Series Summary: After Calamity Ganon awakens, Zelda is left alone and heartbroken. Now something horrible has happened to Link and no more is she merely tasked with fighting the Calamity - but also what is left of her knight.
“I’m sorry…”
It was always apologies when he heard her soft lilted voice.
“I’m so, so sorry.”
Never did Link feel as if he needed them. They always came unwarranted and with a tone of emotion that marred his confusion further. Sometimes they pricked his consciousness in different forms, different words that led to the same unadulterated apology.
He didn’t like them.
Dying was a sensation that was uncomfortable. The initial buckle of his knees was shameful, but what was worse was that the adrenaline in his veins had given out too. Link had been burnt many times yet nothing compared to this. Blue fire seemed to worm itself through his very veins.
It hurt.
His pulse was an odd, irregular pump that stuttered from his chest to his fingertips. The sound of it was deafening. The sky was gold for a long moment and then back to stormy gray. Then, well, she was above him. Holding him. Tears in her eyes and unintelligible words on her lips that he desperately tried to read. Zelda’s hands padded to his side.
Link stopped her when he leaned up, searching her for any sign of harm and other than the dirt on her skin… she was fine.
Zelda was safe.
More than safe. That was her power, right? She could protect herself now.
She was shouting now, shaking him as she spoke. The tugging of before returned. Soft, gentle, not unlike how she held him now. Coaxing with whispers like reaching a bed after a long day of chasing a princess around. Link didn’t notice when he slacked against her body.
Falling was the worst part. It made him realize that – yes, he was dying. Panic held a vice over him even when it was too late. There would be no chance to claw back up because his heart dropped in his chest and went down.
Down.
Down.
Down until there was no down. A raw, primal fear that hadn’t gripped him this corporally since he was a child. But he could hear her crying, wailing words.
“This is all my fault.”
Sometimes he heard others, those times were largely confused with his own blank thoughts. Most times it was her, so unmistakably that he didn’t question himself. (Though it could very well be the delusions of a dying brain.)
Time flowed indiscernibly. Was he still dying? Was he rotting in a grave by now? Has Zelda defeated the Calamity yet?
Another voice entered his thoughts, now.
“You’re dead,” it said, so plainly that it annoyed him.
Link wanted it to go away. It persisted.
“You’re complacent. Did you enjoy it?”
No.
“Ah… I only ask because some do.”
Silence.
…
“She’s alone.”
What?
“Your goddess. She’s alone.”
You should leave me alone.
“You know she’s alone then.”
She is capable.
Again, silence.
…
“You can be with her once more.”
If Link could frown, he would.
I do not want her to die.
“No, you could live with her. In a different way, yes, but all the same.”
Link didn’t respond. The voice was growing louder, distinct.
“You love her… do you not?”
I…
“Give anything? You gave your life already.”
What else do I have?
“Admittedly, not much. I would still implore your consideration.”
…
Does she need me?
“Of course.”
You are asking something of me.
“Of course. What’s an offer without payment?”
What is it?
“A simple quest. You’re used to those.”
A quest…
“And your temporary loyalty. However, the life I give you is independent of me. Yours. I’m merely giving you what you were wrought.”
I want to live.
“I know. Do you accept?”
I want to see her again.
“Yes. Do you accept?”
Yes.
Something bit into him. It made him scream without a corpse to scream from. A poison that churned the depths of his soul, filling him completely until all he perceived was red. Link would do whatever he could to stop feeling this way. He hated this… he hated this.
This wouldn’t have happened it he hadn’t died. If the guardians weren’t corrupted and the divine beasts were functional. If the King were adept in guiding his daughter; if his daughter were adept at anything.
Who are you?
Gods, please help him. Had they ever helped him with anything in his life? Link had been praying to them since he was a boy and all he got was burden after burden after burden. It’s what killed his father and what had eventually killed him.
