Oh, jeez, I'm so sorry for the wait. I don't know why, but somehow this story has been really challenging for me to write... still, it's done now and while I'm not 100% happy with it I think it'll do. So, thank you to silverheartlugia2000, Imagination that, SpartanB313, meladi1, Lily and Twilight16 for your reviews!
To Lily: Thank you so much, I'm so glad you're enjoying this story! Sorry this has taken so long.
To Twilight16: Wow, thank you so much! I'm honoured and I hope they enjoy it! Again, I'm so sorry this took me so long.
I just want to thank everyone who has reviewed this story, as well as everyone who has read, favourited and followed. It really means so much.
I hope you've enjoyed Steps to Healing and now I've kept you waiting long enough, here's the final chapter. Enjoy.

Six:

'Honestly, what were you thinking?' Folding her arms Zelda stared down at him, torn between concern and anger. It was proving to be surprisingly difficult to discern between the two.

'M'sorry,' Link replied, or at least that was what Zelda assumed he said, as it came out more as a pained, slurred groan. He was sprawled face down on her bed, having barely moved from where he had collapsed when he had shown up completely plastered, for want of a better word, in the early hours of the morning.

'Yes, and so you should be,' she said, unable to help the coldness that entered her tone. She was worried about how he had been driven to this, and angry at him for letting it go so far, but above all she was disappointed. Perhaps it was unfair of her, but she had expected better. She would admit it, she had expected him to face his problems, not drown them in a mug or several of cheap ale. And if that were not the cause, then she had at least expected him to be more sensible about his alcohol consumption.

Folding her arms Zelda stared, or rather glared, at him where he lay splayed out across the sheets until he shifted to look at her as if sensing her heated gaze. For a moment he squinted up at her before letting his head slump again with a soft moan of something like pain or maybe nausea, pressing his cheek into the pillow as he shifted his limbs subtly and restlessly as if trying to stir but not quite able to. Zelda continued to glare at him, trying to appease her anger by provoking her concern, but it proved to be quite a challenge even in the face of her best efforts.

'Don't look at me like that,' Link groaned after a minute, his face still pressed into the mattress so that his voice came out muffled.

'Like what, pray tell?' Zelda asked sharply, pulling her arms more tightly to her chest as the unquenchable anger warmed her cheeks and set her heart racing.

'Like I've disappointed you,' Link mumbled, shifting so that he could squint at her again. Meeting his gaze Zelda held it for a moment before she had to turn away, observing the mess he had made upon his entrance. Intoxicated as he had been he had had no qualms about ransacking her room in an attempt to find the "dark magic", if she had understood his slurring correctly. Apparently he had been determined to transform back into a wolf at all costs, but she had managed to deter him until he had finally slumped on her bed and refused to move.

While she had certainly promised to let him choose whether he remained as a human or reverted back to a wolf she had decided to intervene as he had clearly not been in his right mind in any way, shape or form. He had not, in her opinion, been in the position to make decisions like that, and despite everything she hoped he would not resent her for it later. Because as drunk as he had been, he obviously had cause to desire a return to his canine form. She just wished he would explain to her why. Why exactly did he wish so strongly to escape his human self?

'You have disappointed me.' She turned back to him, her voice still cool despite the slight thawing she could feel herself undergoing. Propping himself up onto an elbow slightly Link stared at her, his expression crumpling into a pained grimace.

'I'm sorry,' he croaked after a moment, casting his eyes down away from hers. 'I just- I just wanted to forget for a little while.'

'Link…' Sighing Zelda perched on the bed beside him, anger finally dissipating to an ignorable thrum in her veins. She could chastise him later; right now she needed to get to the bottom of this. Reaching out she touched his arm gently, smiling slightly when he looked at her with bleary surprise, before she sighed and rose to her feet again. Moving to the bedside table she poured him a glass of water, coaxing him to sit up when she returned to his side.

'Drink,' she ordered, handing him the glass. He took it slowly, staring at it for a long moment before taking a hesitant sip.

'I'm sorry,' he mumbled again, gazing down intently at the water as he clasped the glass between both hands. 'I just… I don't want to feel like this anymore.' Setting the glass down at his feet he curled in on himself, hiding his face against his knees as he pulled them to his chest. As he tangled his fingers in his hair Zelda watched his knuckles whiten as he gripped tightly, in such a way that must have be painful.

'Why do I have to feel like this?' He asked in a low whisper, sounding a little like he was choking. Not sure what else she could do Zelda sat down beside him once more, close enough that her shoulder brushed his gently. He was shaking slightly, she could feel it.

'Did you honestly think alcohol would make it any better?' She asked, unable to think of anything else to say. She was a princess, a ruler, and she did not believe she was in any way fit to be giving him counsel, but she would try. If all else failed she could listen, for however long it was required.

