Chapter 13: The Winds of Change

Embarrassment was one way to describe the rhythm my traitorous heart was now racing to; however another would be this. Shock. Blinding, white-hot, shock.

Panic quickly overtook that and before I knew it the emotional motorway, which prior had been my very logical brain, was now strewn with various thoughts and feelings all prying to be in pole position.

Pulling my smoking mind out of that maelstrom of chaos I realised that I and my appointed knight were still in a very compromising position and I once again felt my mental barriers start to melt under the pressure of a newly induced round of awkwardness.

It was Link who, still blushing from ear to ear, eventually broke the bashful silence.

"Um Princess?" he gave a small chuckle "I think the frog has bested us…"

I nodded slowly, unable to break eye contact with him sprawled beneath me.

Little by little thoughts my father would have called "distasteful" started to sneak, one by one, into the mix of panic and embarrassment at the sight. When had I started to think this way? Would I really be comfortable doing th-

"P- ah I mean Z-Zelda?" he said again, his eyes flickering between my own and somewhere off my right shoulder and his face, if possible, heating even more. "As much as I enjo- no I mean… As much as lying down and having a rest is great and all… We are somewhat close to the castle now a-and were someone, anyone really to see… I mean if it would appear…"

Somehow seeing him so shy and awkward, a juxtaposition of his personality around Mipha, brought me back to my senses with a flare of something deep in my chest.

"My my, isn't my knight getting rather bold!" I said with a giggle, sitting up straight so I could get a better view of Link's blushing face.

"I would never dream of such a thing Princess" he said, seemingly trying very hard to pull himself back together. "I was merely worried about you. If your father were to believe-"

"Oh yes yes I know I know. Let us get moving then, the castle can't be more than a day's walk from here."

I reluctantly disentangled myself from Link's lap, instantly feeling colder, and dusted myself down, checking I had not torn any clothing or, Hylia forbid, damaged the Sheikah Slate.

Satisfied that everything was in order and already seeing Link scanning the path ahead for potential threats we once more started our journey back to the castle.

Hyrule was a beautiful land; full of wonder, mystery and breath-taking landscapes and as much as its entirely has arguments to be the most beautiful I have always preferred the vast grasslands of Central Hyrule.

Something about the many blades of velvety grass swaying against the soft wind calmed me and allowed me, if just for a moment, to forget about the future that lay ahead. A dark future indeed. The only light of which was walking beside me; but for how much longer I could not tell.

The legendary hero's path in legend is not a happy tale. It is a story of loss, pain and stolen dreams.

The Hero of the Skies was steeped in myth. Most agree that he was dragged to the then desolate surface world by Hylia herself to defeat Demise once again. Still just a teenager, all sense of youth and morality lost.

The Hero of Time had not only lost his family, his friends and his home but his childhood also. He was rumoured to have turned to madness and entered the Lost Woods, never to be seen again.

The Hero of Twilight had watched the world around him fall to chaos, his childhood friends kidnapped and been trapped by evil magic in the body of the mystical wolf. Only after months of journeying through the wastelands of twilight was Hyrule restored again.

But while the stories of all three figures were well known there was always a glaring omission from their tales. What then? What. Then.

There are many theories of course; some say the hero is reclaimed by Hylia once his mission is accomplished; others disagree and say the hero simply vanishes into the background of history and allows the Kingdom to continue functioning from afar.

I have never known what to believe. In the past I would have been more toward the latter than the former but now that I knew Link I wanted a third option. One that would keep him beside me.

"Link…" I spoke softly with a slight dryness in my throat after a couple of hours in silence. "What are your plans for… for after…?"

I heard a slight sigh from beside me and wondered if this was a topic he wanted to speak about. However my worries were calmed almost immediately once he began to speak in a voice that was more whimsical than saddened.

"I've never really given it too much attention… more worried on making sure there is a… you know… after." He tugged slightly at his sleeve before continuing "But I think I'm going to need a break no matter what happens! Chances are even if everything goes smoothly everyone will be tired enough to appear dead for a few days. Yeah… maybe a farm or something. Or a stable! I've always loved horses."

The new-found energy and excitement that had overtaken my knight to the point of giddiness almost broke me. He had no plans to stay with me after our jobs were done.

Who was I kidding? Of course he wouldn't want to stay in a castle or follow protocol anymore. He belonged out here… The Hero of the Wilds they would probably call him. And I? I would return once again to the rigid system of absolute monarchy; where I could no longer just be Zelda, where I would always be 'Princess' or 'Her Royal Highness' or some other made up title that made her sound far more impressive than she felt inside. Inside she wanted to cry.

