"You sure you know where you're going?"
Sera turned around, regarding Firebrand with a kind of patient resignation. "I kind of learned how to navigate while traveling all over the freaking kingdom. I think I have some idea where we're going."
Firebrand shrugged. "Just making sure."
Disregarding him, Sera turned to Link. "Honestly, how do you stand him?"
"Hey!" Firebrand said indignantly. "I'm right here, remember?"
"Oh, it's surprisingly easy. I mastered this little trick of reducing his voice to a quiet buzz…I'm just kidding, Firebrand." Link laughed.
Link's laughter quickly trailed off. Now was not the time for joking.
Toss. Catch. Toss. Catch. Toss. Catch. Toss. Catch.
"Link! What the hell are you doing?"
Link jumped, the razor's blade nearly slicing his finger off. The handles of the other two smacked smoothly into his hands, but the third sunk into the floor with a hollow thunk.
"Has it ever occurred to you to knock before-" Link bit his tongue, suppressing his irritation.
Zelda walked into his room, face still pale with shock. "Are you completely crazy? You trying to kill yourself or something?"
Link frowned. "No. It's an exercise I invented to improve hand-eye coordination."
Zelda's mouth worked for a moment, but nothing came out. Was it just her, or was he getting worse by the day? It seemed that the closer she attempted to get to him, the more he pulled away.
Link frowned. What was Zelda so irritated about? Juggling razors was a perfectly acceptable exercise. Link had seen street performers do it all the time.
Then he noticed the way Zelda was looking at him. He'd scared her.
Is she…concerned about me?
Link shrugged, putting the razors away. He looked up, unsatisfied. He needed to do something else. "I'm, uh…I'm sorry," he said.
Zelda's glare made it seem that she didn't care.
Link scowled, attempting to keep his mind on the here and now. Why was he thinking about Zelda so much, anyway? Sure, he was concerned for her, but this was getting ridiculous.
Yet, no matter how he tried to fight it, his mind wandered back to Zelda.
Zelda sighed. "The nobles have been badgering me to choose a suitor. They want a King and Queen."
Link's eyes widened. Finally, a reaction. "What?"
"Link, I have been considering you."
For some reason, a burst of euphoria exploded through Link. He was speechless for a moment, his inexplicable feelings warring against rationality, but rationality eventually won.
"You WHAT?"
Link blushed. This wasn't right; thinking about the princess this way was…well, not treason, but close to it in Link's book, at least. His mind turned to the last thing he remembered.
He had kissed her. He had actually kissed the ruler of Hyrule. It was a crazy impulse, a spur-of-the-moment decision, but still…
And yet, it had sent such an electric thrill through Link. It was so wrong, but so right.
Link swore under his breath, attempting to bury his thoughts. He was not in love with Zelda. He simply wasn't!
Pushing his thoughts away, Link followed Sera, who strode ahead confidently. They were making good progress, but Link still felt anxious. He felt some kind of urgency, like he needed to be there now.
"Can't we go any faster?" he complained, lengthening his stride.
"No," Sera replied. She frowned as she saw his face. "What's with you, Link? You're tighter than a drawn bow."
Link shook his head. "She needs us. She needs me. We have to go faster."
"Well, maybe we'd be making better progress if someone hadn't decided that we didn't need horses."
Firebrand looked away, whistling innocently. Sera glared at him for a moment before returning her gaze to Link. He stared back levelly, albeit with quite obvious anxiety.
Sera looked at the night sky for a moment. "We're making good progress. At this rate, we'll be there in a couple days."
"A couple days?" Link gasped. "How far away is this wood, anyway?"
Sera frowned. "I already told you. It's about twenty leagues from Belmange."
"Goddesses protect me," Link breathed. "We have to get there now!"
Reaching out, he grabbed Sera's arm, gesturing for Firebrand to grab his. Sera frowned. "What are you-"
Link fixed his gaze straight ahead and Shifted.
"Doing?" Sera finished. She glanced around, frowning. "Wha-"
Her mouth dropped open. They were almost two leagues from where they originally were! Sera turned to Link, who was breathing heavily, skin pale. "What the hell is this?"
"Better…method of travel…" Link wheezed. Shifting himself and one other was bad enough; two was insanity!
It didn't matter. Link fixed his gaze on the horizon. "Link," Firebrand started, "Don't you think we should-"
Link Shifted.
Link gritted his teeth against the piercing pain that had blossomed in his head, Shifting them again.
The piercing pain turned into splitting agony.
Again. Sweat drenched Link's face, mixing with tears of pain.
Again. Link's head felt as if it would split open. He clenched his jaw and kept going. Every Shift was one step closer to his duty.
Again. Sera began to protest, seeing Link's pain. He ignored her.
Again. Link knew he was pushing himself too hard, that continuing would only result in a repeat of earlier. But he couldn't help it. Responsibility was all that mattered.
Again. My life is duty.
Again. All else is worthless.
Again. I have…to get…closer…
They appeared at the edge of a great forest, directly in front of a swath cut through the underbrush. Link collapsed, eyes staring sightlessly.
He was dimly aware of Firebrand swearing. His voice seemed to be coming from far away. "Idiot's pushed himself too hard again."
No.
Link fought against the darkness attempting to consume him. Zelda was in danger. The life of the princess was all that mattered.
Have to…keep…going…
With a Herculean effort, Link struggled to his feet. "What are you doing?"
Sera. Link forced his head to turn toward her, although it wobbled unsteadily. Her face was pale, concern written over her face.
"Keep…going…" he mumbled. I have a duty to fulfill.
"Goddamit!" Sera shrieked. "Not this duty crap again! I forgot how irritating it was!"
Firebrand shuffled awkwardly. "I have to agree with Sera on this one, Link. Seriously, you should at least rest…or something."
Link shook his head, although it made the entire world spin. He swayed unsteadily for a moment, but soon started moving again.
Sera planted herself in front of him. "Link. Stop."
Link glared at her. Who was she to deny him? The thought that she was his friend never even crossed his mind. "This is one thing I cannot fail."
"It can wait!" Sera protested. "Listen to yourself, Link! This has almost turned into an obsession!"
Link looked away. She was right. But it was his nature. He was an Aundeii. Everything was secondary to duty.
"Listen," he said, attempting a compromise. "Let me find Zelda first. She's here. I know she is. I'll rest then."
Sera began to protest, but was stopped by Firebrand. "Leave it. It's no use."
He looked over at Link. "You're still a dumbass."
Link nodded at Sera, forcing himself to keep going.
Almost…there…
Later
Link stumbled into the clearing that surrounded the ancient temple. He was barely conscious, swaying on his feet. He stopped at the entrance of the clearing, barely breathing.
He stood stock-still as he beheld the scene of carnage. Nine soldiers lay on the ground, surrounded by pools of their own blood. One had been disemboweled, gray coils of intestine lying on the ground. Another's face had been partially torn off, a blood-drenched skull grinning from underneath shreds of muscle.
Link slowly walked around the clearing, eyes searching for one thing: Zelda's body. If he found it, he had failed. And there was only one option after failure.
Sera turned around, vomiting quietly. Firebrand swallowed, looking at the corpses. "Keep it together," he muttered to himself.
A fly landed on a soldier's open eye. Within seconds, he joined Sera.
Finally, Link's eyes fell upon something he desperately hoped not to see: Zelda.
A horrible, wounded cry tore from his lips as he sprinted to her side. He gathered her up in his arms, bowing his head over her body.
Her dress was torn, and blood stained the front of it. "I'm sorry," Link whispered, voice breaking. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't there when you needed me."