Zelda, followed by Impa reunited with Marth and Roy, who we’re now wearing Hylian blue tunics, and Link dressed with his Hylian knight garments.
Link greeted on a formal way, staying silent the rest of the time until princess arrival. , it’s not that he felt like socialising with “famous handsome fiancé”, who would be with the girl he never imagined loving that way.
From a special portal, using Sheikah tablet, they were transported to the outskirts of Gerudo dessert. Urbosa’s old friend, Kouka was already waiting for them.
-“That’s wicked mate! This Sheikah artefact, such a good invention” Roy enthusiastically said, never knowing teleportation before. Marth was also overwhelmed by it, as Altea did not have that kind of “transportation”
“Sav’otta! As you must know, it is an urgent matter, so I need you to accompany me into the village” the tall Gerudo said.
Zelda looked at Kouka, and then to her companions. They could not enter Gerudo’s village, as they were man, or voe as they called them
-“It’s better to follow Gerudo’s law, man’s access is forbidden, so you should wait for me here...”
Foreseeing this, Kouka interrupted
-“Princess, if you agree we could give them special vai clothes so they could enter, and we would save ourselves a lot of time...”
-“Lets do this princess, I see your concern, so I don’t mind changing Hylian clothes for Gerudo ones” He immediately proposed, entering Kouka’s tent.
-“Well... maybe it’s not like...” she answered dubious, looking towards Link, who avoided nervously her eyes, following Marth and Roy who were already undressing.
-“This is kind of a joke” Roy’s voice was heard trough the tent, laughing.
-“You have to admit that as a red head look more Gerudo-ish” he laughed again, after a moment the Altea royals came out of the tent. Zelda, who was drinking water from a bottle, started coughing and choke a bit from the impression.
-“Well, how do we look with veils? “ Roy asked moving his hands as if he was dancing, to wich made Zelda laugh sincerely. They were both wearing traditional Gerudo’s outfit, a blue top with golden engravings, a veil covering their heads and face with hanging ornaments leaving only their eyes exposed, a small jewel hanged in the middle of their foreheads. The pants were kind of bloomers, so they had their abdomen exposed, but their arms were covered by delicate silk sleeves.
-“I think you are completely approved” Kouka affirmed, smiling pleased. “If your skin wasn’t as white, and your hair so blue, for the stature you could be a Gerudo vai, your face factions are really refined, aren’t they?”
Still smiling Zelda nodded, after all she didn’t expect the prince to accept this kind of requests just like that
-“Well, this is the most femenine side you’ll see of me” he said while adjusting the veil, blushing under it.
At the end, Link joined them, he wore a green top and a similar veil, which left Zelda, Roy and Kouka open-mouthed
-“It’s your turn princess” she said pulling from her arm and taking her into the tent. “I have something special for you, sent by Urbosa herself.
-“But I don’t...” she said nervously.
-“Come on, come on! If we are Gerudo for a day, guided by a Sheika you have to have similar outfits so you don’t stand out”
Within minutes, a blushing Zelda appeared, closing her arms in front of her, covering her tiny abdomen on a shy posture, she never wore something so light, but she was kind of grateful, as the sun was starting to rise and you could feel the intense heat of the dessert.
-“Isn’t she beautiful?” Kouka said smiling, and presented her with a pony tail, similar to Gerudo’s, with a pale pink top, golden accents and a similar veil, a white hip bloomer pant, both Link and Marth blushed on sight, Roy smiled making the seven veil dance.
-“Don’t look!” She said embarrassed with a nervous laugh, looking the surprised faces, especially Link’s.
“Now I feel less embarrassment, as we are wearing the same Princess, this outfit fits you beautifully” Marth said smiling, offering his hand so she could step down the small rock stair outside the tent, and held her for a minute, something Link wasn’t happy with, and without a word he reached out the Sheika tablet to Zelda, so she had to release Marth’s hand.
-“Thanks Link, let’s proceed to the village”
Marth was a good observer, so he didn’t ignored this event.
Impa went into the village with them and decided she should get more information, so she left Zelda in Urbosa’s care, determining they would meet in a couple of days.
Urbosa was overflowing with happiness when she saw Zelda wearing the outfit she sent, and admired watching Link in Gerudo’s outfit, she almost didn’t recognised him.
-“You look charming Princess, I know certain appointed knight would not be indifferent towards this” she said, giving Link a wink, while she blushed.
