#zelinktines

[hazethestrange]

Taking a picture!

For the @zelinktines23 for day 15: Pictures!

I still have 20mins before it's no longer the 15th so this counts, right? XD

#legend of zelda #breath of the wild #botw #botw link #botw zelda #zelink #botw zelink #zelinktines

[louwhose]

For @zelinktines24 day 4: Blush!!

#just finished playing the game last week and love them so much. probably my fave zelink which is. saying something. #legend of zelda #loz #spirit tracks #st #zelink #zelinktines #zelinktines24 #zelinktines 2024 #lou draws #hand holding

[alkturos]

You

i know who you are

i didn't at first

but then i saw Her eyes

in Yours

when they smiled

i know who you are

but I don't think you

want me to recognize You

behind that disguise

i know who you are

but i see you sometimes grow

weary of being Him

being Him keeps You safe

i know who you are

and i know you're tired

i am too

but at least i know that

around me

you let Him rest

and you allow me

a glimpse of You again

Happy Valentine's Day everyone, and especially to @youwouldntbelievehowigothere who I was matched with for @zelinkcommunity 's Loftwing Letters event! Also a good double post for @zelinktines23 day 5: Secret! I hope you like it 🥹 I also apologise that I'm a little late 😭 Real life almost got in the way of OOT Zelink but I won in the end 😂

I loved how thorough and detailed you were with the description of what you would like for this event, and all your ideas are awesome for fanfic! It would've taken me even longer to actually write a fanfic but I hope you enjoy the little sketches and poem! I did what I could given the little time I had, Happy Valentine's Day again! 🥰

#legend of zelda #loz #zelink #link #zelda #sheik #shink #legend of zelda ocarina of time #ocarina of time #tloz oot #oot #loftwing letters #zelinktines #zelinktines23 #day 5 #alkturos #alkturos art #alkturos doodles #secret #valentines #i love them #so much #his ears perk up 🥺 #and his pupils dilate when he looks at sheik 🥹

[zelinktines24]

Hi there, @zeldaelmo here!

Zelinktines is a casual zelink event in February.

Choose a prompt of your liking, get creative with it and post it on the prompt date! Art, stories, music, moodboards, whatever you feel inspired to!

Everyone can participate! We recommend picking one or two prompts but of course, we'll stop no one who wants to do more. Just take care of yourself!

To make it easier for us to reblogs, tag us ( @zelinktines24 ) when you post! There will also be an Ao3 collection in February.

NSFW content is allowed. Please blur NSFW art with the 'mature' feature and hide explicit writing under the cut here on Tumblr (more info here).

If you have a question, send an ask!

Have fun!

Many thanks to the team @aquaticpal, @itcantbe, and @deiliamedlini for their support!

#zelinktines24 #zelinktines #zelinktines 2024 #zelink #legend of zelda

[writingnocturne]

ZelinkTines

Day 1 - Cozy

BotW Zelink (Pre-TotK)

Hateno Village is known for its string of snowstorms every winter. Its newest resident, Princess Zelda, anticipates the first one she's seen in a long time.

Word Count: 1,100

Rating: G

Will I ever figure out a posting format that I like consistently? Probably not. And I apologize.

#zelinktines #zelinktines 2024 #zelink #link x zelda #zelda x link #botw #breath of the wild #zelda breath of the wild #loz #tloz #legend of zelda #the legend of zelda #zelda #link #hero of the wild #princess zelda #loz fanfiction #loz fic #loz fanfic #botw fanfic #botw fic #botw zelink #botw zelda #botw link #silent princess #totk #tears of the kingdom #zelda tears of the kingdom #totk zelink #botw totk

[aurathian]

My Zelinktines 2024 Masterlist

All my contributions for @zelinktines24 2024! All are SFW. View my full masterlist here.

To the Moon and Back: #5 sun, #6 moon, #7 stars

Breath of the Wild

Under the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars, Zelda and Link travel to the Spring of Wisdom so the princess can perform one last prayer.

From the sun, 2. to the moon, 3. and even the stars.

Dawn to Dusk: #12 dawn, #13 dusk

Twilight Princess

It is dawn when she leaves, but it is dusk when she brings them together.

Dawn 2. Dusk

Rumors: #14 rumors

Skyward Sword

There’s a rumor going around that Link and Zelda are in love. 

