Legend of Zelda: Dark Echoes

Legend of Zelda: Dark Echoes-Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Wouldn't it be great? Wouldn't it be great if Link just woke up in his comfy bed to find that this was all just a stupid nightmare? He would laugh if off and tell Franz about it the next day, then he'd join in with the laughter also. But this wasn't the case, and it will never be.

That one word. That just one word made Link feel the worst he had ever been in his entire lifetime. It even conquered the sadness over his mother's death.

Execution.

Dizziness filled his body, his head started to hurt and pins and needles filled his tongue, fingers and feet. He began to feel ill - stressed even, but he had to focus on other important matters. He had trusted the King deeply and had respected and looked up to him in all ways. The King was his role-model and mentor, but now it has gone to this; the King planning on executing him.

Zelda didn't reply to this announcement right away, though you could hear a deep breathing sound and a slight growl. She wasn't happy about this as her father had expected however her reaction was much calmer than Link had predicted. Perhaps she saw that it was impossible to persuade her father into not going along with this, or she finally agreed that her dreams were absurd, either way she stormed all the way up into the higher parts of the cells and eventually into the main part of the castle. You could hear her footsteps loud and clear as it grew fainter and fainter into the distance.

The King stood where he was for a while, or so Link thought. He didn't hear two sets of footsteps anyways. Sooner, Link noticed that he was right. The King's shadow was revealed and judging by it, he had his face buried in his hands. Was he regretting this decision? Had he hated to see his child like this? Link wanted to call out the King's name and show that he had heard everything, but he was torn between the choices.

"My King..." His voice called out without him thinking enough, coming out all croaky. Whether it was because of him forcing back tears or because he hadn't spoken in a while, he did not know. Either way, the King took a while to respond to Link's voice and it had eventually gotten to the point where it seemed as though he wasn't going to respond at all. It had eventually made Link instantly regret his decision, as he found this a waste of energy, even if he did just say two simple words. But before long, he had heard movement from the King's direction. Link assumed that the King would be leaving and had never catched his voice or simply, he choice to ignore it. Nevertheless, both of his thoughts were proved to be wrong and the King had soon appeared on the over side of the bars.  He had a dark yet sympathetic expression.

"So you heard..." He said in a quiet and moody tone.

"Yes." 

"Listen, Link," He began, sighing. "I have no other choice. I do respect you in all honesty, or at least, did respect you, but after what you did..." His voice drifted off and he never ended his sentence. He didn't need to though, as it was obvious about what he was going to say next. 

Link rolled his blue eyes in annoyance. He didn't really care if he was coming off rude at all because this whole thing was irritating him, the King especially. His Majesty was oblivious from the truth and now he only saw lies. He was blind. Blind and stupid. He didn't even seem to bother looking more into the crimes and suspects, as well as deciding that his daughter having dreams to do with this, is surely not a coincidence. Maybe he did know something after all but chose to not admit it, or, he simply did believe this all but didn't want to be proven wrong and continued to go along with it. The King wasn't like this though, surely. But these past few days made Link wonder if he really was.

"I did nothing wrong, my King." Link said through gritted teeth.

 "Is that so?" the King replied. "I dare you to say that to all these witnesses."

"I would if I could, sir."

"Then you would be disappointed." 

"Then why say it in the first place?" Link sighed. "I'm innocent."

"That is what all killers say."

"As well as the honest." Link must've caught the ruler of Hyrule out there as he just stared at him in return, trying to gather words at the best of his ability. In another time, Link might have grinned at this experience; a seventeen-year old practically owning his own King was almost absurd and to him, rather funny. But he was too busy focused with saving his life and trying to convince people that he was a good individual, and one who simply does not go around murdering people for his own amusement.

"It is too late now anyway, my boy." he simply put, then began to walk away ever so slowly.

"What do you mean??" The fact that no response came, answered Link's question. "Do you mean..." His eyes widened. "Do you mean that my execution is tomorrow?!" The King ignored him and continued to walk away. "That's...that's completely pathetic!" He yelled. "I am innocent! Harmless! Guiltless! I only kill enemies and even then, I hate doing so! I hate death!" Despite his efforts to grab the King's attention, he failed miserably. Yet, this didn't stop him. "I trusted you!" 

He kept repeating that one sentence. "I trusted you!" "I trusted you!" Over and over again but he was never seemed to be heard, not once. The King didn't turn around and nor did he reply or even apologize. Link expected something different coming from such a responsible and respected adult.

Then, with the highest his voice could possibly go, he screamed loud and clear once more:

"I trusted you!"

But he still wasn't heard, and if he was, he was simply ignored. So his voice was left to echo throughout the hallways of the cells, those same three words mimicked over and over until his throat started to burn with anger.

He didn't hate the King though, oh no. He had to focus on other things. 

And that was finding a way out of the cell.