Link awoke alone in the darkness of the infirmary. The nurses were long gone and the twilight through the window was at its darkest. His wounds were patched, stitched, and bandaged, including the place where Aeron's sword had pierced him. Link's hand hovered over the bandage there, vividly remembering the coolness of the blade as it was plunged into his gut. With a sigh he turned in his cot towards the door.
Midna had yet to come see him again, though he was sure she was probably dealing with all the chaos that had ensued after the battle. Surely he would be dismissed now that her people were under the threat of war. He sat up in the bed and ran his fingers through his sandy blonde hair as his thoughts grew dark. It was his fault. He had been selfish, and now Midna and her people would pay the price for his selfish heart. Yet, he had not known of the threat of Aeron before his arrival. He was powered by his love and was sent here by the Goddesses themselves. Surely the Goddesses had good intentions sending him there.
Link thrust his palm against his forehead, upset with himself that he would question the Goddesses. Of course there was good reasoning, but they would never outright tell him what he needed to do. He pulled back his hand to look at the faint outline of the Triforce. He double over in pain as a harsh cough racked his lungs, coughing out dark black goo. It reminded him of the sludge he had been in right after his duel with Aeron. Had the dream been real? Another cough racked his whole body and he shuddered with the force.
As soon as it had started, though, the fit was over. The sludge he had coughed up mysteriously disappeared. What was that? Link's thoughts were interrupted when the infirmary door swung open. He blushed as Midna swiftly made her way to his bedside and embraced him. "Link, you're awake!" she cried. The sound of her tears tore at his heart and he held her close.
"Midna, what is the matter?" he asked. "Why are you crying? What's happened?"
Midna smiled half-heartedly at him as she pulled from the embrace. "I spoke with the Goddesses just now," she told him. "What we did was right, but…"
"But what?" Link could see the concern in her eyes and he felt as though his heart stopped. "What did they say?"
"You can't stay here," she said softly, her voice cracking.
