A.N: Well here it is folks, my longest chapter so far and the final one in Ordon, at least for the foreseeable future. Hope you like it and please give feedback if you feel like it. It's much appreciated.
Chapter 7 – An end and a beginning
It was mid-afternoon on Ordon Ranch.
The scene was just the same as it had been yesterday. Link sat in the same spot, same sketchpad in his lap, in the same green tunic and hat, watching the same goats, under the same sun.
To an outside observer nothing would seem to have changed, yet to Link, everything had. He knew that the world hadn't undergone some miraculous metamorphosis. Spring had not suddenly arrived as there was still a slight chill in the air and the wildflowers that would dot the fields had yet to bloom. The suns path had not changed, nor the illuminating power of its rays. Despite this everything seemed a little brighter. It was ultimately a matter of perspective and to say that his had been shaken could be counted as the understatement of the century.
Link sighed, and tried once more to actually focus enough to start a sketch. So far all he'd managed was two parallel lines intended to be one of the Goats hind legs. It was an odd habit, but Link always found it easier to start at the back and work forwards when drawing goats, and he wasn't going to change it any time soon. Unless he went travelling again? Or found a new home?
Yesterday the negative voices would have incinerated any such notions as soon as they appeared but not today. His inner demons were still there, but today they had an adversary, not powerful enough to vanquish them but strong enough to keep them at bay. An ally he thought he'd lost… until last night… until SHE helped him reignite it. Hope.
It was a feeling he'd not been graced by since his choice to return to Ordon, more down to obligation, he realised now, than a genuine desire on his part. While he'd been travelling, the ghosts and demons that haunted him were in constant pursuit but he held onto the hope he could out run them. He'd thought, perhaps, the familiarity of his home and "family" would provide a safe haven to recover, before moving on. It was that faith, that belief he had clung to that had led him not to home, but a cage that had allowed his pursuers to catch and possess him. Possess him… just as Ilia had sought to do, ever since his return. She'd clung to him, just as he'd clung to Ordon. Could that mean that Ilia…
In his mind's eye he had a vision of her face as she'd hung spellbound at Zelda's recounting of the final battle. Her face had held a story of its own, of many colours, but one dominated above all others. As he gazed into her terrified visage, he heard Zelda's confession from the night before. "You aren't the only one to be broken by the Twilight" the words echoed in his head and he finally knew the full implication of that statement.
Link had told himself time and again that he was the only one who the twilight had truly broken. Others may have been hurt but outside of the physical consequences of the experience, they had emerged unscathed. He had once described his feelings to Rusl as that of being lost and alone, drowning in an underwater cave with no foreseeable escape. He was beginning to think that the cave was rather more crowded than he'd originally predicted.
And yet, none of them would ever truly understand what he went through. None except Zelda. Her words and her haunted look from the previous night had assured him of that. Their backgrounds may have been polar opposites, their life's, and indeed, their stories within the twilight may have taken different paths, but it was clear from the fleeting moment's glimpse behind her mask that she had seen just as much as he had.
Despite being trapped in the same metaphorical cave, there was one thing Zelda possessed, that had thus far evaded him… an exit strategy! With her words of sympathy and encouragement last night it would seem that she was not only willing but wished to share it with him. She would be his guide. Well, Link wasn't generally one for accepting help but, given his situation and the lady offering, he wasn't about to refuse such compassion. He wasn't about to be a charity case though either. If he was going to accepting her offer, he would do anything he could to ease her burdens in return. That is if he was even capable of helping her?! That was assuming her offer was still on the table, what with the trouble his actions last night indirectly caused and the fact that he was currently still in possession of her necklace?!
The necklace seemed to expand in his pocket as his thoughts were brought to focus on it. The delicate jewel was still in two parts, as he had the horrible suspicion that, with his rough, calloused and tactless touches, he'd probably end up breaking it further. He seemed far better at that than fixing things, particularly himself.
Deciding to divert himself from slipping into sourness, Link turned his attention to the necklace's owner, a remarkably easy task as, along with the necklace, still burning a hole in his pocket, his tunic still bore the trace of her fragrance. It really did seem that since she'd burst back into his life, her presence was inescapable in one sense or another. Not that that was an unpleasant prospect, as contrary to his previous fears, she seemed to bring him a feeling of tranquillity.