Permafrost: #17 fire, #18 ice

Ocarina of Time, Sheik/Link

Until the war is over, she will only be Sheik to him.

Bolero of Fire 2. Serenade of Water

#zelinktines #zelinktines24 #zelinktines 2024 #zelink #zelda #link #shink #sheik #oot #botw #sksw #tp #legend of zelda

[kokiriforestspirit]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda & Related Fandoms Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Link/Zelda (Legend of Zelda), Link & Zelda (Legend of Zelda) Characters: Link (Legend of Zelda), Zelda (Legend of Zelda) Additional Tags: Zelinktines, Zelinktines 2024, Nightmares, zelink, Hurt/Comfort, Blood and Injury, Angst with a Happy Ending, Talking Link (Legend of Zelda), Established Relationship, post-BOTW, Pre-TotK, Regaining Memories, They are in love and take care of each other Summary:

Her eyes eventually adjust to the darkness of the room and the subtle light from dawn now filtering in through the window in the loft.

Zelda isn't on Blatchery Plain or anywhere else that her dreadful dreams and memories might have dragged her through during the night.

She is at home, in bed with Link.

Zelda wakes up the morning after a nightmare and realizes that healing isn't linear, it's ok to feel happy even after a traumatic experience, and sometimes home is a person. Written for @zelinktines24 Day 11 prompt Heartbeat.

#my writing #Zelinktines #zelinktines24 #Heartbeat #LOZ #BOTW #Link #Zelda #Zelink #angst with a happy ending #nightmares #they're in love and take care of each other #ok? #you got that?

[sciencelings-arts]

Day 8 of Zelinktines: Mask @zelinktines23

Anyway here’s more of my fem!Link au where Zelink are lesbians, kind of a last minute design of Lady of the Mountain Zelda and Great Deku Tree Link/ Aryll, maskless versions under the cut!

#zelink #zelinktine's month #zelinktines #my art #loz #botw #fanart #genderbend #had to rush a bit to get them done I hate drawing clothes #there was going to be another where they dance but I ran out of time lol

[bahbahhh]

@zelinktines23 Day 6 – “Oh, no”

Summary: Impa is given a secret assignment from the King just before she is to escort Zelda and Link back to Kakariko Village for the festival of Sahasra’s Pass: make sure their arrangement is not creating “unnecessary distractions.” It seems silly for the King to be so concerned about such an implausible matter. Anyone with two eyes can see they clearly despise each other. Impa forgets she has three.

BoTW set before Memory #5 (Zelda’s Resentment).

Rated G/ Impa POV / Worldbuilding / 6k words / complete

She steels her jaw. “Allow me to bring Princess Zelda with me to Kakariko.”

The ghost returns and then fades quickly with the realization she’s not kidding. “Absolutely not.”

“Your Majesty, please, consider—“

“Did she put you up to this? I will not allow her to continue entertaining this foolish dream of being a scholar,” the King snaps. He pinches the flesh of his brow and sighs. Impa can almost feel the force of breath across the space.

“Her path is set. You know this. She needs to accept it.”

Impa doesn’t have enough fingers to count how many discussions she has been included in (and Zelda not) about what Zelda needs.

She hates to contribute another but, “This may be just what she needs.”

“She needs to pray.”

“All she does is pray!”

Read the rest on AO3!

#bahbahhhwrites #zelinktines23 #zelinktines2023 #zelinktines #zelink #zelink fanfiction #botw #breath of the wild #loz #legend of zelda #loz fanfic #loz fanfiction #impa #impa pov #worldbuilding

[cooking-with-hailstones]

Writing master post

Hello!

I figured it was time to put all my writing under one big pinned post.

You can find all my fics and drabbles under the tag #emily writes or find me on AO3

That Child of Mine:

Rated T (rating may change)

What is the legacy of the child born in secret to the Hero and the Goddess in a time of calamity?

(Ongoing long fic about Link and Zelda’s son, born one week before the calamity, raised in Kakariko village.)

Last updated May 7, 2023

CW: Major character death

Silk and Moonlight

Rated G

The interminable boredom of guard duty is interrupted when Zelda's screams pierce the stillness of the evening. Link rushes to her side, only to find her awakening from a nightmare.The two of them take comfort in each others presence, in the slip of silk and the soft light of the moon.

Written for Zelinktines 2023 - day 2. Prompt: silk

It was my honour and privilege to collab with the amazing @bahbahhh for the art in this fic! Please go check out her stuff!