-“Urbosa, please allow me to introduce to you my Fiancé”
-“Fiancé!? What did I miss? You are not wasting time! I always knew that you two...
-“He is Marth!! Prince of Altea!” She quickly interrupted, as Urbosa was assuming in advance she was talking about Link, and she liked to tease them about it.
-“Oh! Sa’oten, My goodness! This is a surprise, you are a voe! I thought you were a beautiful vai from the west” she told Marth, shaking his hand, watching Link sideways.
-“I suppose it’s lucky we met under this circumstances” he answered smiling.
-“Such a curious accent!” She said with animosity, sitting then on a big cushion surrounding a table with fresh incense and cold water, so the guests followed.
-“Everything happened near the subterranean water well, the one we use to irrigation of the fields, all the new sprouts began dying, even the flowers and cactus began withering, three of my best explorers went down to look for the cause of this, maybe the water spring was being contaminated, and they never came back... it gives me a bad feeling, Princess I sent down several search and rescue teams without success”
-“It will be better to go personally, maybe I could feel some dark power in the well”
The team walked to the wet zone of the water wells, going down a big ladder with some torches to light the way down, Marth and Roy insisted to go along too.
Trying to distract herself, Zelda summoned triforce power raising her hand, a light shining arised, lighting the way in the same manner than the torches they carried.
-“I can’t feel any presence” lowering her eyes, she took her hand to her chest, holding both hands to her heart.
After walk-in about an hour, Urbosa claimed
-“I might be imagining things, but I think I heard something” She lit her torch ahead, and a black goo turned off the fire completely, it was an eyeless creature, so it wasn’t a jelly choo.
-“What the hell..!” Exclaimed, snapping her fingers to cast lighting without any effect on the creature. She then tried to cut it with her double edge sword, wich stuck to the goo, sucking it.
Marth Link and Roy unsheathed their swords, as Roy atacked frontally with a fire thrust, but that only angered the beast, at the same time as if they were coordinated, Link and Marth attacked up, wich divided the creature in two parts, one of them went right to Urbosa’s ankle, the more she tried to release herself, the more tight she was imprisoned by it, going up her leg.
Zelda tried to summon her power, but a feeling that she shouldn’t think about him or her love for him, he was forbidden, he was going to voluntarily marry someone else, so her hand would only emit a soft ball of light, there was nothing she could do, in a second the creature trapped her leg and she fell to the ground, hitting herself on the rocks, the creature quickly advanced to her waist.
Link felt despair, he had to do something before this thing ate both of the girls.
While Marth tried to pull Zelda out, Link took out a few ice arrows and shot the black flap adhered to the champion. Soon the creature freezed and with a thrust Roy broke it into pieces.
He repeated the procedure with the left part of the goo to release the princess, and as they broke it, on its insides the shapes of three inconcious Gerudo were seen.
“¡Sa’oten! In the name of the Goddess!” Urbosa said, raising up quickly and checking on the young girls laying on the ground.
“It seems that thing stole their energy, they are alive but unconscious, we need to get them up and hidrate them, before we find out if we really killed this bastard”
The three guys help carrying the girls into their backs, and went back to the city. Marth couldn’t help but notice that the princess had several wounds on her shoulder.
-“Princess! You are severely wounded!” He said as his hand was about to touch the naked shoulder of the young girl to look at the bleeding, being interrupted by Link’s arm, who prevented his hand from touching her, holding the Prince’s hand.
-“Don’t... You’r highness, please refrain from touching the wound, it might get infected” Link expressed, with a quick uncomfortable silence until Urbosa broke the moment with a loud voice.
-“Ara! We have to get this wound treated, follow me, I’ll take you to my chambers”
Ther Gerudo girls were being treated on the nursery, and they assigned a room near Urbosa’s chambers to the boys.
-“You worry a lot about the princess, Link” ... Marth affirmation was made looking at him front, as Roy was making his bed on the corner of the room.
-“It’s part of my job” he coldly answered, looking the other side to the window. Not even Revali made him feel this annoyed like this guy.
-“Not a problem then commander, from now on it’s my job, after all she is my betrothed”
-“Oy! What are you on about?” Roy came, he sensed the tense ambient, and they were front to front.
-“Nothing, I’ll go and check on Vah Naboris” Link retired making a small bow and went through the balcony, going down the stairs.
-“I wonder what is he talking about? Vah Nawbee..what?
With a confused face, Roy looked at Link abandoning the room.
