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When the sun rose, she saw Link up and beside her bed. That was highly unusual. He often gave more space. "What is it?" He held up an article. Rito village was used as a central source for journalists to spread news quickly. It was happening more and more. At first it was the weather, then it was inventions, then it was unique people and interests. Her own volunteer watcher was from Rito. If it held Links interest, it couldn't be good. 'I don't even need to look.' "I remember the gossip mongers of the past, Link. I assume it's terrible. After all." 'Father had warned me what the kingdom thought of me back then. I was not fit to rule.' She still didn't feel fit to rule, but as she was the last of the royalty, there was little choice.
Link laid it next to her. It must be something terrible that wouldn't go away easily. It probably spoke of all the terrible things the woman mentioned yesterday. Trying to make her look cruel and unjust.
Nope! It didn't even look like it was written by the Nutcake woman. "What?" The article heading was Best Choices for the Next Hyrule King, Part 1! She already placed it down. Just turned eighteen and this muck had to begin? "I am going to need something to eat." Link was already ready with some hearty bass and rice. "That's kind of you, Link." Zelda moved from the bed with the food and sat at the same table with it. Link joined her as she ate.
She only scanned the beginning, knowing it would be a full list of reasons why she wasn't capable of ruling Hyrule alone.
Prince Sidon was considerably a good guess in their gossip since Zelda led 'unaided help of a gift for her turned to him'. Since he was also the Prince of Zora's Domain, joining a Hylian and the Zora's domain would strengthen their alliance with each other, each being ruled together. Sidon was also kind, women adored him, and Zora's Domain and Hyrule were not far from each other. They also shared a past time that Zelda remembered, which would be a strength to their bond. Part 2 would come out tomorrow. "I'm fine, Link. It's nothing I haven't heard before."
Link gestured toward the top of the article.
"Oh. You want to know that?" She had not told anyone but Impa those details but she wanted to keep a connection with him. If he felt he should know? "If you close your eyes, and simply hear your voice. That's what it was like," she told him. "I felt his darkness next to me, trying to press over me, to take over the light I was holding him down with. I felt it like a hot, radiating sun trying to burn me. Although, there was no skin. I was . . . bodiless, feeling more like a spirit than a person. Time existing and not existing, passing and yet standing still." She looked back at the table. "It changed me. I'm not the same anymore." She held her fork. That was a good enough explanation for him. "So much is missing now. You must know what I mean."
"Hyah!"
Zelda moved as she watched the table being split in two! Link was beside himself? 'Are you kidding?!' She could not even feel the difference between Link and a Yiga clan member in disguise? Even the most basic spirit power was gone now. He was disappearing and fighting Link, but Zelda's heart felt so heavy after that. They tricked her into revealing her innermost thoughts.
Link came back but the damage was already done. Her personal words were now fodder for the gossip mongers. The only thing she could be happy about is that she didn't reveal too much, only her feelings.
Still? It irritated her! Those were her feelings. "I am going for a ride." She went toward the front and retrieved her steed, Endura. Link quickly followed beside her, getting his horse as well.
She rode her horse for some time at almost max power, stopping to give it a break and an endura carrot to feel better. "You want this? Of course you do, and you deserve it too." She patted her horse to show it some affection. Her horse loved those carrots so much she had called her Endura. Link got off his horse and came over to see her. "She knows when to ride like the wind for me. She deserves a treat. Does your horse want a carrot too?"
She felt Link's hand gently touch her shoulder. He did retrieve more memories, he was developing a softer spot for her. More personal than just 'she was princess'.
"I will be okay. I must be okay. If I'm not, the kingdom will insist I marry someone that fits their likings. Like my own feelings don't count for anything, just like father . . ." She shook her head. "No, I won't do that. I loved him." Her eyes started to water again. "I loved them all." Birthdays, blasted birthdays! Only useful to stir her heart and hurt. She looked toward a second carrot. "I don't feel fit to rule Hyrule." She stared at his eyes. "I never have been, even before this. I've tried for so long. I am just an ambassador trying to keep peace. Hyrule hasn't had royalty and it survived just fine. Can't I just be Ambassador Zelda?"
He moved back toward his horse and his hands slid slightly against the reigns.
She sighed and looked at her horse. "It's not the same. None of it." She brought out the article again. "Even a Yiga member can fool me now." He moved closer with his horse. That's right, he hadn't seen the article. She gave it to him.
Link looked at the article and his eyes grew wide as he was shaking his head no back and forth vigorously.
"Mipha's brother as King of Hyrule," she said. "I just don't see it."
"No." It was rare he spoke up like that when he could have just shook his head. Link often picked a non-verbal cue when he could.
"I know. A choice by best facts and opinions of people. Not me." She looked toward Link. "I do not plan on mounting any kind of husband right now anymore than I did then." She smiled at her horse. "I much prefer her." She watched Link drop the article. "I suppose I should head back."