Link has been gone for 3 days now.

I've stayed at the village since his disappearance and have distracted myself from the worry and anxiety I feel by helping anyone I come across. I am sleeping in Paya's room upstairs and she has come along with me wherever I go. She is such a kind and dear friend and I hope that she begins to see that in herself.

On the subject of helping, I've become acquainted with many people in the village. Everyone here is very friendly and they keep expressing their gratitude to me. I must admit, it is a bit overwhelming. I won't complain too much, though.

My efforts to conceal my worry have worked well outside, but at times when I go inside, I break down. I'll slump to the floor with my hands on my head because of the pressure that is bottled up. I know Impa told me everything would be ok, but I can't help it. Something in me longs for him to be here. With me. I wish to not admit weakness in myself but I can't stop thinking about what it would be like without him. Again.

The pain isn't just from Link missing, although he is a big part of it. The pressures of rebuilding the kingdom have appeared to come onto me all at once. I know it is almost finished, but what if something happens? What if something goes wrong? We also received word from Lurelin yesterday that the great spirit Malanya had somehow withered and disappeared. Link had told me that the spirit had the power to resurrect horses who had perished. He said that he never had to use it, but showed others where it was for them. Hopefully everyone is careful.

I'm not sure if I can do it. I talk with Paya and she listens, of course, but she reminds me there's not much she can do. It has to be on my own.

I think I shall tell him when he returns. I mustn't wait any longer.

Zelda sat on the grassy hill that overlooked the village. She could faintly hear the twinklings of the Great Fairy Fountain far behind her. She closed her diary and set it on the grass next to her empty boots and lied down. Her eyes followed the slow moving clouds over the blue sky. It was around mid-afternoon.

She let her blonde hair fall around her and weave in with the grass. She closed her eyes, partly to feel at peace, partly to shield them from the sunlight that rained down on the village. She took deep breaths, letting her chest rise and fall slowly. Little be little she felt the pressure leave her head. Link's words rang through her mind from a few nights before:

"You're ok. You're ok."

"You ok?"

Zelda's eyes opened and saw Paya looking down at her. The sun shined through her platinum white hair.

"Oh. Hi, Paya." She closed her eyes again. "Yes, I think I'm doing ok."

"Good," Paya replied as she sat down next to her. "I don't like seeing you so anxious."

Zelda chuckled. "Usually you're the one that's all uptight." Her eyes flew open again. "I mean no offense by that, I just..." she stammered.

Paya smiled and fell onto the grass with her hands on her stomach. "I don't take any offense to that, Zelda. Uptight and clumsy is just who I am." She turned to look at Zelda. "I know that."

Zelda nodded. "Do you wish to do anything?"

"Well, I just cleaned the entire house. I think I'm ready for a break of my own."

Zelda chuckled. "A break sounds fantastic."

The two young women laid there. Surprising peace filled their minds.

"Paya?" Zelda asked.

"Yes?" Paya responded.

"How is Impa doing? Health-wise, I mean." She had been meaning to ask this for some time. She had noticed that last they talked she looked old. Well, older than usual.

Paya shifted uncontrollably on the ground. "In all honesty... she's not doing too well. Whenever you're in the house she has the strength to hide it, but when you leave she can't do anything. She mostly lies down and sleeps. I was shocked when she walked down to you when you first came." She looked at Zelda. "Maybe you gave her strength."

Zelda gave a small smile. "So she really did mean it when she said 'have faith.'"

"Yes." Paya started "I-"

Suddenly they could hear some kind of murmuring down at the village. The two girls sat up to see if they could tell what was happening.

"Do you see anything?" Paya asked, standing on her tiptoes.

Zelda frowned. "No. Sounds like a lot of people..."

A certain feeling entered her body. She knew exactly what it meant. She even felt a slight warmth on her right hand. She turned to Paya and slightly smiled.

"He's here."

—————

Link and Sheik walked through the cliffs that led to the entrance of the village. Sheik raised his scarf over his mouth as they walked through. It seemed like a regular day for the people. Then one of the villagers saw the pair approach the village.

"Link?" she asked. Her eyes widened. "Link!"

Many others around heard her exclamation and turned their heads.

"Link!"

They all swarmed to the pair at the center of the town.

"Link! Are you alright!"

"What happened?"

"Who's this?"

"You were gone for 3 days!"

Everywhere Link turned people showered him with questions. He tried his best to make it to Impa's house but the people kept pestering him with questions. He knew they came with good intentions, but now was not the time. Link, with the help of Sheik, eventually clawed their way out.

They both sprinted up the stairway and pushed the doors open to reveal Impa laying on her bed. She appeared to be resting. Link looked at Sheik and gently approached her. Sheik stayed standing by the door.

"Lady Impa," he whispered. Impa's eyelids slowly opened.

