Free to Love - A Zelda x Link Fanfiction

XXIV: All Wrong

Link's Perspective:

I slept in, which I felt incredibly guilty about. I assumed we were to leave today and I intended to wake early, but the conversation with Mipha left me wide awake for the vast majority of the night, at least until I eventually passed out from pure exhaustion.

I managed to rub the sleep from my eyes as I stumbled down from the guests' sleeping quarter that Mipha insisted I stay in. At least I managed to get dressed. My blue tunic was disdainfully wrinkled and my trousers were bunched up, rising awkwardly above my well-worn riding boots. I managed to smooth out a few wrinkles in my shirt as my eyes caught onto the person I was searching for.

It was barely 11AM and, knowing Zelda, she probably was only getting breakfast now. As I suspected, there she sat. Mipha was sitting next to her, covering her mouth with a dainty hand as she giggled. Zelda placed her chin in her palm, smiling as she said something.

Mipha grinned and looked up, finally catching my eyes. She hesitated a moment before placing a gentle hand on the princess's shoulders, muttering farewell,  then turning swiftly. My feet began to pull myself towards Zelda.

She was wearing a white dress that clung underneath her breasts. There was the golden symbol of Hylia at the gathering that allowed the white skirt to bunch up and fall in elegant waves. I didn't even know she had such a dress. I realized I hadn't seen her wear clothing that exposed her shoulders in a long time. In court, she traditionally wore long dresses that left everything to the imagination. With me, she tended to wear her riding clothes. Her collarbone was surprisingly elegant as it drew my eyes up to hers. I realized, with silent horror, that her eyes were turning towards me.

A sad smile crossed her lips. "Hello," she greeted softly. How I missed that smile of hers, even if it was solemn.

"Hi."

I slid into the seat across from her.  Her gaze drifted to her plate of food. She turned her fork in her hands, picking at the eggs, steak, and toast. I had never seen food in front of her which she didn't eat.

"I'm..." My voice caught in my throat, causing Zelda to glance up. "I'm... sorry."

She didn't say anything.

"I should've apologized sooner but..." I shook my head to myself. There was no excuse for my shutting her out, especially after I played with her emotions as cruelly as I did. "But... I was scared, I guess."

That caused her eyes to bounce to me, widening. Her green eyes almost flowed in surprise. "Scared?" She repeated, dumbfounded. I gulped, nodding.

"I... I didn't want to hurt you." She laughed solemnly, glancing away. She wiped at her eyes and I could've sworn I saw the shine of tears before she rubbed them away.

"And, yet, you still managed to." Her voice caught for a moment.

"I know." An achingly-long pause. "I'm sorry."

"I know you are."

She sniffed. Her eyes turned downwards to her plate and she wiped at her eyes again. This time, I didn't miss the light bouncing off a tear as it managed to trickle down her cheek.

My heart felt sunken, caved in, as if it somebody had punched it out of my body entirely. I wanted to fix it but... how? How could I right such a terrible wrong?

"Can we... talk about that other night?" I asked. I didn't have to talk of the event to know what she was talking about.

"Later," she responded. "Noon, if it's alright. But, for now... I'd like to be alone, please."

I barely controlled the tremble of my body as I picked myself up and walked away.

I'm sorry, Zelda. I didn't intend to hurt you, but I swear that I'll make this right, even if it kills me.