X: Losing Focus

Before the Calamity

Zelda's POV:

The beginning of the ride to Rito village was very pleasant. As we crossed Hyrule field, blades of grass danced gracefully with every breeze and birds chirped charming songs back and forth at each other. There was something serene about the air here- unlike any part of Hyrule, Hyrule Field seemed to take all of the wonderful scents of nature and blend them all into one breeze.

Link and I hadn't said anything to each other. He rode slightly in front of me and looked back only a few times to make sure that I hadn't fallen off or wandered away.

I wanted to talk to him... badly, but I was too ashamed that I had turned him away from me. It was also embarrassing that I didn't even know what I had done. I didn't want to risk opening up to him and being vulnerable for him to just not answer.

I decided it was best to leave Link to his silence, at least until we were closer to Rito village where we would have to come around to talking at some point. I took in the beautiful scenery around me, and I kept a close eye out for silent princesses.

We had ridden on for about another hour, and I could no longer endure the painful silence so I spoke to Link.

"Link, I meant to ask you..." I began, "Why did we stay at the stable instead of the castle?" I thought that maybe after the times we had spent together, after slowly getting him to talk to me, that he might respond, but he didn't. 

That infuriated me. Me, the princess of Hyrule, and he didn't even have the decency to answer my question! Who does he think he is? I thought. I've never met anyone arrogant enough to dismiss the royal family like this.

"Link!" I said as I raised my voice. "As the princess- your princess in fact, I demand you answer me!"

"I couldn't take you back there like that..." Link mumbled inaudibly.

"Excuse me?" I growled. "Speak up!"

"I couldn't take you back there like that!" Link spat.

I was taken aback slightly. The man... no, the boy that I convinced myself that I was falling for, nearly yelled at me. He must have hated me...

I drooped my shoulders and my hands fell, slightly losing their grip on the reins. I bit my lip nervously and tried to hold back tears.

"Anytime..." Link said quietly. "Anytime I... lose my focus, I guess, I put you in danger. Like I did last night."

I said nothing. There was nothing to say. Maybe we were acting immature... after all, how could I fall in love with a knight? My father would forbid it... but more importantly, it was making me lose sight of what we're really there for- saving the kingdom. He was right, we couldn't lose our focus.

The rest of the ride was silent.