Warnings: Contains some violence, suicide, cussing 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 7 ~Link's POV~
The scene in front of me seemed fogged up; unreal. An image seen reflected by broken shards of glass, but not really there.
Zelda stood in the room, staring at her daughter with an unreadable expression. Lea, her back facing me, was holding Zak in her arms, while silently rocking him. On her knees, she faced the woman I called my wife, although I could tell she wasn't looking at her. Beside her lay the master sword still in its sheath, and her small frame seemed to tremble.
I took up my courage, walked up next to Lea, and knelt down beside her. My eyes widened in shock, as I saw the rivers of crimson liquid roll down her arms, from carefully slashed wounds, creating a somewhat twisted grid system across her tender skin.
"Lea," I whispered in disbelief and fear. Realizing that someone was speaking to her, she looked up, eyes glassy from tears threatening to spill. "What are you doing to yourself?" She simply shrugged.
Turning to the woman in front of me, I squeaked, "Zelda?" No response.
Ask me now, and I still would not be able to tell you why Zelda and I just stood there. The entire situation just seemed too... insane! I had never expected this, hadn't seen it coming. But I should have! I was too caught up in my own world to see my only daughter slip away from me...
"You know," Lea finally began to speak, her voice wavering with uncertain emotions, "Even as I am about to die, you show me no love. No affection - nothing."
"Why are you doing this to us?" Zelda spoke, "Have we not always given you what you wanted?"
"You starved me!" the girl suddenly yelled, making both Zelda and me wince. "Starved me of my need for love." She smiled sadly. "That's why I cannot live. I cannot live in a place as dark and lonely as this." Without a warning, she lay her still crying brother on the floor, pulled out the master sword from its sheath and... stabbed herself in the chest.
How ironic. This sword was destroy those who were unable to feel love, and now it had been used on the daughter of the holder of the sword.
In a quick move, Zelda rushed over to Lea's side, and pulled the sharp blade back out of the frail body. Lea started swaying, and I held her warm, blood-stained chest against me.
"Lea!" Zelda put her arms around her daughter. "We love you, Lea."
The girl's eyes betrayed surprise," Really?"
"Yes."
"Then... show it to Zak. And to... each other." Her breathing became heavy, and it seemed that those few words had drained all her energy into the deep void of nothingness.
She closed her eyes, and whispered, "So cold..." Her lips curled up into a weak smile, and...
"No, Lea! No!" Zelda cried, shaking Lea's body hard, but to no avail. Unmasked tears rolled down her cheeks, staining the pale skin.
Me, I just sat there. It was like the hallucinations, which seemed real, but weren't... right? This had to be a mistake! This wasn't supposed to happen... this wasn't meant to be... couldn't be...
Suddenly, I clutched the corpse in my arms, opened my mouth, and screamed; The cry of a dying soul.
"Leeeeaaaaaa!"
~Narrator' POV~
The funeral was a week later, and it seemed as if the whole country was mourning. The loss of the young princess had touched everyone deeply, and brought out the problems of the royal family into the open.
Reporters and Journalists knocked on the doors of the castle, and even tried sneaking in everyday, but the king and queen took no notice.
It was the day after the funeral, and both parents had somehow made their way to Lea's room. They were seated on the girl's heavenly bed, arms around each other. Everything was still there - her toys, her clothes... her scent. All of Lea's gifts from her parents were in a huge pile on the floor: Teddy bears, games, toys, books, accessories... Absolutely everything, and hardly any of it had been touched. On the other side of the room was a table, on top of it a burned out oil lamp and a framed picture of Link, Zelda, Lea and Zak, each one smiling brightly.
Zelda had gone through the draws of the table, and had found five volumes of diaries, the first starting with,
"I'm scared of dad. I don't know who he is anymore..." The woman had not shown this to her husband, afraid that it would lead to more tears.
And now, they just sat there, in each other's arms. Thick waves of silence mixed into the air, and Lea's fading scent, creating densely build tension.
"It's all my fault," Link suddenly sobbed. Zelda looked up at him. His eyes were glassy, straining not to let tears take over. "If I had been there for her, I might have been able to--" She put a firm finger on his lips.
"Shh. Don't say that. It's nobody's fault, Link. Nobody's." He leaned his head on her chest, and closed his eyes, sobbing. She tightened her grip on him, gently rocking the old soul.
"I've... I've become a monster, haven't I? Zak hates me, Lea hated me... even you don't love me anymore," Link spoke again after a short moment of silence. Zelda pulled away, taking his face in her hands, their eyes interlocked with one another.
"Link." she started sternly, then softened. "I love you, Link. And don't you go believe anything else, ok?" She smiled softly, "I've always loved you." Link returned the smile, but lent his head back on her chest.
Another moment's silence followed. Finally, he whispered, "Do you think that Lea wanted this?" he could feel her nod. He looked up again. "I love you too, Zelda. I love you, too."
At that point in time, the former princess of Hyrule looked even more beautiful than ever. Her long her was neatly tied back into a bun, a few golden strands falling into her face. Her eyes shimmered, revealing pure love as they gazed upon her husband. Her slightly parted lips were softly tinted, making Link yearn to kiss them again.
Gazes meeting, bodies moving forward, their lips met again after what seemed an eternity. First, it was gentle and nervous, but soon the two found their way back. Embracing each other, they leaned in even more. Expressing their restrained love for each other, they never wanted to stop, never wanted to let go...
Finally, their lungs screamed for air, and the couple parted reluctantly. Both sighed and looked at the other. Link grinned one of his infamous smiles, and Zelda blushed like a schoolgirl. It was like the first time again. Once they regained their breath, they kissed again, this time leaning backwards onto the bed, as pure passion and the butterflies in their stomachs escaped through their lips.
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