Hi! I opened this blog to have a place to put LoZ stuff and also to make updates on the progress of my fan fic, The Legacy of Myriad. Things aren't quite together yet, so thanks for being patient while I get this set up! :) In the meantime, you can find me on:
•AO3
•ff.net
•deviantArt
I haven’t posted much around here in a while, but I’ve had this art piece going for several months. Like I said on deviantArt, I never quite felt like this was done, but I also don't know where else I can take it, so here it is! A little zelink fan art using the models I designed for my fan fiction series The Legacy of Myriad!
You can find the story itself posted on ao3 and ff.net :)
I haven’t been very active lately (after that Linktober + 24h charity stream and work, I was in need of a break! And my boo is finally with me in Canada, after so many months, so we’ve been catching up for the past few weeks!)
But I have to thank you for the 1000 follows!! <3 So here’s a colored sketch of our lovebirds !
Just thought I’d leave a note here letting everyone know that the next chapter of Heart of Courage is going to be a little delayed for two reasons: First, it’s just a very long chapter that’s in need of a ton of edits and, to be frank, gutting, and two, I’ve had a few things to do this week concerning doctors and so on, so I’m just slightly behind with it. I’m hoping I’ll have something to post by the middle of next week, but I’m not 100% sure!
Still, I am working on it! So stay tuned and all that! XD
I really want to draw something simple and stress-free outside of work that I can commit to doing every day or every other day without feeling like a chore. Zelda it is \o/ I’ll be doing this 30 day OTP challenge with Link x everyone. LOL but for today, some cute Zelink will have to do.
Originally, I drew this massive Skyloft background and then I had to remind myself these need to stay simple otherwise I will just be drawing Zelda all day every day. “oTL
Author’s Favorite Scenes: Excerpt from The Legacy of Myriad Book Two - Rise of Power: Chapter 12 - Boundaries
After Link and Zelda's victory at the Temple of Fire, Myriad sends them to Lake Hylia to unleash the power held within the Temple of Water, though the temple may be the least of their concerns when Ganondorf begins retaliating against Hyrule itself. With no other place to go, the people turn to a revolt forming to fight his tyranny, and it's here that Zelda learns an unexpected truth concerning Link's past. Meanwhile, Link discovers the truth behind another long kept secret when his path to defend Hyrule leads to a confrontation with the King of Evil himself.
Full Story Available on:
ff.net
Ao3
--- --- ---
"The Zora were very gracious to give us this room, and it's nice to be able to feel most of my extremities again."
“Agreed,” Link returned with a smile, then thoughtfully looked her over. Every inch of her burgundy dress was still soaked, and as he reached over to lift a portion of the fabric, he remarked, “I know how this is going to sound, but you really should take this dress off so everything will dry faster.”
Zelda pursed her lips, and though his suggestion made sense, she returned, “I can't. We're not precisely alone right now, and if my dress doesn't dry before Esair returns or Queen Majalyn concludes her business, I don't want to be left wandering about in my slip.”
Link snorted, relating, “I don't think the Zora would mind it. I mean they hardly wear clothing at all."
"That's different,” she retorted. “They're not human, and that's their culture."
Realizing she was going to be stubborn, Link related, “They're also not prone to catching colds from wearing soaked clothing like we are, and if it's me you're worried about, that slip was all you were wearing when we slept together last night and you weren't embarrassed then."
His turn of phrase had her blushing madly if only because he made it sound as if more had happened between them than simply getting rest. So she countered, “Well perhaps I shouldn't have, especially considering how we were kissing in the boat on the way here. I have to remember that things aren't the same between us now, so it wasn't proper for me to do that last night, and it isn't proper here either."
Once she was finished speaking, she glanced over at him in wait of a response only to find his lips curved into a frown.
Confused by the expression, she asked, "What?"
“Are you saying you're uncomfortable with me now?"
Blinking, Zelda rasped, “No! Not at all, I just mean that our relationship has escalated, so I need to remember to exercise modesty."
Relieved to know she wasn't feeling uncomfortable at least, he smiled, and couldn't help thinking she was awfully cute when she was arguing so logically. But if she couldn't be convinced to remove the soaked garment, he had only one thing to say on the matter, and started by shaking his head with a casual shrug.
"Fine then, sit there and be proper in your cold, wet dress," he started, pausing before adding for effect, "my lady."
Zelda sent a glare in his direction only to find him grinning from ear to ear. Rolling her eyes over the victorious look, she muttered under her breath, wishing he wasn't right. Propriety had its place, and it wasn't exactly here. That aside, she was certainly ready to stop the shivers from wracking her body so incessantly, and his tunic already looked half way dry.
So she finally gave in with a muttered, “Oh alright,” and reached to untie the strings of her bodice followed by getting onto her knees to slip the dress off completely.
Smiling, Link looked away to give her privacy and listened as she moved to lay the garment not far from the fire while lamenting the way she'd neglected to bring her riding pants with them. A moment passed in silence following the words, and he looked back under the assumption that she was done only to catch the sight of silken skin wrapped in a flimsy, wet slip.
It was in that moment that Link realized he'd won the battle, but lost the war.
Unlike at their camp in Misty Falls, the fact that her slip was wet made it nearly transparent, and as she'd moved, the full swells of her breasts were much easier to see straining against the fabric as she wrapped the fur around herself again.
