Zelda's eyes opened wide as the screams reached her ears. This time, they were not coming from across the room, where her son slept soundly for the third night in a row. This time, they were coming from Link, who laid next to her in a deep sleep that, evidently, wasn't sound. It wasn't the first night that her sleep had been disturbed by whatever was going through his unconscious mind, though it was the first in a month or two. She had thought that it had simmered down, but it appeared that she was wrong. Although her vision was still tainted with sleep, she pulled herself into a sitting position and glanced worriedly over at Link. His eyes were squinted shut, his face was reddened, and his fists clenched the blankets that covered him from the chest down.

“Link…”

“Zelda?”

Though he had spoken, his eyes remained shut and the pain of his nightmares seeped through into his tone. Zelda reached out her hand hesitantly, then withdrew it, afraid to make even the slightest contact with him. He had heard her call his name, and had even responded, but that didn't mean he was awake.

“Wake up, Link.” She spoke softly, hoping to coax him awake and ease his pain. “It's just a dream.”

“Zelda?”

“I'm here.” She soothed. “I'm right here.”

Link's face twisted in pain and he cried out in his sleep once more. His knuckles had turned white from his grip on the blanket, and as she examined him closer, Zelda could see that his shoulders were hunched.

“No, Zelda… don't!” He yelled. “I can't hold him, you have to- you have to run!”

Zelda's eyes wandered around the dark of the room, searching for an idea. She didn't want to touch him and she didn't dare to speak again, but she couldn't let this carry on. Finally, she settled upon a chalice of water that was on the desk beside the bed and reached over, grabbed it and then threw it over Link.

The latter bolted up with a shriek, wide eyed with water dripping down his face and stared on blankly in shock. As he turned to look at her, she giggled nervously with the chalice still tilted in her hand.

“Did… did it happen again?” He asked.

Zelda's laugh faded and she sighed as she placed the glass back where it originally was. Reaching out, she placed her hand delicately on his shoulder and squeezed gently.

“I don't know, do you remember anything?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Just feelings.”

“Feelings?” She pressed.

“I don't remember the details, I only remember being angry… and full of hate, then fear, and not the monster in the closet kind… and I don't know what happened, but after the anger and fear, came despair.”

Link cast his gaze down at the blanket covering him to avoid making eye contact with her and propped himself back on his elbows. It had been months, he'd thought that his restless mind had finally settled down, but it appeared he had been wrong about that.

“I woke you, didn't I?” He added with a hefty sigh.

“Well… yes, but that isn't of importance.” She dismissed quickly. “Link, you never seem to remember anything after you wake up. I- I'm beginning to fear that these nightmares are somewhat deeper than trauma.”

Link swallowed silently. This wasn't the first time this conversation had come around, and he had no doubt that it wouldn't be the last. Each time it happened, she expressed her concerns and each time he reassured her that she was overthinking it. In truth, he wasn't sure of anything. He hadn't been in a long while.

“I believe you're reading too much into it, Zelda. You say this about every nightmare, yet it has been over a year since they started and still nothing has come of them.”

“But you should know as well as I that it doesn't mean it won't.”

“Yeah…” He agreed absently. “Forgive me, it's late, but I'm going to get some air. I'm feeling rather hot.”

“But Link, it's not safe outside this time of night.” She protested.

“Then I shall equip the Master Sword.”

With that being said, he got out of bed and grabbed the Master Sword that was balanced in its sheath against the wall alongside the rest of his weapons and equipment, then made a swift exit despite her attempts to talk to him.

Link only stopped once he reached the balcony at the end of the hall, and placed the Master Sword down by his side. He hadn't needed it at all, but he had brought it so that Zelda would not worry; the same reason he had avoided the conversation she had tried several times to have with him. Besides, it would be difficult to confide in her when he didn't really understand what was going on himself.

Hyrule Field was in a state of tranquility, covered by a blanket of darkness that was the night sky dotted with stars and a banana moon that provided a supernatural glow. Patches of the field were illuminated by lit torches held by candelabras spaced out evenly along the dirt path that led further into the depths of Hyrule. Piggish snorts of bokoblins in the near distance could be heard, and for once, Link didn't find himself wishing that he could rid the kingdom of their existence. Instead he felt almost… sorry for them.

“Woah… Where'd that come from?” He whispered to himself, both confused and repulsed by the thought of having sympathy for monsters, whose only purpose was to destroy.

“Link…”

“It's cold out here, you should go back inside.” He said without bothering to turn around. “Someone should be watching our son.”

“Not that cold, and I checked on Elijah before I came out, he's still sound asleep.”

Link drew in a breath and turned partially so that he could see Zelda as she crept towards him. She stopped when she reached the edge of the balcony and stood opposite him, not saying a word but making her presence known.

“You ought to stop reading too much into this, it will do you no good.”

“Am I… reading too much into it though?” She questioned. “Because it certainly doesn't feel that way.”

Zelda leaned forward, resting her hands against the stone surface that created a barrier at the edge of the balcony. She stared blankly out at the field, wishing that just once, he would willingly let her in and open up without her prompting him to do so.

“I know that you bear your burdens alone because everyone looks up to you, from the village children to all the other knights, but I should remind you that it is not necessary to be strong at all times. It is okay to share what's inside you with another, if anything it is healthy and makes you stronger.”

Link remained in stubborn silence, even as she bowed her head and turned to leave him in solitude. He closed his eyes, trying to ignore her words ringing in his ears and shut out everything else with it, though he quickly gave in and as she reached the end of the hall, he turned around.

“Zelda, wait…” He called out, stalking over to her. “If I'm going to say anything to anyone, I would much rather it be you.”

“But I don't want you to tell me just because I am asking, I want you to tell me because you don't want to deal with it alone.”

