You've heard of Coffee Shop AU, but now get ready for SMOOTHIE SHOP AU where Zelda is an apprentice in a smoothie shop and gets a big crush on one of the new customers who is always dressed in green.
Delicate and tired; no one asked her what she thought.
Long lashes covering her lowered eyes. Glossy pink lips with just a hint of a frown.
And when each soldier who'd been given the honor stooped to kiss her gloved hand, that frown grew more pronounced.
He wasn't any different from the other young men in that long row. He wore the same royal blue uniform as the rest and his head was bowed low.
So why had she picked him out?
Why had The Princess taken such a risk?
Link rolled over in his stiff, creaky bunk bed and replayed the events of the day for the hundredth time.
Her voice was stuck in his head like a song.
"Meet me at midnight in the grotto," she'd whispered so quietly he wondered if his mind had been playing tricks, "but only if you wish." She'd squeezed his hand in emphasis. "It's not an order."
He pressed his lips to the silk fabric, feeling the heat of her skin beneath and smelling her sweet perfume.
As if taken over by a spell, he'd nodded.
Then she had moved on.
He rubbed his eyes and checked the old clock hanging on the wall in the barracks.
Maybe he'd go early...
He was definitely going. No question there.
Link held up his lantern and took in the large entrance to the grotto. One had to wind all through the garden maze to reach the mouth of this cave, cut through the cliffside that divided the palace from the roaring sea.
He hadn't been to this cave since he was a boy. He'd always thrilled at the way you could hear the waves once you reached the back of it.
Link looked up at the cloudy, starless sky. The light of the moon shone in the middle or the sky. He checked over his shoulder through the hedges of roses and trees. There was no princess in sight.
Was she already inside?
He took a deep breath and stepped off of the grass and onto stone.
It was immediately colder; a different world only a foot away from the outside. Water dripped from the ceiling into puddles and the thump of the droplets echoed against the broad, high stone walls.
The light of his lantern didn't reach the ceiling.
His heartbeat sped up with every step. The rock surrounding him turned from brown to a glittering gray the further inside he went.
Finally, he reached the heart of it. A large, turquoise pond with a patch of land at the other side of the water.
A small, ornate boat sat at the dock on the other side.
Across the water, there were lanterns illuminating the floor and pond, both shimmering. Old sconces and carvings showed the care that had once gone into keeping up this ancient jewel beneath the palace. Now, it was a secret.
Link had wondered as a child if it was just a secret for him and...
His eyes widened.
The Princess sat in the boat with her back turned to him. She was dressed so plainly and hunkered down so small he hadn't seen her at first.
She wore a maids uniform; he could recognize it easily. A long braid hung down her back. She was moving slightly, fidgeting with something.
Link sat down his lantern and placed a hand over his heart, suddenly captured by nerves so intense he wanted to run away.
"Your Highness?" The volume and the way his voice echoed made him cringe.
She looked over her shoulder and the sight of her face took his breath away. She gave him a big smile and at once he knew exactly why he was here. At least, why she'd picked him from the crowd.
"Link, you came after all." Her voice was achingly familiar and alight with childish excitement.
"Of course I did."
She picked up the paddles that were fixed at the side of the boat and she began rowing back across the pond to him. It was a short trip. She looked up at him, her green eyes gleaming amusement as the boat hit a stop against the stone ground. "Even though you didn't recognize me?"
"Princess, I..." He wasn't sure how he was going to manage conversation with this beautiful girl, gazing up at him so sweet and inviting.
She bit her lip. "You do recognize me now, though?"
He wiped his clammy hands on his shirt, suddenly feeling sharply how plain he must look in his stable-wear. It was all he had aside from his uniforms though. "Yes, I do." His voice was shaking. His face heated with embarrassment.
Her smile broadened. "Thank heavens. I was so afraid you wouldn't. Will you go across with me?" She pointed back towards the pretty side of the pond with the statues and bench.
He nodded but made no move to approach.
She waited patiently, staring at him as though she had nowhere else in the world to be.
Finally, he forced his legs to carry him forward. He stepped lightly into the boat and sat down at her side.
Just like earlier, her perfume intoxicated him. It reminded him sharply that this wasn't just any beautiful girl; this was The Princess of Hyrule.
"I'll row," he said hoarsely.
"Naturally. As is tradition."
