Purah and I studied the Slate for the remainder of the day, trying to analyze the guardian programming it had. Eventually it reached a point where my grasp on understanding what was going on began to slip. However, Purah continued on, clearly understanding this better than I, which granted she was more savvy with technology than I was. My studies over the years existed in the realms of biology and chemistry, much more tangible topics in my opinion.
As evening came, Purah became so engrossed in the Slate and guardian research, that I decided she didn't need my help anymore. In all reality I hadn't really done much for the past few hours except ask Purah to explain things to me again. Walking outside, I gazed up to see a sky littered with stars. I stopped and stared for a moment, basking in how beautiful the night was. Looking at the frozen peak of Mount Lanayru, my mind drifted to my powers. Was Impa right, and the answers I so desperately needed were waiting up there?
"Princess?" My head snapped away from the mountain and towards the person who had addressed me.
My eyes widened in surprise, still not used to hearing him break his silent demeanor. "Link!" I said startled, "Sorry, I didn't notice you." He was sitting by a fire, cooking something over it. Walking over, I sat on the opposite side, enjoying the warmth as the night was beginning to cool off a little.
He was focused intently on cooking the meal, the pleasant aroma wafting from the food made me realize how hungry I was. I looked over at Link, studying him. He had been training for most of the day, although he did take Epona out for a while, probably to buy supplies in Hateno.
"It looks like we'll be staying here for a few days longer." I informed Link. "Purah needs to replicate some of the functions from the Slate in order to control the guardian on her own."
Link nodded, appearing to not care one way or the other. I stood suddenly, and walked over to the tree, remembering I had left my arrows there. Inspecting them, I was happy to find they were all dry. Quickly I tied each group loosely together and placed them in my quiver. Then I returned to the fire, where Link was dishing out the food into two bowls. He handed me one as we sat down and I took it with an appreciative smile.
As I sat down, I began to eat the meal he prepared, surprised by how delicious it was. It was then it hit me how good a cook Link was. If it wasn't for his culinary skills, we'd be eating cheese and bread sandwiches for most meals as well as any raw mushrooms, vegetables, and fruits we picked up along the way. Tonight, he had made a tasty stew with a hearty base mixed with mushrooms, vegetables, and some kind of grain.
Draining my bowl, I gave Link a curious look and said, "You know, you might be a better cook than the chefs at the castle."
Link scratched the back of his head and looked away, almost as if he was embarrassed by the compliment. Not able to help myself, I chuckled a little. Perhaps he wasn't as solemn as he appeared to be.
It was then Link pulled something from the bag that was by his side. He got up and handed me something. Curious, I took it and inspected the item. It was wrapped in a thin piece of parchment and unwrapping it I saw a piece of bread. It had nuts in it and was flavored by some earthy spice based on the scent coming from it. There were crystals of sugar on the top portion of the bread.
"Did you get this in town?" I asked, seeing Link enjoying his slice of bread. He nodded in response. Diligently I took a bite of it, smiling at the crunchy outside and fluffy inside. It wasn't too sweet of a bread and had a wonderful flavor. Both of our slices were gone in minutes. "Thanks." I said to Link, astonished he had remembered my extreme liking for any kind of bread.
He shrugged, and then both of us fell silent. I exhaled and fell backwards, throwing my arms out, so I was sprawled out on the ground. I stared up at the blanket of stars trying to find any I recognized. Then a formation of seven stars caught my eyes, the stars creating a zigzag in the sky. Pointing at it, I said, "It's Farosh."
I heard Link get up and a moment later he was sitting at my side, gazing up at the stars with me. "See that zigzag? Almost right above us?" Link nodded. "That's the constellation called Farosh, named after the dragon of electricity." He smiled, his eyes glued to the sky. "Have you ever seen a dragon?" I asked suddenly.
Link shook his head. "Neither have I." I replied, "But I would love to see one. Maybe we'll see one on this journey."
We sat in silence for a while longer, simply staring up at the night sky, reveling in this moment of tranquility. For a moment it almost seemed like we were two ordinary people. He wasn't a knight who held a legendary blade, and I wasn't a Princess with a special power. We were just two Hylians sharing a brief moment in time together.
