can officially say i am done with (summer) school and that eternity ch. 1 is in the works :3 i had so much desire to write and now i finally can and ofc the desire goes away lol but i'm gonna make it happen!!
he was a child of peace. he came from a place that didn't know anything more dangerous than chuchus and keese. the main thing skyloft's knights did was save people who fell off the edge. and even among these gentle people, link was especially known for his laziness. he had a special bond with his loftwing, but for the most part he was like anyone else on skyloft.
and yet you take this average teenage boy and drop him in totally unfamiliar territory. you put him up against all kinds of beasts that surely he could never have even imagined. you force him to just keep on going far past the point where anyone else would have broken. and somehow-somehow-he manages to survive. not just to survive, but to kill an actual god. fi says that the goddess' chosen hero was to have "an unbreakable spirit." and sure enough, he doesn't break. he goes through hell and horror to save the girl he loves (no matter what kind of love you believe it to be) because there is no other way.
every link faces an uphill battle, but this one doesn't even have the benefit of precedent. he does not know that other boys like him will someday save their best friends/princesses/beloveds; he does not know that his success-and his failure, too-will reverberate down through the ages. he only knows that he loves someone and does not want to lose her. legends are built on love...
I don't care what anyone says... Skyward Sword Link is one of my favorite versions of Link.
Not only is he the OG, but he's also genuinely one of the best portrayed. Like he's a Link who has way more emotion and soul put into him and it fucking infuriates me that these fans in the LOZ community hated Skyward Sword so much when it came out.
Skyward Link is one of the few Links who feels like he could be a real person. He's literally some lazy ass dork who is essentially a nepo baby because his bff and soulmate is Zelda and then is forced to buck up and actually do something. Not only that, but SS Link has the best character model AND expressions (in my opinion)
Also just a quick side note; this Link is the only incarnation of Link who I wanna give a forehead kiss and a big fluffy blanket because he looks EXHAUSTED all the time. Which makes sense, because he's having like the worst week/month of his life actively, but god does this poor guy need a fucking hug and a nap.
oh my goodness i'm so sorry for the lack of interaction-- i am currently in summer school for nursing and working at the same time, so needless to say my schedule has been the most hectic it's ever been at this point in time. i hope to get the first chapter if eternity out after school finishes... it's crazy how much i want to write but don't have the time, but i'll try my best! ₊˚⊹ᰔ
today is just one of those days that puts so many things into perspective. my dad passed away a couple of years ago to this day and the one thing i always think back on is how much i loved watching him play the legend of zelda, whether it was twilight princess, skyward sword, wind waker, ocarina of time, or breath of the wild. tears of the kingdom was the first game we never got to play together, and being able to play it for him today just made me reflect on the short time i was given with him.
although our relationship was anything but perfect, i would give anything to live through our memories together again. to be able to sit on the couch and watch him solve puzzles that i always thought were impossible to overcome. he was the most brilliant, most courageous man i ever knew. i am so grateful to have been called his daughter and i hope that someday i will be able to sit with him and play our special game together one day.
thank you so much for giving me this beautiful game and beautiful memories together dad ₊˚⊹ᰔ
warnings: none so far! potential allusions to intimate relations in the future [minors beware!]
synopsis [post skyward-sword]:
seven years following the eradication of demise, zelda has assumed responsibility for the recreation of the kingdom that once claimed the surface. the hero of sky has long abandoned the people of skyloft, now the people of a growing hyrule. when he suddenly reappears, finding ways to ingratiate himself back into the hearts of his old friends, will zelda find it within herself to forgive the heartbreak he has caused? or will she find herself losing her people and the hero of sky once more to an ever looming threat...
The passing breeze caressed Zelda's pale skin as she stood proudly atop the Goddess' cemented palms. Her eyes found Groose and his lackeys mounting their loftwings underneath the shadow of the great statue. Her ears were attuned to the gentle plucking of harp strings emanating from the harp being plucked just behind her. And her heart, the part of her body she depended and trusted most, was solely attentive to her best friend; her hero. Except he wasn't hers. He was a hero to every soul that existed on The Surface. He had saved the entire population of every race known to the land. And every last bit of his journey, the humor, the trials, and the suffering, was a result of the because of the fate her predecessor had instilled within his soul eons ago.
Lowering her hands, Zelda ran her fingers over the sacred bracelet she had been gifted only weeks ago by her beloved friend, Impa. A soft smile played at her lips, reminiscing in old memories that were not hers but the Goddess' that gave rebirth to herself in Zelda, destined to fulfill the end of Hylia's mission long before she was conceived. It was all apart of fate, Zelda reminded herself. Only good could come from this unexpected journey. Thoughts of Fi, Impa, and her savior devoured her mind, bringing to fruition the thoughts of all of the wonderful, however stressful, times she had shared alongside them. With those times came dark, overbearing experiences; their deaths and sacrifices ever present in her busy mind. But she pushed those thoughts as best she could to the back of her mind. There was no use to sink deeper into her grief, for they would only bring out the worst of her. What she needed was to reach the light at the end of the tunnel, to appreciate the decisions they made for the sake of her life and for those around them. That was the only way she would be able to rebuild the former kingdom of The Surface and ensure their lives were not laid to rest in vain.
Zelda spotted her new friends below the statue begin to lift off the ground with their feathered steeds. Her eyes sparkled with joy to see them with expressive smiles and deep laughter. Such happiness did not even exist hours before now, with the importance of Demise's eradication weighing heavily on minds of the people involved in the dire situation. The repetitive tune that filled both hers and the hero's sharp ears stilled to an abrupt end. The trio of Groose, Cawlin, and Strich floated by the Statue of The Goddess and waved what felt like a final goodbye. Zelda waved in return, hoping this would not be the last time she ever saw the young men as they disappeared up into the white clouds she had looked down on her whole life.
