Neighboring Lands

When Did The Trust Die?

My heart drops as he speaks, stomach knotting at the look on his face; I look I swore to never see again after the Shadow Temple. "How did," my words die on my tongue, unable to form new ones the longer he stares at me.

"Please tell me," Time begs, voice so small and cracking harshly as his fingers dig deeper into the flesh of my hips.

The pain grounds me as a hand slides down to rest on the side of his neck; head shaking violently. "Why would you think that, I've nev-" My deceitful words of denial are cut off harshly by time.

"Don't lie to me," he demands, "I saw what you wrote."

Shock, then emptiness, then rage, and finally I settle on quailing his fears; fully set on punishing him later for breaking my trust. No doubt my feelings flashed across my face, the way his hands flexed against me proving he knows just how badly he messed up. "Time, since you know my thoughts up until I stopped writing, I won't lie. I did. I hoped each morning I wouldn't wake up, or if I did I would be in the bed I owned in my kingdom. That it was all just a bad dream. But," the hand on his cheek slides up to comb through his hair comfortingly, "I was also happy to be where I was. A moment of time with all of you. I got to help save Hyrule, to help save each of you. In a way, I was repaying my sins."

Time yanks me forward, his strong arms wrapping around my waist as his head lays against my chest, listening to my heartbeat, if only to confirm it's still there. "And now?" His broken voice whispers.

I hold him close, resting my cheek against the top of his head, "I still feel guilt and self-loathing, it's only natural. But, I've long since healed from my trauma and pain to a degree. I want to live, but I also will do what I need to right my wrongs, or what I deem to be wrong. Speaking with Wild, I've learned that I've been too hard on myself, just as he had been on himself...so since this morning, I've been consciously trying to quell my pitiful thoughts."

"Why didn't you tell us? Me?" His voice is muffled against my chest.

"You know why," I murmured into his hair, "You had enough to deal with, all of you. My emotions and personal hang-ups are my own, not yours. It's my burden to bear, that that is what I did. I have been unsure of my emotions for half of my life, having been so sheltered; so I've dealt with learning how to cope with them while experiencing something that would have pushed others to death. I'm not perfect, and I have never claimed to be, but I am also not a quitter. You should know that by now."

Time releases a shaky breath, pulling me so close to him I can barely breathe, but I let him. I would be just as distraught if I learned these things about one of them. Holding him closer I sway in place, humming softly to him and whispering. "It's okay Link. I know learning that was a lot, and I can just imagine how that made you feel. But I will never stop fighting, remember that hun." A few more moments pass as he regains control of himself, looking up at me with clearer eyes; the corner of his lips turning up into a bittersweet smile. "Do you feel better now?" I brush some hair out of his face with a soft smile.

He nods, "I do...that answers some fears I had had. Thank you."

"Wonderful," I sigh in relief before a hand grabs his ear roughly as I pull back, yanking him up so he stands hunched over. He yelps in pain as I start to drag him behind me. "We need to talk, I know you were not alone in this. So tell me who all read it," I growl as I allow my fury to be on full display.

Time shakes his head, with the small window of motion he is allowed, as my grip tightens.

"The hard way it is then," I huff as my non-dominant hand whips out in front of us, flicking my wrist harshly and causing the rear door to slam open; the second I have one foot in the door I call out to the startled room. "Who all was involved in reading my Diary."