Twilight's Call: Vague Destiny
Chapter 4
Midna plopped onto her bed and buried her face in her palm. I'll be lucky if I get any respect around her anymore, she thought. The speech had gone terribly, for Midna had had a lack of things to say half the time, and was stuttering stupidly the other half. I'm back, she thought, annoyed, what more is there to say? What's worse, there had been a formal celebration dinner afterwards, of which Midna had to sit awkwardly at the head of the table, around which the rest of the council sat, throwing her nervous glances time and again.
She had been relieved to dismiss dinner a bit early. Midna went and changed into her nightgown and drew her curtains. It was rather late now, and Midna lit a fire in her large fireplace and wrapped herself in her black silk sheets. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she was slowly enveloped in the soft, dim atmosphere of the large room...
***
It was bright, very bright. Midna had to squint and shade her eyes to see clearly. She was standing in a vast, grassy meadow that stretched as far as the eye could see. It was speckled with small patches of soft white flowers here and there.
Midna took a good look around as her eyes adjusted to the light. She saw a figure in clad green standing with its back to Midna in the distance.
Not knowing what else to do, Midna began walking towards the figure. As she got closer, she gradually began to recognize this mysterious person. The green tunic, the matching hat, the worn boots and shaggy golden hair. "Link!" Midna cried, her feet carrying her faster and faster. Link turned slowly, a solemn, empty expression on his face.
Midna skidded to a stop, his rigid expression alarming her. "...Link? Are you alright...?"
Link stiffened, keeping his solemn composure. "They never forget," he replied.
Midna stumbled backwards a few steps. This voice was not Link's. It was deep, eerie, possessive... it frightened her. "Link... W-what..." she stuttered. It then occurred to Midna that they were standing very close to the edge of a cliff. Link slowly turned away from her and walked forward, stopping where his toes just barely touched the edge.
Midna watched, wide-eyed, unable to move, to make a sound. Then, he jumped.
"NOOOO!!" Midna screamed, her voice cracking.
She rushed to the edge and looked over. Her stomach lurched at the sight of his bloodied, mangled body lying limp on the jagged rocks below. She clutched her stomach and covered her mouth with her hand, hot tears streaming down her cheeks.
She then heard whispers. Thousands of them. Though they were merely whispers, they pierced her ears like shrill screams. "We never forget, we never forget," they chanted. They got louder and louder.
"No. NO. NO!!" Midna pressed her palms to the sides of her head, her hands clenching into fists. "MAKE IT STOP!!"
***
Midna jolted awake, panting, sweat covering her forehead and the back of her neck. She was shaking uncontrollably, and her eyes were wide, pupils dilated. She clenched her silk sheets in her fists. Malore, Elena, Leous, and a few other members of the council that Midna did not recognize were all standing around her, startled and worried looks on their faces.
"P-princess... Are you alright?" Malore asked, "Is there anything I can get you?"
"W-water," Midna stammered, lips trembling.
"I'll get it!" Leous replied immediately, and rushed out of the chamber. Elena soaked a cloth in warm water and pressed it gently against Midna's forehead.
"Thank you," Midna replied feebly. "We would have knocked before entering your private chamber," Malore began, "but your screaming alarmed us–we feared you were in danger." Midna had finally managed to keep her breathing under control and immediately felt better when Leous returned with a glass full of ice cold water. Her shaking had nearly stopped completely and she continuously took small sips of water to help clear her head.
"I think I'm fine now," Midna addressed the small crowd all watching her intently, "Thank you for your assistance." One by one, each of them bowed and left the room. Malore called to Midna from the doorway, "Please don't hesitate to holler if you need anything." Midna could still hear a tint of alarm in his tone.
Midna nodded.
Malore bowed and softly shut the door behind him. Midna placed the glass of water on her bedside table and sulked under her covers.
"Living without him is going to be a lot more difficult than I thought," she whispered miserably to herself.