The sight made him forget where they were. Why is she in just a slip again?
As Link fought his momentary confusion, Zelda grabbed her satchel and opened it to inspect their belongings, sighing to find a lump of soaked bread. Shaking her head, she threw the ruined food into the fire, then proceeded to ensure everything else was still intact.
Thankfully, the jar holding their fairy was fine, and she next opened a vial of potion to check the scent.
By then, Link finally managed to snap himself out of his stupor, but only to find himself watching her work as the fire warmed them over time. He recalled doing something similar in Misty Falls, and briefly wondered why it was so hard to tear his gaze away from her.
"You know, that was a switch back there."
Blinking, it took him a moment to figure out what she'd said, and even then, he had no idea what she was talking about. So, determined not to make a fool of himself, he threw out an arbitrary agreement.
"Yes, it was."
Replacing their belongings in the satchels, she qualified, "I never thought I'd have to save your life that way, and it honestly scared me. I felt like we were back on Death Mountain again and you were about to fall. I'm just glad history didn't repeat itself, though I think the Zora were already there and would've helped if I couldn't reach you in time."
Realizing she was referring to how he'd fallen overboard, Link related, “I'm sorry I scared you like that, but I'd rather you have saved me anyway.”
Smiling at him, the thought of jumping into the lake reminded Zelda of what she'd seen beneath the water's surface, and she was quick to point it out. "Oh, I forgot to mention that when we were underwater, I saw the Temple of Water. It's completely submerged in the lake.”
“Really?” Considering it for a moment, Link mused, "No wonder Myriad said we'd have to visit Zora's Domain before we could enter it. I wonder how they'll help us with that."
“I suppose we'll find out soon enough,” Zelda suggested, adding, “but it means we'll have to get wet again you know?"
"Yeah, I just thought of that," he remarked, wondering if there was any reason to dry out their clothing after all.
As he considered the situation, Zelda watched him drift off into thought. He seemed so focused, as if trying to prepare for whatever hardships awaited them in the temple, or simply wondering what they might be, and she wished she could provide an answer if only because of his somber expression.
The look suggested he had a million things on his mind, but no idea where to start—and why wouldn't he? Not only did they have a temple completely submerged in a lake to fight through, but he also had to ensure her safety until they could find Dragmire's orb and destroy it.
Zelda truly hated that he had to carry such a burden, and reached for his hand while moving to sit closer in the hopes of offering comfort.
The movement caught his attention, and he lifted an arm to place around her shoulders without questioning her motives as she leaned against his side. Still, she got the feeling he already understood her desire to provide support and didn't say a word, allowing her own thoughts to drift over various matters.
Yet for all the problems they faced, she found the foremost thing on her mind to be the kiss they'd shared on the boat, not to mention how much she'd enjoy a repeat session.
And she wasn't certain if she should.
Not that it felt wrong—quite the opposite in fact. The entire time, she could scarcely believe she was kissing him so passionately, the way their tongues met and twined together evoking sensations she'd never experienced. Her entire body tingled, leaving her unable to do anything but cling to him, and the simple memory of it had her breathless even now.
It made her question where they stood with each other emotionally, and what boundaries lie between them, or more specifically, what boundaries should lie between them.
Dismissing the ten years during their separation, they'd always been close friends, adoptive siblings with no family aside from each other and Alma who was taken from them at a very young age. That was how they were used to things being, and growing up together left them comfortable with each other—perhaps too comfortable.
After all, if care wasn't taken, their romantic feelings could easily distract them from more urgent matters, and maybe even cause them to make a few mistakes.
She also knew they were both hesitant because of their futures, unsure what their lives might look like when all was said and done—not that they'd been given much of a chance to talk more about their feelings since admitting them. Instead, they were merely enjoying each others' company in silence, sitting together so close because it simply felt right.
It wasn't awkward, nor did it feel like something they shouldn't be doing, at least, not to her. So it couldn't be completely wrong, could it?
During her thoughts, she unwittingly snuggled closer into his side just as he asked, "Still cold?"
At the question, she gazed up into his eyes, realizing the cold was all but forgotten. Yet she found herself nodding with a small smile in the hopes that he might kiss her again.
Seeing the playful look in her eyes, he knew she was simply looking for another kiss, and would've found it cutely humorous if the prospect hadn't caused his heart to beat five different directions in a single thump.
The sensation had his voice raspy in asking, "Want me to fix it again?"
With a pretty pink hue staining her cheeks, she nodded slowly while leaning up to meet her lips to his—and just like that, nothing else seemed to matter.
If it was wrong for them to harbor feelings for each other, she was in deep trouble. There was no way she could've stemmed the swell of emotion she felt for him as their lips pressed together, any hesitancy toward furthering their romantic involvement fading to a dim memory in those moments.
Instead of backing away, she latched her arms around his sides, allowing her lips to part and their tongues to meet, leaving her just as breathlessly dizzy as before—and it wasn't simply a matter of physical enjoyment feeding her emotions. It was also the affection she could sense in the way he kissed her, the care he took in holding her as his fingers thread through her damp hair and the loving way his mouth slanted over hers.