"Hey, you two going to come in yet? Or are you going to sleep out there? And after all the work I did to prep that room for you." Link and I turned to see Jomih at the entrance to the lab, his arms folded over his chest and an annoyed look on his face.
His words cut through my make-believe scenario, and once again I was back to being a Princess. A Princess who couldn't fulfill her destiny. Dazed, I stood up and grabbed my quiver. "We'll be right in." I called, causing Jomih to roll his eyes and head back into the lab.
Link put out the fire while I grabbed our things, then quietly made my way up to the room we were staying in. I set Link's bag on the cot and then I quickly changed before Link came in. Climbing onto the bed, I began to scribble in my notebook, however soon the pen stopped, my thoughts unfocused. I felt the weight of disappointment deep inside my chest. Biting my lip, I decided that tomorrow I would work on awakening my powers.
Not much longer, Link entered. I left the room as he changed and then the two of us laid down on our separate beds. Link busied himself with a book, and I went back to my notebook however I couldn't concentrate. Instead my mind filled with thoughts of what a failure I was. My father's disappointed face flashed in my mind. Frustrated, I threw my notebook to the far corner of the room, where it deftly landed on top of my saddlebags. Sliding under the covers, I blew out the candle on my desk and then pulled the covers over me, wanting to suffocate myself under their weight.
A few minutes later, the room went completely dark as Link blew out the last of the candles.
I stared at Hyrule castle, my knees weak. The castle hardly even looked like a castle anymore; now it was more like ancient ruins. The walls were crumbling and rubble congested the pathways, blocking off sections of the castle. Certain portions of the castle were completely demolished, only a rough structural skeleton remained. I took a step towards the castle, tears welling in my eyes. As I neared, the light around the castle began to diminish as the sun set and soon a dark, ominous aura seemed to surround the castle. Malice had taken root throughout, covering areas with black and pink goo.
Unable to control myself, I ran into the castle, trying to find my way through the wrecked hallways. Yet everywhere I turned was destruction. Finding a staircase that wasn't completely ruined, I carefully climbed my way up. I made my way out into a courtyard, which was decorated in rubble and the various vegetation was on fire. The entrance that led further into the castle was sealed off, so with no other option, I began to scale the castle walls, diligently checking every step I took as many bricks were loose. Finally, I pulled myself up into the sanctum, the walls broken and windows shattered. There were holes in the roof and malice had begun to spread inside. But what captured my attention most of all was my father, his back turned to me.
"Father!" I called and ran to him.
As he turned to me, I stopped dead in my tracks, my eyes locking with his.
"Zelda." He said, his voice cutting through me like ice. His eyes were filled with anger and accusation. "This is your fault."
"Father, please listen-" I tried to say, but he quickly silenced me.
"Your duty to Hyrule was to harness the power that has been passed down through the Hyrule bloodline for centuries. And yet you couldn't even awaken it, let alone use it and protect Hyrule from Calamity Ganon. All you see before you, the destruction of the castle and the fall of Hyrule, are your fault." His words bit into me. "Instead of prioritizing your responsibilities, you frolicked with those experiments of yours and pretended to be a warrior. You've disappointed me and let the entire kingdom down. This is all your fault Zelda."
"Father..." I backed away, tears streaming down my cheeks. I had done this? I hadn't been able to unlock my powers? And because of this, Calamity Ganon had won.
This was my fault.
If only I had done more.
If I had tried harder.
"You think yourself strong, because you can wield a bow? But you're not powerful at all." My father called to me, however his voice had grown darker, as if some evil presence was speaking through him. "You think yourself brave for setting out on a journey to unite Hyrule against Calamity Ganon? Yet you're the least courageous of them all. You think yourself smart for all your studies? However it didn't give you an ounce of wisdom."
I whimpered and took another step back, however my foot never met solid ground. Instead I was falling, falling into a tunnel of darkness. As I fell, voices flooded me, some as loud as thunder, others a soft whisper upon the wind. Still all of them seemed to say the same thing:
"FAILURE!"
"This is your fault!"
"Useless."
"A Princess to a throne of Nothing..."
"What a waste."
"She's a disgrace."
"You've doomed us all, Princess!"
"Worthless!"
