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It was another day in Hyrule, the sun shining as normal with a small breeze drifting through the fields. The citizens in the towns, and the soldiers in their forts went about as usual. However, for one certain knight this was a very important day. It was a day for new beginnings, her new beginnings. But not just for Zelda, it would also be new for Link, having someone follow you around and all that.
The prince was laying in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He glanced towards the fireplace then rolled back on his stomach to get some more sleep. He hoped that the knight would not be awake this early. But if she was, then he should probably get up. Five more minutes... he thought, and then he'd get dressed.
Legend says he didn't wake up 5 minutes later.
Zelda finished getting ready, and made way for the throne room. Once she arrived, she took her orders and began ascending to the prince's study, where he told her to go. It would be best to say that he wasn't exactly there.
She stood outside the study and knocked... no answer. So she knocked again, yet no answer. Her hand reached for the knob and twisted it and pushed the door open. No one? How weird, she had sworn the note said the study. Was she in the wrong room?
She stepped in and looked around, taking peeks at such interesting studies and research. She eventually led herself to a desk with an open book. Her wandering eyes went over the words on the page and began to scan and try to figure out what this was. There were details about the King, and from what it seemed there were details of the prince's life! Wow, so much information. She read that Link felt burdened, and could not sense his power awakening any time soon. The woman was about to turn the page until she realized that this was the PRINCE'S diary! Oh my Hylia nonono NO way I just read that! She stepped back, horrified at her decisions made just a few seconds ago.
And honestly how could she?! She's insane, reading someone's own personal belongings is just wrong. She stepped backwards onto the chair and fell on her back. Making a clunk and thunk as she did, loud enough to wake a certain royal nearby.
He heard the crash in his study, which was conveniently close to his bedroom. He groaned and sat up and got out of bed, looking around. He also realized he slept in about 20 minutes too late, well that sure is unfortunate. At this time though, that didn't matter to him too much, his main focus was to investigate the noises coming from his study. He opened up the door to outside, and began walking towards it then opened the door to the inside to reveal a blonde in a blue tunic, on the floor. First off "what??" He mumbled to himself.
Well to be fair, I did tell her to go to my study... He thought.
He mumbled all this while staring at the girl who was nervously trying to gather the books she'd knocked off the shelf, and stood to pick up the chair, but-
Zelda yelped and immediately noticed the shirtless prince "Oh- Um y-your majesty, I'm.. you're well... I thought the note s-said to beat- well meet here! Haha, but nonetheless the I just fell and you know-" She was obviously going to continue scramble through the awkwardness of not only knocking down books, but also because of other things.
"Are you... okay?" Link asked, offering a hand to pick her up.
"Oh ha n-no I'm fine! I just am rambling for no reason right now, none at all!" She continued.
"Did you fall?" He asked quietly as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up.
She blushed, but not from anything romantic, she was just embarrassed, incredibly embarrassed. She pushed herself up and allowed him to pull her.
"Right! I just tripped.. and also you're.., um-"
He quickly got flustered, "Oh-" He realized he was still in his pajamas -which consisted of well... just pants- then smiled awkwardly. He let go of her hand and very quickly went to his room to put on proper clothes, and not just some pajamas. He tied up his hair then returned to the knight who was standing outside his door.
During that time Zelda took her chance to turn the study back to its regular organized chaos, then followed his lead and stood outside the door waiting for his return. She stood there and thought to herself.
Well that was embarrassing, first I read his diary and then knock everything over? That's one way to get fired. For Hylia's sake I woke the poor boy up! Her thoughts slowly faded away until the Prince came out of his room, fully dressed this time.
He turned to her and nodded his head for her to follow him, and so she did. The two went about the castle grounds, Zelda not entirely sure where she was going, but Link seemed to be happy with just wandering about. At least that's what it seemed like he was doing.
However, the boy was actually planning to start his studies and research some old Sheikah technology. So to him his path actually made sense. But for Zelda, the ways of the castle were new and would definitely take a bit to get used to. It wasn't until a minute more of walking did she realize that he was heading out to the courtyard; where the rest of the Sheikah technologists and research teams were.
Link went straight to work investigating and such, he looked like a natural, almost as if he was born to be a scientist. As he continued to look around and research with the rest of the team, he came across a guardian, which was fortunately unaffected by the calamity thus far, and began playing around with it. His mind was so active and quickly running from thought to thought while Zelda's brain just drifted along, mindlessly watching and following the prince.
She found herself thinking about what was in the diary, as well as what the master sword had been telling her. First off, reading a single page of the blue-clad researcher had given some interesting insight to his life. Apparently he rarely speaks, and simply because he's overwhelmed by his burden put on him to seal the calamity. So instead of breaking down he just sits there and acts completely fine. Zelda began to wonder what else was in the boy's diary, maybe some information on his home life. Another thought came to her mind, specifically about what the sword had been saying to her. Stuff about the calamity and how she is fulfilling her duty and the prophecies, so she felt good about that.
During the intense research session, Link had found a few important things to take note of. Another thing to note is how it was already noon, three hours goes by fast when studying. With that, the royal and loyal knight made their way to the dining room for some lunch; at least Link did, as a knight -even an appointed one- would never dare to sit and eat with the royal family.
When the pair arrived at the hall, the king was still absent. So Link sat down with his knight standing a couple of steps behind his chair. After a minute or two, the king finally came and he sat down, and almost immediately the food was served. King Rhoam started to speak and looked Link straight in the eyes, to which he responded by looking down at his plate.
