I Can Never Forgive You: A Legend Of Zelda Story

Chapter 4

She wipes a tear falling from her cheek. Another one falls and lands on her pillow. Soon a small puddle has formed on the soft fabric of her bedding.

Zelda's quiet sobs are the only sounds in her dark room.

How did this happen to me? I have been so careful to become the ruler my people need. I failed them... I failed him... One mistake was all it took... One terribly perfect and desired night. How was irresponsible? I am a queen. He is my knight.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

She quickly wiped her tears and sat up.

Who is this? It's not even close to sunrise yet.

"Come in," she said quietly.

She heard the door creak open slowly and then close again.

"Who's there?" She asks even though she has a good guess as to who it is.

"Me," his raspy voice says, confirming her suspicion.

She can tell he was just asleep by the sound of his voice.

"What's wrong?" Link asks as he takes a seat on her bed.

"Nothing," she lies as she turns away.

"Zel..."

She felt her heart stop beating for a moment.

Does he know what he's doing to me? How he's killing me right now?

"It was just a nightmare," she lies again.

She feels an arm snake around her waist. The butterflies in her stomach start flying.

"Link..." She says quietly.

"Mhmmm?" He hums as he pulls her close to his chest.

She gives up her will to fight against her feelings and relaxes into his embrace and breathes deeply, loving the scent of the outdoors on his loose shirt.

The two stay like that for a couple minutes until Link moves to lay them both down, still holding her close to his chest.

"Are you mad at me? For what happened?" Link asks quietly.

"No, why?"

"You've been avoiding me."

"Not on purpose. I've just been really busy."

"Hmmm," he hums again as he sits up.

"I'm just confused I guess."

"By what?"

"Well what do you think? That night, what it all meant. We were just best friends until then. It all happened so fast," she sighs. "We can't be together for real. I'm the queen and you're my knight."

The sting of her answer keeps him quiet.

"So no matter how much I want you, want us, I can't have it," she feels the tears welling up again.

Link nods knowing she's speaking the truth.

"Link... Say something."

"I love you."

The first tear falls. Then another, and another until she is quietly sobbing into his chest.

He wraps both of his arms around her small body and unknown to him, the even smaller body of his unborn baby.

"I love you too," she gets out between sobs.

"We will just have to keep our relationship quiet," he says as he rubs her back.

"If only it was that simple," she wipes the tears from her eyes.

They stay there for a couple more minutes until Zelda pulls away slowly.

"Link, I need you to do something for me," a tone of seriousness present in her voice.

"Anything."

"I'm sending you and a couple others out to catch some bandits in the Gerudo desert," she looks sadly at her hands. "Its a long mission, it could take up to a few months."

"Isn't there anyone else you can send? I promised your father I would never leave you."

"I've sent out other groups... None came back... Apparently these guys are very strong. They'll be no match for you of course, but I've lost enough men to them. Please Link."

He pauses for a moment. "Alight."

"Thanks Link," she says smiling.

"Anything for you," he says as his eyes catch hers.

The butterflies start back up as he slowly leans in.

As his lips meet hers she feels the baby inside her start kicking for the first time. Her heart has never been so full and so broken at the same time.