-“More than that, I’m interested on the ice magic they used in the arrow, they are different from Altea’s”
-“I’ve seen ice magic before, but never in an arrow, do you remember that dragon we went after?” Roy said
-“And I suspect there is more than that, Hyrule is filled with magic, when the kingdoms unite, think of all the power we could get, I read there are also dragons here...”
-“So... you are thinking seriously on marrying Zelda and have a lot of kids?” Row asked yawning
Don’t be a wanker! What are you thinking about!? Said Marth blushing fiercely while Roy went into a bed and covered himself with a blanket
Leaving the royals behind, Link went down the valley to the place where Vah Naboris was. He climbed up to the top and after sitting for a while looking into the dessert, felt someone’s presence behind him, relaxing when he saw it was Urbosa.
-“Sav’orr! Heroe... are you gonna let her go just like that?” she stood behind him
-“There’s not much I can do...” he answered looking down, then he realized Urbosa was talking about a purple rupee about to fall from his pocket to one of the lumps of the big camel, grabbing it at the last moment.
Urbosa, with a sassy smile sat next to him.
-“It would be perfect if you could just take whatever you want into your pocket, wouldn’t it? Even the heart of a certain princess” she told, stretching her hands to the sky. Link just blushed.
-“I wouldn’t... besides she already has someone...” he answered avoiding to look at her.
-“Well, it’s a progress, at least you realized yourself you r-e-a-l-l-y care about her... huh? appointed knight? “
-“I don’t.... I mean... damn! Is it that obvious? I would give my life for her no doubt...”
-“It’s as clear as water” the chief of the Gerudo laughed. “Probably clear since before Ganon even appeared, but you were the one who didn’t realise it, It still bugs me that she accepted the proposal of that voe prince... Marth is it? It’s strange, he came out of nowhere. I would have bet my right hand she only had eyes for a single knight, I’ll find out about it”
-“No, Urbosa, I think it’s better not to complicate things...”
-“So, are you gonna let her go just like that?” She pointed at his pocket, which made Link turn quickly to verify his rupees weren’t falling, but the bag was perfectly closed.
-“You should tell her how you feel Link, I’m sure that would make her happy, I don’t think she realises you care for her not out of duty, but out of love, more than she thinks of”
That word made the knight nervous, with a red face.
-“I... don’t know, I’m not sure it’s the proper time now that she has a Prince to marry”
Come on! If you wait for the proper time, a hundred year will pass, when will it be? When she is married? You can’t take your time hero!” She said out loud while going down the sacred beast, Link could not sleep that night, and he just dozed on the top of Vah Naboris.
The next day Zelda slowly opened her eyes, she had some trouble waking up, and the moment her lids were open, she found someone in front of her, a familiar silhouette.
-“Li...” she managed to pronounce before she was completely awake, and the blurring shadow became clear. It was Marth, who was closely watching her, standing on the side of her bed, surprised she sat on the bed.
-“Good morning” the prince said with a smile
-“Princess, I assume you must be exhausted, as you slept so much”
-“What time is it?” She asked rubbing her eyes, she felt as if she had slept a few minutes.
-“It must be past supper, I brought you some refreshments from the table, you haven’t had taken anything since yesterday “ he said as he took the tray to the bed.
“Oh, thanks but it’s better if I get up already...” she mentioned, feeling spoiled by the sovereign, but the moment she tried to stand up, the force on her legs went away and she could have fallen if it wasn’t for Marth, who was near to support her, kneeling down he embraced her.
-“It’s better if you rest more your highness, it seems you are a bit weak”
-“I’m fine...” she said taking his shoulder to stand, looking into his eyes, they were dark blue, contrary to Link’s reckleness, his eyes had a calming effect.
When she was about to get up, the prince carried her on his arms firmly, walking some steps to the table.
-“Marth! Stop! I’m not a baby, put me down please”
-“I refuse... until you accept to rest some more. Besides it’s not the first time I carry you like this” he answered with a smile looking at her amused “It makes me happy that you called me by my first name, can I do the same?”
-“I ... guess you can, as long as you put me down” she said blushing while avoiding his eyes, she didn’t realized she just called his name, and he must be referring to the incident with the alcohol she had, that time she didn’t remember how she got to her bed.
-“Ok then, Zelda” still smiling, the prince walked again to the bed, putting her down with ease, the moment Link and Urbos came in from the door.
