Dazzling Dreams

Her contractions had started just after they packed up camp and began moving for the day. They were light, but definitely pressing, and something just told her that it was time. But moving seemed to help, help remind her to breathe and also to help with the pressure of the baby moving downward, so she continued.

Link had been…concerned. She could see it in his eyes, that he was worried that something would go wrong or that the baby would come early. So she hadn’t mentioned it to him. No matter where the baby decided to arrive, she knew her protector would keep both of them safe, and she felt secure in that knowledge. Also, she knew his mind was full with trying to find the best way home for them, so she kept her labor to herself, not wanting to burden him.

One hand smoothing the soft fabric of her dress against her taut belly, Zelda leaned back on one palm, closing her eyes and breathing out slowly as a contraction rolled through her like a summer rain. In truth, she couldn’t have asked for a better place for their child to be born. Not in the stuffy old castle with everyone watching and fussing over her, but in the beautiful kingdom, where nature waited to welcome the new arrival and only her Link was there. 

When Link returned, satisfied with the way ahead, Zelda had opened her eyes and sat up, her hand still cradling her belly. She greeted him with a smile, and he leaned down to very softly kiss her lips before taking her hands and helping her to her feet. Once she was steady, he knelt and grabbed up their bags with a soft ‘hup’ before taking her arm and setting off down the uneven path.

As they walked, Zelda leaned her head over onto his shoulder, hanging on just a little bit tighter as they rounded a corner. Rocks buried in the ground made the path uneven, and the couple stepped carefully and slowly around the cliff face.

Zelda’s hips felt loose, tender, but full and heavy at the same time. Her free hand slowly snuck underneath her gravid belly as they moved, as if trying to hold everything inside. Link seemed to notice, and shifted his hand to press against the small of her back when the path straightened.

Together, they moved through Hyrule, trying to make their way home.

–

It was close to dusk when Zelda knew. It was like a signal, sent to her both by her body and by the baby snuggled deep inside. It was time, and they needed to stop. She couldn’t explain how she knew, but she knew.

Slowly, she stopped walking, tugging gently on Link’s elbow. Immediately, he turned to face her with a confused expression, resting one hand on her cheek and one hand on the side of her belly. Zelda’s heart fluttered, and she gave him a warm smile as she spoke, softly but firmly.

“The baby is coming. We need to stop so they can come safely.”

Link’s eyes slowly widened, and he dropped both hands to her belly, one of the packs slipping down off his shoulder a bit with the quick movement. Zelda nodded and rested her hands over his, knowing he would be able to feel the contraction beginning and tightening her belly. 

“It’s time.”

She could see the thoughts whirring behind Link’s eyes. Concern and worry flashed across his face for only a moment before he smiled and nodded. Giving her belly a soft rub, he leaned in and kissed her lips before shrugging the packs off. He gestured that she could sit on them before taking off down the path, squinting into the distance and the setting sun.

Zelda chuckled to herself as she watched him go, then gave a soft, happy sigh and bent, resting her hands on her knees. Her belly hung heavy beneath her, and she closed her eyes as the contraction peaked, knowing her baby was ready.

Her water broke a moment later, warm fluid soaking the front of her gown and dripping onto the dirt and sand beneath her feet. She didn’t move, merely hummed a soft sound of recognition and widened her stance just a bit so the water could flow from her. 

When Link returned, he snuggled up to Zelda’s side and rubbed her back, simply waiting until she was ready. When the contraction stilled, she slowly straightened herself up and grabbed onto his hand, whispering. “My waters broke.”

Nodding, Link grabbed up their packs and pointed ahead of them with his free hand, gesturing. He curved his fingers, gesturing a short distance, then used a sign the two of them had made together, hand held rigid with the palm out and fingers straight, then lifting the hand just a bit and forming an ‘O’. 

Just around the corner from where they stood was a shrine, he’d said, and Zelda smiled, nodding at him. It was perfect.

Moving there didn’t take too long, even when they had to stop halfway so Zelda could have a contraction. She bent forward again and rested her hands on her thighs, closing her eyes as she breathed deeply. Without a blink, Link set down the packs and rubbed big, firm circles on her back with the heel of one hand, both to let her know that he was there and to soothe her pains.

“Mmh.” Zelda murmured, a soft sound, a quick release of energy. She lifted her head a bit and blew out her breath, eyes closed, and Link leaned down to very gently kiss her cheek, his free hand smoothing her hair back from her forehead. Zelda couldn’t help but smile at the tender gesture, and she leaned her head into his hand, her eyelashes fluttering as she rode the rest of the contraction through.

Once it had moved through, she straightened up and opened her eyes, nodding at Link. He smiled faintly at her, then took her elbow for the rest of the walk to the abandoned shrine, letting her lean her weight on him.

The inner room was quiet and surprisingly clean. There was a thin layer of sandy dirt on the floor, and a couple of fallen pillars, but other than that it seemed fairly whole. As soon as they were safe inside, Link patted Zelda’s arm and quickly shrugged off the packs, digging into one.

