"Do you have everything?" I asked Link as I slung my backpack over my shoulders.
Link shrugged, "I'm sure if I forgot something, you'll have a backup ready."
I narrowed my eyes, "You can't expect me to think of everything you might forget!"
Link tilted his head, "No? You've done a good job so far."
I leered at him, but then shook my head and grinned, "You're ridiculous."
Link smiled, "Yet you still keep me around."
I rolled my eyes. "Like I have a choice." I turned towards the bridge, "Come on, let's go. I want to shield surf today and its going to take awhile to climb up the mountain."
"Impatient, aren't we Princess?" Link said as he followed me over the bridge.
I shrugged, not sure why I was feeling so excited. Maybe because I loved the mountainous terrain and snowy beauty of the Hebra Mountains. And shield surfing sounds\ed like a lot of fun... and possibly a little dangerous. I was also feeling a lot better from yesterday; my body wasn't sore anymore and most of my injuries were healing nicely due to the healing ointment I applied.
I was also looking forward to spending more time with Link. We had both been busy doing our own things since we got to Rito Village, thus it felt like I hadn't been able to talk with him much, even though we still saw each other everyday and ate together.
Link and I continued our trek up to the mountain, the wind increasing as we neared the mountain range. Turning right just before the Flight Range, we entered a snowy valley, which led to the Trailhead Pass. The valley increased in elevation, as we neared the Pass. Soon a snow-covered cabin came into view. I stopped when I reached it and turned to Link.
Pointing behind me, I said, "You lead from here. You know the region better than I do, as well as where adequate surfing areas are."
Link nodded, "Sure thing, Princess."
I arched an eyebrow, but didn't say anything as Link walked past me and began to enter the Pass, which was marked with a wooden sign. I looked up, intimidated by the incline. It would take a good chunk of the day to reach a summit. Taking a deep breath, I readied myself.
I followed Link, the snow crunching under my feet as they sank into the dense snow. As we continued to climb, I felt my heart rate increase as well as my breathing. Despite it being frigid, I was sweating from the intense workout.
As we ventured along, I could not help but admire the frozen beauty around me. Although Rito Village wasn't that far away from us, it felt like Link and I had entered another world far away from everything else. It was just us and the snow.
We continued to hike our way up, the land around us still. It seemed empty and surreal, the only noise was the crunch of snow under our feet. Eventually we reached the end of the pass, jagged rock appearing before us.
"Looks like we'll have to climb from here." Link said. He gave me a quick glance and I nodded in confirmation, expecting we'd have to climb eventually. We were in a mountain range afterall. "Be careful." Link advised, "The rocks here can be ice."
"Got it." I replied, my eyes fixing on the task before me. Link quickly began to scale the rocks, making it look effortless. I stared at him for a moment, impressed by his strength and stamina. Then resolutely, I began to follow him, carefully picking my foot and hand holds as I climbed after him. Several times, I slipped on ice, however my other holds were sturdy enough that I didn't lose my grip and fall.
Eventually I hauled myself over the ledge, back on level ground. Link was scouting the area, his head swiveling one way and then the other as he surveyed our surroundings. With how quiet and desolate the Hebra region was, it seemed like we were the only ones here. And were most monsters even suited for such cold climates? Then again, I didn't know that much about monster physiology.
"We're at Hebra South Summit right now." Link said, jarring me from my thoughts. "See that tree up there?" Link pointed northwards and I looked up at the mountain ahead of us, spotting a speck of green, which was in the shape of a coniferous tree. "That's Talonto Peak. I figured we could set up camp and practice shield surfing there for the rest of today. The inclines are very gradual and you can practice your turns too."
"That doesn't look like a gradual incline." I said, seeing the steep hill the tree was on.
"Well the area around it is gradual." Link explained, "And the peak can be a challenge to test your skills before we move onto the next place."
"Which is where?" I asked, wondering if he was going to take me to the peak of Mount Hebra.
"It's called Selmie's Spot." Link replied. "There's a really awesome surfing trail. It takes you all the way down to Lake Kilsie, almost to the Flight Range."
"That's a long way!" I replied.
Link laughed, "Yeah it is. Thought it'd be a nice way to end our shield surfing adventure."
"It sounds like fun. I don't know if my skills will be ready for it though." I replied, "Although I guess I can always roll down it."
Link laughed. "If anything you can always ride with me."
"Ri-ride with you?" I stammered, my face warming from the blush coming over my face, although it was probably hard to see since my face was already rosy from the cold.
"Yeah, similar to how we rode the sand seal back in Gerudo." Link explained.
"Right!" I said, blushing even more thinking back to that. Steadying myself, I began to walk forward, "Come on, let's keep going." I called to Link. Within a moment he was next to me.
We reached the base of Talonto peak and from there, once more began to climb the snowy rock. The cold of the rocks was beginning to leak through my gloves, chilling my fingers. Although the constant exertion helped keep all my extremities warm. This time as we climbed, I made sure to be more careful about where to put my feet and hands so I wouldn't slip.