Abruptly, I flung myself up into a sitting position, the covers flying off me. My breathing was heavy and I rapidly looked around my surroundings, finding myself in the tiny upstairs room at Purah's lab. I sighed and laid back down, my heart still racing.
It was just a dream. I told myself, however it still haunted me.
Looking out the window, I saw that it was still dark out, however it appeared dawn was just on the horizon. Steadying my breathing, I threw my forearm over my eyes and tried to push back the tears that threatened to fall. What if I never did discover the key to this power inside me? Was Hyrule truly doomed?
Determined, I got out of bed and fumbling around in the dark, I found my armor and hastily began to put it on as quietly as I could so I didn't wake Link. Once this was done, I grabbed my quiver full of arrows and my bow and silently slinked out of the room, softly closing the door behind me. I made my way down the stairs and into the research rooms below. Both rooms were quiet, Jomih and Purah still asleep.
Exiting the lab, I found Icefire, grazing as the sun's rays began to poke over Mount Lanaryu. I swiftly saddled Icefire and then we made our way down from the lab and into Hateno. The village was quiet, everyone likely still sound asleep. Icefire trotted lazily through the village, while I looked around, searching for a place I could meditate at. We crossed a lazy stream, and my eyes traveled to a small waterfall and upwards still to the mountaintop south of Hateno. If I remembered correctly from when I was looking at the map of Hateno on the Slate, that was Ebon Mountain.
Resolutely I nodded, my decision made. Turning back, I took Icefire to the stables nearby the inn and left him there with the stable attendant. Then I made my way back to the waterfall and began to scale the rocks. It wasn't too much longer before I was on more level ground and was able to hike up the mountain. It was a steep climb, but the burn of my leg muscles felt nice after not training for several days. As I neared the top, the sun began to rise over Mount Lanayru and I marveled at the sight. Striking yellow rays spewed out from behind the mountain, giving it an orangish glow along the edges while the rest of it was cast in shadow.
Continuing upward, the path turned very steep and I had to climb the rest of the way to the top of the mountain. Hauling myself to the top, I smiled, feeling accomplished. I looked eastward and saw Purah's research lab. It looked so much smaller from over here. Turning around, I stepped down onto the flat, grassy top of the mountain and frowned as I saw two ponds, each shaped as one-half of a broken heart.
I wasn't sure if I should find this ironic or disheartening; either way it didn't help my mood. Ignoring the small ponds, I found a place to sit amongst the grass. I set my bow and quiver next to me and began to breathe deeply, trying to clear my mind.
I focused on my breathing... In... Out... In... Out...
Slowly, my body began to ease, the tenseness in my limbs leaving and the emotions that filled me washed away. Once this was done, I began to concentrate on the environs around me: the gentle stir of the wind, the quiet jostling of the water, the chirping of birds in the distance, and the grass moving as the wind blew through it.
Gradually, the entity that was me began to expand, until everything around me was an extension of myself. I had to be aware of all that was around me. I concentrated on my surroundings for an unidentified amount of time, until I felt like I could pick up on the slightest change using my hearing and feeling the vibrations of the earth and air around me.
Now that that was completed, I began to look inside myself, to see if I could unveil the lock that sealed my powers. This had always been the most challenging part of mediation for me. Still, I pushed forward, reflecting on what I found as if I was a bystander. Inside of me I found all the normal emotions I had become acquainted with over the past few years: Anger, disappointment, annoyance, frustration, desperation, more anger...
Taking each, I analyzed them, understanding each emotion individually and then letting them go until there were none left. And then I dove in deeper, finding the things I held most precious to me: My sensei, my mother, the woman who had acted like a second mother to me, my friend Impa, my love of research, training, and archery. Stripping those away, what was left of me?
Nothing.
I looked inside of myself further, yet it was as if I had hit a roadblock, halting my progress. I sighed and opened my eyes, finding the sun had risen a considerable amount since I started. Stretching, I laid down, my back growing stiff from sitting in the same position for too long. Once I was comfortable, I closed my eyes and began the process all over.
I continued this process, always reaching the same point where I became stuck. Soon, the sun was high in the sky, and my stomach growled from hunger. But I pushed past the hunger and continued to meditate, yet nothing changed. No matter how many times I tried, the roadblock in my mind would not budge. There was no hint of my powers, no sign I even had them.