The heat was stifling. As he picked up the oars, she leaned closer to him, brushing against his side.
Feelings, new and old overwhelmed him, but the enjoyment, the delirium of her company was taking over.
He exited the boat and held out his hand.
She hummed happily and took it.
Sparks.
Neither wore gloves now. Her bare hand against his solidified all the old, suppressed memories of his childhood playmate.
They sat together on the bench. There was a bag beside it that it seemed she'd brought with her. Before she could offer him anything, though, he found his voice.
"You were quite the trickster as a girl. I've been fooled all this time."
She laughed. "It's not my fault you couldn't recognize me in a bit of makeup, Link."
"You'd said your name was Hylia."
"Mm." She clasped her hands and closed her eyes. She bumped her shoulder to his. "Ancient ancestor of the royal family. Do you know your history?"
"No."
She giggled.
The Princess never smiled. Solemn grace was the manner she was known for.
Link wondered if anyone else saw this girlish side of her. "Besides, who would assume it was The Princess that they'd met in a cave? Plus, you dressed like a maid. You'd said you worked at the castle."
She met his eyes, feigning seriousness. "I do work at the castle. You're trying to catch me in a lie but it won't work. I couldn't exactly wear a ballgown in here either."
"That's true."
"My name is Zelda, really though. Of course you know that." She picked at the skirt of her dress, looking almost-shy for the first time that night.
"I'm not allowed to call you that, though."
She looked at him sharply, her smile vanishing. "You aren't allowed to call me anything else, Link."
"But, I—I would—."
"Please."
He swallowed hard. He couldn't possibly turn down a request from the girl in front of him, who was pouting so cutely and invading his space.
"Zelda," he whispered.
She looked as if she might faint. He thought she really might when she swayed towards him. Then her arms wrapped around his shoulders and she kissed his cheek.
He closed his eyes as his mouth watered and his face went so hot he thought he might melt.
"Thank you, Link." She dropped her head to his shoulder. "You must think me mad. I have gone mad, but...it's fresh on my mind; how we used to be. If you don't feel the same..."
He turned suddenly, nose to nose with her as her arms remained around his neck. "I do. I feel the same. You can—We—." He shook his head, trying to regain some semblance of intelligent thought. "It can be however you want it to be."
She gave him a dazed look that made him think this was all a dream and he'd wake up in the barracks cold and disappointed.
"There's a reason I asked you here out of the blue after all these years. When was the last time we came here?"
"I was ten."
"Then I was eight," she said. "Nine whole years. No wonder you didn't recognize me." She dropped her arms from him and folded her hands in her lap.
"Now that I see you up close, I don't know how I didn't."
That brought a small smile back to her lips. "The reason, after all this time...First of all, it was the only opportunity I've had in a long time. Amazing how the knights' training grounds and my area of the palace are a world away. But also, I felt desperate to see you because my father has decided it is time for me to make a marriage of strategic benefit to the land."
"Oh." Strange, how he'd been with her under an hour, after 9 years, yet his heart was already sinking at the thought of her with someone else.
"Link, do you have a family?"
The question caught him off guard. "My father was a knight before me."
Zelda nodded for him to go on as she reached for her bag.
"But he has passed away. My little sister and grandmother live on the other side of the sea."
It seemed he'd given a good answer. As Zelda sat the bag in her lap, she perked up, grinning at him again. Her face even flushed. "Really? On the other continent?"
"Yes, indeed."
"Have you been there?"
He shook his head. "My father saved up money and moved them there before he died. It was safer at the time."
"It's still safer," she said.
He couldn't have said it, but it was true.
Tensions between Rhoam and the Gerudo's leader, Ganondorf, were high. There could be a war any moment, and it had been that way for years.
"Hmm," Zelda said. "Are you hungry?"
He was always hungry. Soldiers rations were pitiful. "Um."
Zelda nodded decisively, as if he'd actually answered, and she unwrapped a baguette and block of cheese from her bag.
"Oh wow," he said excitedly.
Then she got out a a neatly-wrapped brand new hunk of meat.
Link looked at her in amazement and she giggled.
"There's more," she said, elbowing him teasingly. The last thing in the contents of the bag: a bottle of wine.
"Are you sure?"
"It's very old and expensive," she said. "Will you open it?"
