No Woman Beyond

Shot Through the Heart

Link POV

Link stood in front of a heterogeneous sea of faces. He saw Zoras, Gorons, Gerudos and Kokiris. Hylians of all shapes, sizes and colors had come to stake a claim for his heart.

There was one person who wasn't there to compete for his heart. The one person who promised him they would do anything for him. Y/N. Link felt his bottom lip do a controlled quiver as he continued to remain stoic in the face of disappointment. He knew the devastation that he felt in his heart was threatening to appear on his face. Goddesses, did she not want him? Did she not... love him? Oh Hylia, how the unknown tormented him. The whole journey of traversing through time and saving Hyrule was less painful than the idea of the rejection Link would feel, should she not show.

Y/N's feelings always left him more bewildered than when he had to track the poe sisters down in the Temple of Forest.

Her rejection incinerated more than a burn from the Temple of Fire.

The heaviness of their unspoken feelings suffocated him more than being trapped in his iron boots in the Temple of Water.

The times she remained absent from his side had shrouded him in a depression greater than the Temple of Shadow.

His feelings strong since the stem of childhood, fortifying as he entered adulthood, like combat in the Temple of Spirit.

But the feeling that was most paramount, was the pain. Should she not show her face, he would almost prefer Ganondorf hurl an electric blast at him. All the times he thought he swore he would perish, who would have thought Y/N's rejection would be the sword to finish him off. He mentally prayed to the goddesses in his mind. "Oh, please divine beings," he begged. " I would fight Ganondorf in every incarnation if Y/N shows up. Please, let her show up."

Princess Zelda stood next to Link giving a speech to her people. She gracefully grabbed his hand and lifted it. He was uncertain with what was spoken, but he heard unruly cheers flare from the crowd.

"Link," she said giving him a stone-faced glare. "Shall we commence?" Link gave her a shrewd nod. He tried to convey a chivalrous smile, but all he could feel was the immense strength it took to make his lips meet his eyes. Zelda gave him a meek smile. She strolled off, sitting on a throne that was positioned next to her father, King Daphnes. In a way, Link had empathy for Zelda. She too was going to marry out of duty. She would set her sights on a prince of another kingdom in order to strengthen Hyrule's bonds. Not only was it appealing on a diplomatic front, but it would also be beneficial on the militia front. Should Ganondorf break the seal, they'd have double the reinforcements. Hylia forbid.

An announcer made his way to the stage, bellowing instructions for round one. "Fair people of Hyrule," he roared, "Let us commence the first round, Archery! The goal is simple, contestants will stand in line and aim their arrow to the light of the sun. If the arrow penetrates the forcefield of light and transforms into a light arrow, you will be advanced to round two!"

Link took one last longing gaze out at the crowd. Y/N's face was nowhere in sight. He made his way to the archery stable to inaugurate round one." Link mentally pleaded to the goddesses one last time. "Please divine beings, for if Y/N does not show, then I will not choose what my heart does not desire. I shall be no one's hero but my own for I will follow my heart."

Your POV

"Here's the last one." You dropped the surely cucco in the pen for Anju. You would never say it, but you were beginning to think her time as a cucco farmer was well past its prime.

She clapped her hands in applause. "Ah, Y/N thank you! In return I will give you some of the frozen cucco meat for the pot pie you wanted to bake for dinner!" She awkwardly jogged into her house, momentarily disappearing. How could you be allergic to cuccos and farm them for as long as she has? There was a particularly nasty cucco Link always fretted over. Link used to joke that that his demise would come from Cojiro, the Ganondorf of cuccos. You couldn't help but giggle, for as tough as Link was, he was also quite vulnerable. No sooner did your smile fade as you remembered today was the contest and ceremony of the hero to be wed. Soon all of Hyrule would find out who Link's blushing bride would be, including you. You felt nauseated and leaned on the cucco fence for support. Anju reappeared holding a small parcel of frozen cucco meat.

"Please, enjoy! You should make some for Li- the hero! This is the meat of Cojiro. The one he despised." Anju chuckled at the same memories that you had just batted away. She cautiously looked at you and asked, " Y/N I'm surprised you didn't compete. Surely, you and the hero have been friends for a very long time. I feel like if any girl was his missing heart piece, it would certainly be you." Before you could respond, she absent mindedly waltzed back inside, scratching a prickled rash on her wrist.

You felt your vision steam as tears began to blur your eyes. Just because you weren't competing, didn't mean you couldn't support Link in spirit. You ran into your house, grabbing your bow and arrow that Link taught you to shoot with. You made your way up the ladder of the watch tower in Kakariko, not far from where you lived. As you approached the top, you hollered, "round one- archery!" You positioned your arrow, lining it up so that it seemed to stab the bright and illuminated center of the sun.

"This is for you Link... thank you for always being my light!"

Never letting your arm slip to your side, position stabilized, the arrow sliced through the cool air and into the warmth that was the sun.

Edited 1/28/23