Chapter Text
She hates him. She absolutely loathes him. His stupid blonde ponytail, perfect tan skin paired with eyes so blue they could be pieces of the sky over Rito village. She blames him for her fall, her father’s disappointment in her. His waning trust was transferred over to her newly appointed knight.
She knows her father likes him, most people do. They love the sunshine he brings everywhere with him, despite his common silence. He rarely talks, mostly listens. She can’t help but take her rage out on him. Avoiding him at every cost, refusing to acknowledge his presence when she has to be with him. Urbosa has tried many times to sway her opinion of the knight. She sees Zelda’s anger and frustration for what it really is. Fear.
Zelda fears that with Link’s skill set, and the champions, She won’t be a necessary asset to sealing away Calamity Ganon. She still refuses to listen to reason, and won’t let him follow her on her expeditions, despite his orders to protect her. She is now realizing the stupidity in her decision to leave him behind as she frantically sprints through the Gerudo Highlands, pursued by a member of the Yiga Clan.
She’s panicking, whipping her head from left to right to seek an escape route while the sheikah slate slaps against her thigh with every stumbling step over the rough rocks. The rocky terrain is difficult for someone as inexperienced as her to maneuver, but the masked figures - decked in blood-red - streak across it with practiced ease, quickly gaining on the frantic princess.
She trips, tumbling head over heels to land gracelessly, desperately crawling away from the Yiga Clan Member. Two more red-clothed, scythe-swinging people step out on either side of her. She whimpers, realizing that this won’t have a good outcome for her. She desperately searches for a way out, carefully sizing up the encroaching assailants. One steps quickly forward, raising its blade, flashing light across her face from the afternoon sun. She throws her arms across her face as the blade lowers, and the sound of metal on metal causes her to open her eyes again. A lean muscular figure is standing in front of her, the sword to seal the darkness drawn, his body shielding her from harm's way.
“He didn’t even hesitate to protect me, he was there in an instant, without even having to think despite how horrible I’ve been to him.” She thought, silently vowing to make it up to him.
Link turned, extending his hand to her, after thoroughly checking that the attackers were dead. She gripped it firmly and he pulled her up in one swift movement, the force causing her to lurch on her toes.
Zelda hesitates a moment, the slate swaying at her hip, and she tucks a few strands of hair behind her ears before
“Thank you,” She smiled softly at him, brushing the dust off of her pants with shaky hands while her voice wavered. “All I’ve been is ungrateful, and… I’m sorry. I’ll do my best to make it up to you.”
She met his eyes for the very first time and found them to be warm bottomless pools of comfort, and he smiled slightly nodding to gesture that her words had been heard.
“We should probably go back to the castle.” He cleared his throat, gesturing towards his own horse. His voice was surprisingly deep, for such a feminine face, startling her slightly.
“We should,” She sighed, “I wonder what father will say when he hears about this,” She frowned, already imagining the lecture she was going to get and the endless praise that will be showered upon the knight.
“I won’t tell him if you don’t,” He murmured, mounting his horse. He stretched out his hand to her, and she took it again with a smile on her face. He pulled her up as she swung her leg over the horse to sit in front of him, Link’s arms loosely place around her waist to reach the reigns.
“Let’s go!” She cheered, internally thanking Hylia for the gift of Link’s silence, and hoped to the gods that no Gerudo had seen the incident.
Link clicked his tongue behind her, his arms slipping loosely around her to reach the reins and steer his horse in the direction of the Kingdom. She felt a strange feeling in her chest as they rode home in the dusk. It soon turned to darkness and he wrapped his cloak around her and she cursed her heart for speeding up as he did so.
“Aren’t you cold?” She asked, silently wishing that he would take it back so she couldn’t smell the cedar and pine that lingered on his cloak.
“No. Urbosa would murder me if anything happened to you,” he responded, leaning forward to see better over her head. She blushed, opening and closing her mouth in embarrassment. He smiled to himself, mildly amused with having left such an opinionated princess quiet for once.