She stood by the window, proud, beautiful. How long had it been since Midna had destroyed the mirror? A year? Ten? She pushed a golden strand of her hair out of her eyes and sighed. A deep sigh, from the very core of her. It felt like forever.
She loved him. She couldn't deny it. She loved it when he laughed, when he smiled. But he didn't laugh very often anymore. Or smile for that matter. He was always distant. Staring out the window at nothing, morning, noon, and night.
And twilight. Especially at twilight.
She cursed bitterly at the water droplet that coursed down her ivory cheek. They said she was like stone. Princess Zelda, the rock, the pillar of strength, the unshaken deity of a ruler. More tears followed the first until they flowed in a steady stream, the incarnation of her turmoil. God, she loved him so. But he could never love her.
"I am not stone. I am a human being. I have feelingsā¦" She choked. She regarded the reflection in the glass with her customary cold logic. Her eyes glistened softly with tears, her jaw clenched to keep heavier crying from victory.
He had been dying a little inside, ever since that day. That damned, accursed day. Why couldn't Midna had left him with something better, something with more meaning! Something to start the healing of his heart! Maybe if it had started healing then, it would be whole now, and hers.
But no. It was too late. She'd tried to keep him from going to her. But it hadn't worked. It had blown up in her face, and left her with the scorch marks.
"Princess Zelda?"
She efficiently wiped her eyes and turned to acknowledge the page that stood in the doorway. "Favian. Yes?"
The page bowed deeply. "His grace the Hero of Time was wondering what color tunic you would wish him to wear for the ceremony?"
Zelda heaved another sigh. "It's his wedding too. Can't he make one choice on his own?"
Favian fidgeted, surprised by her uncharacteristically sarcastic reply. "Well, your majesty, Sir Link doesn't want to spoil your plans."
"He never does." She thought to herself, then answered. "White. Tell him to wear white."
She faced the window again, indicating to Favian that this conversation was over, and hiding her pain from the world.
He would never be hers.
Never.
