Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Zelda was avoiding Link.

It wasn’t for the same reason as before. Even though Zelda prays to the goddess day after day, night after night, she still hasn’t found the key to her powers. His presence used to infuriate her to no end, a  personification of everything she isn’t.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite. They’ve spent countless hours in each other's presence, much more than the time Link’s required to. He’s opened up to her, and Zelda learns more about him each day - like the fact that he has a passion for cooking and that he’ll scratch the back of his neck when he gets nervous. All of this allowed ample time for Zelda to develop a little crush. 

A silly little crush. 

Now every time she saw Link her mind wandered to think about what it would be like to kiss him. 

And just the thought of that caused her to blush. Zelda didn’t have time for this. She had many other activities to attend to, such as preparing for the celebration of Farore’s day and figuring out her sealing power. Falling for her appointed knight certainly didn’t have a place in her schedule and most definitely wouldn’t be allowed by her father. 

“Get over it, that’s never going to happen,” she muttered to herself, shaking her head as if she was shaking off the thought. She fell back into the bed, staring at the ceiling once more

She needed to sleep, to quiet her racing mind. 

Why did it have to be Link, of all people? 

Guard duty always left Link with plenty of time to think. He hadn't seen Zelda much lately, besides when he was required to be at her side. 

She hadn't been as talkative, which is odd for her. She loved to explain how ancient technology worked for hours, each added detail leading to another sidetrack. And surprisingly, even though Link didn’t have much knowledge on the topic, he loved listening to those lectures.

Sometimes he would fantasize about a universe where he wasn’t her knight. A universe where it would be acceptable to become more than friends. Where he could just be a teenage boy with a crush.

But he would never admit that. He had to practice caution around her, never letting his true feelings show unless they were truly alone, which was almost never. It was too dangerous to take a risk, rumors tended to spread like wildfire through the castle.

Even so, Link knew deep down that regardless of how comfortable Zelda seemed around him, part of her still resented him.  

The princess deserved a break, drained from the lengthy days of prayer to the goddess. She has to be exhausted, not getting much sleep due to recurring nightmares. Each night, Zelda slowly opens the door to her room, coming out into the hallway to complain to Link that she couldn’t sleep. 

She hasn’t come out yet tonight. Maybe it means that she is finally getting some well-deserved rest. 

On any other night, that would have been wonderful news. But tonight, he was waiting for her. 

Zelda had picked up a book in an attempt to relax. It didn’t seem to be working, exhaustion making it difficult to focus on each page. 

A soft knock sounded at her door. 

She got up to answer the door, to see Link standing in the doorway. 
Of course it was him. Who else would be coming to visit her at this hour? 

But this was different than his normal visits.  He wasn’t wearing his usual royal uniform, but rather simple, traveling clothes. The master sword in its scabbard looked rather out of place in the absence of Link’s normal armor or uniform. 

“Can’t sleep?” he asked. 

 “How did you know?” she scoffed. “It’s not like this happens every night.”

“Lucky guess, I suppose?”

Zelda sighed. It wasn’t a lucky guess. Link was well aware of her constant struggle with nightmares. She hasn’t gotten a good night's rest in goddess knows how long. 

“Maybe a ride around the castle grounds would help,” Link continued. He seemed nervous, fidgeting with the riding gloves he was wearing. 

She stared at him in surprise. Leaving the castle in the middle of the night? Surely her father couldn’t have approved this, considering how much he cares for her safety.
The thought of going on a little adventure excited her. Zelda barely had time to enjoy herself anymore between the lengthy prayer sessions.

“Only if you would like, princess,” Link immediately apologized, misreading her expression.

“Of course I want to,” she replied

Of course she would say yes. But there had to be a catch somehow. 

“But let me guess,” Zelda complained, rolling her eyes. “There’s an entire group of guards waiting for my departure.” That’s how it always was when she journeyed outside the castle for more than a few minutes.

“No,” Link replied to her surprise, with a slight smile forming on his face.
“It’s just me tonight.”
Now this sounded too good to be true. 

“I’ll wait for you outside,” Link said over his shoulder as he turned to leave, closing the door behind him.

Zelda quickly got dressed, trading her nightgown for clothes more suitable for riding before leaving the room to meet Link.

Link couldn’t sleep either. One thing he used to do before becoming a royal guard was to take his horse, Epona, out for a midnight ride. It always did the trick, the exhilarating feeling of the night’s breeze doing wonders to take his mind off of any troubles.

He hasn’t done it in years, and he longed for the freedom to ride freely again. He had to take night shifts to guard the princess, her safety more important than anything else. 

Link led Zelda to the stables, preparing Epona for a ride while Zelda put a saddle on her horse, Storm.

“Are we going anywhere specific?” Zelda asked as she mounted.

“No,” Link replied, making sure to grab the pack that he had prepared earlier, which contained a small tent and camping supplies before mounting his horse.

He picked up speed quickly, longing for the freedom and nostalgia that riding brought him. It was a perfect night - not too cold, clear skies, and stars glittering softly in the sky as far as the eye could see. 

Zelda couldn’t stop smiling. She probably looked a mess, the wind whipping through her hair and pulling at her clothes, but she didn’t care. 

This is exactly what she needed.

Because for a moment, she was not the princess, nor was Link her appointed knight. They were just two kids having fun. 

Link knew he would get reprimanded if anyone else found out where he was tonight. But it would all be worth it, if only for this moment.

“I bet I could make it to that tree faster than you can!” Zelda yelled to Link, pointing at one in the distance.

“No you can’t!” Link yelled back playfully, coaxing Epona to a gallop.
These races went on for what felt like hours before the exhilaration began to wear off. Zelda began to shiver, regretting that she had left her coat at the castle. 

They slowed and dismounted their horses in a small clearing. She didn’t even know where they were.

“Shouldn’t we be returning to the castle?” Zelda asked. This was a nice moment of reprieve, but it would have to come to an end eventually.

Link began to unpack the tent and the rest of the camping supplies.
“We can set up camp here,” he replied. 

Camping? What is going on? There has to be a reason Link brought her here. 

They worked quickly to set up the tent and build a small fire, and Link got to work cooking some of the food he brought for them.

They ate in comfortable silence, taking in the atmosphere around them. The sky was incredibly clear, leaving a wide expanse of twinkling stars to marvel at. 

After they were done eating, Link took a blanket from his pack and laid it out on the grass. He laid down, facing the sky.

Zelda quickly joined him, lying down at his side. 

Silence remained between them, no longer the pleasant kind. Awkwardness grew within each passing moment, each of them hyper-aware of how close they were to each other.

“What was all of this for?” Zelda finally asked, not daring to look at him. 

“All of what, princess?” Link replied.

“You know,” she continued, pointing up at the sky.
“All of this. Taking me on a spontaneous midnight camping trip.”

He hesitated a moment before answering. “No particular reason.”

“I don’t believe that for a second.”

Link turned to face her. He didn’t know if it was just the light playing tricks on him, from the flickering light of the fire, or the dull shine from the stars, but she looked gorgeous. Her green eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight, and despite her wind-ruffled hair, Zelda was gorgeous. If someone told him that he was looking at the goddess herself, he would have believed it in an instant. 

