Before the Calamity
Link's POV:
Dear Hylia.
I woke up that morning in absolute bliss. I felt unstoppable- like I could kill Calamity Ganon with my bare hands.
Zelda was sleeping deeply beside me, so I got up quietly and put my clothes back on. They were mostly dried from our escape last night. When I walked out of the cave, the sun was shining and the birds were singing- that was the feeling I wanted for the rest if my life.
By some luck, I managed to run into a traveler who was willing to trade with me. He offered me Hylian wheat, cane sugar, and goat butter for some of my amber. I didn't even care that it wasn't a fair trade- the look on her face would be worth it.
Past the Fort, there was a house hiding in the woods. I found a cooking pot right outside. Hoping nobody was home, I threw my ingredients and fruit in the pot, nervously waiting for it to finish. It was perfect- it smelled perfect. I grabbed the fruitcake and ran, hoping whoever lived there wouldn't spot me using their pot.
When I returned to the cave, there was nothing that could satisfy my excitement more than her waking up. While I waited, I sat next to the cot and watched her. Words could not describe how beautiful she was to me. I was in denial of how I managed to get so lucky.
Shortly after, her eyelids began to flutter. She made a quiet moaning sound before turning her head to where I was.
"Happy Birthday," I whispered to her, holding out the fruitcake.
Zelda's dreariness disappeared slowly. "A fruitcake!" she exclaimed, her smile reaching the outside of her face and her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Link, thank you!"
She sat up and took it from me gratefully, holding the blanket to her chest. I couldn't help but be overjoyed just from seeing her happy. I rarely saw her this way anymore- she was almost always anxious or depressed. I felt very accomplished that I could make her smile while she was in that state of mind. I was also hoping last night made it better too, but I was too bashful to bring it up...
Zelda looked up at me, halfway through eating her fruitcake. I looked back at her, unsure of what was coming next. Then, I noticed her cheeks grew pink and she turned away giggling. She looked almost embarrassed. Maybe it was because I saw all of her, and she could keep no secrets from me anymore. But then again, what was her secret? How was it so easy for her to make me feel like this?
"What?" I laughed back at her. She covered her mouth so I couldn't see the food in it.
"Nothing," she replied with her mouth full and her eyes squinted in a smile.
I rolled my eyes and moved toward her, feeling the biggest smile stretch across my face. She giggled and screamed as I climbed on top of her, kissing her face everywhere.
"Link!" she laughed under me. I reached under the blanket and around her back so I could pull her up to me. "Link I'm naked!"
"You think I haven't seen?" I laughed, smirking down on her with a growing intensity pounding in my chest. She blushed again and looked away. "At least let me finish my fruit cake!" she giggled.
I moved off the cot and smiled to myself. For a moment, I didn't care about the Calamity. I just wanted to be with her, no matter how short the time.
Zelda finished her fruitcake and got off the cot, holding the blanket up against her body. She stumbled clumsily around, tripping over it. She reached down for her clothes and dropped the blanket accidentally when she stood back up. I didn't mean to stare, really... But I couldn't help it. It was like I was staring at the Goddess herself.
Zelda gasped and turned, covering herself. She was blushing, and a grin naturally grew on her face once she looked at me. A mischievous smile spread across my face as I stood up and walked toward her. I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her warm breath on my neck. My eyes closed slowly, the daring memories of last night filling up my whole head so that I could barely remember my own name. All that I could think about was her.
"Do you want help?" I asked quietly, secretly hoping she would say yes.
Zelda let out a breathy laugh before enticingly saying yes. She was driving me crazy, tempting me with every slight movement of her body. I took the bandage from her and started wrapping it around her chest, being intentional with every movement. The cave was so silent that I could hear both of us breathing heavily while we fought the magnetic force between our bodies. I could hear her gentle heart beating, and I felt it as I graced my hand along her chest. A dark blush crossed her face while she looked up at me submissively, as if to say she was all mine. I smiled and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Then, I dropped to the ground and put her short lace braies on the floor. I gently grabbed her ankle, lifting it up so she would step through. I did the same with the other leg, and I felt her fragile hand on my shoulder. I slowly started pulling the braies up her soft legs, longing for every inch of her that I passed. I reached her waist and pulled them comfortably over her hips. As I was still crouched down, Zelda put her fingers under my chin and lifted my view up to her eyes. She was calling to me.