Gusts of gentle wind blew through strands of her matted, gold hair. Her skin felt refreshed and the scent of trees and soil was inhaled by her nostrils. It was a beautiful feeling, wind and scent combining to exemplify her love for the land she happened to fall upon, marking only the beginning of her wild expedition upon The Surface. It was something that the clouds of Sky could not provide. Something that only The Surface could create. The craving for this feeling let her heart finally decide the answer to the question her heart had been teasing herself with since the defeat of Demise and his minions.
Her precious, glowing metal hair bands landed harshly on her collarbone as she turned to face the person she had grown to adore care for even more - if that was even possible - in the recent journey they shared. All hesitation compressed deep within her chest vanished within milliseconds. Zelda was ready. She was ready to tell him what she desired... and what she hoped would come with it.
"Look around us!" Zelda exclaimed with delight. "As a child, I always dreamed of a world below. I wanted to see the surface and feel the land's warm breeze against my skin." She twirled in her place with a small smile, embracing the rays of the sun beating on the two of them. She came to a stop and gazed at him once more with a warm gaze. "I... I think I want to live here. I always want to feel solid ground beneath my feet, see the clouds above my head, and watch over the Triforce."
"What about you, Link?" She asked sweetly, giving him a smile filled with love and compassion, but most of all hope. "What will you do now?"
The various expressions displayed on his face gave her no clue as to what he would say. Or how he would respond. First came the bright smile with his familiar chuckle, one that plucked the heart strings on her heart so tenderly. Then came the look of pure sadness and frustration. It puzzled Zelda. She couldn't tell what he was pondering at the time. The feeling of hope that wind and scent had provided her was replaced with nervous anticipation. She could only will herself to whisper a few more words to Link, in fear she would speak a word that would cause further uneasiness between them.
"Will you stay with me, my hero?" She breathed out desperately, extending her hand to him as she had in the Sealed Temple only days before, and praying not to scare him away.
Silence continued to fill the small distance between them. The only audible sound was of the wind whistling against her ears. All tension was washed by the breeze, leaving an unusual ease between the two. She awaited his answer, arm still extended, reaching to him with a hesitant expression. She chewed on her bottom lip, praying to the gods for him to say something she wanted to hear, as selfish as she knew that it sounded.
Link took a step forward with a placid face. The twine of anxiety grew stronger in her stomach. Her hair continued to partner with the wind in a wild dance as the distance between them became nonexistent. Her arm slowly lowered upon his approach, unsure of what to anticipate. The hero extended his finger and thumb, gripping a strand of Zelda's hair and sliding it behind her ear. His face slid closer until she could feel his hot breath against her cheek, replicating the feeling of the breeze that she found such an enticing part of The Surface.
"I..." He began, pressing the side of his face against her temple, breathing hot words into her ear. She had not heard his intoxicating voice, so closely and intimately, in weeks. It drove her mad as she felt her cheeks and the tips of her ears become ruddy. It was deep, soothing. It was plain torture to restrain herself from reaching out to beg him for his comforting touch, to plead with him to stay and build a new life with her far away from their past in The Sky.
But the world did not seem to agree with what she wished for. The statue's palms rumbled beneath them. They seperated, attempting to balance themselves as the stone crumbled. The Triforce's glow dulled instantaneously, morphing into a shade of pitch black. The pieces of the magnificent treasure cracked, crumbling apart, and shattering as it collided with the cemented floor.
"No!" Zelda shouted, racing forward and falling to her knees to attempt to pick up the ruined pieces. Her eyes grew moist with incoming tears. All that Link had worked for: gone. The gift left to her to protect: broken. The promise she made to keep The Surface safe: torn.
Her surroundings grew dark with purple fog. The sky turned as red as blood, the sun disappeared as did her friends minutes ago. The Statue fell, crumbling to a pile of ashes. Zelda squeezed her eyes shut, struggling to accept hers and Link's fate. But she did not fall. She could not feel the treacherous wind whip against her face or any part of her body at all. She dared to open her eyes. Any air left in her lungs escaped at the sight of the monster before her.
The Imprisoned had awoken once more, seeking to consume the broken Triforce and Statue of The Goddess. "Zelda!" She heard her hero shout and her eyes scavenged for him amid the collapsation of the seal of the Statue and the relapse of Demise's presence. Rapid thoughts and questions raced through her mind. 'It should have worked.' 'Why is he back?' 'What have I done wrong?'
Link shouted for her once more. She finally spotted him, falling farther from her into the open jaws of The Imprisoned. Zelda screamed in agony, watching her friend fall into the hideous creature's mouth and as the world around her disappeared into a deserted wasteland.
∘₊✧─────✧₊∘
She awoke with a cry. Her knuckles were white from gripping the sheets of her sweat-drenched mattress, her hair a matted mess, resembling her appearance of that very day. However, on that day, there had been no release of Demise's seal. There had only been heartbreak. That day, misery had ensnared a piece of her heart for its own dislikable reasons and buried her in a deep state of unrelenting anguish.
A cold breeze passed through her open window. Zelda shivered and reached for the spot next to her on the mattress. It was empty.
She hated that empty space, and the breeze she had once thought she had loved. For it reminded her of 'The Day'. Not the day in which Demise was sealed away. Not the day the Master Sword and its soul was placed into eternal rest. Not the day where Impa had vanished into fragments of light before her eyes.
