Chapter 9—Destiny

Zelda still could not accept how easily they'd gotten away. She could not accept that Jay and Mark had both put their lives in danger to get them out safely. She could not accept that Impa might still be in danger. She could not accept that Fay and Blake were in danger yet again because of her mere presence...

But she could not help but smile when Blake, in Jay's arms, would smile up at his father and be so happy and content.

Link was resting. He'd ridden so hard and not had the chance to rest.

And she had many choices to make... stay or go, fight or follow...

Zelda collapsed to the bed that was, fortunately, behind her. She'd been so sick every hour or so recently, and it had something to do with the blood, she knew it. Seeing Link's blood had turned her stomach.

There was a knock on the door. Fay poked her head in and smiled, then came in and closed the door. "Hello, Zelda. I brought you a different outfit; you'll blend in more,"

"Oh...thank you, Fay,"

"You want some help with that corset?"

"Yes, please," Zelda stood up slowly and turned, letting the bed post that extended far above the bed take most of her weight.

"Link was mumbling about how you two were planning on learning our ways of doing things, hmm? Said you'd need a lot of teaching, that you'd enjoy it, too. He mumbled something about Mark and Jay teaching him some woodworking or smithing, or some trade along those lines. Wouldn't that be wonderful, Zelda? A carefree life, somewhere close, so we can always talk and be friends—hey, what's wrong?"

Zelda was crying.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Fay... I don't know how I could've... could've seen so little... and you... offering friendship... no one but Link has ever done that..."

"Oh, Zelda, don't worry, calm down." Fay tilted her chin up. "You were, in a sense, kept prisoner in that castle. Now, you're going to learn and you're going to enjoy life."

Zelda gulped back her tears. "Thank you...so much,"

-----

"Out with it Link!" Mark shouted. "Carpentry or smithing?"

"Golly, Mark!"

"You've been beating around the same old bush for the past hour. Well, I got news for you, pal, that bush is brown! Spit it out!"

"Carpentry, then,"

"Good golly! It's about time!"

"Mark, you're going to wake Blake," Jay said. He was leaning against the doorframe, listening to the ongoing war.

"And you mind that because...?"

"I don't, really; love holding the little guy. But Fay will mind,"

Mark smiled. "Best not shout anymore, then, huh? Women of the family have some very strange ways of disciplining us men,"

"Really? This sounds like something I should have known a long time ago," Jay scratched his head as he mumbled the words.

Link chuckled. He was going to love being permanent friends with this family.

-----

"Zelda..." Link looked upset, understanding her position, but hating her constant decision changing. "Can't you forget the throne till you're actually old enough to do something other then take orders from your father?"

"I don't think I could live with myself. I've seen my people in a light I might never have seen because of you, Link. Because of that, I've discovered a new love for them. While I do—I really do, Link—want to live here with you, I can't abandon my people,"

"You realize that if you disappear, they'll replace you—we're not talking about the throne becoming empty here,"

"But it's mine by right; my birthright. My destiny,"

"Zelda, think this through. We keep getting you out, and you keep going back. We cannot keep doing this. Tell me now—will you stay with me or go back to Hyrule Castle?"

"Link..." Zelda couldn't talk. She knew she'd caused a lot of trouble, but... to apply such pressure to her like that...

----

Link couldn't remember ever crying so much. He couldn't remember ever not being able to stop the tears. He couldn't remember a time when he had been betrayed greater; his heart ripped more, his spirit been stabbed so many times...

She'd gone back.

She'd chosen them over him, and rather then admire her for the decision, he hated her.

He hated her.

She'd not only toyed with him, letting him take her away only to go back, she'd pushed him to the limits, physically and emotionally, and gone back anyway. She'd left him stranded and tired. And lonely.

He'd never been so attached in his life... she'd just destroyed him.

He hated her.

He'd watch her, keep an eye on her, know where she was, and not be able to hold her. Not be able to say I love you. Not anything...not everything...

He hated her.

The bright sun that came slowly over the horizon seemed to betray the day; the day that, in Link's eyes, should have stayed dark forever.