Chapter Text
Link:
Too Much Noise
Thank the Goddesses, thank Hylia, that Raven was a huge help.
While at first Link was uneasy about the stranger, those feelings started to wash away at seeing just how helpful he was. There were just so many books to get out and Link did not have the energy to even attempt to make that hike over and over again. Even with a few hand carts, getting them down into the castle underground was a huge pain.
And that was ignoring the giant hill that led up to the castle.
And that was also ignoring the pain he was in, a deep lulling pain in his lower back that forced Link to sit on the stairs by the research outpost at Lookout Landing, watching Zelda, Purah and Josha off in distance discussing one of the books that Zelda had found.
In total, Scorpis and the guard with Raven’s help had dragged about two to three hundred books of various sizes back to Lookout Landing. All from that one sealed off room, which just baffled Link’s mind. The various hows and whys that fluttered through his thoughts preoccupied him as he studied the weird shield that was also in the room.
The “Mirror Shield” as he took to calling it, was about the size of an average soldier’s shield but instead of being rounded, this shield was shaped more like a diamond. The back of the shield was covered in a sturdy brown leather wrap, and the handle and arm straps were also made of this leather.
He admired the pure craftsmanship that went into such a piece of armor, the way the silver metal border was covered in vine like engravings, the way the mirrored surface of the shield reflected the light from the sun. The fact that despite being a mirror, a typically fragile piece, the shield was sturdy and hefty. Link felt like he could do some serious damage against someone by just hitting them with it.
He flipped the shield over in his hands and spotted what looked like an indentation in the leather. Very faint indentations in the shapes of letters parallel to the handle, though it wasn’t the only indentations in the leather. Near the bottom of the shield, perpendicular to the handle, was a bunch of very…Odd writing. The letters were very swirly in nature, and almost looked like vines curled into itself.
With a raised eyebrow, Link set the shield down at the table behind him that wasn’t covered in books and went to find a piece of paper and some charcoal. It was a technique that he’d seen Zelda do several times, where she would carefully rub the charcoal against the paper while it was pressed onto the engravings she wanted to “lift”.
Link had to be gentle as he slowly dragged the piece of charcoal over the indentations, which wasn’t doing much wonders for the cramp that was developing in his wrist. Between this and the pain in his back that was more noticeable every passing second, he wondered how he was even able to function.
Pushing the thoughts of his pain beside, Link studied the lifted indentations. While most of it was nothing more than a blur he did notice two partially readable things. The indentations were from someone writing a letter, using the back of the shield as a hard surface to write on. That explained the massive rectangular blob of nothing in the center.
At the top of the lifting, Link could barely read out the words; “To Malon, my love” .
Malon. He repeated the name several times in his head, hoping that it would trigger a memory or something. The name just…Sounded awfully familiar for some reason.
Was she named after Malanya? The Horse God?
Link didn’t linger on that thought for long before reading the next batch of readable letters.
“Yours, now and forever, Link.”
It sent a chill down his spine. That was his name. A past hero. Someone else who most likely had pulled the sword too early. Who felt the same judgmental gaze from everyone. Alienated from his peers, friends, and family.
It’s something that Link wouldn’t wish on anyone, not Rhoam, not Kohga, not even Ganondorf. It changed him, and now…Now Link doesn’t even remember who he was before he drew the Master Sword. He remembers basically none of it…Not even the name of his father, his mother, or any of his family. It’s something that he wanted to ask Zelda about, but could never find the courage to even try.
All he knows is that he lived in Castle Town, and his father was the captain of either the guard, the knights, or the royal guards. That’s it. That’s all he’s ever remembered. A blue blood who pulled the Master Sword at the age of twelve. Whoever that kid was before, Link couldn’t remember.
With a shaky sigh, Link set the shield down on the empty table and sat down on the stairs. It felt good to get off his feet anyways, and there was just so much going through his head that he could barely focus on anything, especially with all the noise that Lookout Landing can produce.
