Hey guys! I'm back! Thanx for reviewing. So sorry for the long wait. I've kinda been in a writer's slump. Like every time I sit down I get jittery lol. Plus I've been so busy and pretty much out everyday since summer started. Forgive me!

Kelenariel Khelekkir. I haven't forgot about your generous offer, but I didn't want to keep the readers waiting any longer. thank you though. I will send it to you next time. )

5

Because You Live

Link walked down the stone path, through the heavily vegetated gardens of Hyrule's castle grounds. Leila was found skipping happily just a few yards behind, enjoying the warm, sunny afternoon.

It was Monday, Link's first day on the job. So far, so good. All he did today was wait for her to wake up, eat breakfast, and follow her around up until this moment. No danger whatsoever. It seemed so easy.

To the looks of it, most of his days would be spent like this.

And it made him wonder. Why was he appointed this job?

He had already asked Lilly that. Or, at least, attempted to. She never did answer him that day.

So he pondered. Why, in such a peaceful place such as this, would Leila possibly need more protection?

Of course, then Link reminded himself about Marth and how he had been the one who had taken Zelda's life.

Curse him.

But it was different now. The security had gone up. The guards had gotten better. Come to think of it, Link had never seen a foreign Prince, or anyone foreign for that matter, step into the secure abode of the royal family.

So what was it? What was so bad that made the Queen, being the strong person she was, possess such fear in her eyes. What was she hiding? What were the secrets of the family that he was yet to know?

It nearly drove him crazy trying to figure it out.

Could it possibly have a connection to his dream?

Maybe, just maybe, Lilly was having the same one herself, fearing for her daughter and confiding in Link to keep her safe.

Or maybe he was overreacting.

His ramblings of various scenarios playing in his head had caused him to be so off from the world that he didn't even realize that they had come to stop before a steep hill overlooking Hyrule.

"Look Link.", Leila exclaimed, pointing out towards Kokiri Forest. "That's where you used to live. In those woods. Am I right?"

"Yes.", he replied, looking out to the wooded area. "You are right."

Leila sighed, plopping herself on the edge on the hill. "It must've been nice to live there."

"How do you figure?", Link said, keeping a watchful eye as she sat dangerously close to the edge.

"You are free to do whatever you want. You don't have problems like there are here.", she said, staring longingly at the woods.

"And what do you know about problems and such? ", Link said, amused. "Your only five."

She looked back at him then. Her great blue eyes piercing his soul. "I know you started having them when you came here."

"What do you mean?", he asked, more serious this time. "There's nothing wrong."

"I meant the first time. The first time you left your home. Isn't it the first time you had problems?"

Link didn't know what to say. He stared silently at the girl, thinking about her question.

The first time he had left the woods was when he felt a longing to explore, way back when he was ten. When he met Zelda.

And Prince Marth, in all his jealousy.

"It will come again.", she sighed, looking back over the land. "Bad things always happen here."

Still shocked by her precise assumptions, Link sat down next to her. "What things?", he inquired.

Leila shrugged. "The first Queen's death, the Prince, death of my sister…"

Link stared down at the little girl. "How do you know so much about things not of your time?", he asked, astonished. "These things, aside from Zelda, happened long before you were born."

"Link, when you live in the castle, stories are whispered long after an event has occurred.", she replied simply. "But anyway…

"I want to get away. I hate this place. I hate these clothes, I hate it.", she seethed. "And I'm scared."

Link shifted, holding his chin in his hand. "Of what?"

"The shadows. The monster.", she explained. "He scares me so much. I'm afraid he might come and get me in my sleep."

Link laughed lightly at her childish fears, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "There are no monsters in the castle. No one's going to come and get you."

"But there is.", she insisted. "I've seen him."

Link remembered well of the days he believed in monsters. Well, okay, they might've been real up in Zora's Temple and places like that, but nothing existed under the bed. The best thing he could think of to make her at ease was say something that Saria had always said to him when he was scared as a child.

"Well you have nothing to worry about anymore. I'm here, and I'll always keep you safe. No matter what.", he said. "I'll fight off that monster if it's the last thing I do."

