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Chills to the Bone
Schedules, schedules, schedules…such rigid, bothersome things. Obligations that define a princess’s day down to the last hour, minute, and second. Chains that bind her to both her duties and her people, and clouds that eclipse the sunlight known as freedom.
And yet, how would Zelda ever manage without them?
The princess sighed as she pondered this, alone in her bedchamber. A single candle illuminated the room, but only up to the corners where the shadows crept back and forth as the flame flickered. Her gaze jumped from the door to her window; hoping, praying that by some miracle, the hero will throw aside all responsibilities and find a way to rendezvous with her tonight.
The sole sound was the ticking of the nearby clock, but Zelda only acknowledged the passage of time when it bellowed its hourly toll. It was now midnight, and at this point, she knew it would be foolish to keep wishing for the impossible. Link would not be making an appearance, for much like his princess, he was bound to his schedule.
Heaving a sigh, Zelda blew out the candle, allowing the shadows the victory of encompassing her. Immediately, she could feel a shiver threatening to overtake her, but she dismissed it as she crawled beneath the blankets of her bed. She lay there, silent and still, for a long time. And yet, sleep didn’t find her.
It couldn’t be helped. Her mind was racing.
It wasn’t fair, she thought, to relinquish what had been forged between them. Months of little affections. Countless smiles gifted in passing. Flowers presented for her hand, and her hand alone. A supportive nod and a patient ear whenever she needed it. So many kindnesses, all building up to the moment where Zelda realized she treasured the hero a great deal, more so than any other soul in the world. So much so that she even invited him to a private dinner. And then another. And another. Each encounter building towards the realization of their true feelings for each other.
Yes, the princess and hero had officially begun to court. And with it came hand holding and smiling and, dare she say, even flirting. And she also experienced brighter days and restful nights and an irresistible, magical feeling of warmth, the likes of which she had never experienced before.
Only for it all to be suddenly and cruelly ripped away by a change in the schedules.
There was no one to blame for it, really. Link was something of a “catch-all” around the castle. He aided the soldiers in their drills. Spoke his mind whenever his counsel was requested. He investigated monster reports across Hyrule. Dealt with the monsters too, if he had the time. He was a selfless, hard-working man, and he always insisted on helping others, even if such tasks occupied all of his time.
And so it was that he came to be locked in the restructuring of Hyrule’s army. And the daily scouting campaigns. And the nightshifts guarding the town gates, which lasted up until the dawn. So many hours, working this generous man for all he was willing to give. And yet he never once complained.
But Zelda had her own gripes boiling up within her. Due to her personal responsibilities and tightly-packed schedules, she and Link were left with no time for each other at all. Sure, they encountered each other in the halls. Exchanged brief words at council meetings. But it wasn’t private. It wasn’t intimate. And it was nothing like the romance she had grown to treasure so dearly. It was a disappointment which escalated with each passing day, now finally culminating in this single lonely night, where Zelda glared at the dark surface of her ceiling.
A week. It had been an entire week since she had seen him last.
With no word of when she might get the chance to meet him again.
And it was aggravating.
How long would this go on? How patient was the princess expected to be? She missed her hero dearly, so much so that he nearly occupied her every thought. She constantly wondered where he was. What task he was tackling. Whether or not he was okay. If he was getting enough rest. If he was looking after himself in the same way he looked after others.
The lack of answers and truths was enough to nearly drive her mad.
And it didn’t just concern the hero either. Zelda was left to wonder, for whose sake did she worry? For his or her own? Would it be selfish or selfless, to insist that Link belonged at her side? To wish that he was safe and warm and there for her whenever she needed him? Oh, what she would give to be able to pull him away from work and danger, and capture a peaceful moment alone…
But perhaps the most infuriating thought of all was the overwhelming sense that Zelda shouldn’t feel this way.
The princess clenched her teeth and curled her fingers into fists. It defied all of her senses. Her logic. Her instincts. Zelda was supposed to be independent. A lone wolf. A beacon who stood strong at the top of her kingdom. She had survived the first twenty something years of her life without a partner. She had never experienced any sleepless nights. Constant yearning. The desire for companionship.
So the question stood, why now?
What had changed?
Why did Zelda crave Link’s presence as if she couldn’t live without him?
The shiver that pressured her before returned in full force, striking swiftly and suddenly. The next thing she knew, she was trembling from head to toe. She wrapped her arms around her torso in a vain attempt to preserve heat as she curled into a ball. For the first time in her life, she suffered the frost of solitude.
