Chapter 5
Link's POV
I was laying on my bed for the fourth (or was it fifth?) week in a row. Ilia had come by every day, claiming to care for Epona but always taking time to stop and leave me some food. I always picked at it and barely ate anything, but what I did eat was delicious. Zelda hadn't sent for me yet, which was a goddess-sent. I don't know how I'd respond to her, knowing that she sought only for me to seek after her.
My thoughts were drenched in everything Midna. It hurt so much to think of her beautiful face, that night we had together, but I couldn't stop. My mind and the rest of reality begged me to let go and move on, but one little part of me clung to the threads of hope that one day, somehow, I'd return to her, or she to me.
For the first time in a long time, I decided to figure out what time it was. I rolled over on my bed, and reached for the curtains. Pulling them aside, I peered out and was stunned by a beautiful sunset. The sky was still blue-ish, scorched with orange, yellow, and red streaks of wispy clouds.
'The Twilight realm holds a serene beauty, you have seen it as the sun sets on this world." Her voice whispered in my head. I turned quickly, half expecting to see her standing there, smiling wryly at me. Realizing how stupid that was, I turned to my window again.
"Serene beauty…" I muttered. "Where else have I seen that…" Midna's face was floating through my head, the first time she appeared in my cell at Hyrule Castle.
A sudden knock at my door jerked me out of my lovely daydream, and I reluctantly went to answer it. My sandaled feet shuffled blandly over the hardwood floor, making a hollow noise against the tree below. Reaching the door, I opened it slowly, doing my best to put on a happy face.
"Hi!" Came a cheerful and perky voice. I nodded, preferring not to speak. Ilia merely smiled back at me. "Feeling any better today? Epona was really antsy, so I figured I'd see if you were up for a ride."
I blinked. Well, I hadn't ridden the mare in a long, long time. Peering further out of his door, I eyed the horse. She was indeed looking up with hopeful blue eyes. A longing whinny blew from between her thick lips, and I couldn't help but smile. I nodded, and Ilia smiled even bigger.
"Great!" She said, turning to go down the ladder. "I'm sure she'll enjoy it." She looked back again, as if to say something, but only blushed and continued down the ladder.
"Weird…" I muttered, turning around and going back inside. Reaching for my clothes, I fingered the green tunic with adoration. I was the Hero of Time. I was supposed to be fearless. Nothing was supposed to hurt me. Sighing quietly, I pulled my tunic on, and changed into my boots. I grabbed my bow, just in case I decided to do some casual hunting. Exiting my house, I peered at the sunset again, and started down the stairs.
"Hyah!" I called, urging the mare forward. I was racing the sun, trying to beat it to the horizon. I know it's impossible, but I felt like if I ran hard enough, I could make it to the Twilight Realm, and see her again.
The sun touched the horizon, and for the first time I noticed something different. When the sun hit the ground, there was a bright flash for a moment, and when it cleared, the sun was gone.
"Maybe they really are connected..."I mused for a moment. I tugged on Epona's reins and started back toward town.