Chapter Text
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“If my estimates are correct…” The aide muses, scanning the map she was fixing up the night before, “It’ll take us…another two days of walking to get to Rito Village.”
She deflates as she speaks, her words trailing off.
“That’s not accounting for breaks…and rest…and dinner.”
The more she speaks, the more daunting it all sounds. She shakes those negative thoughts out of her head, “We’ll be fine! I mean—this is our duty? We’re capable…right?”
She turns back to Link, who was nodding along, his hand in a thumbs-up.
“Great!” She forces a pep into her words, “This’ll be fun!”
She puts the map in her hands down, folding it and placing it away in her satchel. She scans the area. Beside them, the trail they’re walking dips into a field. It’s big and wide, covered entirely by wild grasses. The field grows into the tall mountain across the way, essentially cradling it between the two landforms.
She breathes deeply for a moment before turning her attention back to the trail. Up ahead, there was something especially intriguing. She squinted. Barely on the horizon was a very man-made looking structure. There seemed to be a statue erected…
Was that…a horse?
“Am I going insane?” She asks out loud.
Link jogs up next to her, trying to see as well. Immediately shaking his head no.
She lights up a bit before running off ahead. She can hear a surprised gasp from Link before his pattering footsteps follow hers.
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The pair takes a moment to catch their breath when they get to the slope of…whatever this was. Just as they thought, it was a statue of a horse.
It was clearly worn from time, moss growing on the underside of the horse's stomach, the copper dulled and tarnished into green and black. Despite this, the statue itself holds strong, as if not harmed by nature…but merely touched by its beauty.
The aide walks out towards the deck. It faces the direction they came from. The Dueling Peaks mountain, Hyrule Castle, and even a taller mountain in the distance find their home on the horizon.
This seems to gnaw on her brain. As if it were itching to churn something out. She turns back around to the statue. From this angle, the feeling seems to get stronger.
“Link…is it just me or…” She starts, but is immediately cut off by the hero making a noise to get her attention. His hand motioned for her to come closer.
As she walks up, she peers over his shoulder. He has his slate out. It’s stuck on one of the pictures on the slate's memory…this is…
She’s getting that feeling again, familiarity crescendoing in her soul…
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There’s a trio trekking the trail before Sanidin Park.
A Knight, his princess, and her lady-in-waiting.
The trotting of hooves fills the silence between them. Two horses walk side by side, carrying the Hylians. The Knight sits on the brown steed to the right. He stands tall, his eyes forward and focused.
Beside him were the other two. The princess in the front leading the horse; Her meek companion flushed against her back, hugging her waist lightly. Even through the silence, there was depth of communication.
The handmaiden’s eyes flick over to the knight, observing the way he rides in aloof confidence. A nature he seemed to lose when he was alone with her. She wonders if she was special in that regard. She must be…if their previous interaction serves her memory right. She just wished she didn’t cower away immediately after. Her eyes fall back in front of her again just as quickly. She knew well how to navigate her gaze to appease both her and the princess’s feelings.
The princess’s horse nickers gently, catching her attention. Her pale hand moves to brush the side of its neck.
“Be sure to take your time to soothe your mount…that’s the only way it’ll know how you truly feel.” She mumbles to herself as she does the action, as if reminding herself of the words.
“Your advice was quite helpful—thank you.” She muses, turning her attention to the lone knight.
He turns to her as well; however, his eyes don’t seem to focus where they should.
“This little one and I are getting along quite well now.” She hums gently, turning back to examining her white steed. The horse was decked out in royal gear. The breast collar held four crests of the royal family, along with the one smack dab in the middle of its head held by the headstall. The gold and purple stood out greatly from anything else, clearly showing that it was royal property.
“At first I wasn’t sure if I should outfit him with all of the royal gear...”
As the princess continues speaking, her words turn to static. The knight was far too focused on something else to pay attention. His eyes still lingered on the aide tucked behind her.
He watches as she gently presses her cheek on the princess’s shoulder blade, leaning on her with care, as if she’d disturb if she were too loud with her affection. She had a tendency for it, even in the times when he wished she were just honest about how much she wanted something. Maybe he had no place to ask that of her when the circumstances weren’t anything but his pure suspicion. Even so, there was no denying the way she gave herself so fully when she wasn’t thinking.
“I’m trying to be a bit more empathetic.”
The words caught his attention again, his gaze focused quickly back to the princess. She seems to notice despite his efforts to be sneaky. The grip she has on the reins tightens ever so, as she presses her lips together for a moment.
“Benefit of the doubt, you know?”
He nods subtly, his jaw tightening slightly.
