Prologue
The story had been told hundreds of times, and every telling seemed to get more dramatic, with bards and fathers and couriers each adding their own spin on it, but the truth would be cataloged in the great library of Hyrule Castle for all to relive till the end of time, though for some it felt like it was only yesterday…
In fact, it had been only yesterday. Zelda placed a palm to her forehead as she pondered how the whole kingdom had learned seemingly overnight how her champion, Link, had overcome all odds to rescue the land from the King of Evil, Ganondorf. It was difficult to get so much as a thank-you letter to Kakariko in one day, let alone something actually important such as this.
I suppose everyone is suffused with energy at such great news, she thought to herself as she stood from her throne. Even the Kokiri are celebrating, deep within the forest. The party had been going on for nearly half a day now and showed no signs of stopping. Gorons and Gerudo and even Zora danced and sang together in celebration. A smile graced her lips; this is what they had been fighting for.
She left the hall, the noise and fun dying out behind her as the great doors thudded shut. She turned to the two guards stationed outside and gave a curt nod of respect before addressing them: "You ought naught to be standing about like this. Go; celebrate while we all have something to celebrate." The men glanced at eachother, unsure, but at her Highness' smile they broke into grins and went to join the festivities.
On any other day, she mused, I would berate them for abandoning their posts. However, I do not believe we are likely to be attacked, not so soon after our greatest enemy has been defeated. Still, she felt a sunken feeling in her stomach as she strolled seemingly without course through the castle until she reached a high balcony, unsurprised to find the person she had been looking for all alone and gazing at the full moon.
I've never seen him look so…, she dared not sigh and alert him to her presence, lost. His tunic fluttered gently in the breeze, the signs of his recent battle still evident in the burns and cuts. All around, however, Link's body appeared relatively unscathed, aside from minor bruising in his arms, the result of repeatedly beating back powerful magic with nothing but his sword and shield.
Deciding against what her mind told her, Zelda tentatively stepped forward onto the balcony, approaching Link's side. He gave no sign that he registered her coming, instead choosing to gaze at what few stars were shining that night. All had gone right; Hyrule was saved, Zelda was no longer in danger, and he had fulfilled his destiny-so why didn't he seem happy?
As the two peered soundlessly into the night sky, the answer presented itself to her with a monstrous wave of sorrow:
What now?
A/N: The excerpt I posted before seems to be doing fairly well, so maybe I'll publish the whole story after all :) It'll be a little slow or short in beginning chapters-I'm a little hesitant to start spending too much time writing until this starts getting a fair amount of views/Favorites/Follows etc, but I promise I'll pick up the pace when that time comes!