the seconds passed quickly, each more painful than the last. he hadn't moved his hands to sign his reply, simply staring at her with a woeful expression before breaking their eye contact to look below.
the realization hit her hard, and the force of the impact left her breathless. her hopes had been too unrealistic, after all. his silence and guilty expression spoke volumes. for a moment, she felt the undeniable urge to flee. she hadn't brought her friend back from the dead after all— she had only kept the hero's vessel alive for when the time would come for him to fulfill his duty.
she peeled her eyes off of him as he shook his head, staring down at her boots and hoping he hadn't noticed the tears of grief beginning to well and spring forth.
the champions. her father. everyone she had known— they were were gone, alongside the knight she had known. she was but a relic of a former era, alone in this new land she could barely recognize.
taking a deep breath, zelda willed herself to meet his gaze once more. it wasn't his fault. she knew better; he couldn't force himself to remember.
she made an attempt at a nonchalant smile, hoping her sympathy for his circumstances would be enough to stifle the grief she held for their forgotten friendship.
"that's quite alright! it's an expected reaction after being placed in the shrine of resurrection. i'm deeply sorry if i've upset you in any manner." her tone of voice was strained, artificially cheerful. she was struggling to maintain her carefree composure.
she was growing desperate for an escape, this was too emotional for them both. she cleared her throat, before turning her head away. she had made a fool of herself, ruining their afternoon while simultaneously placing him in an uncomfortable position. due to her selfish tampering, the lovely afternoon was now gone.