If she ever questioned the way he felt, the answer was right there, and waiting didn't matter. Modesty didn't matter. Social status didn't matter.
Author’s Favorite Scenes: Excerpt from The Legacy of Myriad Book Two - Rise of Power: Chapter 9 - Simple Solution
After Link and Zelda's victory at the Temple of Fire, Myriad sends them to Lake Hylia to unleash the power held within the Temple of Water, though the temple may be the least of their concerns when Ganondorf begins retaliating against Hyrule itself. With no other place to go, the people turn to a revolt forming to fight his tyranny, and it's here that Zelda learns an unexpected truth concerning Link's past. Meanwhile, Link discovers the truth behind another long kept secret when his path to defend Hyrule leads to a confrontation with the King of Evil himself.
Full Story Available on:
ff.net
Ao3
--- --- ---
Thanks to the sandy shores of Lake Hylia, the horse thief wasn’t difficult to track, and conveniently, the hoof falls led directly there.
Still, it took over half an hour for Link and Zelda to arrive on foot, and the trek hadn't been a peaceful one. It seemed as if octoroks were trying to overthrow Misty Falls, and without the speed Epona and Frost would've provided, it was impossible to simply ride past the creatures.
So each one became an irritating pain that had Link ready to pull his hair out.
He was only grateful the tracks were so easy to follow, though they didn't always continue in a straight line. Instead, a few gaps existed where it looked as if Epona might've attempted to tug her reins away from the thief, while other signs suggested they'd been slowed down by the octoroks.
On the one hand, Link hoped that was the case, but on the other, he also worried their horses had been harmed by the rock-spitting creatures infesting the paths. Sadly, the chances of it happening seemed good when they came across hand prints in the sandy ground as if Frost might've thrown the thief after being smacked by one of the octorok's projectiles.
Still, the horses were nowhere in sight, meaning the thief had simply remounted and continued on.
Thankfully, the fog of Misty Falls faded away as they went, allowing more sunlight in from a cloudless, blue sky above as they finally reached an exit from the area’s numerous winding paths.
With a cold breeze blowing by, they emerged onto the sandy shores of Lake Hylia. Small waves lapped at the sand several yards away as the sapphire waters stretched on nearly as far as the eye could see. Only mountains were visible in the remote distance, and they almost appeared to be floating due to the haze created by the water's glare of reflected sunlight. There were also a few islands toward the southeast which most certainly belonged to Zora’s Domain.
But the best part of the scenery was Epona.
Now rushing toward them from the northern shores, she didn't stop until she reached Link, instantly bumping her nose against his shoulder. Grinning, he rubbed her muzzle and immediately started checking for marks resulting from any rocks that might've struck her in Misty Falls.
Thankfully, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, and he asked, “Did you finally tug your reins away from the thief?”
Epona snorted as if that were precisely the case, and Link smirked—until he noticed one of his satchels was missing.
Rolling his eyes, he supposed it didn't matter since they still needed to find Frost, and he mentioned his missing belongings to Zelda, yet she didn't respond.
Turning to face her, he found the Princess staring out over the waters with obvious awe in her violet blue gaze just as she whispered, “It's so beautiful.”
After yearning to see Lake Hylia for as long as she could remember, not even the trouble caused by a thief could ruin the moment her eyes met the waters for the first time. Adding to her awe was a sense of majesty present in the body of water that spoke to her in ways she could have never described. She only knew she'd remember this moment for as long as she lived, so consumed beholding the beautiful scenery she didn't realize Link was beholding her.
Zelda was right, the lake was indeed beautiful, but in his eyes, her own beauty outmatched it. He could've watched her all day just staring out across the waters with the wind whipping through her bronzed blonde hair and lifting the hem of her dress.
Still, he hadn't forgotten Zelda's admission of desiring to see Lake Hylia, or his own desire to take her there—and seeing her reaction was entirely worth the grief they'd experienced trying to reach it.
The notion made it difficult to interrupt the moment, but now that they had Epona back, it would be a lot easier to catch up with Frost. So they had a little time to spare, and he walked over to stand next to her, looking out over the waters with the words, “I'm glad you're finally getting to see it.”
She gifted him with a smile that was even more dazzling than the water under the sun and took his hand. As if by instinct, their fingers thread together, and Link couldn't stop himself from pointing out, “Still, Lake Hylia isn't the most beautiful thing here.”
Knowingly, she remarked, “If you say I'm the most—oh!”
The last came as he grinned sheepishly, telling her all she needed to know without words, and a laugh erupted from his chest when she playfully shoved his arm and shook her head as if having no idea what to do with him.
Yet her smile never waned, and she immediately hugged him as if unable to resist, whispering, “I know you didn't do it on purpose, but thank you for bringing me here.”
“I would've done it anyway,” he returned, once again finding it difficult to break away and continue their search.
But it became easier when Zelda lifted her head and gazed over his shoulder, remarking, “Oh, there's a home near the shore with smoke rising from the chimney.”
Finally releasing her, Link turned around to see what she was talking about, and surely enough, a red house elevated on stilts stood several meters north of their position—the same direction from which Epona had rejoined them.
With three docks stretching out into the water where numerous boats were tethered and a small tool shed nearby, the horse tracks led directly there, and they wasted no time making their way toward it.