"So, Link, what have you done this morning?" He asked.
In reply Link took an ancient screw out of his pocket and slid it on the table to look at it, he smiled and was proud of it. Yet with a sigh of disappointment the king picked it up while rotating it to get a good view of this strange Sheikah technology. He placed it down and didn't even bother to pass it back to his son.
"Link... Don't tell me you've been out with the research teams again?" Rhaom asked, Link replied with a nod . "I have strictly told you to not study such useless engineering, focus on your prayers, and on the goddess, and for Hylia's sake focus on the entirety of Hyrule!" He finished loudly.
In return Link looked up to him like a kicked puppy. "But father... I rea.. Like th..." Links sentence was so quiet that not even his knight who was behind him could hear. Zelda assumed it had to be something with him enjoying the studies, and no wonder why he doesn't speak when this is what he receives from the king.
Link thought to himself and lunged slightly forward reaching his arms across the table to grab the screw he gave the king.
If Hyrule depended on me solely -and the sword that seals the darkness- then why didn't the goddess choose someone else? Someone who could awaken their powers. All of these intrusive thoughts just kept flooding the prince's brain, making him question himself, whether he was useful or not, and asking why the goddesses chose him. After all, he has been training for ten years; but it is all for naught.
This is what Link wanted to say but was too afraid to. After all it's not like anyone would actually help him, but rather try to "console" him by telling him that he's the 'chosen one to save them all', and that his 'powers would awaken... eventually' And honestly, such words never encouraged the prince but would apply more stress.
Link looked back at his father with a sad face and just continued eating. The way he could handle such stress was impeccable. He bore it all with strength and dignity, even though he was only fifteen, he seemed so mature, so strong, yet still a boy.
Lunch ended soon after and the maids collected the dining plates. Zelda was a bit confused as to when and exactly where she would eat if not in the dining hall. Were she to go down to the servants chambers and eat with them? Of course she was fine with it but it would force her to leave Link's side; assuming that he would never go to the lower levels with the staff.
The prince walked back to his study and the knight followed behind as the new per usual. Once they got up there he went straight to studying. After three or four hours of studies and pushing his brain to its limits, his research began to slow, and he leaned his head on his palms slowly falling down, and resting his face in his arms on the table. With his eyes already half way closed he drifted off to sleep for a quick nap. It was only a minute or two later when Zelda looked back in the room and heard slight snoring -more like heavy breathing- but she was all too confused on what to do.
She could wake the prince, or just let him sleep. On one hand, it would be irresponsible to let the prince take a snooze while he could be doing anything else; the king had even informed the knight to make sure his son could focus on awakening his powers. On the other hand, was it really in her job description to be taking care of his sleep schedule? Well, it did not really matter -at least to Zelda- because as soon as she stood up to fully shut the door to the study so he could sleep more, the blonde awoke looking a bit startled and confused.
"Zelda?" He mumbled looking at the knight while rubbing his eyes. He yawned while stretching out his arms. He opened his eyes and looked at Zelda. "Did you eat?" She shook her head, and after she did the prince nodded, and gestured for her to follow him.
He led her downstairs to the kitchen and opened a few cabinets.
"What are you doing?" Zelda asked. She was worried that the prince was in a staff room, as she thought that the royals never really interacted with the staff, there was never really chatter about the prince in the kitchen anyways... But that was because the royal workers were afraid to spread any gossip. Not many were sure about the kings policy on gossip, but they would rather be safe than sorry and risk talking about the kings son.
Link kind of ignored her question and just continued rummaging through a few cabinets. He grabbed some ingredients; apples, butter, and salt. He lit a match and threw it into the wood underneath the cooking pot, lighting the fuel aflame while heating up the pot. He sliced some apples with a knife, and threw all the ingredients together. It was like a poof of magic that the food was finished. The aroma of the kitchen was sweet, yet savory, but also salty. The room was warm and felt like a blanket of deliciousness was hugging everything with a crisp apple smell.
He put the hot buttered apples on two plates and gave the larger portion to Zelda. Once in her hands he turned around and hopped up on the counter top and sat down. She looked at him strangely, but he could not see her faces as he was already eating the snack.
"Your highness, is this... for me to eat?" She asked. He nodded. And of course with no further words exchanged he continued eating. Zelda took a fork and bit into a piece. It was the most flavorful snack she had tasted in a long time. She sighed with joy and contentment before taking another bite. For Link these meals were normal, usually the chefs would give small portions, so most of the time he was still hungry afterwards; naturally he'd sneak in the kitchen and make some food.
"Wow, that was really delicious, your highness!" Zelda exclaimed smiling from the treat. Link looked up at her and nodded. The two sat there for a while, Zelda sitting on the floor with criss-crossed legs, and Link was dangling his legs off the counter top. She would ask a question every once in a while, and Link would respond with a nod or a shake.
For Link, it was fun hanging out with someone who was not there to tell him what to do. Most of the times he would be lonely, doing all of his tasks alone without anyone nearby to support him. Even though Zelda was just there to protect him, it was nice to have company -nice having her company- which was something he could definitely get used to.
After an hour and a half of hanging out, the door to the kitchen creaked open. Zelda immediately stood up in front of the prince. Link perked his head up to see who was entering the room. He originally thought it was the sous-chef or head chef, as one of them would come in around five in the evening to prepare dinner. He was surprised to see a royal guard.
"Oh, Prince Link, there you are!" The guard called out. "Come, come, the king requests your presence."
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