A Hero's Tears Chapter 1, a legend of zelda fanfic

This is my first Legend of Zelda fic, so I apologize if I get anything screwed up (character traits, behavior, etc) because Link is mute in roughly every game albeit battle cries and whatnot. Zelda might be a tad OOC toward the end, but other than that, this is a Link x Zelda fic, because they're just that cool. Enjoy, readers, enjoy!

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Darkness…

Silence...

Those were the hidden figure's only two companions of the indistinguishable person cloaked in a blanket of shadows as its hand swept a stray branch of leaves that belonged to a bush on the forest's border to better view its target. Mere yards ahead of him, a single rectangular beacon of light jutted out of the black abyss that covered the land of Hyrule, seemingly drawing the stealthy silhouette to it like a lost sailor would be drawn to a lighthouse beacon. Surrounding this small box of light was a hardly detectable outline of a massive castle, it towers seeming to rise above Hyrule itself, as if protecting it from the darkness.

The figure's attention turned to another shadowed figure that wandered much more openly around the field surrounding the castle that it recognized as a royal guard. The patrolling guard appeared to be wearing armor of unknown color, but the figure was almost sure it was dull copper, and a long spear nearly a foot taller than its wielder. The armed guard stopped seemingly to scan the area, at which time the stealthy silhouette ducked behind the branches of leaves his arm had been pushing aside for fear that the guard would see his deep ocean blue eyes reflecting the moonbeams that streamed down onto all of Hyrule. The stealthy figure waited with baited breath to see what the patrolling guard would do. When the guard carrying the spear saw there was no danger, it turned and disappeared from around the corner of the castle.

Seeing its opportunity, the shadow leapt from its hiding spot in the thicket and darted toward the beacon of light mentioned before, and its true appearance was revealed against the moonlight. It was a young man, no older than eighteen, his blonde hair gleaming with little beads of sweat that now trickled toward his forehead. His long bangs swept to the side to rest just above his right eye, while two thick wisps of his hair hung in front of his ears, just long enough to brush his chin when the wind blew it while the rest of his blonde hair remained short and wild in the back; it was a unique haircut, but one he had felt best suited him…unique. His toned body was protected by a green tunic; underneath said article of clothing was a crisp white, longer sleeved commoner's shirt, along with the off white pants to match, the ends of which were tucked inside of two brown leather commoner's boots. Yes, my friends, this young figure was Link, the hero of time. Right now, however, he felt not like a hero, but an evanescence of what might have once been one. The memory of what made him feel so much self hatred burned in his mind, tightening its clutch over his heart with guilt and sorrow.

Upon approaching the light that hung above the man in the castle window, its dim light showed Link the thick vines that had grown in between the stones the castle was made of over time. He deftly whipped out a strange mechanism that almost appeared to be some sort of glove, albeit three steel claws that jutted out of where your hand was supposed to go. He raised the glove to aim it at the vines before firmly pressing his thumb on a hidden button inside the glove. The three steel talons suddenly flew from their place on the glove, a thick, sturdy chain trailing behind it like a demented kite string.

KA-CHANK

Access granted.

The glove jerked Link up onto the wall of vines that his clawshot had lodged itself in before he managed to grasp the vines and use them as a makeshift ladder to reach the window that the light was spilling lazily from. Upon lifting himself over the sill of the afore mentioned window, he was greeted by the sight of the very person whom he had loved, who he still loved…

…who he had failed to protect…

The woman turned toward Link, her long light blonde hair trailing behind her elegantly to rest behind her at the small of her back. Her soft blue eyes gazed at him fondly, though her gaze was not met. Her soft pink gown swished around her ankles with her every movement, leaving Link to gaze longingly at her long, thin body. Her creamy skinned cheeks were painted a light pink as he stared at her.

"My lady…" He hardly managed to croak out, still trying his hardest not to look into her eyes, for fear of what look he would be greeted with. Her sudden laughter nearly made him go against his fears, mainly because of the lightness and joy it held, as if he was not to blame for what had happened.

"Link, what's with this 'my lady' stuff? You should know by now that my name is Zelda, and you can call me by that alone! There's no need for such formality…" Her voice trailed off as she watched him lower his head, trying desperately to hide behind his long dark blonde bangs. Zelda watched as he stepped closer to her slowly, almost agonizingly so. "Link-" Before she could continue, Link embraced her as tightly as he would dare. She stiffened in his arms a moment, but eased herself into his hold.

"I'm sorry…my lady…I'm so sorry…" He had tried not to cry in front of his childhood friend and ruler of both Hyrule and his heart, but the moment he felt the bandages on her stomach against his fingertips, knowing he was to blame for her injury, he could no longer contain his sorrow. Before he could stop himself, tears began to trail sluggishly down his cheeks, her blonde tresses absorbing the evidence of his sorrow.

"Link, what…?" He stepped back from her, breaking their embrace as he neared the window.

"I don't know how or why you would still ask of me to meet you here. I don't understand why, after my failure…" His voice trailed off as his head lowered once more. "I'm sorry." He repeated before turning and preparing to jump out of the window.

"Link, wait-!" Zelda caught his hand just as he sat on the sill, one leg still bent to rest his foot on the ledge. "What happened earlier…that wasn't your fault. It was because of my own recklessness that I was injured."

"No…that's not the point…" Link turned his head back toward the stars. "I swore to protect you no matter what the cost. I vowed to your own father that no harm would befall you so long as I was there. I failed…I failed both you and your father. I would have failed Hyrule if the healer hadn't done something…I can no longer call you by your name like I did when we were children. I can no longer ease myself when I am near you. I can only stand as your protector. Because when I am your friend, your life is at stake." It took all that Zelda had not to cry out in pain as she stood there and grasped his hand for all she was worth. "Goodnight…my lady…"

Before she could stop him, he was gone.

Sorry about the whole vagueness of it all in this chapter, but all will be explained in the next one! I needed something to make people want to keep reading it! So…review, please!