The three of them stand side by side, silently watching as the whisps of light quietly loop and disappear into the ether. All had yet to contemplate the magnitude of their deeds – fighting the Imprisoned, taking on a moblin army, challenging The Demon Lord, thwarting his debaucherous plans and ultimately facing down the Demon King himself – but for now the they need time to mourn Impa's passing into otherworld. It is noticeably quiet. Perhaps the birds do not yet wish to sing. Link turns and instinctively places a hand on Zelda's shoulder. She is crying. Wiping away the tear from her cheek he sighs. He had not known Impa well, but he was somber none the less. To Zelda she had been a mentor, a guardian, a guide – almost like a mother. He feels her pain. That single tear hurts him a thousand times more than the wounds inflicted by any foe.
Zelda's lips tremble as the tears behind her eyes swell. She leans in toward Link, who dutifully raises his arms and clutches her in tight. It is exactly what she needs. A friend. A best friend. She buries herself into his chest then clasps her arms around his body. Her shoulders jolt and shake as the tears fall. 'Thank you, Link' she whispers. Link says nothing. Groose stands there quietly, and then gently places his hand on Zelda's back. Forlorn and even humbled, he is unusually quiet. He is hurting too.
Link runs his fingers through Zelda's hair. There are no words for a time like this. Reflecting on the enemies they'd faced and the battles they'd fought, he wonders how on earth they will be able to return to a normal life. Especially Zelda, knowing she is the Goddess Incarnate and the destiny now thrust upon her. But he has one comfort. He knows that whatever they faced in future – they would face it together...
Together...
Link starts to realise that the world around him is beginning to sway. Slowly, gently. Time itself begins to waiver. The distinctive thump of his heartbeat echoes in his ears. He feels it in his chest and head. It is rhythmic, and it is slowing. His limbs start to tingle as the adrenaline drains from his body. Link knows this is not good. Zelda doesn't notice, but Groose has clocked it. 'Link' he says, jolting at the sight of his palen face. 'You alright bud?'
Link doesn't hear. Time was flowing differently for him and sounds have become muffled and quiet. He begins to feel nauseous. His head starts to pound. Pain starts creeping around his body. Slowly at first; he can feel it crawling from his chest into his arms and legs. It's not too bad. But its not stopping. It's gathering pace, gathering intensity, now clawing at his muscles and hacking at his bones. He can't escape it. Suddenly it explodes. Wrenched by pain unlike anything he's ever known a bloodcurdling scream breaks from his throat as he collapses to the ground.
Zelda cries out, stepping back and looking down at her dress. To her horror it is covered in blood. Red seeps through the threads like rain permeates the parched earth. A sense of dread grips her body. She frantically looks down at Link. 'Link!' she cries. His skin is ashen. Groose is already by kneeling behind him, his hand on Link's shoulder and his eyes frantically darting back and forth. Zelda dives to her knees, devastated at the sight of blood covering her best friend. The stains on his tunic are growing.
Link feels a hand gently ease him onto his back. He rests his head down on the grass. It is cold. Dawn is breaking and it is damp with dew. Looking up he sees Groose leaning over him, his hubristic expression desperately replaced by that of worry, or perhaps terror even. Link was gravely injured and he didn't know what to do.
Link stares blankly toward the the sky. He seems unable to speak or react to what is happening around him, or within. He tries to talk but no words come out. Only juttered rasps. Limbs feel like dead weights. He goes to get up but Groose stops him. Link is glad of it. He is exhausted and the bones in his chest are on fire. But despite the pain in his body Link feels unassuringly calm. He knows his ribs are broken. Demise was powerful and knew exactly where to strike to make his enemy suffer. Take the breath from them and they will fall. Countering Link's attack with apparent ease, the Demon King had spun round and smashed his blade into Links ribcage, launching him through the air like a ragdoll to the sound of deep, malevolent laughter. Link did not know how he had gotten up again. Most likely through pure adrenaline.
He takes another staggered breath. He is in bad shape and he knows it. There are one or two glancing cuts from Ghirahim, and he'd taken the odd knock from a moblin or two. But Demise was on another level. Link's chest is bleeding. His shoulder is maimed. The knuckles are red raw on his hand from gripping his shield. His arm is slowly going numb, most likely from when the Demon King charged right though him and obliterated his shield. Link hadn't time to move. The blow likely shattered his arm as well. There are other wounds too, but he hasn't the strength to deal with them. Demise was quick and powerful, and wielded a sword of pure malace. Even with a simple glance, the wounds were angry and deep.
His face crumples as his leg goes into spasm. He doesn't know why. Maybe it's just a reaction to the pain. Or perhaps his spine is damaged. His stuttered breaths quicken. Gods how he hoped not.
A loud whistle suddenly grabs his attention. He becomes aware of voices around him again. His eyes open. Zelda keeps pinching his chin and moving his head, muffling something about staying with them. Strange colours lap the corners of his eyesight. He vaguely watches her wrapping her shawl around his arm. He tries to whisper a thank you. It is a coarse knot. She has no time to focus on tidiness. He can also feel Groose pressing tightly against his ribs. The wound is raw and stretches right around to his back. It burns. It really burns. Blood still seeps between Groose's fingers and so without hesitation he removes his shirt and presses tightly over the wound. 'Come on buddy,' he mumbles. 'Come on, talk at me.' Link does not hear. It is agonizing, but he is grateful.
The harrowing pain causes Link to cry out again. Zelda takes his hand and gently strokes it, speaking words of comfort to him. Her words sound muddled but her touch soothes him. It is good to know she is there. Groose is talking too but it is too muffled to make out what he is saying. Link realises theres no point in trying. Resting his head back on the ground he tries to focus on his breathing. How long he laid there he does not know, but he takes great comfort knowing he is not alone.
The swish and cry of a Loftwing swooping down does not distract him, but comes as blessed relief to Groose and Zelda. Link's jaw tightens at the thud on the earth when the great bird lands. Even the slightest movement is agonising. How he had fought on and defeated Demise he just cannot fathom. He could barely feel his arm, let alone fight with it. His lungs could barely take a breath and yet he managed to dodge, run, attack and deliver the Demon his fatal blow. Was it just adrenaline? Or perhaps it was the fear of what would happen if he failed.
Link's body is limp as Groose hauls him onto his shoulders, trying to be as gentle as he could. His tunic is tied around Links abdomen with vines. He wants nothing more than to stop the bleeding. 'Hang in there bud' he says fretfully as he lifts Link up toward Zelda. His friend is becoming unresponsive and he is frightened. Zelda leans down from her Loftwing to help lift Link onto its back behind her. 'You okay?' Groose asks, steadying them both in the saddle. Zelda nods in response. She feels secure enough. Draping Link's arms over her shoulder she turns and kisses his cheek.
'Stay with me' she whispers in his ear.
Link's head gradually falls sideways. His jaw slackens and his eyelids fall heavy. The trees arund him start to fade. Slowly, to the delicate tune of the rising dawn, he edges into darkness.
'Stay with me.'
