Ella was going crazy. Or maybe she already was. But regardless, she knew that something was desperately wrong.
You see, normal people don't hallucinate.
All morning Ella had been seeing things; well, one thing in particular. A man, to be more exact.
That morning she had awoken as normal and started her daily routine. When she had wiped the fog from her mirror after her shower, she let out a scream of terror. There, reflected in the mirror, was a man standing behind her. Soft, blonde hair ruffled in a nonexistent wind, while a handsome face contorted into a pained expression, blue eyes sparkling. But when Ella turned to confront him, he was gone. Startled and heart beating frantically, Ella tried desperately to calm herself, finally writing it off as a trick of the lighting.
Things escalated as Ella entered the subway station that morning. She saw him in the security guard at the gates and the man with his makeshift pawn shop. He haunted her in the reflections of windows and his shadow followed her over the tiles. The confused, pained expression never left his face as his eyes stalked her everywhere.
Ella fell to the ground, clutching her side, beginning to hyperventilate. A worried crowd gathered around her and man tried to help her up from the tiles. But as he touched her shoulder, she screamed and ran up the steps and out onto the street.
Everything was silent but for the pounding rain that instantly soaked Ella to the bone. The same street that had been bustling with activity only minutes before was completely empty. And there, just in front of her, was the blonde-haired man. He began to walk slowly towards her, one hand outstretched to her as Ella was frozen to the spot with fear.
He stopped just in front of her, the rain coming down around them unable to touch his shining countenance. The man once again reached out his hand to her.
"Please," supplicated a musically masculine voice.
Ella felt her heartbeat calm as she met his gaze, his eyes boring into her soul. She found her hand raising of its own accord to place itself in his. A sharp jolt of electricity accompanied the contact and a surge of recognition filled her.
"Link?" she asked slowly.
The man's face relaxed and lit up with a beatific smile. Ella collapsed.
…
And then he's there. I know I must be dreaming, but hope bubbles in my throat and becomes almost tangible as I walk through the haze towards his sleeping form. Hope that maybe this time, he will finally open his eyes.
For seven years I have had this same dream. I close my eyes and am suddenly standing in an ethereal world of gold, white, and sunshine. Silence prevails over all but the slight sound of deep breathing. As I would make my way towards the singular sound, a curled figure would appear through the haze, lying on what I could only assume was the ground; the sleeping body of my hero. In my first dream, I ran to him with childlike joy, and threw myself on the ground beside him. I tried to speak, to yell, to say his name, to laugh, but even when my mouth formed the words, nothing ever came out. I could not speak in this dream world, and I found myself crying, knowing I could not wake him from this sleep. I would gaze at my friend's face, young as my own, imagining he would wake any second and his blue eyes would crease into a smile at the sight of me. But he never did.
As the years passed and my sleep should have become troubled with the horrors I had witnessed, I still found refuge in that strange, silent, golden world. And with each passing year I watched him age as I did. At first it was just subtle changes, like the tightness of his tunic and the fair stubble forming on his chin. My hair grew long and wild, his grew shaggy and soft; I became of fragile build and he grew to what would have easily been a head taller than me while standing. One night I arrived to find that his clothes had been changed to that of a hero. Bare arms and legs were replaced by sturdy leather gauntlets and coarse white leggings, and the collar from a stiff undershirt now reached to his chin.
It became my only comfort in that terrifying world to sit at his side, never speaking, never touching, watching his peaceful face gradually lose its childishness and become sharper, more angular. I noticed daily how his shapely arms were developing strong cords of muscle and how his chest became broader, taut with pure physical strength. Calluses formed on his long fingers and his lashes grew dark against his pale cheek. Still I never dared to even brush the hair from his eyes.
My waking world was quickly becoming a nightmare. Not satisfied with the complete annihilation of the Royal Family, Ganondorf brought his fury down on the innocent heads of the people, and the remaining people of Castle Town were brutally massacred. Only the walking dead inhabited my once fair city now. I received urgent messages for assistance from the Gorons, who were desperately trying to fight off an ancient demon that threatened to devour their race. Word had also reached me that the Zoras had been frozen beneath what was once their home, and I tasted bitterness at my past hopes. One day, Impa decided it was her duty to guard the Shadow Temple, and seeing as I could easily take care of myself, quickly left for Kakariko with all due haste.
I was alone, and I set aside my tattered gown and crown and became Shiek. That night I cried myself to sleep.
Later in my dream I ran tearfully to Link's side, my skirts, no longer abandoned, ruffling behind me. I plopped unceremoniously to the ground beside him and wiped my eyes. The urge to feel his pulse, to gauge his breath, to know that he was really ALIVE overcame me. Hesitantly, I brushed my fingertips against his cheek, admiring the sudden warmth that raced up my arm. Looking around for someone that I knew would never appear, I carefully lifted his head from the ground and placed it gingerly in my lap. I found my fingers running through his impossibly soft hair; his scent overwhelmed me and I traced the curve of his jaw with one shaking fingertip. "When did you become so beautiful?" I thought to myself as I longed to hear his voice.
And, still seeking comfort, the dream ended that night with me snuggled against him, the beating of his heart a comforting lullaby.
Now, as predictable as the sun rises and sets, I am here again. I take my place at his side and again gently lift his head onto my lap as I have done every night since my nightmares became real. Once again, the tears begin to fall, and I let out a sob that echoes through the empty space. Echoes… I… Can hear.
Before the fact fully registers, all of the troubles of the outside world come spilling out of me. I talk for what seems like hours, filling Link in on even the minutest of details. I describe going into hiding and Ganondorf's unrelenting pursuit of me. I lament over losing Impa's comforting presence and how lonely I am even when awake. I tell him how on the day the Triforce had appeared on my hand I had thought that he had finally come back and like a silly child, had insisted to Impa that I go to bed before the sun set so that I could check.
"Link, please, you have to come back," I whisper as tears again threaten to spill, "I… I need you." I feel his pulse quicken and as a lone tear hits his cheek he lets out a soft sigh. His eyelids begin to flutter and I can't help but gasp as he stirs. I find his head lifting from my lap and my eyes widen in shock. With a grunt, Link sits up, rubbing his head in his hands. My breathing quickens and his ears perk up.
Link whips his head around and I am startled to find myself looking into the blue eyes I had almost forgotten, sparkling in their innocence. My heart flutters inexplicably in my chest. Shock overwhelms his features.
"Zelda?" he asks, reaching toward me. Through the tears a little laugh escapes me. I reach for him, but notice that his body is losing substance, slowly dissolving in front of me.
"Zelda?" he yells, becoming frantic in his efforts to reach me, realizing that his fingertips pass right through mine. As he disappears, I reluctantly retract my hand and smile gently.
"We'll meet again," I state simply. Link's face relaxes and he seems to nod as he fades away completely.
I wake with a start to find Rauru, the Sage of Time, standing over my makeshift bed.
"It is time, Princess."
Wordlessly, I gather my things and disappear in a column of light.