He marvelled once again at how her voice could carry such authority and strength, and yet at other times held the serenity of a spirit spring. The Zelda he saw squaring off against Lord Halshaw seemed a million miles from the gentle wisdom and compassion of the night before, yet it seemed from first impressions that this night and day contrast quintessentially defined the princess's very being. She certainly defied his expectations, from what little he knew of her from his adventures.
Grace, dignity and wisdom were not surprising traits for a princess, but her wit, tenacity and capacity for compassion inspired a greater admiration for her than he had already held. That had all been remarkably displayed in her battle that morning with Lord Halshaw. She had crushed her opponent with efficiency and class, while offering words of understanding and sympathy to her people caught in the fray. Link, being but a goatherd and one-time adventurer, had never witnessed anything quite like it. If that's what Zelda called court diplomacy he wouldn't mind witnessing her doing more of it, although preferably without him being caught in the middle. Quite frankly he wouldn't mind seeing more of her in any capacity…
Link blinked. What was with his brain today? He shook himself. "Oh well, might as well get back to my… sketch" He mumbled, tailing off as he beheld his sketchpad, rather less empty than when he'd started his ruminations.
There on the page was a singularly impressive depiction of Princess Zelda in profile, just as he saw her during her tale of Ganondorf's defeat, all the more remarkably for the fact he hadn't been consciously aware he was doing it. It would seem he had Zelda on the brain.
The goats leg he had started with had morphed into one of her signature braids that frame her face, while said face itself had, rather unflatteringly, emerged from his initial cursory line for the animal's rump. He considered the irony that something as beautiful as Zelda's face had materialised out of a goat's backside. Midna would have probably found it hilarious. He wasn't so sure about Zelda herself. Would she see the humour of it? He decided if she ever saw it, he'd leave out that bit.
So lost was Link in his thoughts that he failed to notice a figure approaching, with hesitant uneasy steps. He was only alerted to company as a shadow was cast over his picture. "she's pretty amazing isn't she." Came a small, forlorn voice from behind him.
Link started, jumping up and whirling round to meet Ilia, nervous and uncomfortable, eyes darting everywhere, except at him. After an awkward pause as she became fixated on his boots, she stammered "I… I came to apologise… for what I said… and what I did." She picked at the sleeve of her shirt as silence fell and Link waited for her to continue. The moment dragged on and he seriously considered stepping in simply to break the tension, when Ilia's eyes abruptly locked onto his and an imploring plea spilled forth from her quivering lips "Link, please forgive me, I was angry, I overreacted and I… I said some things I didn't mean to."
Now, Link was one to hold a grudge and equally didn't enjoy seeing his former best friend upset, regardless of what she'd put him through recently, however part of her apology rubbed him the wrong way. It underplayed the severity of what she'd said and done. It wasn't just a case of saying some hurtful words. It was making some frankly ridiculous claims that almost landed both himself and princess Zelda in a political scandal the likes of which he'd never live down, had the mud stuck. Ultimately, he did decide to drop the matter, but that was more due to him wishing to, if possible, avoid another explosive argument. Also, his more recent revelations about Ilia's scars from the Twilight were pressuring him to let it be.
Biting back a more acidic response, he settled for a rather flat mumble of "You are forgiven." Ilia seemed to accept this response with a slight nod before gazing off towards the goats, still apprehensive. She clearly had more she wished to say.
Her focus drifted to his sketch of Zelda and despite it being upside down to her view, she still examined it intently. "You know, I'm not surprised you fell for her." She said morosely.
Link groaned. Here we go again! "for the last time Ilia, I'm not in love with Zelda!" he snapped in exasperation.
"Link I don't blame…"
"Ilia, let me make one thing clear, I DO NOT LOVE ZELDA! Heck, I haven't known her long enough to be entirely sure I could even class us as friends. I hope we are but the fact is I only met her a few times on my adventures, and in those times, she gave me guidance, she sacrificed herself to save a friend and then, having rescued her, we fought together. we may share a bond but it is one of great mutual respect, borne of equally great hardship, not some romantic folly. Believe it or not, my naivety does have its limits and falling in love with a beautiful princess is definitely beyond them."
