"I do," the hero said, even if he didn't really. After all, he had thought that Zelda herself would have never betrayed him, but she had, in the most vicious way possible. And
while he didn't think Ilia would ever intentionally do anything nearly as bad, he didn't want to take any chances. He didn't want to be injured by love ever again. "But it's
not you hurting me that I'm worried about. It's me hurting you."
"Oh, come on," the girl scoffed, trying her best to keep her emotions from rushing forth. "I know you would never hurt me, Link."
"No, you don't!" Link argued, knowing that Midna had said the same exact thing right before he ended up burning her. "Everyone I get close to either ends up turning
against me or getting hurt! I've already lost so much… If I lost you, then…" He sighed as he ran a hand through his whitening blonde hair, wishing that it was easier for him
to express things like this, even if he had never really been very good at it.
Ilia finally glanced away from him as she stood, stilling the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes as she felt the chill that had fallen over the area. "Then can you
at least tell me this," she began, not even caring about their chances of actually being together now as much as she wanted to know if her feelings were reciprocated. "Do
you love me?"
The hero's first instinct was to tell her yes, even if the way he felt affection for her was different than the love she wanted from him. He loved her more like a sister or a
friend, to the point that he really could imagine ever really being in a serious relationship with her. But in all honesty, Link doubted if he was really able to feel genuine love
for anything or anyone after what Zelda had done to him. He had fallen apart the last time he had worn his heart on his sleeve. Which was why he had tightly locked it
away from the world to avoid ever having it crushed again. "Ilia… I…" he began, completely unsure of what to say. And so, instead of having to answer such an
uncomfortable question, he simply decided to avoid it altogether. "I should go," he said succinctly, his pain finally diminished enough that he used the stony wall he was
sitting against to support himself in standing, albeit with some still lingering pain all over his body.
"Link, wait," Ilia said in sudden annoyance as she attempted to help him steady himself, though he quickly put up a hand to decline her offer. "Please, just… just tell me,
ok? I don't even need for you to stay… I just… I need to know…"
Link frowned as he turned to face her, knowing exactly what she wanted to hear. And as much as he could easily tell her that, he knew just as much as she would that it
wouldn't be sincere. And at the same time, there was so much that he wanted to tell her, even if he didn't know how he would say it all. He wanted to tell her to just
forget about him. That she would be safer and happier if she moved on from him and onto a simpler, more comfortable life. After all, being with him, loving him, would
only ever bring her pain and heartache, and nothing more. He had been forced to trudge down a bloodstained, dangerous path, one that he could probably never stray
away from. And it was for the best if he walked down that path alone.
"I… I can't…" he finally said softly, unsure of what else there was to add. After all, trying to explain himself to her at this point would be like talking to the wind. And yet,
instead of exploding, Ilia took this rather calmly, even if tears finally began to slip down her cheeks.
"Why can't you?" she asked once more, even though she knew she probably wouldn't get any substantial answer from him.
"Because I… I just can't, ok?" he said tiredly, not wanting to elaborate any more than that. "I'm sorry."
"So am I…" Ilia muttered as she cast her gaze downward, stepping away from him so he could get to his horse. Neither of them said anything as Link mounted Epona,
ignoring the lingering sting of his burns. Though he was more than ready to leave Ordon once and for all and never return, he couldn't help but cast one final glance over at
Ilia, whose tearful gaze was still focused on the ground beneath her. Guilt filled the hero as he realized he had done the last thing he had ever wanted to; he had hurt her,
in the exact same way Zelda had hurt him.
"Ilia…" he began to say, trying to find some way to console her, though she was quick to interrupt him.
"Just… just go, Link…" Ilia said with clear bitterness in her heartbroken tone. "You've made it very clear: this is goodbye…"
The hero felt his heart sink upon hearing this, as much as he knew it was true. He certainly didn't belong in Ordon anymore; both him and Ilia had at last come to accept
that fact. He had no reason to return here anymore, which meant he probably wouldn't. And yet, as much as he wanted to dismount and embrace the distraught girl, his
once-closest childhood friend, the girl who loved him unrequitedly, he found that he couldn't even bring himself to do that. So instead, he gently nudged Epona towards the
exit of the spring, his face warm with oncoming tears as he finally looked away from Ilia, and softly uttered his own final farewell to her. "Yeah… This is goodbye…" he said
with guilt, shame, and grief as he pushed his steed onward out of the spring and into the darkness of the forest, not looking back once to see the girl who stood alone,
endlessly and futilely pining after a love that did not exist. And as much as the hero knew it was wrong, he tried to suppress all of his remorse and sorrow away, even if
the tears still came heavy and plentiful all the same.
After all, he had just burnt his last bridge.
