Chapter 34 - The Garden
Link traced the edges of the camp, his loafers crunching against freshly turned earth.
His mind still focused on Zelda, making him tense instantly. There was nothing he could do for now. She was entirely unreachable and worrying constantly would do him no favours. He would simply have to just try and rescue her when the invasion began and Ghirahim's portal opened.
He slapped his cheeks, the sting of pain shifting his thoughts.
Around him, Twili laborers worked in near silence. Their plows cut through the strange, shifting soil of their realm. Others toiled at raising a wall of black stone, preparing for a battle they barely seemed to comprehend.
It wasn't an ideal place to defend with it being so open, but they did at least have some amount of time to prepare something.
They had been at work for a few hours and made rapid progress. Though they were far from over.
He was walking to a band of senior leaders of their town guard and some of the royal guard too. He was going to try and train them.
Midna had left to organise evacuations for her citizens. Apparently there were cave systems further away from town that would be able to house them temporarily.
Link began his work with the assembled guards. They were polite enough, but entirely placid. Midna had given them strict instruction to listen to him too. It felt strange being able to give other people orders, but he took it in stride.
He started them with simple exercises, trying to gauge their limits.
It was worse than he feared.
None could run for more than a minute before slowing to a stop. Their footwork was stiff, their reflexes calculated but sluggish. Climbing was slow and deliberate, as if they were trying to find the perfect route instead of just moving.
Even after Link added a time limit to create urgency, it only made them worse. The stress didn't push them to move faster, it shut them down entirely.
Link folded his arms, suppressing a sigh. They weren't soldiers. They never had to be.
Sweating and panting, one of the senior guards, a man whose name Link had already forgotten, stepped forward, bowing slightly.
"Our training does not emphasize endurance" the man explained, his voice calm despite the exertion. "Our focus has always been on procedure and discipline. Since her majesty reclaimed the throne, she has had weapons forged for us, but… we have not used them in earnest."
Midna wasn't like a single one of them.
She was sharp, reactive and instinctive. She thought fast, moved fast and spoke her mind. How did that happen, growing up in a society so placid and methodical?
He tried to picture her as a child. Smaller and angrier whilst fighting against the calm of her people. He could almost see her as she was now, but younger, standing amidst rows of Twili children sitting still and proper but gritting her teeth and tapping her fingers against a desk in frustration.
He smirked to himself. She must have rebelled against it all.
Turning his attention back to the Twili, Link had an idea.
He split them into two groups and selected a captain for each. They at least understood rank, that much was clear.
"I need to learn more about how you work together" he said firmly. "So we're going to do a mock battle. Captains, take your men and stand at either end of this field. Training weapons only. I want to see how you fight, communicate, and react."
The two captains bowed to him. None of the others did.
That was the first thing he noticed. The captains accepted their leadership roles instantly, no hesitation, no questioning. The rest stood in disciplined silence, awaiting direction.
They adapted fast, he thought, watching as both groups positioned themselves on opposite ends of the field with methodical precision. Maybe too fast.
He stepped back, folding his arms, watching.
The two sides engaged with swift, decisive movements. No unnecessary footwork, no wasted effort.
It was almost too perfect. Not the chaotic rush of an army, but something more deliberate.
Each attack was solid, well-executed, and defensive. But the frontlines barely shifted. There were no reckless advances, no one was pushing an advantage and there were no desperate bursts of aggression.
The more he watched, the more he realized that they weren't fighting to win. They were holding ground.
Each step forward was meticulously countered, every motion matched with precise retaliation. It was less like a skirmish and more like an ongoing equilibrium, maintained rather than broken.
Link frowned, shifting his stance.
Even when an opportunity appeared, when a fighter was momentarily off-balance, his opponent didn't capitalize. Instead, they reset the engagement, drawing back to their original positioning.
His gaze sharpened. He had assumed at first that they were simply silent warriors, moving in calculated unison. But now… he wasn't sure.
There was no verbal communication, but something was happening between them. They adjusted to each other's movements too smoothly. They never tripped over each other, or hesitated in their decisions.
Then he saw it. It wasn't their words. It was their eyes.
