(Zelink) The Legend of Zelda and the Last knight- Swords and Roses

Why we failed pt. 20A The Rising Storm

Why we failed pt. 20A

The Rising Storm

Link stood among the cadets, his posture stiff and alert, though his mind was anything but. The festival grounds hummed with anticipation, yet everything around him felt muted—distant, like he was watching the world through a fog. His gaze drifted upward, following the figure of Princess Zelda as she ascended the steps back to her seat in the royal box. The cheers of the crowd were deafening, but they washed over him like a wave that never quite reached the shore. His chest tightened.

That kiss.

He had seen it, and now he couldn't unsee it—the way Arasmus had taken Zelda's hand, how easily he had turned her to face the people, the way his lips had claimed hers in full view of the kingdom. A knot twisted in Link's gut. He'd wanted to look away, but he hadn't been able to. His feet had stayed rooted to the ground, his eyes fixed on the scene as it unfolded. There had been no anger in him—no hot, jealous rage. Just confusion. Confusion that had settled deep in his bones and now festered there like an open wound.

What did that mean?

He replayed the moment over and over in his mind, dissecting it, searching for something that would explain why it had bothered him so much. He and Zelda barely knew each other—only a few fleeting conversations, really. And yet, those brief moments had stirred something in him, something he couldn't quite name. He had felt...connected to her in a way that didn't make sense. But now, standing here among the other cadets, watching her from afar as she reclaimed her place beside the nobility, he couldn't help but feel foolish.

Maybe I read it all wrong.

She was a princess, after all. Royalty. And Arasmus... Arasmus was everything Link wasn't—Regal, charming, connected and most important, nobility. Not just any nobility, but heir to one of three great houses of Hyrule. He belonged in her world, up on that balcony, while Link stood here, just another low born commoner among the masses. His stomach churned at the thought. He had no right to feel anything for her. And yet, despite all logic, despite everything screaming at him to let it go, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Had she wanted that kiss?

Link's jaw clenched as the memory of it flashed before him again. The way she had stiffened, just for a moment, before pulling away. It had been subtle—too subtle for most to notice. But he had seen it. She didn't want it, did she? Or was she just surprised? His mind wrestled with the question, doubt creeping into every corner. What if he was wrong? What if he was seeing things that weren't there? After all, what do I even really know about her?

He exhaled sharply, his breath catching in his throat. It was a dangerous thing, to let hope take root. He had only known her for a handful of days. Whatever connection he thought he felt was likely nothing more than a passing moment. Perhaps he had misinterpreted the signs. Perhaps Zelda was exactly where she wanted to be—up there, beside someone like Arasmus all along.

Link's fingers curled into fists at his sides, the leather of his gloves creaking as he forced himself to focus. This isn't what matters right now. He had a role to play. His place was here, among the cadets, not in the royal box. Not by her side. He wasn't a noble, wasn't royalty, wasn't anything at all. Just another warm body sworn to take an arrow if need be. His world was down here, where steel and skill determined his fate, not bloodlines and certainly not grand destinies.

"Sir?" Jun's voice pulled him from his thoughts, the boy standing beside him with that same look of concern that had been there ever since Zelda had left the balcony. Link blinked, the weight of his thoughts lingering, but he managed a half-smile for Jun's sake. The others had already began to huddle around the commander to await instructions as those in the stands returned from their intermission.