For what seemed like ages, Link simply rode around Hyrule Field aimlessly, heedless of the constant flurries of snow that seemed to never stop falling from the darkened
skies. His eyes had scarcely been dry in the hours after he had left Ordon, even though he was scolding himself internally for such foolish weakness all the while. He
couldn't help it though; he had no idea where to go or what to do now. He had no home, no refuge, no place which would ever dare accept him willingly. He hadn't felt this
lost and alone since he had initially fled Ordon. Now he truly had nowhere to go or no one to turn to. Unless…
The lofty towers of Hyrule Castle were but a silhouette afar in the distance as Link slowly turned towards them, his nerves getting the better of him as he realized he only
really had one choice left. The last thing he wanted to do was relent and return to Verona, who would certainly only goad over the fact that she had been right and
continue to hover over him with her distrustful watch regardless of his disdain for it. And yet, at this juncture, he had no idea where else he could really go. Of course, he
could try to make it on his own, wandering around Hyrule with no real purpose or destination in mind, but he knew that his chances would be drastically decreased since it
was the dead of winter and food and suitable shelter were so scarce. As much as he hated to admit it, once again, the hero found that the only one he could turn to in his
despair and desperation was the Queen of Shadows, even if it was against his better judgement. Despite their bitter falling out, most of the anger between them had only
really been on Link's side of things. Chances were that Verona would be willing to overlook their argument and take him under her wing once more. Relenting and returning
to her would be a complete contradiction of his prior independent stance, but it wasn't like he really had any other options now.
The ride back to Castle Town was uneventful; Link was hardly paying any attention as he guided Epona through the ashen, deadly silent streets of the abandoned city, nor
did he really put much thought into riding over the long bridge back to the castle. As it had been before, the main hall of the castle was co
mpletely empty and devoid of
light as he went inside, his every footstep echoing across the hall as he walked at a rather slow, aimless pace, not really caring where he was going. He knew that Verona
liked to linger in the throne room, and since he didn't particularly want to face her right now, he decided to simply meander about the castle for the time being, even if he
knew he'd encounter the Queen of Shadows eventually.
Link did his best to distance himself from his thoughts as he wandered through the castle's mazelike corridors, not wanting to revert to his former despair. And so, he
replaced it with the same emptiness that he had taken on in trying to control his emotion-based powers in the past, hoping that he could just ultimately forget about what
had happened with Ilia and move on, even if it seemed impossible.
Eventually, the hero found himself in a part of the castle he was unfamiliar with, even after he had initially explored it months ago. The hallway he was in seemed much
more residential than the usual ornate passageways that normally led to meeting halls and offices, as could be told from the countless portraits of whom Link assumed to
be past rulers of Hyrule. There was only really one actual door in this hallway, all the way at the end of it, and since the hero didn't figure that the Queen of Shadows was
roaming about in a place like this, he decided to see what was inside, lighting a small flame above his palm so he could see better.
Immediately upon entering inside and taking a cursory look, Link knew exactly where he was, for he had been here before. He had just used the window to enter the first
time instead of the door. But he could tell from the elegant bed and the spacious refinery that this was none other than Zelda's bedroom. Upon only stepping inside, the
hero was more than ready to leave immediately, knowing that being here would only remind him of the lies that the Hylian queen had led him on with and the pain that
she had caused him. And yet, only one thing caused him to linger a bit longer and wander in closer: the painting hanging above the mantle of the fireplace.
Zelda had told him about this painting and a bit of its history. Painted by the Hylian queen's ancestor, it depicted past generations of Hyrule's princesses and heroes,
themselves included. He didn't exactly remember what its supposed purpose was, outside of Zelda mentioning that it signified some sort of "bond" that apparently existed
between them. Of course, Link didn't believe that such a bond even existed after how she had treated him so harshly. As far as the hero was concerned, the only way in
which they were connected to the queen now was through the fact that they both held pieces of the Triforce and that alone. There was nothing else that they shared, not
even mutual respect or intentions. The fact that Zelda had even tried to claim that they were tied by destiny or fate offended Link. It was just another one of her callous
lies, told to flatter him and manipulate him so she could ultimately break his heart.
Anger swelled up inside of the hero as he remembered that exact moment when she had looked him dead in the eyes and declared that she felt nothing for him. The
flame over his hand grew gradually larger as he glared at the painting, specifically at the image of Zelda herself, who looked so pure and virtuous as she stood alongside
him, her bow poised to shoot an unseen threat. But Link knew better. He knew that the Hylian queen was anything but pure; she was treacherous, uncaring, and
heartless. She had ruined him in so many different ways: his reputation, his emotions, even his relationships with Midna and Ilia had been damaged indirectly because of
her. She was to blame for all of this. She was the one who had ruined his life. And, he remembered, she deserved to pay.