But the day when The Hero of Sky left her on the statue, without a word spoken, seven, long years ago.
── .✦ i have attempted to restart and post my story, eternity, several times since i wrote this prologue in 2019. if you feel like you've seen this story before... you probably have i just published it under a different name, lol. i have never gotten past publishing the prologue, but it is my hope that with this new blog i will be able to finish this story that i have always wanted to write about.
the plan is to have 10 chapters... none of which i will probably get out in a timely manner :')) but i will still try nonetheless! i also plan to implement story lines and details from totk and botw because i just feel like the birth of hyrule is so well explain in these games and i can tie them back to my story here to make it sort of full circle
warnings: brief mentions of death, grief, very emotional!
synopsis [post botw]
settling in hateno village has left link and his princess victim to their endless trauma from the war of calamity. after finding her attempting to pray to the goddess hylia once more, link can only hope his words are enough to comfort the heart break his princess is facing, similar to his own...
HE could feel her eyes— wide orbs filled with an unspoken sadness and curiosity —trace over the contours of his body. Raking tenderly past his sculpted cheekbones, sweeping down his jaw, pausing at the sight of his thick Adam’s apple, descending along the path of his skin peeking through the slit of his black, formal tunic. There was heat left remnant in the wake of her gaze, no doubt intensified by the mead distributed so generously at the festival in Hateno Village celebrating the demise of Calamity Ganon. Link’s cheeks felt flush, but his attention to their surroundings never waned. He simply couldn’t, for his instinct took over, seeking to satiate what felt like his constant desire to protect her, to keep harm far from her presence. In his surveillance, he continued to feel it, her gaze, and the comfort it brought to him. It was undeniably overwhelming. The heat he felt gathered in his cheeks trickled down through his veins, circulating and supplying his body with a feeling of intensity he felt unfamiliar with, but not opposed to enduring. Not once had those glittering eyes strayed away from him amidst the dancing, the music, and the conversations filled with hopes and desires for the future. No, in fact, her attention never abandoned him, just as his never drifted from her.
Although he had no desire to partake in the activities of the celebration, Link thought it would grant the princess some peace of mind to see the people of Hyrule in such high spirits. From his own experience, witnessing the people remain so resilient under the thumb of Calamity Ganon’s rule provided encouragement throughout his adventure travelling Hyrule’s vast lands. Despite the terrible consequences of the Champion’s initial defeat, Link had seen hope endure through a century of fear and uncertainty. After having awoken from the Shrine of Resurrection, there was a period of time in which he questioned the path set before him. Was he truly this supposed courageous knight, wielder of the legendary Master Sword, the hero foretold to save the kingdom from damnation? The ghost of King Rhoam, Impa, and the young maiden’s sweet voice that breathed life back into his broken form… his princess. Link was unsure for some time whether he could trust these people, if he could trust those who insisted he lived amongst them 100 years ago, when he had little to no recollection of the entirety of his own life. It was the people of Kakariko, of Hateno, of Lurelin, the Zora, the Gorons, and the Rito– all of which and many more who stirred his strength, his courage, and his dedication to serving the country he could hardly remember the name of months ago. Being able to witness the eagerness in the people’s hearts to survive and believe in a future where they could overcome the oppression of the Yiga Clan and the Calamity inspired him to continue his journey with a hope to reclaim the life he had lost that ill-fated night at Fort Hateno… and to give back to the woman who gave him the very chance to do so.
When he felt a small tug on the sleeve of his tunic, Link jumped out of his train of thought. He quickly stood to attention, no longer leaning against the solid brick wall of Ton Pu Inn, and glanced to his side to see the princess standing there, appearing extremely uncomfortable. The pink silk dress she garbed, meticulously designed and dyed by the tailor shop, ran across her shoulders, fitting tightly to her upper body and eventually flowing loosely from the tight cinch of her waist down to her shins where the skirt ended. The golden accents etched along the sleeves, cuffed near her forearms with material cascading from the end like a waterfall, shined just as brightly as her hair did beneath the moonlight. Link stood in awe for a moment, a rush of blood warming his cheeks just as vigorously as when he found her attention fixated on him earlier in the night. He watched as she made a small gesture, a slight motion of her head towards the other end of the village where his home was situated.
Link was more than happy to oblige her request, reacting to her discomfort with instinct. As gently as he could, he extended his hand to wrap around the frail arm that held onto his sleeve, peering into her eyes with the nodding of his own head in understanding. In that moment, he couldn’t help but compare the memories that he did possess of the princess to her current state. In front of him stood a timid, quiet young woman with eyes drowning in a beautiful jade pool of grief and fear. She looked small, fragile. Her hair was piled high in a crown of curls, adorned with golden hair pieces insinuating the significance of her status, however the look on her face lacked the confidence and joy many would expect to see in the future Queen of Hyrule. Her frame, fitted so well by all of the many new outfits provided to her by her loyal people, had retained its natural curves, but it was undeniable that there was a significant amount of weight her body had departed with since the last time he could recall glimpsing at her fully. It stirred a tight squeeze in his chest. He could remember many times where the princess wore her emotions so proudly on her sleeves. She had been unafraid to share her likes and dislikes, her preferences and distastes with him (and sometimes of him). Her heart, so kind and selfless, had always proven it beat with resilience, even under the scrutiny and burden her father and his court placed unto her. Her wisdom and curiosity would pour from her mouth with increasing ease each day they spent getting to know one another, fascinating him to no end. Now, he feared, the princess he once knew was disappearing before his very eyes. It grew more apparent with every day the toll her battle with Calamity Ganon had taken on her, physically and mentally. Once again, his chest tugged in the same discomfort he was sure she felt in that moment standing before him. Though he had her best interests at heart, Link became aware that the festivities had done nothing but overwhelm the princess. It was time to go home.
