Though he lays in comfort of a bed that he has so long yearned for, his mind does not feel at ease, eyes glossy as he is deep in thought. It is almost a relief to have been pulled away from that, as he turns to the unexpected, but welcomed visitor. “Ah, no need to apologize, your grace. I quite prefer the company.” Just the gentle heaving of her breath felt comforting as opposed to the suffocating silence just moments ago.
Feeling the heat of the soup as it placed besides him, he returns the gratitude with a weak, yet sincere smile. “Thank you.” A pause.
“Please, take a seat if you wish. After all, you’ve come all this way.” He gestures to a seat beside him. It wouldn’t feel right to send her off. Though if she did not wish to stay, he would not force her either, regardless of how he felt.
With hands so slender and delicate, he then slides the tray over to his lap. The intense fragrance hits him in seconds, causing his stomach to coil inward. However, he pushes through the initial nausea, having slowly gotten back into the habit of eating properly.
“You are very kind, Link... I shall accept the invitation to stay.”
A gentle smile forms, and Hylia’s worried expression softens- it will be a difficult road to recovery, but it is during this precious time together that Hylia can forget about her duty, at least for a little while. Link’s kindness, his adoration for his home and the people of the land- these admirable qualities have not been undone by his imprisonment. All seems to be going well, and the power Link needs to fight against the demon king will soon be gifted to him.
So perhaps, in this moment of respite, the goddesses can allow her this brief moment in time to grow closer with her Chosen Hero, and give him someone else to fight for. With that in mind, she sits at Link’s side, warm light radiating from her form. Hylia stays quiet for a while, preparing her thoughts, her heart pounding from nervousness. She refuses to burden Link with the question too soon- but eventually, her curiosity can no longer wait.
“If I may ask... what compelled you to bid me stay?” she asks, with an almost childlike inquisitiveness in her voice, while at the same time carrying a bit of uncertainty; is this an appropriate question? she thinks to herself. “To explain... I have an unsteady feeling in my heart when you enter my thoughts, though it is pleasant rather than distressing.” She hopes this explanation is enough, for the nuances of human emotions do not come naturally to her, much to her frustration.
“I wish to understand more about this feeling,” she requests, her voice gentle, not insisting, but still pleading all the same. “You must understand... my heart longs for answers, and you, Link, are the source of its questions.”