VII: Bitter, not Sweet

Before the Calamity

Zelda slowly opened her misty eyes, feeling warm inside from the night before. Her body was completely relaxed. She hadn't slept so well in a while. She raised her hands to rub her eyes and looked over her shoulder. Link was gone.

She wondered where he had gone, but she knew he was probably up doing the same things he did at the castle. She closed her eyes and remembered looking out her window in the castle. The knight she had resented stood outside swinging his sword at nothing. She remembered how she felt when she watched him, and how much that had changed over their journey. The knight she could not stand had become one of her best friends... maybe, even more. Or so she hoped.

Zelda took off her white nightgown and put on her slim riding clothes. Then she combed her hair  and clipped it back with two blue clips and braided the top. After feeling presentable, she left the inn room. 

It was very hot outside. The sudden blast of heat whipped her in the face after being in the heat proof room for so long. She nearly forgot how hot Goron City was.

She walked away from the inn and looked around outside for Link. She traveled up the dirt walkways, hoping maybe Daruk was around and new where Link was. "Good morning, Princess," she would hear as she travelled through the small town. The Goron's are always such cheerful people, she thought as she smiled and waved at each one. After a pleasant walk, she spotted Daruk's massive figure standing on a hill right above his house. Zelda walked up to Daruk despite the heat that was nagging at her the whole way.

"Good morning, Daruk!" she said slightly out of breath, "Do you know whe-" She stopped to see Daruk watching Link swing and jab his sword below them. 

"Princess!" Daruk said, trying to sound inviting. Zelda noticed that something was off with Daruk. Maybe it was the way he addressed her, maybe it was the expression on his face...

"Daruk, is something the matter?" Zelda said with care in her eyes. She put her soft frail hand on Daruk's bulking arm.

"Truth be told, princess," Daruk began. "Something's the matter with Link." Zelda looked immediately concerned. It couldn't have had anything to do with last night, could it? She thought. Her mind rushed to the worse possible things.

"He won't talk to anyone. He won't even look at me! He's been standing there for an hour just slicing the air with his sword. He's also been sweating up a storm! Don't know how the little guy does it. He seems very frustrated."

Zelda's worry seemed to show through. She nervously grabbed her arm and rocked back and forth. Her heart was pounding out of her chest. She thought it must have been because they slept in the same bed.

"I'll..." Zelda stuttered, "I'll go talk to him."

"With all due respect, princess," Daruk said as he reached his arm out in warning, "I'm not sure that is a good idea..."

"Oh, I'm sure it will be okay, Daruk. I will have to talk to him eventually, won't I?"

Daruk let out a deep breath and pulled his arm down. He watched Zelda leave with a concerned look on his face.

Zelda walked cautiously down the other side of the hill to where Link was grunting and swinging his sword. She approached him quietly. She didn't really know what to say.

"Um, Link?" Zelda said softly. "Are you okay?"

Link didn't respond. He didn't even turn around to look at her.

"You... you weren't there this morning," Zelda said. "I was worried for a second. Did you sleep well?"

No response.

"Link... I'm talking to you?" It was hard for Zelda to be harsh because she didn't want to scare any of Link's feelings away... If any of them existed, anyway.

The more Zelda spoke, the more violently Link slashed his sword. His grunts were getting louder and louder, and his feet move faster with every stroke. He refused to look at Zelda.

Zelda grew upset. She huffed and stomped her foot on the ground. She held back tears that welled up in her eyes, believing that she must of done something wrong. 

"Link!" She said, choking back tears. At that, Link threw his sword down on the ground in fury. He marched off, not even looking at Zelda.

Zelda's face grew white. She drooped her shoulders in utmost defeat... that hurt her. More than she thought.

She sniffled and picked up Link's sword. The sacred sword- the Sword that Seals the Darkness. Sworn to protect Hyrule. Its hero had thrown it on the ground in disgust. Disgust at her.

She walked back up to Daruk with her head hanging low. He noticed that it had not gone well... Especially since Link stormed off.

"Oh, Daruk!" Zelda said as she burst into tears. She threw herself into Daruk's father-like arms and wept. 

Daruk, feeling alarmed but concerned, put his boulder-like hand on her shoulder. Comforting the Princess of Hyrule was something he thought he would never have to do.