Leila smiled warmly, taking Link into a hug. "I hope so."

Link took a deep breath, gazing over the prosperous land, glancing over to a small spot far to the east of them. Gerudo Valley.

He sighed remembering one of the most darkest hours of his life. Placing a hand atop Leila's head and patting it comfortingly, he breathed deeply, closing his eyes.

A soft wind brushed through his shaggy hair, just as it had that night.

The night Leila was born.

Link breathed out, opening his eyes to find himself standing on the edge of a rather nasty fall. The river, leading into Lake Hylia, the one that coursed with fire in his malicious dreams, was just below his nose.

All he had to do was…

Jump, he thought. Jump and end this sorry excuse for a life.

What life, he asked himself. Could you even call it that?

So go ahead and jump already. It's what you want, isn't it. To end this suffering?

Yes. I want it gone. I want the pain to go away, I want these crazy dreams to stop, I want it all to end.

Yes, those dreams. It had been exactly one week that they'd started. It had been driving him crazy having to experience it every night since then.

Every night he would take witness to the murder of a child as she was pushed over the edge, screaming as she fell.

Every night he would encounter the cloaked man that had stolen everything that ever mattered to him away.

And every night, he would see the horrified expression on his late wife's face before him as the evil man, cloaked in black attire, forced the pretty, little blonde to meet her doom.

It was enough to drive any man to his death. And that was just what Link had in mind.

He didn't understand the demonic dream, and frankly, he didn't care to. He just wanted it to stop.

Link stared down at the watery grave below him and sighed. It looked to be his only escape.

He longed to push his feet off the ground and fall into the rushing rapids below. He longed to get it over with . He longed to die.

Look at the bright side, he thought. You will no longer be a burden to Hyrule's society. No longer will the people have to show their condolences as you walk past, reminding you of the feeling you get whenever you see lovers walk down the ally and find yourself to be standing alone. The pain of holding onto the girl, who means the world to you, in your arms as she slips away. The pain of knowing you will never be happy as the day you were before she died.

And you will never have to be reminded of the moment you knew she wouldn't make it. When you stared into those glassy eyes of hers and knew you'd never be able to hold her again, protecting her with your strong arms. To make her smile when you kissed her, or laugh when you told her a joke. To know that never again will you love someone so much that you'd die for them.

To know, that never in your life, will you be truly happy again.

As I see it, it's a free ticket to relief. And of course…

"We could be together again.", he said out loud. "We could be happy."

Link smiled warmly at the thought.

Yes, we will be happy."For too long I have been without you.", he whispered. "Too long."

Link lifted his arms, stretching them outward, as if to prepare for a dive, lifting up his chin.

He was just above a rocky area in the river. Surly it would break his back. Maybe shatter his skull.

Whichever came first.

He could hear his heart thumping loudly in his chest. This was it.

One…

Beat

Two…

Beat

Three!

Link bent his legs, preparing to leap out in front of him.Here I go…

Just as he was about to push off from the sandy cliff's side, he heard the most blood curdling scream.

"Link!"

Link turned, seeing a rather flustered, rather upset young woman rushing towards him after jumping off her black stallion.

"Link, don't jump. Whatever you do, please, don't jump.", she sobbed.

"Jesamay?", he asked. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to find you. You weren't home. I've been looking for hours.", she answered, quite out of breath.

Link stood there, staring at her with a blank expression. At this time, she had tears streaming down her face and her skin seemed to be coated with sweat.

"Please.", she cried. "It's not worth it."

"You have no idea what I'm going through.", he managed to mutter.

"Please.", she tried again. "Zelda wouldn't want this."

With that, she extended her hand for him to take.

Link gazed into her pleading, hazel eyes and realized what he was doing.

He looked down behind him to see where he had planned to end it and let out a sob.

"Look at me.", he breathed. "Look what I've become. A suicidal mess."

Seeing as he was coming to his senses, Jesamay took a step forward, offering herself as a shoulder to cry on.

With more force than she expected, she was soon taken into a giant bear hug, as the both of them collapsed to their knees.