Rage running through his veins, the hero raised his hand, flames curling around it as he took his aim at the painting. He really had no other reason for destroying it other
than spite, but that was a good enough reason for him, considering how Zelda had spited him in several ways. However, before he could launch his flames at the portrait,
he stilled his hand upon meeting eyes with the painting's version of the Hylian queen.
"I cannot imagine going back to a life where I do not have you beside me…" she had said, the vulnerability and desperation in her voice undeniable as they stood together
in the peace of a snowy night. "Your presence comforts and reassures me; you make me feel secure and content… I have never felt this way before… but I know that I
desperately do not want this feeling I have right now to ever end…"
She had asked him to stay with him; and he had said yes. He had agreed to stay with her… for as long as she needed him.
"I must admit… I cannot think of a time in which I was ever happier than this moment right now. I wish that it could last forever…" she had sent, and he had felt the very
same.
Then they kissed, and for the first time in a long time, everything had finally felt perfect.
And then everything fell apart at the seams.
"I do not love you…"
The fireball crashed into the wall just above the painting, not igniting the image itself as it almost immediately burned itself out. A broken sob escaped from the hero as he
slowly collapsed against the stone wall, unable to hold it all in any longer. He had been trying to be so strong and stoic for so long now, to forget all he had been through,
all the pain he had felt, and replace it with brash anger and unyielding self-confidence. But in the end, those things only provided temporary relief to the underlying grief and
loneliness that had been plaguing him for far too long now. He had thought he had let all this immense pain go through his rage and hatred, but he still carried it inside, and
it was clearly showing itself now as his tears fell uncontrollably now.
He had loved Zelda. Deeply and truly. He had wanted things to work out between them. He had wanted them to be together. He had wanted them to be in love, to stay
with her, to have her and for her to have him. He hadn't cared whether or not anything would have worked out between them; he just wanted to know that she had felt
the same. He had wanted her love so desperately, that when it had been denied of him, if felt as though he had lost a piece of himself with her rejection. And
unfortunately, it was a piece of himself that he knew he would never be able to find again.
Ice steadily crawled along the ground as the distraught hero sat against the wall, his head buried in his arms as he sobbed inconsolably. He was so incredibly tired of feeling
like this, so weak and empty. It was no way to live and he hated that there was really nothing he could do to free himself from this state of constant agony. Even hatred
and anger could not free him from it; nothing could. Regardless of whether or not this was brought on by Zelda's rejection or not, he was consumed in this pain, to the
point that he could not deny he was quickly drowning in it. And now, it had at long last torn him apart completely.
Link wasn't sure how much time had passed as he continued to simply sit there alone and let his grief pour out, but in time, the silence that was only occupied by his
sobbing was suddenly, yet softly interrupted. "Link?" Verona asked quietly, yet curiously as she entered the room, only to turn and see the grieving hero, who did not life
his head or even acknowledge her presence at all.
The Queen of Shadows stood at the entryway of the room for a moment or two, admittedly taken aback to see that the hero was actually crying so openly and heavily.
She had not used her magic to track him for once, her confidence in his eventual return keeping her mind at ease. And though she had not expected him to come back so
soon, he had, and she had known about it from the moment he entered the castle. What she
didn't know, however, was what might have happened to him while he was
away, and as she watched him pour out his sorrows, she felt something strange, foreign even, stir inside of her. It admittedly confused her and somehow disturbed her,
and for once it stilled her endless calculating thoughts and almost instinctually guided her over to him. Her movements were slow and ever graceful as she actually lowered
herself to his level, taking a seat against the wall beside him, ignoring the ice that covered the floor entirely. For the longest time, she said nothing as she simply observed
him, and though he still didn't respond to her arrival, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu as she watched him. For a brief moment, she did not see the
hero who was both her protégé and her target; she saw herself, on her knees on the outer edges of the Twilight Realm, pouring out her own immeasurable grief over lost
love that could never be reclaimed.
And all at once, she understood.
"Link…" Verona began, her voice but a soft, almost fragile whisper as she placed a gentle, consoling hand upon his shoulder, feeling his entire body shake with his sobs as
she tried to piece her thoughts together. "I… I am sorry… for earlier… You were right… I had no right to spy on you. I shall refrain from doing so in the future. You deserve
your independence…"
Link had barely heard anything she had said, and at the moment, he couldn't have cared less. Their entire argument had more or less been long forgotten, replaced with
regret and remorse over everything that had happened with Ilia, with Midna, with Zelda.
"But of course…" the Queen of Shadows continued, her voice still uncharacteristically tender as she kept her gaze carefully on him. "That is not why you are here
weeping… is it?" She waited a beat, not expecting him to say anything and he did not, so she decided to go on, comfortingly running her hand over his shoulder in a
soothing motion. "You do not have to tell me what happened. I believe that I… adequately understand what you are going through…"
Upon hearing this, Link finally responded, though not in words. He slowly lifted his head and turned to her with a look of sedated confusion, tears still streaming down his
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