I Hope You Burn (Zelink One Shot)

Hurt

"You've gone backwards instead of going forward. With every passing day, you grow more into the man you promised not to become. I see it in your eyes and the letters you sent me during the Civil War. I see the paranoia and the fear you never had before all of this. You never really had a plan. Your words came over as inspiration to our people, when they were just copies of the men you wished to be. You fought the battle, but the war came after you became king,"

He stood at the door. The room pitch black, but the moon shone upon her form as she sat with a lantern on the chair. She looked at him though unmoving, unknowing eyes.

"The words that you said in the letters you sent her were full of....pity. Is that why? You pitied her, after you shared our bed with her? You think of words then? About what you would eventually tell me? You lied. You could have told me. Been honest. But you carried on to keep her mouth shut? You. You chose to betray your own words, which you said were more powerful than actions. Words have betrayed you, however, it seems."

There was a moment of silence......before he finally sighed a shaken breath of......fear?

"The letters to you were the truth. Every word that filled the pages were the truth of someone who loved you dearly. And still does. The pain that I feel towards what I have done doesn't go away, and I know no words or actions will truly covey the apology I have for you. I am not too proud to grovel beneath you. I am not too proud to admit the full extent of what I have done. I am not too proud to ask for forgiveness because I know I will not get it. All I ask of you is that you listen. You listen and you hear every word, syllable, every pause and effect. This is all I ask. After this, you can dispose of me anyway you see fit."

She listened to this and didn't even try to stop his plea. He would have stopped her anyway. He hated being interrupted, even by her. He knew the effect of words, his words, would have on her and chose his words carefully so he would have maximum effect on her. So he would have a chance of explaining. She said nothing and took a deep breath, allowing him to continue.

"I was in town, on business for the extension of houses we funded for the needy. She was there. She was ragged. She had seen better days. She begged for help. For anything that I could give to aid her in becoming a better family member. I followed her. We talked. She was crying. I curse my soft spot for crying damsels. I wasn't prepared for the next words, 'Sir, Majesty, Royalty. You've shown me a kindness. Allow me to show you my gratitude.' I resisted. She tempted. She pushed, I shoved. It happened. I couldn't stop her. But he did. 'Sir, Majesty, Son of a whore and a sheep fucker. That's my misses. You've shown your disloyalty. Your gold are the doors key, and my silence.' She tricked me. I grew angry, I held her wrist painfully. 'You try my patience, sir. Your wife seduced me. You will let me leave, good sir. We will never speak of this affair. You will keep your head for blackmail.' He growled and his wife's knife kissed my blade. My words failed me and I gave in. But it would be a lie if I said it stopped there. She followed behind me, in my shadow. A maid in the castle, she became one with the crowd. Her husband followed suit. I had to carry on with the payment, or proof of my disloyalty would be shared. I was scared. For the first time, I was scared....."

Silence.....Darkness filled the room. No more words came from his mouth. His voice was silenced. And this was rare.

"You've stopped the payments. You gave up. You knew the truth would be your downfall. You knew you became the man you swore not to be. You embraced this man. You lied. I was the fool not to see this in the letters you wrote me, telling me about worries and fears of loosing everything. I didn't read between the lines of the holes you silently dug around yourself. Link......you've touched the bottom. You've run out of room. Finally."

The King shuffled under the weight of her words. His Queens words. His lovers words. His words failed. Again.

"Link, I can't have you share our bed anymore. Until further notice, you will sleep in your office. I cannot look at you, for fears I will forgive too easy. The fears that the love that has blinded me foolishly in the past, will not fool me again. Your bed will be cold. Our bed will remain incomplete until I can stand to be around you. The throne room will be a place of peace. The council will never know if this, for the world doesn't belong between our bed sheets or this marriage. Until I learn to forgive......your face will be but a blank canvas that I will won't fill. Your actions will be what fills the spaces."

Link fell to his knees with silent thump. He knew she was being merciful.

"Love, my words will never be enough. So, I kneel and give you one final letter. A letter I kept during my time in the war. Never knowing if I should send it, for fears you would wish me never to return. The words written, each letter, was filled with you. I leave this, with a parting gift until I step foot back in this room, into our bed, into your life, again. Love.....the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses."

She knew what that meant. When her words were stern, her eyes told what she really meant. I need to forgive, but fear clouds my love. Your actions spoke louder than the words you should have said.