A/N: Hey guys! Thank you so much to those who reviewed and followed. Here is chapter two!
I was unquestionably drained. It was late- I didn't even bother checking the clock. Worries flooded every inch of my mind. After the festivities, a small meeting had been held with only officials. They told me we would be hosting more events in which I would need to explain in detail what happened when Ganondorf and Zant were killed. Which included the events that led up to it... which was the Shadow Realm.
Midna. She had disappeared so suddenly, it was a mystery to even Link and I, who had witnessed the departure first hand. In that single moment, the worlds were one. Then the mirror shattered. That's how it would have been anyway; Light and Shadow could never be together. It was all so much to comprehend. Tears trickled easily with the pressure of trying to figure it all out.
I just couldn't do it. Not only was it painful for myself to think of, I didn't want to bring sorrow to the people of Hyrule. The majority of them had lost at least one person close to them. To bring up the truth would be too much for some of them, and too much for me to see them suffering again. They deserved to know, but frankly I knew I wouldn't be the one to deliver the information.
My head felt heavy. I sat at my desk feeling distant and anxious, fingers massaging my temples. I hadn't been like this in a long time.
"Goddesses help me," I whispered to the air.
There was a faint knock on the door. Getting up to open it, I was pleased when I saw who it was. My father held a hot cup of tea in his hands, donning a tired grin.
"Thought you might need this," He said. "You did a nice job at the feast tonight, dear."
Thanking him graciously, I motioned for him to join me so we could talk. I had always been close with my father. I guess there was no choice though, since my mother had died when I was very young. I had no memories of her. My father rarely ever spoke about her- it was too painful to think about. Every day he struggled trying to balance raising me and ruling Hyrule, and I tried my best to empathize with him. He was a benevolent man that deserved a lot more than he had.
I didn't know how she passed, and I would never dare to ask. I couldn't bare to imagine the emptiness that would fill my father's eyes once again, I couldn't take away what little he had regained. I heard him talking to her photograph framed in his study once, a sob stuck in his throat.
"I need you back. I need you like I need to breathe except you, my everything, you I need more. Please come back to me, my love. I can't see properly because when you left, so did the light in my life."
I ran and locked myself in the bathroom and cried for a very long time. He was utterly broken. Grief kills.
Since that day, I made sure I was extremely careful around my father. With my words, with how I treated him, with how I treated everyone. You never know what someone could be going through. My father played a big role in my life and all I truly wanted was for him to be happy again. When we talked, I hated worrying him. But he had a keen sense on how I felt and if I was being honest or not.
I pulled myself out of my swarming thoughts, refocusing on the situation around me.
"Is everything alright? You seem distressed." My father sat beside me now, biting his lip.
"Yes, Father. Just tired."
"You're lying, Zelda."
"I know."
"What troubles you? I know there's been a lot going on as of late, but is there something else I don't know about? You know you can tell me anything."
I hesitated.
"I guess so. Just stressed about the upcoming events. I don't know how I'm going to explain it to everyone else when I can't even explain it to myself."
"That's alright. You'll figure it out, you always do."
That didn't mean I wanted to. It was stressful, but of course I would always need to. That was my duty. And I was sad to think this would be my life.
I was selfish. So extremely selfish.
"...What if I told you... I didn't want to be princess anymore?"
There was a somber look in his eyes. Pure disappointment, I expected. Sighing, he seemed to be gathering his thoughts. My heart thumped dully.
"I had a feeling this would happen someday, Zelda... I do assure you, it will get better. What you're going through is surely normal."
I did whatever it took to stay calm. Screaming and crying was not an option.
"But what if it doesn't get better, Father? I'm begging you, isn't there any way I can just take a break? All I really want is to see to our land, not as a ruler, but as a real person."
He pulled me into a hug, patting my shoulder. "Why don't you sleep on it for the night? Emotions are high at the moment, but I know things will be better in the morning. Please don't stress, my dear."
Everything was going to fall apart if I didn't stop myself now.
"Yes, Father, I'll do that. I apologize for worrying you, I'm sure everything will be better in the morning, as you said."
He smiled weakly. I shouldn't have said so much earlier.
"See you in the morning, Zelda." He kissed the top of my forehead and shut the door gently.
What was I supposed to tell him in the morning? I knew it would be the same. There was no way I could just drop it on him. Besides, he would never let me leave. I felt guilty; my insides ached. Maybe he was right, though. I would sleep on it. It could be better in the morning. I tucked myself into the covers and stared at the dark ceiling. I was a good liar.