"Yet you can't help bringing up that she's beautiful." Ilia rolled her eyes as she spoke.
"So! It's not like that's even up for debate. Word has gone around for years that Princess Zelda was among the most Beautiful ladies in the land!" he argued.
"That doesn't mean you had to bring it up or indeed that you had to sketch her." She countered.
"I didn't choose to do that! It just… happened." Link blurted only to instantly give himself a good hard mental slap for giving her more fuel.
"Oooh, I seeee" Ilia drawled sarcastically "so you're suggesting you produced what is arguably your best drawing by accident. That it just popped onto the page without you even thinking about it."
"Well, yeah, sort of."
"Honestly Link" Ilia scoffed "even if I did believe that, it would only prove all the more how much you love her. To produce a work like that from memory… that doesn't JUST happen."
"Well it just did." Link rumbled wearily, just wishing this trial would end. Ilia turned her back to him, crossing her arms. He expected to hear another sarcastic rant of bitterness and anger. Her response however, when it finally came to fill the growing expanse of emptiness between them, was one of desolate resignation. Even the mechanics of the world itself seemed to conspire to convey the misery as the sun hide behind the one cloud in the sky.
"You used to tell me everything, Link. We used to hold no secrets. Now you don't tell me anything. You're too stubborn to even admit to what is clear as day for those with eyes to see. I saw how you looked at her when you reunited, a look I wished you'd give me… but it wasn't to be." Her voice had begun to quiver and she gulped "All I wanted was a reason, something to soothe my heart with the knowledge that there was nothing I could have done and yet when you had that perfect reason handed to you on a silver platter, you refuse to use it. Do you think I'm foolish or are you so deep in denial that you can't even admit it to yourself? If that is truly the case then I feel sorry for you." With that bitter coda to her overture, she gave the briefest of brief glances over her shoulder before returning her gaze to the path back to the village.
Link was stumped on a response to her that wouldn't reignite Ilia's fiery temper. Eventually, with neither the weather or Ilia making any effort to dispense with the mournful atmosphere, he went with the only answer he had that, hopefully, wouldn't be interpreted as confrontational.
"I'm sorry, Ilia, but I cannot give an answer I do not believe." he spoke in little more than a whisper, but she heard him as she jerked with a start. He expected her to lash out at him. Instead came a barely audible whisper, even to his sensitive ears. "So, it's denial then."
Link swallowed a protest and silence hung once between the pair, broken only by the occasional bleat from the tribe and the rustle of the grass and trees in the light breeze. The cloud had moved on and the sun once again showed its face. the softer light and the longer shadows drew his attention to the fact it would not be more than an hour till twilight. His attention was caught by ilia's shadow and then his own, noting how even they seemed to prophesise the complete demise of their friendship as they seemed to lean away from one another.
The silence was dispersed by an unexpectedly pensive question. "What happened to you, Link?"
He had heard some form of that question many times but then it had always carried a weight of accusation, that was notably absent. There was no resentment, no hostility, just hurt and confusion. Link made an executive decision. It was time to bring both their ghosts out into the light.
"The same as I suspect has happened to you." He replied sombrely. Ilia whirled round, wide eyes moist, lips quivering, voiceless as Link dove into their unspoken torment for the first time. "The twilight came and snatched us away. It tortured us. It consumed us and then it discarded our remains."
He'd tried to make it sound wise and poetic like Zelda but ended up under the impression it sounded like pretentious melodramatic garbage. Having tried to emulate Zelda unsuccessfully, he concluded that wholesale word theft was the sincerest form of flattery. The next line would either make or break this conversation. "you are not the only one to have been broken by the twilight."
Her expression remained a haunting pained mask. She was not beyond speech and yet no protest sprung forth, no objection raised against his diagnosis of their strife. Her lack of voice pushed him to proceed deeper into the dark chasm of which both had undeniably been acutely conscious of but had tried hopelessly to flee from.
