Chapter 31: Shadows Fall
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Notes: Thank you to all of you that have offered such helpful constructive criticism! Taking your advice into account, I've gone ahead and made some changes to the story as a whole, specifically in chapters 25-30 - minor details, for the most part; I've toned a few things down and emphasized a few others in ways that I believe improve the overall story. Thank you all again!
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The following day's travel was uneventful, if drastically colder than before. Clouds closed in on them as the hours wore on, and with them came a dreary air of melancholy. Their horses had been waiting for them at the base of Ternio Trail, helping them cover much more distance than in previous days.
Each step brought Zelda closer to her father and his usual disapproval.
Each step brought Link closer to what he feared were his last days at the castle - his last days with any sort of home.
As evening drew near, an icy rain began to fall, further dampening their mood. They stopped early for the day, setting up camp beneath a massive, ancient tree at the top of a hill just north of Zelo Pond. The tree's thick boughs kept out much of the rain, even without their leaves, and Link managed to start a small fire under its shadow.
They sat close together for warmth, Choice and Dinraal grazing nearby, and watched the rain fall steadily all around them. Zelda's gaze often wandered in the direction of the Castle, and each time her shoulders drooped a little lower.
When the onslaught of rain finally eased up enough for the skies to lighten just a bit, Link decided he'd had enough. It'll just be miserable for both of us if we keep going on like this, he thought, pushing himself to his feet and holding out his hand to the Princess. "I have an idea," he said softly, offering a small smile.
The Princess looked up at him with surprise merged with unhappiness. "And what is this idea?" she asked wearily, taking his hand and letting him pull her to her feet.
"Well… you and Dinraal," he began, and the Princess shook her head.
"I'm lousy with horses," she sighed. "It… isn't Dinraal's fault."
"It is - partly, at least. He's a stubborn horse." Link bit his lip anxiously. This has just about as much of a chance to make her feel worse as it does to actually help. "I was thinking… maybe I could… help?"
The Princess smiled glumly. "It couldn't hurt," she murmured. "Very well. What do you propose we do?"
Link shifted his weight from one foot to the other. It wasn't the most encouraging way to begin, but at least she was willing. "Have you ever groomed a horse?"
"I don't believe I have."
After unbuckling a bag from Choice's saddle, he took her hand gently and led her towards the two horses cropping up mouthfuls of dry grass. Choice raised her head, acknowledging them as they neared; Dinraal's ears twitched their way and his nostrils flared but he otherwise ignored them. Link held back a wince. "In the wild, horses communicate a great deal through touch, including affection."
"So if I spend time grooming Dinraal, he'll read it as affection?" Zelda asked skeptically.
"Eventually," Link said, tilting his head slightly in acknowledgement. Hopefully. "At the very least, it's a pleasant experience for him, which will help him… challenge the way he thinks about you."
"And what does he think about me?" the Princess asked, frowning.
"Exactly what you think about him," Link gulped, watching her nervously. So far this isn't going well. "Horses are… very perceptive."
The Princes turned her gaze away from him, studying Dinraal intently. Sadness closed over her face. "I'm not in the mood for this, Link. Please."
It felt as though a cold rock had dropped into his stomach. I've… hurt her. Din curse it, I hurt her somehow! He pressed his lips tightly together, guilt and nausea melding together in his gut. Rapidly he blinked the rain out of his eyes, watching in anguish as the Princess walked back to the tree and sat down, pulling her knees close to her chest.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, staring vacantly into the grass. "Choice helps you escape the pain of your past. Dinraal just… he only reminds me of mine."
Link's eyes widened. All at once he felt a hundred times worse; his cheeks burned with his shame and he looked away.
Zelda had fled her mother's killers on a white horse - Dinraal's mother. And then had probably witnessed that horse's death, the same day her mother died. Of course Dinraal would only bring back those terrible memories.
Link curled one hand into a fist, anger surging through his blood. Idiot! How could I have been so blind? So stupid? In that instant he felt a strange craving for pain, for some sort of punishment that would compensate for his foolishness. The pain in his heart was not enough.
