Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda series or the Characters.

Chapter 15: The Pre-Marriage Calamity

(Speaker's note: Link tells the story!) A week later Midna and I arrived in Nikitre. Rose and Marie gave the two of us hugs when we got off the boat. Tyler gave me a hug, too…which was weird. I guess he was just really anxious. Everyone else was, too.

That night, however, something horrendous happened. We were all asleep, except for Harold. He was up getting a muffin. (Midnight snacks?) I woke with a jolt when I heard screaming…not from Harold, who was still downstairs, but from his bedroom. I put on a robe and ran out of my room. Rose, Marie, Tyler, Midna, the guards, and the maids did the same thing. Harold hustled up the stairs shortly behind us. There wasn't anyone else in the room except for Carol, who had been stabbed. It was Carol who screamed, and now lay motionless in bed. My eyes widened in fright, Marie cried and ran off, Rose screamed, Tyler shouted in terror, and Harold ran in and cried. Midna and I, and everyone else just stood there in shock. Carol was stabbed in the neck; a pool of blood forming on the bed. She passed away that night.

The next day was one of the worst days of my life. They held Carol's funeral today…it wasn't scheduled until this afternoon. That morning no one was the same. Rose was especially not the same. She barely said a word to anyone. I hadn't talked to her yet, and I thought it would be a good thing to try and cheer her up.

She was outside all alone, so I walked outside and over to her. "Are you okay, Rose?" I voiced to her with worry. She wouldn't look at me; she just remained looking in the other direction, not uttering a word. "Rose? I'd like to help…" Still nothing. "Rose?" She shook her head and ran away from me.

Marie came up from behind me. "She's sad, Link…"

"I know." I said gloomily.

"I even tried talking to her…she doesn't want to talk to anybody." She started to cry.

"Don't cry, Marie." I said to her. "She'll cheer up…I hope…"

"She'll be feeling better soon…" Midna said, floating over. "Just give her some time to mourn."

It was stormy out, and there was no noise except for the wind, moaning as if trying to reflect the bitter feelings we all shared. There was silence between all of us...so I took some time to reflect in my mind. "…I was just like that." I said.

"Huh?" Midna and Marie said at the same time.

"Back when my father died…I used to be just like that…" I lowered my eyes in sorrow. "I didn't want people to see me cry…I was ashamed of it."

"I don't think she's really reluctant to allow people to see her cry like you were, Link…I think she just needs to be alone." Midna said. "Girls are different from boys…we women aren't afraid to cry…trust me."

An hour or two later I tried to go up to Rose again when I saw her by the fountain in the courtyard. As soon as I called out her name, she stood up and walked away. No use for that, I guess…

That afternoon everyone was getting ready for the funeral. (Speaker's note: Arthur the Palace guard tells the story.) Rose and her family are very upset with their loss of Queen Carol. I wish them all relief from this sad occasion. I was patrolling in the halls when I saw Rose in the room where we keep our weapons. Sometimes during royal funerals, a person will salute the deceased with the raising of a sword or dagger…other times people will place a sword or dagger under a thick ribbon that's wrapped around the casket. Rose grabbed a dagger. "She must be using that to honor her mother." I thought to myself. She placed it in her knapsack. I see, keeping it close to her until it's time to raise the weapons in salute! I wanted to make sure the Princess was alright, for she wasn't talking much. I went up to her.

"Are you alright, your highness?" I asked her.

Tears were falling from her cheeks. "I'm not okay…definitely sad…"

"That's only natural…I am sorry for your loss." I said sadly.

"Thank you." Rose said. "Are you patrolling?"

"Yes." I told her.

"That's good." She said.

"I assume you're using that dagger to honor you mother?" Arthur asked. She nodded. "Good. I'm sure she'll appreciate that."