He looked away, focusing on the stars once more. He was grateful for the relative darkness, concealing the fact that a blush began to spread across his cheeks.

He could never tell Zelda the real reason. At least not tonight. Who knew that a simple three words would be this daunting to say?

“Well,” he finally admitted, “I was still convinced you hated me. That I had done something wrong.”

“What?” Zelda exclaimed, tearing her eyes from the picturesque sky to glare at him. “What in Hyrule would make you think that?”

Her gaze softened. She could never truly be mad at him, not anymore.

“You seem to be avoiding me,” Link continued.  “And to be honest, I miss spending time with you.”

Now it was Zelda’s turn to blush. She quickly averted her gaze from him. She couldn’t allow herself to look at Link right now, her heartbeat racing. 
She was worn out, and it was time to get some sleep. Zelda stood up and made her way to the tent.
“Goodnight, Link,” she said over her shoulder before retiring inside. 

She kicked off her shoes, before squirming into her sleeping bag and curling up into a ball.

To say this emotion was overwhelming would be an understatement. Zelda wanted to scream, but she couldn’t figure out what for. Maybe it was the fact that Link still thought that she hated him, or the fact that he organized this trip just for her.

Or maybe, most importantly, it was the fact that he admitted he missed her. 

Link couldn’t get Zelda out of his mind.

His head was spinning with the thought of being close to her, and maybe even working up the courage to kiss her. No, that couldn’t happen. Even though they had a moment alone, he was still her knight. 

He stayed outside, stoking the fire, in an attempt to give her space. If she asked why he wasn’t asleep, he would make up a lie like he was keeping watch for the night. 

That’s what he was supposed to be doing anyways, keeping watch of the princess. 

But the night seemed to grow colder as the hours passed and the fire began to die. It wouldn’t be comfortable to remain out here. He finally gave in and made his way to the tent.

Hopefully, Zelda had finally fallen asleep. 

Zelda shifted as Link entered the tent, allowing him space to settle in.
“Took you long enough,” she murmured.
It was a tight fit for both of them, regardless of Zelda’s efforts to scoot over as much as possible.

Whenever she talked, she was practically whispering in his ear. 
“Thank you, for everything,” she admitted.
“Now, goodnight. For real this time.”

“Goodnight, princess.”

Link was the first to rise, squinting at the sunlight streaming in through to the top of the tent.

Zelda was so close. She was facing him, her face inches away from his. 
For the moment, it seemed like she was still sleeping. A strand of hair had fallen over her face.

Link gently swept it away and tucked it behind her ear, his fingers a feather-light touch on her skin. 

“Hm?” Zelda hummed, opening her eyes for a moment, just to close them again.
“Five more minutes.”

She scooted closer to Link and rested her head on his shoulder, sighing contently.

“Princess,” he warned, feeling the redness spreading across his cheeks. 
“We need to return to the castle.”

Zelda sighed again, this time in annoyance.
“What if I don't want to?”

“I’m afraid we have to.”

Chapter Text

The king would certainly be less than pleased. Her father always seemed to be disappointed in Zelda no matter what she was doing. He never seemed to notice the physical toll that devoting her time to the goddess put on her. She wasn’t designed to pray. She wanted to be helpful in other ways, such as running experiments on the guardians. 

But her father never seemed to listen. 

Zelda finally rose, packing up her sleeping bag and helping Link disassemble the tent.

They went to retrieve their horses, quickly making their way back to the castle. 

Immediately, King Rhoam was at the gates to greet them.
Link swiftly dismounted his horse and lowered his body to a kneel. 

“Where have you been, Zelda?” King Rhoam boomed as Zelda got to her feet. 
“It isn’t safe, Hyrule can’t risk anything happening to you!”

He studied the pair, noting that Link wasn’t in uniform and carried a large pack, the type that was typically used for long trips. It seemed like they had taken a little adventure of sorts. Whatever it was, it wasn’t a good enough reason for Zelda to go missing in the middle of the night. She had scared the entire castle.

Zelda was silent for a moment, trying to think of a lie. 

“I-it was my fault.” she finally admitted. 
“I just needed some air.”

“Zelda, you know better than this,” her father scoffed. 
“You can’t keep pursuing these distractions. You need to focus on unlocking your power, for the future of Hyrule. Today, I order you to travel to the Temple of Time to pray to the goddess statue there. Prayer will get you closer to the answers you need.

“Yes, I understand,” Zelda replied, trying her best to keep her voice from shaking. Her father didn’t need to see the tears welling up behind her eyes. 

The king retreated back to the castle, Link and Zelda following behind. 

Zelda quickly returned to her room, slamming the door behind her. What didn’t her father understand? She was already doing everything she could. Zelda didn’t do anything besides pray to the goddess and study history books for answers. Her entire life was confined to finding the key to her power. 

She was grateful for Link’s small adventure for her, as it gave her a chance to finally live, at least for a night. This constant cycle of trying to unlock her power was exhausting, in every way possible. This time wasn’t going to change anything. She had prayed at this goddess statue many times before, what was different about today?

After she changed into her prayer dress, she met Link at the stables once more.

He had changed into something she was much more accustomed to seeing him in, the champion’s tunic, chainmail, and a simple pair of pants, carrying the master sword on his back as always.  

“Are you ready to go, princess?” Link asked.

She only nodded in response as she mounted her horse. 

Zelda knelt in front of the goddess statue, taking a deep breath and clasping her hands together in prayer 

“I am here seeking guidance,” she began, as she always did. 
“Regarding the sealing power I’ve been given. This sacred power is the key to sealing the calamity away. To save Hyrule. Together, the chosen hero and I, are Hyrule’s last hope.”

She stopped for a moment, letting the silence hang in the air. 

“But lately,” she continued, voice shaking. “My hope has been fading. Have I even been given these powers, if I have nothing to show for it?”

“Is this all for nothing?” she whispered, tears finally falling from her eyes.   Her father was right, she was a failure. 

“Please,” she begged, hanging her head low as tears streamed down her face. 
“Please, Hylia, please! Tell me what I need to do!”

Link tried his best not to cry as he listened to Zelda plead to the goddess. 

He couldn’t see her, his back turned to give her privacy and watch for threats. But he could vividly imagine the look of anguish on her face, he had seen it many times before.  He could hear the pain in each and every word. 

Everything in him wanted to make it stop. She didn’t deserve this torment. If her sealing power is supposed to be a wonderful blessing, why does the goddess demand so much of her?

But he let her continue. As her knight, he had to follow the king's orders. Which were for Zelda to pray until the goddess finally listened to her desperate pleas, or until she finally collapsed from the sheer exhaustion of it all. 

“What is wrong with me?” Zelda sobbed.

Orders be damned. 

Link ran to be at Zelda’s side, kneeling in front of her, between her and the goddess statue. 
Her head was buried in her hands, covering her eyes as she continued to sob, chest heaving.  