He stood there in the rain, head down, turned towards the two shivered; although the storm had lightened up, the light raindrops were still steadily soaking into his clothes. He shut his eyes tightly, cursing himself over and over again in his mind. I was trying to help her, and I ended up doing just the opposite.
So I really am just a failure.
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They reached the castle at around noon the next day. Solemn faces studied them warily as they rode through Castle Town; not a word was spoken, and even children were silenced as they passed through. Link felt the tips of his ears burn as he resisted the urge to stoop his shoulders self-consciously, as if somehow that would hide him from the unfriendly eyes boring into him from every direction. The Princess was sitting stiff in her saddle, her back ramrod straight in a pose that expressed both regality and stress.
They want us to be their heroes, Link thought bitterly. And yet despite all our efforts it's not - and never will be - enough for them.
After leaving the horses at the stable, the Princess went straight to her room and firmly shut each of the doors behind her, trapping herself in isolation. Link stood outside, chasing thoughts around and around in his mind, trying to think of some way to help.
No, it's not my duty. But I'm past caring about that now. She matters more to me.
Restlessly he tapped one foot against the ground, resisting the urge to pace. He thought about the lonely little study at the top of the lonely little tower just across from her sleeping chambers, the only space allotted to her that was truly hers to do with as she pleased. She had a small garden up there; he remembered with a grimace accidentally stepping on her plants one of the first times he had been inside.
She had Purah for company up there a couple of times…
He straightened, his spirits brightening as the beginnings of an idea struck his mind. She and Purah have been friends for longer than I know. Maybe I can't do anything to help, but… she could!
He allowed himself a small smile, pondering. The Princess was such an intelligent person; she probably enjoyed having another intellectual around. And Purah had an engaging personality; Link was willing to bet anything he owned that if anyone could make the Princess laugh, it was Purah. And perhaps Robbie as well, although Link hadn't encountered him as often.
Perhaps I could ask Purah for a few pointers as well, he thought. What Zelda likes to talk about, what her favorite foods are, stuff like that… maybe that would help me know what to do.
Footsteps thudded on the thickly carpeted stone floors of one of the corridors near the Princess' chambers, and Link quickly straightened, wiping emotion from his face. A chill closed around his heart as Captain Janin rounded the corner, heading straight for him.
"I couldn't wait for you to finish your report," the Captain growled, and Link felt a sickening jolt from within. Din curse it - I forgot about that!
Janin would have to know about everything - from sharing a meal with the Princess, to holding her after her nightmare…
"So? How did it go? Will they speak for you?" Janin continued, tapping his foot anxiously.
Link gulped. "Er… Daruk will," he said weakly. "Mipha… refused."
"I thought she was the one who had a thing for you," Janin said, raising an eyebrow questioningly. "I thought we'd have her on your side for certain."
Link looked away, feeling his cheeks heating up in embarrassment. "W-well, she… she kind of… proposed to me. And I… said no."
Janin winced. "I almost feel sorry for her. But I feel worse about you - Princess Mipha may be quiet, but she's intelligent. And clearly passionate about you. She would have provided a decent defense." He sighed heavily. "At least we have Daruk."
Link nodded slowly. And the Princess, he remembered, but somehow he didn't think Janin would take that news well. He'll find out eventually, of course. When I write my report and hand it in.
He felt sick. I've made everything worse for myself. As soon as he reads that, as soon as the King reads it, I'm… I'll be finished.
His face paled as he realized Janin had been studying him suspiciously. "W-was there anything else you wanted, Sir?"
The Captain nodded slowly. "When we last spoke, you had done some very foolish things," he growled. "Buying the Princess a necklace, for one. Please tell me that sort of thinking hasn't continued."
Link's pulse raced, and he licked his lips nervously. Lie, his mind urged him, but he knew it would be far worse if he did. Janin could easily see through that sort of thing. "Not exactly," he admitted quietly, avoiding the Captain's gaze.