"Link!" She exclaimed like only an old woman can. She carefully pushed herself off the surface to sit. "You're finally back. Took you long enough." She said with a small smile.

"Impa," Link began, "We need to-"

The double doors flew open again to reveal Zelda: eyes wide and worry on her face, and Paya: slightly out of breath. The hero met eyes with the princess and smiled as he exhaled sharply, like a small laugh. The two rushed to each other and slammed into their arms. Zelda smiled and held her eyes so tight she thought they'd be closed forever.

"You got my message?" Link asked.

"Yes I did. Are you alright?" she whispered in his ear.

"I'm fine, Zelda." His chest was burning from the feeling he felt. The two finally separated. He looked over to Paya who stood awkwardly in front of the door.

He smiled and extended his arms. Paya returned with her own. He knew that Paya felt something... or had felt something rather. He sensed that the feeling had died down. Nevertheless, he still enjoyed Paya for who she was. He let go and turned his attention back to Impa.

"Link, what happened?" Zelda asked.

Impa turned her eyes to where Sheik stood. "And who is this?"

Link looked over his shoulder at Sheik. "You should all grab a seat," he said. "This'll take a while."

Link then went on to explain everything he remembered. He started from being on the rooftop of his house. How he woke up inside the Yiga Hideout and about the malice. What it all felt like.

"So," Zelda hesitantly said, "you...died? Again?"

"Not exactly," Sheik matter-of-factly stated. He still had his back on the wall with his arms folded. His speech was muffled by his scarf. "Link somehow overcame the malice's effects. He survived, but as far as the Yiga know, the hero is dead."

They all looked at him.

"Who is this again?" Paya asked.

"He's the one who saved me," Link answered. "He took me and healed my burns, my wrist, my body, and he escorted me safely here."

Sheik concealed his surprise with the scarf that was on his face.

Impa looked at him thoughtfully, then to the three seated. Paya continued to stare at Sheik until she realized what she was doing. She snapped her red face forward.

"Link. Zelda. You should stay here for the time being. The Yiga Clan knows that you reside in Hateno. I'll send a messenger to warn the village in case anything happens. But for you two," she continued, motioning towards them, "stay at the inn until we get this figured out."

The sun had begun to set over the village. Link's story had taken the better part of the day. Link and Zelda nodded, thanked Impa, and began to walk out. Sheik started to follow them out the door.

"Not you, Sheik," Impa said. "I wish to speak with you."

Sheik paused in the doorway with his back to her. He watched Link and Zelda pass through the long shadows of the hills and houses as they made their way to the inn. Link turned around before entering and nodded at him. Sheik closed his eyes for a few moments and turned into the room with Paya and Impa.

—————

Link laid on one of the beds in the Inn at Kakariko. He had his hands laying on his stomach and his eyes were closed. Zelda sat on the other bed next to him with her hands on her lap. Her face was deep in thought.

They were the only two people in the inn. There seemed to be no one traveling since news got out that the Yiga were about. The lights were dimmed and the window shades were partly open, letting some moonlight in.

Link opened his eyes and began to climb under the covers. Zelda turned to him before he could get too deep in.

"Link," she hesitated. "May I sleep with you?"

Silence hung in the air.

"Why?" Link finally responded.

"You almost died again, Link. I remembered what it felt like to lose you all those years ago and... I can't do it. I need to know you're here. With me. It seems silly but-"

"It's ok Zelda," Link cut her off before she could get any more emotional because he knew she would. He opened the blankets and slid to the right side of the bed. Zelda climbed in beside him and gently pulled the blanket over the two of them.

"Thank you," she whispered. Link could feel that she was extremely stiff next to him. Her whole body was tight and rigid. Link shortly glanced over and saw her face full of sadness and uncertainty.

"I'm sorry," she started to continue. "It's just... things were just starting to settle down, and I'm not ready to deal with another threat. I want to explore again. I want to be in the wild finding new creatures and plants and researching and writing. I want it to be how it used to be."

Link placed his hand on her shoulder hesitantly. "Me too, Zelda. But I know that this needs to be done, whatever that turns out to be. I want to relax and explore and have fun too, I really do, but when Hyrule needs a hero, I'll be there."

Zelda relaxed at his touch. "Once a hero always a hero, I guess," she said.

"Exactly," Link responded as he took his hand away, "but don't sell yourself short, Zelda. You're a hero, too."

She sighed. "I know. I know. Like you, I know that I'll do anything for this kingdom. I need to stop acting like a child and more like a ruler."

Link chuckled. "You sound like your father."

"I do, don't I?" She playfully responded. "I guess he was right about some things."

Link gave a small laugh. "You know," he added, shifting ever so slightly near her. "Your father was the one who guided me after waking up."

