Part 5 Don't Let Go
Link lay in his bed under the soft, warm blankets. His eyelids were heavy and he felt like he could stay there forever. But nonetheless he couldn't sleep. He couldn't let his guard down just in case Tomi decided to try something malevolent. He had made sure that Tomi's bedroom door and his own were open so Link could hear if Tomi left his room. So far nothing had happened and Link was tired. He looked over at the clock and saw that it was three in the morning. Sleepily Link's eyes fluttered closed only to immediately open again.
I can't fall asleep, Link thought to himself, not until I feel it's safe. I may have to stay up all night. Link groaned and tried to think of something to keep his mind off of sleep. I wonder what Tomi looks like. He hides his face in his hood; no one can see anything except his eyes. Those eyes…if there is anything I would ever remember about him it would be his eyes. Link thought of other things about Tomi. He hadn't been able to ask him more questions like he had wanted to because Tomi asked if he could go to sleep right when Link showed him his room.
Link began to think of his house and wondered if he should redecorate. He had kept it the same way for a long time. Then again, he did like this bed, maybe he could ask if he could live here. After all the guards lived in the castle and the King liked him, so maybe it was a possibility.
Before Link could think anymore on the matter he heard a noise. It was a sort of tap. It was only slight but it was still questionable. Link heard it come from the hall. Link shot up to a sitting position and listened intently. He heard it again and this time it sounded further away.
Link jumped out of bed, grabbed his sword, and ran out into the hall. He looked up and down the hall and saw only an empty corridor. He went to Tomi's room and ran in. He ran right to Tomi's bed and as he had expected, it was empty.
Darn it, Link thought, cursing himself for not being faster. He tried to think, where could he go? He doesn't know where anything is in the castle…does he? Link's eyes widened with horror. Oh no…Zelda!
He didn't waste any time. He ran out of Tomi's bedroom and down the hall. He traveled down multiple corridors and entered the foyer. He ran up the left staircase and began the climb to Zelda's bedroom. He had to go up several sets of stairs to get to the level that her room was on. He ran up taking three stairs at a time. When he got to the floor he rushed down hallways until he found the one that he was looking for. He charged for Zelda's doorway and didn't even knock for permission. He ran into the door with his shoulder and it flew open. He ran inside and looked around.
Zelda shot up and looked at him. She was in her room. She was in her bed. She was safe. Link looked back at her and let out a long sigh of relief. Zelda looked at him, worried. She got out of bed and ran over to him. He was sweating and looking frantic.
"You're ok," Link gasped, trying to catch his breath. He sat on the ground and breathed deeply.
"Link, what's going on?" Zelda asked worry in her face. She knelt down by him and put a hand on his shoulder. What was wrong with him?
Link looked up at her and hugged her around the waist. "You're ok," he repeated. Zelda was surprised by Link's gesture, but welcomed it.
"Link, please tell me what's going on. Are you ok?" She asked hugging him back.
Link broke the hug and sighed. "Tomi…he isn't in his room. Have you heard anything?" Zelda shook her head. "I don't know where he is, where can he go? He doesn't know where anything is, right?"
"Well, he did know where my room was when he kidnapped me, so I don't know exactly how much he knows." Zelda replied. She looked at Link and realized that he had run all the way up there just to see if she was alright. She wrapped her arms around him again and kissed his forehead. "Thank you for coming to find me."
Link's cheeks grew scarlet and his eyes widened. He hugged her back and pressed his face into her shoulder. She laid her head on his and closed her eyes. She was hugging Link, her heart was beating faster and she started to blush as well. Unconsciously she started to run her fingers through his hair and hugged him harder. He moved his hand up and down her back and relaxed when he felt her delicate fingers brushing his hair.
"Link," Zelda whispered, "there has been something I've wanted to tell you…for a long time." This was it; she was going to tell him and she only prayed that he wouldn't reject her. "I…I…uh." She was stuttering, she was losing her bravery. Link looked up at her with an expression that melted her heart. That's what she loved about him; just looking at her made her feel like everything was going to be alright.
"You…" Link said to get her to try again.
"I…I like you Link," Zelda said tentatively, "a lot. You're my best friend; you have been for so long. But I…" she took a deep breath, "I'm sorry for what I'm about to say." She paused. "I feel more than friendship feelings for you. I feel like I want to be with you, only you. You're the only one that I have felt this way about, ever. I want to be with you forever. I feel complete when I am by you. I think that…I love you, Link." Zelda clenched her eyes closed and never wanted to open them again. She didn't want to see his face when he said he didn't feel the same way about her.
