"It's all over."
These were the words Zelda had imagined saying ever since she was thrust away from the ceremony. But in this moment, she could hardly gather her voice. As much as she had played this scene out in her head, it was still difficult to grapple with the actuality of it all. It was almost as if it wasn't over, but saying these words made it real. She wondered why these words could barely escape her. Perhaps it was due to the recent physical and emotional trauma; after all, she could never have fathomed something so trying. Perhaps it was the fact that it was Link to whom she was attempting to speak these words. She could sense that despite his exhaustion, he had never felt more energized to be reunited with her. She knew how he felt; she found it fitting that he had enough courage to stand face to face with that which threatened to rip apart his whole world, yet he hadn't enough courage to tell his true feelings to that world, his everything. But Zelda knew her loss of voice had nothing to do with any of this at all despite her fatigue and despite Link's gaze into her being. No, her loss of voice came from her realization of the apparent irony contained within those three small words, "It's all over." Zelda knew that these words didn't mark an end; these words marked the beginning. The beginning of what, though? She wondered.
Recognizing her inability for words, she couldn't help but run into Link's arms. Contrary to the shy boy she knew Link to be, she found herself surprised that Link seemed eager to reciprocate the gesture. And it was there that they continued to stand in each other's arms, for it was in this moment that she finally found the comfort she needed to relinquish her inhibitions. She felt her shoulders drop as if she had just been carrying the weight of the world. She noticed her breathing to slow and deepen as she felt the urge to release all her pent up tears, only to find a mysterious force preventing her from doing so. All she could do was bury her brow into his chest, though it was partially due to the fact that he was clinching her so tightly. And perhaps this was the most surreal experience of them all. She had always dreamed of this moment, but she had no idea it would come on these terms. And everything that she had just gone through amplified her experience of their first embrace. She found comfort in the fact that while Link could never have verbalized his feelings to her, the extent at which he demonstrated those feelings far exceeded her hopes and dreams. She thought maybe he had longed for this moment as much as she has.
The truth though is that he did long for this moment as she did. She had no idea that when Ghirahim ceased her just as Link believed they were being reunited, Link felt all that was inside him burn with desperation. She had no idea that upon being separated once again, every ounce of what was left of Link's energy was expelled in rage. She had no idea that moment was the most difficult moment of them all for Link. And she had no idea that despite Link having no energy left to put forth, she was the source of his courage.
Link remembered what she said as she revealed herself to be Hylia's reincarnate, "I am still my father's daughter, and I am still your friend. I am still your Zelda." And to finally be holding his Zelda, all else seemed to fade into the background. It seemed to Link as if he was with Zelda alone. As always, he had so much to say but he knew he would never speak it. And especially in this moment, he was even less inclined to speak all that was really on his mind. Link, too, knew that this was just the beginning. But Link, unlike Zelda, knew what to make of it. He knew that he had every intention of never losing Zelda again. He knew that the thought of enduring all of this was much more than even he could bear. And unlike Zelda, Link knew that this moment marked the beginning of their life together. He knew he would never let her go. All that Link had just gone through furthered his feelings for Zelda because tearing her away from him made Link realize how much apart of his life she was. Link was tired of being strong. His internal peace from being reunited with Zelda represented rest he never wanted give up. And despite this, Link gathered what was left of him for what would require more courage than ever before. As Zelda, looked up into his eyes, Link said to her with that same loss of voice, "I could never fully demonstrate how much I care about you."