Link gingerly reached out to put his hand on her shoulder. 

Zelda flinched at his touch.  Just the thought of him was too much for her to handle. She didn’t need a living reminder of her failures. 

He quickly put his hand back down, moving slightly further away from her.

“Zelda,”  Link said softly.
“Look at me.”
The prayer had left her drained, and it didn’t seem like Hylia was in the mood to listen to her plea today. Zelda finally lowered her hands, raising her head to glance at Link. His concern for her was painfully obvious on his face, his brow furrowed in worry.  

He took both of her hands in his, squeezing her palms ever so gently. 

“What is wrong with me?’ she repeated, voice barely above a whisper. 

“Nothing.”

“Nothing? Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure, princess. There’s nothing wrong with you. I’ve seen your devotion to prayer each day. I've seen your devotion to research. Whatever reason the goddess has for not listening isn't your fault.  We’ll get through this. Together.”

 The concern on his face had begun to fade, to be replaced with a sense of relief that the princess was alright. He released her hands, letting them fall to her sides.

She wiped the tears from her cheeks, sniffling. She didn’t deserve this praise. Link was just trying to comfort her, to offer a distraction from the fact that she really was a failure. Her father had told her just what the gossip mongers thought about her - an heir to a throne of nothing. 

And she was beginning to think that that might be true. 
Zelda had to prove them wrong.

“Together,” Zelda repeated, taking Link’s hands again. 
“I’d like that.”

Chapter Text

Zelda stood on the balcony outside of her room, breathing in the fresh air of Hyrule field. Farore’s day was soon, a celebration of the beginning of spring. It was always a grandiose event, people from all over Hyrule traveling to the castle to celebrate into the night. There was still so much to be done - from decoration, to dress fittings, to deciding what food would be served. 

She came out here for a moment of peace from the mayhem of the castle, to let her mind wander. Right now, she was thinking about what Link had said to her yesterday.

Together.

Oh, how she wished they could be together, in a way much more intimate than just surviving the threat of the calamity. She couldn’t help thinking about him once more, his blue eyes meeting hers and the way her hands felt in his.

She focused on the landscape again, looking at how the clouds had decided to arrange themselves today. The bright green grass, filled with patches of wildflowers, and the trees that provided small pockets of shade from the sun. The epitome of what spring should be. 

But among the flowers, she noticed something different. Today one particular patch seemed to have a different type of flower from the rest. Bigger in size than the wildflowers, with bright blue petals. 

A silent princess. 

Zelda needed to investigate. 

She promptly left her room to go find Link. 

Today was too nice of a day to be wasted sitting inside. Link was in the training yard, working on his archery skills. Bow in hand, he drew it back and lined up the target. He released the arrow, and it hit true. A perfect shot. 

He smiled to himself, lowering the bow.  He could hear footsteps approaching, so he turned around to see who it was.

“Princess,” Link acknowledged. 

“I’d like to take a walk,” she said, excitement glittering in her eyes.

“You’re free to walk around the gardens whenever you’d like, you don’t have to bring me with you.”

“No, I don’t mean the gardens. I want to go out into the field. It won’t be long, I promise.”
“Very well,” he replied.
He stored the bow where it belonged before following her outside the castle grounds. 
She seemed unusually excited, especially after considering how she had felt yesterday. But Link wasn’t going to question it, glad to know that she was feeling better.

Zelda led him to the front of the castle, walking out into Hyrule field. She scanned the area, looking for the spot she had seen earlier. 

There it was, a small patch of short grass nestled in the shadow of a large tree. She walked there quickly and knelt on the ground.

Link had to jog to keep up with her. Where was she going? He finally caught up to her, kneeling beside her in the grass. 

Zelda cradled a flower gently in her hands, taking care not to rip it from its stem. It was beautiful. “A silent princess,” she explained. “I’ve been trying to grow them in the castle garden for years, but none ever bloom. They only thrive out here, in the wild.”

It was Zelda’s favorite flower. For her, it symbolized hope for the future. She had never seen them grow this close to the castle. Maybe Hylia had listened after all, a glimmer of hope amongst the many failures of the past.  

The silent princess. Link instantly recognized the blue and white petals, recalling a time that Zelda admitted that it was her favorite flower. She had shown him diagrams of it in an old book, excitedly explaining how it had managed to survive near extinction. He had never seen one in person before. 

Zelda let go of the flower. She wouldn’t dare take it, because it would only begin to die the moment she did. It needed to be in the wild, surrounded by the rest of the wildflowers. 

Wildflowers didn’t signify anything special, but they were still beautiful. 

She moved on to study the numerous flowers surrounding them, noting all the unique colors and shapes of petals. Perfect for a bouquet. 

Link turned his head to take in the scenery around them, wildflowers in all colors imaginable peppered throughout the tall, green, grass, swaying softly in the breeze. A serene landscape much different than the absolute disarray of the castle. 

Zelda began to pick some of the flowers, seeking out various shades of blue. Blue was her favorite color. She always saw it as a symbol of strength. The champions garb, the legendary master sword, and the resilient silent princess. Blue was also the color of a certain hero’s eyes. 

“What is your favorite color, Link?” she asked.

He turned to face her again. 
The question surprised him. He hadn’t thought about that since he was a child. Such a small detail, it had been forgotten in time. 

“Green,” Link finally answered. Green was a color of prosperity, the color of crops that thrived after winter ended in Hateno. It was also the color of Zelda’s eyes, which he found especially charming.
 
Zelda got to work looking for more flowers,  adding green blossoms to the blue ones she already had.

When she was done gathering her bouquet, she scooted closer to the tree so she could lean her back against it while she sat in the grass. 

“What are all the flowers for?” he asked her, moving closer to join her.

“You’ll see,” she replied with a gentle smile, looking at him for a moment before lowering her head again to focus on her task.

One flower at a time, bending the stems carefully to link them together. Within a few minutes she had crafted a simple circlet, colors alternating between blue and green. 

“Face me, and bow your head,” she ordered. 

Link obliged, and she gently placed the crown on his head. 

He raised his head, and his eyes met hers. 

She couldn’t help but giggle at the sight, redness spreading across her cheeks. 
His eyes shone in the sunlight, a smile appearing on his face. The flowers were a perfect match, blue and green made a nice color palette. 

There were still many flowers left, and she was going to fashion herself a crown as well. 

But Link had other plans. He took the pile of flowers she had picked, sorting through them. Once he found enough that he liked, he broke the stems, and leaned in closer to begin arranging the blossoms in Zelda’s hair. He placed them in the gaps between the braided strands, alternating the colors between blue and green just as she had done with his crown.

She closed her eyes as he meticulously arranged each and every petal, making sure that each one was positioned perfectly. She could feel his fingers in her hair, delicately adding more and more flowers. 

He moved back and Zelda finally opened her eyes again. 

Link was staring at her, an obvious blush on his cheeks. The green flowers complemented her well, being a similar shade to her emerald eyes. The blue flowers looked remarkably similar to the color of his tunic. The colors worked well together, blues and greens harmonizing together nicely. 