"Hey so P- Zelda" Link said as I snapped my eyes back over to him "what are your plans for when this is all over? Nice holiday sunbathing in Lurelin perhaps" he gave a small wink "or maybe just a nice long massage, I could go for that!"

"Oh I don't know…" I meekly started "probably just back to the wa-"

"No way! That'd be boring! Why don't we take a proper tour of Hyrule together when it's all over? I know you're the Princess and you know your geography and all that but I bet there are places you haven't been nor dreamed of seeing. In fact I know there is a least one place you haven't been because it took me 4 years and over 3000 attempts to even get to the entrance…" he gave a small shudder "but worry not for I have the route memorised right here" he tapped his head "and it's one of the most beautiful places imaginable and I would love to see it with you!"

"…ah" I was shocked into silence by the sudden outburst of enthusiasm by Link. I had never seen him talk so much and he appeared like a young boy after being told he was allowed sweets! But what really made my heart swell was the idea of seeing Hyrule, really seeing it. And just myself and him! I felt like a lovesick teenager swooning over a first date.

"Y-you promise?" Hylia I sound pathetic. If he had any idea how his words affected me.

"Definitely! As I said it'd be gr-" he quickly shut his mouth and his eyes turned toward the ground. "I apologise Princess I forget my place."

This time it was my turn to let out a sigh. We had come so far but here once more was my knights ingrained loyalty to my father and the one barrier I was trying so hard to break down.

"Link you have earned the right to be an equal to not only the other champions but myself also. So I ask once more please dispense with any thoughts that somehow once this is over that position will have changed. It won't have."

"Zelda as much as I wish to agree with you things will change." He spoke in a voice full of pain and it saddened me just hearing it. "I highly doubt that once you return to your role of Heir Apparent our time together will be severely reduced and perhaps even eliminated. It would not be proper for the Princess and a knight to go… gallivanting off when both our roles will ask us otherwise.

"What if I want to… to go 'gallivanting off' somewhere with you!" I almost shouted, tears starting to form. "What if I actually had some say in my life for once? What if you could get over this inferiority complex and we could actually be friends…"

I couldn't continue. Link too looked slightly punch-drunk; his mouth agape.

It was he however who recovered first.

"Zelda I… I try I… I'm just never sure how to act. One second we're so focused on the mission I barely have time to think and next we're discussing our career plans. I'm worried that if I stray too far one way I'll make you unhappy but too far the other and serious questions would be asked of both of us." He stopped and sighed once again before continuing "If it were up to me I'd- oh shit!"

Startled I looked around trying to find the cause of Link's abrupt use of… well 'exotic' language but barely had time to even feel the water start to hit my body before he had grabbed both our travel packs my hand and started to sprint.

"I hate storms!" he shouted as I laughed while chasing after him.

Around ten minutes later we were both dripping wet and sitting shoulder to shoulder underneath a large, broad oak tree that was shielding us from the bulk of the downpour. We had managed to run fast enough to avoid the lightning strikes and the majority of the water but we were still dripping from head to toe. I gave a slight shiver as a gust of wind blew through the field.

Link immediately jumped to his feet and started pulling various contraptions and pieces of clothing from his bag. He handed me a feathery top and trousers, Rito down by the feel of it, and a bottle of fiery red elixir which I downed immediately.

Once I had slipped into the extra clothing Link sat back down and fidgeted slightly before becoming still once again.

It was at this moment I had one of my more dangerous ideas. He had not put anything extra on and was just as soaked as me. Surely he wouldn't mind- I mean surely… I gulped.

I started to try and shuffle ever so slightly closer to my appointed knight with small stretching motions so as not to alert him to my main goal. However once we were once again sat virtually hip to hip I needed to take a leap of faith; one that I wasn't sure he was ready for.

Who was I kidding one that I didn't know if I was ready for.

Dreading what this would do to our relationship, one that was already straining after today, in one quick manoeuvre I pulled my left leg over both of Link's so I was in a straddling position above him and then wrapped my arms around his neck in a close hug.

"Zelda what are yo-" he began before I cut him off.

"Y-you gave me the warm clothing and I-I was concerned you might be c-cold too?" my voice was shaking with nerves and embarrassment. I don't even want to think about the shade of red my face must be because if it was anything close to Link's at this present moment I would have been mortified.

There was around a minute where neither of us moved or even seemed to breathe. Then finally Link gave a small sigh and relaxed; even hugging me back.

I too, feeling slightly less panicked now, untensed my body and let my weight lie on Link as we simply listened to each other's steady breathing and beating hearts.

"Zelda… Zelda… Princess?"