Before long, the day was growing dark and I was frustrated beyond belief. I decided to try once more and then I would head back to the lab. I started the process as I always did, by regulating my breathing. And then the process once more commenced as usual.
However, about halfway through, I heard scuffling, which soon turned into footsteps. Annoyed, I opened my eyes and was greeted by Link, the bloody master sword strapped over his back, taunting me.
His eyes looked relieved to see me, but all I felt was overwhelming frustration that my efforts seemed to be in vain as well as annoyance at being disrupted.
I stood up as Link walked over to me. Ignoring him, I picked up my bow and quiver. He arched an eyebrow at me and I bit my tongue, trying to hold my anger in. Walking past him, I began to climb down the mountain until I reached the less steep region. Link followed right behind me.
I took a step forward, my foot meeting loose gravel. Slipping, I slid forward a little, however Link grabbed me by the shoulder, steadying me. The anger I had been holding in all of a sudden burst forward and unable to contain it any longer, I whirled on Link.
"I don't need your help!" I shrieked. "And stop following me! I'm perfectly fine on my own." With that, I spun around and began to make my way down the mountain as quickly as I could, trying to get as much distance between me and the silent knight as possible. Reaching the last incline, I climbed down it and then made my way towards the stables, not once looking back to see if Link was still behind me.
I retrieved Icefire, who was happy to see me, and the two of us made our way back to the research lab. Once there, I dismounted and unsaddle Icefire. As I finished with this, I saw Link making his way up to the lab as well, riding his loyal steed.
Patting Icefire goodnight, I entered the lab and went straight to the upstairs bedroom. I changed and began to take some items out of my bag and grabbed my journal, ready to drown myself in research. My stomach growled in hunger, but I ignored it and busied myself with the task at hand. It was a while later, after the sun had set in the West, when Link came into the room. I didn't acknowledge him, but began to put the items I had been working on back in my bag. After they were all safely tucked away, I left the room briefly so Link could change.
When that was done, I went straight to my bed, still not looking at Link. I blew out the candle on the nightstand and then dove under the covers. Anger burned through me, but not as much as the frustration I felt. Why was it that no matter how hard I tried, nothing seemed to work? What more could I do?
These thoughts swam in my mind, keeping me up deep into the night, far after Link had gone to bed. It wasn't until hours later that my mind finally succumbed to sleep, allowing me a reprieve from the thoughts that plagued my mind.
Morning came and I begrudgingly opened my eyes, the sun shining through the windows. I sat up, still tired, but knowing I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep at this point. Slowly, I got out of bed and changed. Link was already gone, which I was grateful for. I made my way down the stairs and found Purah in the main lab, while Jomih was in the smaller one, reading a book.
I walked over to Purah, who was intently working on the Slate still. "How is it coming?" I asked.
Purah looked up at me, eyes gleaming. "Quite well, I'd say. I think I've figured out how to do it, it's just a matter of time now. I just need to transfer this data over and then from there..." I began to tune out as Purah got more technical. She must have noticed my eyes glazing over as she stopped and asked instead, "Where did you go yesterday?"
I sighed, downcast, "Meditating."
Purah gave me a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry." She gave me a pat on the shoulder, knowing my endeavors had not been successful based on my countenance. "Ya know, that knight of yours was awfully worried. He spent so long trying to find you."
I frowned, "No one asked him too." I bit out.
Purah laughed, "Well, it is kind of his job, Zelda."
My frown deepened. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I'm not a child."
"That's true." Purah lifted her finger, "But he's just trying to keep you safe. Can you imagine how mad your father would be if something happened to you? Link would probably lose his head."
I crossed my arms, still annoyed, "I'm sure father wouldn't be that upset. He might even thank Link for getting rid of his failure of a daughter."
"Zelda!" Purah exclaimed, aghast. Her eyes met mine, filled with sympathy. "I know things can get frustrating when nothing seems to be working. I've been there, believe me." She placed a hand on my shoulder, "So perhaps this would be a good time to take a little break."
"A break..." I repeated.
Purah nodded, "Yes, like we talked about the other day. Maybe do something fun; take a step back. Sometimes inspiration will hit you at the oddest of times."
"I don't know..." I replied softly, looking down.