Link was thrilled. This would go down in history as the best night of his life. He was eating food from the actual royal palace kitchen and drinking fine wine with the most gorgeous girl in the entire world.
He retrieved his knife from his pocket and popped the cork out of the bottle like he'd been practicing his whole life (although he'd never done it before).
Zelda clapped. "I didn't bring any dishes or silverware so we'll just have to eat and drink like savages."
"Fine by me," he chuckled.
For awhile, they ate and drank in silence.
Maybe Link shouldn't have taken her permission to eat like a savage so literally but he couldn't help it. The meat and cheese and bread were so beyond delicious and normally he didn't get to drink anything but water. In fact, he couldn't recall the last time he'd drank.
Maybe twice with his father. He had no clue how much or at what pace was acceptable but from the amused look on Zelda’s face, he got the feeling he wasn't doing this quite right.
Still, he was sharing and she seemed to be having her fill so it shouldn't matter.
"I hope you won't be sick," she said as Link was slowing down.
"I'm sorry, Princ—Zelda. I haven't had a proper meal in awhile."
She took the wine bottle and held it up to the lantern light. She swished the remainder around and laughed. "You're going to be sick. I'd better finish it off so you won't be alone."
"What do you mean?"
"Well you didn't drink all this on your own, I suppose." She pressed the back of her hand to her red cheek and clicked her tongue. "Perhaps I should've brought water."
"I have water all the time," he said, annoyed at the mere idea of it.
Zelda polished it off with a wince and set it aside, then packed away the little of the food that was left.
She rested her head on his shoulder and hooked her arm in his. The warmth and her weight against him made Link dizzyingly sleepy. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall.
"Link?"
"Yeah, Zelda?"
"Remember how I said the otherrr reason I wan'ed to see you was because Rhoam wants to marry me off?"
She called her father by his first name. That figured. He didn't seem like a great guy.
"Yeah."
"How would you feel, an' be honest, about going to see your grandma and sister...with me?"
"You're going to see my grandma and sister?" He felt funny, half asleep but not sleepy.
She laughed and nuzzled against his shoulder.
It made his stomach flutter.
"If you take me to meet them. It feels like fate that you have family far away in a safer country, one where I'd never be found." She paused and sat up, making Link lose his balance.
He caught himself by taking hold of her arms.
She put her hands on his face in return. "Pay attention. I'm serious. Run away with me. We'll sneak onto a boat. I'll sell my jewelry and we'd-hic-have plenty to live off of. And we'll find your fam'ly and I'll be a regular girl."
Link blinked at the three Zeldas in front of him. "That's crazy," he whispered.
Her lip trembled and she nodded agreement. "It's okay. It was just an idea. Because I don't want to get married."
"We've already snuck away tonight. And you're dressed like a commoner. We could leave right now."
Zelda’s eyes welled. "I was hoping you'd say that. Look." She held up the bag for him to see inside. At the bottom was a pile of luminous gemstones wound in gold; rings, necklaces, bracelets, broaches, hairpins.
"You planned it already," he breathed.
"Mm. I thought tonight, I'd either see you one last time or...you might join me."
"Zelda."
"I don’t want to be a princess. I don't want to live under my father’s rule. I don't want to be in this country. It's selfish..."
He traced a hand through her hair, tucking a curl behind her ear. All of his nerves from earlier were washed away with the wine. "Who would he have had you marry?"
Her eyes welled with tears and she looked away. It took her a long time to answer. "Ganondorf."
The name sobered him, at least a little. He shook his head. "No. No, Zelda." He kissed her cheek. "No." Her forehead. "No." Her temple. "No." He trailed down her face in kisses while she cried. "No, no, no, no, no."
Holding her face in his hands he leaned back and tilted her chin up. "I'm taking you away. Far away."
She exhaled a laughed through her soft cries. "My hero."
"Let's go." He took her hand.
That stopped her crying. She looked at him with wide eyes and a grin. "Let's sleep awhile and then go. I'm a bit dizzy. Aren't you?"
He'd forgotten that he was; he was so overcome by the need to protect her.
She closed her eyes. "Just for a little while. No one will find us here."
"No one will find us," he confirmed, his meaning more broad and final.
She sighed and her shoulders slackened. "I'm so happy."
"We'll run for the harbor, first thing."
She hugged her arms around his waist. They were nearly the same height, but she sunk down until her head was against his chest. "Thank you, Link. You are saving my life."