We reached the top not too much longer, the sun starting to dip towards the West. Before us was Talonto Peak, a weaving pathway surrounded the peak, with a large coniferous tree at the end. Swiftly I began to make my way up the winding path, knowing the daylight left was limited and we still had to set up camp before we started shield surfing.
Reaching the top, I stopped to gaze at the large tree before me. Its thick branches were dense in dark green needles and the trunk was almost as wide as my wingspan. It was a truly impressive tree, unphased by the harsh elements of the Hebra region. Walking past the colossal tree, I took my backpack off and pulled out my tent. I began to set the tent up underneath the tree, figuring the tree would provide some shelter from the wind. While I did this, I watched Link gather firewood and carry it up to where I was. There wasn't much firewood to be found, just a few branches and bushes. But it would be enough for tonight.
When this was finished, I grabbed my shield and followed Link down the path. We walked a ways further, stopping when we reached the top of a small hill. Link turned to me and said, "Since you already have some experience riding shields, this shouldn't be too hard for you. It's just like riding a sand seal, but you're creating momentum from the descent, not the sand seal." Link dropped his shield, stopping it from moving, by placing one foot on it. "All you have to do is step on it with one foot, push off with the other, and then you're off." With that Link pushed off, placing his other foot on the shield. His shield began to move down the incline, slow at first, but picking up more speed near the middle.
As he slid down the hill, I set my shield down, excited to try it. I put one foot on the shield and then pushed off. The shield instantly began to move, picking up more and more speed. I smiled as I glided over the snow, feeling the wind rush past me. Link was right, this was very similar to riding a sand seal.
I leaned to my right slightly, causing my trajectory to change. Then I leaned back the other way, once more changing my direction slightly again. I kept my knees bent and moved along with the shield, just like I would do while riding a sand seal. This was actually quite fun!
Slowing, I came to a stop next to Link. I smiled at him, "That was fun!"
"You think this is fun, wait until we get to some big hills." Link told me, grinning, "Which you'll be ready for in now time. This came naturally to you."
"It's very similar to riding a sand seal, like you said." I replied.
"Does that mean you want to try something more challenging?" Link asked, a glint in his eyes.
I nodded, "Yes!"
Pleased with my answer, Link and I began to walk up the hill. We made our way back to the peak, stopping when we reached the top. "Now you can work on turning." Link said. "You'll want to get real good at turning quickly. You can also practice jumping and landing here too."
"Jumping and landing?" I asked.
Link gave a nod. "Yeah, I can show you what I mean." In an instant he was on his shield, gliding down the path. He turned around the corners with ease, picking up speed as he went. As he neared the next corner, instead of turning along the path, he continued straight. Then he was in the air, crouched low, with one hand on the edge of his shield. He cut through the sky and then gracefully landed at the base of the peak, sliding along until he came to a stop not too far away.
He turned back to look at me, grinning. "That's more advanced, so just work on turning for now."
My eyes were wide, impressed by Link's skill. Then again, he was very athletic and had been doing this for years. Resolutely, I put my shield down and pushed off, beginning my descent down the hill. Turning was harder than I thought it would be, as I was used to the sand seal helping me turn normally. But after a few tries, I managed to compensate more for turning when I leaned.
Deciding to try a jump, I ran back up to the peak and once more surfed down the path. As another turn came around, I didn't turn but continued forward, crouching low as I flew off the path. I grabbed the shield, like Link had, and flew through the air, grinning wildly as I did so. The ground approached fast, and I braced myself for impact. The shield collided with the ground and I bent my knees more to help absorb the impact. The force jarred me, causing me to be off balance. I stood up as the shield slid along, however as I did so, I lost my balance and fell backwards, landing in the snow.
I laughed, feeling a wave of exhilaration run through me. I laid back in the snow, throwing my arms and legs out, still laughing. I definitely needed to try that again.
I heard footsteps running over to me and I looked to see Link making his way towards me. "Zelda!" He shouted, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Link." I laughed.
Link smiled at me, giving a soft chuckle, "That was a pretty good jump. You just have to work on the landing. Want me to show you how to do it again?"
I propped myself up and nodded, "That would be great."
Link extended his hand towards me and I took it. Pulling me to my feet, I came face to face with Link, so close to him I felt a wave of heat spread through my face. I felt his eyes on me and looked up at him nervously, meeting his cerulean blue orbs. His eyes looked so intense, appearing so calm and collected on the outside, but I wondered what lay beneath that cool exterior.
"You ready, Zelda?" Link breathed, his voice soft and quiet.
I swallowed, looking down. "Yes." I answered, my voice low.
Link didn't say anything else, just took a step back and walked towards the peak. I took a large inhale and then turned to follow Link.
"You're really good." Link said as we sat around our small fire, bowls of steaming food in hand.
I took a tentative bite, blowing on the food to help cool it down. "It's a lot of fun." I said, "Thanks for teaching me."
Link smiled at me, "You didn't really need that much teaching."
"This is true." I replied, "My years of riding sand seals in the desert really helped."
