When you check a writers masterlist and see all the fics that were discontinued/never started and you genuinely start reminiscing over what could have been
it’s hard to find a husband as the butcher’s daughter.
the girls at your school smelled of flowers and goat soap. lithe, not muscled in their forearms for slicing and draining the blood from butchered cows. neither have they seen a chicken run without their head, a pig hung from the ceiling, the cries of a gentle hateno cow when its life is taken for its meat. their eyes are so trusting, even when light fades from their souls' windows.
you were young when you began shadowing your father.
"i got this broom custom-made for you, little one," papa said. "it's your special broom for helping me clean."
you know the witch charges a high price for those brooms. a mop of similar height leans on the wall next to it, likely made by your father.
"will i be cleaning the cow blood?" you asked.
the smile on your father's face flattened. "yes, darling. the chickens, too. now, come."
it started by just watching, the mop gripped tightly in your hands. chickens ran until they dropped. you dodged, their claws still sharp even in death as there was no time for their bodies to decay. your father's swing was strong.
"so they may have a quick ending," papa had said.
you nodded.
"i'm sorry, my darling," your father stoops to your height. "but i have to start you early, or it'll be too hard when you're older."
it was still hard. you no longer smelled of lavender and goat milk. the metallic tang of blood stuck to your skin. the girls were nice, but you saw how they snuck glances at you, hands cupped to their curved red lips. every night, you scrubbed and scrubbed, but blood stuck to you, in smell and between the lines of your skin and under your nails.
it got harder when you got older.
the girls in your village were getting married off. squeals of handmade rings, silver shoved into your face with declarations of it being custom-made by that famous blacksmith. you don't know him? well, you would soon. one of the girls had even handed you a bar of soap.
"it's so deep-cleaning, made by mother." the bar of soap suddenly weighed like a brick. "free trial. she said you should give it a try."
some of their bellies began to swell. the idea of pregnancy made you queasy, tales of morning sickness and swollen feet and tearing during birth were too scary, but there was an empty spot just beneath your sternum. an ache. sometimes, your hand twitched.
you wondered why, until you were looking out the window, and it twitched as a couple walked by. then it twitched again when you saw an older couple, then a newly-wedded wife and husband, then again at a couple bickering by the fruitstand. your hand needed to be held, but there was nothing warm to hold other than the freshly butchered body of a mother pig.
the shop's bell shocks you.
“you are the backbone to people’s survival.”
you drop the cut of hateno cow into its wrapping. it slaps when it make its landing, blood pooling where it sits. "but the king still insists he is watchful of my father. we're the first to be blamed if there's a breakout."
he won't leave you alone, this annoying boy.
"that's true." he rubs his neck awkwardly. good. the more awkward you make him feel, the quicker he'll leave. "oh, could i also get a flank of hateno beef?"
you look up from the wrapping. the boy always had a bow and sword strapped to his back.
"can't you hunt this all yourself?"
the boy shrugs sheepishly, a shy smile stretching his lips. "it's easier to buy sometimes. all that clean up and preparation."
"sometimes," he begins with a upward swing of his voice, "i'm just really hungry and need food now."
you almost smile. it's easier to breathe.
"who are you again?" you reach through the counter, grasping the hateno beef.
"just a bard, my lady."
"really? you're not very good with words."
"no, probably clumsy," he admits with a laugh, "but i'm good with the flute! and ocarina."
you frown. the royal family made the ocarina famous. "that is an important instrument."
"aye." he smiles. then, his eyes switch. the silly boy almost looks calculated. "would you like to hear it?"
something sweeps over you. something grey. something with a heavy grip that holds your free will hostage. your hand twitches. "i'm at work."
"then another time." his voice is gentle. bards are supposed to be emotionally in-tune; feel his crowd, match his story with their feelings. are you just a crowd to him?
"what is your name, bard?" you slide his meats towards him.
he stands a little taller, but he's not so tall. "link, my lady."
Let's have some fun with this! Ask box is open and wonderfully in need of requests friends
Also geez this was supposed to come out sooner but legends z-a stopped that immediately lol
Link
Absolute sweetheart
He WILL take hits for you
You understand him in a very different way and it's almost liberating for him
He knows the best spots in hyrule, you like sunny spots? Darker spots? Maybe somewhere a little colder? He could probably bring you to five no problem
Cooks like a gem and is absolutely willing to make something to your taste
Takes you out horseback riding, will absolutely teach you if don't know already
Dates are full on adventures with a side of some potential chaos.