Link sat there dumbfounded. He released his hug around Zelda and stared out into space. He had been told what he had wanted to hear for so long and now the only thing he could do was sit there not able to say anything.
Finally he found himself and he looked up at her. "Zelda--" Link froze in mid sentence. Something weird happened to him, it was a physical something, it was a feeling. A feeling that brought him back to the though of Tomi. He somehow knew right where Tomi was. But how was that possible? He stood up and faced the door to leave, but turned back to Zelda. "I'm sorry…but I have to go." Without another word Link ran out of her room and down the hall.
Zelda remained sitting on the floor with her eyes shut. Tears ran down her cheeks, he had not said it back. What was she thinking? Of course he wouldn't say it back! Why would he feel that way about her? Now everything was ruined; because of what she had done he would leave and never come back. She had scared him away. She let her side drop to the floor. She lay there crying over the boy she would never have.
Link sprinted down the hallway until her came to the stairway that led to the rooftop. Tomi was here, he knew it. Link climbed the stairs three at a time and arrived at the door. He opened it to see a clear night sky. The stars shown brightly with the full moon. Link looked around he could see everything for miles.
Directly in front of him, looking over the castle market town, with his back to Link, stood Tomi. His robe seemed to shine under the moon's light. The calm breeze moved the robe ever so slightly, but Tomi was still. He stood there like a statue, not moving a single muscle. Link cautiously walked up to him. When he was about fifteen feet away Tomi spoke, "You have come." His voice was smooth, not a hint of annoyance, malice, or anger. He remained with his back turned.
Link walked to Tomi's left side and looked at him. "Why are you up here?" Link asked.
"The night is so calm, don't you think?" Tomi asked back. Link wondered if that was the answer or if that was just a way to change the subject.
"Why did you leave your room? I asked you to stay put," Link said.
"I figured that you wanted to speak with me. So I thought that this was a comfortable place," Tomi explained, "You may ask me anything that you want, if you are still unclear about something."
"Alright," Link replied, "can I see you face?"
Tomi did not respond immediately. It was like he was thinking about an answer. "It is not out of any type of disrespect. But I will not show you," Tomi said, "People need their secrets."
"Is the secrecy of your face that important?" Link asked.
"To me…it is." Tomi said simply.
Hmm, I put that under the suspicious file, Link thought to himself. "Alright, I'll let that go. But answer me this…how did you know about what I had planned to do with Zelda today?" Link asked.
Tomi, again, didn't answer right away. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that either."
"Tomi, let me explain something to you," Link said, "you kidnap Zelda and somehow you know where her bedroom is, you know the location of the throne room, of where the rooftop is, and you know the agendas for Zelda and me. Then you tell me that you won't tell me how you know these things. If you keep answering my questions like this, I will never trust you.
'You don't have to," Tomi replied, "it doesn't matter if you trust me or not, as long as you and I are fighting the same enemy."
Both Link and Tomi were silent. Link's eyes never left Tomi as he thought of something. He reviewed the story that Tomi had told in the throne room. He was the light side of the coin and he had come to ask Link for help. But something was strange about that. Why would a person that is completely filled with light kidnap a fourteen-year-old girl? Tomi said he needed to test Link, but was that true? Was he really just testing Link and not going for death? So far Tomi had not seemed like the trustworthy person.
What if he really was trying to kill Zelda and me? Link pondered.
"There is no way for me to express my apologies to you and Zelda, but I can only tell you words that you can believe or not. I can tell you, for example, that I really wasn't trying to harm anyone, I wasn't going to kill you or anyone else." Tomi said.
"What? Did you just…" Link stopped and looked hard at Tomi, "…you can read minds, can't you?"
This time Tomi stayed quiet for long time. He remained still even though the breeze had picked up slightly. Finally Tomi slightly turned his head towards Link. "Yes," Tomi answered, "Usually I can control it, but there are special cases."
"Like what?" Link asked in a harsh tone; he didn't like the idea of people being able to go into his thoughts.