Hands on the small of her back, Zelda took a few steps into the shrine and looked around, thinking of what it must have looked like when it was alive. Inhabited. Looking further into the building, she paused, putting a hand over her heart, and said a small prayer to the Goddess, thanking Her for letting them stay here and asking that she bless them and their baby. 

Feeling a contraction nearing, she quickly turned back around, smiling as she came back to Link’s side. He’d spread out their sleeping pads on the floor of the shrine, near the wall so she could lean if she needed to. Link knelt in the center of the room, attempting to start a fire and making an irritated noise as his flint sparked but the grasses and twigs didn’t catch.

Carefully, Zelda approached their pads and stepped first out of her shoes before sinking onto her knees on the soft cloth. Both hands came instinctively to cradle under her belly as she sat back on her heels, only remembering her soaked dress when she touched it and it squished against her thighs. With a soft grumble, she grabbed the gown and gathered it at her hips before pulling it up and off, tossing it away. 

Immediately, she relaxed, resting her hands on her thighs and closing her eyes. It felt better without the heavy fabric against her skin, and the soft camisole over her breasts kept her covered while still letting her breathe. Inhaling deeply, she settled, rocking her hips and listening to the beginning crackling of the fire and Link’s footsteps crunching on the sandy floor.

The baby was low. Already, she felt it pressing and moving deep in her belly, and as the contraction peaked, she darted a hand to cradle the lower curve of her belly, a soft whimper escaping her lips. She felt no fear, only anticipation, a readiness. 

Link drew closer and kneeled down next to her, and she felt a canteen touch her lips. Lifting her hand, she cupped the jug and took a quick drink, then licked her lips and leaned into her protector’s embrace. Together, the two of them inhaled, then slowly exhaled, blowing out the air through pursed lips. 

She could feel the warmth of the fire, now, and it soothed her. Opening her eyes as the contraction relaxed, she smiled up at Link, watching the flames dance in his eyes. He smiled back and smoothed a hand across her forehead, then quickly poured a bit of the water into his palm and did it again, spreading the cooling water across her skin.

Zelda smiled, her heart as warm as the flames, and leaned up a bit to kiss his lips. The two snuggled close as they kissed, waiting. Waiting and knowing that soon their lives would be so, so different.

–

As Zelda labored, Link quickly prepped their camp, cooking a bit of warm and healing food in the fire first before readying more of their supplies. A few extra blankets, a small, sharp, silver knife that normally lived in his boot, another water jug, full of cool water from the spring they’d found that day. He washed his little knife in it, then laid it on the blankets, where it dried in the warmth of the fire and waited.

Despite wanting to be next to Zelda for the entirety of her labor, she’d reassured Link that she was fine, and asked him to please get things ready. Even as he worked, each time she began to have a contraction, he paused to watch her, hands going still and eyes trained on her every movement.

The stars shimmered above them, visible through a few holes in the roof, and the cool of the nighttime slowly spread through the shrine.

Zelda was thankful for both the warmth of the fire and the cool breeze from the outside, as her body was working hard. Sticky with sweat, she’d labored on her knees for a while before slowly moving to sit leaned against the wall, knees propped up. 

Their baby was not waiting. 

It had felt good to be able to rock and move her hips while she was kneeling, but leaning against the wall, she felt more supported, and her pelvis ached to open. Carefully, Zelda rested her hands on the ground on either side of her and let her legs fall, knees butterflied and feet pulled to her butt.

At the end of the last surge, she had felt the signal, her body ready to push. She needed to ready herself.

“Link.” She looked over as she softly called out, and, from his place by the fire, her love, her protector, quickly rose and made his way over to her, canteen in one hand and blanket draped over his shoulder. He took her hand in his as he got to her side, kneeling down and offering the jug to her.

She took it and smiled, rubbing his hand with her thumb. “It’s time, I’m going to push now…please stay right here.”

He nodded and gave her a small, excited smile, and she smiled back before taking a long drink. The water was cool, and it soothed her tired body. When she handed the jug back to him, he took a moment before he set it aside to smooth a bit onto her skin again, stroking her forehead and cupping her cheek.

Zelda smiled and nuzzled into his hand, then straightened her back and leaned just a bit into his side as the contraction began, prickling at the base of her spine and bottom of her belly. 

Sensing it too, Link clutched her hand tightly and rested his nose in her hair, holding her close. His eyes stayed trained on her belly, taut and round under her camisole. His breathing stayed even, slow and deep, and it was that that Zelda latched onto as she inhaled and melted into her first push.

The change was immediate. She felt their baby shift, moving lower and deeper into her pelvis, and she gasped in surprise, panting as she released her push. Link looked at her in alarm, his eyebrows raising, and Zelda met his eyes, trying to catch her breath. 