We fell silent after this, tired from hours of shield surfing. We had spent the rest of the day surfing around the area, Link teaching me a variety of skills and even some tricks. I wasn't as good as Link, but I definitely could handle most inclines and turns now. I wasn't the best at stopping mid-slide either. Link had shown me how to do it, but every time I tried I would either stop too fast and go fly forward or my final stop would be too forced and I'd fall on my butt. Still, I was happy with my progress.
As we cleaned up after dinner, we both scooted in closer to the fire, its warmth very pleasant. It was a small fire tonight, as we didn't have much wood to burn. I went to grab my cloak and a blanket, the blanket which I gave to Link. He took it gratefully and wrapped it around his shoulders.
Suddenly, a piercing howl sounded. It was far off, but echoed throughout the mountain range. Several other howls followed the first, starting what sounded like an eerie symphony. "Wolves." Link said, his head looking in the direction of the noise.
"It sounds far off." I said, seeing Link tense.
He didn't reply right away. "Yeah, they are." He said, turning towards me. "They shouldn't bother us. They typically won't bother people unless we wander into their territory."
"That's good." I said, not wanting to fight off wolves, especially since I really loved wolves. They were so beautiful and mysterious, fierce and protective.
"Hey, Zelda..." Link called to me.
"What is it?" I asked.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, uncertainty flashing in his eyes. "I know it's not my place, but maybe talking with the Deku Tree would help you with awakening your powers."
My eyes widened in shock. "The Deku Tree..." I murmured, "In the Lost Woods?"
Link nodded, "The Deku Tree is the one who told me I had been chosen by the Master Sword."
"Wait." I said, trying to wrap my head around what Link just said. "You met the Deku Tree? You mean when you went into the Lost Woods you made it all the way to the center, to Korok Forest?"
Link nodded, "Yeah. I thought I mentioned it before. When you asked me how I had discovered the Master sword."
"I feel like I'd remember that." I folded my arms, trying to remember if he had mentioned the Deku Tree before. If he had I must not have been paying much attention to that part. "No one has made it all the way through the Lost Woods to where the Deku Tree resides in centuries."
Link shrugged, "Like I said, a voice guided me through the woods. Otherwise, I surely would have gotten lost."
"But how will we make it through the Lost Woods now if there is no voice leading you?" I asked.
Link shrugged again, "I don't know. But maybe the Sword can lead us through."
"The Master Sword?" My eyes fell on the dark violet glint of the sword's hilt, which poked out from underneath the blanket wrapped around Link.
"It's worth a shot." Link said, "Especially if the Deku Tree can help you. He seems to know a lot."
"Of course he does." I remarked, "He's an ancient spirit, some say as old as Hyrule itself." I pursued my lips, mulling Link's idea over. "He may very well know of some way to unlock my powers. I think it would be worth it to try." A glimmer of hope filled my chest. I had heard stories of the Deku Tree before and his infinite knowledge, but he resided deep in the Lost Woods. Many had traveled into the Lost Woods, and only a small fraction had made it out, saying they had spent days wandering the misty woods, no glimpse of the fabled Korok Forest.
As far as I knew, Link was the only one to make it all the way to Korok Forest in a long time. It was a remarkable feat. "What was it like?" I asked, "Korok Forest and the Deku Tree."
Link smiled, "It was beautiful. And just as all the fables say, there are a bunch of small creatures called Koroks that live there. They're peaceful and happy beings. And the Deku Tree is as grand as they say. His branches seem to extend all the way to the heavens."
"It sounds lovely." I replied, desire stirring in my chest to go and see the Forest for myself.
"You'd really like it." Link said. "And I think the Deku Tree can help us both."
"Us both?" I inquired, tilting my head questioningly.
"Yeah." Link scratched the back of his head, "You see when I first obtained the Master Sword, the Deku Tree told me it wasn't at full power. Eventually, the sword would reach its true power, however I haven't noticed any difference in the sword's power. I want to ask the Deku Tree what I need to do to get the sword to full power."
I stared at Link, surprised by this. "I had no idea. I just assumed the sword was at full power already."
"Yeah, you would think it'd be at full power to begin with." Link replied, his hand closing around one of the few branches we had left so he could poke at the fire, which was mostly embers now.
"Maybe it's a defense mechanism." I offered, "In case it falls into the wrong hands."
Link shook his head, "Only the chosen can pull it from its tomb in the Lost Woods. And even now, I don't think anyone but I can wield it. If you were to try and use it, I don't think you'd be able to."
"Then maybe it's a test." I contemplated. "Perhaps it's making sure you're worthy of its full power."
Link sighed, snapping the branch in half and throwing it on the fire. Flames greedily lapped at the branch, delighted at the new source of fuel. "Perhaps."
We fell silent after this, Link lost in his thoughts while I thought about our next steps in our journey. We would be leaving Rito Village soon and heading to the Eldin region. Just before that was the Woodland Region, where the Lost Woods was located. There was an old, unkept road that led to the Lost Woods, which wasn't too far from the main road that led into Eldin. In fact the road was next to the Hylian military camp, so it wouldn't be hard to find.
