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Zelink Week 2025 Day 3: Forget Me Not

I couldn’t write anything for Wish, but I was able to do Day 3 @zelinkcommunity!

This was one of the harder ones to write, I had ultimately based it off of an alleged fairytale detailing the origins of the name for the forget-me-not flower. I eventually decided to make a short story about OOT Zelink.

A one-shot where Link and Zelda meet in secret, courting away from disapproving eyes, only for things to go wrong.

Big thanks @echoingvoids for beta-reading this fic!

Full fic under the cut!

Tension coiled my muscles as I stalked the carved stone passage, my breath caught between the sorrel and clover.

Rounding the corner, I pounced into the first hall of the maze-like corridor with a “Ha!”

But to my surprise, Link wasn’t hiding here.

Curiosity pierced my playful mood as I approached the mouth of the maze, peeking past the moss-covered rock walls. The entrance to the Sacred Forest Meadow was also empty.

I called out for him, my voice laced with concern. Link would never leave me alone in the Lost Woods, and I knew better than to wander off by myself, but I was still prepared to do so if anything had happened to him.

But before I could move, I heard a loud SPLASH behind me, and I turned around just in time to see Link wrapping his arms around me.

We both fell onto the plush sourgrass, mirth rising in our throats. He had chosen to hide in the small pool tucked into the valley wall at the far side of the hall. I did eventually shrug him off of me as the cold water he was soaked in began to seep into my clothes.

The sun’s warmth could shine unblocked on us in that clearing, but Link had a special place he wanted to show me before our outing was over. Arm-in-arm, he led me through the Lost Woods, until he told me to close my eyes. I didn’t need to have them open to sense his excitement; I could sense it in the way he clasped my hands.

I felt the sun’s heat on my face once more, the light brightening behind my eyelids as I was led out from under the wood’s ever-reaching canopy.

“May I open them?” I asked, not being able to hide my grin.

I felt Link’s grasp slip away from my hands as he stepped behind me.

“Now.” he whispered in my ear, his tone betraying his own smile.

Opening my eyes, I drank in the sight before me, my breath stolen away.

By now, twilight was beginning to fall upon the forest, the sun setting the clearing ablaze with gold. A small rock wall obscured the trees enclosing the glade up front, and fine threads of crystal water cascaded down into a small pond that stretched across the hollow. Duckweed and lilies encircled the still surface, the blossoms glowing in the half-light. The grass was carpeted by a myriad of small, multicolored flowers. Trees surrounded the glade, providing mottled shade, the sunlight setting emerald green leaves alight against the stark blue sky. Though there was still some daylight, fireflies danced wild and free through the air, and my vision was peppered with the blinking of blue and yellow lights.

“Oh, Link…” I breathed.

“Do you…like it?” he asked quietly, his gaze unsteady and his arms slightly crossed in a self-hug.

I pulled his hands away from his arms, taking them in mine.

“It’s beautiful.” I purred, and he gave me a coy smile as he led me further into the glade.

We settled near the water’s edge, buried in the sweet smell of wildflowers.

I gently traced the round petals of a light blue one with a bright yellow star center, the clustered blooms dotting the grass.

“These flowers are beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in Hyrule, let alone the gardens.” I said as I admired them.

Link nodded, watching my movements.

“I don’t think I’ve seen many of these flowers outside the Lost Woods. Those I have really only seen here; I asked Saria, not even the Kokiri have a name for them.”

Interest sparked inside of me, and I pulled my attention away from the flowers.

“How is Saria? I haven’t seen her since we were children.”

My sudden turn-around caused him to straighten after realizing he had begun to lean towards me, but he spoke without apprehension, returning to a more laid-back demeanor.

“She still prays at the Forest Temple. But nowadays she mostly just talks to the Deku Sprout. He is growing stronger everyday.”

He let out a sigh.

“But I haven’t seen her very recently either. Haven’t had the chance between training and patrols. And seeing you, of course.”

He flashed me a boyish grin, and I looked away bashfully, before uncertainty stirred in my belly.