He really was falling asleep this time, so drowsy that the stone backrest and seat were comfortable. "I'll be glad to see my sister."
She squeezed him tighter and he ran his hands up and down her back. "We'll have fun."
"More fun than when we were kids."
She laughed against him, sounding close to sleep. "Even more. We'll be free. No more Princess."
Another AU where legends cross. Read more under the break.
General Story Synopsis:
Somewhere outside of time, the golden goddesses fued. A cycle of no end plagues their souls after they have let it push on across time and space alike. One of hatred, blood, and spirit; one of light and shadow. The goddess Din plots to destroy it all, at odds with her sister, Farore, who wishes rather to destroy the evil. Nayru, who trusts in the balance of the eternal struggle, proposes a solution. She will allow Din to put the worlds created by different ripples of time to the test. Din shall choose to revive a single puppet, and they will set the determining factors of the universe's fate into motion. She makes her choice, and Nayru begins with her work.
In a world still set in the era of A Link Between Worlds, a fabric is once more torn between realities. However, this is one far greater than anything before. It tears through time itself; a power only previously carried to the mortal world by Hylia herself. At the same time, an evil sealed away in this realm returns to life. The fused beast from light and dark worlds alike attempts to take control of the head-start the goddesses have given it; but there is no telling what the crack in reality may cause for existence now.
Premise:
The general idea for the AU is to focus on the narrative themes of The Legend of Zelda games, as well as Demise's Curse. It will heavily focus on the bond between Link and Zelda across lifetimes, and how their loyalty to one another affects the fate of Hyrule and those who live there.
Link Nicknames:
The Hero of the Skies (SkSw) - Chosen Hero, stink (affectionate), sleepyhead (affectionate), Skies.
The Hero of Men (MC Prologue) - Min
The Hero of the Minish (MC) - Pico
The Old Hero of the Four Sword (FS Backstory) - Fourest (get it because forest + four haha I'll see myself out). Kidding. Just Forest.
The New Hero of the Four Sword (FS) - Four
The Hero of Time (Oot Child) - Mask, Deku, fairy boy (affectionate)
The Hero of Time (OoT Adult(Alt)) - Time, Kiri
The Hero of Time (OoT Fallen) - Shade (given by TP Link despite being the wrong one)
The Hero of Legend (AlttP/LA) - Pink, rabbit, hare
The Hero of Ages and Seasons (OoA/S) - Oracle
The Hero of Worlds (ALBW) - Bear, Little Rabbit (given by ALttP/LA Link), Leaf (teasing nickname from Gulley when he died his hair green for a while)
One Who Learned Courage (Lorule) - Ravio, merchant (not affectionate)
The Hero of Hyrule (LoZ/AoL) - Hero
The Hero of Twilight (TP) - Twilight, wolf (given to him by TotK Link), Gray, Ordon (affectionate, given to him by TP Zelda)
The Hero of Light (FSA) - Divide, Mirror
The Hero of Winds - Wind, Gale (given to him by AoC Link), sailor
The Hero of Spirits (ST) - Conductor
The Hero of Warriors (HW) - Captain, Warrior
The Hero of Calamity (BotW Backstory) - Aspect, Dracozu (as he grew up along this river)
The Hero of the Wild (AoC) - Blade, Knight, Champion (gets confusing)
The Hero of the Wild (BotW/TotK) - Wild, Champion, Spirit (also gets confusing),
Zelda Nicknames:
Hylia Reborn (SkSw) - Grace (or Your Grace), Hylia/Hyli (not preferred), Ether? (Link definitely has nicknames for her, but they're all a bit too sweet for everyone else to call her by...)
