Link watched as the portal closed and stood there, waiting for the finality of Midna's words to set in. He knew soon enough that that was futile.

Zelda stood still as a statue, her eyes wide, and her chin trembling slightly. A traitorous tear slipped out of her right eye, and as she felt the Hero turn to look at her, she wiped it with force, a red road marking her cheek. She blinked hard, forcing her feelings into submission, and looked at the Hero with her best poker face. He had a soft smile in place, his eyes were glassy and red rimmed, he took a few steps towards her.

"Let's go seek shelter, the nights are cold in here."

Zelda clenched her jaw trying to control herself, hoping it would be as subtle as she wanted it to be, and followed the Hero's tracks.

They left the Arbiter's grounds and stepped into the desert just before the sun set, Zelda, with swift movements, broke the heels in her shoes and tossed them to the side. Link decided to make camp under a protruding rock, it worked as a cave and left Link with a clear view of the desert.

Link told her to wait as he gathered wood for the night. The wind was still welcome against her skin, but its chill was beginning to show.

Link's figure moved in a big circle, and as he came back she could clearly see him wiping his face with his shoulder. Her heart clenched.

He had a soft smile as soon as he was in her sights, he left the wood in a carefully ordered pile and started to work on the fire. Zelda moved next to him and with her open palm called forth for the power of Din, a string of flames danced out of her hand and into the dry wood. The fire warmed her quickly and the shadows moved through them with slickness.

She retreated to a wall and looked at the Hero's face. It was obvious he was sad, and it was obvious he was tired. But as soon as she voiced those concerns he smiled and politely told her to rest assured. Zelda felt her eyes close, but the Hero was still looking at the fire as if waiting for something, her hands clenched her elbows.

"I am extremely sorry that Midna broke the mirror."

The Hero started and looked at her with a frown.

"I am extremely sorry she left."

He laughed without force, "She really did, didn't she?"

Zelda closed her mouth, and looked at the ground. Comforting people was not her strong suit.

"I don't know how you came to the conclusion that you ended up with," he talked to the fire, "but none of this is your fault, your Highness." He felt her stir behind him, could already hear her words coming out of her mouth "Midna is a ruler much as yourself, and it was her decision to broke the mirror, her desicion to leave," he turned to Zelda, and she was greeted by fierceness, "and as for Zant, we both know he was a puppet in Ganondorf's hand, and Ganondorf wanted to be freed." He waited a second "None of this," he punctuated, "is your fault."

How she wanted his words to be felt as truth, he told them with such conviction, with such strenght that she wanted to nod, clap at such well worded sentences. But all she felt was failure, and pity, mock in the eyes of the goddesses.

She bit her lip, looked at him to scorn him for such idealism, but he was raw in his honesty.

"And if you think that I hold any grudges against you for any of your decisions, I want to make it clear right here and now, all I feel towards you is respect and loyalty," he paused and then said with conviction "Midna felt the same way."

At this Zelda could only huff, she cut herself in time. She knew as well as him that Midna did not view her in good lights, the Hero must have heard her witty and borderline insulting remarks.

And the Hero must have read her mind.

"She came about to respect you, she didn't hold you in high regards at first, granted," he locked eyes with her and his gaze lost it might, "but then you sacrificed your light for her, and we both saw you for what you truly are," Zelda could hear her heart crying, "a selfless, caring princess."

Zelda closed her eyes and moved her head away.

"Do not sell yourself short, Princess."

Zelda felt her chest rise and fall, counted her breaths till she could assure herself that her feelings were not in command. And then she opened her eyes.

The Hero was laying two long pieces of cloth that looked like makeshift beds. He sat in one of them and put his weapons in front of him, his hair glistened against the light, his fingers moved deftly as he tuned his bow.

"How old are you, Hero?"

The Hero looked at her trough his bangs, and promptly came back to his bow.

"How old does your Highness think I am?"

Zelda frowned, was he that young, then? She clasped her hands in front of her, fear gripping at her.

"Nineteen?"

Link finished tuning his bow, left it at his side and grabbed the Master Sword to clean it.

"I am seventeen years old, your Majesty."

Zelda let her head fall, as she again closed her eyes in frustation.

"I..." she was feeling it was hard to talk, "I am so sorry you had to go through all of this at such a young age."

"Will it ease your pain if I tell you that I am to be eighteen in two months?"

Zelda huffed, shook her head no and looked at him. He was expectant.

And she could feel his innocence, she could feel his worry, she could almost touch his righteousness, and she decided that it wasn't worth it to be so composed in front of him, when he was such a being. When he was so pure.

"I am so sorry," she lamented.

Link made a face at her, as if he already knew what she would say and he had already forgiven everything. She could barely keep it together. Forgiveness shouldn't come this easy to her.

She stood and went to him, he followed her every move, till she was in front of him and he had to strain his neck to see her. She kneeled, and he could see the uneasiness that shook her, could almost taste the shame around her, how had he not seen her pain before? She took in a deep breath.

"I can not see the good in the decisions I made, because there were no good repercussions to any of them. I just tried to do good, but did not do it, I told miself I was doing the right thing, but what can I show for it?" she smiled at him, and Link sucked in a breath, "Nothing".

Link could barely believe his eyes, the Princess of Hyrule always had a proper neutral semblance, always regal, nothing ever disturbed her. He had thought it a show of fortitude. Now he knew.

"I can barely believe my people will ever forgive my actions, but I will do my best for them," she continued, "but you, Hero, now more than ever, can not show such mercy, for I do not deserve it".

Link took her hand, and her surprise softened him. She was so scared, she was so lost, she felt so alone.

"I forgive everything."

Now he knew. She was as lost and scared as him.