A slight flicker or half-second of widened pupils. Even a barely perceptible tilt of the head. The way a Twili glanced to their side for the briefest moment, and their ally instantly adjusted positioning.
It was instinctive almost. An entire language of micro-expressions he just hadn't been able to see.
They were just as expressive as Midna. Maybe, behind closed doors with their loved ones, they were even more so. They just didn't display their thoughts for the world to see.
His gaze drifted across the mock battlefield, watching the silent communication unfold in real time.
He felt better at being able to understand them, but their current training wouldn't work for a defensive force.
He needed them to experience combat in a way they had never felt before.
Picking up a wooden practice sword, he tested a few swings to get the feel for it. Then, he walked towards the opposing groups.
"Captains, over here" he shouted over the field.
Breaking from the exercise, they came to him obediently.
The Twili guards stood before him in disciplined silence, their golden eyes unblinking as they awaited his command.
Link exhaled, rolling the wooden training sword in his grip. He wasn't sure how much of this they'd even take in—but he had to try.
He looked to the two captains first. "Your formations are structured and precise. That's not a bad thing. You don't overextend, you don't waste movement and you control your ground."
A few of the guards lifted their chins slightly. They understood that much.
"But in a real fight, that won't be enough."
The golden eyes watching him didn't shift. But he knew they were listening.
"You don't press advantages" Link continued, pacing before them. "You don't break an opponent's rhythm, you match it. In a mock battle, that keeps everything in balance. In a real battle? It gets you killed."
A small ripple of movement passed through them—barely a shift in their stance, but noticeable now that he was paying attention. He had hit a nerve.
"Find ten volunteers" he ordered, planting the wooden sword against the dirt. "You're going to fight me, one by one."
There was a pause. Then, the two captains turned to their men. For a moment, no one moved. Then a subtle glance between two of them, a flicker of some silent consensus and one stepped forward. Then another. Within a few seconds, ten Twili had lined up.
They didn't look at him with their previous detachment. There was a curiosity there now, a sense of measured respect. They were dropping the mask, just a little.
They didn't bow. Instead, a few tapped two fingers against their palm. A gesture Link hadn't seen before. Not knowing the full meaning, he mirrored it.
That, at least, earned him a few subtle flickers of approval. They were beginning to acknowledge him.
The first volunteer stepped forward, a wooden sword in hand, and took a measured stance. Link lifted his own training blade, relaxed but ready.
"Begin."
The Twili moved first, stepping forward with a clean, controlled strike. It was well-formed and technically sound. Far too predictable though.
Link pivoted, letting the blow glide past his shoulder, then knocked the sword aside and tapped the flat of his blade against the Twili's stomach.
"Dead" he said.
His opponent blinked visibly startled. Link stepped back, rolling his shoulder.
"Next."
The following Twili hesitated, then nodded as the other moved back to his fellows.
The second round was better but Link was still faster. He anticipated every precise movement, countered every methodical strike.
Knocking his opponent's sword to the ground, he pressed the rounded tip of his wooden sword to their throat.
"Dead"
By the third match, Link didn't just block, he caught his opponent's arm, spun them aside, and lightly tapped the back of their head with the wooden sword.
"Dead"
His opponent froze. The entire watching group stiffened ever so slightly.
This was not how they fought.
The defeated Twili stepped back without a word, joining the line. Another stepped forward.
Link didn't relent.
Every single fight, he countered before they could adjust, turning their own precision against them.
By the sixth match, he had knocked the blade out of his opponent's hand before they had even finished their first strike.
By the eighth, he dodged entirely, stepped behind the fighter and lightly pressed the tip of his sword between their shoulders.
Not a single match lasted more than ten seconds. But the real shift happened at the ninth match.
One of the Twili, the second captain, stepped forward. His shoulders were tense but he remained unreadable.
He didn't raise his sword immediately. Instead, he looked at Link.
Not a blank stare or the same stoic mask. He had a curious, searching look.
He wasn't just reacting now, he was learning.
They took their place. This time, Link didn't move first.
He stood perfectly still, meeting the Twili's golden gaze.
Then, he tilted his head, just slightly.
