XXX: Play Fight

Before the Calamity

Link's POV:

I was scared. Zelda was scared too.

The pressure was all on her. I was already prepared to face Ganon, but she was not yet... All of Hyrule was depending on Zelda.

Maybe... even if Zelda didn't unlock her power, there would be a way to still bring Ganon to his demise? He may not be sealed forever, but at least we can conquer an immediate threat?

I decided that either way, there was no use for Zelda to be upset. So, I thought of something that might cheer her up. 

On our way out of the spring, we encountered scattered trees. I began jogging slightly, reaching a tree and leaping up the side.

"What are you doing?" Zelda called from a ways behind me.

"You'll see!" I yelled backed. Then, I broke off two lengthy tree branches and jumped to the ground. I waited for her to catch up before tossing one to her.

She caught it clumsily and laughed. "What do you suppose I do with this?"

I thrust my stick at her playfully, alerting her that we were about to joust. Her face instantly beamed with excitement as she clutched the stick in the most inefficient way possible.

"Hold it like this," I said as I reached out and rotated her wrist around the stick. I smirked at her. "You would think you'd pick some of this up after being around me for so long."

"Hey!" Zelda shouted, half-offended. She shoved me backwards with all her strength, but I moved only slightly. She pouted at me and held her stick up in defense.

Her face immediately focused in on my stick- I knew she wanted to win. Then, she trust her stick forward at me with slight grunt. I slid my stick under hers and pinned her arm on the outside. I couldn't help but grin at her with a smoldering intensity.

Zelda grunted and pulled her arm back in, beginning to plot another attack. I waited for her to thrust her stick again, and when she did, I dodged it quickly. Then, I started quickly making jabs at her, which she didn't know how to defend. Her eyes grew wide as she started stumbling back.

I didn't mean to make her, but she fell on her butt. She huffed and crossed her arms before I reached a hand out to help her up.

"I'm sor-" I said, interrupted by her yanking me down over her.

"Gotcha!" she said, giggling.

I should've known she would do that. "That was dirty," I remarked.

We spent around an hour fighting, and I would teach her different moves I used and how to dodge attacks. She also wanted to learn how to punch, so I held up my hands as targets. She wasn't very strong, but she improved greatly.

Afterwards, I went to go grab our horses that were grazing near us. I did my usual check-up on Epona, who was doing fine, but when I checked Storm, I realized he had saddle sore- he flinched at my every touch on his back. 

When I led them both back to Zelda, I told her she couldn't ride Storm. "He's too sore, so you can ride Epona. Storm will follow and I'll walk."

"All the way to Kakariko?" she asked. "Link, that's over a half day's trip!"

"As long as you have a horse, I'm happy," I said. "Promise, I'll be fine."

Zelda stammered as if to argue, but it was clear she didn't know what to say. She eventually complied and we began walking back to Central Hyrule where we could then head to Kakariko Village to visit Impa. 

♦

The journey was tiring, and night fell sooner than I anticipated. I was exhausted from walking, and Epona was very grumpy that I allowed her to ride instead of myself. Every time my mare looked back, she immediately turned her head away and puffed. Zelda seemed slightly out of it, her head occasionally drooping then stiffening back up again. Her eyelids fluttered and her eyes were foggy with fatigue. 

We had made a good distance and were cutting through Lanayru Wetlands. It was very dark at that point, and the more I watched, the more Zelda seemed asleep. I walked through the water and around Epona to get a better look at her face. She was definitely asleep.

I wasn't sure what to do, so I stopped Epona and jumped on top of her from behind. I wanted to make sure Zelda didn't slump off the side so I scooted up and held her from behind. Epona huffed and puffed below me, very frustrated. I knew I would have to give her lots of treats after this if I wanted her to talk to me again.

Once we were out of the wetlands, we drew close to a cliff that was a shortcut to Kakariko. The horses couldn't go up it, but I wanted to make sure Zelda got a good night's rest. So, I dismounted Epona and gently slid Zelda's frail body off as well. 

"Stay here," I whispered to Epona while shooting her an assuring look. She understood me and turned away. Then, I softly lifted sleeping Zelda over my shoulder and carefully began climbing the cliff.

It took a lot of effort to keep Zelda not only comfortable but balanced, not to mention also hauling myself and the sword up the hill. I was precise with every movement, carefully planning out my footholds and grips amidst her swaying arms.

Once I got to the top, I was exhausted. I had no idea what time it was and by some miracle, Zelda was still asleep. I stepped over a fence and moved her down so that I could carry her in my arms. She looked so peaceful...

I thought for a moment about where I should take her and decided on the Inn. I walked through the sleeping village and got strange looks from the Sheika soldiers guarding the main house. I tried to evade their judgmental looks by walking faster, and when I arrived at the inn, I opened the door quietly. 

"A soft bed, please," I whispered to the inn keeper. He nodded quickly, realizing I was with the Princess. He showed me to a bed where I put her down gently, covering her with the blankets and grabbing a privacy screen. When she was cozy and asleep, I couldn't help but admire how beautiful she was. I ran the back of my hand down her porcelain cheek slowly before I heard an "Ahem" behind me. It was Impa.

"Oh, I was just-"

"I'll watch her tonight," Impa said, shifting her weight onto one leg and placing her hand on her hip. There was something about her long legs and assertive stance that told me not to mess with her.

"Um, sure, okay." I said, standing up awkwardly. Her eyes followed me all the way out of the Inn until I closed the door behind me. 

Once I was out, I started running to where I left the horses.

Hi hello!! Sorry for being so late on updating! I was so so busy this week. I hope you enjoy this chapter and the ones to come!