As they rounded the corner of the shed, Frost came into view tethered to a post next to the side of the home. Relieved to see him, Zelda immediately approached the horse and remarked, “I guess now all we need to do is find your missing satchel.”
Nodding, they stopped long enough to inspect Frost, finding that he didn't have any visible marks—and Zelda's satchels were also gone.
Rolling her eyes, she ignored the stolen items for the moment in favor of casting the healing spell she'd learned in the fairy cave on both horses. That way, they'd know for sure any minor injuries sustained wouldn't cause the animals problems, and after Link tethered Epona next to Frost, he rounded the corner leading to the front of the home with Zelda right behind him.
There, they found a walkway made of planks leading from the docks to a ramp connecting with the home's front porch, and sitting at the bottom of the wooden incline was the thief. Crouched over their satchels, the young man was going through their things and tossing aside whatever he considered useless—until he came across Lyonel's flute which he regarded curiously.
It wasn't until Link's shadow crossed over him that he took notice of their presence, glancing back to see the Hylians coming up behind him.
Instantly, the thief gasped and pushed himself up to run away again, dropping the flute in the process. But Link wasn't having it, swiftly rushing forward to tackle him onto his stomach.
As sand flew around them, Zelda also moved in and grabbed the young man's arm, allowing Link to take the other and pull him onto his feet. Doing so, it was easy to see that he was scared, and didn't appear to have any truly malicious intentions. But that didn't stop him from trying to escape, starting by shoving Zelda away as she was physically weaker and easier to move from his path.
As a result, she stumbled backwards and landed on her hip against the walkway with a sharp yelp of pain.
And Link's response was immediate.
Balling his right fist, he sent it sailing into the thief's jaw, putting enough strength into it to send him falling backwards.
Landing only a few feet away from Zelda, he grunted and drew out, “Gah, okay! I give! Just don't do that again, you hit hard!"
Rolling his eyes with a low grumble, Link joined Zelda to help her up, though she didn't seem to be injured, or even still in pain. Instead, she was staring at him in surprise over the way he'd defended her—hoping all the while that her blush wasn't noticeable as this was hardly the time for notions of admiration.
So she let him help her up and confirmed that she was alright before informing the thief in response to his complaints, “Well it serves you right for stealing people's horses and going through their things! You really should be ashamed of yourself."
Sitting up while still rubbing his jaw, the thief replied, "I'm sorry, lady! But I'm not really a thief, honest! So maybe I did deserve it, but I only stole them because the rev–," he abruptly stopped and amended, "I mean, rupees are tight and my grandmother needs the money."
Link and Zelda exchanged a knowing look over the way he'd changed his wording, neither needing to ask if the other thought he was about to say the revolt—and it wasn't a surprise. Myriad said the revolt was forming around Lake Hylia and that several young people had joined, meaning he was likely one of them.
So they both shrugged and reached down to offer their hands and help him up.
In response, he peered up at them with confusion in his eyes. But if he thought their offer of assistance seemed strange after everything he'd done, he didn't comment on it and finally took their hands.
Once he was on his feet again, Link stepped back and asked, "What were you really going to say? The rev … .”
"Nothing!" he retorted loudly, continuing without pause, "Not a thing, honest. But look, don't tell my grandmother about this, alright? She's asleep right now, and she'd have my backside if she found out I stole horses. I mean, you caught me, so there's no harm done, right?"
Zelda arched a single brow before crossing her arms over her chest as Link planted a hand against his hip, neither of them sure if they should just let him get away with what he'd done so easily.
Seeing their looks, he cringed and drew out, "Oh come on!"
Link rolled his eyes as Zelda sighed. But before either could respond, the front door of the home opened and a woman's voice called out, "Cody! Where did you run off to, young man?"
Fidgeting at the sound of the voice calling him, Cody gave them a pleading look before taking off between them with the words, “I'm right here, Grandma!”
Turning around as he passed, Link and Zelda watched him heading toward an elderly woman now standing on the front porch. With long, curly gray hair, she was rather short and stood with the assistance of a cane while patiently waiting for her grandson to join her.
Keeping his voice low once they were alone, Link asked Zelda, "Should we tell her?"
Pursing her lips in consideration over the matter, she replied, "Well, we did find our horses. So I don't see the harm in keeping it a secret, though … .”
Trailing as she looked down at their belongings now strewn about the sand, she sighed and started the task of gathering everything to pack into the satchels, concluding, "With as loud as he is, I hope she's hard of hearing, otherwise he just got himself into trouble."
Author’s Favorite Scenes: Excerpt from The Legacy of Myriad Book Two - Rise of Power: Chapter 8 - Complicated
After Link and Zelda's victory at the Temple of Fire, Myriad sends them to Lake Hylia to unleash the power held within the Temple of Water, though the temple may be the least of their concerns when Ganondorf begins retaliating against Hyrule itself. With no other place to go, the people turn to a revolt forming to fight his tyranny, and it's here that Zelda learns an unexpected truth concerning Link's past. Meanwhile, Link discovers the truth behind another long kept secret when his path to defend Hyrule leads to a confrontation with the King of Evil himself.
Full Story Available on:
ff.net
Ao3
--- --- ---
I want nothing to take you from me … .
Zelda!
We can still be together … .
Wait, Link, someone's calling me, I have to go … .
