A/N:
Well, I'm back once more w/ another chapter. Although it took me longer than usual. :( Sorry 'bout that. And I also changed my user name b/c I enjoy confusing people. (not really...) Ah, well, hope you enjoy this chapter, esp. since it's a pivotal one. Kinda. I guess. o.O Oh, and a belated Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Americans. Yey for Pilgrims. :P
Disclaimer: I love Mary Sues AND I own LOZ! (sporfle) NOT
The Slumbering Princess of Hyrule
Earrings of Rose Quartz
The end of summer was approaching quickly, as was Zelda's eighteenth birthday. Saria busied herself with party preparations, while Triana stayed away in the forest, at work at some type of project that was not to be disclosed. Zelda found the mood to be rather odd, for it almost seemed that the two women were actually dreading the occasion, rather than looking forward to it like normal people. Not to mention that Link had been sent away to the city to obtain some "items," otherwise known as birthday gifts.
Zelda rested her chin on her hands, her belly on the grass of the clearing that had become one of her and Link's favorite places. Linna slept soundly against her, purring quietly and absently kneading her claws into Zelda's side. Zelda hardly noticed the random prick of claws in her hip, for the day was pleasantly warm and the shade of the trees had caused her to be rather drowsy. With a yawn, she closed her eyes, completely forgetting the task she had been sent out to do in the first place and completely unaware of the life changing events that were now occurring.
----
When Saria heard the sound of hooves traveling closer and closer to the cottage outside, she instantly dropped the herbs in her hands and went to the window. There, she saw a white stallion with the red and gold livery of the king carrying a rider clothed in similar colors. Her heart in her throat, she hurried outside to wait for the messenger, for she knew for certain that he had come bearing a message for her.
As the man approached the cottage, he eventually reined in his horse and inquired, "Is this the home of Saria, Sage of Kokiri Forest?"
Saria replied, "Yes, and I am she. What brings you here to this place?"
The messenger dismounted easily and walked to her, an envelope in his hand. "I bear a message for you. From the King of Hyrule," he added superiorly, his chin jutting out ever so slightly.
Saria barely noticed his bout of arrogance, for her heart had begun to pound so quickly that she was shaking. With trembling fingers, she broke the wax seal stamped with the Royal Family's coat of arms and opened the letter. In it, she read:
To Sage Saria and Great Fairy Triana of Kokiri Forest:
The item you have held for us is to be returned before sundown, two weeks and three days before the autumnal equinox. If it is not returned promptly, there will be severe consequences.
We thank you for keeping it safe all of these years.
It was not signed.
Saria looked up from the letter after what seemed to be hours. Swallowing audibly, she said quietly, "Tell them the item will be returned as commanded."
The messenger tipped his hat in recognition. "Your words will be passed along to His Majesty." Turning, he mounted his horse and added blandly, "May the Goddesses keep you, madam." With that, he rode away, his figure eventually disappearing into the emerald expanse of the woods, never to be seen again.
Saria clutched the letter to her breast, feeling her body go numb. Dazedly she went into the house, where she crumpled the letter and tossed it into the fire, watching as it slowly burned to ash.
----
At the end of the week Link returned, items in hand and a cheerful smile literally plastered upon his handsome face. After placing Epona in the small stable and giving her some oats to eat, he went inside the cottage to find Saria and Triana talking quietly, foreheads literally touching in their exchange. When they heard him enter, however, they quieted instantly and looked to him, their eyes flickering in the candlelight.
Link raised an eyebrow while setting down the gifts upon the table. Seating himself, he asked, "You two seem awfully quiet. Anything the matter?"
Triana seemed about to answer before she closed her mouth and rose, gruffly combing her fingers through her red hair. Saria looked away and sighed, before her gaze fell upon him once more. Her jade hoops winked in the soft light. "Aye, there is something the matter, Link," she answered gravely.
Link raised both eyebrows. "Aye, well, I could certainly tell that by the looks on your faces," he responded slowly. "What is it, exactly—?"
"Zelda's leaving." Triana looked to him now, her scarlet eyes fiery red in the candlelight. "And she's not coming back," she added, her voice unnaturally raw and tight.
Link blinked. "What are you speaking of? Where is Zelda going?"
Saria rose and went to his side; taking his hand as if he were a little child, she murmured, "We should have told you this long ago, Link. Zelda is not who you think she is."