Is that a yes?

Rated E for sexual content (tags will make it pretty clear)

"Some unknown wellspring of courage bloomed inside her breast. Before she could think twice, the words were out of her mouth. 'You’re more than just a vessel for the sword, Link.'"

OR

Link has been trying for months to convince Zelda that she is more than just a weapon in the war against the calamity. Zelda decides that he should listen to his own advice.

Written for Zelinktines 2023 - day 16. Prompt: "Is that a yes?"

A chance encounter at the blood clinic

Rated T for blood, medical procedures 

After a day spent wrangling his students on a field trip to Lake Hylia and having to skip lunch, Link is sure that he'll be fine to go donate blood that evening.He is not fine.But at least he gets to spend some extra time with the lovely nurse, and eat a truly impressive amount of oreos, so, it could be worse?

Written for Zelinktines 2023 - day 21. Prompt: "meet-weird"

For a moment, when I’m dancing,

Rated G

“Is there anything else you would rather do?”

Images flashed through his mind. Cooking dinner with his mother, evenings spent helping his sister with her schoolwork, trailing after Mipha in the healing wards in Zora’s domain. None of it had ever felt as right as when he had first held the master sword in his hands.

“There is nothing else I know how to do. All I've ever known is to give all of myself to you.” And that was true. It was one of the truest things he had ever spoken. From the moment he first laid eyes on her, he had known that he would give everything and more to her, whatever she might ask.

She looked at him silently, before once again taking his hand in hers.

“Come inside. Dance with me.”

Based on the F+tM song “free”

Bright is the ring of words

Rated G

Kass and Link muse on the roles of the hero and bard, the strange ways in which legends are made, and stories are remembered.

Written for @bahbahhh as part of @zelinkcommunity ‘s Loftwing Letters event. Kass and Link centric, but there’s a hint of Zelink if you squint.

#emily writes #my writing #loz #fanfiction #legend of zelda fanfiction #zelink #zelink fanfiction #fic recs #breath of the wild #botw #f+tm #zelink community #zelinktines #zelda #link #pinned post

[wildpeanut]

Pulling out all the cheesy stops for my first ever Zelinktines submission! Day 4 - “Blush” Summary: A pre-calamity oneshot focused on memory 13 (slumbering power) & memory 14 (to Mount Lanayru)

-

"What is wrong with me?!"

Link shut his eyes and swallowed his sorrow, his back still to the princess kneeling in the cool waters. It was approaching her fifth hour of prayer, and Link was desperate to retrieve her from her fruitless, torturous task. But despite her recent outburst not exactly being part of the now-familiar prayer protocol, he knew better than to break her concentration this far into the process and risk her having to spend a second longer at the task. So he let his personal opinions on the matter rest and maintained his position standing watch over her--spine straight, eyes ahead, hands resting on the pommel of the Master Sword with its tip planted between his feet. The best he could do was to periodically glance behind him and gauge her wellbeing on the little he could see of her pale shoulders and the back of her sodden hair.  

He slipped into the familiar rhythm of thoughts that accompanied these long stints of standing and waiting. He remembered his stint training with the Sheikah and how they attempted to teach him "meditation." When he gave them a matter-of-fact shrug, they seemed to be astonished that he was familiar with such a state, indeed slipping into it multiple times a day.  In this moment, he was alert to his surroundings, the changes in sound and sight and wind, the sensations in his body. But he observed another part of his mind wandering. He thought of the other Champions, wondering what they were doing right now. He thought of his father, of the last conversation they had, of how they seemed to have so much trouble being frank about their feelings with each other. he thought of Aryll, and hoped with a pang of guilt that she had someone to play with. He thought of the birds and the trees and the deer and the moon. He thought of life itself.

Before he knew it, the shadows had crept across the ancient flagstones of the Spring of Power as twilight approached. The temperature had plummeted with the retreat of the sun. Link stayed warm as well as he could, shifting his weight, squeezing his hands, wiggling his toes. If he were this uncomfortable with dry and proper attire, he could not imagine how the princess could bear it. He released a silent sigh in frustration before glancing over his shoulder to check on her again.

Something was wrong.

Princess Zelda's posture had shifted. She had silently let herself sink deeper into the water, and now only her head and the tops of her shoulders, hiked up to her ears, were visible. She had tucked her chin tightly to her chest, transforming herself into a rigid ball, and she was visibly shuddering. Link's heart twisted in fear and frustration. He was putting a stop to this.