He saw a flicker of realization in the fighter's eyes. A barely perceptible inhale.
That was how they communicated. He widened his stance, just enough to suggest an attack.
The Twili shifted in response, sword lifting just slightly higher. They were anticipating him, just like they anticipated each other.
Link moved.
This fight lasted longer than the others. His opponent wasn't attacking mindlessly anymore. They weren't following a pre-planned movement, they were adapting.
But not enough.
With one final motion, Link feinted left, saw his opponent react, and immediately reversed, striking at the opening they had given him.
The wooden sword pressed lightly against their side.
"Dead."
Then, the defeated Twili bowed their head. Not in submission, but in understanding.
Link turned to the gathered group, exhaling. He was barely warm from the exercise.
They were watching him differently now. Not just as an outsider giving orders but as someone they could actually learn from. He tapped his fingers against his palm again, mirroring their previous gesture. Then, he lifted his head just slightly.
The others saw it and they seemed to understand. He was trying to tell them they had done well.
"This is what you're missing" Link said. "You communicate perfectly with each other, but not with your enemy. Their posture will tell you their intentions, their eyes will give away what they're thinking and their breathing? That will show how confident they are."
Link felt a pang of worry, then immediately went to correct himself.
"The enemy we are facing do not breathe, some of them don't have eyes. They may also have no posture to read. But, even if they don't give away anything, there are still ways to read how the battle is flowing."
A few subtle eye flickers passed between them. Processing.
Link lifted the practice sword. "When you fight each other, you keep the balance. But real combat isn't about balance. It's about knowing when to break it."
He let them process what he said.
With slight nods, they seemed to absorb the lesson. He set up new exercises where one side had more numbers than the other. Something the invading Stal would absolutely have. They practiced retreats, forming defensive lines and how to kite enemy lines.
He focused and observed every one of them as best as he could. The changes were happening right before him. Slowly, they were becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Halfway through practicing flanking maneuvers, he felt the back of his neck tingle slightly.
Midna stood atop one of the newly built walls, her arms folded and eyes sharp as she watched the training unfold. She didn't say a word, but her presence alone sent a ripple through the Twili below. They moved faster and adapted quicker. Orders were no longer whispered but were spoken aloud, clear and precise. For the first time, they sounded like warriors.
She gestured for him to come to her.
Turning to the captains who were observing the exercise, he needed them to try improvising.
"This is promising. But there is never a battle that goes to plan completely. Have the attackers perform an encirclement. Then, see if your defenders can launch a spear attack, to break the encirclement before it cuts them off"
The two captains nodded to him and went to organise their men and women.
He walked towards Midna, wondering what she had to say about the training.
"Hello again. Did you manage to sort something for evacuating the civilians?" he asked.
She nodded, a slight smile visible too.
"The caves snake quite far through mountains and there are large chambers in them that can at least hold the town's population" she explained.
Lowering her head slightly, she spoke softly.
"And should the worst happen, then there are routes out of the cave system that they can take to other towns" she added with a sigh. "It's a miserable thing, preparing your 'just-in-case' scenarios."
"True. But vital" Link replied simply.
They both looked over the massed Twili, now practicing their encirclement
"So, how did the training go?" she asked, eager for a distraction.
"They're getting better. They've realised that procedure isn't going to be the only thing they need to rely on. I've got them practicing tactics that deal with a superior force. How to retreat, how to break encirclements and things like that" he explained.
They watched the exercise as the larger group began to encircle the smaller one. He heard the echo of orders being shouted, and felt a swell of pride. The smaller group reacted rapidly and broke through the thinner side of the encirclement and started kiting the attackers.
"You've got to be kidding me…" Midna muttered, rubbing her temples.
Raising an eyebrow, he looked to her. She saw his look of confusion.
"Ever since I returned and took the throne back, I've been trying to do this! Just get them to think differently, even a little" she said, exasperated. She shook her head. "You spend a day…a single damned day…"
"I'm…sorry?" he said, shrugging.
"It was a compliment, genius" she teased.
Smiling, they both watched the rest of the exercise unfold. He noted some weak parts that needed addressing. With the encirclement broken, they continued kiting the enemy force who began to regroup and started to encircle them again.