…
Finally, the group finds themselves at the steps of the monument. The water flowing from it is a perfect spot for their horses to drink. The handmaiden stood back to help guide the horses to the water as the princess ran off to admire the view from the deck further out.
Guiding the white steed was no trouble at all, after all, her princess’s horse was gentle and calm. What posed an issue was the knight’s companion.
“Come now…” She coaxes the giant forward, “Please?”
She gives the reins a soft tug, only causing the horse to give a huff of annoyance. The handmaiden sighs gently, moving to pet the neck of the mare, “I know, girl…I just want you to drink.”
Her gaze falls to the floor before jolting back up with the familiar warmth of somebody else's hand over hers. She quickly rips it away in reflex.
Her eyes find themselves locked with the knight she was just wondering about. He looked at her with the same gentle eyes as always, as if they had never been crushed by the weight of her reaction.
“Sir Link…” She says, her voice tentative and light, “My apologies, I was just trying to get her to move closer.”
He shakes his head as if dismissing her apology, “Epona has her moods.” His voice is soft and raspy, a quality that never waned despite their countless conversations, “C’mon girl…”
He did just as the handmaiden had done before; this time, however, Epona was listening.
“There you go.” He says gently, soothing the mare. He gives a small huff of air as the horse still refuses to drink.
She notes that as well, walking closer to the pair. His eyes find her form again, “I guess she’s just stubborn today…like that one phrase, You can lead a horse to water—”
“—but you can’t make it drink.” Their voices meld as the handmaiden chimes in to finish. She speaks without thinking, the mention of the phrase absorbing any tension in her body. The lilith in her voice brings something to the knight akin to ease, his lips curling unconsciously into a smile.
“That’s one of my favorite idioms, actually,” The maiden starts, “While you’re taking it in a literal sense, it really does speak to the attitude of one's desires. It almost shows that being set in one's beliefs is certainly detrimental to the growth and survival of a person and—”
Her face reddens when she catches herself droning on, “...we should get back to the princess.”
“Go on ahead…” The knight insists, letting her go despite his lingering desire to hear her rambles—to hear her be happy in her own right. There it was again.
“My apologies, Sir Link.” She ends off with an apology, maybe to him now…maybe for everything she’d done to him previously. No matter which, it's the only way she knows to atone for stepping out of line, for expressing herself more than was needed. She leaves with a curtsy, a gesture he never really cared for. In context now, it makes the knight deteriorate.
“Hylia above, help me.” He mumbles to himself, his hands brushing through Epona’s soft mane, more focused on soothing himself now than helping his mare.
…
The princess and her humble Lady-in-waiting stand at the railing of the deck, the expansion of Hyrule right at their fingertips. Behind them stood The Knight, quietly protecting them.
The princess seems to gaze longingly into the distance, the air is mixed with a bitter sadness surrounding them.
“See that mountain?” She asks her maiden, “That’s Mount Lanayru…”
“The one named after the Goddess of wisdom…home of its Spring?” her maiden asks gently, sensing her mistress’s emotions swell. Instinctively, her hands go to hold hers, a small but firm gesture to show she’s there.
She gazes over at her humble servant tentatively, long, “...do you remember her decree?”
The maiden nods gently, “No one is allowed under the age of seventeen. For only the wise are permitted a place upon the mountain…”
It was a decree that mocked her princess directly, a scholar damned simply by age. Her efforts in her field diminished to nothing once more, as many others had crushed them the same. The attention of the Princess broadens to both of her helpers now, making sure her knight is just as involved.
“I’ve prayed at the Spring of Courage and the Spring of Power. Yet neither awoke anything in me.” The princess’s voice is shaky, at the very edge of tears, but she cannot break down again, “...But maybe up there. The final of the three will be the one.”
She gives a dry laugh, the tone bitter and unfit for her majesty, “To be honest, I have no reason to think that’ll be the case.”
Her eyes go back to roam over her maiden’s features. A sight that always eases the Princess greatly, “But as you’ve assured me countless times, ‘There’s always a chance the next moment will change everything’. ”
She sighs, her grip strengthens for a moment, as if clinging to her settled the worry in her being.
“Tomorrow is my seventeenth birthday.”
She speaks faintly as if not wanting to hear her own words.
“So I shall go…and make my way up the mountain.”
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When both come back, they're right where they stood before.
“What…the…” She mumbles. She looks immediately to Link, who looks like he was having far more trouble understanding what just happened. Her hands find his shoulders, causing him to jump. His head whips back to her, clearly frazzled.
“Did you…?” She trails off gently.
He nods quickly.
“Purah was not kidding…” She mumbles, huffing an amused breath, “This means—well, I don’t know what this means—but it is amazing!!”
