Warnings: Contains some violence, future suicide and cussing, a bit of Link torture (^_^) and switching point of views (POVs). Angst.
Disclaimer: Zelda and all related characters do not belong to me. Only the plot and the original characters are mine.
Chapter 6 ~Narrator~
The next few months were the darkest of the royal family. Psychiatric help, magic nor the sages could completely get Link back to normal. The only thing that could do that was... love.
Zelda was put under a lot of pressure and stress. Not only did she have a country to run, she had to look after her husband and daughter, too. Her patience grew thinner by the day, not really paying attention to anything anymore.
Princess Lea had become quiet and, over time, grew a shell around herself. Even her friends could clearly see something was wrong.
Now, a few years later, Zelda and Link have had another child, a boy named Zak. However, he was not born out of love, but rather out of duty.
With tension rising, Lea feels unloved, and nobody can see her slipping into nothingness...
~End Flashback~
Link of Hyrule, a man just turned thirty, was standing by the window, looking out onto the gloomy sky. Growls of thunder sounded above him, and the earth seemed to tremble. It was as if hell itself had opened up, and unleashed this darkness upon him.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. At a far corner of the castle, the king could hear a baby scream - Zak had woken up. And already, he could hear the muffled sounds of Zelda cooing and comforting the new-born child.
Ever since that time of Link's capture, he hadn't been the same. He had nightmares almost every night, and woke up sweat drenched. His marriage with Zelda was breaking apart, and only held together by tiny threads that was Lea and Zak. Otherwise, the divorce papers would have been signed a long time ago.
Over time, it had gotten worse, as well. The couple argued each time they caught sight of each other, hardly saying anymore loving words.
Link felt sorry for Zak. Born into a family without love is the worst thing that can be bestowed on a child.
Zelda stormed into the room, holding the baby with one arm, "I thought you were supposed to look after him today! I have guests downstairs!" She handed him Zak, who promptly started crying again. Quickly, she took him back, and the boy quietened. "See? He doesn't even know you."
"Of course he knows me - I'm his father!" Link replied annoyed.
"Yeah, right. Now, before we get into that, can you pick up Lea's package, ok?" Not waiting for an answer, she marched out the door again.
"Bitch," Link muttered under his breath. Sometimes he wondered how he could have ever put up with her for so long, not to mention love her. Of course he still did - no question there. But it was hard to find the love amongst all the negative feelings bottled up inside him. And somehow, he knew Zelda felt the same way.
Link sighed deeply, and made his way downstairs to tell the groom to get a carriage ready to the market.
'The day isn't over, yet,' he thought.
~Lea's POV~
"... pick up Lea's package, ok?" Mum finished arguing with dad.
I had been standing by the door, listening to one of their arguments again. As mum passed by with Zak, I followed. They returned to my little brother's room, and the baby was placed back in his bed.
Mum looked up at me, "Can you take care of Zak while mummy entertains our guests?" It was more of an order than a request.
I nodded solemnly, as she left the room.
Zak. The only member of the family I could connect to. A little baby boy, who had only seen a glimpse of the world. I didn't want him to grow up in a place as cold as this. I had to do something. I had to open their eyes.
I picked up the fragile bundle of a boy, and rocked him in my arms, humming. Tears found their way up to my eyes, as I realized what I had to do.
Having dosed off, Zak's breathing became regular and shallow. He looked so sweet and innocent - like an angel.
I tugged him back into bed, kissing the crown of his head affectionately.
Determination started setting itself in my mind. Swallowing a lump of fear that had formed in my throat, I swiftly made my way out of the room.
~Link's POV~
I was in the carriage, on my way back from getting Lea's package. It was a stormy night, and rain seemed to pour in litres. It was as if the gods themselves were crying, and that hell was about to consume us all.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
"Hey, what's going on out there?" I cried, so I could be heard over the thunder.
"Majesty - see for yourself," the driver replied. I peeked out of my window to see a dark silhouette of a person standing in our way.
"Hey! You! Yeah, you! Get out of our way!" I yelled. I had no time for some self-pitying beggar to go and get my attention about taxes and whatnot, today. I wanted to get home as soon as possible.
Realizing he wouldn't move, I threw on my cloak and stepped outside the carriage. Marching towards this person, I yelled, "Do you know who I am? Get out of my--" I stopped, finally realizing who he - no, she - was. A mix of anger and fear started to boil up in me, as my eyes met those enchanting violet ones. The ones I always got lost in.
She was soaking wet and shivering heavily. She must have been walking for a long time. Her expression was tired and old, and I felt a pang of pity for her.
She stepped towards me, but I held out my hands in defence.
"Don't come any... any closer to me," my voice had betrayed my insecurity.
"Link," she sighed. Her eyes misted slightly. And in those eyes, I saw my trembling reflection stare back at me.
It was the dungeon all over again.
Mirrors! Everywhere I looked. Mirrors!
Mirrors... mirrors... mirrors...
Was that me? It couldn't be! And there - another one. It wasn't me. Or was that just a reflection, as well? What was real anymore?
Flashbacks of the horrors that I had tried to suppress had now occupied my mind. Retreating within the shell that was once me, I could see everything happen all over again, as if I were watching a movie, close enough to feel the pain, but too far away to do anything about it.
Without realizing it, Kayoé had come forward, and taken my hand. Not even her icy fingers were able to snap me out of this trance.
And suddenly, I was back. Just like that.
I looked at the woman in front of me in confusion. She was afraid of something - I could see that. But what?
"I... Link; you have to return to the castle! As fast as you can, or you will never see your loved one again!" her voice was almost inaudible above the thundering skies.
"What do you mean?" I was still confused. This was going too fast for me to get a grip on!
"The girl. She will die if you don't go!"
My eyes widened. I didn't really know how I knew she was right. I just did. Call it instinct, call it whatever you want.
I jumped back into the carriage, and ordered the driver to hurry to the castle as quickly as possible. Leaving Kayoé behind, we raced towards the end of the hill as fast as the gods would allow it.
As soon as we passed the gates, I jumped out of the vehicle, and hurried inside, all the while calling out Lea's name in the hopes that she might hear me and wait.
I bolted through the corridors, towards Zak's room. I could already hear the boy's cries.
Throwing open the door, I stopped dead in my tracks, the image in front of me too real, yet too surreal.
And all I could see were mirrors.
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