"Come on!" She reasoned, "What have you got to lose? You're traveling all over Hyrule, why not enjoy some of the sights while you're at it? Have a little fun!" Purah snapped her fingers, an idea popping into her mind. "Why not go down to Hateno Bay for the day? You could even camp there if you want. It's a gorgeous place away from everything."
"I don't know Purah..."
"It's super peaceful." Purah continued, "And there's an array of biodiversity down there. You might even find some interesting specimens to study."
I chewed my lip, tempted by the last point she made.
Seeing the wheels turning in my mind, Purah laughed. "How about you think about it over breakfast? Link left you some food." Purah pointed to a dish sitting on the far corner.
"I'm not hungry." I murmured, just as my stomach let out a hungry growl, causing me to blush.
Purah laughed at my expense. "Go eat up. You'll feel better once you have some food in you. And then you can get ready to head to the Bay."
I pursed my lips, but left Purah to go eat my food. It was delicious as always and I devoured it in seconds. As I swallowed the last mouthful, Purah came over and set a cup of tea down in front of me. Grateful, I took a sip of it.
"Where is Link?" I asked half-handedly, trying to keep the guilt out of my voice.
"Outside training again." Purah answered, taking a drink of her tea. "He could probably use a little break too."
I huffed and looked away.
"Lost your temper?" Purah guessed.
I furrowed my brows, "Is it that obvious?"
"I mean, it is you we're dealing with, Princess. You are known for your hot-temper."
"I can't help it." I defended, "He's annoying. Always there, like a shadow. Never talks, just watches from a distance. And every time I try to do my own thing, he comes along and interrupts."
"That's your perspective." Purah pointed out. "But can you imagine how he feels? I'm sure it's a lot of pressure being in charge of the Princess of Hyrule's safety. On top of that, you have a tendency to go off on your own... I'd assume he'd be pretty irked that you disappear all the time. Yet he does his job without a complaint."
I gave Purah an annoyed look, although I couldn't refute what she said. It made sense actually. My knight probably hated me, as I made things difficult for him. On top of that, we were partners in a way, both destined to defeat Calamity Ganon. He had been able to do his part: become worthy of the Sword that seals the Darkness, however I had not. He must have loathed me for not being able to do my one and only job... leaving him to carry more of the burden.
Purah nudged me, giving me a disapproving look, "You better not be overthinking what I just said."
"What?" I asked, startled.
"I see that look in your eyes." Purah pointed a finger at me, "All dejected."
I put my hands in front of me, "No, I wasn't-"
"Uh huh." Purah sipped her tea, not believing me. "Come on, go get ready."
"Ready?" I asked.
Purah nodded, a smirk on her face, "Yep, you better get going now if you want to enjoy the day at the beach."
"Purah, I'm not even sure that's a good idea right now." I replied.
"Nonsense!" She said, "It will be good for you. And that knight of yours. Besides, what else are you going to do?"
I crossed my arms. "Train."
"Fruitlessly."
I looked away, my fists clenching. She was right. Why would anything have changed from yesterday?
"Then it's settled." Purah concluded from my silence. Grinning, she continued, "I think this will be an excellent opportunity to do some studying too. You might find something interesting down there."
"If there was anything interesting down there to study, wouldn't you have found it?" I retorted.
"Nah, you're the biologist." Purah responded, then put a finger to her chin, "Chemist?"
I rolled my eyes at her. "Kind of both."
"So you'll go?"
I let out a long sigh and nodded, "Yeah. It can't hurt."
"Excellent!" Purah jumped from her chair, "Now hurry and get ready!"
"I have to tell Link first." I reminded her as I stood up, tea in my hands.
"Oh, yes. Good point!"
I shook my head and headed to the door. As soon as I walked outside, I saw Link, practicing with his sword as usual. I waited for him to stop, drinking my tea and watching his skilled movements. Noticing me after a minute, Link sheathed his sword and walked closer to me. His blue eyes met mine, and I shifted uncomfortably, unsure what to say.
We stood in awkward silence for a moment and then I finally spoke, "Would you like to take a break?" Link gave me a questioning look. I felt a wave of heat rise to my face and quickly blurted, "Purah mentioned Hateno Bay. She thought it might be a nice place for us to visit and take a little break from... everything." Link said nothing, his expression neutral, making it hard to read him. Growing nervous, I added, "Of course we don't have to go. I told Purah it wasn't a good idea."