A crown fit for a princess. 
Zelda averted her gaze to the ground, twirling a blade of grass between her fingertips. 
“Would it be alright if I…” Zelda began, trailing off before she finished her thought.

“What is it, Zelda?” 

She loved hearing him say her name instead of the usual “princess”. 

Zelda hesitated for a moment. Goddess, her heart was racing. 
She finally gathered the courage to lie down in the grass beside Link, resting her head in his lap. 

His breath hitched. 

“Is this alright?” she asked softly, looking up at him.

“Y-yes, of course,” he reassured her, stumbling over his words. 

Zelda yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. The warm weather was making her drowsy, and the fact that she hasn’t been able to sleep lately didn’t help either. Too much had happened in the last few days, and she needed time to rest. She closed her eyes again, letting her body relax with a sigh. Everything about this moment was perfect. She could feel the blissful warmth of the sun on her skin, and the breeze ruffling through the grass. 

The sight of her curled up in the grass, blissfully content, melted Link’s heart. 

After a few minutes, Zelda could feel Link’s hands in her hair again. He slowly ran his fingers through her long hair, careful not to pull on any knots, and removing any blades of grass that happened to be stuck.

“That feels nice,” she murmured. 

Zelda didn’t want this to end. She knew the moment she stepped foot in the castle, she would be whisked off to help organize the Farore’s day festivities or, the considerably worse option, be sent to pray again. 

But in this moment, she didn’t have those responsibilities. Farore’s Day could wait, and the goddess didn’t deserve her attention right now. 

A moment of serenity to escape the chaos. 

Chapter Text

“Are you ready for tomorrow, princess?” one of her servants asked, walking with Zelda as she left her room. 

“Ready for what?” Zelda replied, confused. What was special about tomorrow?

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten! It’s Farore’s day!”

Farore’s Day had almost slipped her mind after spending yesterday away from the castle. Zelda had arrived back quite late last night, to the utmost displeasure of the king.  She and Link had lost track of time, the pair falling asleep in the field among the flowers. 

“Oh, of course I remembered,” Zelda quickly lied with a smile. “I just need to sort out which dress I’m going to wear.”

She had missed her appointment with the tailor yesterday. For each royal ball or otherwise important regal gathering, several gowns were made specifically for her. All she had to do was choose the one she liked best, the rest saved for another event. 

“Lovely. Then I assume that the first dance has been completed?”

First dance?

Oh no.

Zelda had completely forgotten! It was customary for a member of the royal family to open the festivities each Farore’s day with a waltz. 

Her father was getting too old to continue this tradition, so it had been passed down to Zelda. Last year, she had chosen the court poet to be her dance partner. She shuddered at the thought of dancing with him again. He wasn’t very coordinated, stepping on the hem of her gown and even her feet multiple times. Luckily, there wasn’t even a contest for who would be her partner this year. The choice was obvious. 

“Princess?” the woman repeated. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes, of course!” Zelda replied, pulling herself out of her thoughts. 
“Link and I have been working on the choreography, but it still needs some practice.”

“I’m sure you’ll do great, princess,” she assured Zelda. 
“In that case, I’m off to pick up the dresses.”

The woman left Zelda, turning down a corridor to find the tailor. 

Zelda hurried to the dining room, hoping to find Link. She already knew she had missed breakfast, and this was about the time it should be ending.

It worked out just as she imagined. On her way there, she found Link just as he was leaving. 

“Good morning, princess,” Link said, offering her a slight smile. 
“Did you sleep well?”

He only asked out of habit, never expecting the genuine answer. Zelda would respond with a simple “yes” each day he asked, no matter what. But today, there might be some truth in her reply. 

“Yes, very well.  she replied, giving him a wink and flashing an all knowing smile for a brief moment. 

He fought the blush from appearing on his cheeks. This wasn’t the time, rumors can spread far too quickly. He had to be careful around her, especially when they were in the castle. 

“But what I really needed was to ask you a question.”

“Go on.”

“Will you join me for the first dance on Farore’s Day?”

The question caught him off guard, the blush quite obvious now. So much for subtlety.

He hadn’t forgotten about the Farore’s Day tradition, he just assumed that Zelda had already chosen a dance partner. But he would do anything for her. The offer was quite enticing, considering that it meant they would get to spend more time together, which was always enjoyable. 

“Of course,” he agreed. 

Relief flowed through Zelda with his acceptance. Now all they had to do was practice. 

“The ballroom is still being decorated, so we can’t practice there…” she began, thinking aloud. “But it’s still quite nice outside.”

The training yard wasn’t the optimal place for ballroom dancing, but it was the best they had. At least the warm weather from yesterday remained, a pleasant temperature with a slight breeze. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds, a storm seeming to be on the horizon. But the rain should hold off long enough. 

“Do you remember any of the steps?” Zelda asked. 

“Some. But I need to review.”

Link had picked up ballroom dance during his time at the castle, not wanting to embarrass himself during events. It wasn’t something he particularly enjoyed, but he was at least decent at it. Keeping in time with the music wasn’t usually the issue, but rather nerves from dancing with strangers. He never knew where to look to not make it awkward, and was always paranoid he would accidentally step on his partner’s foot.

She faced him, placing her left hand on his shoulder and taking his hand in her right. He slid his right arm around her waist, palm flat against her back. 

This was simply the standard, closed position to start a ballroom dance, which Link had done many times. But with Zelda, it felt different, more intimate. His eyes focused on her face for a moment, mind wandering to the thought of his lips on hers. 

Link was staring at her again. It was something Zelda noticed him doing every so often, and it never failed to make her nervous, the tips of her ears reddening. His eyes were captivating, a shade of blue that she could never forget. 

Zelda coughed, pulling Link back to reality. 

“Obviously, this would be better if we had some music, but we can just start from here,” she said. 
She began to walk him through the steps of the traditional waltz, beginning with the basics before adding anything too fancy. Zelda found that counting out the beats was helpful for staying in time. 

“One, two-three, One, two-three, One two-three, One, two-three,” she said softly, over and over again until they felt more comfortable with the rise and fall of the steps. 

The basic step pattern, the box step, wasn’t particularly difficult, and it quickly came back to Link through his muscle memory. 

“I can tell that you’re nervous,” Zelda noted as they took a break. 
“Trust me, we’ll be fine.”

It wasn’t the dancing that he was nervous about.  

After a while they picked up where they left off, beginning to add simple spins into the waltz. After reviewing all of the parts, section by section, it was finally  ready to be put all together. 

As the pair got into position to finally begin the full dance, Zelda felt a raindrop hit her head. The clouds had darkened, and rain was falling quickly. It was only a small shower, for now.

She smiled, taking it all in. It had been a long time since she was out in the rain, and the cool droplets felt nice on her skin.

Instead of letting Zelda go, Link began to lead her through the steps. This time, he counted out the beats. Rain or shine, the show must go on.

“One, two-three, One, two-three, One two-three, One, two-three.”