"When I meet someone for the first time I automatically read their mind by seeing some portions of their memories and information that they have learned throughout their lives. It is usually skin deep information that I gather. In yours case and Zelda's, I found out what plans you had for each other…and you feelings for each other. That is one of the irritating parts of this ability; I cannot choose what I learn. Another unfortunate part is that on rare occasions I lose control of it and read a mind automatically. Like what just happened with you. I accidentally heard what you were thinking and I thought you had said it aloud so I answered it as if it were a question," Tomi explained, "do you understand?"
"So you figured out the schematics of the castle from a servant or a guard?" Link asked. Tomi nodded. "I guess it wouldn't make much of a difference if I told you that I don't trust that little talent of yours."
Tomi shook his head. "I was born with this power and I have had to deal with it my entire life."
"Wait a minute if you have this ability, wouldn't that mean that the other you has the same power?" Link wondered.
"Mysteriously, no. When the separation took place we both got half of each other's birth given power." Tomi explained.
"Half the power?" Link asked.
"I originally, when I was only one, had three different abilities that were passed down to me hereditarily. I could read minds, control minds, and contact minds. He has the power to dominate a mind and bend it to his will. We both have the power to contact someone and speak with them from far distances through our minds," Tomi said.
"Is that how I knew you were up here?" Link asked.
"Yes…I am sorry for interrupting your time with Zelda," Tomi apologized.
Zelda! I just left her in her room alone. I could have stayed and told her my own feelings but I just chickened out. It's funny how I can go and fight demonic creatures but I can't tell someone how I feel about them, Link thought to himself.
"Did you tell her your feelings?" Tomi asked him. Link looked up at him.
"No, you called me and so I left." Link replied.
"We both know that's not the whole reason that you left," Tomi said, "you are nervous about telling her, aren't you? Why?"
"I feel…I feel like I wouldn't be a good partner for her. She deserves better that what I can giver her," Link responded.
"Link, I am going to tell you a life experience that I have had. I once had a lover named Aliya. She was the sun to my day and the moon to my night. Her voice was like oxygen and without it I couldn't breathe. I would do anything for her and she for me. But when I went to have the separation and my darkness escaped, he got to her first. He tried to get her to follow him, but she refused. And he killed her. He gave her injuries that would kill her slowly so she would suffer a long time. When I got to her, she was close to death. I tried to heal her, but he had put some kind of barrier around her that stopped her from healing. She died in my arms.
"I had planned to come home after the separation had taken place and spend the rest of my life with her as a follower of light. My life was ruined that day and I only had one purpose left in life, to kill the one responsible.
"I have told you this because I don't want you to make the same mistake that I did. I want you to be with Zelda and care for her. Protect her and watch over her. I made the mistake of thinking that no matter what happened she would still be with me…I was wrong. Don't make my mistake…don't let her go, Link. Please don't let her go." Tomi finished his story and stood silent again. Link looked up at Tomi differently than before. The love of his life had been murdered. He felt sorry for him, but he didn't feel that way for long. A new feeling rose up in Link, determination.
Without a word to Tomi Link turned around and went back into the castle. He walked back through the familiar hallways and stairs until he had come to the hallway Zelda's room was in.
Zelda stood in front of her window looking out into the courtyard. She could barely see it through her tear filled eyes. How could she be so stupid? She wasn't good enough for Link. She never was and never would be. She didn't deserve his companionship.
Zelda heard her door open. She wiped her eyes quickly and turned. There she saw Link walking towards her. "Link…I…" Zelda began but didn't go further because Link but his finger up to his lips. Zelda stood there being approached by Link, the one who didn't want her.
Link only had one thing in mind now; everything else in the world didn't matter anymore. He came closer to the tear streaked Zelda. Seeing her saddened face made him want to hug her and comfort her. No not hug her…more than that.
Link was only a few feet away from her now. He stopped right in front of her, about two feet between them. Zelda was shaking from embarrassment and fear of what Link might say. Link on the other hand was smiling internally. Link moved so their faces we now inches apart. Zelda's eyes widened.
Like two moths clumsily bumping to each other, their lips touched. In a second the two were pressing their lips into each other like it was the last day on earth. They hugged each other tightly and finally broke apart. Their eyes never left the others. They kissed again, enjoying the feel of the warm skin of their partner. Link and Zelda shared their kisses for what seemed like a eternity.
They focused only on each other and to them it seemed like the world around them faded into nothing.
End of Part 5