Chapter 8: Awakening

A faint glow seeped into the room, casting a warm light on Link's face as the sun rose over the land. Zelda, who had been sitting beside him, dozing off intermittently, was startled by a sudden movement. Link's eyes flickered open, and he took a shallow breath, his chest rising and falling slowly. Zelda's heart leapt with excitement as she leaned forward, her hand still grasping Link's. "Link?" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. Link's gaze was unfocused, his eyes squinting against the brightness of the room. He tried to speak, but his voice was barely audible, a hoarse whisper that sent a shiver down Zelda's spine. "Zelda?" he croaked, his throat dry and rough. The princess smiled, relief washing over her. "I'm here, Link," she said, her voice filled with tears. "You're awake." Link's eyes searched hers, his gaze cloudy and confused. He tried to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over him, and he fell back onto the pillow, his eyes closing in distress. Zelda quickly called for the physician, who rushed over to Link's side. "Easy, Link," the doctor said, his voice soothing. "You've been through a lot. Just rest for now." As the physician administered medication to help Link's pain, Zelda noticed that her hero's eyes had begun to flutter open and shut. He was trying to speak, but his words were slurred and made little sense. "Link, can you hear me?" Impa asked, her voice soft and gentle. Link nodded, or at least tried to. His movements were slow and labored, but he managed to focus on Zelda's face. "Water," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Zelda quickly grabbed a cup of water and helped Link take a sip. As he drank, she noticed that he began to scratch his arm, his movements restless and agitated. "Link, what's wrong?" Zelda asked, concern etched on her face. Link's eyes locked onto hers, filled with a deep distress. "Itch," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "I feel...itchy." Zelda smiled weakly, trying to reassure him. "It's just a side effect of the medication, Link. You'll feel better soon." But as Link's eyes began to clear, Zelda noticed that his thoughts seemed cloudy and disjointed. He began to mutter incoherently, his words barely making sense. "Hyrule...Ganon...must...stop...him," Link stammered, his eyes filled with a distant fear. Zelda's heart sank as she realized that Link's memories were still hazy, but she knew that he would get better with time. She took his hand, trying to comfort him. "We'll get through this, Link," she said softly. "You're safe now. Just rest." As Link's eyelids began to droop, Zelda noticed that his thoughts were becoming clearer, but his expressions were still twisted in discomfort. "Link, can you tell me what's happening?" Zelda asked gently. Link's eyes snapped open, filled with a deep unease. "The...darkness," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I see...shadows. Hear...voices." Zelda's grip on Link's hand tightened as she realized that he was still struggling with the aftermath of his ordeal. She tried to reassure him, but Link's thoughts seemed to be consumed by dark visions and unpleasant memories. The princess leaned forward, her voice soothing. "Link, you're safe. There's no one here to hurt you. Just rest and focus on getting better." Link nodded, but his eyes remained troubled, haunted by the ghosts of his past. Zelda knew that it would take time for him to heal, to overcome the trauma that had been inflicted upon him. But for now, she was just grateful that he was awake, and that she could be by his side to help him through the dark times ahead.