I stood up slowly and moved my hands toward her face. The initial contact of the tip of my fingers with her cheeks made my body hot, and I gently moved them back, cupping her face. Her eyelids sank over her eyes as I lifted her head up and kissed her.
As soon as our lips touched, I inhaled sharply. I couldn't let her go. There was some feeling inside of me... Something that made me scared to release her. I felt as if she could slip from my reach at any moment. The mood seemed to change as soon as we got close to each other. Her fingers clenched my back like she was feeling the same thing. We instinctively pulled away into a hug, and I held her head into my shoulder. I could almost feel her hands trembling on my back.
"Are you okay?" I whispered into her ear, my eyes still shut.
"I'm nervous, Link," she said almost shakily. "Do you have some sort of... weird feeling?"
I did for some reason. It was hard to be sure of it because of how content I felt, but there was a nagging worry in my conscience that I was trying to push away. I knew that I had to take advantage of every second we spent together, because we didn't know how much time was left.
"No," I lied. "I think we're going to be just fine."
"Oh-okay," Zelda replied, her hands relaxing slightly against me. I moved away and reached down in her bag, pulling out her ceremonial dress. I didn't like lying to her.
"Are you ready for this?" I asked. Zelda didn't answer, but stared at me blankly. Behind the numbness in her expression, I could see fear hiding. She almost looked paralyzed in that stance, her fists re-clenching at her sides. "You can do this," I urged gently, waiting for her to give me permission. She nodded, and I slipped the dress over her head and drug the skirt down her body.
Then, I helped her pack her bag and held her hand as we walked out of the cave. Epona stood out there, staring at me angry as ever. She was completely aware of what happened last night, and she was acting like I betrayed her for having another girl in my life.
"Oh, stop it Epona," I said, walking up to pat her neck. Epona threw her head the other way and stomped her feet on the ground, huffing at my presence. I reached in my pack and pulled out an apple. She refused for a moment, but couldn't fight the temptation and slowly turned to take it from me. She then turned her head again so I couldn't tell she was enjoying it.
Epona gave Zelda a very hard time mounting her, but once we calmed her down we both got on. I sat behind Zelda and held her close to me as we rode through Lanaryu to the Spring of Wisdom.
The ride was painful and nerve-racking... Zelda made it no secret how she was feeling. Her body was tense and she didn't speak a word. I feared there was nothing I could do to comfort her. I wasn't even concerned that I was being searched for by the castle guard- all I hoped for was that Zelda's anxiety could be relieved. I just couldn't help but feel there was about to be an end to something. Either the guards find me and I get executed, or something worse...
When we finally reached the Spring, Zelda let out a long breath. It seemed like she was holding it in the whole ride- I couldn't even feel her breathing. I helped her off Epona and walked her to the entrance of the Spring. I unsheathed the Master Sword and held it at my side, ready to stand my post.
Zelda let go of my hand and turned to face the spring. Right as she started walking, I stopped her.
"Zelda," I said quietly.
"Yes?" she whispered.
I paused for a moment- I wasn't sure what I was going to say. She stood there waiting for me to answer.
"N-No matter what happens in there..." I began, thinking up what to say on the spot. "I would gladly lay down my life for you. You'll be okay... I- I'll protect you."
Zelda nodded glumly as if part of her wished that wasn't true. It seemed nothing I could say would make her feel better. She turned and started walking towards the spring.
"Wait, Zelda, I-" I stammered as she left me.
"What, Link?" she asked, trembling.
"I love you," I said.
There it was. I finally said it.
Zelda teared up and started walking back to me. She came back and put her frail hands on my chest, resting her forehead under my chin and closing her eyes. Then, she moved back just enough so that she could look up at me. "I love you too," she said, her voice weak and shaky. She stood on her toes and kissed my cheek, grabbing my hand as she came down. She backed away slowly, extending our arms with each step backwards. Then, our fingers slid apart as she took a deep breath, turned, and walked into the spring.