The moment was surreal, just the two of them in their own world, floating through the steps in the muddy training yard. They moved through the steps with relative grace, as if the music was there to guide them through each movement, the rise and fall of each count. Zelda glanced at Link, laughing at the way his wet hair stuck to his face. The actual dance was nowhere near perfect. He stepped on her foot, but she didn’t care. Link accidentally began to turn clockwise, when counterclockwise was traditional, but that was okay. None of that mattered, not right now. This seemed like something out of a fairy tale - lovers, enchanted by the rain, sharing a dance. 

As they spun through the choreography, the storm only worsened. Within a few minutes, the rain had increased to a total downpour. It was impossible to continue each step, the ground soggy beneath their feet and the noise of the storm drowning out Link’s voice. 

“We should go inside!” Link shouted, loud enough that Zelda would be able to hear. 

Although more practice would have been beneficial, they would only get sick if they stayed out here. 

Zelda quickly agreed, following him back into the warmth and safety of the castle. 

Zelda had returned to her room to warm up, get changed, and choose a dress for tomorrow. 

The dresses had been brought to her, a stunning lineup of three gowns made with only the finest materials. They were all shades of green, as was traditional for Farore’s day. 

The first one was a sage hue, made of lavish silk. It wasn’t the traditional shape of a ballgown, designed to fit tighter to flatter curves.  It wouldn’t be ideal for dancing.

The second was a deep, forest green and featured intricate patterns formed from panels of lace. Although it would allow for more freedom of movement than the last, it looked incredibly itchy. Next.

As she studied the third gown, she instantly knew it was the one. A grand strapless gown, with many petticoats for shape. Mint green in color, complete with intricate beading and chiffon appliques in the shape of flowers. It reminded her of the moment in the field with Link, the wildflowers scattered in the grass. He had mentioned green was his favorite color. 

It was perfect. 

She couldn’t wait for tomorrow. 

Chapter Text

Link looked in the mirror to adjust his beret, and pulled on his gloves. Farore’s day symbolized the prosperity that the spring season would bring, so everyone was expected to wear something green. Since he was required to be in uniform, he had opted to tuck a small, emerald green flower behind his ear. 

Green. The color of prosperity, his favorite color, and the color of Zelda’s eyes. 

Guests had been arriving steadily as evening fell, excitedly awaiting the festivities. 

He ran his hands down his pristine uniform as if to smooth out non-existent wrinkles, finally leaving his room to head to the ballroom.

People were crowded into the grand room, adorned in all shades of green. 
The grandiose space was nowhere near small, yet everyone was packed tightly throughout. Farore’s Day festivities always attract people from all over Hyrule - one of the largest celebrations of the year. 

Link scanned the crowds, looking for familiar faces. 
Mipha caught his eye, and she waved him over. He walked to her with a smile - it’s been quite a long time since they had seen each other. 

The distance between the castle and Zora's domain meant that visits were much more infrequent than when they were kids, when Link still lived in Hateno village.  

But they remained friends, and they had so much to catch up on. 

Zelda finally entered the ballroom with the king, and she could feel all the eyes on them. She was the princess, after all, wearing an ornate, sparkling ball gown that would be difficult to miss. 

She scanned the crowd, looking for one person in particular. 
It was difficult to differentiate Link from the crowd, a sea of people all throughout the room. All of the knights wore the same royal-issue uniform.   

After a moment, she finally found him, talking to Mipha. Mipha looked up and waved at her with a smile. 

Zelda offered a wave in return. She would have to catch up with her after the dance. There wasn't much time before the ceremony would begin, so Zelda motioned for Link to come over.

He bid goodbye to Mipha and joined Zelda at the front of the room.

It was time to get this celebration underway. 

The sight of Zelda mesmerized Link. The dress she had chosen was the embodiment of spring, covered in lush, delicate flowers. Her long, golden hair cascaded down her back in perfect curls. She wore shimmering eyeshadow and bright red lipstick. 

“You look beautiful,” he murmured to her, voice low enough that no one else could hear.

“Thank you,” she whispered, turning to meet his eyes as a blush crept onto her cheeks. 

She had to admit that he looked pretty handsome as well, the royal guard uniform designed with style in mind over practicality. The knights only wore it for special events like these, opting for armor or simpler tunics during training. 

Everyone was supposed to wear something green to celebrate this day, and Zelda noticed that Link had a small flower tucked behind his ear. 

But it certainly wasn’t anything to marvel at. All of the other knights wore the same armor. She couldn’t let her guard down around Link, at least not tonight. She would have to wait until they got another moment alone, outside of the public eye. 

There was no reason to blush. This was just a dance, and Link was only her appointed knight, nothing more. 

The king had made his way to the center of the ballroom, grabbing everyone’s attention for his speech. 
“To start, I would like to say thank you to everyone for coming to celebrate with us this evening,” he began.
“Farore’s day symbolizes the transfer from the hardship of the winter months to the bright future that this spring will carry. My daughter, princess Zelda of Hyrule, and a champion of Hyrule, Sir Link, will be carrying on the age-old tradition of the first dance. Happy Farore’s day!”

The crowd clapped and cheered, and people began to clear out of the middle of the room, which would be reserved for dancing. 

Link walked beside Zelda to the center of the floor.
“May I have this dance?” he asked, as was customary, holding out his hand. 

“Of course,” Zelda replied, taking his hand and placing her other hand on his shoulder as he moved his to rest on her back. 

The musicians began to play, the music swelling around them. They began the dance, step by step, just as they had rehearsed - save the mistakes, of course. This time, every misstep would be obvious. This time was when it mattered, all eyes on the princess and her knight. It was easy to keep in time with the music, a slow waltz across the floor. But even so, Zelda’s voice played out in Link’s head, counting to keep pace. 

One, two-three, One, two-three, One, two-three. One, two-three

He offered a smile as he met Zelda’s eyes. She seemed to float across the polished wood floor with each step, her dress hiding her heels underneath. She smiled back, hiding her real smile for the practiced, soft smile that’s fit for a princess. 

Because in this moment, she was not just Zelda. She was princess Zelda of Hyrule, heir to the throne and blessed by the goddess. The people of Hyrule depended on her for the safety of their kingdom, and she needed to uphold that promise. She needed to be their beacon of hope, always keeping a pleasant expression on her face. That’s what a princess needed to be. Focused on her people, her sole purpose to harness the power of the goddess Hylia. 

Not to fall in love with Link, her appointed knight, the hero of Hyrule, fated to save the kingdom from evil.

No. That would be preposterous.

Everything that had happened between them needed to remain a secret, at least for tonight.  

Eventually, other couples began to join them on the dance floor, quickly filling in the large space as the song progressed. The crowd's eyes were no longer on them, the celebration now in full swing.

One, two-three, One, two-three, One, two-three, One, two-three.

The song finally came to an end. Everyone in the room took a moment to clap for the princess and her knight. Zelda curtsied, and Link bowed quickly before the next song would begin. Zelda found herself disappointed that it was over. One dance was hardly ever enough, especially with Link. 

Instead of leaving the  floor, Link held out his hand in invitation again.
“Another dance, princess?”