Without stopping to bid the kind people of Hateno goodnight, Link guided the princess through the dark, avoiding the hidden rocks and branches obstructing the path back to the wooden bridge calling them home. She remained quiet, footsteps nimble and thoughtful as he walked alongside her, ignoring the flutter deep within his core when he felt the courage to loop her arm around his for extra support. Her grip tightened ever so slightly, but no words were exchanged between them. There didn’t need to be. A silent understanding was communicated through their touch; though the villagers could celebrate the reality of freedom, Link and the princess could not. There were too many sacrifices, too much pain that led to this victory, and both felt undeserving for surviving out of the thousands that did not.
When they finally stepped through the front door, the princess unhooked her arm, stealing herself away to the loft, where he assumed she would remain for the remainder of the night. He did not fault her for seeking the solace of the night’s embrace. From what he could remember of his past, he would often sneak out of the knight’s barracks, out from under the nose of the captains, and sit against the trees outskirting Castle Town. Just to be able to breathe without the suffocating thoughts of duty and honor. The burdens of his role, of his obligation to serving the kingdom as the fated Hero of Courage would plague his mind insistently. He often doubted his strength and his capabilities, which continued a century into the future. As he slowly regained his recollection of his past life, Link would often weigh the gravity of his mistakes in the battle against Calamity Ganon. With so much responsibility having been thrust onto his shoulders so quickly after arising from the Shrine of Resurrection, this was a concept that he was forced to grapple with in such a short time. The race against time to rescue Hyrule from the Calamity’s clutches kept his mind occupied, but there were many times in which night would fall, and all he could concentrate on was the thought of his failure that placed himself and his country in this position; of putting his princess in such a precarious situation when it was his job to guard her life, not her job to protect him.
Link sighed heavily as he shut the door behind him, letting his shoulders slouch forward in momentary relaxation, before bringing himself to remove his scabbard, the Master Sword resting peacefully within, and his boots before slumping down in a chair resting before the fireplace. This is where he spent most of his nights now. He insisted on the princess residing with him for some time– he wanted to give her some time to rest peacefully before taking the longer journey to Kakariko Village –and he would not allow her to sleep anywhere but a nice cot with pillows, sheets, and warm blankets. Link had joked with her on their first night in Hateno, attempting to tell her that it was now her turn to indulge in a hundred year sleep now that he was finally caught up on rest; it brought a small smile to her lips, a sight he had been longing to see since he regained full memory of their relationship. It felt reassuring, knowing that despite their recent separation, things still could feel warm and right in her presence. As if not all was lost.
Closing his eyes, he enjoyed the radiant warmth of the fireplace before him for what felt like hours before he slowly stirred to consciousness a bit later in the night. In his grogginess, he almost happened to miss the sounds of hushed whispers coming from the loft his princess occupied. Link glanced over his shoulder, spotting her crown of golden hair, now untangled from its elegant knot of curls, bowed to the window before her. He narrowed his eyes in curiosity, wondering if she felt unwell or if she was conversing with someone through the window. Although he had complete respect for her privacy, he was no longer the royal knight he was a century ago. No, he was something more, they were something more than the fleeting glances and the rare, sentimental touch they shared. Protocol be damned, for his concern outweighed his morals in this moment, and he found his feet carrying him up from his seat and creeping towards the staircase, towards the sweet voice that had been guiding him his entire journey.
The closer the Link came to standing on the loft, the louder the words became. Small phrases filtered through his ears: “Blessed Hylia…”, “Please…”, “I will not…”. His heart pounded, unsure of what to expect. He felt as though he were intruding upon something sacred, just as when he was mandated to guard the princess during her copious hours of prayer. It felt like he was interrupting a bond, a silent bargain being exchanged between two benevolent souls. Still, he could not bring his feet to stop. Something inside himself told him he must hear, he must understand. Just as he was no longer a knight bound by countless rules regarding honor, the princess was no longer the woman she once was, bound by the harsh expectations of her father and criticisms of the people. He wanted to regain the bond they had once shared, he wanted to know what was preventing them from being more than just Champion and Princess of Hyrule.
“Blessed Hylia… for many a night I have asked for your counsel” the princess whispered, kneeling on the bed and facing the window that bathed her in a beam of moonlight. Link found himself captivated by her beauty, by her voice, by the devastating look in her eyes. She continued with a shaky exhale, “I must ask that you free Link from any torment this kingdom has caused him.”
Link’s breath caught. His body stilled, feeling immovable from where he was crouched on the stairs. He could feel his heart pumping wildly in his chest. The curiosities occupying his mind vanished, solely focusing on the odd prayer of the princess, no, of Zelda.
“I… I know I am only a host meant to harness your power for the good of the kingdom. I know I have nothing to offer you. I know I have failed you before. I will not deny my misdeeds and mistakes… I have left my friends, my kingdom, to rot in gloom for a century when all I could do was hold back the Calamity.” Her hands began shaking, clutched close to her chest as he had always seen her do in the Springs of Prayer.
“But, I beseech you, Blessed Hylia. Heal Link of his grievances. Free him from the duty that has cursed him to my pathetic side for far too long. He possesses a courageous and giving heart, one that I have never seen in another being. I… I admit my fondness for him has influenced the strength of my emotions and of my plea… but please!” She then hiccuped, head lurching forward to silence her cry. Link let out a gasp of air, like the weight of the world landed on his chest, pushing out every ounce of breath in his body. How long had she been thinking so cruelly of herself, yet so selflessly pleading for his own peace? How long had she felt this obligation to him? He almost darted up the stairs before he heard her continue.