Link nodded. “I don't want to deal with it alone, and I also don't want to have any secrets between us.” He paused for a moment, shuddering as he recalled his earlier thoughts.

“What is it?” She pressed, unable to let it go now.

“Before you joined me on the balcony, when I was standing out there, I heard bokoblins in the distance…”

“And?” She raised an eyebrow. “That's not news, Link. They're out there, last night, tonight, tomorrow, they're always gonna be.”

“No, you're missing the point.” He shook his head. “I was out there alone, and I heard them and I had these- these thoughts.” He admitted. “I felt almost… sorry… for them.”

“What?” Zelda's eyes widened in surprise. “But that's-”

“Absurd? Insane? Not me?... Yeah, I know.” He cut in. “And it's not the first time I've experienced things like it either.”

Zelda glanced around, spotting the tail end of a guard as they made their usual beat and disappeared around the corner, and quickly decided that this was not a matter to be discussed in the open passageway of the castle.

“There was another-”

Before Link could finish his sentence, Zelda clamped her hand over his mouth and yanked him back into their bed chambers and slammed the door shut behind them. He waited for her approval, which came in the form of a nod and patting the empty space next to her as she sat down on the bed, then he decided to tell her everything.

Kakariko Village, three months ago…

“Easy there, girl.” Link soothed, patting Epona's neck as he led her towards the spring.

As he dismounted her, he knelt to the ground to further inspect her injured leg. She made no objection until his hand found the bloodied gash where she had snagged her back leg while jumping fences at the Ranch, and she swished her tail in his face.

“Woah, go easy… it's just me, I'm trying to help you.”

With his soothing tone and gentle touch, Epona simmered down and allowed him to get a better feel of the injury. Once satisfied that it was little more than a mere scratch, Link stood up and moved to her side where he prepared to mount her, though as he raised his left foot, the mare shook her head. Though odd for her, he shrugged it off. She had been acting strange all day, starting when he had fed her. He came out early every morning to make sure she was well fed for the day's work, but this time when he'd given her the morning usual, she had turned her nose up and no matter what he'd tried, she wouldn't touch the food. When he had gone back inside, frustrated over having lost over an hour to a task that should have taken only a few minutes, Zelda had insisted on giving it a try and when he had watched her give Epona the food, the mare had eaten without any prompting. It escalated on their travels to Kakariko, at first she refused to go anywhere, then she had started stalling several times when they finally did set off, and it had been a struggle to keep her on the right path.

Link didn't know what to make of her behaviour. She usually had a good temperament, but not today. Dismissing the thought, he mounted her. If her strange behaviour continued past the span of the day, he would have her seen to in order to rule out any sort of sickness. He had barely shifted and made himself comfortable upon her when she reared suddenly, catching him off guard and allowing her to throw him from her back. Link remained on the ground for several seconds in a daze, shocked by her random burst of aggression. When he finally did pick himself up, she bucked and he swung back to avoid getting kicked. Slowly and silently, he backed up a couple of steps, then eased his way around so that he was once again in front of her.

“What is it?” He asked in a near whisper. “It's only me, I'd never hurt you.”

Hesitantly, he reached out to pet her nose, hoping that it would help restore the trust between them, but instead of bowing her head and accepting the affection, her mouth opened, and she bit down on his hand, causing him to recoil. Link scowled, inspecting the already stinging wound and then looked back at Epona. She had never bitten him, even on her worst days, no matter how frightened she had been.

“You…” He began, fully intending to scold her. But as he looked at her, his anger and frustration subsided, and a look of hurt flashed across his face. “... bit me.”

Present Day…

As Link finished his recollection, Zelda peered into Elijah's crib, and seeing that he was still fast asleep, she left him be.

“So Epona had an off day, it hasn't happened since, right?”

“Well… no. I've had to take other horses on my errands because she won't let me near her.”

“I hate to say it, but maybe she's suffering. She's getting older now, Link. Perhaps it's time to relieve her of her duties and-”

“No!” He raised his voice.

Zelda's eyebrows raised and then pulled down into a frown. “There is no need to shout, I am not trying to play devil's advocate here, it's just a thought.”

“Yeah, I know.” He sighed. “I'm sorry… I just can't bear the thought of parting with her. She's-”

“Special.” She finished for him. “I agree, it would feel too much like giving up on her. She has served you well on your travels, it'd be cruel to abandon her. We should get her looked at though, to rule out any sort of sickness.”

Link nodded and stared on as Zelda continued to straighten out little things around the room that were out of place. Then another thought took hold of him.

“What if it's not her?”

“Huh?”

“What if it's me?” He questioned. “You've had no problems while dealing with Epona.”

“Or maybe it's the changes. Animals are prone to becoming jealous whenever changes are made and with Elijah around, things have changed quite drastically.”

“You think she's jealous?”

“I don't know what to think, but I do believe that you are taking it way too personally. You and Epona have such an incredible bond, I don't think she would cast you off without a good reason.”

“And how about out on the balcony tonight? What's your answer for that?”

“... Heart.” She replied, and flashed a small smile. “Even though they're spineless monsters, they're still living things and if anything… it just goes to show how Hylian you are. Though I do worry that you might get hurt should you hesitate out on the field.”

“Oh, don't worry about that. I would never hesitate when they instigate.” He assured her.

“In seriousness though, Link… don't drive yourself crazy and lose sleep over these little things. If anything is wrong, I'm certain that we will find out soon enough.”

With that, Link settled back down on his side of the bed and closed his eyes, feeling the bed dip as Zelda joined him. It had been a strange night, and an even stranger past few months between Epona and everything else since he had defeated Zant for the second time. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something had changed within him at that time, and he hadn't yet decided if it were the good kind, or the bad.