She smiled for a moment, her real smile this time. She got back into position as the musicians began to play again, a faster tempo than the first song. 

It began as another standard, choreographed, waltz. Zelda’s face lit up as she recognized the tune, she knew it well. It was one of her favorites, if not her favorite, to dance. But each time Link led Zelda into a spin, he would spin her around a few extra times than the choreography planned. She tried to maintain her gentle expression for the sake of her royal image, but she couldn’t keep a wide goofy smile from showing on her face. This time, no one was watching. 

For a moment, she let her royal guise slip, not ashamed of her people seeing her have a little fun. This was a celebration after all. And this was the most fun she’s ever had ballroom dancing. The swish of her skirts and her hair flowing behind her as the pair glided across the floor was exhilarating. If this particular song wasn’t her favorite before, it would definitely be now. 

To end the dance, Link took Zelda by surprise, dipping her low.  His arm supported her back to ensure she wouldn’t fall as her foot left the ground. Her hair brushed the floor for a fleeting moment before he pulled her back up.

Once again, the song ended, and the musicians quickly began another tune.

Zelda took a step back from him, finally ready to leave the crowded dance floor. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, adrenaline still rushing through her from the excitement of it all.

If her partner were anyone else but Link, Zelda would have been furious. Ruining her favorite dance by changing the steps? Absolutely not. And adding a dip, without her prior knowledge? Unheard of. She didn’t dare attempt dips anymore in fear of being dropped. It has happened before, more than once.  

But she trusted Link. He knew that he wouldn’t drop her, or he wouldn’t even have attempted the move. And he had managed to make her favorite waltz even more fun, the flourishes throughout not taking away from the integrity of the dance, the rise and fall of the steps.

Goddess, that was a good time. She silently cursed herself for her ignorance, where were the boundaries that she had just set? All she had to do was contain herself for one night, until the ball was over, and the public’s eye was no longer on them. 

But here she was, out of breath, heart racing, and face flushed. Was the temperature in here stifling, or was that just her? At least she could blame her reddened ears and cheeks on the exertion if anyone were to ask. Even though that certainly wasn’t the real reason. 

“Did you know that that is my favorite waltz?,” Zelda finally asked. 
She must have told him once, Link always seemed to remember all the seemingly random details she shared about herself. 

“No, I didn’t,” he admitted, his smile growing as his ears began to redden. 
What a lucky strike of fate. Out of all of the waltzes that would be played, the one they decided to share together was Zelda’s favorite. The waltz where he allowed himself to just have fun, guiding her through extra turns just because he could. It was as if Link was bound by a spell, subconsciously knowing that that waltz was special to her.  

“But I hope it lived up to your expectations.”

“Absolutely. I enjoyed it very much.”

 “Always a pleasure, Ze-”, Link began, quickly correcting himself. 
“...princess.”

Goddess, he had almost called her Zelda. This was a dangerous game, and he knew it. He was walking a very fine line, wearing his heart on his sleeve and leaving his feelings for her on blatant display. 

This wasn’t the time for that, under the careful scrutiny of people all across Hyrule. 

But the thought of pulling her close, fingers trailing over her skin and through her hair as their lips met just wouldn’t leave his head. 

Zelda followed Link off the dance floor, and into the clusters of people scattered around the room. Servers floated through the crowds, holding platters of hors d'oeuvres and drinks for guests to take. 
Link ventured into the crowd, quickly being approached by another soldier to chat.

Zelda let her gaze linger on Link a bit too long as he walked away. She sighed as her gaze turned back to the floor, admiring the synchronization of all of the couples gliding through the waltz. Everyone follows the exact same steps, in perfect coordination. 

Her heart was still racing, and it didn’t seem to want to calm down. 

Approaching footsteps quickly caused her to snap out of her thoughts.

“It’s been a while, little bird. It’s a pleasure to finally get to see you again.”

“Urbosa!” Zelda exclaimed, pulling her into a hug,
“It's been so long”

Urbosa leaned down to whisper in Zelda's ear.
“So, when's the wedding?”

Zelda froze. Was her desire really that obvious?

Urbosa laughed, standing back up.
“It's just a joke, princess! You should have seen your face.”

“That’s not very funny,” Zelda mumbled.

“Oh, please,” Urbosa said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
She lowered her voice back down to a whisper.
“I’ve seen how you look at him.”

Oh.

Her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for Link once again. He smiled at her as their eyes met before getting back to his conversation. 

Zelda began to blush once again. How did Urbosa know? Zelda had written many letters to Urbosa since the last time they saw each other, but she conveniently left out descriptions of her newfound feelings towards Link. The way her heart races every time he says her name. The way simply being around him makes her feel at ease, and she most certainly forgot to mention her recurring daydreams where she would gather the courage to finally kiss him. 

Chapter Text

“Princess, would you share a dance with me?”

May I have this dance, princess?”

“I was hoping that you could dance with me, princess?”

Princess, princess, princess.

Zelda’s excitement towards celebration had long worn off, replaced with weariness. This happened at every large royal gathering. It seemed as if every man in Hyrule wanted the opportunity to share a dance with the princess herself. 
Dance after dance, over and over again. She accepted each request, as it would be rude to decline. Her cheeks hurt from sustaining her perfect, practiced smile, fatigue showing in her eyes. Each dance became sloppier as the night went on, with Zelda stepping on a partners’ foot or forgetting what steps came next.

Zelda sought refuge, excusing herself from the stuffy ballroom and finding her way to the gardens. She desperately needed some fresh air. 
The night was chilly, even the slightest breeze causing her to shiver. But she would brave the cold over being  asked to dance again. 

At last, a moment of peace. Just her, alone with the stars. An exceptionally clear night, perfect for stargazing. As Zelda tried to make out some of the constellations, she began to let her thoughts roam. A memory from a few days ago played clear in her mind - laying on the grass, stargazing, with Link at her side. 

The most vivid detail being her longing to kiss him. 

Link thought that Zelda would have returned by now. 

He scanned the crowd, looking for her sparkling ball gown. It shouldn’t be difficult to spot, considering it’s much more extravagant than the average guest’s attire. 

But he didn’t see her anywhere in the ballroom.

Link quickly left the room to look for her, hoping no one would notice his absence. He would only be gone a few minutes. 

Link had a feeling that Zelda had fled to the gardens, a quiet escape from the crowded ballroom.  He found her there, walking slowly along the cobblestone path lost in thought admiring the stars. 

“Princess?” he asked softly, as to not startle her.

Zelda jumped at the voice, spinning to face him.

She recognized that voice, letting herself relax as she realized who had come for her. 

Thank the goddess it was Link. It wasn’t someone sent by her father to bring her back to the overwhelming atmosphere of the festivities, but Link who sought her out. The one person she actually wanted to see.

“What are you doing out here?” Link asked. 

“I couldn’t stand another dance.”

Link’s face fell. Did he make a mistake, asking her for a second dance? He had to admit that he really enjoyed it, and he thought that she had as well from the way she was smiling at him after. Not the perfect princess smile, which she could put on like a mask. It was quite unsettling how fast she could switch to that expression, always hiding her true feelings. No, a real smile. 