Of course Link would think it's ridiculous. Especially for me. Between the two of us, I needed to train the most. "Sure." Link suddenly answered, "I think that would be nice." My eyes widened at his words and I stood rooted in place for several seconds, processing.
Finally, "Right!" I replied, "I'll get my things ready." I spun on my heels and promptly headed back inside. I set my tea down and proceeded to the room upstairs. Quickly I grabbed my saddle bags, hauled them downstairs, and strapped them over Icefire's back.
Link followed suit and before I knew it we were setting off on horseback down the cliff. Instead of turning right at the bottom of the cliff, we turned left, following the road downwards. It was a beautiful day and I inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air.
Link and I didn't talk for the entire trip, but that was fine. I was too preoccupied with appreciating the scenery around me and relishing the wind flowing through my hair. Before long, we had reached the end of the road, which had leveled out onto a grassy, open area which transitioned to sand as it neared the water. I dismounted and led Icefire to the edge of the bay.
Instantly my face broke out into a smile as I took in the bay. It was deserted except for Link, the horses, and me. The water glistened in the sun, the waves lazily lapping at the shore. Palm trees decorated the shoreline, some ripe with fruit. The sand crunched beneath my feet and I wanted nothing more than to run barefoot in the sand and wade in the water.
Turning around, I found Link, removing his saddlebags from Epona and letting her graze. Doing the same, I plopped my bags next to his and then opened one, searching for a spare change of clothes. I had worn my armor in case of an attack, but it was peaceful and quiet here, so I doubted we had anything to worry about.
As I did this, Link had already pulled his boots off and rolled up his pant legs, digging his feet into the sand as he stared out at the sea. Taking advantage of his distraction, I snuck behind a rock and quickly changed, putting on a pair of black denim shorts and a loose-fitting blue top that fell off one shoulder. The sleeves were big and ended at my elbows.
Folding my other outfit, I placed it along with the armor next to my bow and quiver. Then I ran towards the beach, the sand soft beneath my feet. Walking further, I stopped as my feet submerged beneath the water, the coolness feeling nice. From my peripheral I saw Link wade out into the water too.
Staring out, I saw several islands in the distance. My eyes fixed on the largest one, so far away. It protruded high above sea level and even from this distance, I could see the green of vegetation. If only I had wings like the Rito and I could fly over to it.
A gust of wind took my mind away from the island and I looked up at the sky, my hair billowing out behind me. Unable to contain myself, I laughed. Noticing Link, I smiled at him, his eyes on me, curious. He gave a small smile in return.
From here the two of us began to explore on our own, but still kept within eyesight of the other. I grabbed my journal and began to walk around the arch of the bay, studying the organisms I discovered as I went. I wished I had the Slate with me to take pictures of, but I made do with some rough sketches. There were tall palm trees, some with fruits upon them, as well as some ferns and algae. I made notes on them all and took a specimen of the algae. Several crabs darted around on the sand, and I tried to sneak up on them long enough to draw a quick sketch and take some notes. The two varieties I observed were blue and red.
As I did this, Link stayed near the horses. He found a nice shaded spot to sit underneath a palm tree and was reading a book. I had always thought he was reading due to boredom, but it seemed like he actually enjoyed it if he was doing it now to relax.
The morning passed and soon afternoon came. I had finished documenting my observations on the wildlife around me and made my way back to Link, who was on the other side of the bay as I had ventured all the way around the arch of the bay. Returning, my stomach let out a growl, signaling I was hungry.
I hadn't brought much food with me, but... My eyes darted to a palm tree just ahead of me, not that far from Link either. I knew the palm fruits were edible and nutritious, thus they were an option. The trunks of the trees were long and curved, but I smiled at the challenge. Leaping up, I wrapped my one arm around the trunk and the other I used as leverage, pressing my forearm into the tree. My feet wrapped around the trunk, one in front and one behind. Pushing myself upwards, I regripped and then brought my feet up, inching up the tree until the fruits were just above me. I grabbed one and threw it towards Link, who was intently reading his book.
As the fruit landed, he looked up at me and I shouted "Are you hungry?"
