Why Link?, Why does Zelda love him?

I totally agree.

One thing that has always bothered me about spending time in various romance threads and such is how many people believe that even though Link and Zelda showed every indication of "young love turns to deep affection" actually happening in OoT...that it wouldn't happen again. Why wouldn't it? I know things are different...but don't Link and Zelda have a "head start" already? I thought OoT was a peek into their future.

Zelda and Link are definately the perfect match in every game, including TP. In OoT it's so obvious that it starts out as puppy love and turns into something much deeper as they're older. Such scenes as when Link is worried about princess Zelda (Ruto tells him that she can tell that he's worried about her) and Zelda as Sheik lingers for longer periods of time each time they meet, reluctant to leave when she's waited for him for so long. There are other scenes that are just as relevant, but it would take to long to write. lol

Anyway, they have already showed that they could do all again; Link returns at the end of the game, and in the beginning of MM Zelda tells him that she has a feeling that he will return, and since her prophies come true... Well I think that Link did return to Hyrule and that because he didn't have the triforce of courage he was unable to draw the master sword, thus the "hero" never rose when the people of Hyrule prayed for his return (WW). Besides... How else would they sculpt the statue of him as an adult if he left as a kid? *hint hint* Besides... There have been many times when the so called legends have not been accurate, therefore his return probably was not recorded.

^ I'm afraid I have to object to that..or at least start a debate!

That makes it sound like all that is between Link and Zelda is physical..or the result of physical attraction/lust. Of all the pairings, I would call these two the least likely to ever fit in this mold.

What I mean, is that love is an illusion. The brain just finds someone that it thanks will give good off spring before you die. "The only reason that man-kind is is to reproduce." I heard someone say that once. If that is true then love truly is an illusion and therefore Link and Zelda aren't in love because love doesn't igsist.

^ I'm afraid I have to object to that..or at least start a debate!

That makes it sound like all that is between Link and Zelda is physical..or the result of physical attraction/lust. Of all the pairings, I would call these two the least likely to ever fit in this mold.

What I mean, is that love is an illusion. The brain just finds someone that it thanks will give good off spring before you die. "The only reason that man-kind is is to reproduce." I heard someone say that once. If that is true then love truly is an illusion and therefore Link and Zelda aren't in love because love doesn't igsist.

I'm sorry if this is OT, but I'm just a little curious. Hylian Sword Master, why do you insist on defeating your ship?

Life isn't based around reproduction alone. We live so that we can enjoy life's many pleasures while connecting with others in a spiritual manner. Here's a couple of quotes about love.

Felix Adler:
Love is the expansion of two natures in such fashion that each include the other, each is enriched by the other.

Mohandas K. Gandhi:
Where there is love there is life.

Robert Heinlein:
Love is a condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.

Roger de Bussy-Rabutin:
Absence is to love as wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small and kindles the great.

Roy Croft:
I love you
Not only for what you are
But for what I am
When I am with you

Love (first stanza)

Victor Hugo:
Life is the flower for which love is the honey.


Washington Irving:
Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart.

Someone did their research...

*nods*

I agree. (I reply before reading posts)

Oh...that's what people are arguing about.

Love vs Sex. Hmm...interesting...

We could have something in the Sacred Meadow about this.

Isn't love just another cognitive function? can't all human beings be reduced to a bunch of brain cells and electromagnetic pulses? Hehehehe...

Okay you convinced me there is love. Now I shall prove that Link loves Zelda. If you look at the quote by Robert Heinlein. WE know the from examples from the past, when Zelda is sad, usually Link is working hard to cheer her up. When Zelda is happy, you see Link enjoying Life.

"Love is in the air..."

Yup! ^^ And it goes two ways. It'a all about loving the other unconditionally, which is what Link and Zelda portray in the games (they have strong feelings for one another, no matter what is thrown at them).

So true. I mean, it isn't unique to Zelda though, Link tries to cheer everyone up. ( in alternate love interests we have him cheering up Malon, Cremia, Romani, Ilia )
But with the others, it seems that the game always sees fit to reward the player in some fashion for helping these people, ( in the above case: Epona, Romani's Mask/hug, milk/bottle, Horse Call ) when with dealing with Zelda, she IS the reward. I can't help but think of that scene in the sky where the sun is shining, blue sky as far as the eye can see..and Zelda looks at Link with shining eyes and thanks him for all he's done.
And in the same token, when Zelda is sad ( beginning of MM, he's leaving ) he looks depressed too. I doubt it was solely because of her...but I agree his feelings are influenced by hers. That to me seems the mark of a man with love in his heart.

Maybe that's another reason why Zelda loves him: the unconditional part. In OoT, she had guilt written all over her and sends him back because of her desire to make things right. Even though all this has happened, and he's a child once more which he may not like...he marches straight back to her undeterred. He had reason to be angry at her, or could easily make her the focus of his anger at life...but that doesn't seem to matter. Unconditional love right there.
In WW, how else do you explain his later tolerance for Tetra's horrible behavior? Love, or at least puppy love covering the matter.

So true. I mean, it isn't unique to Zelda though, Link tries to cheer everyone up. ( in alternate love interests we have him cheering up Malon, Cremia, Romani, Ilia )
But with the others, it seems that the game always sees fit to reward the player in some fashion for helping these people, ( in the above case: Epona, Romani's Mask/hug, milk/bottle, Horse Call ) when with dealing with Zelda, she IS the reward. I can't help but think of that scene in the sky where the sun is shining, blue sky as far as the eye can see..and Zelda looks at Link with shining eyes and thanks him for all he's done.
And in the same token, when Zelda is sad ( beginning of MM, he's leaving ) he looks depressed too. I doubt it was solely because of her...but I agree his feelings are influenced by hers. That to me seems the mark of a man with love in his heart.

Maybe that's another reason why Zelda loves him: the unconditional part. In OoT, she had guilt written all over her and sends him back because of her desire to make things right. Even though all this has happened, and he's a child once more which he may not like...he marches straight back to her undeterred. He had reason to be angry at her, or could easily make her the focus of his anger at life...but that doesn't seem to matter. Unconditional love right there.
In WW, how else do you explain his later tolerance for Tetra's horrible behavior? Love, or at least puppy love covering the matter.

I agree with Link trying to cheer er up all the time, and when he does, he feels a whole lot better. and yes, she is the reward.

You know, it seems to me that they made the zelink relationship very obvious and stronger in the older games. But, in TP, it's much more vague between the two, unlike Illia and Midna, in which he spent much more time on-screen. It makes me sad to see them further apart in a more current game when all zelink fans have high hopes for something big. I, being an enormous zelink fan, am really upset.

And about whether Zelda loves or should love Link: (sorry, I'm sorta jumping topics here)

Zelda loves Link because he is always saving her Kingdom, and knowing that he does it out of the goodness of his heart, and not just for her, shows that her lover cares for what she holds most dear to her, and not just what he holds dear to him. And mens that they have many simmilarities which make them perfect. In all, he's her... I dunno, her knight in a green tunic or something (since he doesn't always wear armor)!

Zelda loves Link because he is the total package. A very skilled warrior with the best hand to hand combat, horsemanship, and archery skills than all the mediocre Hyrule Knights combined. On top of that, he has a kind and gentle personality and he is very obedient that ensures that he will always do what he is told and never question her authority. Yeah..if I was Zelda, I would definitely love Link for sure.