She (gently) grabs the slate from him, swiping through the pictures on screen. Another key…clearer and far easier to get to!
“We can actually figure out our pasts! Far more than just our labels!” Her voice is lilted with passion, “Okay—so me and you…and this Zelda! Our princess…”
She continues her ramblings for a moment before being held down by her shoulder, just as she had done previously to the hero. She blinks, looking back at him. He has an amused smile planted on his face.
“Right…” She says softly, “Task at hand! I can talk while we walk!!”
He gives a stunted nod, somewhat still out of it.
She recalled his face in her memory; it was far more stern and stoic than the one before her now. Akin to when he was upset two days prior. Does that mean he was always angry? It certainly didn’t seem like it during that little interaction of theirs…speaking of which…
She didn’t understand what was going on in her head during that memory. What was that about appeasing their feelings? What does that even mean? She shakes her head, all she knows—and frankly cares about—is the fact that she has that much more knowledge!
They walk down the steps of the monument, facing the large valley. From this angle, they can see its entirety. The grass waving them hello, horses roaming about…
“Horses!!” She smiles.
She was familiar with the creatures, mostly from the fact that she spent many hours near the Dueling Peaks Stable. She paid them no mind before; she would simply admire them from afar...but now that they were once again in front of her...
How did she not think of it before?
“If we tame a couple, we could cut our travel time in half!!!” She says excitedly, “Are you familiar with taming horses???” She whips her head to her partner.
Link gives a small shake of his head.
“Hm…” she slumps her shoulders as she thinks. Her eyes found the herd again.
She had seen a traveler or two attempt the faithful “taming of the horse.” Safe to say she’s seen the struggles…however, those could just be outliers.
“It couldn’t be too hard, right?” She asks out loud.
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The pair of Hylians find themselves ducked into the wild grasses they were admiring moments ago.
“Okay—so I think all you have to do is sneak up and…mount the horse?” She mumbles, “and calm it until it eases…because of course it’ll be startled at your intrusion.”
From here, she can get a better look at the horses. There were four in total. All of varying colors and sizes. One stood out to the aide. It was black except for its white muzzle and the feathered out fur of its legs, making it look like it had big chunky boots…just like hers! She very much liked that. Despite its intimidating size (or maybe because of it). She knew that was gonna be her companion.
“I want to go first.” She whispers to the hero, determination plaguing her voice, “I know exactly which one I want.”
She points at the horse.
Link seems a bit hesitant about it, probably because it’s the biggest one out of the herd. His hands swiftly moved to point at himself…
Before signing the letters D-O-I-T with his dominant hand.
Then, with the same hand, he touches his forehead with his pointer finger and swings the tip of it forward.
Before finally pointing at her.
“I do-it for you.”
There he goes again, wanting to do things for her. It’s a quirk of his she’s noticed from the few days of traveling together. He’s taken up responsibility for meals, he’s treated his own wounds, and even paid for things he shouldn’t have!
What a miserable aide she was.
Sure, she had bought him his clothes—sure, she’s cooked once . Everything else has been him. As much as she can appreciate his actions…all of them are feeding back into that little voice of self-perceived insignificance that keeps echoing:
“If he can do that all by himself, then why are you even here?”
"Nonsense." She says, trying her best to keep her voice light, “Much appreciated, but I think I have a duty to destiny to get that horse myself.”
She speaks in a false confidence, or maybe better described as a wanting confidence. The yearning to project what came so naturally to the man in front of her.
Maybe then, she’d be better than her thoughts.
Maybe then, she’d convince herself she wasn’t the dead weight she already was.
His face keeps its bemused expression. Not quite understanding where she’s coming from.
“It’s because we have the same boots!” She whispers, with a meek smile.
He looks down at her chunky boots and back at the horse's legs. Obviously, that didn’t clarify anything…but even so, he can’t help but smile gently.
He slowly nods, clearly not wanting to impede on her destiny.
Creeping closer to the creature, her body vibrated with excitement. She was about to call this horse hers…if, of course, it accepts her.
Exactly how she’d go about getting on said horse? Well, she knew as well as the wind that it would be a feat. Even so, she figures throwing herself headfirst would be a good start…literally.
She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes before backing up and taking a running start behind it.
“Oof!”
Her eyes open wide. She’s mounted! She’s sprawled out a bit awkwardly and barely on its hindquarters—but she’s on! She lights up for a moment, thinking this was a good step.
….before the horse starts reacting.
“Whoa there!” She squeals as the horse starts bucking. The displeased sounds of the animal startled the rest of the herd. Its movements are quite slow…but where it lacks in speed, it definitely makes up in power. It felt like wave after wave of tidal current hitting her.