'No,' Link admitted with a soft huff of humourless laughter that sounded a little more akin to a sob. 'But I can dream, right?'

'Was it really necessary?' Tilting her head slightly Zelda watched him as he tugged absently on his hair, knuckles still that painful shade of white.

'You wouldn't understand,' he replied bitterly, tone sending a faint stab of pain through her chest. He sounded so accusatory, so uncharacteristically angry. How, by all three of the goddesses, had he ended up in such a state? Zelda wished with all her heart that she knew, that she understood.

'Then help me to,' she said, placing a hand on his arm when he leant away from her slightly as if he were thinking of escaping. 'I know I said I would not ask but, Link, please help me understand. I hate to see you like this so please, please just tell me how I can help.'

That was all she desired.

Link was silent for what seemed like an age, rocking gently on the edge of the bed, before he finally tilted his head just enough to peek out at her from under his arms. 'I don't think there's anything you can do,' he finally said, hiding his face again as he did.

'Surely it would not hurt to let me try, though?' Zelda prompted, determined not to let him shut her out. 'You will never know unless you try.'

'You're always so calm,' he said after a moment, and she could not tell if he sounded accusatory or if it was something like longing in his voice.

'It is an act,' Zelda reminded him, knowing he recalled her saying the same thing the night before. He gave another choking sob of apparent laughter, running his fingers through his hair slowly before gripping it tightly once more. Zelda desperately wanted to grasp his hands, smooth the tense digits, but she supposed it had something of a grounding effect and she did not wish to stifle him by forcing him to stop. She just wished his knuckles were not quite so white. It had to hurt.

'Is it really?' Link suddenly asked, drawing her attention away from his tense hands. The words were muffled but clear enough to make her frown at him.

'I may not have been through the same ordeals as you,' she said slowly, picking her words with care and trying hard to smother the ire that was still simmering deep in her veins and had suddenly been piqued. Was he implying that she did not care about what had happened? That she was unaffected? Had he not provided her with comfort the many nights she had been woken by nightmares?

Taking a slow breath she reassured herself that he did not mean it. She did not want her sudden aggravation to leech into her tone and push him away. 'But believe me when I say that I am not unaffected by the attack on my country.'

'I'm sorry, I don't know why-'

'It is fine.' Cutting off his apology Zelda smiled when he glanced at her again. 'I cannot even begin to fathom what you have been through, but I am at least somewhat familiar with the aftermath.' The apology had damped her ire, as well as told her that, as she had thought, he had not meant it. He gave a little sigh, curling in on himself more tightly before relaxing again, tilting his head to look at her once more.

'I'm sorry,' he mumbled again anyway, disregarding her interruption. 'I just- you're always so composed and I just… I'm sorry.'

'It is fine, Link,' Zelda assured him, squeezing his arm gently where her hand still rested upon it. 'But you know, I could say the same to you.'

'What do you mean?'

'You yourself always seem very calm, in control,' she explained, watching the surprise flit across his face, closely followed by something darker.

'I don't want to trouble people,' he said hesitantly after a long pause, hiding his face again. 'I'm supposed to be a Hero, I shouldn't feel like this.'

'Like what?' Rubbing his arm reassuringly Zelda regarded him steadily, willing herself to remain completely calm and completely patient. 'Will you tell me?' Link's shoulders lifted in a shrug as he didn't reply, curling up a little more tightly. He reminded her a little of a hedgehog, curling up to protect himself, though she was glad he did not have any spines. It made him much more approachable.

Continuing to rub his arm gently Zelda sat in silence beside him, staring out across the room. At some point she would have to tidy up the mess Link had created, but now was not the time no matter how restless she was beginning to feel.

'I feel kind of hollow,' Link explained at length, voice still painfully small. It was as if he were telling her some secret, or admitting some wrongdoing. 'But then I get wound up so easily. It's so stupid.'

'It is not an unreasonable thing to feel emotions,' Zelda said, letting her hand come to a rest on his shoulder. 'You are perfectly entitled, no matter what people think.'

'I'm supposed to be strong,' Link argued, turning his head so that he was looking at her head on. 'I'm supposed to be some hero, not a whimpering mess.'

'Whimpering mess?' Zelda repeated, her incredulity seeping out into her voice. 'Link, you are perhaps the furthest thing from a whimpering mess, as far as I can see.'

'Weren't you just telling me about how you put on an act?' The bitterness was back, pulling Zelda's face into a frown and making her chest tighten a little when she heard it.

'I must appear strong as I lead my people through dark times like these,' Zelda said slowly, trying to smooth her expression. 'I have a duty to them.'

'And you're saying I don't?' Link demanded, sitting upright to look at her before he grimaced and swayed. Groaning softly he rested his forehead back on his knees as Zelda reached down to reclaim the glass. She handed it to him in silence, watching as he took a gulp and grimaced again.