He wanted to meet this other Link, this past hero, and just talk. Maybe over a cup of tea, or a glass of wine, but he wanted to just know. What was he like? Who did he face? How did he overcome the fear? The pain? The worry? The heartbreak?
How did he adjust back? If he ever did.
Link sighed while burying his head in his hands, trying to both block out the thoughts raging in his mind as well as the commotion around him. All the noises of the various horses at the stable towards the entrance, the tens of conversations happening by the dozens of market stalls, the sounds of the new Monster Control Crew members training, their arrows striking a wooden target repeatedly.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
A nearby Hudson Construction crew project, somewhere outside the log walls. The banging of a hammer against iron nails.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
The beat from his own heart was grating against his nerves.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Link’s skin started to crawl as his lungs refused to draw air in properly. He needed to get away from all of this, to find a corner to bury himself in and hope the rising tense panic in his body would subside and give him some much needed respite.
There was that one room above him, which once held a bunch of maps during the Upheaval but was now relegated to storing miscellaneous items. Outside of that, he didn’t really think anywhere would be a good place for him to just…Get away from the noise.
Link slowly stood up from the stairs while trying his best to subtly keep his left hand on his ear. A vain attempt to block out some of the troublesome noise. Just getting up the stairs was proving more difficult than expected. Each step sent a wave of piercing agony through his ankles, and the light, oh Goddess Hylia, the light from the sun, so bright and nearly blinding. How he wished and prayed for a single cloud in the endless blue above.
By some miracle, the door was left unlocked, and he stumbled inside the dimly lit room. Which now only contained a lone table, a few bookshelves, and a lone chest. He took the Master Sword off his back, setting her down on the table, and leaned up against the wall before collapsing onto the wooden floor with a soft thud.
He heaved a heavy and shaky sigh. The noise from outside was still audible, but only just so. It was just ambient noise in the background now, but at least it was manageable. Bearable. Link let his head fall into his hands again, which were only being supported by his knees.
“What a great hero, getting panicked over noise…” He muttered in defeat.
As the feeling of panic left his body, shame took its place, and it burned. Searing, scorching, it burned at his very soul. He’d take the anxiety and panic over this, why is nearly every waking moment some form of tormentous oblivion? Why can’t he go a day, a single day without something hurting him?
What did he do to deserve this? Was this Ganondorf’s last trick, some sort of curse against his body? Was it some punishment for not saving Zelda before she fell into the past?
Why couldn’t Link just be okay for once, was it too much to ask for?
His whole body, day in and out, just ached. It hurt, and he only ever found temporary relief from it. Hot saunas, spas, baths, warm medicinal teas and stews could only do so much.
Hylia please. Link pleaded in his mind. Can you make it go away? I can’t fight like this, how am I going to use the sword if I can barely run?
Was it a pointless prayer? Maybe, but he knew the Goddess could hear him. He heard her at times, so she would have to help, he’s her chosen hero after all.
Link was so lost in his mind and in the pains that covered him, that he didn’t register the fact that someone had opened the door and was now sitting next to him.
But he felt them, that warmth, the scent of those regal flowers, the soft caress against his back.
Her voice. It was her voice that broke him free from his downward spiral.
“Link?” Zelda’s gentle voice echoed in his ears. “Are you okay?”
He wanted to lie, to just tell her that everything was okay. But, he couldn’t do it anymore. The conversation a few days ago about his pain was the first crack in his facade. This? This was the entire wall starting to come down.
He couldn’t even sign, he just shook his head. He wasn’t okay. He hasn’t been okay in a long while.
“I know…I know.” Zelda’s voice was quiet. She wrapped her arm around him, and he just fell into her lap. Unable to carry the weight of his own body anymore, and even unable to open his eyes.
“I’m here for you. You’re gonna be okay.” She brushed her fingers through Link’s hair, which sent chills down his spine.
A warm loving embrace, oh how he always craved more of it, such a stark contrast to the pains of combat that he was so accustomed to.
“I know how much you’re hurting, you don’t have to hide it from me.” Zelda took a hold of his right hand. Her grasp was warm like the sun.