“I don’t mean our waltz, of course,” she reassured him before he had time to apologize. 

She would gladly accept another, if it happened to be with Link. 

“But after dancing with so many different partners, it gets tiring after a while. ”

Well, that was a relief. At least Zelda wasn’t displeased with him for making a spectacle. He’ll admit that he got a bit carried away, but it was all in good fun. With her, it just felt natural. 

Link studied her again, noticing that she was shivering from the night’s chill.

Zelda couldn’t stop herself from staring as well.
His hair was no longer perfectly neat, loose strands falling out of his ponytail. His beret was askew on his head, but the flower tucked behind his ear still remained. Goddess, she could never think straight around Link, his alluring blue eyes focused on her. 

She took a small step towards him. 
“I’m not ready to go back in yet, if that’s what you wanted to ask. I just need a moment to breathe.”

“Of course, Zelda.”

In the secluded gardens, among only the flowers and the stars, Link finally had the freedom to call her Zelda. 

“Would you like me to stay?” he asked, not wanting to intrude on her privacy if that's what she wanted.

Link was expecting an answer along the lines of “No, thank you”. When he first found Zelda here, it seemed like she had something on her mind. She probably wanted time to think that over, whatever it was, alone. So her answer surprised him.

“I would.”

Zelda took another step towards him

Her arm slid around his waist, pulling him close enough that their foreheads were practically touching. She tucked her other hand against his chest, palm facing his heart. 

Link gasped, cheeks reddening as his heart began to race. Zelda was so close, he could feel her every breath. He slid his arms around her waist, holding her gently. 

Zelda could feel Link’s racing heartbeat.

Her gaze drifted down to his lips, hesitating for a moment. Everything in her knew that this was wrong, the consequences devastating if any one found out. This wasn’t exactly privacy, considering that there were hundreds of people right inside the castle walls. 

But before Zelda had too much time to contemplate, Link leaned in to press his lips to hers. 

Their lips met for a fleeting moment, barely a kiss, before pulling away and taking steps back. 

Link raised his head slightly to meet her eyes again.

He couldn’t believe that he was about to admit this to her, but this seemed like as good a time as any. It wasn’t often that they had moments like this, away from their royal responsibilities. And he wanted Zelda to know just how he felt. 

“Zelda,” he whispered. 

It didn’t have to be a long, poetic admission of feelings, using many words when simply three would suffice. He could do this. 

“I love you.”

Was this real? It seemed impossibly similar to the scenarios in Zelda’s dreams. Words seemed to fail her, nothing able to truly explain this feeling. 

But Link didn’t need her words to know that it was reciprocal, Zelda smiling wider than he’s ever seen her smile before. 

 Zelda placed a hand under his chin, gently tilting his face up towards her. Link was usually only a few inches shorter than her, but her heels only increased that. She leaned down slightly so she could kiss him again. 

It began as a series of slow, delicate kisses, stopping for a moment between each one. But Zelda wanted more, to actually live out the scenarios that constantly played over and over in her head. 

And it seemed like Link wanted this just as much as she did

This was better than she had ever imagined. Link’s hands were around her waist once more, and her hands had drifted upwards, pulling out his hair band so she could run her fingers through his hair. His beret promptly fell off his head, landing on the cobblestone. 

Zelda met his lips again, daring to deepen the kiss. As they got comfortable with the sensation, The mood quickly shifted from tender kisses and delicate touches to a heated display of desire. 

This was only going to happen once, and they were going to make the most of it.  Zelda wished this moment could last forever. 

Link’s hands were around Zelda’s neck, greedily pulling her into him. Goddess knows how long he’s waited to hold her like this. 
Zelda’s hands trailed down his body, moving from his waist to his hips.  

They stopped for a moment, shoulders rising and falling in tandem as they caught their breath. Link dipped his head and leaned in to press a soft, slow kiss on the nape of her neck, peppering kisses down her neck to her collarbone.

A shiver ran down Zelda’s spine, not from the cold.  

She let out a pleasured sigh, and Link paused for a moment, lifting his head.  

“For goddesses sake, Link,” Zelda murmured in exasperation. “Please, don’t stop.”

Link was more than pleased to listen to her request, his lips meeting hers once more, arms gripping her waist to pull her close.

Exhaustion had caught up to Zelda. She felt ready to pass out at any moment. 
The passionate kisses had subsided, Link simply opting to hold her close instead, with his head nestled into the crook of her neck. 
Unfortunately, this would have to end, neither of them looking forward to the inevitable truth. All good things came to an end, in time. Soon enough, guests would begin to leave the castle, to settle into their accommodations for the night. 

What time was it?

Zelda was the first to pull away, and stole one last glance at Link. Disappointment was clear on his face.

“I suppose this is it, princess,” he said softly, voice hoarse. 

Link’s hand trailed down her face, cupping Zelda’s chin for a moment before letting his hand fall. The moment they stepped through the castle doors and back into the ballroom, the star-struck lovers would disappear.  There would only be Princess Zelda of Hyrule, and her appointed knight, Sir Link, who certainly weren’t anything more than that - princess and knight. 

Few guests remained in the castle, the stragglers being shooed out by castle staff. The celebration was over, and the sun would surely be rising soon.

Zelda hurried to her quarters, Link close behind. She didn’t want her father to see them, not like this. Her once pristine dress had gotten wrinkled, the hem dirty. Link’s hair was a tangled mess, and he had forgotten to retrieve his beret from the garden. His white gloves were stained cherry red, used to wipe Zelda’s red lipstick from his face. Some spots had been missed, outlines of her lips remaining behind his ear and on his collar. 

Once the pair arrived at her room, she hesitated to open the door. She turned to look at Link once more. 

“Goodnight, princess,” he whispered. 
And that was all he should have said before bidding her farewell. He needed to change out of his uniform and get some sleep, as he wasn’t on guard duty tonight.  But he didn’t want to leave her, not yet. 

“Can you kiss me goodnight?” Zelda asked, moving towards him and placing a hand on his shoulder.

He knew that he should have refused. His vow as appointed knight involved protecting the princess, nothing more. But their fate was already sealed. Link would allow himself one last moment with the princess. With Zelda. 

After all, it’s just one little kiss. One fleeting moment, then they had to go back to pretending. As if nothing ever happened at all. 

He placed his arm around her waist, leaning in to kiss her one last time. After Link pulled away, he still hesitated before finally turning to leave. 

Tears escaped Zelda’s eyes, warm as they ran down her cheeks. Did it really have to be this way? Surely there was something, anything, they could do to make this night last longer.  

“Sweet dreams, Zelda.” 

Within these walls, Zelda would only be the princess to Link.

Chapter Text

Zelda couldn’t sleep.

It had been three months since Farore’s Day, the pleasant warmth of spring and the summer heat long gone. Autumn brought unusually bitter cold and a snowstorm, much earlier than expected.