"You ask what happened to me. The truth is we BOTH changed. We BOTH lost part of ourselves to the Twilight. It's hard to say how much, particularly as we've both been in denial of the others loss." Ilia begin to blink back tears but Link felt himself swept up in an almost cathartic release. "The parts of us that escaped were left ravaged. I do not believe either of us has even started to heal the deep wounds that remain. I instead tried to run away and you… you tried to cling to a love for a boy who no longer exists." Now it was Link who turned away, not out of anger but from the shame that as his former best friend shrunk away on the verge of tears, he could only feel a sense of liberation that spurred him further.
"That innocent boy saw too much to survive. You could not imagine the things I've seen, what it's like to carry the weight of a Kingdom on your shoulders…" Emotions of all hues spilled forth as the cauldron of passionate poisonous broth he'd tried so long to contained boiled over. "… I have faced death countless times. I have fought beast and monstrosities too hideous to describe. I have watched friends sacrifice themselves to give life to others! I have seen the downfall of civilisations and my nemesis was the greatest manifestation of evil known to this world!... I DID THIS AND EMERGED UNSCATHED!..." he bellowed to the sky, startling the goats, although he was oblivious as his voice fell to bitter muttering. "with little training, few allies and a seemingly endless supply of courage, I seemed to achieve the impossible. Well, with all that has happened since, I began to wonder… did I achieve any of that on my own merit or was it all a result of me being the chosen hero? Humph, it's almost funny, achieving the impossible made me doubt I could achieve anything of any worth ever again." With that baring of his soul finally complete, Link staggered slightly under the exertion of such an emotional purge, and yet he felt a great weight had been alleviated, at least temporarily.
Light of heart was soon joined by light of head as, sensing movement behind him, he swung round, only to be struck round the face so hard he could almost see the three goddesses laughing at him.
Ilia loomed before him, tears of sadness replaced with tears of rage, her whole body shaking as she yelled "How dare you, Link! How dare you think so lowly of yourself! How dare you think so lowly of me!" As fast as the rage had manifested it dissipated equally quickly. Obviously taken aback by her own outburst, she took a step back and tried to soothe her ire with some calming breaths. A moment later, still far from settled, yet determined to make her point, she resumed her speech.
"How can you dismiss the many mornings when Rusl trained you? Do you not recall the many small adventures you went on to save Talo or Colin or Beth over the years? Father always says even the greatest trees start from humble roots. AND… do you seriously think that I, the Mayors daughter would ever fall for someone who wasn't special. I may be a more open-hearted girl but even I must have my standards." The last line was clearly intended as a joke as she briefly flashed a smile, but it was hollow and the delivery was undermined by the slight quake in her voice.
Link, never the less, appreciated the attempt to lighten the mood. It had been a long time since they'd last shared a joke so despite its poor presentation he gifted it with a wry chuckle and a smile of his own. He also had to admit she did make some good points, as much as his demons sought to dismiss them.
It was only after another short interlude that he realised the change in Ilia. The Ilia he'd come to know post Twilight would have revelled in the opportunity to rant and rave at his behaviour, would have demanded he explain everything he'd just brought up during his little exorcism and most certainly wouldn't have accepted him having feelings for another, which she'd seemed to indicate. Of course, he didn't really harbour such feelings for Zelda but he wasn't going to bring up that unwinnable argument again.
An idea popped into his head and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her. "Have you been speaking with Zelda?"
Offense shot briefly across the girls features, only for her gaze to fall to the floor as she replied meekly "yes, Father demanded I apologise."
"I'm guessing your conversation went beyond a simple apology?"
Ilia merely nodded sheepishly, still not meeting his eyes, hands stuffed in her pockets and Link glimpsed the ghost of the girl he'd known as a child.
"Share any of her wisdom?" He asked coyly.
Her shoulders slumped and she scuffed the ground, eventually answering with much hesitation and regret. "Yes, she led me to accept my foolishness…" she gulped. "You were right. I had tried to cling to you to save me from having to facing my demons even as I ignored yours. I took our relationship for granted and refused to accept that it could change, and with that I drove us further apart. I dismissed your pain and selfishly thought myself the only one scarred, and for all that, Link, I am truly sorry." Concluding her own moment of cleansing, she graced him with a weak teary eyed smile.
"That goes both ways, Ilia. I, too, failed to fully consider the extent of what you went through." For the first time since his return Link decided to try to close the gap between them, placing a conciliatory hand on her shoulder. She did not retreat, yet he felt her tense under his touch and so relinquished it, turning to watch the tribe graze in the soft orange glow of a sun heralding its imminent departure. The scene, with the goats now calmed after his outburst, was serene and yet this was the first time he had been able to appreciate it.