Princess of the Light Force (MC Prologue) - Radiance, Harmony
Bright Princess (MC) - Bloom
Princess of the Elements (FS Backstory) - Prism, Monarch
Princess of the Four Sword Shrine (FS) - Adora
The Princess of Destiny (OoT Child) - Tulip
The Sage of Light (OoT Adult(Alt)) - Destiny, Sage
The Master of Disguise (OoT Fallen) - Sheik
Triforce Guide (ALttP) - Guide, Marin (what?!?! Whoa?!?! more on that later)
Hope of her People (OoS/A) - Hope
Princess like a Painting (ALBW) - Chroma
One Who Learned Wisdom (Lorule) - Hilda
Princess of Legend (LoZ/AoL) - Princess, Tale
The "Twlight Princess" (TP) - Dusk
Light of the Kingdom (FSA) - Light
Leader to a New Hyrule - Tetra, Captain (given by WW Link affectionately)
Spirit Princess (ST) - Phantom
Commander and Princess (HW) - Commander
Ancient Sealer - Guardian, Sonia (her middle name (her mother's name)), Sealer
Burgeoning Scholar (AoC) - Scholar
Sage of Light and Time (BotW/TotK) - Zel (given by her Link), Petal (also given by her Link once as a joke, but it stuck), Scale (usually isn't taken well)
(The nicknames above are WIPs, may be changed if I change my mind).
Extra Notes:
I intend to focus on the Links and Zeldas equally, as a big part of the story refers to their relationship in the grand scheme of like... the entire universe. This falls under the idea that every incarnation is a reincarnated form of a singular spirit and goddess.
Certain unnamed heroes from the games are given proper backstory and titles.
The two Zeldas in LoZ and AoL are combined into one Zelda; more on how the Hero of Hyrule's story goes later.
Some events in the games may be slightly dramatacized or combined with elements from their respective manga. More on this later.
While I will be using headcanons for post-game, I am making it my goal not to do so excessively. I like my canon compliancy, sometimes. I will mostly only use headcanons to fill in plot/character gaps or make sense of timeline.
A lot of posts will just be designs and ideas dumping early on. Comics are hard, I'm afraid. :')
@loz-untold-myths will be prioritized over work on this! Please keep this in mind!! (So if you like my stuff, maybe check that out).
I'm designing way too many outfits, I'm hoping to be able to share some of them soon!
Info Posts
Din, Nayru, and Farore
Tags
#loz ial
#loz in another life
#ial main story
#ial vignettes
#ial info post
#ial update
#ial doodles
#ial character peek
#nocturne's headcanons
I made the name too long, I am aware of this, but A Link Between Links was apparently taken. Curse the fandom hivemind!!!!
One more note: This AU now has its own section of the Untold Myths (@loz-untold-myths) Discord server! If you want an invite, please DM me.
If you have been reading my AU, you'll remember Zelda's grandma has a fun story of her own.
Thank you @zelinkcommunity for hosting this fantastic event!
Zelda's most treasured possession is her grandmother's locket.
She began wearing it almost religiously after she received it from Sage Rauru when she was about to turn seventeen.
Link is extremely curious about it, since she has never shown what's currently inside of it, and she is rather adamant on others opening it to reveal its contents - she always tends to tuck it inside t-shirts or blouses. He has an extremely vague memory of the late Queen showing him a picture of a handsome, elegant blonde man and a little boy - King Daphnes as a child, and his father, Sir Hiram.
The locket, in fact, had been a gift of Sir Hiram to the late Queen.
"By the time he gave it to her, they actually began being friends," Zelda explained to Link over Dinsday coffee, as she toyed a little with the piece of jewelry. "Everybody swears their love story began when they started officially being a couple, when my grandma was in her thirties. But it was way before."
Link sipped his coffee slowly. The spark in his slightly sleepy eyes showed he was piqued by the unknown information. Despite being friends for a long time, he didn't know too many facts about her family's past. Besides, he was always delighted to hear about a slow burn love.
Not that he longed for that kind of romance.
Zelda giggled and continued. "When they first met, he asked her out on a date, but instead of that, he took her to Hyrule Castle. He made a ruse so the King would meet his lost daughter. You can imagine she was furious with him, and swore to herself to reject any other kind of advances from him. Very salty from her, but very valid."
"I would have felt as cheated as her, probably," he said, scratching the back of his head.
"They smoothed things out with time, and they were friends for the rest of their lives," she shrugged, then sipped her cup. "Granny always said she had married her best friend."
Link was baffled. "You skipped to the end of the story!"
She giggled. "Not yet! They were friends indeed… but for a long time they were…" - her grin turned mischievous - " friends with benefits."
Link's jaw dropped, mindblown about the revelation Zelda made.
Not that he would like to have a friendship like that. Actually… scratch that. Link wants the whole deal.
"Love the face you're making right now," she said with a face full of mirth, circling his gesture. "You live for this kind of drama, don't lie."