"I appreciate what you said, but there's still plenty of room to improve," Link said, holding his chin in thought. "If you don't mind, I'll go and make some adjustments?"
"Wrap the training up soon, then come to the dining room in the castle. Bring ten of the ones you felt performed best. If they hear 'good job' from me, maybe that'll help a little."
"Good idea. Words like that from the queen herself would be enough to perk any soldier up" he replied, happy she was thinking of other ways to help.
"Queen… that still feels weird, even a year later" she admitted.
After their work together saving both Hyrule and the Twilight Realm, it made sense that other things would seem mundane, Link thought.
"Well I don't really know how things work here, but it's not on fire, so I'd say you're fine"
Midna giggled happily.
"Join me for dinner later. After you've presented your ten best, they'll dine with us too."
He blinked for a moment, before he couldn't help but smile at the idea.
"Absolutely"
This time, she couldn't help a wide smile either.
"The ceiling is off limits" she said simply as she turned and left with her guards.
Smiling, Link returned to the field. He scanned the shifting formations. The Twili were adjusting well, but nobody became an expert in anything after one day.
He spent the next hour tightening formations, correcting footwork and ensuring their retreat drills were decisive. More than anything, he wanted them to think for themselves. Some of them were already standing out.
He thought back to Zelda again. When the Stal came through with Ghirahim, the portal on the other side would be exactly as he left it. She would still be wounded and the Hylian soldiers coming through could easily trample her if they didn't see her fall.
He did his best to focus on the training in front of him. There was little he could do to change the situation now. He would have to improvise when then time came for it.
By the time he finally called an end to the exercises, he had his ten.
The ones who had adapted the fastest, led with confidence, or shown instincts beyond their training. As the group dispersed for the night, he walked alongside his chosen ten toward the castle, toward the dining hall. They would be given fresh clothing and allowed to wash before their audience. Link took a chance to wash himself too.
Later, they were all led to the dining room. The last time he'd seen this room, he had fallen through the ceiling. Now, stepping through the doors properly, he had to admit that they had done a brilliant job repairing it. There wasn't a single scratch or mote of dust anywhere. The skylight had even been replaced. Even the large table looked brand new.
Midna was already seated, eyes sharp and expectant as he entered with his group. She gestured for them to approach.
Link, standing at the head of his ten, began explaining why each of them was here. He turned to Midna, keeping his voice steady and professional.
"These ten stood out. Each of them showed something I'd want in someone leading a defense."
He gestured to the first Twili, a woman with deep violet tattoos curling up her forearms.
"Lethis. Fastest reaction time of the entire group. She was the first to break formation and counter the encirclement before it fully closed in."
Midna nodded approvingly. "Quick thinking. You prevented a disaster before it started."
Lethis bowed slightly. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Link gestured to the next. A tall Twili man with silver-threaded hair.
"Veyran led one of the defensive spear attacks. Didn't just follow orders, he adjusted his positioning on his own when he saw an opening."
Midna raised an eyebrow. "A leader in the making, then?"
Veyran dipped his head. "I only did what was necessary, your majesty."
Midna smirked. "That's exactly what leaders say."
She turned to the next Twili, a shorter but solidly built man. He had more scratches and bruises than any other.
"And him?" she asked.
Link crossed his arms. "This is Rhyz. They told him to hold the front line, and he did."
Midna tilted her head. "Sounds simple enough."
Link shook his head. "The thing is, no one got past him. Not once. He took hits, adjusted, held formation and never lost ground."
Midna studied Rhyz for a moment, then nodded. "I imagine I'd rather fight beside you than against you."
Rhyz bowed his head. "I'd hope so, your Majesty."
And so it went, one by one. Link explained the strengths of each warrior, and Midna acknowledged them.
A Twili who had coordinated a perfectly timed retreat. One who had realized how to bait an enemy into an overextension. Another who had figured out how to recover from being flanked faster than anyone else.
By the end of the introductions, Midna's smirk had turned into a genuine proud smile.