You've absolutely come home with the most absurd memorabilia
The current best is a dragon bone shaped like a little dog
Zelda
Accidently drafted yourself as her favorite lab partner
About to learn 170 facts about the ecosystem in necluda and it will all be accidental because she spent an hour accidentally nerding out.
She does need some reassurance at times especially after her 100 years of fending off evil.
She's equally emotionally mature
Wants to make sure all of your dates are perfect down to the letter
Research dates wonderfully spotted on some of the most gorgeous spots in hyrule with a spot
Educating AND romantic!
You might have to step in on cooking sometimes especially if she's trying something new
Ganondorf
You're getting treated like absolute royalty
Well, you basically are being with him
Whether in his normal form or his demon king form he's extremely protective of whoever he deems a suitable partner
Such a sucker for someone with a brain, he's so used to playing the warrior someone who matches his wit is refreshing
His height gives him the perfect excuse to pick you up and hold you
His monsters? Adore you, your virtually worshipped as much as he is
They bring you little trinkets and such especially gems they happened to find
You're getting the most wonderful gifts, jewels, anything of any actual value will probably end up in your hands
You bring out a sort of gentleness in him
Certainly not changing his heart but it's a certain affection he only shares with those who have actually kept his trust
Your dates are utterly romantic things, candlelight, a wonderful dinner and shared company
summary: your knight and you sneak away during a night where you're supposed to meet your future spouse, to make out in secret...
it was the night of the long-awaited ball. many suitors from all parts of hyrule had gathered here tonight to ask for your hand in marriage. yet instead of introducing yourself to them inside the ball room, you were… busy outside, in the gardens, with the knight assigned for your protection.
“you taste so sweet, my love…” link murmured against your lips, hungrily stealing one kiss after another from you. he couldn't help but want to kiss you, after seeing all those men fawn over you. he needed to remind himself who your heart belonged to.
“link…” you softly whispered against his lips, as his hands had a firm grip on your waist, keeping you in place. you knew how jealous he could get, so you allowed him those few minutes of having you all to himself.
“Hi, sorry for bothering you if you're not taking/doing requests rn
I have yet to see anything like this, but I wanna see headcanons for a few of the legends of Zelda breath of the wild characters (Link, Zelda, Sidon, Ganon, anyone really) having passed out in the middle of the desert only to wake up in the shade of a pretty(and/or)handsome traveling belly dancer readers caravan and how they feel to having reader take care of them until the over heating goes away, would they refuse the help? Would they accept it? I'm curious what you think.” - anon
hi hi!!! first of all, you're NEVER bothering me! ngl, i generally keep requests for later if i like them, but thankfully, they're open!! secondly, heat exhaustion is ROUGH. speaking from experience, it’s one of the worst feelings imo. and in your list, the only one i could imagine not experiencing it on the extreme side would be Ganon (simply because he is a Gerudo and would have the equipment and be acclimated to this environment (and he’s a king, so you bet he’s got high security at all times)). but i do think it’d be fun to add him onto this list. so i will :)
let’s dive in! (please don’t hate me for Revali’s i promise i love him)
Link
wouldn’t really be that surprised
he’s woken up in so many different places that he probably just expects it now
but he’s grateful
he’d notice your clothing and be interested in every detail (probably trying to figure out if there’s any properties to help you withstand the heat)
will inevitably go back to sleep for several hours
Zelda
thanks you 1000000+ times
and absolutely lets you know how attractive you are (not flirtatiously, she’s just an extrovert)
would invite you to the castle for a performance and a meal
asks about the history of your trade and lifestyle
will yap to you forever and forget time exists
Sidon
why is this man in the desert he’s a fish?
he’d be beyond thankful
is offering his life
will ultimately deplete your water supply
invites you to Zora’s Domain for a performance and an endless supply of water (he’s embarrassed fr)
Revali
would probably rather die than receive help tbh
but the shade feels nice
so he’s SAT
might warm up to you
might not
will probably complain the entire time
Bazz
again… why is this man in the desert (unwillingly at that)
accepts reluctantly
but if you tell ANYONE…
he’ll be really upset
will not willingly deplete your water supply
would be more relaxed if you weren’t a stranger
embarrassed af
Rivan
the only zora i could see in the desert
is thanking you nonstop
and probably trying to give you gifts in return
would tell you his whole life story (and his daughter’s)
and if you ever go to Zora’s Domain, he’ll be there, greeting you with the biggest smile
Ganon
thanks you
and definitely means it… at first, at least
he has a way with his words
he’s prideful to say the least
and not only will he invite you to perform in Gerudo Town
but he’ll also ask you to join him in the ‘right side of history’ (in a very chill, nonchalant way)
“You could live one hundred times and never deserve that girl.” - unknown
Tw! Mention of death
Platonic
Timeline - pre breath of the wild
Reader is older than Zelda and works in the castle - gender isn’t stated
A/N: fuck king Rhoam
Sobs breaking through the room.