Zelda, please, come back! Help us!
Don't you want to be with me?
Torn between going to her parents and staying with Link, Zelda only stopped when he grabbed her hand, looking back to see a disappointed look in his blue eyes. Her desire to leave and save her parents was the culprit, and she parted her lips to promise she'd return.
Yet, before she could speak a word, Link's lips curved in a malicious smirk, his hair turning white and eyes red.
As he used his grip on her hand to jerk her in, her own eyes opened swiftly, her head lifting from its spot resting against Link's shoulder. Still tucked against his side in the cavern where they'd taken shelter, it was daytime now, early afternoon if the sun's low position in the sky was any indication.
Taking a deep breath, she looked up at Link's face. Seeing he was still resting peacefully, she finally allowed herself to exhale, grateful the nightmare hadn't caused her to make enough noise to rouse him.
To make sure things stayed that way, she sat up slowly, untangling herself from his arms before sitting forward with a low sigh. It seemed recent events had colored her recurring dream, and the troubling imagery was slow to fade.
Until those last few moments when Link's mimicry appeared, the dream had only been confusing. But her heart was now pounding because of the shadow, which she thankfully knew was nothing more than a reflection of her fear over his interference in their affairs.
As for the rest, that would take a more thorough examination to figure out.
During her considerations, Link remained silent, still resting peacefully next to her. His continued slumber served as a testament to just how exhausted they'd been from their long ride, and aside from her dream, she'd rested well. Not only was she ready to continue their journey to Lake Hylia, she could also consider the way they'd expressed their feelings for one another the previous day with more clarity.
It was astonishing just how happy his declaration of love had made her. It was also nice knowing she wouldn't be struggling with confusion over the way she was feeling for him any longer.
Yet her dream had left a sour taste in her mouth.
Being torn between staying with Link and going to Hyrule Palace for the sake of her parents was simply unpleasant. Still, it was difficult to say how unpleasant without knowing the precise reason her parents were beckoning to her from the start. To take the throne? Restore her family name?
Or was it to clear up any misconceptions concerning the circumstances surrounding their deaths?
Without an answer, she couldn't begin to fathom the meaning behind Link's appearance and whether it was just a facet of her worry for their future, or something more prophetic. The thought had her wishing it was possible to consult Impa, but her mentor's fate was still a mystery after they were forced to abandon her at the Temple of Time. Goddesses, please let her be okay.
Still, there was another just as well-versed in such matters as the Sheikah she could consult—Myriad.
At the very least, the Sage of Light could make a few suggestions over the meaning of her dreams, and at the thought, Zelda pushed herself up with intentions of getting their day started.
Yet she regretted abandoning the warmth of the blankets as soon as she stood, shivering over the chill in the air. It seemed each day, the weather was growing colder, and at this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if they saw a little snow soon, making Link's decision to acquire a cloak in Engleton seem like a good idea.
Restarting their fire to warm their temporary camp as well as to cook a bite to eat, she took a moment as the meat cooked to retrieve the dress Kiama had gifted her with the evening before. A deep burgundy color with a scoop neck and long sleeves, it was very pretty. Even better, the material was thick, meaning it would be warm to wear.
So she donned the garment followed by tying the upper half of her hair back, realizing in the process that the neckline of her dress was just low enough to show off her amulet.
It was the first time she'd ever worn the bauble in plain sight, and all things considered, the matter didn't seem like a huge issue anymore. Perhaps someone would identify her because of it, which could spell trouble in certain situations, and yet, a part of her liked the thought of displaying it.
So she left it where it was for now and finished tying the strings lacing the bodice of her dress, then focused on cooking their meals. As for drinks, they had plenty of water—the pool nearby was clean and their canisters were already fully. Yet Shamrock had provided plenty of tea and honey to make her favorite drink before they'd left Kakariko, and she decided to make some if only to get their day started on the right foot.
Once everything was ready, she finally moved over to Link and knelt to gently shake his shoulder while whispering his name. But he only waved his hand as if shooing a fly, causing her to snicker softly.
Ever since they were children, he'd liked to sleep in—she used to stand next to his bed repeating his name and dodging pillows until he finally roused. Thankfully, he didn't have any pillows to swing at her now aside from the blanket roll, not that she intended to employ the same method of waking him.
Instead, she had a new trick in her arsenal to test out, blushing as she leaned in to press her lips against his cheek, then said his name again.
Sadly, it didn't work. Sighing, Zelda wondered if a kiss on the lips might garner better results, and decided it couldn't hurt to try. So she canted her head, but only made it halfway when Link leaned up and kissed her without warning.
Eyes going wide, she jumped just after their lips met, sitting back to stare—and he was grinning from ear to ear.
Spying the mischievous expression, she gasped and exclaimed, "You were awake!"
Snickering, his eyes finally opened to regard her with the words, "Since you said my name and I waved my hand because I didn't want to get up, yeah."
"You're so immature!"
If possible, his grin grew bigger. “I just wanted to see if you'd kiss me or not, and thought I would surprise you."
"Oh!" she groused in frustration, sitting back with her arms folded over her chest—not that she was truly upset. He was simply too playful for his own good … or was it her own good?