A loneliness so palpable it chilled her to the bone.
Between chattering teeth, Zelda swore an oath. Enough was enough. Something had to be done…
And the princess was just stubborn and crafty enough to make it happen.
It was the talk of the castle.
A famous portrait of Zelda’s father, the late king, had been stolen from the Hyrule Council’s very meeting room. A noticeable space was left on the wall, emphasizing its absence. As the crowds of lords and ladies began to whisper, Zelda took the opportunity to cancel all scheduled gatherings. The mystery of this treasured heirloom was a priority.
The ministers were quick to fidget at this. The mere thought of abandoning schedules was not something they were comfortable with.
“Your Highness,” one spoke up. “Is this truly something that requires our immediate attention?”
“Oh yes,” Zelda said, her eyes still glued to the blank wall. “This is a very serious matter. The theft of that portrait is not only the loss of an expensive decoration, nor is it the loss of a personal memento for myself, but it is also a strike against the crown. It is as if the thief who did this is saying, ‘look at what I can get away with from right under the princess’s watch’. And I’ll have you know that I shall not tolerate such insubordination against me and my family line. I want this criminal discovered and the portrait returned.”
“But the meetings-“
“Will wait,” she said, a sense of finality in her tone. “Or would you suggest that the besmirchment of my title is not to be taken seriously?”
“N-No, never, Your Highness!” the man stuttered with raised hands.
“Very well. Then the meetings are adjourned until the portrait is reclaimed. Considering the severity of the crime and my own personal investment, I believe I shall take the liberty of heading up this investigation. And I would like the hero’s help in this.”
Such a declaration was immediately met with raised eyebrows. “The hero, Your Highness?” one lady asked.
“Of course,” Zelda replied without missing a beat. “Link is an expert at hunting and tracking. I have the utmost faith that he’ll discover the thief’s hiding place and restore everything to order.”
There was a ripple of silence throughout the crowd as everyone considered this. In the end, one of the lords sheepishly spoke up.
“I…suppose that is rather practical.”
Zelda nearly rolled her eyes. Of course it was. She had rehearsed her argument countless times to ensure that it was as sound as possible. She was not about to be defeated at her own game by ministers who didn’t even realize they were playing.
And what a game it was. So simple. So trivial. All moving exactly as she planned. The princess had to fight hard not to smirk as she properly excused herself and made her way through the halls.
Finally, this was her chance. She was determined to get him alone.
And so she strode with purpose and waltzed with glee as she made her way to his location. For this, the schedules worked in her favor. She knew exactly where to find him: the castle’s western courtyard, where he was likely wrapped up in some military drill or strategy meeting. As if such responsibilities couldn’t be postponed for a day. Or even better, indefinitely. However long it took for the princess to get her fill of him.
She rounded a corner and there he was, like the sun breaking through the clouds. His blue eyes, determined and focused. His tunic, the familiar color of the forest. The mere sight of him made Zelda’s heart bounce into weightlessness.
It wasn’t long before the hero, and everyone else on the field, took notice of her presence. Her subject of adoration greeted her with the most pleasant of smiles, while the others fumbled into bows and formal greetings. She quickly dismissed them, hoping to get to the point of her visit sooner rather than later.
“Morning, Zelda,” Link said, offering his own casual greeting to match his expression. He was always so comfortable around her, and she truly cherished that about him. “What brings you here? Wasn’t your council scheduled to meet?”
Surprise, surprise. He knew her so well, right down to her timetables. “Very astute, Link. Unfortunately, I’ve postponed all meetings in light of a developing mystery.”
“A mystery, Your Highness?” the commander at Link’s side inquired.
“Haven’t you heard?” Zelda asked, blinking innocently. “A theft has occurred.” When both men flashed her expressions filled with curiosity, she took it as her invitation to explain. By the end, the commander’s countenance turned troubled.
“But that’s impossible,” he insisted with folded arms. “We had a guard posted all through the night.”
“Clearly, they had trouble keeping their eyes open,” Zelda countered. “Otherwise, my father’s proud image would still be where it belongs. Wouldn’t you agree, commander?”
The man quickly fell silent. It was difficult to argue with the sovereign. Not only was she rather intimidating, but she never failed to present the undeniable facts.
