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Link knew very little about his princess. He knew that she was brilliant, that she was quick witted and brave. Anyone would’ve known that if they had seen her in the voids or if they had fought even for a second by her side. Not to mention, she single handedly ventured across Hyrule with half the kingdom after her and monsters at every turn.
He could still vividly remember the day they fought against Null. It felt right and natural to be beside her, fighting to ensure the safety of the triforce and balance of the land.
As they returned to the castle, Link thought everything was fine—and it was! But something shifted between them, something he couldn’t quite figure out. He noticed the change right after the King’s speech.
”Zelda was honorable, even when I… well the other me sent our army after her. With her wisdom, she ventured across Hyrule and saved everyone with a selfless heart.”
She was smiling, though Link could tell that there was something else beneath her gaze. It didn’t quite reach her eyes.
He wanted to ask what was wrong, though he felt he wasn’t close enough to ask such personal questions. Especially not to a princess.
The young hero wanted to get to know her because she seemed like a cool person to be around.
The versions of themselves before were close.
So why couldn’t they be?
He didn’t think that was going to be possible. She was distant. That much was clear in her averted eyes when she talked to him, the forced a smile to be polite, and when she folded her arms he thought that maybe she was using that as a shield to protect herself.
Which led him to think that he did something wrong to upset her. There was no other explanation! Maybe he offended her in some way? Maybe he ate some bad fish that made his breath smell and she was now disgusted by him?
Or maybe… it was the fact that he couldn’t voice his own thoughts. Maybe she thought him ungrateful that she risked her life to venture across Hyrule to save not only the people themselves but him as well. He wished he could tell her that wasn’t the case…
He lifted his eyes from the cobblestone path. He had decided to take a morning stroll to clear his head—though the effort was futile.
His gaze met a familiar blue one. A pair that belonged to the princess herself.
Her face had gone pale, her feet rooted to the stone as she stared at him.
The blonde hero raised a hand, waving at her. Her eyes suddenly widened and she bolted, turning back towards the way she came.
Oh.
His blue eyes dropped to the floor along with his hand.
It was clear as day. She despised him and wanted nothing to do with him…
Which was fine, he told himself as he scratched the back of his neck with a grimace.
He didn’t blame her, who wanted to be friends with someone who couldn’t speak to them?
With a bittersweet smile, he turned towards the castle town gates, walking with drooped shoulders and a slight frown. Epona, his beloved steed, stood near the entrance as she flicked her tail. He hopped onto the saddle and patted the side of her neck before lightly kicking her flank.
<><><>
Guilt gnawed its way through Zelda’s stomach, creating a bigger and bigger hole that tempted her to vomit over the side of the castle bridge.
The feeling wouldn’t cease no matter how hard she tried to shove it away. Her thoughts continued to bubble up like a cauldron waiting to spill over.
She didn’t deserve to walk around carefree, not when she had chosen to be selfish.
Link, the kind-hearted and valiant hero, wouldn’t want to be near her—let alone be friends with her—after she told him the truth. Not when he selflessly rescued her from the clutches of that crystal cage, from Ganon himself, and was thrown into the mess of the voids once more. He would hate her entire being when he found out that she used her freedom and duty to explore the land she was destined to rule instead of focusing on freeing him faster.
His forgiving nature would be tested to its limit, ultimately casting her away as the exception.
He probably hated her already due to her persistent avoidance which did nothing to help her case.
Immature, she knew it. A coward, she knew it. But she couldn’t face him. She couldn’t bear to see the look in his eye because she feared she’d crumble into nothing.
When their eyes connected in the courtyard, everything inside her screamed to flee. If she didn’t talk to him, the problem wouldn’t surface and she could ignore it.
At least, that’s what she kept telling herself…
Now, she was staring at her old cell, the same one that her echoed father had locked her in. Her eyes were downcast, flicking across every crack and indent in the cobblestones.
The knights guarding the entrance were looking at her with furrowed brows, obviously wondering why their princess was down in the dungeons.
”Zelda.”
The princess turned towards the familiar voice to find Impa standing to the side with her cane in hand.
“Why are you down here?”
”Just thinking…”
Impa’s sigh filled the small silence. “He wants to talk to you.”
”I know.”
”Avoidance is a coward’s sanctuary.”
Zelda winced, her shoulders dropping into a slouch.
”I’m not saying this to demean you child.”
”I know. I know. I feel so guilty, Impa. I was selfish and- and- childish and… everything a princess shouldn’t be. Oh Hylia, my stomach hurts.” She wrapped her arms around herself.
”I don’t follow.”
”I just… I made decisions that took time away from saving Link. I chose to indulge in the wonders of Hyrule rather than making him the main priority. He’ll hate me if he finds out.”
Impa hummed, tapping her fingers against her cane thoughtfully. “You’re deciding that for him.”
It was easier to decide. Easier to assume. Easier to avoid.
”I know.” She rubbed her arms.
”I’ll support you in your ultimate decision. However, I’ll just say that our silent, legendary hero might surprise you.”
<><><>
Zelda’s fingers trembled upon seeing a familiar row of homes on the outskirts of Suthorn Village. When she first visited Link’s home, she found it warm and inviting. Now? She felt shame and contempt. Like she didn’t deserve its welcoming embrace. She pulled her horse’s reins, easing the steed into a halt as she gathered her wits and steeled her breath for what was to come.
An unfriendly voice in the back of her mind tempted her to turn away, to ignore the matter at hand and move on.
”It’s Princess Zelda!” A gasp sounded from the village archway. The voice belonged to a small child, one with blonde pigtails—a hairstyle that she often wore as a young girl. More children surrounded her, whispering with awe in their expressions.
Well. She couldn’t turn back now. Accountability was her only option to make things right.