"Your Highness," he said softly.

No response.

"Princess," he said more loudly, letting his voice ring through the chamber and surprising himself by the panic he heard echoing back at him.

No response.

Link removed his boots and baldric and plunged in after her, wincing as the frigid water lapped at him. Her stance did not change with the commotion, nor as he approached her. He grasped her upper arms, lifting her out of the water slightly and shaking her gently. Her eyes were screwed shut, and her arms were wrapped tightly around herself. The mist from her breath had condensed and refrozen in her eyelashes, encrusting them with glittering ice. In different circumstances, it would be beautiful. She did not respond to him. He hesitated only momentarily out of a sense of propriety, and then rolled his eyes at himself--courtly etiquette obviously not applying to the current situation--and submerged himself deeper in the water to hook an arm behind her knees and carry her out bridal-style. Even waterlogged as she was, she was remarkably light, and Link made a mental note to stop indulging her propensity to skip meals. She stirred weakly in his arms.

"Link...? What..."

"You passed out in the water. We need to get you warm."

Once out of the water he rushed into activity, wrapping the princess in thick blankets and  hurriedly starting a fire. He dug through both of their packs to retrieve every scrap of warm clothing he could find, returning to her with equal senses of duty and trepidation. He glanced back to the goddess statue, which seemed to loom over him from the other end of the cavern. "Forgive me," he entreated it ruefully before turning back to the Princess.

"We need to get you into dry clothes," he told her, keeping his voice soft but matter-of-fact. "Can you help me?"

She groaned, eyes closed, and pulled the blankets tighter around her. "Leave me alone," she mumbled. If the situation weren't so dire, it would have been adorable.

Through some desperate mixture of cajoling, reasoning, and begging, he convinced her of the necessity of his request. He helped her along as best he could, undoing the ornate clasps of the ceremonial jewelry and the fasteners of the dress and averting his eyes as he helped her pull it over her head. The princesses eyes remained closed most of the time, and her cooperation varied from one moment to the next. As he repeated the task in reverse with tunics and warm doublets, he compared the process to helping Aryll change as a toddler. Again, he felt an absurd urge to laugh that was swiftly quelled by his fear. Once finished, he breathed a sigh of relief as he re-wrapped her in the blankets and slipped a bedroll under her before moving away to change into his own dry clothes and start water to boil. Her demeanor changed little, and she remained curled up in a ball, her teeth chattering as she was wracked with uncontrollable shudders.

He quickly returned to check on her, his gut twisting with anxiety once again when he saw there was no improvement. "OK, your Highness," he said tentatively, "I'm really sorry about this, but I have to get you warmed up." She grumbled as he temporarily removed the blankets and eased himself onto the bedroll next to her, but released a contented hum as he wrapped himself and the blankets around her. He held onto her tightly as he observed the surreality of their current situation. Prior to today, Link had scarcely come within 3 paces of the Princess of Hyrule, had touched her only once. Her regard for him had shifted from hateful to cordial only within the last few weeks. Now, he clung onto her for dear life, wondering if it would be better or worse if she remembered this the next day. As long as she made it to the next day, he would be happy.

Gradually, her shivering lessened. He was just figuring out the best way to extricate himself and finish dinner when she rolled over, wound her arm over his waist, and buried her head in his chest. 

"Please don't leave," she said, her voice muffled through the layers of fabric.

Could a heart shatter and soften at once?

He settled in, slipping one arm under her head as a pillow and wrapping the other protectively around her. He kept his eyes on the fire and his ears alert to noises outside the Spring, feeling the warmth of her breath pool at his sternum.

---

Zelda awoke slowly from a heavy slumber. She wondered if she was dreaming even now as she struggled to regain consciousness. Nothing seemed right. Her immediate past was hazy and confusing, and she could not piece together why she was snuggled up by a fire illuminated only a small sphere of the pitch blackness around her. Her eyes fixed themselves on Link, dressed in a plain shirt, loose trousers, socked feet, and messy hair as he prodded at the contents of a pot resting on the coals and muttered to himself about not packing any Goron spice. He glanced over to her, and relief flooded his features when they made eye contact. 

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice echoing strangely. She was also aware of the faint sound of rushing water.

"Where are we?"

"Still at the spring. You passed out in the water."

