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::
Unrequited ::
A Legend of Zelda Vignette
By LauraCeleste
Special thanks to
my Beta Reader Hugh Jasse!! Thanks for believing in me!!
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:: Foreword ::
This is a small vignette
from Princess Zelda's point of view concerning her feelings about
her perceived-as-unrequited love and wondering
what went wrong. It is quite different from my usual preference
of fic because it is not blatantly a LZR. I write this fic as a
concession of sorts to
those who believe that the OOT Link is not made for OOT
Zelda but for Malon. OOT Link can have Malon! The other Zeldas,
those of the future, will
see to it that the hero doesn't get away!
And now, on with the story!
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We are the only two who understand how
close we came.
Close to death, that is.
I remember him mostly as a boy, so young
and open to the world. He approached me on my courtyard dais so
frightened, his clothes and skin dusty from being caught sneaking
in several times. He tried to look brave as I spoke to him,
explaining things we as children shouldn't have had to worry
about.
As children.
We were so very young then, only seven
years old. It is hard to believe the things I put him through. He
went off swinging that little sword to slay monsters many times
larger than he with no complaint. What bravery I saw in him! What
intelligence, what stamina! Yes, I watched him from a distance as
he retrieved the sapphire and ruby for me. And then, when he
brought them to the castle, I watched from the back of Impa's
frantic horse as he readied that little sword and shield to
defend us against the great dark Gerudo, even though there was
little chance of him doing more than scratching the man's thigh.
I fell in love, then.
I wanted to turn back and save that curious
little boy, but Impa told me that he had bought us time. Because
of him, we would live to see tomorrow.
But would he?
Of course he would. He was destined to
enter the Temple of Time and grow up far too fast. He became a
strapping young lad of seventeen and went on to save the world.
And then, with my heart aching for all that he had seen, I sent
him back to be a boy again. I hoped that he would remember me,
and he did. We grew up together as great friends, though it was
hard to explain to my father how we met. Eventually, he warmed up
to the boy and gave him a room within our palace.
Twenty years hence, Link is no longer
living at the castle. He moved to his very own house a year ago
and accepted a guard's position at the castle gates. He rarely
ever comes around any more, preferring to spend his off-days
visiting his many friends in Kakariko and Hyrule Castle Town. I
remember clearly the day he came to me with the request.
"Your highness...," he began, and
I stopped him.
"Forgive me.... Zelda, I would like to
request permission to leave the castle." Even as an adult,
he was fidgeting and would not meet my eyes.
"You're free to come and go as you
please, Link. I cannot hold you back," I told him. And then
he told me the truth.
"I want to move out of the castle."
He was silent while the color drained from my face. "W...why?"
"I feel trapped here. I'm not
free." His words were biting, but
I knew how he felt. I felt the same.
"I.." I started to speak
but did not have the strength and instead sank into my chair,
weakly holding my head.
"I'm sorry, Zelda.." His
voice trailed off, and I hid my face, not wanting him to see my
tears.
"Leave if you want to, then," I
said, my words tinged with a frost I neither meant nor expected.
I think it shocked and hurt him. What I wanted to do was wrap
myself around him and beg him to stay, and to tell him the secret
I had guarded across time and back, through two lifetimes. I
could never love anyone but that child who tried so valiantly to
fight Ganondorf with that little wooden shield and sword.
But I did not tell him, and I let him go.
Now I am standing in the ballroom, watching
my people pirouette and dip, happiness on their faces. Link and
his wife are among them, I know, but I am hoping I'll miss them
tonight.
"Zelda.." I hear his voice
and my heart stops for a breathless moment. "I would like
you to meet.."
I wake up lying in my bed. My handmaiden
tells me I fainted, and I am surprised -- surprised that I did
not perish there, for I felt as if I should have. I lost my
little brave boy, and in his place found a proud married man with
land of his own. He found his freedom, I suppose.
From my bed I watch the sun rise, and I
wonder if it is a sign. I also rise and follow the light to my
balcony, which looks out to the courtyard below.
He is there, seated on a bench in my
garden, looking pensive and sad. She is there, consoling him.
I wonder why he is crying.
~FINIS~
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Please review if you enjoyed
this fic! I appreciate anything you as a reader have to
say. Thank you for reading!
~~@~~LauraCeleste~~@~~
the_lone_gungirl@yahoo.com