'Link, you have fulfilled your duties,' she said softly as he took another more cautious sip of water. 'Ganondorf is slain, and you are free.'

'Doesn't feel like it,' he muttered, passing the glass from hand to hand slowly. Zelda watched him sadly for a moment, feeling as though she should say something but at the same time wondering if she really should. Whichever it was it did not matter, as she could not find a single word to say anyway.

They fell back into a heavy silence, sat side by side without looking at each other. As Link took slow, small sips of water Zelda began to count the stones in the wall opposite, wondering if she was doing the right thing. Was she pressing him into talking? Had she inadvertently embarked on a selfish course of action in her attempts to help? Perhaps Link would have preferred solitude, but she could not stomach the thought of leaving him alone. He had not asked her to leave and did appear to want to talk, however haltingly. She prayed silently that he would not push her away.

Every so often Zelda would see, from the corner of her eye, Link's knuckles whiten around the glass, gripping it tightly in such a way that made her worried it might shatter between his hands. When she glanced at his face his jaw was working silently, his brow furrowed as if he were thinking of something. He looked as though he were working up to doing something he really did not want to do, and she hoped that said thing was not speaking to her.

'I'm sorry for… for last night,' Link said eventually, staring pensively down at the glass in his hands as his fingers continued to flex around it.

'It is fine,' Zelda said, pursing her lips just slightly as she recalled it. 'You were not in your right mind.' Link gave a huff of humourless laughter, apparently agreeing with her. 'Though I am a little surprised that your friend, Telma, allowed you to imbibe so much,' she continued. When she had met the woman yesterday she had got the impression Telma was more responsible than that.

'I think she felt sorry for me,' Link muttered, 'and I don't think she realised how bad it was. I need to apologise…' Running a hand through his hair he heaved a heavy sigh, rubbing his eyes gently. Zelda had little doubt he was experiencing some rather nasty aftereffects, but he was handling it remarkably well. He really could power through anything. Telling herself she was not supposed to be impressed Zelda still could not help a small smile.

'There will be plenty of time for that once you are recovered,' she said, folding her hands in her lap as she returned to staring at the opposite wall to hide her expression. 'I am sure you have both learnt your lesson.'

'Maybe,' Link replied, his fingers shifting subtly around the glass. Zelda was still vaguely worried that he would break it, but at least he was not pulling on his hair any longer. He suddenly groaned softly, ducking his head as he mumbled something Zelda could not work out under his breath.

'Is there anything I can do to help, Link?' She asked after a long moment, hesitant. His tense stature said talking was not doing anything, but she simply could not tell. She felt so lost, stranded. All she wanted to was help, but she was so very afraid of making it worse.

'No- yes- I don't know,' Link said after a pause, his whole frame humming with tension. 'I just- I don't know- I just…!' He shook his head, sounding like he was gritting his teeth. Letting loose a sharp growl he suddenly moved, and Zelda flinched back as his arm shot forward. There was a loud crash, then the clatter of shards of glass falling to the floor.

Straightening from where she had recoiled Zelda looked towards the wall opposite, her heart suddenly racing in her chest. The glass lay in pieces in a gradually growing pool of water that was trickling down the stone, darkening it and making it shine.

A moan from beside her made her turn, to find Link curled up again, rocking back and forth slowly. His hands were tight fists against his temples, trembling slightly from the force being exerted by his clenched fingers. Zelda could hear sharp puffs of air as he sucked in gasping breaths, suddenly sounding very out of control.

'Link-' Reaching out Zelda made to touch his shoulder, but at the slightest brush of her fingertips he flinched away. Pulling her hand back sharply Zelda instead sat watching him, feeling her heart break slightly as she watched her Hero coming undone.

They sat in silence, Zelda at a complete loss as Link trembled and shook, still taking gasping breaths that sounded distinctly painful.

After a little while he began to calm, sounding a little more like he was forcing himself to do so than that the storm was simply blowing itself out and Zelda wanted to tell him to stop, to let it all out, but she could not bring herself to do so. After all, did she not do the exact same thing? What right did she have to command him in such a way?

Sucking in a deep breath through his nose Link straightened, staring ahead with a dead expression. His nose and eyes were a little wet, his cheeks a little damp, but he was calm again. Somehow it was even worse.

'I'm sorry,' he said after a moment, clearing his throat when his voice came out thick. His words were flat, and while Zelda knew he meant it she could not help but wonder. There was no feeling in them, just a blank exhaustion.

'Do not be,' she replied, keeping her own voice gentle.

'This is disgraceful,' he mumbled, a little animation stealing back into his expression as he turned his face away from her. 'I'm sorry. I'm just being stupid, I'm fine.'

