Refraction


Emotions are a foolish and sometimes a humorous asset to life. Sometimes in a being they can fuel rash actions of lust, revenge, and worse-but other times they can be neatly folded and completely ignored, and this was exactly the path the princess took. As her father was placed in the tomb and a brief funeral was conducted by only her and Link, she shed no more tears. She felt no more pain. Zelda had far more important and urgent things weighing down upon her chest.

When Zelda first came to her room, the general trend of undisturbed silence was broken. Her chambers had been destroyed. Everything was pulled from it's place and much of her possessions where shredded and strewn through the room. She sighed sorrowfully at yet another sight of destruction.

"Zelda-did they take the crown?" Link asked, in a tense manner.

"No," Zelda responded quietly. "It is not kept here." She started to move down the hallway and proceeded to go down a narrow spiral staircase.

"Did you take it with you?" Link darted after the swiftly moving princess.

"No," she pushed open a door, and went into a small and tidy room. Impa's room. She pulled open the dresser doors and the glint of gems and precious metal caught her eye. She pulled her crown out and held it in her hands, the stones catching the dawning light. "They did not think to look here, in Impa's room. She always kept it for me."

"Your tendency to lose things spark that policy?" He asked playfully. Zelda nodded and laughed heartily for the first time in a while, which was exactly what she needed now. Din, this man knew her well.

The crown was stashed away in Zelda's rucksack, and on the steps to the town she engaged in the sweet sorrow of parting with Link once more. She felt his strong arms around her once more, shutting out the impending pain that would come from being ripped away. He kissed her with indescribable passion, trying his best not to think how much time could pass before her felt this sensation again. The sun rose into the sky and an orange glow brought indignant reality to the pair, alone on the stairs to what was once before a bustling city. What may or not be again haunted them.

She mounted her horse, and with one last look back, she rode to meet the horizon as he watched her. He then rode off the the west to meet his soldiers and take them to their own destiny.


He found the camp to be in good order and his men in better spirits. To them, the war was won. He felt immensely guilty for robbing them or the joys of victory and freedom from the bloody fields of Hyrule. His return was well received, and after a quick consult with his most trusted captains, he took stand upon the impromptu podium of an overturned supply box. Hundreds of soldiers stood now to listen to the man they would most gladly they down their lives for.

"Military men, long have you had to prove yourselves in our war torn cities, fighting along side of death in forest and field. You have battled most fearsome monsters and men, and you have triumphed where others have fallen. You have made great strides in seeing that our fair land remains blessed in the Goddess's sight.

"Yet still, Hyrule calls to you once more. She needs you to take up arms once more and fight- for what we call are own may be pulled from us all. We have been deceived by enemy forces.

"The King is dead, and by the cause of the malevolent hands of the adversaries. As of now, there is no leader, no protector. You are the only line of defense between the foes and every man, woman, and child that can call this place home.

"I ask you now, not as a commander, but as a plea to equals- Will you stand on fields that our brothers and forefathers lives have ended upon, and will you fight to defend every page of our history, and every thing each and every one of you have ever known?;

A deafening roar was emitted from the crowd, and the plan of return was put into action. The barracks were soon busy with preparation.


The reins she held were clamped tightly in her hands, and the crown she carried in her bag rustled freely, clinking with the other necessities she took from the castle-extra arrows, portions of food, and her own sword adorned with gems. Her finely carved bow she held around her shoulder, all of this together taunted her.

She was getting close to her destination, and as the countryside rushed by her, she decided to stop near a brook to quench her dry mouth. She bent down, and cupped her hands together to take a sip of the icy water. She stood, and the reflection dancing in the stream caught her eye, and she stared down.

Her hair was long and undone, and curled slightly due to neglect. Her face was darkened by sun, and her face flushed with the light. She had changed into chain mail at the castle, and wore a tunic over the metal and white pants, for the first time in her life. Her cloak was tied at her neck, and her riding boots caked in mud. She unloaded her quiver and slung it across her back, and inspected each arrow. She found one, broken, and spun it between her fingers, eventually placing the sharp end in her pocket, the frigid stone cooling her skin through the thin leggings.

No where in the reflection did she find a princess, for her light eyes were defined by the intensity of a warrior.

He took out his sword, the one given to him by the King the day he was named commander. He shined the blade, and watched the sunlight dance off of it. He pulled his hands and the tool down, feeling the cold blade on his forehead and indulging in a silent prayer for his troops and family. When he opened his eyes, and figure met him on the swords glossy exterior. He turned quickly, weapon in hand, but he found only Shad standing behind him

"Oh...Hello, Link. I did not mean to startle you." Shad responded, sounding startled himself.

"Not at all, Shad." Link looked at the man, "Why are you here now? Where are the others?"

"They are prepared to met the troops before the encampment, I went on a mission of my own." He pulled a wrapped parcel from behind him. "I realized it soon after you too set off. I was so foolish for not realizing it before. I knew you would need this." He unwrapped the package, revealing the master sword. He passed it to Link,

"But Shad how-"

"I left the others and moved quickly, staying perhaps only half a mile ahead of the enemy forces. When I reached the temple, I stole the sword and stole away into the night, out of the eyes of the enemy."

"Amazing..." Link muttered quietly.

"The forces in the field may pose as trouble later, but-"

"The field!" Falling to the ground by the weight of the memory of Zelda traveling alone, he rushed from the tent, both swords in his arms.


The trees were going closer, and the sun was falling to meet them. Darkness tumbled onto the field, but Zelda knew she would have enough light to reach the Temple. With every pound of the horses hooves she grew closer to ending this all.

Then, she felt as sudden sting to her shoulder. She tried to turn to see what it was, but before she could move she was sent with heaving motion onto the frozen ground, rolling into a rivet of mud and stone, and arrow coming from her arm.