"You've all done well. For your efforts and results, you are all invited to dine with me tonight"
Midna clapped her hands twice. Instantly, the service doors swung open, and an army of butlers flooded the room. Trays of food, bottles of wine, and fresh flowers appeared as if by magic.
In just over a minute, the table had been transformed. The ten Twili warriors stood frozen in open disbelief.
Link turned, catching the glint of smug satisfaction in Midna's golden eyes.
"Be seated" she commanded.
Chairs scraped against the polished floor as everyone took their seats. Among them were several ministers Link recognized from earlier, as well as a handful of elders. In the Twilight Realm, age didn't show in wrinkles, but in stark white hair and weary, knowing eyes.
"In praise of your efforts, enjoy the meal" she said as she took her own seats. A butler removed the cover for everyone's dish. There was a fish loaded with herbs and salt along with a salad of purples and red.
Link had no idea if it would be poisonous to him. Still, he rationalised that the potion Midna gave him didn't cause any side effects. He could be healed, plus he had built up a ravenous appetite.
The second the fish touched his tongue, his eyes burned with betrayal. It was bitter, almost medicinal. The overwhelming punch of herbs tried desperately to mask it, but it only made the whole experience worse. Thankfully, the salad was sweet, mercifully cleansing the taste from his mouth.
Some of the other Twili were having similar experiences but did their best to be polite.
The other dishes were, thankfully, much better. There was a delicate soup paired with something that tasted like beetroot, then some kind of potato cake lashed with a Twili cheese.
After everyone had finished eating, the butlers came and cleared the table in an instant and left a peppery hot tea for everyone.
Leaning back, Link relaxed his gut and exhaled. Midna was more refined, but had a sleepy and contented look. She looked to him lazily.
"So, how was Twili cuisine then?"
"Really nice, actually. But if that fish went extinct, I'd sleep just fine."
He hesitated, then sighed. "Sorry. That was rude. Shouldn't complain about free food."
Too full to laugh, she smiled again.
"No, you're right. I've never eaten such a bad fish in my life…" she explained quietly.
"So…why serve it?"
"Nobles…loudly declaring to all that it's a rare delicacy" she muttered, shaking her head. "The only people who could call that 'a delicacy' with a straight face."
She exhaled dramatically. "What's the word for someone whose tongue is just… broken?"
"Delusional"
This time, she laughed. There were some smiles coming from around the table, though they were still too polite to say anything. Instead, they began to shift the conversation elsewhere.
A few of the senior officials started discussing logistics. Food storage, reinforcement strategies, evacuation preparations and the like. Some of the younger ones talked in hushed tones about the training exercises, analyzing what had worked and what needed improvement.
But Link and Midna had stopped paying attention entirely.
She took another slow sip of her tea, golden eyes flickering toward Link as he stretched lazily in his seat.
"So, what exactly is your grand plan for after all this? Once we've won, saved the day and you've once again outwitted another megalomaniac?"
Link exhaled through his nose. "I'm going to find a nice beach and spend a year doing nothing"
Midna stared at him blankly.
"What?" he asked.
"I never figured you'd pick the most boring option."
"Boring?! What would you suggest then?" Link said defensively.
"Write a book, learn to cook, go sailing, invent something… Something to stimulate the mind! Shall I go on?" she said teasingly.
"No. Just plain nothing, thank you. I feel like my life has been non-stop for too long. I've earned a break, I'd say."
Midna looked thoughtful for a moment, only to wear her cocky grin again.
"Knowing you, you'd accidentally unearth some ancient dragon by mistake and bring certain doom. All whilst building a humble sandcastle."
Link smirked, but went on the offensive.
"Oh really? And what about you? In another life, I'd see you strutting about trying to model some new bizarre fashion piece. Like a hat of rancid mushrooms and a dress full of holes"
Midna's eyes narrowed to near slits.
"Do you mean to insult your host's fashion sense? She, who gave you medicine and exquisite food whilst suffering your foolish, and costly, entrance?" she asked firmly.
"Yes. Especially if such fashion looks like it was made by someone with no hands or eyes" he bit back.
The Twili around the table sat still, staring at them both in the most horrified silence.
"Do we…intervene?" whispered one to another.