“You know I sent you back in time to live your life freely; are you sure joining Hyrule’s military is the right choice? I wanted to spare you from war and fighting.”

He laid his hand reassuringly on my shoulder.

“Hyrule is at peace; I’m in no danger. Besides, I like that I get to use my skills this way, to protect our people. And I can be closer to you.”

“But then maybe we would not have to hide away like this.”

He removed his hand from my shoulder, becoming lost in thought. Finally he piped up:

“I’ll get better as a soldier! The captains say they’re impressed with what I can do. Maybe if I become one, we’ll be able to meet under more normal circumstances…”

I weighed the possibility in my mind, my thoughts interrupted when he spoke again.

“And when have you ever cared about what other people think, Sheik?” he murmured mischievously.

I gave him a playful shove at the name, and he responded with amused laughter.

“You’re the one who devised a whole plan to defeat Ganondorf when your own father didn’t listen to you.”

“And you are the one who listened. Trust me, if I cared about what he had to say about us, I would not be out here with you. But maybe Father would approve if you were someone of higher ranking…”

Link gave me an amused smile.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Our excitement died down, and we glanced at the sights around the glade, an awkward silence suddenly falling upon us. I turned his proposition over in my mind, wondering if it could be true. My father could probably approve of a friendship between us if he was a more respected soldier, as long as friends were all we could be. However, part of me couldn’t help considering the possibility of something more…and heavens knew I wanted it. The thought made my face flush, but it faded as Link spoke again.

“Do you think we’ll always be like this?” he said tentatively.

I sighed as I gazed out across the gently rippling pool.

“I want to stay like this forever. But regardless of what happens, you know our circumstances will only change as time passes.”

Link stretched himself out on the grass, letting the sun dry his clothes.

“You once told me that the only thing that doesn’t change with time…is memory.”

He slowly trailed his fingers along the stems of the delicate blossoms before turning his head to face me.

“Is that what I will be?” he breathed, the shade of his grief-stricken eyes not unlike that of the flowers in the glade’s dusky glow.

I leaned over him with a cheeky smile.

“You know what I also said about the passage of time?” I whispered.

Link sat up to reveal a fistful of the dainty blue flowers, and he gently threaded one into my hair, a sad smile on his face.

“That nothing can stop it…”

My heart fluttering, I held his hand to my face as he began to pull away, staring deep into his eyes.

“That it turns young love into…”

I trailed off as surprise rippled across his face, locking his eyes to mine.

Time seemed to slow as we stared into each other’s souls, and an unknown force began to steadily push our faces closer together, my heart fluttering in my chest all the while. Our noses almost touching, I felt my eyelids fall…

Only for them to snap back open as the sound of thunder rolled through the air.

Link and I drew apart as we searched the clear sky.

“Must be a distant storm…” he muttered, keeping his face to the heavens, though I didn’t miss the blush that was spreading over his cheeks.

“We really should be going either way…before it gets too dark. Impa can only cover me so much.” I murmured coyly under my own blush.

Link stood, offering a hand to pull me up. The flowers shook in my hair as I rose, and I gently pulled them out before they could fall.

I let my sight rest on them in my hand, before I turned my gaze back to him.

“I’ll keep these, so I’ll always remember this moment.”

Link smiled as he offered his hand, and I gave them to him so I could draw the Ocarina of Time with my free hand.

Encircling our arms together, I played a triumphant melody, and we were swept away by a golden wind.

That was our relationship, a sprightly dance on the line between lovers and friends.

The evening in the glade was one of the first of our secret outings, but it only confirmed our feelings for each other. We continued to meet under the cover of days off duty, dedicating time to prayer, and any excuse Impa could make up to cover me. Through afternoon swims in Lake Hylia to rides through the countryside, I found that our time together had taken on a different tone, one resembling more of a courtship. Clandestine as our relationship was, we refused to let the rules of others stop us. Our love was true, and I could never treat it as something wrong. I could feel us getting closer and closer, and many times we would throw our cares about our responsibilities to the wind in exchange for innocent affections. But our getaways were always tainted with fear. Not just due to the risk of getting caught, but also because we knew this couldn’t last forever, for better or worse.

