreat to the back to prepare what he needed. Zelda, however, took the time to explore the cozy interiors of his home. It was well decorated, just as she had seen before. But seeing it all in person for the first time was strangely soothing, standing in a place that Link called home... she could see the weapons of the deceased champions hung on the walls, which brought a whole new warmth to gather within her chest.
Turning, she walked up the stairs to the upper loft part of the home, where Link’s desk and bed resided. With the light pouring in through the windows, the home almost seemed dreamlike. It felt surreal, having waited over one hundred years and to finally be free of her battle. To have the chance to be with Link in person, with him alive and well and all to herself for even just a bit...
Sitting upon his bed, the princess found herself melting into the mattress and burying her face within his pillows. His smell was faint, as he hadn’t been here in a while, but it still had his scent. Mostly of sweat and grass, but still his nonetheless. Without meaning to, Zelda had begun to drift off; a gentle smile resting upon her face as her dreams ran wild with thoughts and gentle fantasies of Link himself. Body relaxing for the first time in a century, Zelda’s heart found a peace so unfamiliar that it made her dreams the sweetest and softest they’d ever been, still so occupied with Link even when he was just a few feet away.