He stood up and I could see a smile on his face. He quickly gathered some branches to start a fire while I threw the remaining palm fruits down. A fire was crackling not too much longer, and we both gathered round it. Link was setting up a cooking pot, which he had gotten from his bags, while I was slicing the palm fruit into chunks.
Link had some apples that he gave to me as well, which I cut too. Once that was complete, Link took the sliced fruit and dumped it into the cooking pot. He added some seasonings to it and within a few minutes the dish was done. He scooped the contents out onto two plates and handed one to me.
Taking a bite, I savored the sweet flavors. Finishing my food, I couldn't help but grin. This place was so peaceful, so removed from everything else. Again, I felt that feeling where the fact that I was a Princess just melted away. Out here, that didn't matter. I was just a normal person enjoying a wonderful day on the beach. I didn't have a duty or responsibilities to see too. I was just Zelda, a girl who liked to study nature and experiment, a girl who liked archery and a little adventure.
It was such a nice feeling, I didn't want it to end, to be reminded of everything that I carried on my shoulders.
Looking over at Link, I asked, "If you want, we could camp out here tonight. It's such a wonderful place... we probably won't get to do anything like this for a while. So, I thought we should enjoy it while we can."
It didn't take Link long to reply. He gave me a grin and nodded his head in confirmation. I smiled too, happy I could savor this for longer. Stretching, I stood up and made my way over to one of my bags and began to dig through it. Finding what I wanted, I pulled it out and stood back up, looking around the bay.
If we were going to camp here for the night, we would need to find a secure place. The bay itself was secluded, protected by the cliffs leading up to Mount Lanayru. Thus, the best place to set up camp would probably be near the center of the bay. It would be hard to see us unless someone had walked further into the bay, and by then we would have noticed any intruders. Deciding on a nice, flat spot not too far from the water, and in front of an outcropping of rocks, I started to unfold the tent I was carrying.
It was a sturdy tent, built for all types of weather and conditions, however it was small, only fitting two people comfortably. Luckily it would fit Link and I, even if it was a bit tight. Spreading the tent out, I placed all four stakes at each corner and then checked to make sure the positions were adequate. Satisfied, I began to drive in the stakes with my foot. They went in easily enough as the sand was pliable. The bottom now fastened, I began to set the top up. As I was doing this, a gust of wind swept through the bay. The top of the tent was snatched by a gust of wind, blowing it upwards. In a moment of panic, I let out a squawk of surprise and jumped at the tent, trying to hold it down.
The tent blew over me, but luckily I had managed to hold onto it, preventing it from flying away. Flailing underneath the material, I managed to find my way out from underneath it. Poking my head out, I saw Link had walked over, clearly seeing my struggles. Looking up at him, I saw a glimmer in his eyes and a suppressed grin, as if he was holding back a laugh.
"Are you laughing?" I inquired. He shook his head abruptly, but I only laughed in return. "I bet I look pretty silly."
At this he let out a little chuckle. Walking over to me, he pulled the tent off me and we swiftly put the rest of it together, running into no more issues. Then we brought the rest of our stuff over by the tent as well as the horses, who now grazed on the patch of grass beyond the outcropping of rocks behind us.
Link began to preoccupy himself with gathering kindling and larger pieces of wood to make a fire later. While he did this, I waded out into the sea, basking in the feel of water on my skin. The water was crystal clear and as I walked along the beach, knee-deep in water, I would stop and pick up any cool rocks I found along the way. Picking up a few flatter ones, I swung my arm back and threw the rock, trying to skip it along the water's surface. As kids, Impa and I would escape from the castle all the time and make our way to the rivers surrounding the castle. We would climb trees, play in the water, and skip rocks... or at least I tried too. I had never been very good at it.
And it appeared that trend hadn't changed as the rocks plunked right into the water as soon as they touched, not skipping at all. Trying a few more times, I was met with the same result.
"It's in the flick of the wrist." A voice advised behind me. Turning, I saw Link, who was also in the water, only a few paces behind me. Reaching down, he grabbed a rock and then swinging his arm back, he threw the rock. It bounced along the water's surface, creating five separate ripples until it finally disappeared beneath the water's surface.
Picking up another rock, I made a flicking motion with my wrist, "Like this?" I asked.