Oh.

And with that, the haze of the past few hours materialized into something just discernible enough to understand. Link fetching her from the water. Starting a fire. Holding her until warmth returned to her world. Staying. Because she asked him to. 

"Oh. Right. I..." She felt a blush spreading across her face, up to her ears. "I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I should have pulled you out sooner."

She sighed, wearily recalling the incident in Gerudo Desert. "It seems all we can do these days is apologize to one another."

He returned the lid to the pot and rocked back on his heels, turning his attention to her as he cracked a wry smile. Her bones melted.

She pushed forward, determined. She had been so horrible to him for so long, and she had so much ground to regain. "I mean, um. I'm sorry about before, just now I mean, about asking you to stay. I shouldn't have put you in that position. I hope you didn't feel like you had to."

Now it was his turn to blush. "Oh! Ah, it's fine, don't worry about it. I mean, there's no reason to worry. It was nice. Gods, not nice, but, uh, not unpleasant--" He rubbed the back of his neck, the dusting of pink deepening into a furious crimson as he recognized the hole he had dug himself.

Zelda could not help but laugh. He gave her a desperate look. "It seems we're both deeply embarrassed but not offended. Let's let it rest there." He let out a grateful sigh, then returned his attention to the pot.

She noticed he did not ask her if she was hungry as he normally did before dishing out large portion of the simple but hearty stew and handing it to her. She wordlessly scooted over on the bedroll to make room for him to take a seat next to her. He seemed surprised, but obliged all the same. Though she thought she didn't have much of an appetite, she sipped a small spoonful of the stew to be polite--and then was surprised at the gratified sigh that escaped her as her stomach roiled with hunger. "This is delicious."

Link chuckled, and her heart lightened. "My mother used to always say the best condiment is hunger. You haven't eaten in almost a day."

"Oh, give yourself more credit. Your cooking is fabulous." She saw a tiny, proud smile over his bowl. "I'm not going to let that comment slide, though--you've never mentioned your family before!"

He stiffened. "That was unprofessional. I shouldn't have mentioned it."

She scoffed. "Come now, Link, you know basically everything there is to know about me. We spend every moment together. I'd like to know about your world. I know your father is also a knight, of course, but I know nothing else of your family. Are you and your mother close?"

His expression slid back into neutrality, and she worried she had pushed too far. He did answer her though. "Actually, she died a few years ago."

Her hand went to her heart. "Oh! I'm so sorry. It seems we have more in common than I thought." 

"It's OK." He gave her a small smile of reassurance. 

"May I ask how long ago?"

"Not long before I began my training."

"Oh..." 

The story unfolded from there. Link's family had known about his astonishing talent with a sword from early childhood but did not go out of their way to foster it. His father did not want to force him into knighthood just because of his lineage. He attended school rather than becoming a page. When his mother died, his father could not raise a family on his own, and allowed Link to become a squire so he could receive room and board from the military. Link's little sister, Aryll, went to stay with a neighbor. Together, Link and his father used their income to support her. Then, at 12, he pulled the Master sword, and everything changed again. He was knighted and thrown into training. He continued his education with the best tutors the kingdom could provide and with an emphasis on history and military strategy. Despite all he had been through, Link had a positive outlook. He missed his mother dearly, but he viewed his fate as far better than it could have been. The way he saw it, any child in that situation could have become homeless, or worse. He received an education normally reserved for nobility. He worked hard to earn his place and became a gifted swordsman, a career for which he was well-suited. He had the means to take care of his sister, and spent as much time with her as he could when he was on leave. Zelda was floored by his positivity, by his resourcefulness and ability to overcome life's hardships. She told him so. He shrugged. 

"I guess I just did what I had to."

She had nothing to say to that. She stared into the fire, trying to fight the feeling of resentment she felt toward him for facing far greater challenges than she had far more gracefully. That's what made what he said next so surprising.

"Compared to what you've achieved, my path seems pretty...ordinary."

She turned to him, eyes wide, flabbergasted. He gave a surprised laugh.

"I mean, I had my back to a corner and took the only way out I could. I got really lucky to have the natural talent and the privilege of a father who could train me. You..." he shook his head. "I mean, you're brilliant. You have all of these projects and research on top of the normal duties you have as a princess. Your knowledge is boundless. You're so capable at everything you do, not just the one thing you have to do. And you've done it all on your own. And you're so kind."