It had been a hard week for the little bird. Starting off with her mother dying from unknown causes, her father being a king rather than a parent, the stress of everything was weighing down on the child.
You couldn’t help, but notice her sobs when she thought no one was around. The staff heard. The king didn’t, her father didn’t.
Gently pushing the door open, you walked upon her sobbing into her bed, trying to muffle her sounds to be more convenient to others around the castle who didn’t care for her grief.
Zelda turned around when she heard the door open. She was immediately wiping her tears with her hands, and trying to talk through her hiccups.
“I- I’m so-!”
She expected everything, but you to pull her into a comforting embrace that she craved yet never said a single word. The dam broke, and her sobs sounded more like screams of pain than crying.
Gently, you picked her up and placed her on your lap, holding her as her little body trembled from breaking down.
This would be the first of many times she sought your comfort.
—————————————
She was older now, a young teenager on the blossom of becoming a woman. It should be a joyful time.. it should.
“The princess to the throne of nothing.”
“Nothing but failure.”
The way the gossipers spoke of her; maids, knights, even her own handmaids.. it was despicable.
Nonetheless, she had been grateful for your presence by her side, refusing to waver even as she grew older and tried to be the perfect daughter and princess for the king to be proud of.
Nothing seemed to satisfy her father.
She would break, it was a matter of time.
You could only watch as she put the world on her shoulders, pushing away help.
It only got worse when she met her personal knight, Link.
The boy was impressive, yes. The best knight in the kingdom along with the master sword strapped to his back, but this made the princess feel inferior since Link had done his destiny while she still needed to do hers.
You and Link were walking behind Princess Zelda as she was happily talking about her scientific findings about the guardians. It was the only time she was at peace.
You moved to stand next to her as she explained how the guardians functioned, and you placed a comforting hand on her back, encouraging her to keep going even in the presence of you and Link. She beamed happily, like a child before continuing her ranting, even Link’s expression grew softer as the princess continued in her joy.
You managed to hear the king’s footsteps before either of the blondes did. You tensed up.
Dealing with Zelda has been quite dificult, but it isn't that you blame her, after all she has it quite dificult too with all her responsabilities and all her dreams, honestly you feel somewhat happy that she seems to find comfort in your presence enough to spend some of her little free time with you
Whenever she is not seaking comfort from you she is ranting about whatever is in her mind, talking to you feels like a break from her own life at times, it is just that you seem to underestand her in a way no one else could, or perhaps it is just her thinking as the obsesive love has been growing in her, she wants to spend more time with you, to make you proud of her and to be able to show off to you everything she achives, she wants you to never stop looking at her with that big smile, to never stop laughing with her like you do, to never stop brightening her days
But it was that same wishes to show off who she truly is and what she can achive along with the fact that you seem to be attracted to her, by the way you never actually rejected her and just smiled at her that she failed to aknowledge your feelings for her, one side of her simply ignore the fact that your love was mutual because of how subtle and yet normal it was to be corresponded, how you were lingering close and speaking for her as much a she did to you, but the other side of her was actually scared that it may not be true and that she was just imagining things, that her mind was simply playing tricks on her
And she was so blinded while at the same time she took you for granted for so long that she ended up losing you, the fact that she seemed interested on you too and yet never did much to do or say anything about it eventually leaded you to put your feelings away and up to move on, from your position you doubt you could even worthy of being with the princess of Hyrule, and she was always so busy with her passions and work that it is more likely that there's really no place for you in her life, so because of the love you hold for her you decided to simply let her be
But that only leaded Zelda to be taken back when you put distance between you two, you didn't rejected her when she tried to get close but you were clearly closing yourself, you were putting distance and she imediatly paniced, has she done something wrong? Has you grown tired of her? It is perhaps that you have finally got convinced that she simply can't achive anything? Please don't do this to her! You can't do this to her!
Zelda blamed herself because of your sudden distance, if her darling doesn’t like her anymore it is because she truly is a failure, and because of that she will be a complete mess for a while between wanting to find a way to solve this and overworking herself just to be able to prove herself to her darling, she will even become more easy to make snap just because she is putting herself under so much stress, it even hurts to look at her like this but she won't stop until her darling loves her back again