'Do you honestly expect me to believe that you are fine?' Zelda asked, watching his shoulders tense slightly. 'You cannot, after all this, expect me to believe such a blatant lie.' At her words he sagged, becoming lifeless for a moment before turning back to look at her.

'Will you- can you help me?' As he spoke his voice caught and broke, his eyes began to glisten with unshed tears. It sounded like it was taking a gargantuan effort to get the words out. 'Please, help me.'

'I will,' Zelda promised, taking his hands carefully. When he did not pull away she clasped them between her own for a moment before examining his palms, on which there were carved the crescent pattern of his nails where they had dug in. Rubbing her thumbs across them Zelda smiled at him softly. 'I will do all that I can.'

He hitched a beautiful broken smile onto his face, looking away for a moment. She watched his eyelashes flicker as he blinked rapidly, before he was looking at her again.

'I'm so sorry,' he said, or rather whispered as he did not appear to be able to make his voice any stronger. 'I'm so sorry.'

'What for?' Zelda asked, tightening her grip on his hands just slightly.

'For vanishing, for giving up, I don't know. I just- I'm so sorry.'

'You need not be. You are human.'

'No- I'm not. I'm a monster I- I killed that soldier- oh, goddesses I just- I killed him-!'

'Do you wish to atone, then?' Zelda could not help furrowing her brow, even as Link ducked his head with a soft keening noise that was more akin to the whine of a wolf than a noise of human pain.

'How can I possibly-?' He looked at her again, eyes wide and shining, expression heartbreakingly distraught. 'Ganondorf was bad enough and he was evil. This- this doesn't even compare-' Releasing his hands Zelda instead took his face between her palms, meeting his gaze head on. They stared at each other for a long moment before Link blinked and set about trying to avoid her eyes at all costs.

'Oh, Link…' She stroked his head softly, smiling faintly as pain seared through her chest. It certainly was a dilemma. It was true, Link had killed the soldier, Dethan, but could he truly be held accountable? He had all but been overcome by his wolf nature, and it was not as though he had planned to kill anyone. It had been the wolf that had done the damage, and most likely in self-defence, but it was the human who was feeling the aftermath.

'Do whatever you must,' Zelda said after a moment. 'Atone however you can. Learn from it, let go of it. You were not yourself, and I will not hold you accountable, but do what you must to atone for what has been done. The past cannot be changed, so you must push forward instead of dwelling.'

'Easy for you to say,' Link mumbled, prompting a smile from Zelda.

'Perhaps,' she replied, leaning forward to kiss his forehead gently. 'But I believe in you, and your noble, gentle soul.' Sitting back she released him, watching him frown before taking a deep breath.

'I can- I think I can do that,' he said slowly, as if picking each word with care. 'I'll fix the damage I've done, if nothing else.' Zelda watched with something that felt like pride as he straightened, his eyes brightening with the fierce light of resolve. It was dimmer than when last she had seen him, on the battlefield, but it was there nonetheless. It was one of the most heartening things she thought she had ever seen.

'Will you go back to Ordon?' She asked, drawing those fierce eyes back onto herself. Link faltered obviously, staring at her with a trapped expression.

'I- I don't know,' he finally said, shaking his head slightly. 'I don't think… How would I explain…?'

'You need only tell them what you wish to,' Zelda replied, softly. 'They care for you very dearly, Link. They will understand.'

'I- Not yet. I don't think I can- yet. Will- will you let me stay here a little longer?'

'Of course,' Zelda said, happy to oblige, and watching as he clambered unsteadily to his feet. He swayed but stayed upright, a hand going to his head as he grimaced.

'Is it- I need some time to think,' he said, turning back to her. 'Is it all right if-? His words fell away, and instead he gestured lamely at the door.

Also rising Zelda nodded. 'Of course, by all means,' she said, smoothing her skirts slowly as Link smiled faintly and wobbled his way to the door, apparently intending to go back to his own designated room. Zelda watched in silence, unwilling to let him leave, unwilling to make him stay. Link needed space now, though, and she understood that. She was tempted to at least walk with him, to make sure he stayed upright, but she resisted the urge.

'Zelda?' He had reached the door when he turned back, gripping the doorframe tightly. The sound of him saying her name made her smile before she could help it.

'Yes?'

'Thank you.' He vanished before she could reply, so she just smiled. He was far from being all right, but she had a little more hope for the future now. In time, he would recover. She was sure of it. Turning back to her room she surveyed the mess, sighing softly before setting about putting it back in order.

Things would never be the same, it was to be expected, and they themselves would never be the same, but they would be better than before. They would be stronger; their hardships would become their strength. And they would heal. It would take time, of course, but they would heal.

Aaaaand, it's done. I really hope you've enjoyed this story, and thank you so much for reading til the end! As per usual, if you're interested in reading more of my stuff I have a poll for which story I should write next! Now, Bookworm out!