Unconsciously, Link fingered the little bag carrying the earrings he had bought specifically for Zelda. The earrings that he had chosen after meticulously inspecting every pair within the city, it seemed. The earrings that would change both of their lives. His fingers still curled around the cloth pouch, Link furrowed his brow in confusion. "I do not understand," he answered.
"Link, have you ever heard the story of the Princess that mysteriously disappeared eighteen years ago? The story of how she was cursed to die on her eighteenth birthday?" Saria gazed at him intently, emerald eyes blazing.
Link stared at her a moment in confusion before his mind began to whirl suddenly with thoughts and ideas that were unthinkable, yet ridiculously plausible. His heart clenching painfully, he clutched the pouch containing the earrings and murmured, "She cannot be..."
The cottage filled with silence, tense silence that said more than words ever could. Triana stared at the fire, while Saria looked away from Link, her eyes filling with tears. When no one would deem an actual answer, Link took a deep breath, his eyes blazing.
One word: "Why?"
Triana turned around. "Why do you think?" she snapped, her anger covering her emotions that were steadily unraveling. "She was cursed to die, and all we could do was shelter her here, away from her parents and her heritage." The fairy woman's throat contracted; she combed her long fingers through her hair in an attempt to stop the tears that were soon in coming. "But they want her back now and we cannot do anything but watch her go," she choked. Ashamed, she turned away and began to cry quietly.
Link clenched his fists, trying to control his anger that was threatening to be unleashed upon the two innocent women. Looking to Saria, he asked slowly, "What is this curse?" His voice was tense, tight with emotion.
Saria wiped her eyes and then blew her nose in a linen handkerchief. "It is a curse that was placed upon her when she was born by Farthnelda, a witch who was once a Great Fairy like Triana," she answered quietly. "This cursed her to die on her eighteenth birthday by pricking her finger on a spindle. Triana was only able to counter the curse by having it so that she would not die but would fall into an eternal sleep, only to be broken by her true love." Saria looked to him now, her eyes still crystalline with unshed tears. "And now she is to go back to her parents, to become a princess once more."
Link couldn't bear anymore of their words. Zelda...dear Goddesses, it couldn't be true... He felt as if his heart were breaking, his happiness shattering without so much as a thought. Now he could never give her the earrings, for he was but a lowly knight, and she, a princess of Hyrule.
Abruptly, Link stood, slamming his hand holding the pouch of earrings onto the table, startling both Saria and Triana. "Why...why didn't you tell me before this?" he ground out. His voice was harsh and filled with words unspoken, his head bent toward the ground. Angrily, he uncovered the pouch and dumped the contents out onto the table for the women to see. Saria gasped quietly, instantly recognizing their purpose; Triana remained silent, yet her quietude spoke volumes.
"These were for her. I wish you had told me before I..." His voice trailed away, speaking the words for him: I wish you had told me before I had fallen in love with her. He began again: "Take them. I have no need for these anymore."
Gruffly, Link turned and left the cottage, unable to speak anymore to the two women. As he walked to no particular destination, his heart filling with agony, he saw her: Zelda.
"Link!" she cried happily, completely unaware of all that had happened. "You're back!" Unknowingly, she hugged him, her arms curling around his neck. Link froze, unable to push her away or embrace her. But when she lifted her chin for a kiss, he took her arms from around his neck and said quietly, "Not now, Zelda."
He left her there in the dark, for he couldn't bear to see her and imagine what it would have been like to have her wear those earrings. Those earrings of rose quartz.
----
It was as if a dark, gloomy cloud had descended upon everyone's mood. Both Saria and Triana barely spoke at all, and Link was completely avoiding her. Frustrated, Zelda began to harvest her herbs a bit too forcefully, causing one stalk to be literally ripped in two. With an exasperated sigh, she sat back on her haunches, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Ripping her innocent plants in two was not going to help anyone.
Upon opening her eyes she noticed Link passing by, his gaze focused on the ground and his footsteps heavy. Zelda followed him with her eyes, willing him to look her way, but he never did. Disappointment flooded her heart once more when he continued walking away from her, never even acknowledging her presence.
Zelda assumed that something had occurred in the city that had caused him to have such a dark mood. Really, though, he needn't be so rude to her. Not once since he had arrived had he hugged or kissed her or even greeted her, and he had pushed her away that first night, as if he couldn't bear her touch. It hurt, but Zelda forced herself to be patient. Maybe he would tell her what was wrong. In the meantime, she had to be tolerant and understanding.