As I continued to plan, movement caught my attention, and I tilted my head upwards, eyes widening at the sky above me. "Link look!" I exclaimed, pointing towards the heavens. Above us was an array of shooting stars, dancing across the sky in a glorious shower. Quickly I ran to my bag and grabbed the Sheikah Slate and then pointed it upwards, capturing a gorgeous image. Lowering the Slate, I stood and stared up at the sky, watching in awe as the nighttime sky rained starlight.
It ended far too quickly, but I was happy I had remembered to capture a photo of it. I looked over at Link then, smiling. His face was still tilted upwards, an expression of awe on his face. "It's pretty amazing, isn't it?" I asked, walking over to him.
He looked up at me, "Yes. I've never seen so many shooting stars before."
Sitting next to him, I asked, "Want to know something? Or will that ruin what you just saw?"
Link arched an eyebrow, "Are you about to educate me?"
I giggled, "Maybe."
Link nudged me with his shoulder playfully, "Alright, let me have it."
I grinned, a blush rising to my face at his proximity, "Shooting stars aren't actually stars. They're rocks."
"So we just watched a bunch of rocks flying through the sky? That sounds pretty cool actually."
"They're falling." I clarified, "The rocks enter our atmosphere and start to burn up as they fall towards the earth. They completely combust before they hit the ground... well most of the time."
"So they're flaming space rocks?" Link asked, smirking.
I rolled my eyes, "Yes, you could call them that."
We laughed, which turned into a yawn for me. "Tired?" Link asked.
"A little." I answered. "Do we have far to travel tomorrow?"
Link shook his head. "No, it's not that far to Selmie's Spot... At least not from what I remember."
I arched an eyebrow, "You better not get us lost."
"Don't worry." Link reassured, "I'm pretty familiar with this region. If anything I should be worried about you getting us into trouble."
"What does that mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at the sandy-haired knight.
Link smirked, "You're kind of a monster magnet."
My jaw dropped open, not expecting this answer. "A... Monster magnet?" I exclaimed.
Link nodded, "Yep. No matter where we go, you manage to find monsters."
"I do not!" I replied offendedly.
Link arched his eyebrows in disbelief, "There was the incident in Ridgeland, the attack near Hateno and in Faron, and then there was the lizalfos in Gerudo and now a Hinox here in Tabantha."
I crossed my arms and frowned. "It's not like I try to find monsters."
"No?" Link asked, "Could have fooled me."
"Hey!" I said, jamming my elbow into his bicep, which caused Link to laugh. "It's not funny!" I said, which only made Link laugh more. I frowned and turned away from Link, sulking. I was not a monster magnet, I just had really bad luck.
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder and whipped my head around to find Link looking at me, a soft smile on his lips. "Zelda, I'm just joking."
I pursed my lips and huffed, "I just have bad luck."
"More like terrible luck." I frowned at his words, a scowl coming over my face. Link squeezed my shoulder, drawing my attention back to his face, "Hey, don't worry about it Zelda. No matter what happens, I'll be at your side; bad luck and all."
"Link..." I whispered, surprised by his seriousness all of a sudden. I looked down at my lap, smiling. "Thanks. I'll fight by your side too, even if I'm not much use."
"You're far more capable than you give yourself credit for, Zelda." Link answered, his voice firm.
"Thanks, Link." I replied sincerely, my eyes blinking back tears. Warmth and gratitude filled my chest and I thought to myself, Thanks for believing in me even when I can't believe in myself.
"We don't have too much further." Link said as I hauled myself over the rocks we had just climbed. I looked ahead of us, Mount Hebra looming over us. This was the closest I had been to the mountain, its icy peak piercing the sky. "It's just over that hill." Link pointed ahead of us, to the West of Mount Hebra, where the ground slowly inclined all the way up to what looked like a plateau. It was still a ways off, and we'd have to wind our way around a few boulders and ridges.
"You said there's a cabin there?" I asked, looking forward to a soft bed and a little more shelter from the cold than my tent.
"Yep. There's also a hot spring too."
"Really?" I said, my voice giving away my eagerness.
Link nodded and gave me a smile. "It feels great after enduring the cold. Although it's a pain getting out since you're going right back into the cold."
"I bet." I replied, already dreading it. We made our way towards the hill, first traveling downwards, two ridges or snow-covered rocks on either side of us, which were about as tall as I was, making it hard to see over them. We circled around one, several boulders coming into view as we reached level ground.
It was quiet as we made our way across the snowfield, the only sound the crunch of snow beneath our feet. I turned back to look at Link, who was walking a few paces behind me. "Have you ever been to the top of Mount Hebra?"
Link nodded, his eyes moving to the mountain. "A few times. Although it's covered in ice so it's hard to get all the way to the top."
I glanced at the mountain, seeing the gleam of ice in the sunlight. It was then I felt a slight tremor under my feet, making me stop. I looked back at Link, wondering if he had felt it too. His eyes were alert, scanning our environs. Another tremor came along, but this one didn't stop. The sound of rocks sliding past each other came from behind me, and I turned to see a giant snow covered boulder rise from the snow, shedding a thick layer of powder. The giant boulder rose out of the snow, two rocky appendages following it on either side of the main boulder. As the snow fell from it, a small base with two puny rocky legs was revealed. The entirety of it was covered in a layer of ice, making the rocks appear white with an iridescent shine.