“I-I felt them move! They’re coming.” Link’s face broke into a smile, and he excitedly squeezed her hand, then snuggled closer and rested his forehead against Zelda’s. Together, they took a few breaths, then Zelda closed her eyes and pushed again, making a very soft noise of effort in the back of her throat.

She held her push as long as she could, then let it go, strained breath escaping parted lips. Quickly, she inhaled through her nose and pushed again, belly tightening.

Out of the corner of his eye, Link saw her reach with shaking fingers, but her hand stopped at her thigh, instead grasping onto it. Quickly, without moving his head from resting against hers, he moved his free hand over to slide between her legs, his cool, open palm resting against her soft folds. They radiated heat, a bit of fluid dripping, but he simply just gave an even pressure and support.

The hum of happiness told him he had done the right thing, and he very subtly nodded, then took another big inhale along with his princess.

With the added support of his hand, Zelda pushed, bearing down along with her body’s efforts. As the contraction began to wane, the top of their baby’s head just began to emerge, parting her labia between Link’s fingers into a small teardrop shape.

As she rested, Link kissed her sweaty face, pulling away and releasing her hand so he could offer her more water. Quickly, she took a drink, then pulled him back to her, closing her eyes and nuzzling against him. Link settled right back against her too, keeping his eyes open and watching her as much as he was able.

The stars twinkling overhead, the moon shining beautiful shadows on the walls and floor of the temple, and the crackling fire all seemed to wait with anticipation as Zelda pushed. Each contraction was longer, every part of her body working to bring their new baby into the world. 

Link left his hand against her labia, steady and firm, until the baby’s head began to really bulge against his fingers. Only then did he move a bit, using his fingertips to stroke and massage Zelda’s stretching labia. 

“Shh…” he whispered softly, and Zelda stopped pushing, releasing her breath and panting hard. She was burning, expanding, making room, and she trusted his guidance. Her eyelashes fluttered and she gasped as their baby slipped to a full crown, her body pushing without her. 

Link smiled in awe as he slowly moved his head from hers, peering between her parted thighs and stroking her skin. His face lit up, he gave her hand a firm, excited squeeze and nodded, sliding his hand aside to just press on the stretching tissue on one side of the emerging head.

Zelda met his eyes and nodded, then wrinkled her nose and grunted, her voice echoing off of the temple walls. With a pop, their baby’s head all but sprung forward with her effort, a splash of fluid accompanying it. Zelda melted into an exhausted smile, peering over her belly, and Link beamed, very gently stroking the birth away from the baby’s face and cupping it as it turned a bit. Pointed ear rested in his palm, soft blonde curls against a squishy head.

The new parents met eyes, and both smiled excitedly, tired and ready. Zelda shifted her hips a bit as the baby turned within her, and she and Link finally unclasped hands to get ready to meet their child.

Hands planted on either side of her hips, Zelda scrunched her nose and leaned forward as she heaved a push against the strong shoulders of the baby. Link leaned close with both hands outstretched, his eyes twinkling brightly and an awed expression on his face.

With a few more soft grunts of effort and heaving pushes, one shoulder finally emerged, then the other. Zelda tried to catch her breath, joy and excitement running through her body like lightning strikes or fairy magic. With her body’s signal, Zelda curled forward and pushed again, knees trembling and focused eyes staring almost past herself. Link shifted forward on one knee and supported the baby as they slipped forward, then…

With a loud crack and pop of the firewood, a splash of fluid that a Zora would be proud of, and a bright star shooting straight overhead that both new parents weren’t even aware of, the newest child of Hyrule was born, right into her father’s hands.

Link gasped as he caught her, then let out a surprisingly loud cry of excitement, staring down at the tiny wriggling baby. Zelda groaned in happiness at the relief, then beamed, her eyes welling with tears as she saw their baby being safely lifted into her dad’s arms and heard her start to loudly cry, a strong voice that echoed off the walls of the shrine as if proclaiming her arrival.

Trying to catch her breath, Zelda leaned back against the wall and held out her arms, and Link quickly and carefully moved the baby up to lay on her chest, rubbing the little one’s back and beaming at Zelda. She smiled down at the baby, then up at Link, tears shining in her eyes but a look of pride and joy on her face. The same emotions echoed from Link’s eyes, and he leaned down to kiss his Princess, his love, with their baby held between them and both of their hands resting on her tiny little back.

The three of them would spend the next day at the shrine to rest before very slowly continuing on their way home, the new baby wrapped in a sling of soft cloth against her mother’s chest. 

It was very, very fitting that the newest royal Hylian was born where she was. A previously unknown and abandoned shrine. Over the next few years, the shrine where she was born would be fixed up, healed, and returned to its former glory, with families and children leaving small offerings and prayers there for healthy families, fertility, and protection of children.

Zelda knew, though, that she and their daughter had always been safe. Her love, her destiny, her protector, Link had been with them both, and she trusted both in her body and in him to bring the new little princess home safely.