Kingdom of Power, of Courage, and of Wisdom

Kyou's War - King's Courage

The next day followed in much the same way. The soldiers grew restless, unsure whether they would be staying or going, and Zelda's allys still had yet to arrive. Link took to holding Midna's sword more closely and gave Zelda ever increasing glances. Still, she did nothing. 

That night he approached Zelda. Zelda sat on the edge of the Fae's island watching the lights just below its surface. The reflection of the stars above mixed with the Fae's movements were mezmerizing.

Zelda briefly turned her head as his light steps stopped just behind her. The steps turned to annoyed foot tapping. "How much longer before we stop Kyou?" He whispered lowly.

"Not much longer," Zelda kept her back to him. 

He clicked his tongue and sighed, "Great. Are we waiting for your friends to come?"

"No. I no longer expect them. They are much too late."

"Then?" Link pressed. He walked around and bent at the waist to look her in the face. Zelda felt a blood vessel pulsing in her forehead. Did he have no tact or sense of privacy?

"I don't know." Zelda said tightly. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"'Not much longer'. 'I don't know'. You're a wealth of information today." Link threw his hands up.

"I don't usually come up with the plans! It's not as easy as it looks!" Zelda snapped.

"So come up with one!"

"What do you think I have been doing?! I've been thinking!"

"Really? Because it sounds like you haven't decided on a single thing!" Link paused, realization coming to him. "You're afraid..." Zelda's composure broke for a brief moment. Snarling, she jumped to her feet and shoved him. He fell into the water. When he came out of the water, she looked down on him coldly.

"I am the high heir and princess of Qin. You will speak to me with respect."

Link came up spitting water. He growled, but avoided her lethal gaze. He lowered his eyes. Her face made him feel guilty, but her eyes angered him. He despised her cursed power over him. It was all because she wore the face of his childhood friend, but that didn't mean he wasn't right.

"You think I give a shit, princess?" He hissed. "Princess, noble, whatever you are. I don't care if you are some kind of saint. You made a promise to let me avenge Midna, and you're failing. As the princess, you made a promise to everyone to protect them, and you're failing! Midna died for you and you're letting it go to waste! You claimed to honor her, you claimed to respect her because she chose it, but all of the words you have said up till today are falling dead! All because you are afraid!"

"So what if I am afraid!" Zelda walked up to him until she towered over him. "I have no power to change our situation!"

"You aren't even trying! Princess, I may be a simple slave, but even I know that what made Midna as powerful as you claim is that she put her life on the line! Now you are sitting here cowering and waiting for something that isn't going to come because you have to make it happen! 

Link pointed his finger at her. "You! No one else! You have to make it happen! You have to step up and do something! You have to be the one to put your life on the line for once! You probably want an army to put themselves against the sword for you, you want people to speak for you, to do whatever the Realms you damn well need, but guess what, they aren't here! There is only you and a few idiots willing to recognize some blood in your veins that you don't seem to be earning! Do you want power? Then have enough balls to get some!"

Her gaze down at him was murderous. The soldiers ran out to see what the screaming was about. The Fae ascended from the water, creating eerie lighting around them. Zelda clenched her fists.