Until That Day

Immortality

Zelda

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After several moments of silent praying with all of my being, I still heard nothing.

"All these years, dedicated to praying. Father says that it's me who isn't trying hard enough, when I've been trying day in and day out, praying that these powers come to me. 'Quit playing the scholar,' he says. Only because nothing has been working!"

After only more silence, and hearing nothing, I couldn't keep my frustrations trapped anymore.

"Curse you. I've done more than my share, and my prayers seem to fall on silent ears. What is it? What's wrong with me?!"

My vision blurred with tears, as I shielded myself from the cold night. I heard gentle splashes behind me, to find Link stepping into the spring.

"But you'll get all wet-" I started, but Link had already wrapped his arms around me and held me close. I let more tears fall, as I pressed into his embrace. "I don't understand what I'm doing wrong, Link."

He hugged me tighter and stayed silent.

After a while, it started to rain lightly, so Link helped me out of the spring and we walked back to the horses. Link pulled out his cloak from Epona's bag, and draped it over my shoulders, putting the hood up.

"Are you sure you don't want it? The rain's getting stronger now."

"It's all yours," Link replied, helping me onto Storm.

We headed back to the stable, but halfway I stopped Storm.

"Is everything alright?" Link asked.

"I don't want to return to that stable. They know why we went to the spring, and I'm returning from it unsuccessful. I don't want to give my people another reason to doubt me, as they already must."

"I'm sure they don't, Zelda. But I understand. Want to find the other nearest stable? I think that's the southern Akkala stable."

Zelda only nodded and I led the way this time. I couldn't help but be irritated at the goddess Hylia, however. She was trying so hard and she didn't seem to care at all.

The rain started to let up after about half an hour, and Zelda seemed to be in somewhat brighter spirits. We approached the southern Akkala stable and the stable hands fed our horses while we figured out our next location.

"Well, my seventeenth birthday is tomorrow. Perhaps making our way to the Spring of Wisdom is our next move. By the time we get there, I'll be of age."

I nodded. "Makes sense. Do you want to change into something warmer in the meantime?" I suggested.

"Good idea," she replied simply. She went inside the stable and changed into her warmer travel clothes. "Much better."

We planned our route and had some food, before setting off again once it was light.

We later came across a brilliant horse statue, just as the sun was setting. I suggested taking a riding break, but Zelda still looked somber from the past events of the day. She looked out in the distance to find Mount Lanayru and explained why she couldn't visit the Spring of Wisdom until she was seventeen. It was considered that only then was someone ready to receive the wisdom the spring had to offer.