She continued picking herbs in her garden before going inside the cottage again, where Saria was working silently. The little woman looked to her when she entered, but only smiled tremulously and went back to work. Zelda raised an eyebrow at this while setting down the herbs on the table. What was wrong with everyone?
"Is there anything else you would like me to do?" Zelda asked kindly, attempting to be hospitable to everyone's sudden mood swings.
"Hmm?" Saria looked over her shoulder, as if surprised that she was still there. "Oh, nay, there is not anything more. Perhaps today you should go play with Linna in the meadow."
Zelda frowned, hand on her hip. "Saria, what is going on?" she asked, annoyance flaring within her. The little woman turned toward her once more. "All of you have been acting so oddly lately. What is going on? Did something happen to Link in the city?"
Saria sighed but turned back around, her back to Zelda. "Nothing is wrong, my dear," she responded. "Perhaps Link has merely fallen into a depression. Sometimes that happens to young men, you know."
Zelda's anger sparked instantly: Saria was lying. She could tell by her stiff posture, the way her words seemed forced and unnaturally light. Her response only furthered Zelda's suspicions. What were they keeping from her? "You are lying, Saria," she spat, her ire dangerously rising. "Tell me what is going on or—"
She was interrupted when Triana banged open the door and rushed inside. She stopped abruptly in her tracks when she noticed Zelda in the room, however. Saria turned once more around and Zelda soon found herself being literally stared at by the two women, disconcertion instantly filling her.
Zelda broke the silence. "What's going on?"
Both seemed at a loss for words for a moment. Finally, Saria spoke. "Zelda...you must understand, there are circumstances here that are beyond our control—"
"Then perhaps I would understand better if I knew what was going on!" Zelda cried. "Am I suddenly not to be trusted? Have I proven myself unreliable? What is it? What have I done to earn such disrespect?"
Triana sighed, exasperation written on her face. "Zelda, stop this. Screaming at us will get you no where." She combed her fingers through her hair, a sure sign that she was peeved.
Zelda fell silent, unable to respond such harshness. What had she done to merit such treatment? Her stomach twisting, she sat down at the table and folded her hands, forcing herself to be tranquil and reasonable. Perhaps then she would receive some answers. "I am not screaming now," she stated quietly. "Tell me what's going on, then."
Saria looked at Triana, her face pinched with what seemed to be fear. Triana sighed once more before responding. "You are not who you think you are," she answered cryptically.
Zelda raised an eyebrow, frustration rising again, but she forced it down. "What?" she inquired. "What are you—?"
"You are not Zelda of the Kokiri Forest, an orphan child found when you were but a few weeks old," Saria stated solemnly. "You have a destiny to fulfill, Zelda."
"You have a destiny to fulfill as the Princess of Hyrule," Triana finished. "You were brought here as a babe by order of the king and queen, your parents. And now you are to be sent back to them to be a princess once again."
Zelda's eyes widened, incredulous at such outrageous information. "You are jesting, aye?" she asked desperately, her heart hammering so loudly that she was certain that everyone could hear it. When both women merely gazed at her silently, one with pity in her eyes, the other with hardened resolve, she felt bile rise in her throat. "No...no..." she murmured, hands across her abdomen, her hands in fists. "I cannot believe that...I..."
"Believe it," Triana replied. "Would we jest about something so crucial? Nay, you are indeed a Princess of Hyrule, Zelda. And you are to leave for the city on your birthday. As ordered by the King."
Zelda gazed up at them, misery in her eyes. "I...what...what about Link...?" she whispered.
Saria went to her and took her hands. "My dear Zelda, I am so sorry. But you must accept your role as the Princess, for you are the only living heir." Looking away, she added softly, "And you must marry as according your station. You are royalty, now."
Zelda shook her head before snatching her hands away from Saria's grasp. "No...nooooo....!" she moaned. "It cannot be true! It cannot!" Tears flooded her vision, her stomach roiling and her heart clenching in pain. Rising, she turned to go, but not before Triana grasped her wrist and placed something in her palm.
"These, Zelda, were for you," Triana said quietly, overlooking Saria's gasp of disapproval. "From Link."
Turning slowly, Zelda took the cloth pouch and dumped the contents into her hand. Two earrings tumbled into her palm, both made of rose quartz. Zelda's eyes widened to saucers. Looking to Triana, she asked with a sob, "He wanted to marry me?"
