Don't Ever Let Me Go

Link glanced tenderly toward the crystal imprisoning Zelda. Has she really been watching the whole time?

"Zelda!" Link called, not knowing whether she could hear him. "Don't listen to him. He's just trying to tri-"

A white orb struck Link's abdomen, completely winding him. He held his side as he doubled over.

"Don't tell me it was that easy!" one of the forms of Agahnim taunted.

"There wasn't even anyone in there..." another form added. "See?"

Link glanced to the crystal noticing Zelda was not contained inside as Agahnim said.

"Where is she?" Link demanded.

"It's only a matter of time," the third Agahnim mused.

Link angrily sprung to his feet and lunged at the third Agahnim. His blade passed right through Agahnim's body!

Agahnim chuckled delightfully. "Fortunately for me you struck the wrong one, and unfortunately for you, you left yourself vulnerable."

Link rolled out of the way just as two orbs soared over his head. However, this maneuver placed him right in the path of the second array of orbs. Several orbs struck Link, and in the shock and pain, Link lost his grip on his sword. The sword landed next to Agahnim, who picked it up and pointed it at Link.

"One more blow should finish you! And look, Princess Zelda really will have the pleasure of seeing you die a second time. I kept my word."

Link glanced at the pink crystal which now held Zelda captive. Her usually vibrant sapphire eyes were now wide with horror. Zelda's sudden gasp alerted Link that the orb was on its way. Link glanced at Zelda again and knew he couldn't die before he had the chance to confess his feelings to her. Nor could he die now that he finally understood his role. His role as a commoner and his role as the Hero of Time had one thing in common: neither were his identity. He had accomplished many great things as the Hero of Time, but he also was able to find meaning by leading a simple farm life. He defined his roles, not the other way around. Why did he think being King of Hyrule would be any different?

With that thought, Link turned toward the approaching orb and descended his hand into his pocket clutching the first item his hand landed upon. Upon recoiling his hand, Link recognized this item as the bottle of Lon Lon Milk he finished that morning.

Of all the things to grab, Link thought.

"Most people say final words, but you want a final drink?" Agahnim asked incredulously.

Not having time to grab another item, Link swung the bottle at the orb and to his surprise, the bottle deflected the orb. Agahnim experienced a similar surprise as the orb struck his levitated form. He landed on the stone floor in such a manner that he was impaled on Link's sword.

"Unbelievable..." Agahnim choked. "First a bug-catching net and now a bottle..."

Agahnim collapsed over the blade as he breathed his last. An infuriated cry sounded behind Link, and he turned to witness Ganondorf being readmitted to the Sacred Realm by the sages.

"Curse you Link!" Ganondorf called. "You have not seen the end of me!"

Link couldn't prevent laughing. Victory never felt so sweet, and now he could at last sheath his sword and live. Link smiled, and turned to release Zelda from her prison. She stood frozen in time. Her arms raised as if to ward off an enemy, her eyes worried and afraid, her expression grim. Link's heart soared at the sight of her. He knew he loved her, knew that he would be hers until his very last breath, and knew that he had hurt her. Could she ever forgive him for what he had done to her? Doubt crept into Link's thoughts, and his heart sank. For the first time, Link finally realized what he had done to her. When she had offered herself to him, he denied her. Confused he might have been, but he had wronged her, and no amount of goodness or heroic acts could redeem him...nothing but her forgiveness.

Link lifted his right hand, turned it, and the Triforce of Courage lit like a beacon in is hand. Zelda's Triforce absorbed the light and suddenly magnified the light with her own and the cage shattered, dropping Zelda from her frozen position. Link moved to catch her, and as she collapsed in his arms, he held her close not ever wanting to let her go again. His arm encircled her waist, and as Zelda slowly regained consciousness, he stroked her head as it laid against his chest. Her hair seemed to restore light to the castle was only overcome by the tiny tears that slowly began to drip from her lashes. Zelda suddenly stiffened, and Link knew that at any moment she might ask him to leave and abash his hope that she forgive him.

Zelda felt Link's fingers running through her hair. She felt his arm supporting her back. She felt the tears on her cheeks and realized that she was free. However, being so close to Link stirred up all too familiar emotions and her heart was ready to burst. Anger, confusion, hope, but mostly love threatened to escape from its prison. Zelda knew that she had to get away from him as quickly as possible. She took a moment to clear her thoughts, but they continued to replay everything that had happened. Though her timeless prison kept her body frozen, she could still see everything that had occurred. She saw the evil spread, she saw the battles, and she saw Link come to save her. "Link saved me," her mind repeated. She looked in his eyes and was alarmed by what she saw.

Now I'm hallucinating, she thought, I have to get away...

With her arms she pushed to break free, but Link would not let her go. She kept trying, but before chanting the words to transform her into Sheik, Link loosened his grip.

"Zelda, please wait."

Zelda stopped struggling and waited. She looked away, not wanting the Hero of Time to see the tears clouding her eyes. She didn't want him to see the games her mind was playing. She let her arms fall to her sides in his loosened embrace.

Link didn't know where to start. He knew he was about to lose her, and if he lost her he and Zelda would experience another heartbreak they may never recover from. He sighed and let her go and turned. He had to get the words right, there was no choice. His confession had to be perfect. He reached for her hand behind him and was encouraged that she met his with hers.

Zelda inwardly groaned... Here it comes, she thought, his words of departure. He won't even look at me to tell me, and all I want to do is hold his hand so he won't walk away forever.

Her thoughts finally quieted when she heard Link's familiar, strong, and comforting voice.

"Zelda. I know that I wronged you. In your moment of honesty I was lost in my denial. There is no excuse for my behavior and an apology is not good enough." He paused, letting the words echo in the castle hall. Behind him the hope that was rekindled in Zelda finally spread it's wings and flew. She looked at their hands, and then at his back. Link let her hand go and turned to face her, this time taking both. Zelda didn't dare meet his eyes. She was too vulnerable, too weak for another heartbreak, and the hope that was spreading through her like wildfire was too dangerous to trust.

"It's okay, Link. I was wrong to ruin our friendship. Thank you for saving the kingdom." She coolly replied. "There is no need to ask for my forgiveness when it was I who wronged you. I made such a mess of things, and I know that as the Hero, you are meant to roam free. So be free my dear friend..." The last words killed her to say. Her lip quivered, but her hope told her to look in his eyes once more. Their eyes locked, Zelda absently said, "...unless you do not plan too."

Zelda's hands felt like silk in his. "Here we go..." He thought to himself.

"Princess, I have loved you for years, since we met as children. But something inside me whispered the reality to my heart that my affections were worthless. As a Princess, you have obligations and I thought as a commoner it was an impossible dream. I eventually numbed myself...I numbed myself to everything. When you told me your feelings, I didn't believe it. In fact, I had convinced myself to love someone of my class, and thought that I would be doing you a favor by leaving. But...as my friendship with you ripped into a thousand strands, the numbness I had left and all I felt was pain. So I came back, only to land amongst the evil, but all I could think about was your safety. Here I am Zelda...I love you. I do not have much to offer but my heart and my sword, but you would make my soul fly if you would be mine..." Link stopped. Zelda's hands crept to his cheeks and traced the tiny cuts he had gotten from the battle.

She smiled, and whispered in his ear, "Well then Link, I guess we have a wedding to plan."

Link put his hands on her waist and twirled. She laughed, and hugged his neck tighter.

Don't ever let me go... She thought.

Link stopped twirling and lowered his head to kiss her. Their lips met, and as they kissed, the power of the their triforces spread to restore peace in Hyrule.