I groaned slightly and opened my eyes. I hadn't slept so well in such a long time… That Rito down was just too go- ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I forgot. I forgot. I forgot. How, why, how, when, why! I did not just sleep…

My mind still in a frenzy, I looked down at my knight to find him still red looking once again to a point just behind my shoulder.

"You always wonder why I still say 'Princess' but as you can see sometimes it's the only thing that works." He gave a sheepish grin and finally met my eyes. I could get lost in them sometimes, if only he let me. "I'm sure you needed some rest but I need to get some sword practise in before I make camp for tonight; I don't wish to walk any further in this storm."

"Good plan" I signed contentedly "I did not want to do any more running today."

"Uhh Zelda? Would you mind moving so I can get up?"

AH I panicked again realising I was still laying in his lap. I shot up and started to hurridly busy myself with various mundane tasks like straightening the straps on our travel packs and flattening the many feathers on the Rito down jacket.

Link meanwhile was slowly getting to his feet and stretching, Picking up the Master Sword he slowly began to warm up with some basic foot play and left-right swinging motions. I was always mesmerised watching him work; the subtlety of his actions that somehow conveyed such power combined with the quick-footedness of a dancer.

I sat down once again under the oak and took off the Rito down, laying it under me like a blanket. Staring up into the sky I felt the occasional water droplet land on my face. It was almost refreshing.

"I doubt this will let up anytime soon…" I said to no one in particular as I felt yet more rain land on my skin. I turned to look back at Link and spoke once again.

"Your path seems to mirror your father's. You've dedicated yourself to becoming a knight, as well. Your commitment to the training necessary to fulfil your goal is really quite admirable." I knew I was just rambling but I needed to say something… anything. Link slowed slightly and tilted his head to show he was listening and I continued. "I see now why you would be the chosen one."

Guilt was starting to eat away at me again. Link was well and truly on the right path to fulfil his destiny but what about me? I didn't even know if I was making any progress whatsoever…

"What if…" I began in a shaky voice "One day… You realised that you just weren't meant to be a fighter? Yet the only thing people ever said… was that you were born into a family of the royal guard and so no matter what you thought you had to become a knight."

Link had turned around at this point; a look of sadness on his face.

"If that was the only thing that you were ever told… I wonder then… would you have chosen a different path?"

I couldn't stop the tears rolling down my cheeks as I finished this. All I wanted was a different path, a path that would not put me on a train straight for Calamity, a path that-

But I never got to finish that thought as I felt strong arms wrap around my shoulders and his smell once again invaded my nostrils.

"I don't know." He whispered softly. "I don't know because I was never given a choice. We are much the same you and I Princess. You yearn for a life of wonders and discovery, I for a relaxed ranch life." He shifted slightly as to allow my head to fall onto his chest, tears now staining his tunic. "If I can let you in on a little secret it's that I have no idea what I'm doing. I train in swordplay and archery but when it comes down to it who can say if the Calamity will test any of those skills? So I don't know Zelda. I stumble from day to day just trying my best to make sure you see the next dawn and if I'm honest I don't think I've been doing a good job of that either."

"W-what do you mean?" I looked up again at his words, confused as to what he meant. "I'm still here a-aren't I? You saved me from those Yiga."

"True" he sighed "but protecting your wellbeing goes further than your physical state Princess. I'd say I failed in half of my job around now."

Still staring up at him in the semi-darkness I felt the last remanence of resistance break as I accepted what had come to pass.

I had fallen in love with my appointed knight.

What a childish story. How had it come to this? These kinds of fairy tales are nothing more and yet somehow he had, without even trying broken down my heart.

Now came the hard part. The acceptance that even if in some blue moon Link felt an inkling of what I did… we would never be permitted to follow this through. 'For the sake of the Kingdom' my father would bleat. I didn't want to care. I wanted to tell him there and then, I wanted to make him feel some part of the warmth he had brought into my life, the warmth that no one else's arms could provide.

"W-what do you mean you failed half your job?" I stammered still trying to stall for time.

"You're unhappy Zelda… and it destroys me…" he hugged me slightly tighter and said "You feel the weight of the Kingdom on your shoulders but you forget you have five others to help share that burden. One of which is right beside you."

We stayed like this for what felt like an eternity until I finally made a decision.

"Thank you Link… I really needed that" and I gave him a small peck on the cheek before hurriedly pulling away from his embrace and dragging the cooking gear from the packs. I glanced back toward Link and almost burst into laughter.

His face was the dictionary definition of shock and disbelief.

"Oh come on 'chosen one' never been kissed thank you by a fair maiden before?" I teased lightly.

"Uhhh… I'll s-start dinner shall I."

He seemed to be in some kind of trance for the rest of the evening. Almost as though he was pondering a weighty decision.