Chapter 21
Darunia and Nabooru led the Gorons across Termina field. They would soon reach the Great Bay, and then they could go and find Zelda.
"Link is probably angry we made him wait." Darunia said mournfully.
"Well all we can do is hope that Princess Zelda is still alive." Nabooru replied softly, looking ahead to the entrance to the Great Bay.
The wind had died down considerably. Nabooru had even cut her sleeves down, complaining that it was warm.
When the group reached the beach, they knew instantly that something was wrong. A pool of blood mixed in with the sand welcomed them.
Nabooru began running instantly, and made it to the camp first.
"Link! Link!" She shouted.
She noticed that the Kokiri were all huddled together. Some were crying, while some were just staring off into space.
"What happened?" Nabooru gasped, kneeling down in the center of the children.
"Princess Zelda is dead." Maya sobbed.
"No, no she isn't. She was just kidnapped." She touched Maya's shoulder.
"No, she's dead. The Gerudo killed her with a spear. Link was crying and shouting and then he carried her body over there." Tek pointed to the bend that led to the waterfall.
"No." Nabooru breathed, tears collecting in her eyes.
Darunia reached Nabooru in time to hear about Zelda being dead.
"Where is Link?" He asked, looking sadly upon the Kokiri.
Tek pointed to the bend once more, and Darunia slowly walked in that direction.
Link had changed Zeldaout of his Goron tunic. He had put her in the mahogany dress she had worn that night in the Kokiri Forest.
"Going into battle…is a very frightening thing. You never know when your next breath will be your last, so you try to cherish each one you take. Your worry is for your life, as well as for those you care for."
"But going into battle is also a joyous thing. During the battle, it's anything but joyous, but once it's over, peace is restored. People begin to rebuild their lives, and they won't have to worry about the evil that once plagued them.
When I go to battle, I am going to march in with my head held high. Although I am frightened, I know that by going into battle, I'm protecting Hyrule and those I love."
Zelda's words echoed in Link's mind. He remembered how beautiful she had looked, how strong she had been.
He looked down at Zelda's pale face. He was cradling her in his arms as he sat near the waterfall. Even in death, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
"Brother."
Link looked up quickly to see Darunia standing near him. His eyes were sad, and Link knew that he knew about Zelda.
He looked back down at her body, and gently kissed her forehead.
"Brother, we have to head back to Hyrule. We have to stop Devika." Darunia sat next to Link.
"It doesn't matter anymore." Link mumbled.
"It doesn't matter anymore? It mattered to Zelda. So much in fact, that she died for it."
Link glared at Darunia angrily.
"Don't talk about that. I don't want to hear it."
Darunia put an arm around Link's shoulders.
"Link, when my son died, I didn't want to talk about it either. But Link, you have to move on. Zelda would want you to defeat Devika and be happy. She wouldn't want you to sit here in sadness."
"How can I be happy when Zelda is dead?" Link looked up with tears in his eyes. "I love her."
"I know you do."
Nabooru helped the Kokiri collect their things while helping the Gorons as well.
Her heart was heavy with grief. Although she hadn't known Zelda very well, she was still sad to see her dead. Nabooru knew that this would destroy Link.
"What about Saria?" Kaylee asked Nabooru.
"Mido is staying with her. We'll come back for her." Nabooru smiled a sad smile, and watched Kaylee walk away.
Soon, they would be battling Devika and the rest of the Gerudos. Nabooru wondered how everything would turn out. Would they win? Would they lose?
"Are you ready?"
Nabooru spun around to see Darunia standing behind her.
"Y-yes. How is Link?"
Darunia turned and Nabooru looked over his shoulder to see Link emerging from behind the bend. He was carrying Zelda's body in his arms.
Nabooru noticed that she didn't look dead at all. She could have just been sleeping. Nabooru wished she was just sleeping.
Link's face was frightening. His eyebrows were furrowed in anger, his eyes were filled with such pain that Nabooru almost looked away.
He glared past them, and gently slid Zelda's body onto Epona's saddle. He then climbed on behind her, and held her close.
"You can kill as many of them as you want," Link muttered to the two as they stared at him, "but Devika is mine."
He then rode off, Epona's hooves kicking up sand as she thundered down the beach.