"Really?" she exclaimed. She partly sat up.

"Yeah," he continued. "He was disguised as an old man. He guided me to all the runes for the Sheikah Slate and told me about everything that happened with the beasts and me and you." He paused. "He told me you had been fighting Ganon for all those years. I could hear the hurt in his voice when he told me I had to save you."

Zelda turned on her side to face him. Just like the rooftop. Link turned as well and continued.

"I could tell that he hated being trapped as a spirit. He wanted to help you fight it."

Zelda smiled and closed her eyes. "Thank you for telling me this. I know that he only meant the best for me when he was still alive."

Link smiled back.

Zelda opened her eyes and gazed into Link's

"Link?"

"Yeah?" His blue eyes swam in her emerald ones.

"I don't think I've formally said this, but," she stopped as the words caught in her throat. She then flung her arms around Link and buried her face into his chest.

"Thank you for saving me. And the kingdom. Thank you for everything."

The sensation Link was experiencing in this moment was indescribable. It was the feeling he often felt around the princess, but ten fold. By instinct, he squeezed Zelda closer to him.

"You're welcome, princess," he whispered into her hair.

They held each other for a moment longer.

"Link," her voice was muffled by his shirt. "I..." she moved back and looked at him. "I've been meaning to tell you this for sometime now. With what has happened I've realized I need to say this." She took a deep breath. "Link, I'm-"

Before she could say another word, Link flew out of the bed, almost like he was being pulled out by some invisible force and hit the ground. He stood up quickly and looked at Zelda's shocked and confused face.

"Link are you al-"

He'd felt this feeling multiple times over his journeyings. He squinted, then flew his eyes wide open. It was the feeling when a part of his mind returned to him.

Suddenly, Link remembered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The flames of the small fire licked the fading orange sky. The sands of the desert floated across the ground as small wisps of wind blew by. The palm trees slowly swayed back and forth, like a metronome for the world around them.

Kara Kara Bazaar was quiet. Most of the women had packed up their shops and returned to the town. Link and the Princess sat at a small fire across from each other. Link looked across at the princess, whom he had just saved from the blades of the Yiga Clan. He had made it just in time.

Princess Zelda had stormed off earlier in the day and had expressed her rather negative feelings towards him. He had followed, though, unbeknownst to her. It was his job. His duty.

In that moment when the men rushed her, he felt an overwhelming feeling of protection towards her. He ran faster than he had ever done. He stood his ground and kept calm standing over the Princess.

He knew she hated him. She made it clear almost everyday with her short remarks and disapproving body language... nevertheless, Link, the hero chosen by the sword, and her appointed knight, couldn't help but think about her.

He looked at Zelda stare into the fire. The wind gently blew some of her hair in front of her face. She continued to look into the fire as she tucked it behind her ear. She wore an expression Link couldn't figure out.

Even so, he still thought she was very pretty.

Link internally shook those thoughts away and subtly glanced around the bazaar once more to see if any other threats lingered near. Once he saw that all was clear his eyes returned to meet the princess looking directly at him. She wore the same expression on her face with her lips slightly parted. They looked at each other across the fire. Link froze as he waited for her to say something. Anything.

She eventually glanced down. Then, a small smile grew on her face. She looked back up at him.

"Thank you, Link."

It was the first time she had expressed any gratitude towards him. He blinked a few times as he processed.

"You're welcome, Princess."

It was the first time he had ever spoken to her.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Link, can you hear me?"

Images of the Gerudo desert vanished from his vision and were replaced with the interior of the Kakariko Inn, and the silent princess that sat across from the fire now stood with her hands gripping his shoulders.

Link blinked a few times. He had remembered what that feeling was. The feeling that burned inside him when he was near her. He had it 100 years ago and he had it now.

I'm in love with Zelda.

He smiled. His eyes met Zelda's. He laughed.

"Link, are you ok?"

He laughed again.

"Link, just say something. Are you all here?"

His smile grew even wider. He brought his hand up to her face and rested his thumb on her jawline. He could faintly hear her breath hitch.

"I... I remember," he finally said.

Zelda continued to look at him. "Remember?" she asked. Her grip loosened around his shoulders and she slowly shuffled forward. "What do you mean remember?"

She looked into his eyes and saw the same thing she had seen when he had saved her from the Yiga Clan.

Link moved his hand to the back of her head, making it disappear in her hair.

Is this really the right time?

He continued to look at Zelda. Her face was full of anticipation.

Yes.

He slowly lean-

"Princess!"

The two immediately snapped away from each other. Dorian had burst through the door. He was breathing heavily.

"Dorian," Zelda started. "Is everything ok?"

"It's Hateno, Miss. Billowing smoke is coming over the hilltops."

The princess looked over at Link, who was set on Dorian.

"Let's go."