After Shelter from the Storm… they speak of the lives they might have had. ❤️
“The storm is worsening…” Zelda murmured, as petrichor filled her lungs. “Tell me, Link… when did you begin training to become a knight?”
“I was eight when my father took me on as his squire,” he replied, while the sacred blade cut through the air once more.
“You must have learned a great deal from him… your path seems to mirror his,” Zelda remarked.
“He taught me the basics… but after that, I developed my own techniques.” The movements of his arms grew more vigorous.
“I see. You must have worked very hard to reach everything you have achieved… hard enough to be chosen by the Goddess’ blade.”
In that moment she realised it had not been talent alone, nor fortune either, but the fruit of years of sacrifice and of a stolen childhood… just like her own, spent in prayer.
“Perhaps it is a foolish question…” Zelda’s voice grew softer.
Link broke off his training at once and turned towards her.
“I was wondering… if you had been born without any talent for the sword,” the Princess went on, her gaze lowered to the ground, “if, despite that, people had kept telling you that you had to become a knight… at any cost, simply because you are the son of a Commander of the Royal Guard… what would you have done?”
“I would have trained harder to succeed…”
“But if, despite all your effort, you still had nothing to show for it…” Zelda timidly raised her eyes to him. “If you had understood that such a life truly was not for you… would you have chosen a different path?”
His had always been a family of knights: his father was one, his grandfather had been one, and his forefathers before him. His uncles and cousins were as well. The Rowen name was well known throughout the army.
“I would have had no choice, Your Highness.”
“But if you had… just think for a moment, if you had truly been free to choose. Would you still have become a knight?”
The rain suddenly grew heavier.
“If I had been free to choose…” Link began, drawing nearer to the shelter. He returned the sword to its scabbard and laid it beside the shield.
“…I think I would still have kept at it, out of pride,” he concluded, sitting down on the boulder beside her.
“Out of pride…” Zelda repeated, her voice trembling ever so slightly. “And if you had not had that either, if all you had wanted was to be… happy?”
“You ask difficult questions, Your Highness,” he said, his eyes fixed on hers.
“You do not wish to answer me… it does not matter, forgive me, I—”
“I would have travelled,” he cut in. “I would have crossed the kingdom, seen new places, and learned new recipes.”
Zelda stared at him, taken aback. “Learned new recipes?”
“Food makes me happy… I imagine I would have become a cook.”
“A cook? You?” she asked in surprise.
“I manage rather well. Do you doubt my abilities?” he asked, lifting one eyebrow just slightly.
Zelda smiled softly. “No… it is only that I cannot quite picture you preparing elaborate dishes.”
“You would be surprised,” he replied. “And you, Your Highness?”
Link allowed himself the hint of a smile. “Yes, you… if you had not been Hyrule’s Sacred Princess. What would you have chosen?”
“I…” She hesitated only a moment. “I would have become a researcher… and an archaeologist. Oh, and I would have read countless books. And I would have travelled a great deal as well, of course. I love seeing new places… Oh, and I would have taught the history of Hyrule to children in schools. I would never have stopped practising archery… and I would have created a great botanical garden, the greatest ever seen, and then—”
A bright, joyful smile lit Link’s face. He tried to suppress a laugh, but failed.
“Why are you laughing now?” she asked, with feigned offence.
“That is a great many things, Your Highness. Not even three lifetimes would suffice…”
“I would do them all in one, if I could.”
“I do not doubt it…” he replied. His posture grew more relaxed, his smile gentler.
“Since you find it all so amusing, then tell me…” her green eyes gleamed with mischief. “What would be the ideal menu of Link the cook?”
The knight looked at her, a spark of amusement in his eyes.
“A meat stew, served with freshly baked bread and a side of glazed vegetables… and a large slice of apple pie. A meal is never complete without something sweet.”
“It sounds truly excellent… would you rather have had that kind of life? Tell me honestly…” Zelda asked, smiling sweetly.
If you’d like to continue reading, Light of the Sacred, Chapter 5: Fire and Storm, is now on AO3: here
