Chapter Text
Zelda stood silent in Link's hideout after she snuck out of the castle, the weight of impending doom pressed heavily upon her heart, yet, she harbored a calm demeanor that didn't betray the turmoil raging inside her. She watched as Link, clad in his green tunic and hat, meticulously prepared his weapons for what he knew would be his final confrontation with Ganondorf, the evil king. Her gaze lingered on his determined expression, tinged with a hint of sadness that mirrored her own.
"Please, Link," she implored, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "Promise me that you'll be careful. Promise me that you'll come back to me, alive and unharmed."
Link turned to face her, his eyes filled with unwavering confidence. "Zelda, you know me. I've faced countless dangerous beasts before, and I've always emerged victorious. I'll do whatever it takes to protect Hyrule and its people, including defeating this brute once and for all."
Tears welled up in Zelda's eyes as she reached out to him, her hand trembling as it grasped his. "But what if something goes wrong? What if... what if you don't make it back?" she whispered, unable to suppress the fear that gripped her heart.
Link's expression softened, and he gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. "Zelda, listen to me," he said, his voice filled with tenderness. "I promise you, with every fiber of my being, that I will return to you. I'll ask for your hand in marriage as soon as Ganondorf is defeated, and together, we'll rebuild Hyrule into a kingdom of peace and prosperity."
A faint smile tugged at Zelda's lips, despite the heaviness in her heart. "You better keep that promise, Link," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I would do if... if I lost you."
Link pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her close as if trying to shield her from the impending storm. "You won't lose me, Zelda. I'll always be with you, in spirit if not in body," he murmured against her hair.
Reluctantly, Link released her from his embrace and turned towards the exit of the hideout. With one final glance back at Zelda, he squared his shoulders and steeled himself for the battle ahead.
Alone in the dimly lit refuge, Zelda sank to her knees, her heart heavy with anguish. She clasped her hands together in prayer, her voice trembling as she pleaded with the Goddesses to watch over Link and bring him back to her safely.
As the echoes of her prayer faded into the silence of the hideout, Zelda bowed her head and waited, her heart aching with the uncertainty of what the future held. All she could do now was hope and pray that Link would return to her, just as he promised.