Regardless, she wouldn't have changed anything about him. His playfulness kept things interesting—it was just a matter of never admitting her appreciation for it, otherwise he’d probably never stop.
So, to keep herself from smiling, she grabbed some of the food she'd prepared along with a cup of honey tea and handed it over with the words, "There, Mr. Trickster, some breakfast."
"Thanks," he returned, still smirking.
As they got started on their meals, Link knew Zelda wasn't as incensed by his trickery as she tried to appear. There was an amused glint in her eyes as she'd handed his food over, and even now, she looked to be fighting a smile.
Not that he could fully focus on the matter, too distracted by her outfit to pay much attention. A deep, burgundy dress graced her figure, calling to mind the way Kiama had asked if she'd packed a dress before they left Engleton, and this must've been it. With long sleeves and a scoop neck, she looked lovely, though he was surprised to see she hadn't removed her amulet considering the outfit left it in plain sight.
Maybe it was a sign that she was growing more comfortable with her true identity, or she simply hadn't realized it was visible, in which case he felt the need to ask, “Do you know your amulet is showing?”
Looking down after sipping her tea, Zelda nodded and replied, “I know. I just don't see a reason to hide it any longer, but if it becomes a problem, I can store it in my belt pouch.”
Nodding, he finished his meal with a smile, glad she was showing it off, and not simply because it was a sign of acceptance. It was also nice to see the amulet he'd kept for ten years around the neck of the girl he'd wanted so desperately to remember, finding it served as a reminder of how important to him she truly was.
Still, as he stood to don the rest of his clothing and gear, he couldn't help thinking he didn't really need the reminder. His feelings for her were too strong to ever forget.
Considering it while buckling his harnesses and belt, he turned around to find Zelda rolling up the blankets and storing them on their horses' saddles. It was the most mundane of tasks, but he felt as if he could've watched her all morning, and found himself recalling all the times he'd denied himself a chance to get closer to her, or more specifically, to kiss her.
Such an urge was rising now, and after their confession the previous day, resisting wasn’t as integral to keep things moving smoothly. So, as he approached Epona where Zelda stood packing their belongings, he made up his mind.
As she turned to clear a path and make her way to Frost, he reached over and hooked his fingers into the back of her belt with a gentle tug. Feeling it, she cast a questioning look over her shoulder but didn't resist the way he drew her in, ready to ask what he was doing when her back met his chest and her lips were sealed with a gentle kiss.
Instantly, she sucked in a breath she forgot to release, eyes closing as his arms carefully wound around her sides. The way his lips brushed over hers was slow and very sweet, sweeping every other thought away—not to mention her equilibrium.
By the time it broke, she could only lean against him while resting her forehead against his cheek.
"What was that for?" she whispered.
"Just because I love you," he replied just as softly, adding with a mild shrug, "and I wanted to."
Letting a soft snicker, her fingertips brushed across his opposite cheek, and he smiled, ready to turn his head and kiss her palm as well. But just as he prepared to do so, the sound of water sloshing caught his attention.
Emanating from the pool behind them, Link looked back with narrowed brows, scanning the water’s surface for the source. At the same time, he released Zelda when she also turned to see what was making the sounds, and that's when the pair detected movement in the water.
Heading in from a path in the pool that tapered off into a stream, it appeared to be a moving lily pad at first, one which soon stopped near the shallow edge of the rocky shore—and the creature beneath it lifted its head above the water's surface. With wide, white eyes and a snout sporting a mouth formed into a perpetual O shape, it lifted the tip to point in their direction.
Without pause, Link reached for his shield just as a low fwoo sounded with a rock shooting from the octorok's mouth. Flying swiftly, the projectile smacked Link's hip mere seconds before he could use his shield to block it.
"Ow," he drew out, rubbing the sting out of his hip with a glare in the creature's direction. “Rude.”
Yet the octorok wasn't done, rearing back as if to spit another rock—this time at Zelda.
“Oh no you don't,” Link objected, moving toward the pool while simultaneously blocking his foe's shot.
But as he drew in closer, the creature dove underwater and burrowed into the rocks to hide, causing him to stop with a low, frustrated grumble.
Shaking her head, Zelda remarked, "Come on, let's just get out of here before more of these things come along."
"Right," Link returned, gazing at the lily pad floating on the water's surface for a moment longer as she mounted Frost.
Glancing over to spy him finally turning away from the pool and heading to Epona's saddle, she noticed the octorok resurfacing the moment Link's back was turned. Eyes going wide, she parted her lips to call a warning just as it shot another rock at him.
And her warning turned out to be unnecessary.
Proving he was fully aware of the creature's ploy, he turned and swung his shield around, performing the movement so swiftly she was sure he hadn't actually seen the rock coming. But it pinged against his shield anyway, sending it sailing right back toward the octorok.
Like clockwork, the rock smacked the creature directly in the forehead, knocking it out cold. With a splash of water, the octorok began drifting harmlessly on the pool's surface, and Link grinned, pointing with a loud, “Hah!”
Snickering, Zelda applauded his performance while exclaiming, "Bravo, well done!”
Replacing his shield followed by dusting his hands off, he gave a mock bow with the words, “Thank you, but I won't be here all evening.”
