A massive extravagant hall was the only thing he could remember. Large banners displaying the Hyrule royal insignia were illuminated by torches lining the walls and pillars. He remembered kneeling in plate armor before the throne of the king, or atleast, the shell of the man who was the king.
The king's normally pristine white hair was dirty and unkempt. His eyes were hollow and dark, looking unfocused at a spot infront of him. A goblet nearly overflowing with wine was brought to his lips, drinking nearly half before he spoke, in a hauntingly somber tone.
"She would've been seventeen today.. They told me she had hair like gold and emerald green eyes."
He stayed knelt, knowing better than to look at the king when he was like this.
"My poor sweet Zelda, what did I ever do to deserve losing you?"
The king wept softly to himself before downing the rest of his wine, tossing the chalice to the side. It bounced along the stone floor, the ringing steel echoing throughout the vast and empty hall.
"Your talents are wasted protecting my life, knight. You wield the sword of evil's bane yet you stand over," he swept his arm over himself, his once ornate robes dull and barely washed. "this."
"If only my daughter hadn't been so cruelly taken from me. I would've entrusted her safety to you, I know you would never let harm befall her."
The king wept silently on his throne, ruler to a kingdom with no light. The calamity was fast approaching, and the sealer, but more importantly, his precious daughter, were lost. He paused his sobbing, wiping his eyes.
"Tell me, knight. Do you think I would've been a good father to her?"
He couldn't believe these people would dare desecrate the resting place of the royal family. He wouldn't kill them. But, make them pee themselves out of fright and run home screaming? It would be the most fun he'd have in over a century. He had just caused the floor to collapse, knowing the smaller chamber below would catch the loud goron stomping around. He thought about his next move as he watched them regroup above the chamber. Maybe he would appear before them? Throw a blade into the wall next to them?
"Have any of you been able to reach Zelda?"
He froze. That name, he knew it. Suddenly, a splitting pain ran through his head. He cried out in anguish, fingers digging into his hair, the memory from the king's hall flooding his mind. Each spike of pain that ran through him caused the master sword to pulse with energy, the only thing cutting through the pain and memory was a single voice.
"Urbosa!? Are you guys okay!?"
He ran, faster than he ever did when he was alive, skidding to a halt at the sight of her in the main foyer, her hand clutched to her chest as she called out frantically. He took in her details, flowing waist long gold hair, and bright green eyes. A sense of calm and determination ran through him, he finally found his purpose after so long. He would keep her safe this time, she would not share the same fate she did so long ago.
Sitting on the porch outside, he felt so lost. All he wanted was to protect her and keep her happy. Watching her taught him that she was more than he could've ever imagined her being like. She wasn't happy with her courses, but she could learn and solve the problems regardless, better than the others, even. She was gorgeous as well, when she was smiling, he often forgot to be on alert, getting lost in the joy on her face. And now? He had ruined what little trust she had in him. She had even begun to tolerate his presence and now she hated him.
The soft impact on the grass got his attention, watching the woman he had nearly killed, Impa, calling for him. She was interesting to say the least. At first, she annoyed him to no end, claiming to keep him away from her after how long he waited. He never meant to break her mirror, his hand had been resting on it while he watched them talk. He still regretted it. Impa turned out to be a true friend for Zelda, one that he could trust to watch over her as much as himself.
He made his presence known, and she immediately singled him out and sat next to him. Hearing her talk was, enchanting to say the least. She hid her true feelings behind a laid back personality, but she was as vulnerable and unsure of herself as Zelda. But it was because of Zelda, that she pushed to become a better person, someone that she could rely on to help her.
After her long heartfelt confession, he knew he could call her an ally. He would keep her safe just as he watched over Zelda. Although he did secretly watch her fall several times trying to scale the house again. He needed the laugh.
He took her advice to heart, he never truly left Zelda, just watched from a distance and hid his presence. He wanted to call out to her, to comfort her, but he couldn't risk hurting again like he had that night. He never went back inside the house, guarding it from outside. When she got to school, he watched the perimeter, waiting for her to get out. That night, he heard her crying, heard her prayer to the Goddess. His hands were restless, and he wanted to console her so bad, but she was vulnerable, she might lash out at him.
He stayed outside, hands gripping the porch so hard it splintered the wood. Something warm and wet ran down his cheeks and his chest felt heavy but he ignored it, forcing himself to stay put.
"I'm so sorry, princess.."
After she had gone to sleep, he went inside again his better judgement. Moving up the stairs silently, he phased through her door, watching her curled up on the bed, fidgeting in her sleep. He sat next to her gently, reaching over and moving several strands of hair out from her grimacing face. His heart ached as he watched her, stroking her hair soothingly till she stopped moving in her sleep, her face starting to relax once more. He waited a few more minutes to make sure she wouldn't wake, draping her blanket across her sleeping form.
He moved towards the door, turning back to make sure she was okay before phasing through, coming face to face with her father. Rhoam watched the door with a sorrowful expression, putting his palm on the door.
"Sleep dreams, my dear Zelda, I love you."
He turned away, walking towards his room with a tired yawn before closing the door behind himself.
He looked so similar to the former king, it made him feel uneasy. His resolve steeled. He didn't care if she ended up hating him. He would do his best to help them fix their family. He would not fail them again.