-“What the!” Link said walking protectively whe he saw the blue haired man (who he disliked even more) with his hands on the princess.
-“How did the investigation went?” Marth asked, letting the princess on her bed to sit up.
-“Ther is no trace of the creature... but in our way back, Link found something you’d like Princess” Urbosa said, as Link went to his bag to take out some hydromelons and honey, and began preparing it cutting the fruit with a small knife.
-“Honey! Thanks, along with hydromelon is one of my favourites! She mentioned as her stomach growled, having had no food in the day.
-“I don’t know what is happening,... maybe I’m just tired” she said, taking a piece of the hydromelon with honey that Link prepared.
-“Maybe it’s your moon bleeding?” Urbosa asked casually, to wich Zelda blushed and the boys looked away.
-“Anyway, I’ll make the doctor come and check on you , it’s not normal you have so low energy, and I don’t know if I’m imagining things, but the power from the triforce on you, it’s quite weak...”
The princess nodded, she felt as she ran a marathon in the desert, and consciously she knew, what she felt about Link was forbidden, which prevented her from trying to express her power and the voice that resonated from the triforce was more distant every day.
-“There is not a prudent medical explanation, it seems like fatigue, Princess, you’ll have to be periodically taking this energy potion”
Gerudo’s medical doctor seemed concerned, after checking the young princess. Impa who was getting back from her own investigation. She also seemed worried about her health.
-“It’s better if we visit Kakariko’s village in our way back, maybe Prunia can lead us in the cause of your tiredness, if it’s triforce related, she’ll know what to do” Impa felt something was wrong, so she suggested that, thy would go to Akkala before returning to Hyrule.
-“We’ll see each other soon!” Urbosa said her farewells,
Once everything was ready, they went to a Kakariko’s near spot, using the Sheikah tablet. Impa’s friend, Prunia had her investigation lab there, they met on Impa’s house.
-“I like this place, we can dress manly here” Roy said, walking in the Kakariko’s village, admiring the beautiful waterfalls in the back of a big mansion with an amazing garden, to wich they accessed trough a wooden stair. Prunia was a young intelectual woman, she was assisted by a teenager called Rotver.
-“I’ll have to make some blood tests Princess, come with me please” Prunia said, taking her to the u
“Would you say there is something you might relate to your symptoms your highness?” She asked while adjusting a rubber around her arm
“It may be... related to feeling, you know...” she answered dubiously, not knowing how to express her idea.
“Feelings... you mean about your engagement?” She asked pulling a fine needle and punturing the princess arm to obtain a blood sample on a special container.
“I ... believe it’s about unrequited feelings...” she said, thinking about Link and Mipha. A moment later prince Marth came into the room opening the sliding door at the entrance.
“I was wondering how do you analyse blood, I’m sorry for intruding, I’ve never heard of such thing before in Altea” and as they went into an animated chatting, Zelda wondered how much did the prince hear about the previous talking, holding her arm on the puncture wound while Impa game into the room.
“It’s highly adviced for you to keep resting while we have some results, please Princess you have to do so”
“And so it’ll be” Impa stated before she could say something.
They went horseback riding on their way to Hyrule, as Roy and Marth insisted to meet some of the roads of Hyrule, they game back to the castle in half a day, just to find out a Zora ambassador was waiting for them to return.
-“I’m sorry to be intruding, I already presented the case to the council and they asked me to wait for you, your highness”
-“What is it about?” Link asked, knowing Zelda had to keep rest, and shouldn’t bother herself with this matters .
-“We can’t locate princess Mipha, that’s why the King sent me urgently to ask for your assistance, an strange creature was seen in the outskirts and it might be about something else”
Everyone kept silent due to surprise. This was unexpected, after all she was one of the champions, and under the protection of the Zora’s land that was so peaceful.
-“I must part immediately” Link said, checking his arrow stock and sword
Zelda look at him, taking her hands to her chest. She was worried about Mipha, and the commander’s reaction somehow made her feel in pain Why, why can I just simply accept it? His heart belongs to someone else, that person is missing, it’s logical he goes to look for her
Impa looked at the princess directly almost begging
-“Princess Zelda, it’s better if you stay here, I don’t consider it a good time to expose yourself again to this danger, until we know the results of the blood sample”
-“It’s better if you go....” she sadly expressed, handling the Sheikah tablet to Link, “Use it as long as you need”
-“Thanks, I think I should get going...”