"I expected more from you," Janin huffed. "So did the King, and the General. Do you care nothing for the possibilities here? If you would just - just listen to me, and keep those feelings buried away, you would be the greatest warrior that ever lived! I did not raise you to be this way - weak! Cowardly! Useless! I have worked far too hard to reach this point, boy - don't you take this away from me by pursuing this hopeless romance you've concocted!"
Link winced. "Yes, Sir," he whispered. No, Sir. I've already tried - I don't know how to stop this.
Janin sighed heavily. "I expect you to have that report finished by tomorrow morning," he said coldly. Without another word he turned on his heel and strode off down the corridor, leaving Link sick with dread and helplessness.
There was a soft click, and Link jumped as the Princess' door opened and she peered out, her sorrowful gaze concerned.
His mouth went dry. "You - you heard that, didn't you?" he croaked, studying her fearfully.
"Some," she admitted softly. She grimaced, closing her eyes for a moment. "Merciful Goddesses, I… I've been so selfish."
"No," Link blurted, his hands automatically rising as if to reach out to her; he quickly clasped them behind his back. "No, you… you haven't."
"But everything…" She drew in a deep breath, avoiding his gaze. "I've made this so much worse for you," she murmured. "I just… I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Link protested, his heart tugging at the sight of her so forlorn. "Because… because I'm not. I'm grateful that we're actually talking now, and that I was finally able to tell someone about what happened all those years ago. And that you trusted me enough to tell me about your… your own demons as well."
She finally met his eyes. "At what cost?" she whispered. "Is it… is it worth it to you?"
He swallowed thickly, gazing at her steadily. "Yes."
Zelda looked away again, her features downcast. "I don't want you to get hurt," she gulped, wringing her hands anxiously. "I don't want you to be punished just for - just for being kind." She blinked rapidly, and Link realized she was close to tears. He reached out again, but his resolve wavered before he could actually touch her hands.
"It'll be alright," he told her, wishing he believed it. "I don't regret our friendship, Princess. I… I hope you don't, either."
Her face screwed up as if she was in pain and she slowly shook her head. "No, I don't. You're possibly the greatest friend I've ever had. Which is exactly why…" A tear slipped down her face and she closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around herself. "Which is why this is so frightening. I've grown to care for you, Link."
He felt a familiar stirring of emotion rising in his chest and inhaled shakily. "Yeah, they might throw me out. But I don't care - not anymore. I couldn't go on living as a shell, a shadow, making you think I thought badly about you. Because I don't - I don't think I ever have, and I wanted you to know that. I wanted you to know that I… I care about you, too, and I don't think you're a failure, and… and I want to see you happy."
The Princess laughed tremorously and wiped at her eyes with a sleeve. "I'll do everything I can to keep you as my protector," she vowed.
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Running. Running. Heartbeats pounding, chests heaving with desperate breath, hands clasped tightly together. Rain pouring down, encasing them in coldness, icey, heartless, merciless.
Cries in the distance - the monsters were getting closer. Link held tight to Zelda's hand, wishing he could stop and comfort her but knowing that they would probably be killed if they did so.
So instead they ran, not pausing for breath, not pausing for anything, until the Princess tripped on a tree root hidden by the darkness, and her hand was torn from his.
Terror coursed through his soul and he whirled around. "Zelda!" he gasped, blinking blindly into the blackness. "Zelda!"
There was no answer. His heart pounded harder and harder. Link took a tentative step forwards, feeling nauseous, hoping it was the same direction they had come from. "Where are you? Say something!"
A distant whinny. His blood jolted with surprise. Choice?
He turned, his heart in his mouth. The distant shrieking of monsters intensified and he heard an anguished cry, squeals of terror and pain. "Choice!" Link roared, charging towards her cries, and in the next instant he heard a woman's blood curdling scream. He froze, horror seeping through his soul. "Zelda?"
Tears burned down his cheeks as he turned around again, lost in the dark woods; Choice had fallen silent. Maybe she's okay. Maybe she escaped. Zelda was still alive; he could hear her screams and though they tore at his heart they gave him hope, told him that he wasn't too late yet. He ran towards her cries, pain stabbing into his heart with the sounds; his limbs felt leaden, and the air around him seemed to turn to mud. Desperately he forced himself onwards, fighting for each step, pleading with himself and with the Goddesses to go faster, praying that he would not be too late.