For a moment they both stood together and admired the sight until Ilia spoke, quiet and wispy in the crisp early evening air. "Link, there's no going back to the way things were, is there?"
"No." Link shook his head, eyes not leaving the tribe.
Suddenly Ilia's hands were grasping his arms and he found himself spun round to face her. Her eyes were red but held no more tears, instead boring into him with a look of sombre determination. "If you still value the friendship we had, if you still care about me at all…"
"Ilia, I never stopped…" His words were halted with a finger to his lips.
"…then I need you to do some for me. Please!" Sighing deeply, she lowered her head, preparing herself for the next line. Link, recognising her trepidation and reluctance, braced himself for whatever was to come and waited.
"I need you to leave. For a year, maybe two…" That wasn't quite what he had been expecting as his gormless slack-jawed expression acutely displayed. "… I cannot heal with you here. You are a reminder of what I suffered and what I lost."
He should have been offended or at least hurt, Link reasoned, but instead he was graced with a wave of relief and gratitude, as if being pardoned from a lengthy prison sentence. He'd struggled since his arrival back in Ordon to justify his stay, only to find none and yet guilt ate away at him at the thought of leaving without a good reason. Now Ilia had offered him deliverance. It would seem she knew this, as she continued. "This is for your sake as much as mine. I could tell, deep down, that you feel trapped here, whether by this place itself or by my presence. That was part of what hurt me so much. Regardless, as the saying goes… if you love someone set them free. Well, you are free…" Her voice cracked and her lips were quivering as she bayed him a bittersweet farewell. "Goodbye Link."
Without waiting for his answer, she turned to leave, only to stop as he grasped her arm. "I'm sorry Ilia… but thank you… for understanding."
She merely nodded without looking back, but with that small acknowledgement he let her go. Ilia's retreat was hasty and he observer her wiper her eyes just as she left the ranch catching the occasional ragged sob.
Guilt stirred within him. He felt heartless for not shedding a tear for her but found himself incapable, given his genuine elation at the prospect of escape. He might have danced had he had a tune in mind. Alas he wasn't much good at dancing, although in truth, he'd never really tried and his memory of music was sparse. He didn't get much time to sample the finer things of life delving into dangerous temples or herding goats. Speaking of which…
Link glanced towards the sun that was reaching out to touch the trees on the horizon. His cue to get to work… possibly for the last time. What would he do instead? That dilemma consumed his thoughts as he mounted Epona and set about herding them back to the barn. What really could he do? Where could he go? The fact was, he knew he couldn't stay in Ordon, however he did not wish to stay on the road like he had during his adventures. He required some stability. He thought back to Zelda's speech that morning and her mention of an arrangement. Was that purely meant as an alibi or was there a possibility of a real offer on the table? He pondered this as he made quick and efficient work of rounding them all up, all of them that is except for Midna. Why did she have to be so impossibly stubborn?! Did he have anything to possibly bait her with?
It was as he reached into his pocket that his blood went cold. Zelda's necklace… She'd said she intended to leave by late afternoon. Had he missed her? Was she waiting for him to come and return the necklace? He hadn't picked up the sound of marching that had so clearly announced their arrival so he assumed they hadn't left.
Link was about to abandon Midna to charge back to the village when a now familiar voice worked it's calming magic on him. "I trust my presence wont disturb you, Hero?" came the call of the princess, who was leaning casually against the ranch gate.
Bringing Epona to a jarring halt with a hard tug on the reigns, prompting a snort from the affronted mare, Link began a hasty explanation "Princess, you came. Your necklace…"
"That can wait, hero, it looks like your ward is getting away." Zelda interjected with a hint of amusement gesturing with a nod to his left. Link followed the gesture only to see Midna making a run for it.
Damn! With a growl of frustration, he kicked his stead into a gallop and charged down the field in pursuit of his wayward ward. He gained rapidly, however it would seem the nightmare nanny had predicted this and pulled off a swift about face. Link was forced to slow, lest he wish to audition for the circus, performing his own brand-new patented trick, forward somersault from horse followed by swift trampling.