"An ice talus!" I shouted, shock coursing through me. "And it's huge!" The size of ice talus denoted not only its strength, but it's age too. The bigger the main body, the older and stronger it was. This one must have been hundreds of years old. It was surprising that one of this magnitude still existed as several decades ago, there had been a branch of warriors that specialized in talus hunting as their ores were quite valuable. They had hunted down as many talus as they could find until their prey had dried up.
"Zelda!" Link cried as the talus threw up one of its arms, throwing a boulder almost as big as me into the air, headed straight for me. Before I could react, I felt strong arms wrap around me, and then I was in Link's arms, pressed firmly against his chest as he grabbed me and darted out of the way of the boulder. It landed with a loud thud, throwing a flurry of snow in the air. Link turned to look back at the talus, his eyes serious. "Got any tricks up your sleeve, Zelda?" He asked me, still holding me tight to him.
I kneaded my eyebrows together, knowing archery was the least effective thing against a creature made of rock. The only thing that might be helpful were my bomb arrows, but we were too close to use them. My brass knuckles were useless, and Link's sword was only slightly more effective than my arrows. The only weapons effective against a talus were specially-made axes, hammers, and claymores.
I frowned, trying to think of something in the mere seconds we had. We didn't have anything useful with us, but perhaps we could find something to use to our advantage. I quickly took in my surroundings, trying to find something, anything that could help. Finally my eyes landed on an outcropping of rock on Hebra Mountain.
"Can you lead the Talus to the base of the mountain?" I asked Link.
He nodded and set me down. "Leave it to me." With that he ran in the direction of the Talus, drawing his sword.
"Be careful!" I yelled after him, worry stirring in me, but I pushed it aside. I knew Link was skilled; he could handle this. Now I had to do my part. Quickly I pulled my quiver off my back and began to grab all the bomb arrows. From here I dug out a piece of rope and began to tie three sets of bomb arrows together.
As I did this, I occasionally glanced up at Link, thankful to see he was still alright, easily maneuvering around the Talus and dodging its slow attacks. I did not spare much time to watch them however as I had to finish my task quickly. Once I had several sets of bomb arrows tied together, I grabbed them and my bow and ran over to where Link was. He had led the Talus to the base of the mountain, close to where I needed him to be for my plan to work.
"Link!" I shouted, grabbing his attention as he lunged back, evading the talus's swinging arm. "I need you to lead it underneath that ledge." I pointed to a ledge that was sticking out of the side of Mount Hebra, the rocks shimmering with ice. "As soon as you get it under there, run away as fast as you can."
Link nodded, his eyes focused on the talus, but I knew he understood. As he continued to lead the Talus to the ledge, I took up position, finding the perfect spot where I had a clear aim and that hopefully was far enough away from the blast. I had never used multiple bomb arrows at once, but I was sure it would result in an even bigger explosion, which is what we needed here.
I looked back at Link, who had lead the Talus directly under the ledge. Link quickly darted in, batting at the Talus with his sword. Several dings echoed off the rocks as the sword hit them, probably only chipping the ice layer. Still as Link did this, the Talus lurched forwards and then with a small jump, it fell forward, trying to squish Link. However Link expected this and with impressive speed jumped out of the way.
The talus fell head first into the snow, its precious ore appendage fully exposed. Pulling back my bowstring, I fired four shots, one after the other, each bundle of bomb arrows leaving my grip before the first even landed. Link was running as fast as he could through the snow and I prayed he would be well out of range by the time my arrows landed. As I released the final one, I held my breath, watching as the arrows descended. The first hit the talus's ore, it's only weak point. The other three had been aimed at the ledge. All four erupted in a colossal explosion as they made impact, one explosion happened right after the other, each one building upon the nest. So severe was the explosion, I felt the whiplash from them, and was thrown from my feet, landing in the snow several paces away from where I originally stood.
I propped myself up on my elbows, my eyes fixed on the cloud of snow and smoke. There was a loud rumbling, the sound of rocks crashing down, however I could see nothing. I pushed hair out of my face that had fallen out of my braid, my eyes anxiously searching for Link. Yet the area was masked in snow, still swirling about in a frenzy.
As it cleared, I saw Link crouched behind a rock and quickly scrambled to my feet before I ran over to him. "Link!" I cried as I neared him and then knelt next to him. My eyes raked over his body, searching for any injuries, yet I found none thankfully.
"Zelda." Link exhaled, "You really do want to blow me up."
I frowned and hissed, "This is no time for joking." With that I peered past the rocks that we were hiding behind, trying to see through the haziness of the snow. It had begun to settle, thus I was able to make out a large shape at the base of the mountain, which remained still. As the snow continued to settle, I saw that the shape was a large pile of rocks and I sighed in relief, seeing my plan had worked.
Seeing my relief, Link stood up, inspecting the scene for himself. "It worked." He said, and then smirked, "Although I'd appreciate a warning next time."