Author’s Favorite Scenes: Excerpt from The Legacy of Myriad Book Two - Rise of Power: Chapter 3 - Your Good Name
After Link and Zelda's victory at the Temple of Fire, Myriad sends them to Lake Hylia to unleash the power held within the Temple of Water, though the temple may be the least of their concerns when Ganondorf begins retaliating against Hyrule itself. With no other place to go, the people turn to a revolt forming to fight his tyranny, and it's here that Zelda learns an unexpected truth concerning Link's past. Meanwhile, Link discovers the truth behind another long kept secret when his path to defend Hyrule leads to a confrontation with the King of Evil himself.
Full Story Available on:
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Ao3
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A gray sky hovered over the small town of Engleton, and the closer Link and Zelda drew to the settlement, the thicker the fog clouding the area became. Yet something about the mist didn't seem right, and it wasn't the gloomy atmosphere causing such a sense of foreboding.
It was the smell—smoke.
The dense aroma filled their nostrils with every breath, proving the fog wasn't naturally occurring. With Nissa in their company, they'd spent the morning riding and telling stories until the signs began pointing the way to their destination, and that's when the scent hit all three of their noses.
Coming over a hill where they could see the rural village ahead, Link scanned the distant buildings to pinpoint any fires that might be raging. But if the settlement had suffered some type of accident, it wasn't visible from their location.
Still, Nissa took the precaution of climbing inside a pouch on Zelda's belt as they went, hoping to avoid any danger lurking which she may have been defenseless against as Zelda looked on with Link. So far, the structures of the town looked to be in good condition, suggesting any fires had to be located in the center of town, or in someone's home.
Such problems weren't always uncommon, and yet Zelda couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, informing Link, “This doesn't feel right.”
He nodded in agreement, and as they made their way into town, he directed, “Just stay close until we learn what's going on.”
"Alright," she returned softly as they passed the first set of buildings on the main road into town.
Most looked to be private homes, though a few listed the names of shops with signs that said closed in the window despite the midday hour. Another oddity came in the lack of people around—not a soul was in sight along the visible length of the street, and Zelda had the sinking feeling that the reason for it would have a profound impact on their arrival.
"It's so quiet,” she whispered as if not to disturb the silence that had fallen over the town, and glanced at Link to see his wary expression proving he was well aware of the strange situation.
Glancing to both sides, Link turned and dismounted Epona, deciding he might be able to cover ground easier on foot, and Zelda followed suit. Once her feet hit the ground, she took Frost's reins and walked over to her friend as he observed, "I don't know why, but it feels like–"
"It's him!"
The angry shout came from the roadway behind them, and they turned to see a man on horseback approaching with haste. The sight confirmed what Link had been thinking, and he finished his previous statement by muttering, “We're being watched.”
At the rider's call, several other men appeared, some on horseback while the rest were on foot and armed with a bow and arrows. Evidently, they lived in Engleton and were assigned to its protection, but whatever the case, five men in total now surrounded Link and Zelda.
The commotion spooked Epona and Frost, prompting their owners to attempt calming them despite their uncertainty over what was going on precisely. Thankfully, Epona stopped fretting without much trouble, allowing Link to hand Zelda her reins before stepping away from their horses to find out what the problem was.
Yet the man's shout of it's him spoke volumes over the source of the trouble—these people were mistaking him for his dark half just as they'd done in Roshala. Sadly, it wasn't likely that Zelda would be able to reason with anyone this time, so whatever Dark Link's crime might've been, Link was about to answer for it.
"What happened here?" he asked sincerely despite knowing they were likely to ridicule the question. But, since he honestly had no idea what was going on, he had to ask anyway.
"Don't pretend as if you don't know!" demanded the rider who'd initially alerted the others of their presence. "I saw you with my own two eyes!"
A bigger, burly man with more muscle than fat, he glared down at Link with nothing but enmity in his eyes. But despite the hostility there, his crop of red hair reminded Link of Kiama, making him wonder if this was her father. Still, he left her name out of it for now, too fearful she'd been hurt by his dark half to risk angering the man while hoping desperately that she was actually fine.
Not that he had a chance to speak before another voice rang out of the small crowd of people gathered.
"Betarro! It was dark when this happened, so are you certain this is the same man you saw?"
"Yes, Olnor! The same hat, outfit, everything. But there wasn't anyone else with him," Betarro added, regarding Zelda skeptically before suggesting, "She could have been waiting outside of town though!"
Link glared at the man for even suggesting she was tied to this, retorting sternly, "She had nothing to do with it!”
"Then you admit it?" Betarro asked, riding in closer before adding, "How do we know for sure she wasn't in on your murdering plans?"
Murder? Link's fists clenched in anger. What has that bastard done?
Doing his best to tap down his seething emotions, Link waved a hand toward Zelda as if to cut her off from the situation completely, insisting, "She's not involved! If you saw me, then it must have been me, right?"
"Link!" Zelda gasped, unwilling to let him take responsibility for his dark half's actions just to protect her virtue.
But Betarro looked ready to jump from his horse and tackle Link, drowning her out by yelling, "You little!–"
"Betarro!" Olnor snapped, inserting his horse between his friend's and Link before the big man's temper could get the best of him. "Calm down! I'm the town's elder councilman, so I'll handle this. You just let me do the talking."