"Princess," Daruk said gently. "If you don't mind me asking, is there something going on between you and Link?"

Zelda looked up in surprise. "Wh- Daruk, I- well..." She stuttered. "To tell you the truth Daruk, I don't know. I guess there is nothing on his end at least... not now." She put her hand on her forehead and sighed. "I've never seen him act this way."

Daruk listened to her. The Princess was normally strictly about business- he never saw her in an emotional state. It was stressful because he did not want to do anything that would upset her more, but it was also soothing to see Zelda come out of her shell.

"You know, Princess, I don't think it has anything to do with you. Link may just be under a lot of pressure right now. After all, he is tasked with protecting one of the most important beings in the kingdom." Daruk patted her back softly.

"Perhaps.." Zelda sniffled. "Perhaps you're right. Maybe he will have calmed down later." She stood up and wiped the tears from her face. "I'm sorry you had to see me like this Daruk, truly. Sometimes I wonder if a girl like me is even fit to rule a kingdom... I can't even control my emotions over a silly knight."

"Princess, do not apologize. Just because you are of the royal family does not mean your feelings are invalid. You don't have to be professional all the time, especially around me!" Daruk let out a hearty laugh and patted Zelda a little to violently with his hand. He didn't mean to, but he almost knocked her over.

Zelda stumbled and let out a half-hearted laugh. "Daruk, you are extremely strong..." she said under her breath.

"After all Zelda, we have all been in love at least once. Don't let it out of your reach!"

"Lo- love? I wouldn't call it love," Zelda muttered in disappointment. 

"Whatever you say, Princess." Daruk winked at her and she got immediately embarrassed.

They both stood up and walked back into Goron City to meet Link.

♦

Zelda's POV:

Daruk walked me back to Goron City and I wandered a bit, in and out of shops. They had the daintiest little things there! After being offered countless free items, I spotted Link saddling our horses a ways down the path. I built up some confidence and walked down to meet him.

"The horses," I laughed nervously as I grew closer to Link. "They must be so hot! Poor creatures..."

No response. Not even a smile.

"Oh!" I chuckled. "You know, maybe throwing fits and storming off doesn't suit you very well. You almost forgot this!" I held out the Master Sword to him.

He shot me a glare and grabbed the sword out from my hands. I almost stepped back in shock.

"Excuse me," I said, slightly angered. "Does this not deserve a thank you?"

Nothing. He just strapped my saddle bag to Storm and walked away.

"Let's go," he said quietly under his breath. 

I didn't expect it. Usually I was the one making orders. Even then, where did he think we would be going? I hadn't even told him the plan yet.

"Where exactly are we going, Link?" I said sarcastically. I put my hands on my hips and raised a brow. I was noticeably irritated by his lack of respect.

Link turned around to look at me but said nothing. He then turned his head back around and mounted his horse.

"Link!" I stammered. "We have a few things to discuss, don't you think?" I almost yelled at him. I was so frustrated that I almost yelled at Link. "Link!" I shouted at him again as he kicked Epona into a walk down the hill.

I felt a tear grow in my eye. "Are you just going to... to walk away? To pretend like last night never happened? Link!"

He didn't even turn around. My breaths began to break as I tried to hold back tears. What is going on? I wondered. What did I do? I walked to Storm and mounted him with much difficulty. He was a very large horse.

I kept Storm at a walk for a while. I tried to use the time to destress- to take my mind off everything that was happening. It didn't work very well, because every time I thought of something, my mind would slowly but surely drift back to him. I eventually gave up and kicked Storm into a trot to catch up with Link.

We didn't say anything for about an hour. We passed Foothill Stables and continued walking along the path.

"Link," I muttered. "You don't even know where we're going."

Link looked blankly at the path. He didn't answer me.

I scoffed and turned my head away. I might as well tell him before he gets us lost somewhere, I thought.

"We will head back to the Castle for now," I said confidently. I didn't want him getting any other ideas.

I saw Link roll his eyes. It was almost as if he knew already where we were going. I felt stupid.

"You know what?" I said in a burst of anger. "I DON'T need your help! I can get back on my own. Why don't you just stay away from me and go fight some stupid imaginary monsters like you always do!"

I made a kissing noise with my mouth and Storm burst into a canter. I dashed away from Link as fast as I could as the wind blew tears from my eyes.