Sensing that her victory was at hand, Zelda moved to place gentle fingers on Link’s arm. “Therefore, I’ve come to steal this one. He’ll be pivotal in finding the criminal and reclaiming our lost treasure.”
Link eyed her for a moment, but it was nothing like the look the commander was giving her.
“Er…he will, Your Highness?”
“Yes, he is quite capable when it comes to this sort of thing. I daresay that there is no one better for the job.”
“With all due respect, Princess, are you certain? We could organize our soldiers and perform a sweep of the castle instead-“
“That is entirely unnecessary,” Zelda stressed, her tone perhaps a bit too firm. “Link will suffice.”
“It’s true, commander,” Link said, suddenly speaking up. “I have an idea of exactly what we’re dealing with here, so it’s probably best if I handle it. Besides, our lovely princess is making a very precise request, and I don’t think it would be fair to deny her.”
“Very wise, Link,” Zelda mused with a smile. “Now come along. This is an urgent matter.”
“Yes ma’am,” Link said with a nod. “We’ll have to finish our discussion later, commander!”
Without waiting for a response, Zelda escorted him away from the field, back around the corner and into the nearest garden. Link followed her without a sound.
Eventually, the princess came to a halt at a small break in the hedges. When she was certain no one was nearby, she secured the hero’s hand and pulled him into absolute privacy. Now surrounded by walls of green and the smell of mint, the hero and princess stood face to face.
Alone.
The sense of relief that Zelda experienced was overwhelming. She had done it. She had finally captured her heart’s desire, and she had him all to herself in this tranquil glade. Fully succumbing to her own weakness, she stepped forward and embraced him in the tightest of hugs. The warmth of the sun on her back was nothing compared to the comforting heat of the man in her arms.
Link was quick to laugh, surprised by her forward behavior. “I take it someone has been missing me?”
“Terribly,” she confessed.
He wrapped his arms around her in return, holding her close. He even went on to rub her back and run his fingers through her hair. His touch was so light and so gentle, she honestly could have mistaken him for a cloud personified.
But for all his softness, he was not above questioning her. “Care to explain yourself? Or did I lie about being a master of thief-tracking for no reason?”
Zelda instantly blushed, only to pull out of Link’s embrace and meet the amused smile that awaited her. She surrendered to shame and looked away.
“There’s no theft, is there?” Link asked, quickly putting the puzzle together.
“Well, there is a missing portrait,” she answered weakly.
“Then there is no thief,” he clarified. “At least, none but the one in front of me. Do I have that right?”
Zelda blushed some more as she succumbed to her guilt. “Perhaps you do have a talent for discovering thieves,” she mumbled, trying to be playful.
Link merely sighed as he crossed his arms. “Why did you do it, Zelda?”
“I…I’m not proud of it.”
“Of course not. This isn’t like you, which is why I find it so surprising. Zelda, Hyrule’s fair and lovely princess, resorting to thievery of all things. And the stealing of her own possessions, no less.”
The princess couldn’t help but crack a smile. The way he spoke, it was clear that he was more curious than upset with her. And it was through that faint forgiveness that she found permission to forgive herself.
“I’m sorry, Link. To be completely honest…I was wracking my brain trying to think of a subtle way to get you alone.”
Link raised his eyebrows. “And you settled on stealing a priceless portrait? I wouldn’t exactly call that subtle, Zelda.”
“Well, I had to do something to force a break in the schedules,” she countered, almost defensively. “Otherwise, I’d have been stuck in meetings all day. And I wouldn’t have seen you for another week. Or perhaps even a month. And…my heart could not have taken that.”
Link fell silent as he studied her. He held a bemused look on his face, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I never took you for the pining type.”
“I’m not,” she asserted. “I never have been.”
“Really? Then what’s changed?”
Indeed, there was the million-rupee question again. What had changed? Why did the princess feel this way? Why did it feel as if her entire life was being turned upside down at the mere thought of separating from him?
It seemed that the secret was still her own. Zelda turned away from the hero and took a moment to walk amongst the hedges. She even ran her fingers along the delicate brush.
“Until now, I always got by on my own,” she said slowly, sparing him a glance. “And it never once bothered me…until I met you.”
A breeze graced their private sanctuary, rustling Link’s hair and hood as his expression softened. Zelda brushed her own hair out of her face, only to immediately turn away and hide it.