“Please. I would never ask to make his heart feel reason to forgive me, but granting him a life of peace and prosperity would be the very last time I ask anything of you. I ask you to hear and listen to my prayer this time… Just this once.” Zelda finally collapsed into herself, hugging herself in her freshly washed night shift so tightly she seemed to struggle for air. Link could no longer ignore the cry of his heart, scrambling up the rest of the steps on his hands and knees in order to perch himself beside her on the bed and gently grasp the palms viciously digging into her sides. His touch startled her, her head darting to look up at him through her luscious, teary lashes. Even with such sadness consuming her soul, Link could not deny Zelda’s beauty, or the affection for her he had been struggling to hold within for more than a century.
Touching her hands with his own, he was brought back to the tragedy that had befallen them amidst Calamity Ganon’s resurrection. The countless miles of land they had to trek on foot to escape the Guardians, the Bokoblins, the Calamity; two children playing at a game of war that had been a losing match from the start. The countless branches of oak trees and pellets of rain whipping across their skin, seemingly trying to drag them closer to the jaws of danger. His mind had prioritized her safety; they both knew with the compromise of the Divine Beasts and Guardians, there was no possible way to defeat Calamity Ganon. They had lost the war they were prophesied to triumph. There was nothing more he could do than ensure that the knowledge of Zelda’s life was hidden away from those who would do anything to find and harm her.
The rapid brainstorm of ideas, anything to get Zelda away from the scent of death and destruction, was brought to a stop when she tripped, unable to hold onto his hand any longer. He remembered pivoting on his heel so quickly, terrified she had been grabbed by an enemy, only to find her toppled onto the ground covered in mud and grass. He remembered kneeling down to his princess, hearing her cry out for their beloved companions, for her father, for her people. He remembered the grief-stricken look she had given him before diving into his arms, sobbing the grievances that had plagued her the entirety of her life. Most of all, he remembered his silence, his inability to speak because of the hollow feeling in his chest, resulting from the inability to protect her from what had caused her the enormity of pain hidden behind years of constant berating and remarks of disappointment. It was this moment of weakness that traveled with him through time, feeding into his thoughts of failure. This moment allowed him to truly understand Zelda, and to strengthen his endearment to her and her poor, broken heart.
Link, firmly gathering both of Zelda’s wrists in one of his large, calloused hands, placed her palms onto the center of his chest, where his heart beat wildly. His other hand cupped the supple skin of her cheek with such tenderness and warmth that he felt his princess immediately melt into his touch. Her tears continued to stain trails of sorrow down her face, glistening in the light of the moon and collecting on the edge of his thumb as he continually swept the side of her face. Link inspired deeply before summoning the courage to speak the words that he should’ve said in the woods so long ago.
“Zelda.” His voice trembled with emotion seeing her suffer with the grief of loss following their battle with Calamity Ganon. “My princess… you must breathe, I beg of you.”
Their eyes locked, and the hundreds of relentless thoughts swirling in her eyes came to a halt. While her sobs still came, deep and full of anguish, she was finally regaining the resemblance of a pattern of controlled breath. Her hands trembled against his chest, but they aided her in finding balance again. Slowly but surely, she was reeling back to herself.
“I am not one for words so thoughtful like yourself, but I must say this to you for I fear a great deal of pain and self-hatred has consumed your mind: you have saved us all as a result of your selflessness. Our failure to defeat Calamity Ganon does not lay sole claim to you, nor to me; the intensity of his malevolence was something unseen by the generations of battles Hyrule has endured.” Link removed his grip on her hands and cupped the other side of her face, leaning forward to rest his forehead against hers. He peered into her jade eyes with a desperation he had never felt before, even before nearly departing the world, nearly leaving Zelda alone and helpless in their fight against evil.
“I could not save you nor this kingdom from harm one hundred years ago, and for that I will forever be in your service, not because I am obligated, but because I am indebted to the kindness and empathy you blessed me with despite our difficult beginnings. But, I swear to you, from this moment onward, I will never let harm befall you again; I will never fail to save the people you hold dear to your heart, and I will never allow you to believe you are anything less than deserving of the love of our people… Of the love I had for you before the Calamity, of the love I hold for you now, that I have been able to learn as if for the first time because of this journey we shared together.” Link could not hold back the watering of his own eyes. The depth of their feelings, their bond of the past and the present, and their separation had deprived them of so much comfort and protection from the world. Now, he knew, with Zelda’s face held affectionately in his palms, that he had the opportunity to regain everything he thought he had lost in the War of Calamity. A chance at peace and prosperity, not only for himself but for his beloved princess.
Zelda began weeping once more, only this time wrapping her arms around Link’s neck beckoning him to the comfort of her bosom. Link, startled by this intimate affection, struggled momentarily with himself to return her embrace. However, his struggle did not last for long as he felt the tears trickle from his eyes, and brought his full arms around her waist as they cried into one another, sharing their pain and devotion to one another, bathing in the luminance of the moon and the stars floating aimlessly in the sky.