"A little faster." He answered.
Taking his advice, I focused on the flick of my wrist, releasing the rock at just the right moment. The rock flew through the air and as it touched the water, it skipped once and then sunk. "I did it!" I cheered.
The two of us spent a while longer in the water, skipping rocks, or at least trying to in my case. Link seemed to have perfect technique every time, the rocks gliding along the surface. I only managed to get one skip in and that was few and far between. Most of my rocks plummeted through the water without skipping. Yet I was better at it now than I had been.
I glanced at Link after some time and asked, "Link, what are we going to do for dinner? I don't have much for food. There are always palm fruits, so I know we won't starve."
Link thought for a moment and then answered, "I saw some crabs along the beach. We could catch them and cook them."
"I think I saw some rushrooms." I added, "By the cliffs. We can use those too."
Link nodded in agreement. We left the water and Link began to build a fire while I went to the cliffs and began to gather rushrooms, their dark purple color making them easy to spot in the daylight. Picking as many as I could carry, I returned to our camp to see a fire ablaze. I set the rushrooms down and put my hands on my hips, a determined look on my face.
"Ok, time to catch some crustaceans." Link arched an eyebrow at me. I shrugged and said "Fancy name for crabs."
With that Link and I set off, scouring the beach for crabs. It was a tedious process as there were few crabs roaming the beach and those we did find were skittish, running for the water as soon as they picked up on our presence. Thus we had to be very sneaky.
Spotting a red crab, I crouched low and began to creep over to it, trying to stay behind it so it wouldn't see me. I drew closer to it, however just as I was about to reach down and grab it, the crab turned towards me and saw me. Instantly it began to dart away. Not letting it get away, I dove after it, my fingers closing around its thick carapace. Its legs squirmed as I lifted it up and its large claws clinked together, trying to grab at me.
Triumphantly, I grinned. Bringing my quarry back to camp, I saw that Link had caught two crabs already. I held out my crab to Link, his legs wiggling in protest as I did. "I caught one!" I cheered.
Link smiled and handed me a fist sized rock. I looked down at the rock, frowning. My eyes flickered to the crab, his dark, shrewd eyes staring at me. Swallowing, I shifted my gaze back to Link. Understanding, he asked, "Want me to do it?"
I nodded, grateful. Taking the crab from me, I left to search for more, letting Link end things quickly for the crab. It wasn't too much longer and I spotted another crab. I approached it quietly, however as I neared, I stumbled, alerting the crab to my presence. The crab quickly scurried for the water. Breaking into a dash, I followed the crab into the water, trying to catch it as it traveled further and further out.
Before I knew it, I was past my knees in the water, and the crab had disappeared. I let out a frustrated sigh and turned back to the shore, trudging through the water.
"Princess!" I heard Link shout my name and I looked up in confusion. Meeting his gaze, I saw his eyes were wide in alarm. I was about to call out to him to ask what was wrong, however I never got the chance as a large wave suddenly crashed into me, lifting me off my feet. The wave picked me up and dumped me under the water.
Quickly I broke through the surface and spluttered, shocked at what had just happened. My eyes found Link and we stared at each other for several seconds. And then we both broke out into laughter.
Standing up, I hurried back to shore, drenched. Water dripped from me as I trudged over to the fire. I made my way over to my saddle bags, hoping to find a spare change of clothes. I was able to find my joggers, however my spare shirt eluded me, making me think I had left it at Purah's.
I sighed, causing Link to look over at me. "Can't find an extra shirt." I explained.
To my surprise, he walked over to his bag and pulled out a red Hylian tunic. "Here." He said, handing it to me.
The corners of my lips arched upwards slightly. "Thanks." Walking behind the outcropping of rocks, I changed into dry clothing. Link's shirt was a little big on me, but it was comfy nevertheless. Picking up the soaking wet clothes, I made my way back to the fire. I laid out the clothes by the fire to help them dry faster and then I began to chop up the rushrooms, using a knife Link had brought along.
While I prepared the rushrooms, Link worked on the crabs. We both finished our jobs around the same time and I dumped all the rushrooms into the cooking pot after Link arranged the four crustaceans in it. He then positioned it inside a collapsible stand over the fire.
I leane