"Yeah, but...Are you joking or are you telling something true?" Link was still in awe, but he didn't trust Zelda's trickster skills.
“It’s a bit of both,” she said with a wink. “Rauru told me they kept their relationship secret for a year before going public. To everyone, except him and nana Impaz, they were just friends… I can give you details, but we need more coffee to keep going.”
Link snatched their cups, and rushed to the coffee machine.
Zelda chuckled. “You aren’t curious about the locket anymore.”
He gave her her cup, filled to the brim, and sat again.
zelink in october | week three | haunted setting | 1.7k words
week one | week two | week four
masterlist | ao3 | prompt list
this is like a week late but i’ve accepted that i simply will be dropping the October fics not in October
this is my little poe!link au! warnings for death mention and guilt complexes
huge shout out to my beta ladyhoneydee <3
<><><><><><>
It was ironic: when the temperature of the air around her dropped a good twenty or so degrees, all Zelda felt was warmth blooming across her chest.
It was midnight this time, though there was very little evidence to that when the new moon blended so well with the night sky. She could only guess what time it really was, but she’d been reading by candlelight since dusk, and her candle had but a mere few inches left of its life.
It was just her luck that with the drop in temperature came a new source of light.
Zelda lowered her book, a smile curling the corners of her lips. Admittedly, her room was far too big for the blue flame to light much more than where the lantern hovered, but it was enough to make shadows dance on the stone walls in a soft, sky hue. It was enough to make a presence known to her—one that she knew all too well.
Hyrule Castle was old, and its namesake even older. Things that no one could really explain crawled across the surface of the land and had been doing so for eons. The bony creatures hiding in every crevice, both natural and man-made, were old as time. It was no wonder that a place with so many ruins and so much tragedy in its extensive history would be home to things beyond the realm of the living. The princess, just as she had her own skeletons, had her own ghostly visitors as well.
“Hide not, my dear knight,” Zelda called out, setting her book aside. “You are always welcome here.”
From the shadows he crept.
His dull blue eyes always seemed to light up when he saw her, and his hair was as wild and tousled as ever–colored a pale shade of blond that would make plenty of maidens jealous. He never aged, never looked a day older than the boy on the brink of adulthood that he’d been when…
She didn’t like to think about it.
“Princess,” he answered with a low bow. “You waited up for me.” It was like he still couldn’t believe she stayed up to see him.
“Of course,” she replied with a tilt of her head. “I always do.”
A smile, shy and bashful, answered her in return. She wanted nothing more than to cross the room and take his face into her hands, trace the shape of that smile with the pad of her thumb—but time had proven again and again that she could not.
Zelda gestured to the seat beside hers; before he complied, he moved the blanket from the back of her chair to around her shoulders, just as he always did. He brought a chill with him, but he never went a night without ensuring her comfort.
“Ever a gentleman,” she sighed, curling up beneath the blanket.
“I live to serve my princess.”
Her heart ached at such a sentiment. He did not live at all.
“I missed you.” Zelda turned to face him and leaned her head against the seat. She pretended the warm cushion on her cheek was Link’s hand. That was the only thing that gave her the courage to ask, “Where do you go when you’re not here?”
Link’s expression softened into something sweet. Something sad.
“I’m still looking for the sword.”
Before their official introductions, Zelda had caught glimpses of him. She would see brief flickers of his silhouette standing amongst the ranks of soldiers, or turning a corner in the hall, or walking the courtyard at night. She always thought it was just her tired eyes playing tricks. Never did he appear without that lantern, either.
He was a hero of old; a Link to the Zelda just prior to her, and the Great Calamity had killed him. He could either find where the ancient sheikah had placed his body, or he could find the sacred blade tethered to his fate and put both to rest. Link had long since told her which he intended to do; she’d promised him back then, before she’d so helplessly tangled herself in this net, that she would help him.
And Zelda had done a very awful, very selfish thing.
“I take it you’ve had no luck?” she said, and it took plenty to keep her eyes fixated on him instead of on the grand double doors of her wardrobe. She knew what was stashed away, just behind the tangle of skirts and sleeves.
Link shook his head.
“No.” A gentle smile, harboring all the warmth of the living, crossed his lips. “But I’m in no rush.”
His hand rested on the armrest. She could see the rich red through his ever slightly transparent skin. She knew should she reach out and touch him, she would freeze. Her fingers would slip right through.