"Goddesses, Link.", Jesamay whispered. "You could have given me a heart attack just now."

Link sobbed, drenching her red, woolly scarf with tears.

It's just so hard without her.", he explained.

"Shhhh…", Jesamay soothed, rocking him like a child. "I know, sweetheart, I know."

For a long while, the two sat there, at the edge of the cliff, as Link held onto her for support. And after he had calmed down a bit, he spoke.

"Why did you come to find me.", he asked.

"I've come bearing good news.", she answered, breaking their tight hold.

"What?", he asked, staring up at her.

"The Queen.", Jesamay said. "She had gone into labor when I left. The arrival of the new princess was tonight."

"The new princess?", Link asked, still somewhat dazed from the previous events.

"Yes.", Jesamay said. "The birth of Princess Leila Harkinian."

Link heaved a sigh, staring out from the hill. That had been five years ago. Never once did he attempt suicide again.

He had always felt a guilt for almost causing so much pain to all his friends.

And to think, if Jesamay hadn't been out looking for him to bring news of Leila, he would have jumped.

He stared down at the little Princess beside him. She had saved his life, indeed.

Leila stared right back up at him with a bright smile.

"Whatcha thinking?", she asked.

He smiled, gave her another pat on the head, and said, "Oh, nothing. Just enjoying the outside is all."

"Oh…", she said distantly. "Okay."

The two stood there for a moment, watching birds fly across the gardens and outward towards the marketplace.

It was peaceful.

Just as Link was finally getting some relaxation, the bell announcing that lunch be served, echoed from the west wing of the castle, making Link nearly jump out of his skin.

Leila giggled at her startled protector.

Link crossed his arms, looking down at the princess with a frown. "Oh, you think that's funny, do you?"

"Most definitely.", Adah answered, taking his hand and leading him down the garden paths. "Come, lunch will be soon."

"Evidently.", Link retorted, rolling his eyes.

Later that day, after Leila had been put to bed and most of the castle had retired for the night, Link was sitting in the library, quietly watching the fire.

A knock sounded at the door briefly after he had settled down.

"Come in.", he answered.

Silence.

Link turned his head towards the door to see if anyone had stepped in.

Nothing.

"Hello?", he called.

Still, nothing.

Link shook his head, rubbing his eyes a bit. It was getting late, perhaps he was imagining things.

Yet, just minutes later another knock could be heard just outside the door.

"Come in.", he repeated, louder than the last time.

Silence.

Link was beginning to get frustrated.

With that he rose from his chair, making his way to the door.

As quietly as he could he pressed his ear against the door in hopes to hear giggling. Maybe it was Leila playing around with him.

Not one sound.

Link crouched down on the floor, resting his head down, trying to see any sign of feet before the door.

Only light escaped through the gap between the floor and the door.

"What the…"

BANG!

Link jumped back, heart thumping in his chest.

Whoever was playing games wasn't going to get away that easily though.

Quickly Link shot up, grabbing the handle to the door, forcing it open with one violent tug.

Link's jaw dropped at what he saw before him.

Absolutely nothing. Nothing but a bare, stone hallway.

He rushed out in the hall to see if anyone had run away.

Left… No…

Right…No…

Link found himself alone in the hall, scratching his head.

"How?", he asked himself, feeling completely dumbfounded.

With a sigh, Link took one last look around, and walked back into the library.

It was late, he was tired, and slightly shaken.

He silently went back to his chair and sat there for a moment, thinking.

It wouldn't have bothered him so much if it weren't for the nagging warning in his head. One he had heard the same day

It will come again…Bad things always happen here.

Okay, I know it might be asking much, but please review. Go ahead and yell at me, but at least I'll get some feedback :P I appreciate everyone who takes the time to tell me what they think. Thanx!

Another thing. I really can't answer anybody's questions. I want you guys to figure it out by reading. Lol sry. Some questions are just too specific that'll might give something away.

uhg, and yet again this stupid editor is messed up, hope it doesn't come out crappy. sry in advanced! i will try and fix any mistakes.