Before he fell asleep, with Zelda laying peacefully in the protection of his bare arms, Link gazed upon the face of his princess once more. Smoothing his palm over her golden locks of hair, he brought down his lips to connect with the crown of her head, remaining there for what felt like eternity. He decided in that moment that he would provide for her the life of peace and prosperity she wished upon everyone but herself. It was then that he swore to the Gods of Old and to the Goddess Hylia, that he would devote his life not only to the safety and wellbeing of his princess, but to the protection of her true and kind heart forevermore.
sorry this took so long to get out! nursing summer courses are insane... hope you guys enjoy reading as much as i did writing ₊˚ෆ
i just revisited playing totk because i was bored at my boyfriend's house and we decided to start from the beginning... only to realize how much we both sucked and spent the whole time just roasting each other's technique and trying to one up each other ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)
warnings: brief mentions of death, grief, very emotional!
synopsis [post botw]
settling in hateno village has left link and his princess victim to their endless trauma from the war of calamity. after finding her attempting to pray to the goddess hylia once more, link can only hope his words are enough to comfort the heart break his princess is facing, similar to his own...
HE could feel her eyes— wide orbs filled with an unspoken sadness and curiosity —trace over the contours of his body. Raking tenderly past his sculpted cheekbones, sweeping down his jaw, pausing at the sight of his thick Adam’s apple, descending along the path of his skin peeking through the slit of his black, formal tunic. There was heat left remnant in the wake of her gaze, no doubt intensified by the mead distributed so generously at the festival in Hateno Village celebrating the demise of Calamity Ganon. Link’s cheeks felt flush, but his attention to their surroundings never waned. He simply couldn’t, for his instinct took over, seeking to satiate what felt like his constant desire to protect her, to keep harm far from her presence. In his surveillance, he continued to feel it, her gaze, and the comfort it brought to him. It was undeniably overwhelming. The heat he felt gathered in his cheeks trickled down through his veins, circulating and supplying his body with a feeling of intensity he felt unfamiliar with, but not opposed to enduring. Not once had those glittering eyes strayed away from him amidst the dancing, the music, and the conversations filled with hopes and desires for the future. No, in fact, her attention never abandoned him, just as his never drifted from her.
Although he had no desire to partake in the activities of the celebration, Link thought it would grant the princess some peace of mind to see the people of Hyrule in such high spirits. From his own experience, witnessing the people remain so resilient under the thumb of Calamity Ganon’s rule provided encouragement throughout his adventure travelling Hyrule’s vast lands. Despite the terrible consequences of the Champion’s initial defeat, Link had seen hope endure through a century of fear and uncertainty. After having awoken from the Shrine of Resurrection, there was a period of time in which he questioned the path set before him. Was he truly this supposed courageous knight, wielder of the legendary Master Sword, the hero foretold to save the kingdom from damnation? The ghost of King Rhoam, Impa, and the young maiden’s sweet voice that breathed life back into his broken form… his princess. Link was unsure for some time whether he could trust these people, if he could trust those who insisted he lived amongst them 100 years ago, when he had little to no recollection of the entirety of his own life. It was the people of Kakariko, of Hateno, of Lurelin, the Zora, the Gorons, and the Rito– all of which and many more who stirred his strength, his courage, and his dedication to serving the country he could hardly remember the name of months ago. Being able to witness the eagerness in the people’s hearts to survive and believe in a future where they could overcome the oppression of the Yiga Clan and the Calamity inspired him to continue his journey with a hope to reclaim the life he had lost that ill-fated night at Fort Hateno… and to give back to the woman who gave him the very chance to do so.
When he felt a small tug on the sleeve of his tunic, Link jumped out of his train of thought. He quickly stood to attention, no longer leaning against the solid brick wall of Ton Pu Inn, and glanced to his side to see the princess standing there, appearing extremely uncomfortable. The pink silk dress she garbed, meticulously designed and dyed by the tailor shop, ran across her shoulders, fitting tightly to her upper body and eventually flowing loosely from the tight cinch of her waist down to her shins where the skirt ended. The golden accents etched along the sleeves, cuffed near her forearms with material cascading from the end like a waterfall, shined just as brightly as her hair did beneath the moonlight. Link stood in awe for a moment, a rush of blood warming his cheeks just as vigorously as when he found her attention fixated on him earlier in the night. He watched as she made a small gesture, a slight motion of her head towards the other end of the village where his home was situated.
Link was more than happy to oblige her request, reacting to her discomfort with instinct. As gently as he could, he extended his hand to wrap around the frail arm that held onto his sleeve, peering into her eyes with the nodding of his own head in understanding. In that moment, he couldn’t help but compare the memories that he did possess of the princess to her current state. In front of him stood a timid, quiet young woman with eyes drowning in a beautiful jade pool of grief and fear. She looked small, fragile. Her hair was piled high in a crown of curls, adorned with golden hair pieces insinuating the significance of her status, however the look on her face lacked the confidence and joy many would expect to see in the future Queen of Hyrule. Her frame, fitted so well by all of the many new outfits provided to her by her loyal people, had retained its natural curves, but it was undeniable that there was a significant amount of weight her body had departed with since the last time he could recall glimpsing at her fully. It stirred a tight squeeze in his chest. He could remember many times where the princess wore her emotions so proudly on her sleeves. She had been unafraid to share her likes and dislikes, her preferences and distastes with him (and sometimes of him). Her heart, so kind and selfless, had always proven it beat with resilience, even under the scrutiny and burden her father and his court placed unto her. Her wisdom and curiosity would pour from her mouth with increasing ease each day they spent getting to know one another, fascinating him to no end. Now, he feared, the princess he once knew was disappearing before his very eyes. It grew more apparent with every day the toll her battle with Calamity Ganon had taken on her, physically and mentally. Once again, his chest tugged in the same discomfort he was sure she felt in that moment standing before him. Though he had her best interests at heart, Link became aware that the festivities had done nothing but overwhelm the princess. It was time to go home.