"Oh, you're alright." I replied as I rolled my eyes.
Link extended a hand towards me and I took it gratefully. He hoisted me to my feet and then I turned to fully make out the giant pile of rocks before us. There were broken fragments of ice covered rocks littered at the bottom of the pile, most likely belonging to the talus. But there were also several ore fragments, which caught my attention as the sunlight hit them.
Walking over to the pile of rubble, I picked up a shining blue rock, turning it over in my hands. "What is it?" Link asked.
"A sapphire." I replied. "Talus are well-known for the precious ores inside them. We might find more if we look around. You can sell them for money or give them as gifts. Perhaps your sister or mother would like them."
Link picked up another blue rock, this one smaller than the one I had. "Yeah, they'd both love these. They'd have a lot of fun incorporating these into the weapons they forge."
"That's true!" I said, remembering Link's mother and sister were blacksmiths. "I'm sure they'd make beautiful accents to any weapon."
Link nodded and then we spent some time sifting through the snow and any loose rubble, trying to find any ore released from the talus. Once the two of us had searched the area, we had come up with seven pieces of sapphire, all varying in sizes, as well as two large chunks of ruby, some silver, and one small rock with a chunk of diamond in it. We quickly packed it away in our backpacks.
When we were finished, I looked back at Link and asked, "Onward?"
Link smiled and nodded, "Yes." His smile then turned to a smirk and he looked at me with mischievous eyes, "I told you, you are a monster magnet."
I crossed my arms, glaring at the knight. "You're terrible."
Link's smirk grew, "Not as terrible as your luck."
"Link!" I yelled, "I will blow you up next time."
Link laughed, "Sorry Zelda, I couldn't resist."
I frowned at him and turned away, "Let's get going."
We quickly continued on our way, making it to the base of the hill, Selmie's Spot just at the top. Once at the top of the incline, I stopped and stared at the cabin. I had not expected such a big and well-kept cabin this far up into the mountains. It had a thick layer of snow on the roof and was made of dark wood. There was a campfire pit in the area before the cabin, along with several wooden logs - their surfaces carved flat to sit on.
"It looks so nice." I breathed.
"Let's go inside." Link called to me, already on his way to the cabin. I quickly ran to catch up. Link opened the door to the cabin, revealing the inside. I walked in, the first thing I spotted was a fireplace on the far wall. There were stacks of wood on either side of the fireplace. In front of the fireplace was a low table, and several cushioned chairs. Near the door on the left side was a row of four beds, and on the right side of the door was a bunch of shelves and cabinets.
Claiming a bed, I set my backpack down on it and grabbed my shield. There wasn't as much daylight left as I would have liked, so I wanted to practice shield surfing as much as I could. Link had also grabbed his shield, dropping the rest of his stuff off, besides his sword, on the bed next to me. Then the two of us went back outside.
"Where is this big slope you mentioned?" I asked Link.
Link pointed to a pathway that lead west. "It's just over there, but we won't go down until tomorrow when we are ready to leave. It takes us almost all the way back to Tabantha."
"Right, to the Flight Range." I recalled his words from before.
"And just over there is the hot spring." Link pointed to a large rock just off to the side of the cabin, which seemed to shelter the cabin from any eastward blowing winds. However the rock had an opening in it, which must have led to the hot springs.
I turned back to Link and asked, "So where should we shield surf."
Link pointed to the hill we had just climbed. "That's a good one, otherwise there's one behind us that's steeper."
"Excellent." I said, ready to practice more.
"It would be a good idea to work on your stopping too." Link advised, "Unless you want to fly into Lake Kilsie tomorrow."
I arched an eyebrow, "Why would I do that?"
"The trail we're taking tomorrow ends at the top of a cliff above the lake. If you don't stop you'll fly right off the cliff. Unless you're a Rito. Then you do it for fun."
I nodded my head in resolution. "Got it." With that I turned away from Link and hopped on my shield.
We spent the rest of the day shield surfing, only stopping when the sun had set. I had made great progress, learning how to stop my shield without falling off. I also had no issues going down either of the slopes near Selmie's Spot. I had come to relish in the absolute freedom I felt while shield surfing, laughing and smiling as I zoomed over snow, my hair billowing out behind me, the cold mountain air on my face.
When evening had come, Link and I begrudgingly put our shields away. Link busied himself with starting a fire, and I went to investigate the hot springs. The hole in the rock led to a small cavern, which had a pool of water that radiated heat. Just stepping into the cavern I felt the heat hit me, the air thick and humid. There were several cracks in the sides of the cavern walls, which provided some natural light.
I left the cavern, the cold air hitting me unexpectedly after being in the warm cavern for several minutes. By now Link had a fire roaring to life. I walked over to him and said, "I'm going to relax in the hot springs for a while."
Link nodded. "Sounds good. I'll start preparing dinner. I saw some wild hares earlier. Maybe I'll try hunting one down, that is if I can borrow your bow."
"Of course." I said, slinging off my bow and quiver of arrows. "These arrows are the normal ones." I said, pointing to a cluster of arrows at the back of my quiver. Link nodded in confirmation.