“I know it’s illogical. I should be better than this. Stronger than this. My heart should not be swayed so easily, and it frustrates me to no end!” The princess huffed a sigh. “And yet, the fact remains. I need you in my life, Link. Perhaps I always have.”
As her brave speech came to a close, a dreadful silence was all that answered her. She tried her best to remain patient, but once her sapphire gaze had nearly burned a hole in the shrubs, she finally gave in and confronted the hero.
“Well?” she demanded with cheeks of crimson. “Say something.”
The first thing that reached her ears was a chuckle. One that sounded almost musical in nature. “Sorry, Zelda. I’m just surprised at how open and honest you’re being right now. You’re usually so guarded.”
“I cannot guard what is painfully vulnerable,” she lamented. “At the very least, I see no reason to bottle up these truths.”
Link gave her a thoughtful glance before taking a few steps forward. He stopped when he was close enough to touch, although he refrained from doing so. Instead, he crossed his arms, still looking so amused and perplexed by the woman who was unfurling before him.
“Well, since you’re being so honest, care to explain yourself a bit further? How’d you manage to steal the portrait? And where have you hidden it?”
Zelda was a pile of nerves in the face of his confidence. The truth tumbled out of her mouth without any consideration. “I haven’t hidden it anywhere. I just used a simple illusion spell to make it seem as if it was missing. Once the spell runs out, the portrait will reappear on the wall, as if the mystery thief chose to return it overnight.”
“A scheme clever enough to suit you.” Link nodded, as if such methods verified her honesty. “Still, I’m surprised. You actually committed theft. And then lied about it.”
Zelda’s expression fell. “I already stated that I’m not proud of it.”
“You even reprimanded the castle guard for a shortcoming that never took place.”
“I have little excuse for my actions.”
Link merely smirked, his expression as playful as ever. He soon stepped forward and traced her jawline with his fingertips, nearly forcing her to shiver. “Tell me something. Can I trust that this is the real Zelda? Or is this an illusion too?”
“It’s me, Link,” she offered humbly. She then stared deep into his shining blue eyes, only to get lost and crumble before them. “Well…it is and it isn’t.”
“It is and it isn’t?” he repeated, still so amused.
“I acknowledge that this isn’t who I am. I’m still Zelda, but not the one you once knew.”
“Oh? And why is that?”
“Do I really have to say it?”
Link gave an enthusiastic nod. It was a gesture silly enough to pull a timid smile from her lips. Somehow, he always managed to inspire confidence in her. Perhaps his personality was contagious.
“The reason is you, Link.”
“Me, huh?” he asked, sounding innocent. He drew closer to his princess, encouraging her to speak.
“Yes,” Zelda admitted, being fully transparent with the soul she treasured above all others. “Being together with you has changed me. Every day, you’re unraveling my heart like a ball of twine. You’re turning me into someone I’m not, and it’s terrifying.”
The princess closed her eyes for a moment and trembled, frightened by the thought of something as simple as affection shattering her so effectively. But it was as she faced her hero, who only gazed upon her with the softest and kindest eyes she had ever known, that she found the courage to be honest with him.
And the courage to be honest with herself.
“It’s terrifying…but somehow, I’m coming to terms with it,” she whispered, flashing a smile as soft as he was. “Because…I like who I am, when I’m with you.”
Link’s smile shifted into a look of acknowledgement, and Zelda felt her heart sigh in relief. Of course he understood. He knew her so well. There were even days where she felt that he knew her better than she knew herself. Perhaps this is why she had come to crave him so desperately. Because she needed a kind, trustworthy, and forgiving presence in her life.
And Link was all of that and so much more.
The hero extended a single hand, just as he did all those months ago when Zelda asked for his aid amidst a sky of black and a sea of shining waters. He offered it freely and naturally. Always so generous. So selfless. So sweet.
Zelda took Link’s hand in her own, only to experience a new type of chill. Similar to her moment of solitude, it proved tingly and palpable and paralyzing like ice, and yet it was completely different too.
It was a warmth which permeated her all the way to her marrow.
Like everything else today, it was illogical. Zelda honestly could have scoffed. Warm chills…As if such an absurd phenomenon could ever find its place in reality.
And yet, she was willing to acknowledge that if such a thing were possible, surely it would be Link who managed it. He was a miracle worker, after all. One who could teach even a lonely fool of a girl to listen to her own heart.
Beneath a banner of blue heavens, the words she needed to hear poured out of his mouth, sweet like nectar.
“My day is yours.”