LVG: Zelda's Story
Once a year on this day, Zelda and Link, her young son, go to her husband's grave. Today is seven years since that fateful day.
Zelda walks slowly and solemnly through the graveyard, in one hand she holds a small bundle of flowers and with other she holds the hand of Link; who is looking around at the different graves as they pass by and listening to the deafening silence. Drops of rain hang on the leaves of the trees and the petals of the flowers, glistening like glass beads in the morning sun.
Walking down the path they finally came to Link's grave. His grave was no different to any of the others; it was not a large monument or made out of marble and gilt with gold. It was plain stone, four words carved into its surface and a small Triforce etched above them the only embellishment. The town wanted something special for him, but Zelda insisted that he should not be treated differently.
She let go of his hand as she walked up to place the flowers in front of the stone. She walked up to the grave and knelt down to place the flowers at its base. She brushed off the damp leaves that clung to its surface and read the words on the stone.
Link
Husband
Father
Hero
As she read them she couldn't help but think back to how things used to be. He used to work in his grandfather's workshop; he became quite skilled at making swords, almost as good as he was at swinging them, which he spent a good part of his time doing, but he always made sure that he was there for his family.
As Zelda reminisced on the past, Link was getting impatient. He started to shift his weight from one foot to the other and started looking to the far reaches of the graveyard looking for something to do, for something to happen, but the only thing moving in graveyard was a tree, its leaves getting blow in a gentle breeze.
Now being completely bored he called out 'Can we go home now? This place is so boring.' He whined.
'Yes, in a moment.' Zelda replied. She said and began to arrange the flowers in a small vase in front of the stone. The flowers were pale yellow roses which she delicately placed them in the vase and arranged them so that those that were just starting to unfurl and show their beautiful blooms, were placed in the middle of the modest bouquet and the ones in full bloom were placed around the outside. Once happy with her composition, she stood up and brushed of some leaves which had stuck to her legs and walked over to stand beside Link.
'Say goodbye to your father, Link.'
Link looks down at the ground. For as long as he can remember he has been told to say goodbye before they leave, a tradition of sorts, although he didn't see the point in doing so. He doesn't wish to disappoint his mum, so he raises he head and looks towards the stone.
'Bye, Dad.' he said quietly and then lowered his head again.
Zelda smiled down at him and brushed the hair that had fallen into his eyes away.
'Good boy.' She said softly.
She looked back up in the direction of the grave 'Goodbye, Link.' She said the sorrow in her soul showing in her eyes. 'I hope the weather is better where you are.' She jokes, lifting her spirits, as a chill breeze slides down the path, brushing the leaves with its ethereal fingers before it flows past dragging her hair across her face and then continues down the path brushing the leaves as it goes.
Drawing her hair back out of her face and back over her ear, she once again took the hand of her son. As she took hold of his hand he looked up as she looked down at him and said he words he had been waiting to here 'Shall we go home now, Link?' She said cheerily and Link nodded. 'Okay then, let's go.' She said and they started their walk back home. Unbeknownst to them that as they walked away from the tombstone the Triforce began to shine with a golden light.
On the way home she talked with a few of the villagers about the usual things: the weather, how little Link is growing up and how hard it must be for her to try and raise a child on her own. All the while Link was getting more bored and frustrated and began to start pulling on her clothing while she was talking. Zelda had to tell him to leave her alone while she was trying to speak, this caused link to have a sour expression on his face for the rest of the conversation but he stopped pulling on her clothes which she found was a fair trade-off.
Once they got home Link stopped sulking and ran up to his bedroom. So he soon returned downstairs in bare feet with his arms full of small wooden toys, which he started to play with on the carpet in the front room. Zelda, who had just come downstairs herself, went into the kitchen to make something for them to eat.
The day went on as normal with Zelda managing to get Link to the table for his favourite food, Cucco Soup, without much incident. If there had been green vegetables it would have been a different matter.
Link went out to play with his friends soon after; which gave Zelda some quiet time to tidy up the toys which he insisted on leaving all over the floor and also gave her some time to read one of the books she picked up at the market, about a hero saving a land called Termina.
Soon it was getting dark and it was time for Link to go to bed.
'Mum…how did you meet Dad?' He said lying in his bed.
'…We met at school; we were both a few years older than you are now.' She said slightly surprised by the spontaneity of the question. 'Link had arrived to the town a few weeks previous and was preparing for his first day at a new school...'