As Zelda hopped off her steed, she prayed to Hylia for an ounce of courage before pulling her white steed to move forward.
”Hello. Do you know where I can find Link?” she asked the children.
”Link?”
“You’re looking for Link?”
”Why?”
”He’s at the shop!”
”No!” One of the young boys bouncing on his trampoline intervened. “He’s at the Beach Cave!”
”I heard he was in the forest getting more wood.”
”Yeah, well, I heard he was helping Lueberry with something.”
”No! No! You’re all wrong!” The girl with golden pigtails stomped her feet. “He’s in the meadows working on something!”
”Oh yeah.” Another young boy nodded with a pout. “He couldn’t play with us cause he’s writing a speech.”
“But he can’t talk!” A dark-haired girl put her hands on her hips. “How is he going to say it?”
“It’s a letter I think,” the blonde girl said. “He’s going to give it to someone.”
”Ah I see.”
“Like a girlfriend?”
”Link doesn’t have a girlfriend, silly.”
”Yeah it has to be someone else.”
”The meadows?” Zelda interrupted. “The one south from here?”
”Uh huh! Just that way, Princess!” Girl with the pigtails pointed. “You’ll turn right there.”
”I see.” The princess gave them a nod. “Thank you for your help.”
A string of you’re welcome’s sounded from the children and she pulled the reins behind her.
Many of the village folk greeted her when she passed by, sending her warm smiles and waves in welcome. She waved back as she remembered helping each and every one with their mishaps, accepting their quests with determined excitement.
Though now it only reminded her of her pressing guilt.
The worn path slowly turned into a grassy field. It was covered in various flowers with a herd of wild horses in the center.
To the side, a familiar blonde-haired figure sat on a fallen tree trunk with a pencil in hand, scribbling a series of words onto a tan parchment.
“Link?”
He froze mid sketch, his pencil falling from his grip. He turned to look at her with wide eyes and she watched his bewilderment morph into realization. He scrambled from his place on the log, bending down at his waist. His blonde bangs swept into his eyes, completely masking his expression.
Her stomach twisted, she didn’t deserve his respect. ”You don’t need to bow.” It twisted further when he didn’t stand. ”Please.”
He complied, his eyes meeting hers; there was a mix of curiosity and surprise with a hint of hesitancy in his blue irises.
Zelda swallowed hard and took cautious steps towards him as if she was approaching a wounded animal. “Um… are you… busy?” She nearly cringed at her lack of connection between her words.
The blonde shook his head before he rubbed the back of his neck. He sat back down on his log and he patted the spot next to him.
She took the invitation.
It was quiet, the only sounds were their breathing and the light rustle of the trees of the forest.
After a while, Link took a breath and handed the piece of paper—the one he was working on earlier—with a solemn expression on his face.
She accepted it, her eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion. Her blue eyes dropped to the words scribbled in lead.
Princess Zelda, I’m sorry for whatever I did to offend you. I’m sorry for being unable to talk to you. It was never my intention to make you feel spite towards me-
Zelda shook her head, her ponytail swaying with the motion. She couldn’t read the rest. She wouldn’t read it.
Not when he did nothing wrong.
“You’re sorry? Why are you- Link, you have nothing to be sorry for. It’s all on me.” She put a hand to her chest.
All of her guilt led him to think that he was at fault?
She felt absolutely horrible.
He grasped his fallen pencil and pulled out a new paper from his satchel. He started to scribble down more words, the protest clear in his furrowed brow.
Zelda stopped his hand.
”No, no, no. I was the one who ran from you, I was the one who refused to talk to you, I was the one who was distant. I was childish and immature and… I’m the one who’s sorry.”
She turned her blue gaze to the grass below.
“The truth is… I’m selfish.”
He raised his eyebrows.
”Rescuing you wasn’t my top priority…” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I got caught up in the thrill of exploring Hyrule instead of rushing to save you like you had so valiantly done for me…”
The two hylians watched as a small rabbit bolted across the field.
”I… I had little freedom in the castle as I had to learn the history of my people and the proper etiquette for a princess all throughout my childhood. Then all the sudden I was thrown into the role of the hero and in a way it gave me an out.” She twisted her trembling hands together. “I feel guilty and ashamed for keeping you down there when I could’ve aided you sooner. I turned to avoidance for I could not bear to receive warmth from your heart and your kind smiles after everything I had done. Everything I had chosen.”
Link’s eyes were wide.
”And as a parting gift, I’ll return your hood and take my leave… I understand if you never want to see me ever again.”
He took the cape from her hands, not missing the way her face fell slightly, and wrapped it around her shoulders.
The hero gave her a kind smile.
No need for that. He scribbled on the parchment and let her read the words. Her golden brows knitted together as he held up a finger.
He handed her another paper and she read it out loud. “Your top priority was saving Hyrule. Many people needed help, not just me. Many voids needed fixing. I saw how hard you fought in the voids to free me, we were just both unlucky each time you tried to bring me with you. I was out of reach. There’s no need to feel guilty or ashamed, Your Highness, I forgive you.”
Tears had accumulated in Zelda’s blue eyes and she dropped her head into her hands. Sniffles filled the silence. “You’re too forgiving,” she squeaked out. “You should’ve exiled me back to the castle.”
He sighed with a shake of his head before rubbing her back.
She allowed her hands to drop to her lap and she gave him a smile—a real one filled with gratitude and warmth.
“Thank you… and Link?”
He tilted his head, watching the way the sunlight caught on her golden strands.
“Please just Zelda. No need for formalities… Can we start over?”
His smile grew into a grin and he gave her a nod. He quickly lifted the hood over her head with an airy laugh. He pushed away from their spot on the log, running into the grassy field.
“Hey!” She laughed, following after him with her ponytail whipping behind her.