"I…don't know?" came another quiet whisper.
Midna leaned forward, her shoulders squared.
"Oh really?! Fashion advice from a man who dresses and smells like a forest hobo?"
Link leaned forward too, staring back at her.
"An exceptional forest hobo, I'll have you know! And exquisite food? It's fine to lie to me, but not all the innocents you force this fish on."
He saw the fire ignite in her eyes.
"Lie?! You'd better show gratitude for the free meal. It's far above the feral beasts you sup on as you spend your life sleeping in piles of leaves, hobo!"
Link snapped straight back.
"At least those feral beasts were delicious, you arse!"
They looked at each other, momentarily stunned. The silence of the room felt deadly. Nobody dared to breathe.
Link collapsed into his hands as he burst out laughing. Midna meanwhile clutched her stomach as she bent over and howled laughing too, wheezing. It echoed around the room.
Two of the senior Twili ministers spoke to each other amongst the din.
"What did we just see?"
"Flirting, maybe?"
"...I don't understand anything anymore."
The other guests weren't as apprehensive, but still confused. They looked to each other and shrugged as LInk and Midna tried to wipe their tears away.
A minute later, they had managed to calm themselves.
A smirk tugged at Midna's lips. "Still think I'd make a bad fashion model?"
Link snorted. "I mean, if the mushroom hat fits…"
They nearly burst into laughter again but caught themselves at the last second. Instead, Link distracted himself with his tea, and Midna mirrored him, shaking her head fondly.
A few minutes passed. The Twili, realising that Link wasn't about to be executed, slowly started talking again.
"I've not laughed that hard since I came back here" she admitted.
Link shrugged.
"I never imagined talking to you like that if I saw you again."
They both smiled as they relaxed and recovered.
The evening settled into a quieter rhythm. The sharp edge of laughter faded, replaced by the gentle hum of conversation.
Midna stretched slightly, the warmth of the meal making her more languid. "I suppose I should be a proper host and actually acknowledge my guests."
Link nodded.
"That would be the royal thing to do."
Midna gave him a dry look but stood, turning her attention to the officials. One of the senior Twili hesitated before asking, "Your Majesty… what exactly was that?"
Midna waved a hand lazily. "Simple talk."
Then, she started speaking with the other guests. The poor man looked hopelessly confused now.
Link spoke with some of the Twili he had trained. They all seemed to want to pay even more attention to him now, after he and Midna had essentially openly insulted each other. He told them to not worry about it and instead focused on telling them his plans for the next day of training.
After, he leaned back, fingers curled loosely around his now-empty cup. The tea had done wonders to settle him after the meal.
He risked a glance at Midna. She was speaking to one of the senior Twili, but her usual smirk had faded into something softer and more thoughtful. It wasn't a look he had seen often. When her conversation ended, she turned to him, hesitating for just a moment before tilting her head toward the doors.
"Walk with me."
She hadn't insisted, but Link got up. The other guests were leaving anyway, after having bowed low to Midna. They walked through to the other side of the castle in a peaceful silence. An orderly opened a large set of doors for them both, before closing it behind them.
The palace gardens were breathtaking in the twilight. Neatly trimmed flowers decorated shaped bushes and a few trees. A water fountain in the middle made the entire scene lushious. Even through his loafers, he felt the soft grass give way to his step.
Even after everything he'd seen, Link still found himself briefly stunned by the way the soft, golden glow of the sky bathed the entire space in ethereal light. It was as though the stars had been pulled down and woven into the flowers themselves, petals shimmered faintly as they reflected the eternal dusk.
A gentle breeze swept through, carrying the scent of something cool and sweet, unlike anything he'd smelled in Hyrule. He let out a slow breath, taking it in.
"I haven't been out here in a while" Midna admitted, her voice quieter now. She walked beside him, fingers brushing against a flower as they strolled past. "Not since I came back."
Link glanced at her, waiting. There was a hesitation in her voice, like she wasn't sure how to continue.
"I never..." she stumbled.
"... apologised…"
Midna's voice was measured, but there was an unmistakable nervousness beneath it. She wasn't looking at him anymore. Instead, her eyes traced the path ahead, as if she could barely summon the strength to speak.