The Great Fairy ran another hand through her hair. "Yes, but he now knows he cannot. You must accept this also, Zelda—"
Triana's words were cut off as Zelda stumbled from the cottage, the earrings gripped in her palm as she sobbed, her chest rising and falling in breathless gasps. Running, running, it didn't matter where, she had to get away. Her footsteps pounding into the ground, the wind blowing her hair into her eyes, she stumbled and wept, her heart breaking. It couldn't be true...it couldn't...
It was as if the world itself were crumbling before her very eyes. A Princess! For her entire life Zelda had wondered of her origins and true family. But to discover that she was royalty, that she was to one day take the crown of Hyrule and rule the land was inconceivable. And now she was to be taken away from her home and her adopted family and the man she loved to become a person she did not know how to be.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the village Zelda stopped to catch her breath, for it continued to come out in breathless, sobbing gasps. The tears flowed uninhibited down her face and onto her dress, and it was all she could do to not collapse amidst the swirling emotions reverberating within her mind and heart. After a few more moments she kept walking, her steps as heavy as her spirit.
Through a haze of tears she came to find herself in the Sacred Forest Meadow, the grass a bright emerald beneath the summer sun. Goldenrod and dandelion seeds floated about in the balmy breeze, and a stream flowed a few yards to her left, its water bubbling and wholly transparent. As numbness began to creep within her, Zelda went to the stream and fell upon her knees before it, her reflection now visible upon its surface. There she glimpsed a girl of immense beauty, hair like the sun, eyes like the sea, lips like the reddest rose. A true princess.
Disgusted, Zelda slapped the image away, the water splashing her slightly. Now all she viewed was ripples upon the surface, ever expanding away from her. Clenching her fists in anger she felt a sharp prick of pain upon her right palm. Slowly opening her hand, she finally remembered the earrings that Triana had given to her. The earrings Link had intended to give her before asking her to be his wife.
Another flood of tears threatened to spill as she gazed at the tiny spheres of rose quartz. Although they were did not come close to the value of sapphires or rubies, they were beautiful to her, all the same. And now she could never wear them, for she was a princess, and a princess does not marry a lowly knight.
It wasn't fair! her heart screamed. How could the Goddesses curse her to find true love yet never be able to be with him? Zelda began to sob quietly once more, despair filling her completely. It wasn't fair! What right did any person have to tell her whom she could and could not marry?
She gazed at the two pieces of jewelry, her eyes flooded with tears before making a decision. Leaning over the stream so as to see her reflection, her hand shaking and her lip trembling, Zelda took one earring and pressed it against her lobe, right next to the jade hoops. In a bout of defiance she jammed the earring through, a sharp pain resulting throughout her entire ear. And before she lost her courage completely she did the same to the other ear, the pain less noticeable than before.
Zelda gazed at her reflection in the stream and felt triumph fill her. She may never be able to marry Link, but she would wear his earrings until the day she died. Her heart had been pledged, and she intended to keep her promise.
----
Link found her beside a stream in the meadow, her head bent towards the water. Slowly, he went to her, his heart breaking as he did so. The crazy part of him wanted to steal her away from all of this pain and heartbreak, but the rational part forced him to be logical. He could not change the inevitable. He would have to accept that Zelda could never be his.
Eventually, Zelda heard him and looked up, her eyes swollen and puffy from crying. But Link hardly noticed the tears still falling down her cheeks, for all he could look at were the rose earrings in her ears. His breath left him and the cruel force of gravity brought him down onto his knees before her, his heart hammering and his mind whirling.
"Who gave you those?" he murmured, pointing to the said jewelry.
Zelda bit her lip, as if that action would stem the flow of tears. "Triana," she whispered in answer. "She said that you had wanted to give them to me."
Link fell silent, his gaze now on the ground before them. Eventually, he croaked, "Yes, I had bought them for you. As a birthday present."
Looking up he saw Zelda beginning to cry again. Covering her face with her hands, she said with a sob as she rocked back and forth, "I do not know what to do. I love you, Link." Uncovering her face, she murmured, "I love you so much."
Link instantly took her in his arms and held her tightly, never wanting to let her go. Stroking her hair, he rocked her like an infant as she sobbed into his tunic, wetting the fabric with her tears. After a while, Zelda calmed a bit; looking up into his eyes, she murmured resolutely while touching the rose earrings, "I will always wear these for you, Link. I will be your wife in heart. Forever."
