Hello. So this is just a short little section but I did it quickly because people were wanting more. Hopefully this will hold you over for a little while. I know it's kind of like the notebook but that's just what I envisioned so sorry. Also, just as a side note, this book is not in chapters so if it seems to end abruptly, that's just where I finished writing for the day and it's in no way a chapter ending. Perhaps in the future I'll split it into actual chapters but for now it's just as it is. Well, enjoy once again. Also, thank you for the amazing reviews. Literally made my day.
"Ah, there you two are," a masculine voice says turning the corner.
I look over Zelda's shoulder and see a tall man with broad shoulders, dark hair and dark chocolate eyes. He slings an arm over Zelda's shoulder and next to her she looks so petite, like if he squeezed tight enough he would crush her. She didn't used to look like that, so fragile.
"Who's this young man you're bothering, hmm?" The man asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Oh, um," Zelda's face turns bright red, "this is a good friend of mine, Link."
He extends his arm forward so I take his hand and shake it, his grip is tight and I reflexively rub my hand when I pull it back.
"Link, this is Lawrence, my-" Zelda continues.
"Fiancée," he finishes for her.
I swallow as I take in the three figures in front of me. Zelda, Lawrence, there child; Evangeline. "How old is your daughter? She's beautiful," I say with a lump in my throat.
"Turned two a couple months ago," Lawrence answers.
Which means that Zelda got pregnant about a month after I left. Right around the time she thought I was dead. Despite what I told her, to move on if I died, I didn't think that she'd take a month to get over me.
I nod, looking at the girl that looks exactly like Zelda. "Well...I better be going. I have to ride back to Lon Lon tonight so..." I trail off.
"No!" Zelda says abruptly as I turn. I freeze. "Link, it's late. You've been traveling all day, you can stay in one of the spare bedrooms."
"Yes of course, our accommodations will suit your needs," Lawrence agrees.
"Are you sure I should stay here?" I ask hesitantly.
"Of course Link. You just got back..." Zelda says almost glumly.
"Alright. I'll stay for a night I suppose," I give in. Zelda's face lights up.
"Oh! I almost forgot, I'm supposed to be at a council meeting for the uniting of our Kingdoms my dear. The Falvale minister will be there so I must be going," Lawrence says, kissing Zelda quickly on the lips. I cringe internally.
"Good luck," Zelda says as he rushes off in the other direction.
"He's a great guy, Zelda," I say with some effort.
"Yes, he's a good man," she says though something in her eyes makes me not want to believe her.
"How long have you two been together?" I ask but I know she sees right through me. She knows the real question should be how long did it take you to forget about me?
"Almost three years," she says looking down, tucking her hair behind her ear, something she does when she's embarrassed. "I guess I just realized that the war could go on for a long time and I needed a partner that could help me lead our country through it."
"And how soon did Evangeline come after you met?" I ask, a very slight amount of acid seeping into my words.
"Actually I've known him for a long time. But my Father suggested we marry soon after you left for war," she says defensively.
"You didn't answer the question," I whisper because if I speak louder she'll hear that my voice is shaking.
She bites her lip, "About a month and a half after...I found out I was pregnant."
I clench my jaw and stare at her, at the girl in her arms that is looking back at me with eyes that match Zelda's perfectly.
"Look Link. If you wanted me so bad why didn't you write me?" she asks, her voice low.
I shake my head, "I did write you. I mean, I couldn't write you as often as I wanted to, the postman only came twice a month or so, but I sent back a letter every time he came."
"You did?" she asks, completely shocked.
"Yes," I reply simply.
"I never got any of them," she explains.
"Is that why you never wrote me?" I ask.
"Link, I wrote you almost everyday after you left until I got the letter saying you had died," she murmurs, she looks so distraught.
"I don't understand...they never came," I tell her.
"I swear I did," she says and she places her hand on my chest like she used to, expecting me to hold her.
It hurts though, and I realize that she rests her hand right where the arrow pierced my skin, where it still hasn't healed completely. I wince and she pulls back immediately, "I believe you."
The hurt on her face is so clear when I don't wrap my arms around her and hold her face against my shoulder. I wish I could. "I have to go do something. If you need help finding your room just ask one of the maids. They'll help you with all of your things."
"Alright," I say stiffly. It's been so long that I don't want her to leave.
"I'll see you soon," she reassures me.
And then she's gone again, just like that.
ZELDA
"Where are they?" I shout, infuriated.
"Zelda, what are you doing here?" my Father asks.
"Where are my letters? I know you're keeping them from me! Where are they?" I scream, tears rushing down my cheeks.
"Calm down right now," he says.
"No, I know what you did. You sent that letter didn't you. You sent the letter saying he was dead," I accuse.
"Zelda, I have no idea what you're talking about," my Father says calmly.
"This was all part of your plan wasn't it? As soon as I told you I was pregnant you fabricated that letter, making me believe he was dead. You made me believe that I had no other choice but to pretend that Lawrence was the father. Make Lawrence believe that he was. You hid the letters I sent him and the ones that he sent me so that no one would find out about your plan. You didn't want a scandal, and you wanted to get rid of him so I had no reason to hold onto him. That's why you made him go to war isn't it? Because you were scared that I wouldn't let him go!" I finish, angry tears pooling in my eyes.
"Zelda, this is ridiculous," is all he says.
I march over to his desk and start throwing open drawers despite his angry resistance. I look for anything resembling the letters that I never got.
"Zelda! Stop this nonsense at once! You're acting absolutely childish," he says gruffly, seizing one of my wrists.
I twist my arm out of his grasp and swing my hand at his face, making a satisfying slapping sound as it makes contact with his cheek. He stares back at me with shock on his face. All I do is look at him letting the depression I've been hiding show itself clearly.
"Just tell me where they are," I say, my forehead scrunched in distress.
"You can't let this jeopardize everything between Hyrule and Falvale. You know this. You cannot go back to him Zelda. And you must not tell Lawrence," he says strictly but he pulls a key off of his desk and unlocks a cabinet behind him. He fishes around in it for a moment and pulls out a stack of scraps of papers and dirty, torn envelopes.
He hands them to me and I take them with as much care as possible. Everything would be different if I'd had these.
"Thank you Daddy," I murmur as a sob builds in my throat.
"Zelda, don't tell Lawrence," he says again.
I nod and leave the room, cradling the letters against my chest.