Epona may have had the advantage when it came to straight line speed but Midna had superior agility. By the time Epona had turned, Midna was up at the fence on the other end of the field. "Great, just great!" he muttered "and of course, it had to happen in front of the princess."
He quickly established that just charging straight at the stubborn nanny wasn't viable. After some quick strategizing her surmised that the best tactic would be to approach along the line of the fence, letting it guide both him and his troublesome quarry back round towards the barn.
He brought Epona up to speed gradually as he rounded the bend towards Midna, who due to his slower, more considered advance, simply watched him gormlessly, chewing on a mouthful of grass. Just as Link reached striking distance Midna bolted, moving along the curve of the fence. Just as he'd predicted! With a feral grin he urged his stead to match speed with the fleeing nanny and managed to effectively drive her along the fence towards the barn.
Midna wasn't quite finished yet, however, as she suddenly decelerated, slipping behind Epona and darting for the middle of the field. Link, with his head now firmly back in the game, quickly adjusted and caught up. Bleating with dismay the nanny led him a merry dance, dodging and weaving but Link was unshakable. He could feel Zelda's gaze, watching with keen interest but that didn't distract him. After a couple of circuits of the field, Midna was successfully corralled back to the barn, just in time to watch the sunset.
In the shadow of the barn he dismounted and mopped his brow, regarding his handiwork with satisfaction.
After checking the tribe was settled and securing the barn gate, He'd expected to be accosted by Zelda and yet her scent seemed distant. Link glanced back up the field and noticed that she had not moved from her position at the ranch entrance. She seemed hesitant to enter. Was she afraid of goats as well as heights?
He waved for her to approach to which she nodded and slipped through the gate. Had she been waiting for permission? She wafted, prim and proper and light as the breeze into the centre of the field, now bathed in deep red, holding the same sense of curiosity and wonder she'd shown last night as she sought to take in every detail.
He trudged up the field towards her, leading Epona by the reigns, the strains of the day, more mental than physical, finally beginning to peek through with a sense of general weariness. As he reached a civilised distance for speaking, Zelda turned to greet him and his trepidation at the seemingly inevitable interrogation was somewhat eased by the sight of her cordial expression.
In the short yet illuminating time he had spent with the princess, Link had been led to the conclusion that she possessed three personas. The first, he called the mask, was rather cold and detached displaying little to no outward emotion. It's what she wears when dealing with enemies or vague acquaintances. The second was the veil, contained, composed but not as emotionally restricted. It was the small smile she graced him with much of the time, the glint of amusement in her eyes and in her voice. Then thirdly there was Zelda unleashed where here emotions were allowed to run riot, a persona he'd only caught the briefest glimpses of.
It was with the veil that he was greeted with. "So, this is the humble vocation of the chosen hero of the goddesses?" her dulcet tones laced of admiration and awe as she surveyed the ranch. "You've clearly been blessed with great skill. I must congratulate you on your handling of that troublesome charge…" at that line he spied a twinkle in her eye. Was she just teasing?
"and not forgetting the contribution of the mightiest mare in all hyrule." she patted Epona's muzzle fondly, who responded in kind by nuzzling into her hand.
"Did you come to see me or just to try and steal my horse through flattery?" Link quipped in a sudden flash of boldness.
"I have come, as you may recall, to claim a certain precious jewel that you are currently in possession of, along with an overdue explanation." She crossed her arms, yet the twinkle in her eye and the slight upturn of her lips remained.
Link rubbed the back of his neck as he sought to find the least controversial way of putting it. With a brief glance to the ranch entrance he fumbled "Well… you see… you fell asleep on the ledge, and I had to carry you to bed and errr, well… when I placed you on the bed, the necklace must have got caught on my tunic, and…"
"How could that happen? Surely the clasp for my pauldrons…"
"I'd already removed those things! They weigh an absolute tonne. How do you even manage with them all day?!"
"With great fortitude, and a shoulder massage from my handmaidens when I can get one. Anyway please, carry on"
There was a pause as Link was temporarily disorientated by the mention of shoulder massage. "Errr where was I?"