She felt immensely guilty. Zelda did not deserve that warm smile. She’d been selfish and cruel, and she knew what she had to do to fix it, but that did not make it any easier. Truth be told, she was irrevocably in love with him, silly as it might’ve been. He was a ghost, an uneasy soul searching for rest, and because she did not want to lose him, she was keeping that peace from him.
“Good” she said, nuzzling further into her chair. His smile spread like butter. “I’ve no idea what I’ll do with myself when you’ve gone.”
“Say the word and I will stay.”
That was the worst part of it all, she thought. He would answer anything she asked of him without question, but how horrible of a thing that would be to request. Was this not easier, she asked herself–if only to justify her own actions–so that he did not have to choose?
“I can’t ask that of you.”
“You could ask anything of me.”
Zelda huffed out a weak laugh and shrugged her shoulders, raising her eyes to meet his. He looked so serene, so sincere in the light of her lantern. Even in death, he was devoted to her. But she was not where his devotion truly lied, and such feelings manifested in a sad smile.
“You know I am not your Zelda,” she told him, dropping her gaze to her hands. They fidgeted in her lap, picking at the seam on the blanket. It would come undone if she did not stop, but that was alright. The castle was rich in blankets. The only thing that made this one special was that Link’s hands had cradled it–but he could touch another, too.
One of his hands entered her field of view–one, because if he let go of his lantern, he would be far too transparent to see. Her skin felt like ice where his fingers gripped hers, but she would withstand years’ worth of frostbite if it meant that she could feel him like this.
“No,” he agreed. There was a pressure, like he was squeezing her hands with all of the strength he could muster. “You know I don’t want you to be.”
“You loved her. You must want to see her again.”
His hand did not stay still. She felt that ice touch her cheek, spread over her ear and down to her neck where it settled. Her skin was covered in goosebumps and she was trembling, but she begged to the gods above that he wouldn’t pull back.
“One day I will, but right now, I see you. I see you, and I love all that I see,” he whispered, though none were awake to hear them at such an hour no matter how loudly they spoke.
Zelda wanted to kiss him. He was so close that, had he been able to breathe, she would’ve felt his exhale on her lips. This was not the first time they’d come so close to intimacy, but it was the first time that she was the one to halt the advance with a quiet interruption.
“Link, I…”
“...can’t kiss a poe?” he asked, voice quiet and wry as he echoed the same thing he said each time their intimacy ended on his account. A half smile tugged at Zelda’s lips.
“Not without frostbite.”
Link’s thumb and all of the ice coating it brushed over the space just below her ear before he withdrew entirely. The burn of his touch still lingered; it was all she could do to tug the blanket tighter around herself. Perhaps he loved her now, but what would he think when he found the sword? What would he say of her then?
Was it so wrong of her to not want to lose him?
“It’s late,” he told her. It was the same thing he always said when he was thinking of leaving. Their visits were never long; they couldn’t be. A poe could only manifest as solidly as he was for so long. “You should really be getting some sleep.”
“Tell me a story first,” she pleaded, reaching for his hand. The moment her arm left the safety of the blanket, she was trembling again. “Please?”
His smile grew and his sigh was playful more than anything.
“You’ve heard them all.”
“Tell me again.”
Link lifted her hand, her hand that was pale and tinting blue, and when he pressed his chilly lips against her knuckles, she shuddered.
“As my princess wishes.”
He told her of the Hero of Winds, arguably one of the happier tales in all the tragedy that followed the title of hero, and she wished she could say that his smooth voice soothed her worries. Yet the more he spoke, the more time went on. Her candle burned out; the stars outside her window hid themselves away behind clouds; the amount of time he could stay a visible figure was waning. She always hated to see the way he would flicker in and out, the way his voice would grow quieter because of the energy he was using to be with her.
“I’ll be back tomorrow, I promise,” he told her, but she couldn’t feel the touch of his lips to her head. She couldn’t even feel the ice of his presence. He was so sweet to her, so kind even in death.
The weight of the guilt on her chest was so much that she gripped her blanket and choked out,
“Wait, I have the sword. Gods, you’ll hate me; I have the sword.”
She didn’t want him to leave. He needed to know; he needed to hear what she had done, but by then, Link had already gone. His lantern was no longer anywhere to be found.