With that I walked back inside the cabin and took off my shawl and jacket, placing them neatly on the bed. I grabbed my cloak and threw it over my shoulders, and swiftly untied my braid, scooping all my hair up into a messy bun. Then I walked back outside, heading for the hot springs.
Once there, I shed my clothes, placing them in a pile near the entrance. Dipping a toe into the water, I smiled and took a step into the pool of water, the warmth enfolding me. Soon I was neck deep in the water, feeling relief sweep through my body, the hot water relaxing all of my muscles.
It felt like it had been a long time since I had relaxed like this, before I had left on this journey with Link in fact. It had seemed like forever since Link and I had left the castle, but it hadn't even been 3 months. So much had happened, and yet it seemed like I hadn't progressed at all. My power was still as dormant as ever. I had promised my father before I left that I would focus more on awakening my sage powers, yet I hadn't devoted that much time at all to my powers over the course of our journey. There was so much else to focus on, with recruiting the clans, finding the correct champion, and giving them their power. Awakening my powers had taken a backseat to everything else.
It weighed heavily on me that I could not unlock my powers, and I probably should start focusing on them more... but how? That was always the question that I ended up on. How to awaken them; what more could I do?
The answer is already in front of you. Is what the Goddess had told me. But what did that mean?
Perhaps the Deku Tree would know more. And then there was the Spring of Power in Akkala. I had prayed there several times in the past, to no avail, but perhaps now with insight from the Deku Tree, it would be different. And there was the Spring of Wisdom awaiting me atop Mount Lanayru.
I let out a long breath and sunk deeper into the water, feeling dejected despite my efforts to try and be optimistic about it. Time was running out, that much was apparent. Perhaps with the combined efforts of Link and the champions, that would be enough to fight off Calamity Ganon, and the wouldn't need my power. But could we really take that gamble? Then again, we didn't really have any other option if I couldn't unlock my power.
Why did it all have to be riding on my shoulders? There was nothing that special about me. I was a princess, but there had been many before me, probably more capable than I was. The enormity of everything suddenly hit me and I leaned back against the wall of the pool, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.
Taking a shaky breath, I tried to calm myself, yet I couldn't shake the overwhelming feelings inside me. Tears silently spilled from my eyes, creating tiny ripples as they landed in the water.
"You have to get it together, Zelda." I catechized myself, drawing a hand to my forehead. "You just have to do this one thing. One thing. That's it. Why is that so hard for you?" Images of Impa, Urbosa, my father, Revali, Sensei Daruk, Master Falnor, Purah, Robbie, and Link flashed in my mind. They were all relying on me. I couldn't let them down; no more than I already had. All of Hyrule was relying on me. If I failed, it would all fall.
"Please Hylia." I whispered as I folded my hands and bowed my head, "Please guide me to unlock my powers. I need your help. Please."
I walked out of the cavern some time later, finding the sun had set and the sky was aglow with stars now. I made my way over to the fire, which was roaring with life. Link had a pot hanging above it, the smell coming from it, tantalizing.
"How was it?" Link asked me, noticing my presence.
"It was nice." I replied, forcing myself to sound happy. Although the hot springs had felt wonderful, my thoughts had been dark and ominous, causing my mood to sour.
"Good." Link said, intent on cooking dinner. "I managed to catch a rabbit. Got some potatoes and vegetables cooking with the rabbit meat now. And I have some rice too."
"Sounds delicious." I replied.
"Should be ready soon." Link said, "Could you get some bowls from inside the cabin?"
I nodded my head, "Yes. To find the Goron Champion. From there we'll have to go to Akkala to visit Robbie... as well as stop at the Spring of Power." I winced slightly, dread filling me. "And lastly we'll stop in Zora's Domain."
"What happens when we get back to the castle?" Link asked. I had told him much about the layout of our journey, however he didn't really have any idea what happened once we got back to the castle. In fact I wasn't entirely certain either.
"I will send word to all the champions and leaders of the clans. We will have to start preparing for war. That will involve a lot of training, increased patrols, collaboration, and weapon and technology development. I'll probably be working with Purah and Robbie a lot. But I'll also have to work as a mediator between clans and direct the champions."
Link stared at me. "That's a lot."
"Yes, it is, but it is my duty." I replied formally. Just like awakening my powers is; the thought echoed in my head. "I'm sure you'll be just as busy. The royal guard will be busy taking preventative measures to protect the royals, as well as rigorous training regimens."
"You forget, I'm more than just a royal guard." Link added, "I'm the Princess's appointed knight. Which means my main concern is protecting you. Therefore, I'm afraid you'll be stuck with me."
I blinked several times. I felt happy that Link would remain by my side throughout all the chaos that was coming, yet... "But you're our most talented knight. You should be helping in preparing for the war ahead as well as combating Calamity Ganon."
"There are other talented knights. And after everything we've been through, I think me being with you and the champions will be our best strategy in taking down Calamity Ganon. You and I are supposed to defeat him with the champion's help. It seems that the six of us should train together so we are a seamless team."
