Reincarnated

Chapter 5: Excerpt from Zelda's Diary

I stormed out of the hall, so hot with so many bodies, a mound of flesh pulsing endlessly to a monotonous rhythm. My lungs again began to fail me, this time, presumably because of the stuffy hall. As I felt the cool night air on my skin, however, the stuffy air seemed trapped in my chest. Each breath felt like another second held under a viscous, warm water. 

A stray gust blew through my hair, but my mind must've still been inside, sight connected to that silver-haired woman, glaring at me over her nose. The Royal Advisor, though now it seems more proper to call her the King's Advisor, as her work hasn't left his concern in a long time, even before Mother passed.

What did he say to her? I interrogated my imagination between stunted gasps. No thought could fully form though. My head began to ache and pulse, so irritatingly out of sync with the music that had kept me company. 

I grabbed at the dull pain in my temples and leaned against the wall behind me. The rumbling of people could be felt through the wall, though I attempted to concentrate on my breathing. The exclusive thoughts had, in the past, helped to expel any unwanted atmosphere, and at each peak of my chest's rise and fall, a brief puff of fresh air seemed to scrape the bottom of my lungs.

In this decidedly undignified state, my shallow thoughts were interrupted by a humble "Hello" that tore across the thick atmosphere I imagined around me. I looked up, and there stood the woman in a beige robe, elaborate hair, and a Sheikah tear dripping down the arch of her nose. All at once, the stuffy breath I attempted to pump free turned to the frozen wind of the Hebra North as I impishly peered into her knowing eyes.

"Hello," I responded. The skin on my face felt pulled tightly by the silence between our words.

"I saw you fall back there. It looked pretty bad, are you okay?" Her voice sounded genuine and naïve, but her eyes remained fixed in their knowledge.

"Oh yes I'm fine, I just needed some air." She seemed to study my face, and realizing that she was searching for similarities, I turned my gaze towards my hands, now awkwardly laid out on my breast.

"My name is Impa. Who are you?" At this, the simplest of questions to answer, I had no response. 

She knows my name, I know she does. She knows who I really am, so why not say it? The question seemed so insignificant, and so confused. I studied the words in the moments they were allowed to float in the air around us.

"Zelda," I said simply, catching the question not a moment before the regular pause would turn to an awful quiet.  

"The King sent me to make sure you were okay." 

"I don't think he should be too worried over me." 

"I think he is. He doesn't want to see you hurt."

"That's very considerate of him." I shot this last response so sharply back at her, and there was another silence as this time she decided her words.

Impa took a step towards me. "I know you are his child." The admission of what was so known for the duration of our conversation made my heart drop. "The former prince."

I looked up at her with an irritation in my eye. "Then I suppose he's sent you to hide me away again."

"Yes."

"Well, I won't let him!" Madness wrapped its hands around my neck and squeezed confused tears into my eyes.

"He's attempting to do what's best."

"He's wrong!" I shouted at her now, voice breaking at such a sudden hold this fit had taken. "You must know that."

"I do."

"Then let me stay." My vision began to flood.

"I cannot."

The well finally poured tears down onto my cheeks and a sigh escaped my lips. At this release, my legs again gave out and I fell to the ground. With each gasp and sigh, the outburst dissipated, giving way to an altogether draining depression.

Impa came and kneeled next to me. "I'm sorry my child. I wish he had told me sooner." She was silent for a moment, allowing my growing sobs to fill the air. She reached her hand out and put it through my hair. "I've missed you." I accepted her comfort and let my head fall onto her shoulder.

Eventually, I regained some control over myself and looked up at her. She reminded me of Mother, how she used to hold me when I was troubled. They were very close, and I imagined she had witnessed Mother and me many times. 

The memory, so vivid now that I could see her in Impa's eyes, brought another bout of sadness. Instead of again letting it take hold of me, I let the tears fall freely and said to her, "I'm glad you know."

There we stayed until my breath steadied and there were no more cries to weep. "Come." She felt the regularity return and began to help me up. "There is a way through the guard's passages that should be empty."

I stood with her and submitted to the path. "I was never allowed down there."

"I will show you the way."

I followed her hand, semi-willingly, back to my room.

Draft of a Letter; King Rhoam to the Captain of the Royal Guard

Underlined text has been struck through

Dear Captain,

I have lost control over matters of the home and I require a guard. He is to be stationed outside of my son's room.

My child's room.

He has been disobeying me, sneaking out, and bringing danger to our family.

The guard must not reveal any of the information about my family he becomes aware of during his station.

His presence should only serve as a reminder of my control of what is best for my child. As such, he need not be an impressive candidate.

Truly,

King Rhoam Bosphoramus