Chapter Text
When the news first came, she didn’t feel anything. In fact, it felt as though nothing had changed. Those around her watched carefully as she sat in her throne, simply waving off the messenger with a twist of her wrist.
“Poor girl’s in shock,” someone said.
“Did she even care for him if she’s not crying, though?” someone else said under their breath.
Zelda didn’t really feel until late that night, being unable to sleep due to the lack of another body next to her. She went to the window and gazed at the night sky, watching the stars shine on. She felt her first tear fall as the cold air hit her.
He’d been killed by Wolfos, the castle whispered. He turned his back a millisecond too fast, allowing an enemy to strike him down and land a killing blow as others piled on. It took three other soldiers to kill them all. Some men have scratches and bruises, but they still have their lives.
Link was the best thing that ever happened to her, and now he was gone.
The next day was torture. Her father tried to speak to her about it, but he didn’t understand. No one did. Zelda wasn’t sure if it was because of the sleepless night or the people around her, but everyone was so annoying. She smiled at and thanked every person offering their insincere condolences while feeling so irritated she could scream. She sat in a meeting to discuss the funeral, trying not to glare at anyone who gave an idea that she knew Link would hate.
“No,” she said, knocking down someone’s plan, “Master Link would not enjoy a band composed of solely accordions. He liked all types of music, and I intend on sending him to Hylia with compositions he loves.”
“But, Your Highness, he always enjoyed the accordion music on the road,” the same scrawny knight retorted.
Zelda closed her eyes and bit her cheek in an attempt not to explode. “My decision is final. No.”
Finally, after hours of suffering, she finally retired to her room. She waited until the sun went down and the nighttime guards crept in. She put on a dark cloak and one of Link’s shirts, relishing in the way it hid her form. Zelda slinked into the corridor, knowing all the places to go and how to get outside without drawing attention. She opened the stable door and walked down the aisle.
She stopped in front of the second gate on the right, admiring the horse in front of her. Epona nuzzled her hand, remembering the Princess’ scent. Zelda took her out the back, saddling her and making sure the cloak still covered her back. She pulled the reins and they were off.
After about an hour of riding around Hyrule Field, Zelda decided to visit the Lost Woods. She and Epona had a few hours to spare before the sun came up, and she just needed to get away from everything for a while. But, after just a few minutes of riding around, Zelda saw daybreak.
She thought nothing of it, thinking she lost track of time. She was immediately taken back when seeing a sign that said, ‘TERMINA’.