Getting to Know You~BotW ZeLink post-Calamity Fanfiction

Pt. One Sect. Eight: A thirst for Adventure-Zelda

Zelda trailed after Link, arriving at a small pond. She took off the tunic, leaving her in that white under shirt. Zelda took it and dunked it in the water she felt his touch on her arm, holding the battered arm tenderly with gloved hands. When he carefully rolled up her sleeve, Zelda looked over at Link, who examined the now nasty bruise forming from that blow to the shoulder she had acquired. Link frowned, examining her.

"I'm fine, don't worry." She exclaimed, pulling her arm out of his gentle grasp. Zelda dampened the tunic and wiped her face with the now wet clothing. She pulled the cloth away and was surprised at how much dirt had gathered there. After wiping all the blood off of her face and cleaning out the Tunic. she looked over to Link. He did the same, but only with the shirt he wore just a few minutes before. She noticed all the scars now. Before, they were hidden by the blocked-out light from storming grey clouds. Now they were fully visible in the afternoon Sun. Was he always this muscular? Or was Zelda just imagining things? He always wore something or another that covered his body to the point to where only his hands and face showed, nothing more. So it would make sense how she never noticed how strong he really was. She looked away, once again blushing. Zelda looked at her reflection in the pond. Even if he liked her, which she was positive he didn't, they could never work. He's a knight. She's a princess. Those two don't fit. Sure, he was the knight that wields the sword that seals the darkness. And holds the Triforce of courage. And her the Triforce of wisdom. But it's still not how things worked. She was to marry of royal blood and royal blood only. But Zelda had to accept it at one point or another, she liked Link. She liked him more than a princess should like her knight, or she liked him more than a friend. It was strange. Zelda never felt this way for someone before. She guessed she just suppressed the feeling for so long that it didn't appear until now. Looking back at Link, she watched as he rung out his shirt. And stood up, hanging it on a tree branch nearby. She did the same. "What now?" She asked, as Link leaned against the tree.

"Whatever we want." He said, his neck craning back and hitting the light of the sun, his eyes closed. Zelda thought about this. She laid down in the grass, staring at the clouds going by. It was such a nice day and Zelda couldn't help but close her eyes. Only a few minutes couldn't hurt.

Zelda was back again, in the malice covered room. And the dream went how it always did, her whole body being filled with malice. She sat up, gasping and sweating. Her heart beating. The sun was orange and setting, and her weapons were gone, and so was Link! She stood up. Starting to panic now. Where is he? Did he leave her? no. He wouldn't! Would he? What if he abandoned her here! She started to panic. Don't panic, you just defeated a camp of bokoblins! But Zelda knew there were much worse things out there, lingering in the shadows. If she tried to get back to Hateno village she'd be dead. She felt something on her shoulder. Zelda screamed, jumping back and swinging her foot up, it connected with whatever grabbed her shoulder. Link let out a grunt as her foot him in the knee. She gasped.
"I thought you left me!" she yelled at him. Link picked up some things that fell on the ground when she kicked him.
"No! I just was getting materials for dinner, and you were asleep, so I didn't want to disturb you I was gone for two minutes."

"Then where's the sword and bow then!" He pointed by a nearby tree.

"Right over there Zelda." He said. Zelda saw the items laying under the tree.

"Oh. I'm sorry." She said Link shook his head. He didn't seem mad, more maybe annoyed? But then again, it was always hard to read him. He went to a pot nearby, which Zelda realized dozens were scattered across Hyrule. They sat in silence, eating some concoction Link whipped up.

"You need work on your swordsmanship, but you are exceptional at archery." Link said, looking over at her. Zelda felt her chest well up with pride. "Where did you learn?" He asked. Zelda shrugged.

"I've never held a bow in my life."

"That's hard to believe Prin- Zelda." He said. "Were going to have to work on your up-close fighting technique, it needs some, slight adjustments." Zelda laughed.

"You can say that again." A moment of silence passed between the two as they stared at the dusk sky.

"I've never seen in all my years of combat, a Hylian grab a tree branch, light it on fire then chuck it at the enemy." Link let out a sharp chuckle. Zelda looked over at him, feeling slightly embarrassed, knowing her cheeks flushed. "Way to be resourceful." He said, putting his hand to his chin, and tilting his head to the side.

Zelda and Link made it back to Hateno village. They walked up the trail. Zelda felt so accomplished, but her body ached profusely.
"What are we doing tomorrow?" She asked, as Link dumped his belongings on the table.
"We could try giving Hyrule castle one more shot." He said, then turned towards her, "If your up for that of course." Zelda felt a jolt of fear go through her, but also one of excitement. Link smiled.

"That settles it then, were going." She cocked her head.

"What do you mean?" Link turned back towards her.

"That look in your eyes. That small twinkle. It reminds me. It reminds me of myself. You're ready for adventure."