I pondered how I could keep our precious connection as I sat in front of my vanity, fingering the now pressed flowers Link had given me. Despite spending days wedged between the pages of my journal, they still kept their azure hue.

I never let my father’s orders stop me, and why should they stop me now? I would always fight for my love, for Link’s love.

A knock sounded at my chamber door.

I quickly tucked the flowers back into the pages of my journal.

“Enter.” I called, hurriedly closing the vanity drawer.

One of the maids stood in the doorway of my chamber.

“Your Highness, His Majesty has requested an audience with you. You are to meet him in his chambers.”

Surprise fluttered in my chest, but I made sure to not let any of it show as I rose from the vanity.

The maid led me down the elaborate halls to my father’s chamber, briefly opening the door to announce my presence. With a curt bow, she left us alone in the room.

My father, with his flowing grey-streaked hair and gold trimmed coat, stood tall and imposing against the burning hearth. With a rumbling voice devoid of anger or pleasure, he addressed me.

“You have been late to suppertime, and just a few days ago you were almost late to court. You had always been punctual before. Care to explain these sudden disappearances?”

Internally I kicked myself for not being more careful about how long I met with Link, but I managed to remain composed.

“I…have been losing track of the time. It will not happen again, Father.” I said as I bowed my head.

My eyes closed, I heard him let out an unconvinced “Hmm…” before his footsteps moved to the chamber’s tall window.

“I have received word from the neighboring kingdoms. One of them has agreed to present their prince here as a suitor for your betrothal.”

My eyes snapped open, and I slowly drew my gaze up.

“When he arrives, the council and I will judge how worthy he is as a potential husband for–”

“And if I refuse him?”

My father turned his head to glare at me. I would hardly ever openly disobey him like this, but my passionate rejection of being forced into a loveless marriage broke my composure.

“You have the right to refuse him, however you must realize it is your duty as Hyrule’s future queen to marry and produce an heir. However many you will meet, I expect you to accept one.”

My brows furrowed and my hands balled into fists as I glared back at him in rebellion.

“And if I fall in love with another? Someone who is not of royalty–”

I was interrupted by him pounding his foot against the floor, and I flinched as he raised his voice.

“The Royal Family of Hyrule has had pure blood running through its family line for as long as time itself. You are a princess; I will not allow anything less than a prince for you.”

He advanced towards me, towering over me so I had to crane my neck up to look at him.

“You must never forget your duties, Zelda. You can not allow even love to interfere with them.”

My throat began to burn, and I forced my gaze down in frustration.

My father seemed to sense my displeased attitude, and he returned to his place at the window, his back facing me.

“You must understand, this is what is necessary to secure our future happiness.” he murmured in a more gentle tone.

I said nothing as I clenched my teeth, my sight fixed to the floor.

He let out a malcontent sigh.

“You will be notified when your suitor has arrived. You are dismissed.”

I barely heard the words when I ungraciously rushed out of his chambers, just taking care to not slam the doors.

Forcing my feet to walk steady back to my chambers, I took deep breaths in an attempt to quell the onslaught of tears, the feeling of tension in my brow. Though after I was out of sight of scrutinizing eyes, I threw myself on my bed.

I was out of time.

Conflicting emotions warred within me. Over the course of my life, I was never one to mindlessly obey whatever command my distant father would give me, at least not without secretly doing something else he would disapprove of. He never understood me, nor did he ever really try to. My heart screamed in defiance; that I couldn’t stop seeing Link, not after everything we had gone through.

But every time it would, my logic countered it. My father was right that I had a duty to my people; I could not abandon them, not like how I did those seven years locked away in time. I felt devotion for them too, and they did not deserve to suffer for something as selfish as my love.

Then my thoughts drifted to Link.