Without stopping to bid the kind people of Hateno goodnight, Link guided the princess through the dark, avoiding the hidden rocks and branches obstructing the path back to the wooden bridge calling them home. She remained quiet, footsteps nimble and thoughtful as he walked alongside her, ignoring the flutter deep within his core when he felt the courage to loop her arm around his for extra support. Her grip tightened ever so slightly, but no words were exchanged between them. There didn’t need to be. A silent understanding was communicated through their touch; though the villagers could celebrate the reality of freedom, Link and the princess could not. There were too many sacrifices, too much pain that led to this victory, and both felt undeserving for surviving out of the thousands that did not.
When they finally stepped through the front door, the princess unhooked her arm, stealing herself away to the loft, where he assumed she would remain for the remainder of the night. He did not fault her for seeking the solace of the night’s embrace. From what he could remember of his past, he would often sneak out of the knight’s barracks, out from under the nose of the captains, and sit against the trees outskirting Castle Town. Just to be able to breathe without the suffocating thoughts of duty and honor. The burdens of his role, of his obligation to serving the kingdom as the fated Hero of Courage would plague his mind insistently. He often doubted his strength and his capabilities, which continued a century into the future. As he slowly regained his recollection of his past life, Link would often weigh the gravity of his mistakes in the battle against Calamity Ganon. With so much responsibility having been thrust onto his shoulders so quickly after arising from the Shrine of Resurrection, this was a concept that he was forced to grapple with in such a short time. The race against time to rescue Hyrule from the Calamity’s clutches kept his mind occupied, but there were many times in which night would fall, and all he could concentrate on was the thought of his failure that placed himself and his country in this position; of putting his princess in such a precarious situation when it was his job to guard her life, not her job to protect him.
Link sighed heavily as he shut the door behind him, letting his shoulders slouch forward in momentary relaxation, before bringing himself to remove his scabbard, the Master Sword resting peacefully within, and his boots before slumping down in a chair resting before the fireplace. This is where he spent most of his nights now. He insisted on the princess residing with him for some time– he wanted to give her some time to rest peacefully before taking the longer journey to Kakariko Village –and he would not allow her to sleep anywhere but a nice cot with pillows, sheets, and warm blankets. Link had joked with her on their first night in Hateno, attempting to tell her that it was now her turn to indulge in a hundred year sleep now that he was finally caught up on rest; it brought a small smile to her lips, a sight he had been longing to see since he regained full memory of their relationship. It felt reassuring, knowing that despite their recent separation, things still could feel warm and right in her presence. As if not all was lost.
Closing his eyes, he enjoyed the radiant warmth of the fireplace before him for what felt like hours before he slowly stirred to consciousness a bit later in the night. In his grogginess, he almost happened to miss the sounds of hushed whispers coming from the loft his princess occupied. Link glanced over his shoulder, spotting her crown of golden hair, now untangled from its elegant knot of curls, bowed to the window before her. He narrowed his eyes in curiosity, wondering if she felt unwell or if she was conversing with someone through the window. Although he had complete respect for her privacy, he was no longer the royal knight he was a century ago. No, he was something more, they were something more than the fleeting glances and the rare, sentimental touch they shared. Protocol be damned, for his concern outweighed his morals in this moment, and he found his feet carrying him up from his seat and creeping towards the staircase, towards the sweet voice that had been guiding him his entire journey.
The closer the Link came to standing on the loft, the louder the words became. Small phrases filtered through his ears: “Blessed Hylia…”, “Please…”, “I will not…”. His heart pounded, unsure of what to expect. He felt as though he were intruding upon something sacred, just as when he was mandated to guard the princess during her copious hours of prayer. It felt like he was interrupting a bond, a silent bargain being exchanged between two benevolent souls. Still, he could not bring his feet to stop. Something inside himself told him he must hear, he must understand. Just as he was no longer a knight bound by countless rules regarding honor, the princess was no longer the woman she once was, bound by the harsh expectations of her father and criticisms of the people. He wanted to regain the bond they had once shared, he wanted to know what was preventing them from being more than just Champion and Princess of Hyrule.
“Blessed Hylia… for many a night I have asked for your counsel” the princess whispered, kneeling on the bed and facing the window that bathed her in a beam of moonlight. Link found himself captivated by her beauty, by her voice, by the devastating look in her eyes. She continued with a shaky exhale, “I must ask that you free Link from any torment this kingdom has caused him.”
Link’s breath caught. His body stilled, feeling immovable from where he was crouched on the stairs. He could feel his heart pumping wildly in his chest. The curiosities occupying his mind vanished, solely focusing on the odd prayer of the princess, no, of Zelda.
“I… I know I am only a host meant to harness your power for the good of the kingdom. I know I have nothing to offer you. I know I have failed you before. I will not deny my misdeeds and mistakes… I have left my friends, my kingdom, to rot in gloom for a century when all I could do was hold back the Calamity.” Her hands began shaking, clutched close to her chest as he had always seen her do in the Springs of Prayer.
“But, I beseech you, Blessed Hylia. Heal Link of his grievances. Free him from the duty that has cursed him to my pathetic side for far too long. He possesses a courageous and giving heart, one that I have never seen in another being. I… I admit my fondness for him has influenced the strength of my emotions and of my plea… but please!” She then hiccuped, head lurching forward to silence her cry. Link let out a gasp of air, like the weight of the world landed on his chest, pushing out every ounce of breath in his body. How long had she been thinking so cruelly of herself, yet so selflessly pleading for his own peace? How long had she felt this obligation to him? He almost darted up the stairs before he heard her continue.
