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Her hair felt like silk, soft and shiny beneath his fingertips. The sweet scent of her perfume lingered even as she swept away, gathering her skirts more tightly about her. “I’m sorry, Link.” The finality in her voice crushed him, even though he knew she would leave.
“It’s okay,” he lied, gaze glued to her back. “I understand.” He almost lifted his hand to stop her, reach for her, anything.
She paused for a moment, observing him from her peripherals. “Then I suppose… This is goodbye.” His mind went blank, and he could almost convince himself that her voice wavered while she spoke.
Lifetimes flashed before his eyes… He was grateful that he felt too numb to cry. He didn’t think he could bear tearing up in front of her. The thought of being so vulnerable while her back was turned to him didn’t feel right. Before he could stop himself and think of the impropriety, he stepped forward, grasping her sleeve with trembling fingers. “Is it?” He asked, his mind racing through countless possibilities in mere moments.
“Link, it has to be,” she replied back as coldly as she could. “I don’t suppose you’d like me to list the reasons as to why.” Her words cut him deeper than any moblin spear ever had or ever could.
Willing himself not to cry, Link fought to hold himself together. He had to be impervious and dependable: he had to be his Princess’ selfless hero, locking down all his feelings, forcing them all to dissipate as much as possible. “That won’t be necessary.” His fingers balled into a tight fist as he steeled himself. “Farewell.” It was apparent that such distance was expected of them both so he could perform. He had to.
“Alright,” she accepted simply. Her jaw was tight, and she couldn’t meet his eyes. Sweeping her skirts up once more, she turned her back, for the last time, and left the room.
In her absence, Link felt as though the wind had been knocked out of his lungs. Once she was gone, his knees went weak, and he sank down onto his chair, grasping at the edge of his desk. Was she truly gone now? Was their relationship, which was just barely beginning, really over? His head hit the surface of his desk as he recalled all the years of his life during which he’d known her, all the time he’d spent saving her kingdom.
He rose from his seat, and his feet carried him across the room, to where the Master Sword lay. Clenching his jaw, he reached for it, the cause of all of his troubles. Was it all worth it?
With naught more than his sword in hand and a bag of his utmost important belongings on his back, Link left the castle, for what he thought might be the last time. He called for Epona, and somehow she knew that he was seeking comfort for his broken heart.
Even as he left the castle, though, he knew that if Zelda was ever in need of him or his help, he would be there… No matter where he went or who he was with, he would always love her… At the core of his being, the center of his heart, it would always be her.