"With my jewels against your tunic." The princess replied nonchalantly. "For one with such a mastery of language, that was a rather poor choice of words" Link couldn't help thinking as he fought to keep his cheeks from burning.
"Well the necklace got caught on my tunic and the only way I could untangle it required me to first remove it from round your neck. Even then…" He pulled out the intricate chain of pendants from his pocket "I had to separate the pendant that was stuck, from the rest of the necklace. I'm sorry princess. I just hope it's fixable." Handing the necklace back to her, he stepped back and awaited a possible punishment. Any worry of that, however, was laid to rest with her next line.
"there is no need to apologise, indeed if anyone should be apologising it is I. If it was not for my impulsive behaviour and misjudging my own exhaustion, then the necklace, along with the entire fiasco this morning, could have been avoided. As to the damage, it is quick to mend." She began to examine her necklace, delicately and dexterously entwining it in her gloved fingers. "Now, let's see. Hmm well isn't that interesting." Zelda whispered with an air of intrigue.
That piqued his curiosity. "What's interesting?"
"Shhh" She snapped, shooting a glance his way before switching her attention back to the chains, staring with intense concentration. Despite the low light it took a matter of seconds for her to unravel the delicate jewel before him, now whole once more. If Link hadn't known better he could have sworn it was magic but there was no tell-tale glow from her hands.
"Do you know what this necklace represents?" She asked.
"Um… The three goddesses?"
"Yes, I commissioned its creation myself after the twilight invasion, as a reminder of their guidance and power and a message that no matter how bleak the situation I can trust them. It's one of the least ostentatious pieces in my collection and yet among my favourite." She held the chain with reverence as she gazed at the pendants, now only just visible as the sun dipped below the horizon. "All that however is of little relevance to why I asked. Do you know which pendant represents which of the three?"
"Well I think that the red one is Din…" Link said hesitantly
"The ruby, correct." Zelda confirmed
"… but I'm not sure about the other two." Link admitted after a pause. Zelda was about to speak when both their attentions were caught by a flicker from above. They both cast their gaze skywards and saw the first star prick the azure canvas soon followed by many more. It looked like it would be a spectacular night for star gazing. For a moment they simply marvelled at the cosmos, as it emerged in all its splendour, more comfortable in each other's company than the night before.
The peace was broken when Link picked up the sound of several heavy sets of footfalls approaching from the path to the village. "Princess, it sounds like your regiment is coming to retrieve you."
"Indeed, I'd wondered how long they'd wait. We still have a few minutes, correct?"
"Yes"
"Well then allow me to tell you of the other two of the golden goddesses. You actually wear the colour of your patron Goddess, Farore, the goddess of courage marked on my necklace by the green emerald on my right. Then lastly, we have Nayru, the Goddess of wisdom as represented by the blue sapphire on my left, resting over my heart… my patron goddess." She paused, placing a hand upon her chest and gazing up at the stars.
"Link, do you remember which pendant it was that caught on your tunic, THE hero's tunic?"
"The sapphire one." He saw where this was going.
"The blue of Nayru met the green of Farore and connected. One could almost consider it a sign from the Goddesses of their wish for us to connect. We share a bond, Link, one that could help heal both of us, if we nurture it." She said earnestly.
"Link, please understand that what I'm about to say is not an order or a request. I would not force you into anything and you are free to reject my offer, should you see fit."
Link nodded aware she had little time left as the heavy footfalls were growing ever closer.
"Link, you may recall me mentioning an arrangement during my clash with Lord Halshaw. Well I can't offer you that exactly, however if you head to Telma's bar in three days…"
"Your highness, are you ready to leave?" Came a call from the ranch gate. Link spied a dozen soldiers waiting impatiently just beyond the boundary line.
"In a moment!" she called back, hiding her irritation at being interrupted. "Link, if you wish to hear my offer, be at Telma's bar in Castle Town in three days. You need not accept; however, I very much hope you consider it."
"Your Highness!" another call, more impatient.
Zelda snorted in frustration, but realised she'd already pushed her luck. Hastily bowing and bidding him an apologetic but dignified farewell, she turned on her heel and rushed off towards her escort.
Link was left alone, with just Epona the stars and his thoughts for company. In a single day his world had been flipped on its head.
"Well girl, what do you make of that?"