Reviewing my fics and trying to figure out which ones I posted on BMC from my old Patreon. Enjoy some more snapshots from Link's original universe.
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Within hours of Malon’s arrival at court, rumors circulated regarding Link’s disappearance. Weariness weighing on her heart, Zelda listened but did not interfere. Officially, Link had no standing in her court or in her life as Queen. Unofficially…
Few in all of Hyrule had any idea of what Link had done for them. She and the Sages possessed a dream recollection of the other timeline but nothing else: only Link truly knew what happened. Sometimes, Zelda feared the worst: that her and Link’s actions had not stopped the Evil King but had split the timeline in twain, one where they stopped him in time and one where he ruled over Hyrule for seven long, bloody years. She believed Link knew the truth, but she never asked.
In her heart, Zelda knew she would never have another chance.
The people knew enough, though. They knew that the strange, quiet Link was a friend of their queen. Many believed he was her lover. None knew he was her champion. They knew him to be always helpful, always traveling, and dreamy rumors tended to follow him, none approaching the truth. He was close to the other races for helping fix what Ganondorf had disrupted before his imprisonment.
They didn’t know that Link had saved them from seven years of terror. They didn’t know that Link fought the King of Evil himself.
He was simply… Link. And now he was gone.
Word traveled far. Impa returned so swiftly it was as if her feet gained wings. She left just as swiftly, face grim, taking no solace from Zelda’s dream. What specifically bothered her, Impa never said. She left with few words, taking her comfort with her.
Soon after, the other Sages arrived. Nabooru. Darunia. Ruto. The tale behind Link and Ruto and the fierce grief in Ruto’s eyes would also remain forever unknown.
The Kokiri remained silent. It felt as if a great gate slammed shut between the castle and the forest. Zelda wondered if that gate would remain closed until the next Hero awoke.
As for Zelda, she searched through the library, seeking any information on past Heroes and the Hero legend. She found sweeping sages of princesses and queens, all bearing her name. There were legends regarding Hylia and past demon kings. She found stories of old monsters which chilled her blood, making her wonder how many Link had fought.
Of Heroes, there was disappointingly little, and nothing which pertained to her current Hero’s disappearance.
Weeks passed. The rumors went on. The Sages searched, Darunia even standing outside of Kokiri Forest and calling for Link and Saria. Zelda dreamed of wolves and faceless Heroes with pale hair and red cloaks. Nothing about her Link.
After a month of rumors and silence, Malon returned, a blond infant in her arms. Link’s unwittingly final gift to Malon.
(At least, Zelda hoped it was unwittingly. Despite the feeling of peace from her dream, she couldn’t help remembering the growing despair in Link’s eyes before his final departure.)
Galon, with Malon’s burnished hair and Link’s brilliant blue eyes. Before her court and the Goddesses, Zelda blessed the child. Instead of caring of the honor bestowed upon him, the Queen herself blessing him, little Galon slept until the end, when he awoke and wailed for dinner. Zelda sat with Malon in the Queen’s Garden while Malon fed him.
Next month, Malon came back, Galon already bigger but eyes still a shining blue. Again, they sat in Zelda’s garden while Zelda informed her of the rumors and Malon offered tales of her fairy boy and his wild mare.
When Malon returned again, less than a month later, Zelda was already in her garden, waiting.