"For how I left."
Link's steps faltered slightly. He had thought they would have to talk about it eventually, but not like this. Not now.
She let out a breath, rubbing her arm.
"It always bothered me. Even after I convinced myself it was for the best. Even after I told myself I had no choice."
The words came slowly, carefully, like she was forcing herself to finally say them aloud.
"I hurt you."
Link opened his mouth, but no words came. What was he supposed to say to that? She had hurt him.
He had spent months wondering what he had done wrong, replaying every moment with every word, trying to make sense of it. It hadn't been any more than ten days or so since he had finally managed to put it behind him.
And now she was apologizing. He hadn't even slept for a night since he had gotten here.
His throat felt dry.
"…Why now?" It was all he could think to ask.
"I've had more than enough time to think about it." she said quietly. "When I saw you fall through my ceiling…I felt like my heart was being crushed all over again. That the first thing I needed to do was say this to you"
She was still quiet, but she did her best to look straight at him. It looked as if she would crumble under a gentle breeze.
He stood open mouthed. He wanted to say so much to her, to ask her everything he could. Now that the opportunity was here, all of those questions disappeared like vapour.
"I…" he said, unable to think of anything else.
She took his hand, in both of hers. All whilst pink spots blushed on to her cheeks.
"I know you and I are from different worlds, that you might not know customs here. But please, take this" she said as she plucked a flower, purple petals with black edges.
"Flowers are important to us. In eternal twilight, not many things grow very easily. The few flowers that do have held significance to us. We offer this flower to people we have wronged" she explained, tripping over her words slightly.
"The black edges represent regret. But the purple core of each petal represents us, the Twili. That even if we screw up and leave black marks, we can still grow"
She looked to him, looking more vulnerable than Link could ever remember seeing her. Her closest nerves were exposed.
She placed the flower in his palm and stepped back from him.
"A flower can't make up for what happened. But… I do want you to at least know that… I'm sorry."
Link held the flower closer, looking at its pointed petals. It was as if they were spears of regret, according to Midna's description.
A year ago, he would have clung to this moment and would have wanted nothing more than to hear her say she regretted leaving.
But now that it was here, he didn't know how to hold it. Didn't know what to do with the weight of it.
They stood silently, as if the weight of the air around them had thickened.
Link turned the flower over in his hands, staring at the edges as if they might cut him. Maybe they already had.
Midna looked rooted to the spot. Bracing, like she expected him to tell her it wasn't enough.
Finally, he exhaled.
"Thank you."
They stood silently as they both tried to figure out what needed to be said.
"I was hurt. Badly. I always hoped that I could make it back here one day on my own, to talk to you about it"
He sighed.
"Then this plot with Ghirahim showed up. My…dragon from a sandcastle" he said, shaking his head.
"I…want to talk about this with you. But not tonight. All the questions and things I wanted to say have left my mind"
Midna perked up, looking at him hopefully.
"Then a few days from now?" she suggested, more quietly than before.
He had never seen her like this. It was so unlike her usual self.
"Yeah" he said, nodding.
He didn't want to leave the night on such a raw note.
"Thank you, by the way. The food was lovely. I didn't mean all those mean things I said"
Midna finally let herself relax a little. Then, catching him completely by surprise, she leant in and wrapped her arms around him.
"Me either" she whispered.
Stunned, his mind felt as if it was unravelling. The faint smell of Thyme, her cool skin and the tickle of her fiery hair. All of it was wonderful as it was confusing.
A moment later, she stepped away. Link felt a strange emptiness now.
"Come on, we should get you some rest. I'll show you to a guest room you can use."
Now, she sounded like her former self. Her voice was firm, but somewhat lighter than it had been before.
Link followed her back through the castle to some unknown wing as the attendants were winding down for the evening too. Eternal twilight still shined on the land, but they all had to sleep eventually.
They ended up in a small wing of the castle, meant for hosting dignitaries. A fitting role, Midna suggested.
She opened the door for him.
Before he stepped inside, she leant closer and whispered something.
"I missed you."
Then, she turned around and walked away to her own room, somewhere else.