"Please," he whispered, his eyes stinging. "Please!" Hold on! I'm coming!
A low, cold laugh in his ears, and the familiar crimson gaze of his shadow. Sudden sharp pain in his chest; he gasped, features twisting into a grimace. Blood, warm and sticky, dripped down his chest, soaking through his tunic as cold metal was yanked from his body. Link choked out a pained cry, his step faltering. Zelda cried out again and from the opposite direction he heard Choice's screams once more and his heart ached within him.
Choice… the Princess… I - I can't… I have to choose...
"Forgive me," he whispered brokenly, more tears coursing down his face as he dragged himself forward towards Zelda. I'm sorry, Choice - please be alright!
She was a tough horse. Courageous. Powerful. Intelligent. And fast - she could always run away from her tormentors; he hoped desperately that she was doing so at that very moment.
Zelda fell silent. Fear iced over Link's heart and agony split through his side; with a groan he pressed his hands to the wound in his chest, despising the sickening sensation of hot blood sliding over his fingers. His knees buckled and he collapsed forward, breathing hard, his head swimming. Goddesses grant me strength!
In terror he groped his way onward through the black woods on hands and knees, his breaths labored and rasping.
A flare of light. Orange and harsh, unlike the weak pale glimmer of dawn. One hand came down on something silky and soft, like… like the Princess' hair…
The light crept closer. Link felt something give way inside of him, as if his heart had inexplicably dropped out of his chest. "No," he croaked. "Farore, no!"
Her features were still and pale. Crimson blood drenched her prayer dress; someone - or something - had brutally attacked her with either some sort of knife or a set of razor-sharp claws, tearing her apart. Link's heart stuttered and with shaking hands he reached out and pulled her close, grief like nothing he had ever known ripping into his soul. Tenderly he brushed a strand of hair out of her face, tears blurring his vision as he stared at her in disbelief, slowly shaking his head. No!
"You've failed, hero." A low, hissing voice. The torchlight washed over the woods around him and he saw more corpses around him - Choice, her throat torn and her eyes vacant and unseeing, and the two faceless bodies of his parents, viciously mutilated. His mind whirled in agony; his shoulders shook violently with silent sobs as he hugged the dead Princess to his chest. Blood. There was so much blood. Why? How had this happened? How in Din's name could this happen?
"Goddesses, no," he whimpered. A forceful shove from behind, a spike of intense pain shooting through his body; he arched his back, jaws parted in a soundless howl of agony.
"You'll join her soon," the low voice cackled. Something was torn from his body, a longsword or perhaps a spear, and he crumpled forward, writhing weakly on the forest floor at Zelda's side as his life seeped away. Rain pounded into his wounds; then with a haughty laugh his invisible enemy struck him a third time, thrusting his weapon through Link's chest and Zelda's beneath him -
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He awakened with a start, crying out in fear and misery. Darkness all around him - he recoiled, scuttling backwards on his bed until his back collided with the stone wall and then he jumped forward, startled, whirling around and getting tangled in his sheets, tumbling off of his bed to the ground with a thump. Shuddering violently he scrambled back into bed and pressed himself against the wall, clutching his pillow to his chest. His rapid, panicked breathing echoed through the small chamber for several moments in time to the pounding of his heart; he shivered.
All at once a wave of misery washed over him and his eyes stung with tears. A soft cry escaped his lips and he buried his face in his pillow, letting it muffle his sobs and absorb his tears.
Goddesses, why? Why?
Experiencing his own death was bad enough. But the Princess,' and Choice's… that was so much worse. He cared about them, he loved them, more than anyone or anything else he could name; he couldn't imagine going on without them somewhere in his life. Don't take them! Don't you dare take them away!
"Please," he whimpered, his shoulders shaking violently as he wept. "Make them stop… just make them stop… Please!"