He could climb the ranks of the Royal Guard to its very top, my father made it clear that a union between us would never be approved, not by him or the Council. I had already begun to draw suspicion in regards to our meetings; continuing them while courting a suitor would be extremely difficult if not impossible without getting caught in the act. Even more so should I marry. Should we be found…

I shuddered at the thought. My father was a benevolent king and he recognized Link’s exceptional military prowess, but if our affair was discovered, Link’s life would be threatened.

I curled up into a ball, burying my face in my knees as I compelled myself to accept what I must do.

I had to protect him, even at the cost of our broken hearts, our incomparable bond torn asunder.

Despite being dried out, the pressed flowers still kept their azure hue, glowing periwinkle in the moonlight. I sat on the steps of the castle courtyard, my figure still, save for my fingers as I caressed the stems. I kept my gaze on them, trying my best to not resume my crying, only looking up when footsteps on the courtyard’s stone entrance sounded above the moat’s running water.

Link stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlit clearing, illuminating his face, handsome features lined with concern.

“You used telepathy to tell me to meet you here. You haven’t used telepathy since the night Ganondorf attacked…”

Words catching in my throat, I looked back at the flowers, keeping my eyes on them once more even as he approached and took a seat beside me on the steps.

“And we haven’t been here since we first met.”

He let out a soft chuckle.

“Wish I could say the guards have gotten more observant.”

I could feel his stare boring into my side, but I could not bring myself to look at him.

He leaned around me, trying to glimpse my face, but I turned my head away, screwing up my eyes and pressing my lips together.

“Zelda, please, tell me what’s wrong.” he gently pleaded as he took my hand.

The ache in his voice cracked my heart, and taking a deep breath, I forced myself to look at his worry-worn expression.

“One of the princes from the neighboring kingdoms is coming here. He is to be my suitor.” I said quietly.

Link said nothing, but his slowly widening eyes betrayed his shock.

“We can’t risk ourselves seeing each other anymore–”

Link’s face hardened into a mask of determination.

“Zelda, wait, what about what we talked about? I’ll get stronger, better! I’ll climb the ranks, I’ll be someone worthy of being yours…”

He trailed off as I sadly shook my head at him.

“Father is adamant that I marry a prince.”

Link softened, his eyes downcast and shifting, as if searching for a miraculous solution hidden in front of him.

I swallowed, trying to keep my resolve.

“He has also started noticing how I’ve been gone. Link, if he finds out we’ve been seeing each other…you could get killed.”

Link looked away, and I heard him let out a sigh.

“Don’t you know I’d rather run the risk of being caught and killed than risk never being with you…”

He spoke the words with such hurt, such defeat, and tears began to cloud my vision. Self-loathing suddenly pounced on me, overwhelming.

“Oh Link, I should have fought harder for you.” I began to ungracefully blubber, screwing up my eyes.

“You were right; I never let him stop me, not when I knew I was right…when did I get so weak–”

I stopped when I felt Link’s hand cup my face, opening my eyes to glimpse his tender look.

“You’re not weak, Zelda. You…have to be one of the strongest people I know.” he gently soothed as he swept his thumb underneath my eye, wiping away a tear that slid from it.

He drew me into an embrace, and I buried my face in his shoulder.

“You have no idea how much I want to…run away from it all.” I wept.

Link softly hushed me as he slowly stroked my hair.

“You would never abandon our people, and I know you would never willingly put me in danger. I’m just worried about you. Being forced to marry someone you don’t love…”

I pulled myself away, keeping my sight on his perturbed expression.

“Our meetings–being with you was the happiest I’ve ever been…but Father said I should never let love interfere with my duties. As much as I hate to admit it, this is what I have to do…to keep you safe.” I said, keeping my voice steady.

Link closed his eyes and sighed once more, his hands still clasping mine.

Finally, he reluctantly stood up.

“I should go…before anyone hears us.”

We held each other’s gaze for a while, neither of us wanting to say goodbye; the words caught in our throats.

Then he solemnly turned and began to walk back to the gardens, leaving me still sitting on the steps.

I couldn’t bear to see him go, to accept that this would be the last time we knew each other as friends, as lovers, so I turned my face down in shame, my vision falling once more on the flowers I still held in my hand.

