Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda series or the Characters.

Chapter 21: The Truth

A little span of time passed, and then I was getting prepared to get married to Shon. By then I felt better about the situation with Link and I was able to do all but forget him. I was excited, and I cared for Shon very much; he has quickly become the love of my life! I couldn't believe I was getting married in only a week!

Syhnthia, one of the other maids, came into my room. "Rose! Lights out, Dearie! You have your dress-fitting tomorrow!" She told me.

"Okay." I sat in my chair and thought to myself. I keep on thinking that something has gone array. My heart flutters with anxiousness for this day to come, but I feel…sad. "What is it?" I keep on asking myself…a girl should be happy to be this close to marriage! I have only been dreaming about it my whole life! I got into bed, pulled the covers up to my chin, and slowly drifted to sleep.

(Link tells the story) Things haven't been too exciting lately; just normal. I haven't heard from Rose in a long time. This concerned me, but then I figured that not only was our relationship over, but our friendship as well. I really burned some bridges and I felt ashamed for lying to her, but I was relieved to know that she was going to end up with someone better than me. But regarding my feelings, I otherwise didn't know how to feel. I was in a state of just not caring anymore.

One day Midna came to Ordon from the Inn to talk to me. I was at the ranch herding goats when she grabbed my ear and started pulling it. I stopped Epona. "Owowowowow!" I yelled. "What are you doing that for?"

She continued to tug and forced me off of Epona. "First, we have to go where no one will hear us." She dragged me off into the forest. When we reached our destination, she sighed deeply. "You and Rose may not be talking anymore, but I'm still talking to her. She told me that she's getting…" She swallowed. "…She's getting married in a week."

My eyes widened. "Really?" I paused. She nodded earnestly. "Ok." I said. "But why tell me this?"

She grabbed me by the shirt collar. "Don't you DARE play dumb!" She yelled as she shook me.

"What are you talking about?" I struggled.

"You and I both know you still care for her; I would even say she's still more than a friend to you!"

"She is not!" I reddened.

She stopped shaking me. "Oh, yeah?" She shouted, and then she whispered. "I'll bet that you love her and won't admit it!"

"I…I've never loved her." I said nervously.

"Then why did you come so close to crying when telling her you had to break up? You don't normally ever cry. Why do you still blush when anyone mentions her name? Why did you answer with a nervous tone when you said you didn't love her, as if you were trying to hide a lie? Huh?" I didn't say anything. "Answer me!" She yelled. She had created enough commotion for Fado, Ilia, Rusl, and a few other people to come and see what was wrong. She let go of my shirt. "Well?"

"I…" I ran home, and they chased after me. I locked my door and I used magic to put a force-field on my house so Midna couldn't get in through the walls.

"Damn it!" Midna yelled. "Don't expect this to help the situation! Running from your problems never helps!"

"I don't have a problem." I fibbed.

"Quit it, Link! You know what the issue is!"

"What's the issue?" Ilia asked.

"Don't you dare tell her of your accusations, or anyone else for that matter!" I hollered from the window.

Midna whispered into Ilia's ear. "So I'm not the only one who thought that." She said to Midna.

"Midna!" I exploded. "Quit lying to everyone!"

"You quit lying, Link!" Ilia countered. "You need to be honest; not just to us, but to yourself and to Rose."

"What's going on, anyway? The drama is entertaining to a point but I want to know what's up." Rusl said.

"Link…" Ilia began. Midna covered her mouth and whispered in her ear again. Midna uncovered Ilia's mouth and Ilia smiled. "Link will tell you what the problem is."

"What? No I won't!" I shouted.

"Yes you will." Ilia said.

I took a deep breath, took off the force-field, and went outside. I stood in front of everyone silently. "I can't hide the truth anymore." I said, sighing deeply. "…I still feel like Rose is more than a friend…I…" I looked around for a second. "The reason why I lied to her was because I was too scared to tell her that…" I took another deep breath. "That I loved her."

"Really?" Fado asked.

"Yes." I said honestly. I looked up at the sky. "I love her very much. I foolishly let go of her because of that foreign feeling that I had for her. I'd think to myself, 'it'll never work out. I'm not meant to love.' I let my cowardice control my life and thus, I'll have to give up and forget about her."

"If I know one thing for sure, you can't forget about her…it isn't possible." Rusl said. I looked at him as he continued. "But you can't give up! Tell her the truth!"

"If only it were that simple." I said gravely.

"Rose is getting married to a man that she really cares about in a week." Midna added.

"Oh." Rusl said.

"I feel the need to tell her the truth at least." I said sadly. "But I can't. I don't have time."

"You only think you don't have time." Midna opposed. "Even if you don't tell her that you love her, at least tell her that you're sorry for breaking up with her and that you still want a friendship with her."

I looked at Midna. "I can't do that…it would be too awkward. I have these strong feelings inside for her; I can't just tell myself that we're friends. And after all the drama and confusion I've given her, I don't think she'd accept it. I've made a huge mistake that I can't repair…but I have to set things straight, at least for myself."

"So…are you going to tell her that you love her, then?" Midna asked. "Even though you know that you will not get back together with her?"

"Yes." I said. "I'm scared to do it, but it's the right thing to do. She needs to know." Midna nodded.

Ilia interrupted. "Don't go over and tell her thinking like that!" She shouted, but immediately calmed down. "You two had a really good relationship going…I think…" she got closer to me. "…that you need to tell her that you feel you made a mistake, like you just told us. Tell her that you want to be with her, and see what happens." I didn't respond. "Come on, Link…" Ilia said. "She's getting married to another guy; how does that make you feel?"

I looked at her and everyone else around me, clenching my fists. "I'll do it!" I barked. "It's a risk, but I can't bear the thought of her being with someone else!"

"Atta boy!" Fado bellowed merrily.

"Good." Rusl beamed, patting me on the back.

Ilia looked at me. "I hope everything turns out okay for the two of you." She smiled. "Hurry and go tell her!"

I nodded and went home to quickly pack my things. When I was finished, I climbed onto Epona and got ready to go. Midna wanted to come with me, so we were both on our way to Nikitre. Nothing much happened that week; Midna and I were rushing to try and make it in time. Soon it was the day of the wedding, and we were just entering the main island. I was riding Epona as fast as I could through the town.

"I think we might make it, Link!" Midna said from behind.

"I hope we can." I said without confidence. All of the buildings and the people looked like blobs because we were moving so quickly.

"…Don't lose your faith." She said to me. "Sometimes, especially at your weakest hour, faith is all you have…if you lose that, you have nothing. Have the will to keep trying!" She gave me thumbs up. I gave one back to her. Midna and I rushed to the chapel…I really thought that things were going to be okay, but to my dismay, there was Rose and some other man riding away in a carriage. No one ever noticed that Midna and I were there. So I went to the beach and just sat there in the sand.

I looked out at the water with tears rolling down my cheeks. "Why? Why does it have to be this way? Why does it have to be so difficult?" I shouted in anger. I calmed down. "She'll never know now…" I looked at Midna, who remained silent. "Well at least she's with a man that will make her happy…why should I ask for anything else?"

Midna looked down at the sand, and then at the water. She squinted her eyes while looking at the sunset. "Because you're not happy…" She looked at me as I just stared blankly at the water. "Write her a letter, maybe?"

"No thanks." I said bluntly. "I give up. I've lost my faith."

"What now?" She questioned. "It's not like we can just turn right around and head home. We have to get some rest."

"Beats me." I retorted. She closed her eyes while crossing her arms and shaking her head.