I stared at Link, his words digging their way inside my chest. I shook my head, "Yes, you're right." I sipped at my tea, a soft smile growing on my face. When had he become someone I relied upon so much? "I hope I can convince my father."
"Why wouldn't the King cooperate?" Link asked.
"My father is a stubborn man." I answered, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice, "He assumes he knows best or at least knows better than I do."
Link didn't reply for moment, "I think that is a bit harsh. He did agree to this journey. He must value your opinion and insight if he allowed you to partake on this expedition."
"He was surprisingly open to that suggestion of mine." I admitted, knowing he normally wasn't as willing to listen to my ideas.
Link exhaled, "I have a lot of respect for the King, don't get me wrong, but I also think he is... very strict and not very understanding of you."
I set my empty mug down and brought my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. "You can tell?" I said drilly.
Link did not reply right away, sensing my defensiveness. "Has he always been like that?" He finally asked.
"Since mother passed." I replied quietly. "After, he grew cold and distant. He treats me like I'm an object, pouring resources into me to make me polished and molded into something he deems worthy, and when I don't meet his expectations, his disappointment cuts deep."
"I'm sure he must love you and is doing this to benefit you. You're his daughter." Link reasoned.
"All I am to him is the next ruler of Hyrule. I am appreciative to him; he has provided me with everything I'll need to be the next ruler... but I don't think he loves me anymore. At least not in the typical sense family loves each other." I sighed, my father's stern face flashing through my mind. "Instead of mother's death bringing us closer, it drove a large rift between us, which has only grown over the years."
"Perhaps the two of you need to find common gro-" Link started before I cut him off.
"Link." I said, stopping him. "I know you're trying to help, but my father and I's relationship is what it is. I certainly do wish he would acknowledge me and understand me. But I don't think that will ever happen know. And how can I ask him to understand me, when I don't even understand him? I respect him, but I do not understand him. How could I? He abandoned me when I needed him the most." I felt tears sting at the back of my eyes, threatening to spill out. Images of my childhood flashed through my mind: so many tears I thought my cheeks would be stained with them, screaming until my voice was hoarse, picking fights, punching at walls until my knuckles bled... and my father's eyes, filled with disappointment or indifference. "He pulled away while I spiraled out of control."
"Zelda..." Link whispered, his voice so gentle. I felt an arm snake around my shoulders, comforting me. I closed my eyes and leaned into Link, feeling his warmth spread through me like the sun on a summer day.
"At this point I don't even know if I want to fix our relationship." I said quietly. "I still want his approval, but I think I've accepted that I may never get it." I felt a deep wariness fill me. Why was I even talking about my father? He was far away and I wouldn't have to see him for a while. And yet the fear of returning to the castle without my powers unlocked had weighed on me since we left Hyrule Castle. The fear of returning home and being greeted with his eyes filled with disappointment.
Link didn't say anything after this, but his arm remained around me comfortingly. I leaned against him, my head on his shoulder and side pressed against his side. He felt so warm and safe... as if just his presence was enough to chase away all my woes and worries.
Link looked down at the blonde head resting on his shoulder. He was pretty sure Zelda had fallen asleep, her breathing having evened out. He had sensed something was distressing her earlier this evening, yet she hadn't seemed like she wanted to talk about it. He was certain there was a lot on her mind. She had so much to deal with, and it didn't help that the one person who should have been on her side, was causing her great stress and anguish.
Link had known Zelda and her father didn't have the best relationship, but he had not realized it was this bad. The death of the Queen had been a shock to the entire kingdom, and had clearly devastated the King and the Princess. Instead of being there for his daughter he had distanced himself. King Rhoam probably had a lot to deal with after the Queen died, as he had to lead an entire kingdom, a role he had not been brought up learning as he had married into the Hyrule family. Still, even with the added burden, was that any excuse to abandon his daughter?
Zelda had her hardships. Link wasn't entirely sure of everything she had gone through, but he knew she had been in some dark places. The scars on her arms were an indication of that. He hoped on day she would be able to share such things with him. But until then he would wait.
His eyes fell on the girl next to him. He wanted to reach out and hold her close to him, to chase away all that plagued her mind; to tell her everything would be ok, that they would face whatever fate had in store for them together.
She's a Princess. Link reminded himself as a wave of fondness rose in his chest for the girl with her head upon his shoulder. He cared for Zelda deeply, but he was a knight, born to commoners. For someone like him to even think about being with the Princess, it was foolish to say the least.
Yet that didn't stop the feelings blooming inside him. But he would not act on them. He knew his duty; he knew his place. And that was to remain at the Princess's side as her knight, and nothing more.
Still, it did not mean he couldn't enjoy little moments like this.
So it looks like I was able to post twice this week after all. Wasn't sure if I'd have time to edit this chapter this week or not but I did get around to it! It's pretty long, but I had a lot of fun writing it. I do edit every chapter before I publish them, but I know I probably still miss some things, so apologies for any typos/grammatical errors. One day I'll go back and edit things more… at least that's the plan.
Anyways hope you enjoyed the chapter and as always I appreciate you reading this story :) Thanks for any follows/review!