Something inside of me jolted, spurring me to my feet, the same unknown force I felt in the glade all that time ago.

Link spun around when he heard my footsteps, and I met him in the middle of the moonlit courtyard.

I wordlessly extended the flowers toward him, letting my guilt show on my face, but he gently pushed them back to me. We locked eyes once more, a sorrowful, yet bittersweet air clinging to us as he spoke.

“Keep them, so you can always look back… and remember…” he murmured, bringing his hand softly down the side of my face. His fingertips held my chin as the dull acceptance in his eyes flared to a pained desperation. “Zelda, please do not forget about me.” he whispered.

The affliction in his voice pierced my throbbing heart, and I resolved to give him a better answer, a more deserving farewell.

In response, I stood on my tip-toes and cupped his face, closing my eyes as I brought our lips together.

I sensed his surprise, his reluctance to give into me, but I pushed forward, and eventually I felt his hands wrap around my waist, drawing me flush against him as he deepened the kiss.

Heat blossomed in my chest as we kissed again and again, warming me from head to toe. I desperately sought to feel him, to memorize the tender softness of his lips, the protective strength of his arms as he held me, the shy sweetness in his voice as our quiet moans harmonized. For what felt like an eternity, we knew nothing more than the feel of each other, our figures moulding together.

Growing breathless, we broke the kisses, our eyes still closed as we rested our foreheads against one another.

Finally, I opened my eyes, my stare fierce in the emotions I sought to convey.

“I could never forget you, Link.”

He brightened gratefully at me, love reflected in his eyes, but his pleasant mood fell once more as I gave him a gentle push.

“Now go, before I decide to never release you.” I urged, my voice breaking slightly as the tears returned.

He began to step back to the courtyard’s entrance, not letting go of my hands until only our fingertips touched.

Finally, we were drawn apart as he backed into the shadows, giving each other a subtle wave as our hands remained hovering in the air.

An apology was written over his misery-wrought face, an image I mirrored back at him.

Then Link turned around, and disappeared into the gardens.

That was the last time we ever met each other.

As the years dragged on, we became strangers. I would eventually rise as the Queen of Hyrule, fulfilling the duties my father expected of me, while Link climbed the ranks in Hyrule’s military, eventually becoming Captain at an age unparalleled to even the youngest promoted captains in history. Still, our new responsibilities only further isolated us from each other.

Without his presence to soothe me, I felt myself becoming a husk of who I used to be, my days moving past me in painful monotony as the fire of a rebellious princess died out, and as I ever saw Link stone-faced and rigid (the rare chances I did see him), I could only wonder how he was getting on. Every part of me longed to talk to him, to care for him, to know him as I once did, as no one else ever could. If nothing else, just so that I knew he was alright. We were both still so young, and already he was leading our troops to war…

I drew my furred cloak tight around me as I walked through Kakariko Village. The loud crunching of the dry leaves beneath my feet could not overpower the metallic clank of the armor of the guards behind me, which haunted my every outing since I took up the mantle of queen. Their armor was colder than the autumn breeze chilling my bones.

The sight of Kakariko struck me with a devastating wave of nostalgia, but I couldn’t let my feelings overwhelm me. Not as we reached the graveyard.

Although the overcast sky allowed no sunlight to grace such a dreary sight as the dead’s resting place, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth as I approached the most recently dug grave. The grave of an exceptional captain of Hyrule’s military who curiously lacked a house name, taken far too soon in battle.

Tears welled up in my eyes as grief and guilt lodged themselves in my throat, but even in his death, I couldn’t let anyone know how I felt about him.

Parting my cloak, I held the pressed forget-me-nots out in the open air.

By now they had become disheveled, and the ends of the petals were beginning to wilt. I took great care as I laid them down on the grave, as the now brittle stems threatened to snap.

Despite the age and hardship they endured for years, they still kept their azure hue.

#thanks😀#didn't need my heart anyway😀#legend of zelda #ocarina of time #link #zelda #fanfic #zelink #Zelink Week 2025

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