To not fall off, she grips onto the beast’s long mane…which only further upsets it.
“AHHH!”
One final buck sends her a good foot into the air. She lands with a small thud into the soft grass.
“I’m okay!!” she yells out to her (hopefully worried) companion.
She’s laid out on her back, just staring into the sky above. Maybe it was out of embarrassment that she was so confident, or maybe out of sadness because the horse rejected her. All she knew was that she needed a moment.
She closes her eyes, wanting to be swallowed by the ground. Maybe Link was right to offer help. He probably knew she wasn’t capable, and her rejecting his efforts probably ticked him off. It’s most likely why he hasn’t come to check on her.
No.
Her eyebrows furrow. She should chide herself for being so negative.
She knew he wasn’t so cruel. Not for pity or anything else.
Still, she sighs gently. The nagging was making her dizzy, more so than the shaking she had experienced a second ago. She just needed things to be quiet.
Quiet and calm.
That’s what surrounds her the moment she shuts her brain off. The wind blows past, the dampened noises of hooves in the distance…what sounds like sniffing above her.
Sniffing?
Slowly, she opens one eye, before she gasps at what's above her.
Her horse was right there!
It kept sniffing at her, as if curious about the Hylian that disturbed it. She can’t help but grin widely.
“Helloooo…” She says gently, any negative emotion evaporating instantly. Admiration of the creature before her took its place.
It gives a nicker of greeting before its snout nudges her body.
She takes her time sitting up; she’s sore but not at all injured. The horse doesn’t let up on its nudging, almost as if it’s trying to make her stand.
“Okay–okay!” She struggles out. The horse is insistent on it.
“Hey!” She laughs as she’s lifted up with the force of its strong muzzle. Each push grows bolder before she yelps again. Her arms and legs cling around the animal's thick neck, “Oh my—”
The horse shimmies its head, as if trying to get her to scooch further up to actually mount it. She’s careful in her movements as she finally settles on its back.
She feels tall…the ground below her too far to even be in her peripheral vision. Her eyes look back over to the horse, her hand finding itself in its mane.
“You wanted me on here, didn’t you?” She asks softly, only to be answered with a small huff from the creature.
Somehow, this eases her soul. It’s comforting to think that she could still be wanted despite her failure, especially from the one she disturbed.
“You are a little confusing...” She mumbles gently, keeping her finger raking its mane, “First you wanted me off and now you want me on.”
It gives a long, low whinny, leaning its head into her hand.
She giggles softly, “Thank you…”
Her eyes snap back towards the field as she hears a neigh in the distance. That must be Link.
He’s on a horse himself, galloping towards the two. One hand guiding the horse and the other one…typing on his slate. As he nears, he guides the horse to halt quickly. The horse released a loud whinny.
He gives a small huff before looking back at her with acute concern lingering on his face. Immediately, he turns the slate over to her.
“I am sorry.”
It was a simple message. But one that makes a part of her flicker alive.
“I wanted to check on you, but the other horses were getting away.”
His eyes scan her form frantically, before pulling the slate away to type more.
“Are you hurt? Broken bones?”
His worry was evident even with written words. He was never good at keeping a poker face, but even now…any semblance of it evaporated. Like it wasn’t something he was capable of.
“I’m fine, Link, no bruise even!” She assures, “...and I got my horse all by myself!”
Now she’s proud, real confidence leaking in her words. It seems Link can tell, as a smile breaks through the worry.
“I knew you could do it!”
He gives a small thumbs-up.
“You’re a tough cookie, y’know?”
She stares down at the words. That silly idiom shouldn’t phase her, but it does. Truly.
She bites the inside of her cheek, trying her best not to pour emotion out. She gives a simple nod, with a tiny smile poking its way out.
She just gives a simple laugh, pushing off any silly emotions, “Well—thank you…”
She turns her attention back to her steed. Her hands hold up its mane, trying to mimic how Link is currently holding his steed.
“Now I just have to figure out how to start moving…” She muses, finicking with the hair in her grasp.
“Onward!” She announces, flicking the hair like whipping reins.
…
Nothing.
She huffs softly, “Walk!” She tells the horse directly, “C’mon…”
She can hear Link chuckling softly next to her, which only further motivates her.
She braces herself before tugging on its mane, “Ride!”
…
She groans, kicking her heels, her legs squeezing around the horse's body in frustration, “I guess this is harder than it—WHOA!!”
The horse cuts her off by moving into a full-blown gallop. She leans down, trying to keep herself mounted as it runs off. She looks back at Link, who was smiling ear to ear, him and his horse growing smaller in the distance.
“I did it!” She yells back at him.
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