“Please. I would never ask to make his heart feel reason to forgive me, but granting him a life of peace and prosperity would be the very last time I ask anything of you. I ask you to hear and listen to my prayer this time… Just this once.” Zelda finally collapsed into herself, hugging herself in her freshly washed night shift so tightly she seemed to struggle for air. Link could no longer ignore the cry of his heart, scrambling up the rest of the steps on his hands and knees in order to perch himself beside her on the bed and gently grasp the palms viciously digging into her sides. His touch startled her, her head darting to look up at him through her luscious, teary lashes. Even with such sadness consuming her soul, Link could not deny Zelda’s beauty, or the affection for her he had been struggling to hold within for more than a century.
Touching her hands with his own, he was brought back to the tragedy that had befallen them amidst Calamity Ganon’s resurrection. The countless miles of land they had to trek on foot to escape the Guardians, the Bokoblins, the Calamity; two children playing at a game of war that had been a losing match from the start. The countless branches of oak trees and pellets of rain whipping across their skin, seemingly trying to drag them closer to the jaws of danger. His mind had prioritized her safety; they both knew with the compromise of the Divine Beasts and Guardians, there was no possible way to defeat Calamity Ganon. They had lost the war they were prophesied to triumph. There was nothing more he could do than ensure that the knowledge of Zelda’s life was hidden away from those who would do anything to find and harm her.
The rapid brainstorm of ideas, anything to get Zelda away from the scent of death and destruction, was brought to a stop when she tripped, unable to hold onto his hand any longer. He remembered pivoting on his heel so quickly, terrified she had been grabbed by an enemy, only to find her toppled onto the ground covered in mud and grass. He remembered kneeling down to his princess, hearing her cry out for their beloved companions, for her father, for her people. He remembered the grief-stricken look she had given him before diving into his arms, sobbing the grievances that had plagued her the entirety of her life. Most of all, he remembered his silence, his inability to speak because of the hollow feeling in his chest, resulting from the inability to protect her from what had caused her the enormity of pain hidden behind years of constant berating and remarks of disappointment. It was this moment of weakness that traveled with him through time, feeding into his thoughts of failure. This moment allowed him to truly understand Zelda, and to strengthen his endearment to her and her poor, broken heart.
Link, firmly gathering both of Zelda’s wrists in one of his large, calloused hands, placed her palms onto the center of his chest, where his heart beat wildly. His other hand cupped the supple skin of her cheek with such tenderness and warmth that he felt his princess immediately melt into his touch. Her tears continued to stain trails of sorrow down her face, glistening in the light of the moon and collecting on the edge of his thumb as he continually swept the side of her face. Link inspired deeply before summoning the courage to speak the words that he should’ve said in the woods so long ago.
“Zelda.” His voice trembled with emotion seeing her suffer with the grief of loss following their battle with Calamity Ganon. “My princess… you must breathe, I beg of you.”
Their eyes locked, and the hundreds of relentless thoughts swirling in her eyes came to a halt. While her sobs still came, deep and full of anguish, she was finally regaining the resemblance of a pattern of controlled breath. Her hands trembled against his chest, but they aided her in finding balance again. Slowly but surely, she was reeling back to herself.
“I am not one for words so thoughtful like yourself, but I must say this to you for I fear a great deal of pain and self-hatred has consumed your mind: you have saved us all as a result of your selflessness. Our failure to defeat Calamity Ganon does not lay sole claim to you, nor to me; the intensity of his malevolence was something unseen by the generations of battles Hyrule has endured.” Link removed his grip on her hands and cupped the other side of her face, leaning forward to rest his forehead against hers. He peered into her jade eyes with a desperation he had never felt before, even before nearly departing the world, nearly leaving Zelda alone and helpless in their fight against evil.
“I could not save you nor this kingdom from harm one hundred years ago, and for that I will forever be in your service, not because I am obligated, but because I am indebted to the kindness and empathy you blessed me with despite our difficult beginnings. But, I swear to you, from this moment onward, I will never let harm befall you again; I will never fail to save the people you hold dear to your heart, and I will never allow you to believe you are anything less than deserving of the love of our people… Of the love I had for you before the Calamity, of the love I hold for you now, that I have been able to learn as if for the first time because of this journey we shared together.” Link could not hold back the watering of his own eyes. The depth of their feelings, their bond of the past and the present, and their separation had deprived them of so much comfort and protection from the world. Now, he knew, with Zelda’s face held affectionately in his palms, that he had the opportunity to regain everything he thought he had lost in the War of Calamity. A chance at peace and prosperity, not only for himself but for his beloved princess.
Zelda began weeping once more, only this time wrapping her arms around Link’s neck beckoning him to the comfort of her bosom. Link, startled by this intimate affection, struggled momentarily with himself to return her embrace. However, his struggle did not last for long as he felt the tears trickle from his eyes, and brought his full arms around her waist as they cried into one another, sharing their pain and devotion to one another, bathing in the luminance of the moon and the stars floating aimlessly in the sky.
Before he fell asleep, with Zelda laying peacefully in the protection of his bare arms, Link gazed upon the face of his princess once more. Smoothing his palm over her golden locks of hair, he brought down his lips to connect with the crown of her head, remaining there for what felt like eternity. He decided in that moment that he would provide for her the life of peace and prosperity she wished upon everyone but herself. It was then that he swore to the Gods of Old and to the Goddess Hylia, that he would devote his life not only to the safety and wellbeing of his princess, but to the protection of her true and kind heart forevermore.
sorry this took so long to get out! nursing summer courses are insane... hope you guys enjoy reading as much as i did writing ₊˚ෆ