"I'm sure she will." Rose said. (Speaker's Note: Link tells the story again…) I sat next to Midna when the funeral began. It took place outside. Harold, Tyler, and a few other individuals spoke on behalf of Carol. Rose then went up to speak for her mom. She took out a piece of paper. "This is a letter that my mom wrote to me. She wrote it on my 12th birthday. I was crying that day because the day before my dog Sayun had died. Everyone was worried about me…and my mom wrote this in hopes to cheer me up." She began reading it aloud:

Dear Rose,

You were truly a blessing when you came into the world. Your bright blue eyes always sparkled as I held you in my arms. As the years have gone by, I've thought to myself…how will you get through life? Indeed you're a strong girl, but life will sometimes try to take you down and make you give up. Don't give in. Remember those that love and care about you; they'll help you through any hurtle…

Rose's voice started breaking, so she paused, grabbed out a handkerchief from her pocket, and sniffled while wiping her tears that were falling from her cheeks. She then continued with reading the letter:

…There are happy times in life and times that are sad. I hope that you think more of the happy times, for they'll give you the strength to keep trying; even if you fail from time to time. But most of all, they'll make you smile. Those delightful memories will help ease some of the pain you'll inevitably feel in life. Happy birthday, my sweet baby girl. May every single one be happy.

Love, Mom.

She walked over to her mother's casket and kissed her.

"I wish I could do something, Midna…" I said quietly. "It pains me to see everyone so sad."

"Me, too." Midna replied with a hushed tone. Rose sat down with her brother. A few more people spoke for Carol. Then everyone stood up to salute and honor Carol, with or without weapons.

At this point, I looked over to where Rose and Tyler were sitting. Tyler was there, but Rose wasn't…I wonder why? Maybe she just needed to take another walk. I figured I wouldn't bother her this time. She needs time to herself. When we were done saluting Carol and sat down again, worrisome thoughts raced through my head. I'm sure she's fine, but I just wanted to know where she was; that would put my mind at ease. I went over to Arthur to see if he saw where Rose went. "Did you see where Rose went, Arthur?"

"No." He replied. "But wasn't she sitting with her brother?"

"Yes, but now she's gone." I said.

There was concern on his face. "Did she salute her mother with a weapon? I didn't see…"

"I looked over to see her when we saluted, but she was already gone." I said.

His look of concern worsened…I could see fear in his eyes. "I know you're good friends with Rose…which is why I need to pull you aside." I looked at him with misunderstanding. When he and I were alone, he pressed on with speaking. "I didn't want to scare anyone…but I saw Rose grab a dagger earlier from the weapons room. I assumed she would salute her mother." My eyes enlarged in alarm. "I know this is probably silly of me to think…" Arthur said. "But could her remorse make her...commit suicide?"

"I have to go." I said. He nodded in acquiesce. I ran frantically to Tyler. "Where's Rose?"

"She said she was going to take a walk to the beach…she does that a lot when she needs to clear her mind." He said as he pointed in the direction of a trail to the beach. "Why?" He questioned me curiously. Midna looked at me with uneasiness.

"Thank you." I said to Tyler. He looked at me with a feeling of unresolved confusion. I ran in the direction of the trail as fast as I could. Little did I know Midna was following me? I rushed down the trail until I came up to the beach. I searched what felt like the whole length of it for her. When I couldn't find her, I began to get more and more flustered. If I didn't locate her soon and if she was really going to kill herself and I didn't get to her in time, I'd never forgive myself! (Speaker's note: Rose tells the story.)

I needed to get this done as soon as possible, so I ran in the direction of the beach where people wouldn't have expected me to go. I went to the section of the beach that was easiest to access by water. I jumped in and swam around the Cliffside…which took at least three or four minutes. I then reached the other end of the beach that wasn't traveled on very often. This was a good place; it's covert, and thus they wouldn't find me until the job was done. I got down on my knees in the sand…looking around me to reassure myself that there weren't any tagalongs.

With a sigh, I took a couple of minutes to think. I tried to talk myself into stopping, but I knew that I couldn't go on with life anymore. I hated it! My mother meant the world to me; I wanted nothing more than to be with her. I was tired of the pain and agony of living without her and I was tired of crying all the time. Only two things were stopping me. I was terrified of the pain I would feel with thrusting this dagger into myself, and I was thinking about all of my friends and family; which only made me weep more. I took the dagger out of my knapsack and put the handle in my fist, the blade facing me. I then said a prayer to myself. "I'm coming, mom. I can't deal with life anymore." I started to sob loudly. "It's just too miserable…I love you…" I braced myself for driving the blade into my chest.