Where before she had been speechless, now an astonished laugh slipped out of her. "Kind? Me? How can you say such a thing after everything I've put you through?"

He smiled and shrugged, turning his eyes back to the fire. It seemed to give each of them the fuel they needed to bare their truth in an impossibly gratifying way. He was silent for so long she wasn't sure he would speak again. Then he took a careful breath.

"How do I explain this? The moment I met you, I felt like I knew you. Maybe it's the supposed reincarnation or whatever. But I've always felt like I've known your true nature. Besides that, I’ve been your guard long enough to see how you treat others, how much you care for your people. You are a deeply good person. Maybe the best. Whatever was happening with you to obscure that, the things you said... I figured you had your reasons. I know this hasn't been easy for you, having me following you around everywhere, losing your privacy and your sense of safety in your own home. It's enough to make anyone feel crazy..." He seemed to consider adding more, then shrugged again.

She stared at him, gobsmacked, mouth agape. Honestly, her first instinct was to hug him, this beautiful boy who looked at her so purely, gave her so much more credit than she thought she deserved. And yet, there was such an honesty to his words. She felt like he saw her more clearly than she saw herself, and that made her feel vulnerable. Exposed. Nervous. She realized her mouth was still open and closed it. Then opened it to speak, but nothing came to her. She closed it again. Link laughed, and her skin shimmered. She settled on not speaking, turning back to watch the fire, and scooting over to rest her head on his shoulder. He stiffened momentarily, then seemed to relax into the gesture. They sat like that for a long time.

She yawned. "What time is it anyway?"

"Dunno. Middle of the night. I wanted to check on how you were doing and figured you should eat." 

Her heart twisted at the sentiment stupidly. Of course he did those thoughtful things. It was his job.

After a while, he gently extracted himself stood to collect her bowl. As she stretched her arm  beyond the blankets to hand it to him, she noticed what she was wearing for the first time.

"Whose doublet is this?" she asked, examining it curiously.

"Oh! Mine. I just wanted to put everything warm on you I could." He seemed to notice when she pulled the collar away from her to peer at the layers underneath, then looked around to find her ceremonial dress draped over a line on the other side of the fire to dry. He cleared his throat. "Uh, you were awake when you changed. Sort of. I had to help you, but I--" he reddened for the third and most dramatic time of the evening-- "I--I didn't see anything. I swear. I'm sorry, I--"

She laughed again, and some of the tension drained out of him. But he still looked nervous.

"It's alright, Link. I'm well aware of the symptoms and dangers of hypothermia. You did the right thing." She noticed his lingering uneasiness, and gave him a gracious smile. "Thank you for saving my life. Again. I'll try to stop making you have to do it quite so frequently."

He huffed uncomfortably and continued clearing up their meal.

"You should get some sleep," he told her.

She obediently laid down on the bedroll and nestled more deeply into her cocoon of blankets, peeking over the edge to watch him settle in for the evening. She felt a pang of shame as she watched him prepare his own bedroll and blankets, because she wished he wouldn't. She wished he would come back to her, holding her tight and making her feel more safe and warm and known than perhaps she ever had before.

He met her gaze and quickly looked away, looking abashed. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing.

"Goodnight, Link," she murmured.

"Goodnight, Princess."

---

She didn't wake again until late the following morning. Link's bedroll had been tidied away, and he was gone. She could faintly hear him outside the Spring doing his sword exercises. She packed away her own belongings and busied herself with her journal until he was finished. When he returned, he beamed at her, showing off a handful of eggs he had collected for breakfast. They ate and set out on the journey back to the castle, which would take all day.

The first hour they were mostly silent. Link had his head on a swivel, monitoring their surroundings, while Zelda's mind churned to figure out how to phrase the request she had for him. When they returned to the castle that evening they would each submit reports to their respective superiors--hers to her father, his to his commander. The next day, she would have a meeting to debrief with the King after he had reviewed all the information. The way she saw it, there was no need for them to reveal the extent of what had happened last night--her episode in the spring, his need to revive her, and everything that came afterward. She would be reprimanded once again, and he would receive unnecessary scrutiny, perhaps punishment, that he did not deserve.

"Link," she began tentatively.

But then she stopped herself. No matter which way she approached it, it was impossible to phrase this request without a hint of threat or blackmail, even though that's not how she meant it. Link had gone above and beyond his duties, and any blame over the situation rested squarely with her. She chose to say nothing.