“Link, my love, my sweet, my light in the darkness, I’ll do whatever it takes to make you feel better.” She sobbed, gripping his hand tightly.
He felt his own eyes start to water. “Don’t cry.” He quietly croaked out.
“Can’t exactly help it.” Zelda softly laughed. “Not when my Link is hurting.”
“Just want it to stop.” He could only manage a whisper. “Why won’t it stop?”
“I wish I knew…But whatever it takes, whatever happens, I will be there.” She leaned down and kissed the side of his head.
He held back a sob. “I don’t want to lose you again.” Another whisper. A deep fear of his. The Light Dragon broke him, and broke him again, and again, every time he saw her.
“You won’t. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.” Another kiss.
“I can’t do it again.” Link weakly raised his left hand in the vague direction of where he had placed the Master Sword. “Too damaged.” That burning shame came rushing back.
“You’re not damaged, and besides, you don’t need to do it again.” Zelda affirmed, her voice was so caring, so sweet, so loving and tender. “And if you must, I’ll fight with you.”
Link wanted to protest, though he knew it was futile. Besides, Zelda was better with the bow than him. She wasn’t just saying things.
He finally found the courage to open his eyes, though all he could see was the legs of the table in front of them and the floor below. Carefully, as to not trigger more pain throughout his body, Link moved onto his back. Now staring up at Zelda.
Zelda just stared back, her green eyes wet and tears dripping down her cheeks. He hated seeing her cry. He reached up and gently cupped her cheek, wiping away her tears with his thumb.
“I hate seeing you cry.” He croaked, trying not to cry himself, the sight of his love being upset always sparked such intense emotions.
“I know.” She murmured while breaking out into a smile with a slight laugh. “You and me both, I hate seeing you cry.”
“But that smile.” A single laugh escaped him. “That’s what kept me going.” Link ran his fingers through her hair, still amazed at just how soft it was while being shocked that he was still able to speak.
“I guess I just have to smile more.” Zelda laughed, a laugh that warmed his soul. A laugh that was infectious as he broke out into a smile himself.
“Link?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.” She smiled wide. So full of life and happiness, that Link couldn’t help but do the same.
“I love you too.” He laughed, a genuine real laugh that he hadn’t had in months upon months. No, years upon years. A time before he got his shattered memories back.
And then…And then he cried, a shriek of pain finally letting loose after being held down for what felt like an eternity. The wall had finally come down.
“I can’t be like this anymore.” He sobbed, not even attempting to maintain some semblance of composure. Link didn’t care about that anymore.
“I can’t bear it anymore, the burdens, the stoic knight who just takes it. I just want to be me, not a damn figurehead.” Tears ran down his face. “And I don’t even know who “me” is anymore.”
“Then we’ll find him together, Link.” Zelda said with a tearful smile. “I’m sure of it.”
He just closed his eyes with a quiet whimper, as Zelda ran her fingers through his hair again. “I would like that. I would like that a lot.”
“But, I’m scared.” He weakly muttered before gazing up at her. “I’m scared. What if I’m not the Link that you remember Zelda?” The thought terrified him more than the thought of losing his arm forever or even the ever present fear of death.
“You will always be the Link I remember.” Zelda closed her eyes for a moment with another wide smile. “Even back then, I could see the real you past the stoic image. The silly, caring, loving, sweet, carefree Link.” She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “You haven’t changed, you’re still him, and now you can finally be yourself again. Both of us.”
Was it relief that washed over him like an ocean wave? Or was it joy? A mix of both. But here was Zelda, the love of his life, nay his existence, telling him that he’s still the same Link she remembers.
“Despite everything, you’re still Link.” She said before pulling him up towards her into a deep kiss. “You’re still my love.” And then into a tight hug.
A warm loving embrace.
All Link could do was sob into her shoulder and hold her back.
“I love you so much, I love you, I love you.” He spoke between his cries. “I love you. I can’t live without you.”
“I love you too.” Zelda whispered in his ear with a sob of her own. “And neither can I.”
The stoic image of Link, the one who silently bore all burdens, was no more. He was going to find his old self again. His true self.