IX: She's Safe Here

Before the Calamity

Zelda's POV:

I don't remember much about what happened.

As I was riding back to the castle alone, something felt off. Maybe it was not having Link with me, maybe it was the dark, or maybe I felt the evil of Ganon's presence begin to ooze over Hyrule for the first time...

I remember sitting atop Storm as he galloped through the upper part of Hyrule field. The castle was nearly in sight and I wasn't ready to be back. Though it would only be for the night, I didn't want to give up this freedom. As we road, I heard a strange noise. It grew louder and louder until suddenly Storm became aware of it. 

He spooked, and reared up on his hind legs- throwing me off his back.

I remember hitting the ground, not sure what was going to happen to me. I vaguely remember hearing light footsteps in the distance but feeling too weak to raise myself up to look. I also remember hearing something whoosh through the air, but after that, I was out.

♦

I woke up in Woodland Stable. Link was kneeling nervously next to my bed, waiting for my eyes to open. As I became conscious of him, he stood up and let out a very large breath that must have been bottled up all night.

"Link..." I muttered as I began to sit up. Immediately pain shot through my head and I fell back, hitting the pillow hard. I grabbed my head and groaned. "What happened?" I asked Link shakily.

"You fell off Storm. I took you here to rest instead of the castle," Link said briefly.

No "princess?", I thought. Unlike him. Something must have been the matter.

I wanted to ask him why here instead of the castle, but before I could get any words out, he walked away and grabbed his sword.

Oh wait, I was angry at him. Almost forgot. He was rude yesterday...

"I'll have you know-" I tried to yell for him, but the pain shot back through my head when I raised my voice, pulsing through the veins in my forehead. I grabbed the covers and pulled them over my face in frustration.

Link was interacting with the innkeeper, Kish, who cackled at me from behind the counter. I rustled under the sheets and found a good position. I took comfort hiding under there like an ant under a log.

"Don't you worry, she is safe here," I heard above me, slightly muffled because of the covers. I heard Link's footsteps on the wood floor disappear from leaving the stable. I slowly peeked my head out from under the covers to look.

"Did you sleep okay, your highness?" the man asked gently, dropping his head in respect. I grew rather uneasy, almost scared. I never had a genuine interaction with a commoner like this–like I was a normal person. Well, of course, I wasn't a normal person, he still addressed me like a member of the royal family. This, however, was no interaction a princess would ever have. I had certainly never had someone I didn't know watch me while I sleep–I wasn't sure how to talk to him.

"Yes, quite comfortably, actually," I said nervously. "Do you know where Li- the knight, went?" 

"He left to collect some things–ingredients for medicine, he said." The man had a caring aura that made me feel more comfortable. I dropped the covers a little, feeling like I no longer had to hide myself. I did not try to sit up though.

"You know," Kish said with a slight chuckle, "He stayed up all night. Insisted that nobody would come into the stable to respect the privacy of the princess. For as long as I was awake, he stood at the foot of that bed." He pointed right at my bed–I blushed slightly. "You were really knocked out. He was there though, held that sword in his hand... I wondered if he even blinked!"

Kish scratched his forehead and grinned. "You know, your highness, he must really care about you."

I smiled pathetically and just nodded. Kish seemed to sense that I wasn't really feeling well enough to converse, and he nodded and turned to the other side of the counter that faced the outdoors.

As I waited for Link, I processed everything Kish told me. He really didn't sleep? Even after that long travel?  I thought for a second maybe he really did care about me, but that was extinguished by the thought that he was just doing his job. I frowned, upset that any of Link's actions that I would swoon over could just be viewed as him being loyal to my father, not even me.

I fidgeted with my long golden hair, not knowing how to occupy the time. It was nearly too painful to move, so I just lied there and let time tick away.

Before long, Link returned. He had several herbs in his hands and other things I couldn't distinguish. I watched him walk to the cooking pot outside where he dumped in all the ingredients. The pot came to a sizzle and Link bottled up the concoction he made.

I watched him sheepishly as he returned to my bed. He held out the bottle.

"Drink this," he demanded quietly. "For the pain."

I reached out and took the bottle from him. I was grateful, but tried not to show it. I didn't want to let him off easy for ignoring me all of yesterday.

I drank the grey-ish substance in the bottle. It didn't taste bad, but it was rather peculiar. After finishing it, I handed it to him and pulled my covers up. He didn't leave after that- still standing there. I assumed he wanted something.

I sighed under the covers and pulled them down. "Thank you," I mumbled reluctantly. Gratitude was what he needed because he then nodded and walked away. I flipped my covers back up and waited for the medicine to kick in.

♦

It worked rather quickly- fifteen minutes, if that, and I was up on my feet. I stretched my arms high into the air and bent down to touch my toes. I then pointlessly wandered about, subconsciously looking for Link.

I walked out of the stable and crinkled my bare toes in the dirt. The fresh morning breeze blew gently through my hair as I closed my eyes and just breathed. I felt a smile tug at my lips from standing in the nature. However, the pleasant feeling was interrupted by a whiff of myself.

"Ehk," I grunted as I looked down at myself. I was wearing the same sweaty clothes I wore in Goron City yesterday. I guess this is better than Link having to change me...

I walked back into the stable and asked Kish if there were any curtains or privacy screens that I could use. He nodded and walked to the other side of the stable where he grabbed two wooden stakes connected by a giant sheet. I took it gratefully.

After setting up the screen, I took my riding clothes off and put on a pair of similar slacks with a loose blue shirt. I stuffed my sweaty clothes in a saddle bag and walked back outside with it.

I heard the rhythm of horses stepping when I walked out. I turned and saw Link leading Epona and Storm my way. I walked forward to meet him and he took my saddle bag.

"Are you ready?" Link said, seeming to not care if I said no. 

"Well, there's no use in staying here any longer. I'm ready," I said.

He tied the bag to my saddle and helped me mount Storm. He returned to Epona, who was starved of apples. Link tried grab onto her, but she wouldn't let him mount her.

I tried not to, but I laughed. "You might try a treat, Link," I said. He looked at me and then looked at the nearby trees. He found a suitable apple hanging onto a branch next to us. With great skill, he easily scaled the tree and swiped the apple. 

Epona snatched the apple from his hand at her first opportunity. After she felt treated, she allowed Link to mount her.

We then began our journey to Rito village.