But she had requested his attention, and he now looked at her expectantly.

“‘Be sure to take the time to soothe your mount. That’s the only way it will know how you truly feel.’ Your advice was quite helpful, thank you…”

---

The next day, Link met her at her door first thing in the morning as usual. He was sporting a proud little smile and held something wrapped in a cloth napkin, which he immediately proffered. 

“Good morning, Sir Link—oh, what’s that?”

“Good morning, your Highness. Happy Birthday.”

She carefully unwrapped the parcel to find a small fruitcake. 

“Oh! You remembered it’s my favorite! Thank you! This should certainly improve the walk to my certain doom.”

“It will be alright. You’ll get it over with, and then we’ll be on our way to the Spring of Wisdom.” 

“Yes, I suppose so…” She shot him her best conspiratorial look as she began to walk. “Don’t tell anyone you saw the princess eat with her hands.” She took a bite of the tiny cake. “Oh my word, this is delicious! Still warm. It tastes better than the usual though, did the kitchen say what they did differently?”

“Oh, well, I actually made it.”

“You?” She rolled her eyes to cover for how incredibly touched she was by the gesture. “I should have known. Well, thank you doubly then.”

They arrived at her father's study for her debrief wracked with anxiety for what was to come. She turned to dismiss Link, and he gave her a reassuring smile. She knocked. 

"Enter."

She bowed to the King before taking a seat before the immaculate mahogany desk. His expression was stern. She waited for him to speak, trying and failing not to fidget.

"Well, I must say I'm disappointed not to receive better news from the Spring of Power. But there's always another way to awaken your Goddess powers. Perhaps the Spring of Wisdom will prove more fruitful. You still plan on departing today?”

She had gone out on a limb and not reported her incident in the spring. Apparently, Link had done the same. Her relief was so overwhelming it was hard not to let it show.

“Y-yes, your Grace.”

The rest of the meeting passed without incident. She left, shutting the door behind her and leaning against it with a long, shaky breath. Link was waiting there for her, and she met his gaze.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He nodded.

#my fic #breath of the wild #legend of zelda #loz #botw #loz fanfic #botw fanfic #zelda fanfiction #zelinktines #zelinktines24

[louwhose]

For @zelinktines24 day 9: A Watery Smile!

Because naturally my angst-loving brain took the prompt with the most angst potential and made it not angst.

#legend of zelda #loz #wind waker #ww #telink #tetra #link #zelinktines #zelinktines24 #zelinktines 2024 #lou draws

[sparklyhyperbole]

Happy Leap Day! And happy final day of Zelinktines. 💖

@zelinktines24

Prompt: 🧞‍♂️ make a wish 🧞‍♂️

In which Zelda makes an unusual discovery during her attempted escape from the Yiga.

SPOILER: it's a rude genie.

#zelinktines #zelinktines2024 #Genie!Link #zelink #botw zelink #loz fanfic

[zelinktines24]

Zelinktines 2024 starts in four days, yeah! I know a lot of people are preparing fervently already, but it's not too late to jump on!

Below are the prompts again and here are the rules!

Here's the link to the Ao3 collection! It's moderated, meaning I approve the entries. So if yours doesn't show up right away, have a bit of patience!

https://archiveofourown.org/collections/Zelinktines_24

If anyone wants to do a banner for their work — I uploaded the background of the prompt list without text under the cut. Source is canva.

#zelink #legend of zelda #zelinktines #zelinktines 2024 #zelinktines24

[writingnocturne]

ZelinkTines

Day 3 - Reunion

OoT Zelink & TP Zelink (TP Ending)

Link and Zelda have at last defeated Ganondorf. With this, a lingering memory in their soul may finally move on and live anew.

Word Count: 855

Rating: T

I've had this idea for a while, and I'm hoping I did it justice... :')

#zelinktines #zelinktines 2024 #zelink #tp zelink #oot zelink #the legend of zelda #legend of zelda #tloz #loz #zelda #link #ocarina of time #twilight princess #zelda ocarina of time #zelda twilight princess #loz fanfic #loz fanfiction #loz fic #princess zelda #the hero of twilight #the hero's shade #zelda hyrule #fanfic #tloz fanfiction #tloz fic #tloz fanfic #legend of zelda fanfiction #hero of twilight #oot

[aurathian]

To the Moon and Back:

1. From the sun,

AO3 | Written for @zelinktines24 #5: sun. Reblogs appreciated if you enjoy!!