Link felt the world crumble. Desperately, he kissed her, pressing her against him so as to memorize the feeling of her against him. "I love you, Zelda," he whispered between kisses. Zelda wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her ear, her jaw, her throat. When she whimpered in protest when he moved her hands from around his neck, he murmured, "I won't ever let you go. Ever."
The balmy breeze of summer enveloped them as they kissed with all of their hearts, for both knew it would be one of the last times they would be together.
(cough) Dang, that was a pretty long chapter, at least for me. (rubs bum) This computer chair makes your booty hurt after a while... :P Well, I hope you enjoyed this long and angsty and SOMEWHAT sappy chapter. :3 I know you liked it. Even if it was cheesy. YOU LIKED IT, YOU KNOW IT!!! (cough) Well, please review. THANKS! xD
Perfect Soldier 01: I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D And especially since it cheered you up. Fluff does that to me too. xD
babowonsuni: I hope that means you liked the fluff! xD I guess Link was being a guy, but if it had been me I wouldn't have complained. Lol
ZeldaChik63: Haha, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Writing fluff is a lot of fun. I don't see how anyone could not like it! xD
Fury: I hope this chapter satisfied your need for more fluff. :D
Tri: Is there a fluff border? I hope it's not a bad thing to cross it! xD
Zeldagurli: Thank you, I'm glad you like it! :D :D :D
sawyerzelda: Oh, wow, thank you! I really hope I can become a novelist, but you never know what might happen. (novel writing isn't a particularly stable job choice) And you're welcome, too! You definitely deserve a review for writing such cute fics! :D
Nagem: So glad you enjoyed the fluff. And I'm really sorry that I haven't been around Writerz Corner in, like, months. I'm a horrible person. :'(
niyila's song: Thanks! xD
Crimson Ashes: Yep, we're definitely going to Florida over spring break! I guess lots of other bands do that too... (shrug) And to your question, the LZ community is just a place where you can find a bunch of fics that have some kind of LZ romance in them. By joining you can get email updates when I add more stories to the community. :D
PIRO the unforgiven one: Thanks! :D :D :D
AngelaM.: I'm glad you liked it! And yes, school still sux. AARGH
princess of destiny: I don't know if this should be published...but it's a nice thought! xD And it would be great if there was fluff in the next LOZ game! I can't wait for it to come out!!!
Bvv: Was this chapter sad? :(
Babydoll72489: Hmm...well, I like to try and avoid having characters speak with everyday slang mostly b/c they aren't in the 21st century and wouldn't talk that way. My biggest pet peeve is when people use "OK" in fics that aren't in this century...I don't know why, it just bugs me! O.o
Alantie Mistaniu: Thank you! I think everyone enjoyed the fluff. xD And I'm so glad you updated! It had been forever. o.o
chaosdragon326: I hope you get that chapter out soon! I want to read it. :D
jade04: Thanks! :)
Story Weaver1: Thank you! And also, I listed you as a staff member for the community, but you have to go to your user page and click on the "C2 Staff" link and accept the position. Then you can add fics to the archive if you want. :D
TieFighterPlt181st: I know, it has been a while. And it took even longer for me to update w/ this chapter! And if I have the time I'll review your fic. School is really bogging me down lately. :P
linka: Of course I'll finish!
Glorfindel Silverleaf: Yeah, it was kinda short. But I hope the fluff made up for the lack in length. xD
Amity-Star: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you like it. And yes, LOZ is extremely addicting. I hope you've played OOT, though. That's the best LOZ game, in my opinion. And when you say "I'm lovin' it" it reminds me of McDonald's more than JT. Lol o.O
Vampiress24: Yes, there'll definitely be more kisses. And don't we all want to be Zelda? (sigh)
susan: Thank you! And all we girls wish we had a guy like Link. Lol xD
aslan-chic: I wouldn't yell! o.o Feel free to say anything you like. I'm always in need of constructive criticism, even more than compliments (however appreciated they are). I won't yell, I promise! O.O
vladimir the hamster: Concert band is the best part! It's the only reason why I actually go through the horror of marching band. (shudder) But I'm not into jazz band b/c I play the flute...:P
Lost Soul 01: Oh, wow, you're back! It's been so long. ;; I've missed your reviews, especially since so many other people have fallen off the face of the planet and stopped reviewing! (cries) And, yes, if I ever do publish anything (haha) I'll remember everyone who has reviewed w/ such wonderful compliments! :D And I used a guay in the story b/c those are the same creatures that look like crows, right? (b/c there's a crow in the movie...)