-“Zelda, is it possible for my cousin to go along with the commander?” Marth asked, and to Link’s desmay he called the princess by her first name, something even he wouldn’t do not because of confidence but the hierarchy prevented him to do so, he never had even imagined to refer to her with such confidence.
-“Hey! I love new adventures. Aren’t you comming Marth?” Roy asked willingly.
-“I’d prefer to spend more time with Zelda, I trust you in this mission, Roy” He said, putting a hand on his shoulder and looking at Link directly, who only made a slight grimace looking away, Zelda was strangled by the prince actions.
-“You’ll lose it! Come on commander Link!”
-“Just Link it’s ok, Salif, lets go back to Zora’s city, excuse us your highness” Link said looking down and walking to an open area to transport along with Zora’s messenger and Roy.
-“Impa, please let Revali know” The princess asked, and she went after to the dining hall, escorted by Marth, as Impa took care of the remaining things to do’
At the dining hall, the princess barely touched her food, and answered with monosyllabic to the conversation the prince tried to have, a small tear came down her cheek.
-“Zelda, you may not want to talk about what’s worrying you, but I think your eyes do not lie” Marth came near her table side from the other edge.
-“I’m ok, I’m just tired...” she said faking a smile
-“You are gutted because of your feelings for the commander, aren’t you?” The question was quite direct, making her look at him alarmed.
-“Why should I? That’s unthinkable! And what does gutted mean anyway?!” She said looking away nervous, as the tears began flowing down more and more every time until her crying was continuous, Marth offered a handkerchief and made a sign for the remaining maids behind them to go and prepare some tea, leaving them alone in the big room, once she calmed down a little, he looked at her up front and continued.
-“”Zelda, could you fall in love with me?” He asked with a frank face and took her hand, she watched him in surprise without saying a word.
-“I know the bethrotal does not mean you have to reciprocate my feelings... but for me, the little time I have met you, I realized I want to protect you, I admire your dedication for the kingdom and the people, your braveness and courage, and above all, who you are, so I consider myself quite flucky to have your hand in marriage, but I’d like it to be more than an agreement, I would like to court you properly, even if I know your heart belongs in other place”
The prince held Zelda’s hand firmly, a second later he got near with the intention to kiss her. She still couldn’t believe her ears. She never had been in that situation where someone declared the intention to woo her, and she haven’t had her fist kiss yet. She kept asking herself How did he knew she loved Link? Shouldn’t that make him walk away? Why was he acting like this?
A few inches from kissing, before their lips made contact, the noise from the doors opening with tea and some desserts interrupted them.
-“Mart.. how did you find out about...? He is going to marry the same girl from the Zora’s kingdom who disappeared” she told while they served some sweet bread and rose tea from Altea
-“I realized, despite your kingdom is prosper, and problems are solved, you suffer day by day, besides you told me some things the day of the celebration I carried you to your room along with Impa, and I overheard something when Prunia was taking your blood sample”
-“Could you consider it? This is the first time I’m so certain of something, and it’s also the first time I declare myself to anyone...” The prince said, looking away a bit shy with a slightly blushed face.
Zelda could only see honesty. The foreigner, after a month or so of knowing her, opened himself to her, she felt he wasn’t capable of hurting her, something made her feel safe around him. She stood up and dismissed the maids,, then she walked to the big window looking into Hyrule’s twilight.
-“I can’t promise you a lot... Marth, you’ll see, I haven’t told anyone, but my power and the will to save this kingdom came from my feelings for Li....”
The prince approached without her ending the phrase and hugged her, she was surprised and remained still.
-“Can you forget about him? I know it’s selfish from me, but I want to help you. Come with me, to Altea, I’ll introduce you to my parents, you’ll know your future kingdom, maybe that way you’ll have a change of feelings, or maybe that way you’ll have eyes for me”
Go with him to Altea? She never occurred that possibility, to go away from Hyrule, to go away from ... Link.
-“I don’t know, I didn’t expected this so... so soon...” she stuttered, so much in so little time was overwhelming.
-“It might be rushed l, but please you should meditate this, I’m willing to wait for you, my Princess Zelda” and in the hug they shared, he left a sweet and gentle kiss on her cheek, why kept her eyes wide, and took her hands to her chest again. He kissed her, her first kiss from someone not family related. Maybe it wasn’t in her lips, but it was something that would not leave her mind so easily.
Thanks for reading!!! I was a bit lazy with the greyscale, and some pics are old. Give some love to Zelink
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