Her room was insulated well to keep out the cold, and her bed was outfitted with many thick blankets. But something was missing. Or rather, someone.
Sometimes Zelda would wish that she had never kissed Link. The agony of something she wanted but couldn’t have hung over her. The air between them was nothing but awkward, Link not daring to get close to Zelda unless absolutely necessary.  It was like when he was first assigned to be her knight - Link staying 3 paces behind Zelda everywhere they went. 

3 paces too far. 

Zelda longed for the comfort of having him at her side, and the moments they would share. Link would listen to her explain every mechanism of a guardian, asking clarifying questions throughout. He would cook for her, and sometimes the food was better than what the royal chefs would make.

She needed to focus, to unlock her sealing power. 

But goddess, she missed Link. 

Guard duty had become considerably more challenging.

It was the same routine, taking night shifts to manage any potential threats to the princess. This storm would be an excellent time to plan an ambush, as no one in the castle was prepared for this extreme weather. The first snow usually holds off until winter. This year it decided to come early, just as autumn began. 

The many windows in the corridor did little to block out the chill,  leaving Link shivering. He watched the swirling snow outside, and it didn’t seem like it was going to let up anytime soon.

 But the biggest challenge wasn’t braving the cold. 
The real test was on his willpower - an exercise of restraint. Zelda was so close, yet so far. If he wasn’t her knight, he would probably be lying in bed with her right now, out of the cold and holding her close. 

But Link needed to remind himself for the thousandth time that this was his job. What he wanted didn’t matter right now, he had orders to follow. 

Zelda finally decided that she had had enough. This had to end. 

She crossed the room to the door, opening it slowly and leaning her head out into the hallway. 
“Link,” she said softly, quickly grabbing his attention. “I’m cold.”

He sighed. 
“So am I, princess. Go back to bed.”

Link knew exactly what Zelda wanted, and he couldn’t give in to her request. Not this time. 

But she didn’t give up that easily. 
“Link,” she repeated his name.
“Please, just for tonight.”

“I already told you, Zelda. I can’t.”

Zelda. She hasn’t heard him say her name in weeks. Just hearing her name in his voice caused her to blush. Sweet Hylia, she was lovesick. 

“Why not?” she pressed. 

Oh, Zelda. Link tried his best not to let the amusement show on his face. She knew just how to get around his hesitation, the longer she kept him talking the more likely he was to finally give in.

He took a deep breath to steady himself, before replying, 
“I’m only your knight, Zelda.”
Regardless of how sure of himself he sounded, they both knew that that was a blatant lie. 

And, goddess, Link had called her Zelda again

What was one more night?

“Fine. But only for fifteen minutes.”

That answer seemed to finally appease Zelda, as she ducked back into her room. 
Link followed behind, closing the door behind him.

She crossed the room to lie back down, waiting for Link to join her. 

 Link took off his boots and removed the master sword from his back, setting the scabbard to the side against the wall. It wouldn’t be very comfortable to lie down in the clothes he had on, so he stripped off his loose tunic and chainmail, revealing the simple shirt underneath.

He laid down on the bed beside Zelda, leaving some space between them. This was the most comfortable bed he’s ever laid on, much more luxurious than his own. He sunk into the plush mattress, relishing in its warmth. 

Zelda is such a liar. Warmth seemed to radiate from her, tucked under thick, fleece blankets. It took everything in Link to not move closer to her, to wrap his arms around Zelda and never let go. 

The silence was deafening. It had been months, and they couldn’t just pretend that nothing ever happened and go back to the way it was before. 

Zelda would sort out her feelings in the morning. For now, she needed to sleep. She turned away from Link, closing her eyes and settling into the blankets. 

But even that was proving impossible, due to the fact that Link was still shivering beside her, tightly clutching the covers. 

Zelda rolled over to face him with a sigh. 

“Link,” she whispered, scooting ever so closer to him, tapping on his shoulder. 
“You’re shaking. Come here.”

He flipped over to face her. 

“Y-you know w-we can’t, Zelda,” 
A pathetic attempt at a refusal, his teeth chattering as he desperately clung to the blankets. His promised fifteen minutes had passed. but Link desperately wanted to warm up instead of returning to the chilly corridor. 

Zelda didn’t respond, just rolling her eyes as she turned back to face the wall again. 

Within a few minutes, Link had wrapped himself in all of the blankets, leaving Zelda with merely a corner of the covers. He was barely visible from his cocoon, only the top of his head and ears poking out. 

Now Zelda was the one shivering. 

She turned to face Link yet again, glaring at him.
“Give me my blankets back, or I might just have to kick you out,” she teased.
“It’s quite the privilege to be in my bed, you know.” 

Although hard to see by the moonlight, Zelda didn’t fail to notice the way the tips of Link’s ears turned bright red at her comment.
 
She promptly yanked the blankets back towards herself, ignoring his protest. Now Link was left with only a corner. 

But that didn’t last long, as Link just pulled the covers away from Zelda once again.

She scooted slightly towards him, her fingers brushing the back of his neck as she began to slowly peel the blankets away.

Zelda knew how to win this game. 

She pulled the covers back just far enough to slip under them again, pressing herself against Link’s back. She draped an arm around his waist, holding him gently as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Something between a groan and a sigh of relief escaped Link’s lips as warmth coursed through him, practically melting into Zelda as the tension released from his body. 

“Is this better?” Zelda asked.

‘Better,” Link replied.

Goddess, she was so warm. Link turned to face Zelda and closed his eyes, finally able to relax as the shivering subsided. 

He needed this. He needed her. 

Link’s breathing had slowed, and it seemed like he would drift off at any moment.

Zelda reached out to brush a strand of hair away from his face. 

He hummed in response, opening his eyes for a moment.

“I don’t want this to end,” Zelda said softly. “Is that too much to ask? Please, stay until morning.”

Link took a moment to contemplate, but he knew he wasn’t going to leave. Not now, enveloped in this pleasant warmth. He moved his head to press a soft, slow kiss on Zelda’s collarbone, before settling down again.

Nothing was going to threaten the princess tonight. Link could allow himself one night of peace, relishing in the blissful warmth with Zelda at his side.

Wind whipped through the trees, unrelenting snow falling from gray clouds. The storm had only gotten worse overnight, snow piling up in Hyrule field. It certainly wouldn’t be an enjoyable experience to venture outside, so it seemed like they were snowed in.

Not that they minded. Safe from the storm, nestled in cozy blankets.

Zelda shifted slightly, not wanting to get up just yet. It was too bright in the room to open her eyes, too cold to leave the warmth of the bed. Her head was pressed against Link’s chest, legs intertwined with his as his head rested in the crook of her neck. 

A comfortable embrace, safe and warm. 

Link woke up to Zelda running her hands gently through his hair. As he opened his eyes, she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Good morning, Zelda,” he murmured, a soft smile forming on his face.

In the morning light, Zelda was radiant. Her hair was fanned out around her, messy from sleep, gaze soft as she looked at Link. 

Link took her in his arms again, holding her close. He wanted to stay here forever, wanting nothing more than to burrow back into the blankets with her body pressed against his. 

Zelda would forever be more than just the princess to Link, proven by these fleeting moments of paradise.