The Hidden Princess

Healing

Impa finally found her near the gardens, the grey sky of the early morning teasing rain.

It was a hallway, with ornate carvings and beautiful gardens on either side. She knew it was one of the Princess' favorite places to sit, such a calm and peaceful part of the castle, especially in the summer.

Yet, the bright sun was nowhere in sight, stormy clouds hiding it away, as if it never existed.

A small smile curved the Princess' lips as she plucked the strings of her golden harp, Impa narrowing her eyes at the spectacle before turning to face away from her and crossing her arms.

"I've been meaning to check up on you," Impa said, now standing still on the opposite side of the hallway, looking out at the side of the garden Zelda wasn't near. "We haven't talked in a while."

Zelda kept strumming her harp despite Impa's presence, her words, continuing the song as she said.

"That's kind of you Impa, thank you."

Impa didn't recognize the song Zelda was playing, it not being one of the ones she taught Link as Sheik, not even the lullaby she'd loved since her youth.

"How do you feel?" Impa asked cautiously. "About what is set to happen later today...your courting?"

There was a silence that followed, Impa digging deep in her mind for what that song was. It just sounded so familiar.

"I feel okay," Zelda said in reply. "I suppose it's inevitable."

"You feel...okay?" Impa said as she turned around.

"Yes, Impa," Zelda said with a distinct laugh that put Impa off. "Of course I do. Are you feeling all right?"

"Yes, Your Highness," Impa said before really concentrating on the song Zelda was playing on the harp. It must have been quite old, for Impa to not recall it quickly, a song that Impa never got around to teaching her.

"So..." Impa started. "You're not thinking about Link."

"Who's Link?" Zelda asked casually as she continued to pluck at the strings.

Impa's eyebrows furrowed in confusion before they widened.

"No," Impa whispered as she recognized the song as well, the Sheikah shaking her head in denial. "No, you didn't."

"Zelda!" she said as she rushed forward in a panic, placing her hand quickly on the Princess' shoulder. Zelda stopped playing immediately at the sensation, the serious tone in her voice making her look into the Sheikah's red eyes, "Please tell me you didn't!"

"I didn't what?" Zelda asked rather innocently.

Impa clutched Zelda's shoulder more before she said urgently,

"Link! Do you know who he is? Have you heard that name before?"

There was a silence as Zelda stared, Impa waiting in anticipation of what Zelda would say. She hoped greatly that it would be 'Of course I do, Impa' the way her eyes were fixed into Impa's.

"No," Zelda said with slow shakes of her head. "I..I don't. Honestly, Impa, I don't."

The Princess said it as if Impa didn't trust her, thinking she was for some reason testing her capacity to tell the truth.

But Impa staggered back at the words Zelda said, her heart breaking at the full realization that the Princess before her was so devastated at the loss of Link, at the thought of what she had condemned him to, that she chose to forget him to alleviate the pain.

"I'm sorry," Impa said as she situated herself in preparation and held her hands out, her palms facing Zelda.

"Impa, what are you doing?" Zelda asked as she stood up in surprise, purple magic starting to emanate from Impa's hands.