Fandom: Breath of the Wild

Rating: G

Ship: Link/Zelda

Description: Under the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars, Zelda and Link travel to the Spring of Wisdom so the princess can perform one last prayer.

Read the full fic below or on AO3.

Though the sun shone brightly in the clear, cloudless sky, Zelda couldn’t help the shiver that went down her spine. A chill hung in the air, persistent, pushing her forward so that she may sooner find warmth. They weren’t far from the mild and comfortable temperatures of Central Hyrule–Lanayru was not so different except on the mountain, which loomed ominously before the princess and her knight.

Link walked beside her, expression unreadable as always. Even though the sun illuminated his features, she had no semblance of what was going on in his mind.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Link had begun to speak ever since that day in Gerudo Desert where Zelda’s life flashed before her eyes underneath the blade of a Yiga scimitar. The first words he’d ever spoken to her were, “Are you okay?”

And it seemed that ever since then, anything and everything he said was about her, and this question was no different.

“Yes, I’m fine,” she mumbled, distracting her gaze with something in the opposite direction from her knight. She couldn’t bear to look at him, not in this state of hopelessness.

“You can tell me.”

His words were always short and direct. Zelda wondered if he ever had anything more to say, or if he just didn’t know how? Either way, she hesitated to respond, instead focusing on the gentle brushing of grass against her feet. The sunlight filtered through the trees above, exposing their path through the small forest at the base of Mount Lanayru.

“I’m… worried,” she mustered at last. Still she refused to meet his eyes though she could feel them on her, burning. They were questioning, telling her to say more. “I’m not sure if this will work.”

The journey to the Spring of Wisdom only filled her with more dread, more despair, at the silent reception Hylia would surely give her. It was the same at the last two springs she visited, so why not this one? What would have changed except for turning seventeen. Yes, today, the day of her seventeenth birthday, she was traveling to beg to her deity. On her seventeenth birthday, Princess Zelda would offer one last prayer to the Goddess.

“It will,” Link said, cutting through her thoughts. “It will.” A second time, like he was reassuring himself. But the only person who needed to believe it was her, and she couldn’t.

“And if it doesn’t?” She stopped midstep. “What then?”

It was rhetorical. She knew Link did not have an answer and neither did she and nor did anybody in the kingdom of Hyrule because that was not a possibility. It had to work, needed to work, by Hylia please–

Zelda took a deep breath and decided to save her bargaining and pleading for the spring. She began walking again and her loyal knight followed suit.

He spoke again.

“How’s your research going?”

“My…”

She almost didn’t know how to respond. How was it going? It was a mystery to her too since her most recent days had been spent in front of Goddess statues, praying to nothing, practicing what she would say to the great mother Hylia on top of Mount Lanayru. Her father had ordered it, saying this was their last and most important chance. He wasn’t wrong. Apart from not researching in a while, nobody had asked her. Everyone around her was focused on making it through, day by day, the looming doom plummeting Hyrule into a depression. She was no exception.

But she smiled at him anyway, eyes lighting up and perhaps rivaling the sun.

“My research was good,” she finished. 

Was. As though she may never research again. As though those days were behind her and there would be no tomorrow after she prayed at the statue. Maybe it was true, maybe it wasn’t.

“I recently uncovered a few more pieces of ancient literature,” she continued, and now the steps she took toward the spring were more bearable. “From the Sheikah, about how they…”

And Princess Zelda divulged the details of her research to her faithful knight for the rest of their walk, animated and smiling and giggling and so unusual for their circumstances but she allowed herself this grace, this one last time, to feel alive. To feel happy. To truly, truly be with Link and not her personal knight. Link, who would hold her when she cried; Link, who brought her tea when she couldn’t sleep; Link, who stayed by her side.

Until they reached the beginning of the Mount Lanayru trail.

He smiled back at her and squeezed her shoulder. Her voice tapered off and her smile disappeared as she gazed upon the dirt and the leaves and the rocks, worn from eons of pilgrimage to the Goddess statue. 

Let’s go, he was saying.

“May Hylia light my path,” she replied, looking carefully up to the sun.

#zelinktines 24 #zelinktines #zelinktines24 #zelink #zelda #link #botw #pre calamity #legend of zelda