Proving they were friends, or at the very least that Olnor had the town's respect, Betarro actually calmed down—not that he looked happy about it. But his silence allowed Olnor to give Link his undivided attention, and he regarded the Hylian quietly.
Like Betarro, Olnor was a larger man, with dark salt and pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard giving him a wise look. Thankfully, he also began explaining what had happened to Link, suggesting he had no intentions of judging without due process.
“This morning, close to dawn, someone boarded up a house and then set it aflame. Betarro saw a young man leaving the home, but had to get help as the flames started to consume the residence, allowing the criminal time to escape. By the time the fires were doused, the residents were all dead, and two other homes caught fire as well. Thankfully, those families got out in time, though three of our men were severely injured while stopping the blaze.”
Narrowing his gaze on Link, he asked sternly, “Are you admitting to these crimes?”
Link couldn't immediately respond. Each word Olnor spoke made him angrier than the last, his teeth and fists clenched tight. Furthermore, he couldn't say he was guilty because it was a lie, and yet Betarro would insist he'd committed the crimes if only because he had seen Link that morning.
He'd just seen the wrong one.
During his thoughts, Olnor's question rang out more forcefully.
"Are you admitting to these crimes!”
"Enough of this!” Betarro interjected. “They won't admit it, so just seize them both!"
“No.” Link countered firmly enough to get their attention, glaring between them. He couldn't lie and say he was guilty, and he also couldn't allow Zelda to become involved.
So he immediately told them the truth.
“She wasn't there, and had no idea it was taking place."
"We can't know that for sure," Olnor responded more calmly than Betarro probably could've given his state of ire. "If we don't–"
"She won't leave the village as long as I'm here," Link interrupted on a serious tone of voice, adding, "and if you leave her out of this, I'll go with you peacefully."
Olnor raised his brows in surprise, glancing first at Zelda, then at the rest of the townsfolk gathered as he considered it. In turn, Betarro placed a hand on the man's shoulder and leaned in to whisper something.
The inaudible words made Link restless, but Olnor finally nodded and agreed to his terms with a stipulation involved.
"Very well, but on the condition that your lady friend is placed on house arrest in one of our unoccupied homes until we can get to the bottom of this. She'll be bothered by no one, and your horses will go with her."
"Link, don't–"
"It's a deal," he interrupted without hesitation, looking back to shake his head at her in a manner he hoped communicated his desire to keep her out of an actual jail cell. After all, if his dark half was lurking nearby, the chances were good he'd use Link's imprisonment as an opportunity to launch an attack—possibly by burning down the jailhouse with him inside.
Of course, that wouldn't stop him from trying to harm Zelda while she was being held within a home in town, but at least this way, she'd have a much better chance of actually escaping. So he didn't resist when Olnor directed some of the men to apprehend him.
As they grabbed Link's arms to shackle behind his back, Olnor dismounted his horse and approached Zelda, directing gently, "If you would come with me please, my lady."
She barely managed a nod, her gaze fixed on Link as the townsfolk took him into custody. A sense of helplessness assailed her at the sight, her heart in the pit of her stomach as Betarro gripped his upper arm and pushed him forward so hard that Link stumbled.
Without his hands to catch his fall, he toppled face forward into the dirt.
“Link!” she gasped, releasing Frost's reins to go to him, but Olnor grasped her upper arm.
Struggling to reach her friend, she only stopped when he snapped at Betarro loudly enough to get everyone's attention.
"Betarro! That is not necessary. He's going peacefully, and if you can't return the courtesy, I'll place you on house arrest as well and find someone to replace you until this is over.”
Instantly, Betarro's expression turned contrite as he nodded and—thankfully—proceeded with their apprehension by helping Link back up to lead away properly.
As they departed, Olnor sighed, then turned to Zelda and stated, “I apologize for Betarro's behavior. We're all angry over what's happened, but his temper is explosive. Still, it doesn't last long, and soon he'll come to question this situation as I am."
As Link disappeared from sight with the townsfolk, Zelda finally turned her gaze up at Olnor's face, her brow narrowed angrily despite the relief his words provided. Yet her ire wasn't directed at Olnor, or even Betarro. Despite the way he'd treated her friend, she could understand his enmity toward someone he believed had murdered citizens of his community—and he had every reason to think Link was the culprit.
But he most certainly wasn't, and her anger was at Link's dark half, a fact she didn't hesitate to point out.
"I should hope he does so soon, Olnor, because Link didn't do this, and we both know who did.”
Curiosity lit in Olnor's dark eyes. “Who?”
Glad she'd at least captured his attention, Zelda did her best to explain it in the most believable fashion possible. “It's someone who's trying to kill Link. He's been following us for half a month now and causing all kinds of problems.”
“Then why did your friend allow himself to be apprehended?”
Frowning, Zelda gazed in the direction they'd taken her friend and answered, “Because he was trying to protect me while avoiding an altercation. But the one following us won't hesitate to take advantage of this situation, and when he comes back, you'll have to let Link go, or be the cause of even more bloodshed."
Olnor genuinely listened to Zelda's claim, nodding as he began escorting her along with the words, "I'll keep my eyes open for anything strange, my lady. I'm not one to want to imprison someone innocent, much less invite more bloodshed if it can be avoided.”
Zelda hoped that was true, and spent the rest of their walk in silence.
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